NewzIntel.com

Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “Greedy, dangerous and desperate”: deep sea mining frontrunner turns back on Pacific for mining approval

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Friday 28 March 2025 — Greenpeace has slammed deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) as ‘greedy, dangerous and desperate’ after it announced plans to bypass procedure at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) by applying for a mining licence under the US mining code, effectively turning its back on its Pacific sponsoring states.

    The announcement rocked the ISA in its penultimate day, with TMC due to have its mining application agenda item heard early Saturday (AEST). TMC’s decision to use the United States’ Deep Sea Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) encourages an undermining of – and could be in breach of – international law[1].

    Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said the move was a “kick in the guts” for the Pacific and threatens multilateralism.

    “TMC is showing its true colours – greedy, dangerous and desperate. It’s crystal clear that TMC has never cared about economic prosperity or jobs for the people of Nauru, Kiribati or Tonga, nor did it ever care about addressing the climate crisis. TMC has only ever cared about one thing: filling its own pockets with money made at the expense of our Pacific lifeblood – the ocean. The Pacific is not a commodity; the deep sea mining industry is pushing to exploit Pacific resources and communities for profit – it can’t keep happening.

    “This move risks leaving Nauru, Kiribati and Tonga high and dry, and is an insult to multilateralism. TMC has been trying to pressure the international community to meet its demands at the ISA, pressuring and manipulating Pacific governments with the promise of a brighter, greener future. Now the facade has crumbled, and TMC leaves behind a trail of broken promises.

    “Deep sea mining is in trouble. TMC may be taking the first chance it gets to turn its back on Nauru, and is taking any avenue to push through their desperate and dying agenda, in this case, even if it could breach international law. Desperation breeds deceit, and TMC has never been more desperate.”

    Currently, 32 countries have backed a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining, including Tuvalu, Palau, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu and Samoa. Australia has not.

    Gounden added: “This isn’t the end of the road. What TMC has proven is that where there are cracks, there is crawlspace, and it has highlighted the need for a moratorium or precautionary pause.

    “The decision on the future of the ocean must be a process that centres the rights and voices of Pacific communities as the traditional custodians, not neocolonialist corporations. We are most effective when we work together, and the Pacific Ocean is calling for us to stand united now.”

    The ISA will meet for its final day today, where it is still expected to discuss what governments could do if TMC still puts in an application to the ISA without any rules in place.

    Leaders will have a crucial chance to show their support for ocean protection by supporting a moratorium on deep sea mining at the UN Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France, just a few weeks before the ISA July Assembly. 

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or [email protected]

    Photos available in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes to Editor

    [1] The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 has 170 parties, which are the vast majority of all States. It is known as the constitution for the oceans. After the United States and others had various issues with the concluded convention and concluded a further Agreement (Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982) which is known as the 1994 Agreement which was specifically about deep-sea mining – Part XI of UNCLOS. The United States has signed the 1994 Agreement, and most countries agree that UNCLOS is customary international law, so the US is still bound by UNCLOS and particularly Part XI. UNCLOS has numerous crucial parts, addressing maritime boundaries, the freedom of navigation, management of fisheries, pollution, environmental protection and marine scientific research as well as deep-sea mining.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez, Fitzpatrick introduce bipartisan bill to create jobs, promote energy efficiency

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) today reintroduced the bipartisan Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act to create jobs and promote energy efficiency. 

    Mechanical insulation has been shown to drastically cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in commercial buildings. Unfortunately, it is currently cost-prohibitive for many employers. The bill provides a tax incentive for skilled-labor installation of mechanical insulation in buildings to make them more energy efficient.

    “Mechanical insulation is one of the most overlooked yet effective solutions for improving energy efficiency, and it’s time we recognize its true potential,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Our bill will support investments in energy-efficient upgrades for buildings across our country – from schools to hospitals to manufacturing plants and office buildings – while also creating good-paying union jobs. By incentivizing the skilled-labor installation of mechanical insulation, we can lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a more sustainable future.”

    “The Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act is a commonsense policy solution to reducing energy waste, cutting emissions, lowering operating costs for businesses, and creating well-paying, skilled jobs across the country. At a time when strengthening American energy independence and dominance is more critical than ever, this bipartisan legislation quite simply encourages investments that will bring us closer to a more sustainable, energy efficient future. I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Sánchez in advancing this pragmatic and business-friendly climate proposal,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. 

     The Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act:

    • Provides a tax credit for up to 10 percent of the labor costs incurred by a taxpayer in installing mechanical insulation property on pipes and equipment.
       
    • Saves energy, lowers energy costs, and reduces energy consumption while supporting good-paying union jobs.

    Mechanical insulation encompasses all thermal, acoustical and personal safety requirements for mechanical piping and equipment, as well as heating, ventilating and air condition (HVAC) applications. The system is used across a wide platform of commercial and industrial buildings to decrease heating and cooling costs while increasing efficiency.

    This bill is endorsed by the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and the Labor Management Cooperative Trust.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Hoyle Calls for Secretary Hegseth’s Resignation

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    March 27, 2025

    For Immediate Release: March 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) joined 69 other House Democrats in calling for the immediate resignation of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, after new reporting from The Atlantic made clear he shared classified information on Signal, an unapproved and unsecured communications platform.

    The letter was addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

    The full text is available here and below.

    Letter Text

    Dear Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio, Director Gabbard, and Mr. Waltz,

    We write to express grave concern over your handling of sensitive information regarding military operations in Yemen and potential risks to our servicemembers carrying out this mission. The Atlantic reported that their Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat on March 13 titled “Houthi PC small group.” Fortunately, an American journalist was added and not anyone who could have used this information to cause significant harm to the United States.

    As more evidence has come to light, the misconduct in the group chat has become further undefendable and inexcusable. You all jeopardized the lives of servicemembers. There must be accountability starting with the immediate resignation of Secretary Hegseth.

    The degree of incompetence, carelessness, and irresponsibility is difficult to underscore. It is incomprehensible that the heads of the world’s most powerful government were unknowingly sharing secret military plans and knowingly using an unsecure communications method to do so. A bad actor or foreign contact could have easily been added to this Signal group instead of Mr. Goldberg. This experience was so absurd that Mr. Goldberg thought it more likely to be a disinformation campaign or artificial intelligence than several key members of our government, many who sit on the National Security Council.

    This encounter calls into question the way in which this operation was discussed. It was reported that classified or highly sensitive information was being shared over Signal. Information that if leaked to the wrong sources could have resulted in dire national security consequences. As the article goes on to state, there are legitimate questions on whether laws like the Espionage Act or laws on preserving official federal records were violated.

    If you had not added a non-government individual to this Signal group, then this breach would never have come to light. This does not inspire confidence that other classified communications have been handled through proper channels or that this national security team is taking these issues seriously.

    We hope you understand the gravity of this situation. The decisions you make have a significant impact on our national security and the safety of our servicemembers. We will be demanding accountability and transparency in what transpired. For the sake of our national security, we ask that you fully and willingly cooperate with Congress in any forthcoming hearings or investigations.

    Sincerely,

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Congressman Danny K. Davis on White House Meeting with President Zelensky

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

    Statement from Congressman Danny K. Davis on 

    White House Meeting with President Zelensky

    Chicago, IL – Congressman Danny K. Davis issued the following statement in response to the White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:

    “The actions of President Trump and his administration continue to undermine America’s credibility on the world stage. Today’s White House meeting with President Zelensky was not only profoundly unfortunate but also served to embolden Vladimir Putin and his campaign of aggression. The United States must remain steadfast in its commitment to democracy rather than rewarding those who seek to dismantle it.

    For three years, President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine have bravely defended their sovereignty against Russia’s unjust invasion. Their fight is not just for their nation—it is a fight for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. It is in America’s national security interest to stand with Ukraine until victory is achieved.

    I will continue to support efforts to provide Ukraine with the resources necessary to defend itself against tyranny. We cannot afford to waver in our commitment to global democracy or allow authoritarianism to gain ground.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

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

    March 26, 2025

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

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

    VARGAS: 

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

    scams. 

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

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

    FROTMAN:

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

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

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

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

    VARGAS: 

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

    FROTMAN: 

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

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

    VARGAS: 

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

    FROTMAN: 

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

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

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

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Joyce Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Encourage Life-Saving Innovation

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

    Washington, D.C. –Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) and Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) have introduced H.R. 946, the Optimizing Research Progress Hope And New (ORPHAN) Cures Act, legislation that would accelerate the development of new life-saving cures and provide hope to millions Americans affected by rare diseases.

    Under current federal law, a drug or treatment that receives approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat exclusively one rare disease – commonly known as an “orphan drug” – is eligible for certain incentives, including an exemption from Medicare’s drug negotiation program.  Unfortunately, those same incentives do not exist if an orphan drug receives FDA approval to treat two or more rare diseases.  This has the unintended effect of discouraging and disincentivizing American innovators from engaging in the expensive and time-intensive research necessary to determine if an orphan drug could cure or treat additional rare diseases.

    The ORPHAN Cures Act would remedy these harmful, unintended consequences by honoring the intent of the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 and restoring proven, time-tested incentives to encourage the discovery of new cures for the narrow patient populations affected by rare diseases.

    “Over 30 million Americans are affected by nearly 10,000 rare diseases– yet 95% of these rare diseases lack an FDA-approved treatment. We need to be doing more – not less – to bring new FDA-approved treatments to market for rare disease patients,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “The ORPHAN Cures Act ensures that proven, critical R&D incentives are in place so the millions of Americans with rare diseases can continue to have hope for the future.”

    “We must empower our innovators to continue developing lifesaving rare disease treatments,” said Congressman Don Davis. “By cutting red tape for researchers and scientists, Congress can help lay the foundation for the next generation of cures.”

    “Life Sciences Pennsylvania applauds Congressman Joyce on the introduction of the ORPHAN CURES Act in the 119th Congress,” said Christopher P. Molineaux, President and CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania.  “Dr. Joyce understands that the process of taking a rare disease medicine from research through development and approval for patients has many unique challenges.  With small patient populations, the development of medicines for rare diseases is significantly more difficult, costly, and risky than typical drug research and development. The ORPHAN CURES Act creates hope for the millions of patients living with a rare disease.”

    “At Tigerlily Foundation, we stand firmly in support of the ORPHAN Cures Act, a vital step toward ensuring access to life-saving treatments for rare disease patients, including those needing care for rare diseases as results of their anti-cancer treatments. This legislation not only accelerates the development of innovative therapies but also addresses the unique challenges faced by patients who have long been overlooked. We believe every individual deserves the right to hope, healing, and health, and the ORPHAN Cures Act brings us closer to that vision. Together, we can create a future where no one is left behind in the fight for better care and cures,” said Maimah Karmo, President & CEO, Tigerlily Foundation

    “On behalf of our LGMD2I/R9 community, CureLGMD2i fully supports the Orphan Cures Act (OCA), which will maintain existing incentives and boost research into new treatments for the 30 million Americans currently suffering from rare diseases. LGMD2I/R9 is an ultra rare and progressive muscle wasting disease that currently has no approved treatment. The OCA provides hope to our patient community by protecting the incentives for drug developers to continue working on a potential treatment for rare diseases like the LGMDs,” saidKelly Brazzo, Co-Founder and CEO of CureLGMD2i Foundation

    “Rare disease medications are often brought to market as a second indication, because research is just too expensive for our small populations to do the initial expansive testing. Eliminating limiting the exemption to one rare disease, hope and treatment is unnecessarily taken away. This, and the removal of incentives for investing in rare disease research are devastating to the rare disease community. While we believe these were oversights in crafting the law, they must be corrected immediately. People’s lives are at stake. Eosinophilic & Rare Disease Cooperative strongly support the passage of the Orphan Cures Act. We are here to help in any way we can to move this legislation forward,” said Sarah Jones, Community Engagement, Eosinophilic & Rare Disease Cooperative

    “With the growing role of genetics and genomics in cancer and other diseases, we are seeing more rare patient communities of under 200,000 who may benefit from a targeted treatment. Passage of the ORPHAN Cures Act is essential to encourage therapeutic innovation for these patients. Without it, the incentives established under the Orphan Drug Act are undermined, and some of our most vulnerable patients will suffer,” said Lisa Schlager, Vice President, Public Policy, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

    “The Save Rare Treatments Task Force thanks Congressmen Joyce and Davis for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the ORPHAN Cures Act. This vital legislation corrects an unintended consequence in law to ensure strong incentives for research and development of new medical treatments for rare disease,” said the Save Rare Treatments Task Force

    For more information, you can find a one-pager here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ezell Introduces Bi-partisan Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 to Protect Fisheries

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Ezell (Mississippi 4th District)

    Today, Representatives Mike Ezell (MS-04), Michael Guest (MS-03), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Trent Kelly (MS-01) introduced the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, legislation aimed at providing immediate relief to states struggling with the devastating effects of cormorant overpopulation on local fisheries.

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

    “The Cormorant Relief Act is commonsense legislation that empowers America’s aquaculture producers, including producers in my district, to take necessary and appropriate steps to protect their livelihoods,” House Natural Resources Chairman Westerman said. “I’d like to thank Congressman Ezell for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to move this bill through the legislative process.”

    “I am pleased to continue working on the Cormorant Relief Act to provide critical tools for Mississippi catfish farmers and aquaculture producers as they combat bird depredation,” Guest said. “I am grateful for the partnership with my colleagues in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation and across Congress as we support our agriculture community.”

    “Unchecked cormorant populations continue to devastate our fisheries, threatening the livelihoods of Mississippi’s farmers and those who depend on a thriving aquaculture industry,” Thompson said. “This bipartisan effort ensures that Mississippi has the necessary tools to manage these birds effectively while maintaining protections for this migratory species. Supporting our fisheries means supporting our local economies, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in this effort.”

    “Double-crested cormorant management on catfish farms is a costly endeavor. DCC cause millions of dollars in losses on catfish farms every year through predation and the spread of disease. We appreciate Rep. Ezell and Rep. Thompson for their sponsorship of this bipartisan bill that will help farmers better manage bird depredation while still ensuring the protection of this migratory bird.” – Chad Causey, Catfish Farmers of America Spokesperson

    “The National Aquaculture Association strongly supports Rep. Mike Ezell’s constructive and timely bill,” commented Sebastian Belle, President. “The legislation is a return to commonsense approach of assisting farms throughout the central and southern United States in effectively managing a rapidly growing population of farmed fish eating birds. Bird populations expanded during the 18 year period when the first Aquaculture Depredation Order was in place. There will be no change in that growth under this bill. Fortunately, the legislation does relieve the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the task of issuing individual farm regulatory permits. The agency has been unable to do so in a timely manner which has created uncertainty in the farming community.  Farms will continue to report their bird management efforts to both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the USDA Wildlife Services.”

    Cormorants unchecked population growth has led to significant damage to fish populations, impacting commercial and recreational fishing industries and farmers. The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 aims to grant greater flexibility in managing cormorant populations to safeguard fisheries and local economies. Congressman Ezell remains committed to advocating for policies that support conservation efforts and sustain the nation’s fishing industries.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Leads More than 110 Colleagues in Condemning House Republican Conference Leadership for Xenophobic Attack on Congressman Adriano Espaillat

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) led more than 110 of her colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning House Republican Conference leadership for allowing the spread of false and xenophobic rhetoric targeting Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, following his Spanish-language response last week to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress. Joining Congresswoman Garcia in leading this resolution are Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Gilbert Cisneros Jr. (D-CA-31), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24).

    On March 5, 2025, the official X page for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) falsely referred to Congressman Espaillat as an “illegal immigrant,” questioning Espaillat’s immigration status and patriotism—despite his lawful citizenship, election to Congress, and years of dedicated service to the American people. 

    “This outright xenophobic and reprehensible attack is not just an insult to Congressman Espaillat, but to every immigrant who has followed the law, earned their citizenship, and dedicated themselves to serving this country,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “This demeaning anti-immigrant rhetoric has no place in the halls of Congress, and those in Republican leadership who have stood back and allowed this disgraceful statement to stand need to be held accountable.” 

    “It is disgraceful that House Republican leadership allows false and xenophobic attacks against Congressman Espaillat to go unchecked,” said Congressman Darren Soto. “He is a U.S. citizen who has dedicated years of service to the American people, and questioning the legitimacy of a duly elected member of Congress based on lies is dangerous and unacceptable. With this resolution, we make clear: xenophobia has no place in our democracy.”

    “The Trump Administration and Republicans have gone to great lengths to vilify, harass, and lie about hard-working immigrants since they took power,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “I’m proud to stand alongside my friend and colleague Congressman Espaillat as he leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and will continue to partner with him to uplift the voices of immigrants, whose stories are rooted in dignity and respect for our friends and neighbors.”

    “Attacking Congressman Adriano Espaillat with false and xenophobic rhetoric is unacceptable. Congressman Espaillat has dedicated his life to serving this country and the American people. We will not stand by and allow hatred and division to flourish in our political discourse,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “This behavior has no place in Congress or our society. We must stand united against these attacks and uphold the values of respect and inclusivity.”

    “Republicans have sunk to the lowest level, using blatant racism meant to dehumanize all immigrants, no matter their status. My colleague, CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat is a proud U.S. citizen and strong advocate for the immigrant and Latino community,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “It’s disgusting to see Republicans fueled by such hate, particularly toward Latino and Black immigrants.”

    “Congressman Espaillat has dedicated his life serving the people of New York,” said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. “Republicans know you must be a citizen to be elected to Congress. Calling one of their own colleagues an ‘illegal immigrant’ shows they don’t care about ‘decorum’ and that even if you work hard, follow the law, and devote your life to public service, they’ll still try to dehumanize you with hateful rhetoric. Deleting the post isn’t enough – Republican leadership must apologize.” 

    “Congressman Espaillat is a good friend and a proud American citizen who serves his community in New York, and Hispanic and Latino Americans nationwide, tirelessly,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “He is a true example of a public servant. The NRCC’s inability to take fault and apologize isn’t surprising. Unfortunately, their vile racism is their usual behavior.”

    “This is an insult to the millions of immigrants who have followed the law and earned their citizenship,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “Congressman Espaillat has dedicated his life to serving the American people. This hateful, anti-immigrant rhetoric has no place in our country let alone the halls of Congress.” 

    Following mounting criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, the NRCC quietly deleted the tweet roughly 48 hours after the post went up without any public apology, making clear that the House Republican Conference leadership does not denounce the post itself and are only trying to contain the public fallout.  

    The resolution formally condemns House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Republican Chair Lisa McClain, Republican Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, House Republican Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler, and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson for allowing the House Republican Conference’s political arm to make a false statement and call into question the citizenship of Congressman Espaillat. 

    This attack came just days after Republican leaders claimed they wanted to ensure decorum and elevate the discourse in Congress. Instead, they have chosen to sow division and question the very legitimacy of a sitting Member of Congress. It’s hypocrisy at its worst. 

    In addition to Congresswoman Garcia and her co-leads, the resolution has been cosponsored by Reps. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Al Green (D-TX-09), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Becca Balint (D-VT-At-Large), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA-04), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At-Large), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Nikema Williams (D-GA-05), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), André Carson (D-IN-07), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Pablo José Hernández (D-PR-At-Large), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), John Larson (D-CT-01), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Sam Liccardo (D-CA-16), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04).

    CLICK HERE for the resolution text.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Urges Support for Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) spoke in support of the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act (H.R. 2201),  at a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs legislative hearing.  

    Rep. Kim introduced this bipartisan bill with Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). 

    Watch her speech HERE or read her remarks below.  

    Thank you, Chairman Luttrell and Ranking Member McGarvey, for holding this legislative hearing.    

    I am excited to see H.R. 2201, the “Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act” discussed in today’s hearing. 

    Approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men experience military sexual trauma, or MST, as a servicemember and according to VA officials, the department received 57,400 MST claims in fiscal 2024, up 18% from the previous year. The VA approved more than 63% of them, up from roughly 40% more than a decade ago. 

    Currently, the VA must help veterans filing disability benefits claims for MST gather evidence for their claims. Unfortunately, VA claims processors and examiners often do not have sufficient training to recognize indirect markers of MST or to avoid forcing victims to relive their trauma.  

    In fact, disability compensation examiners are only required to complete an outdated online sensitivity training once every five years. Filing these claims is burdensome enough. The examination process shouldn’t cause more pain. 

    The bipartisan Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Act would require all VA employees involved with MST claims to complete annual training to identify evidence of MST claims and annual sensitivity training to avoid retraumatizing victims. 

    Additionally, to ensure victims’ cases are processed in a timely manner, the VA would be required to automatically obtain all service personnel medical records for a servicemember filing an MST disability claim.  

    The VA Secretary would also submit both an annual report to Congress on the progress of the MST sensitivity training program and a detailed plan to improve it. 

    H.R. 2201 is a commonsense, bipartisan measure that ensures VA staff are prepared to provide veterans with the support and protection they deserve.  

    Streamlining the MST claim process and improving VA training is a win for our veterans.  

    I thank the Committee for considering H.R. 2201 and Representatives Budzinski, Houlahan, and Bacon for co-leading this bill with me.   

    Thank you, and I yield back.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amo Elevates Rhode Island’s Blue Economy in First Hearing as Ranking Member

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment held its first hearing of 119th Congress on the Blue Economy

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment Gabe Amo (RI-01) delivered remarks in the first Subcommittee on Environment hearing of the year. In the hearing titled To the Depths, and Beyond: Examining Blue Economy Technologies, Congressman Amo highlighted Rhode Island’s success in growing the Blue Economy while calling out President Trump’s systematic disinvestment in science and economic development.

    “Thanks to investments in the Blue Economy, my home state — the Ocean State — is home to thriving blue industries such as commercial fishing, tourism, defense production and shipbuilding, as well as marine manufacturing, offshore wind, and oceanic research. Estimates show that the Blue Economy employs more than 36,000 workers in Rhode Island and contributes over $5 billion to our gross domestic product every year,” said Ranking Member Amo. “I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join me in pushing against the Trump administration’s attacks on science and the Blue Economy.”

    WATCH CONGRESSMAN AMO’S OPENING REMARKS HERE

    BACKGROUND

    Congressman Gabe Amo serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Environment on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over research at the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental standards, and climate change research and development, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers the National Weather Service. Congressman Amo has advocated for Rhode Island’s Blue Economy through a district-wide tour of stakeholders — from marine manufacturing companies to offshore wind training programs to leading experts in ocean research and academia.

     

    REMARKS AS DELIVERED

    Thank you, Chair Franklin, for today’s hearing on the Blue Economy. And thank you to our witnesses for agreeing to share your perspectives.

    Since the days of Roger Williams and the Gaspee Affair, the ocean has been central to Rhode Island’s identity. But water isn’t just a key to our past — it’s critical to our future.

    Thanks to investments in the Blue Economy, my home state — the Ocean State — is home to thriving blue industries such as commercial fishing, tourism, defense production and shipbuilding, as well as marine manufacturing, offshore wind, and oceanic research. Leveraging our state’s natural strengths has ushered in a new age of prosperity for workers, small businesses, and research institutions.

    Estimates show that the Blue Economy employs more than 36,000 workers in Rhode Island and contributes over $5 billion to our gross domestic product every year. Across the country, there are approximately 2 million workers supporting the Blue Economy who contribute about $373 billion to our nation’s GDP.

    To find out more, I embarked on a multi-day, multi-stop tour of Rhode Island’s First Congressional District’s Blue Economy in October. I learned about leaders training union workers pursuing careers in offshore wind. I engaged with researchers and higher education leaders working to deepen our understanding of the ocean. I saw how cutting-edge manufacturing companies are growing their footprints and investing in our communities.

    Tools like artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing ocean-based industries and driving growth in the Blue Economy. Rhode Island has companies utilizing cutting-edge aquatic data collected through underwater drones that is increasing our national defense capabilities.

    We must continue to invest in the Blue Economy. It supports innovation, our workforce, and our resiliency efforts. It’s about protecting our global innovation leadership. We need public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders rowing in the same direction.

    I hope there are shared values in our committee about leveraging our ocean to advance scientific research, spur economic development, and defend our national security. But I am, at this moment, not certain those priorities are shared by the leadership at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House. Time and time again, we have seen President Trump and his billionaire supporters, stand in the way. They have systematically undermined and jeopardized our progress in an area where we should continue to have great leadership. Take, for example, the whiplash firing and rehiring of staff, the cancelling of contracts, and the freezing of grants across our government — including at NOAA and the National Science Foundation and countless other key areas.

    Can anyone really claim that chaos and confusion supports economic development? I think the answer is clear.

    Hacking and slashing away at our federal agencies slows scientific progress that is urgently needed, threatens economic stability, undermines disaster preparedness, and can hinder national security. My state has welcomed NOAA with open arms. It will turbocharge ocean research innovation and initiatives that will grow our Blue Economy.

    Innovation has always — always — been a collaborative effort between government, academia, non-profits and private industry. Collaboration between government and academia has driven foundational “moonshot” innovations. Private-public partnerships have turned breakthroughs into real-world applications and scaled them rapidly. However, Trump and DOGE and the actions of the last several weeks have worked overtime to turn back the clock. Crippling federal support for research at universities and the private sector are dimming the prospects for future scientific discovery. It is cutting off pathways and opportunities that lead to careers in science and innovation.

    The actions of President Trump have driven universities to lay off staff, issue new guidance for graduate students, and push away the very expertise that we urgently need now to continue our advances in the Blue Economy. Researchers are left scrambling. Organizations are being forced into crisis mode and students are dissuaded from pursuing careers in STEM.

    These funding cuts are threatening America’s already tenuous global leadership in ocean research and innovation. Elon Musk is opening the door to competitors around the world, and adversaries like China, who are already catching up to our investments in research and development.

    So I end with this. What does it mean when the United States, a nation struggling to stay at the forefront of science, is unilaterally disarming and letting our strongest scientific tools wither on the vine?

    Look, I hope we can find a bipartisan consensus to push back against these decisions. Because if not, there will come a point where recovery may no longer be possible.

    With that, I yield.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger is “Keeping The Lights On”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, questioned witnesses during the Energy Subcommittee Hearing titled, “‘Keeping The Lights On’ Examining The State Of Regional Grid Reliability.”

    The witnesses included:

    ·     Pablo Vegas, President & Chief Executive Officer, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc., (ERCOT)

    ·     Gordon van Welie, President & Chief Executive Officer, ISO New England (ISO-NE)

    ·     Richard J. Dewey, President & Chief Executive Officer, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) 

    ·     Manu Asthana, President & Chief Executive Officer, PJM Interconnection, LLC

    ·     Jennifer Curran, Senior Vice President for Planning and Operations, Midcontinent ISO (MISO)

    ·     Lanny Nickell, Chief Operating Officer, Southwest Power Pool

    ·     Elliot Mainzer, President & Chief Executive Officer, California Independent System Operator (CAISO)

    Watch the hearing in its entirety HERE.

    During the hearing, ERCOT’s President and CEO, Mr. Vegas, confirmed to Rep. Pfluger that there is a pressing need to invest in long-duration, dispatchable resources to support the Texas grid reliably.

    Watch Rep. Pfluger’s full line of questioning HERE, or read the highlights below.

    Rep. Pfluger: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to state that I believe in the best of the above, not all of the above, and I think that differs from state to state. In West Texas, we have no access to hydropower, unfortunately, as they do in the Pacific Northwest, but if you have access to affordable, reliable sources, then we should use those. Mr. Vegas, I think we need to do a math problem here. So, sorry for math in public. But let’s talk about what the current demand is in Texas for what ERCOT is serving. What are we seeing annually? 

    Mr. Vegas: The current demand peak in the summer is around 80,000 – 85,000 and in the winter, about 80,000. 

    Rep. Pfluger: Okay, and in the next three or four years, with added industrialization, added population data centers, what do we think that is going to grow to in Texas?

    Mr. Vegas: We’re now forecasting that by 2030 we expect around 150,000 megawatts. So that’s an additional 65,000 megawatts over where we are today.

    Rep. Pfluger: Almost double?

    Mr. Vegas: Almost double.

    Rep. Pfluger: In three to four years? This is incredible. So what I want to get to is, when you look at the balance, you’re balancing price, you’re balancing reliability, you’re balancing all these different things. What are the best sources that you are looking for today at 85,000 and in three years, at 150,000 plus?

    Mr. Vegas: We’re getting to a point on the Texas grid where you can start to see that the peak demand is exceeding the dispatchable generation that we have available on the grid. So it’s important, as we look forward, to meet the demands of this growth, to grow the supply in a balanced way. The balanced resource mix brings, I think, the best portfolio for consumers. It brings cost combinations that vary and give the optimal price, and it also brings characteristics around reliability and resilience that are important. So as we look forward, we need to make sure we keep up with firm dispatchable generation, in addition to the strong growth that we continue to see on renewables.

    Rep. Pfluger: Firm dispatchable generation. So I just looked it up on your website, ercot.com, and right now in my hometown, it’s 78 degrees, and we’ve got a little bit of wind, which is serving 18% of the grid, 45% solar. But talk to us about when it’s hot or when it’s cold, and how reliable on those days where you have 100 degrees plus, which we have about 90 plus days in the summer in Texas of 100 degrees or more, or when it’s cold, how reliable are those sources?

    Mr. Vegas: Yeah, as I said earlier, over the course of a year, the actual delivered energy on the Texas grid, 65% of it comes from our thermal fleet, which is our coal, our natural gas, and our nuclear. They are the backbone of reliability. They complement what we’re getting from the renewable mix as well. And right now we need all of the supply that’s there. It’s clear that we need it all. We’re seeing 63% right now coming from renewables, but when the wind isn’t blowing, and when it’s nighttime, and in the summer when it’s hot, you still need a lot of energy to support that air conditioning load and that requires long duration, dispatchable resources to do that. 

    Rep. Pfluger: When government dictates policy that doesn’t allow you to have the right capacity, the right mixture – what does that do to affordability, reliability, and at the end, what does it do to our national security?

    Mr. Vegas: It is absolutely detrimental to affordability and to reliability, and it risks our energy security. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Champions Bicameral Push Urging President Trump to Reinstate Executive Order Supporting Tribal Self-Determination

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) joined a bicameral coalition of 52 Members of Congress in a letter to President Trump urging him to reinstate Biden-era Executive Order 14112, titled “Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.”

    President Trump’s decision to revoke the Self-Determination executive order reversed a significant policy designed to empower Tribal Nations by improving their access to federal funding and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Signed in 2023, the executive order aimed to reduce government interference on Tribal funding, and to make sure federal agencies meet their legal obligations for tribes.

    “The federal government has a responsibility to support Tribal Nations, and should not create unnecessary obstacles that make it harder for them to access the resources they need,” said Vasquez. “This executive order was critical in ensuring that Tribes in New Mexico and across the country could navigate federal funding processes more effectively. Its revocation creates even more instability and uncertainty for Tribal communities that are already facing funding and staffing cuts under this administration.”

    The Self-Determination executive order  had tangible positive impacts, including facilitating federal support for tribal emergency response efforts and funding critical infrastructure projects such as fisheries management and broadband connectivity. It also established the Tribal Access to Capital Clearinghouse, a centralized hub for Native businesses to navigate federal funding opportunities. Its revocation creates uncertainty for Tribal Nations, potentially reinstating restrictive barriers to funding and creating instability in federally supported tribal programs.

    The letter also demands an explanation of why the executive order was rescinded. The lawmakers stressed that “Tribal Nations have a legal, government-to-government relationship with the United States” and that their inherent sovereignty is recognized in the U.S. Constitution, treaties, and federal law. They also emphasized that Tribal Nations should not be included in any efforts to target diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, stating, “Tribal Nations have legal status as a political, not racial class, and the United States has a trust responsibility to them.”

    The letter pointed to key provisions of the rescinded executive order that aligned with the administration’s stated goals, including increasing “accessibility, flexibility, and utility of Federal funding and programs for Tribal Nations, while increasing the transparency, and efficiency of Federal funding processes,” said the Members. The lawmakers warned that removing these provisions will exacerbate challenges that already hinder Tribal Nations’ ability to meet their communities’ needs.

    “Too often, federal funding processes impose unnecessary barriers for Tribal Nations, including restrictive limitations and burdensome reporting requirements,” they wrote. “Without the coordination and efficiency processes established under the Tribal Self-Determination EO, these challenges will only grow, creating uncertainty and instability that directly undermines tribal self-determination.”

    Vasquez and his colleagues are calling on the administration to immediately reinstate Executive Order 14112 and engage in meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations moving forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Reinstate Fired Agricultural Researchers in Oregon

    Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her Oregon colleagues – including U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing concern about the Administration’s decision to terminate USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) workers based in several locations across Oregon, including Corvallis, Newport, Burns, Pendleton, and Hood River.

    “The United States is already falling behind other countries in research and agricultural development, and the loss of these researchers will significantly stunt our competitive capabilities in agricultural science and technology,” wrote the members.

    The lawmakers go on to explain how terminations are undermining important cooperative agreements between research institutions, USDA-ARS, and stakeholders representing some of Oregon’s most vital crop industries, including greenhouse and nursery crops, grass seed, wine grapes, and hazelnuts.

    “Because of unexpected and unpredictable staff terminations, these crop industries cannot holistically benefit from such cooperative agreements and are at risk of losing valuable research progress, which otherwise would have helped stakeholders be more productive and financially successful,” they continued.

    The letter highlights how ongoing projects are being destabilized and progress is being lost on valuable research to improve crop yields and storage methods, manage pests, mitigate and prevent disease, and develop resilient farming practices – partly because these fired workers were, in some cases, the only or one of just a handful of people in the country with those research specialties. For example, the Corvallis-based Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit (FSCRU), whose research improves the resiliency of cereals and hops, lost its only hops horticulturalist and technician in the first round of staff cuts.

    The lawmakers concluded: “As Members whose constituents are greatly impacted by these research cuts and personnel firings, we urge you to reconsider these staff terminations and permanently reinstate those who have been let go. Permanent reinstatement will ensure that agricultural operations in Oregon are competitive, data-based, competitive with foreign markets, and stable for generations to come.”

    Read the full letter below or click here.

    March 27, 2025

    The Honorable Brooke L. Rollins
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    1400 Independence Ave SW
    Washington, DC 20250

    Dear Secretary Brooke L. Rollins:

    We write to express our deep concern regarding United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision, under direction from President Trump and Elon Musk to fire Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers based out of the Corvallis, Newport, Burns, Pendleton, and Hood River locations.

    The United States is already falling behind other countries in research and agricultural development, and the loss of these researchers will significantly stunt our competitive capabilities in agricultural science and technology. Here in Oregon, important cooperative agreements between Oregon State University (OSU) and ARS have been undermined without due cause. Neither ARS nor OSU alone have the full breadth or depth of expertise required to address the ongoing and emerging needs of stakeholders. However, by leveraging their combined strengths, USDA-ARS and OSU have more effectively supported Oregon agricultural industries and driven innovation in Pacific Northwest agriculture. These industries include several of Oregon’s highest-value crops, such as greenhouse and nursery crops ($1.2 Billion), hay ($785 Million (M)), grass seed ($639M), wine grapes ($330M), blueberries ($182M), hazelnuts ($100M), and hops ($85M). Because of unexpected and unpredictable staff terminations, these crop industries cannot holistically benefit from such cooperative agreements and are at risk of losing valuable research progress, which otherwise would have helped stakeholders be more productive and financially successful.

    With Corvallis, staff terminations have significantly hampered the work of research units which directly strengthen Oregon’s – and the nation’s – agricultural production. The Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit (FSCRU), whose research improves the resiliency of cereals and hops, lost its only hops horticulturalist and technician in the first round of staff cuts. The Horticultural Crops Research Lab (HCRL) drives innovation by studying breeding and improving disease and pest management for the small fruit and nursery industries, some of the highest profiting Oregon agricultural commodities. After years of recruiting the best and brightest staff in their fields, the lab has now lost at least 2 specialists and 15 postdoctoral researchers who, in some cases, were the only or one of just a few people in the country with those research specialties. Though some of these staff have been temporarily reinstated, they face an uncertain future, destabilizing ongoing projects and indefinitely barring new research from starting.

    In Newport, the ARS Pacific Shellfish Research Unit (PSRU) focuses on West Coast oyster growers’ priorities that promote and improve field survival of oysters in response to key threats like changing ocean conditions, disease, toxins, and pests. Because of recent firings, PSRU has lost unit leadership capacity, forcing an immediate halt in its oyster production and breeding program operations. Imperative research mitigating diseases, pests, and ocean conditions has also stopped, undermining any future data-driven aquaculture operations because of reduced research personnel and data acquisition capabilities. 

    At Hood River Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC), research is completed to understand and subsequently mitigate challenges to sweet cherry and pear post-harvest storage. Staff terminations have significantly undermined scientists who were working to address the most pressing postharvest processing and storage challenges for pears and cherries. Managing postharvest diseases and disorders is critical to increasing and maintaining healthy agricultural distribution across the region and country. Undermining these efforts negatively afflicts the regional U.S. tree fruit industry yield and distribution of its products.

    These haphazard firings have also affected Pendleton Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center (CPCRC). The Pendleton CPCRC conducts priority research on soil and water conservation, resilient farming practices, and dryland wheat and crop production – all of which are put at risk by the Trump Administration’s staff terminations. There has also been a loss of research expertise to advance development of cropping systems and management techniques focused on water use efficiency and soil moisture storage. Reinstating these important researchers is paramount to ensuring Oregon wheat growers remain competitive with foreign markets.

    Burns Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) is a cooperative research effort between OSU and USDA-ARS focusing on rangeland ecology and restoration of wildlands, environmentally compatible livestock systems, forage crops, and alternative livestock systems. EOARC’s research program is unique in the integration of research about beef cattle, rangeland, wildlife, watershed, and forest management. Reduction of staff capacity will impact output across three areas of research and outreach funded by USDA-ARS: precision rangeland agriculture, rangeland restoration, and rangeland outreach. Oregon’s ranchers will unnecessarily see significant reductions in holistic management that both save ranchers money and promote smart land-management strategies. 

    As Members whose constituents are greatly impacted by these research cuts and personnel firings, we urge you to reconsider these staff terminations and permanently reinstate those who have been let go. Permanent reinstatement will ensure that agricultural operations in Oregon are competitive, data-based, competitive with foreign markets, and stable for generations to come.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tiangong researchers to experiment on flatworms

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    After zebrafish and fruit flies, China’s Tiangong space station is set to host a new life form — planarians, according to Chinese scientists.
    Zhang Wei, director of the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told China Youth Daily in a recent interview that an upcoming Chinese manned spaceflight will carry dozens of planarian fragments into orbit.
    Planarians are flatworms renowned for their extraordinary regenerative ability. When their bodies are severed, they can regrow complete heads or tails, making them ideal models for studying tissue regeneration mechanisms, Zhang said.
    The experiment will include the use of the small universal biological culture module in the space station’s life and ecology experimental cabinet. Different planarian segments will be studied as they initiate regeneration in orbit, with samples collected at critical intervals for fixation and imaging analysis.
    “Using planarians as model organisms, we aim to investigate how space environments affect their regenerative patterns and physiological behaviors,” Zhang was quoted as saying by China Youth Daily.
    “The study will explore the molecular mechanisms behind space-induced changes in regeneration processes and examine gravity’s impact on cell proliferation, migration and differentiation, ultimately enhancing our understanding of fundamental regeneration principles.”
    Experts have explained that, with a 520-million-year evolutionary history, planarians are widely used in biological research due to their astonishing tissue repair abilities. Even when bisected, both segments can regenerate new muscles, skin, intestines and even complete brains, a process that can theoretically repeat indefinitely. Studying planarians holds significant implications for combating cellular aging and age-related degenerative diseases in humans.
    Meanwhile, Wang Yifeng, a senior mission planner at the center, said that upgraded experiments involving zebrafish, which were brought to Tiangong during previous manned missions, will continue.
    “Zebrafish share 87 percent genetic similarity with humans. This research not only addresses microgravity-related health issues but may also unlock new osteoporosis treatment methods on Earth,” he told China Youth Daily in the same report.
    In April last year, four zebrafish measuring about 3 centimeters were brought aboard the Tiangong space station by the Shenzhou XVIII crew. They lived 43 days in orbit, setting a record for being the longest surviving fish in space.
    Chinese astronauts have also performed fruit fly experiments to help researchers better understand the creature’s growth, development, locomotor characteristics and biological rhythms under space microgravity and hypomagnetic conditions.
    According to Zhang, Chinese scientists plan to conduct experiments on mice aboard Tiangong in the near future, focusing on neural, skeletal, muscular and immune systems studies. They will be parts of long-term orbital survival experiments with mammals that will help scientists better prepare China’s future crewed lunar and Mars missions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: A glimpse of breathtaking landscape in Guilin, S China’s Guangxi

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

    A glimpse of breathtaking landscape in Guilin, S China’s Guangxi

    Updated: March 28, 2025 10:25
    A tourist poses for photos with a fisherman on a bamboo raft on the Lijiang River in Yangshuo County of Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 25, 2022. Guilin, renowned for its breathtaking karst landscape, is one of China’s most iconic destinations. Nestled in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guilin is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, with limestone peaks and serene rivers that attract visitors from around the world. Its unique topography and vibrant culture make it a cornerstone of Chinese tourism. Guilin’s scenic wonders, including the famous Lijiang River and Elephant Trunk Hill, highlight the city’s cultural significance and status as a must-visit location for nature lovers and travelers alike. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on April 10, 2022 shows a view in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 25, 2022 shows a view of mountains along the Lijiang River in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows a view along the Lijiang River in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows a view along the Lijiang River in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2018 shows a view along the Lijiang River in Yangshuo County of Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 17, 2018 shows a view in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists take a boat on the Ronghu Lake in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows a view along the Lijiang River in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Fishermen show osprey fishing at the Elephant Trunk Hill scenic area in Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maintenance works coming for State Highway 1 Kilbirnie/Miramar

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    State Highway 1 between the airport and Kilbirnie Crescent/Hamilton Road will see road maintenance work underway next month.

    Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says the stretch of road is the next in line to be worked on as part of the state highway summer maintenance season.

    “This is a key link to the airport and to the Miramar Peninsula. Cobham Drive and Calabar Road carry 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles daily. The highway is well-used, and it is crucial it is kept safe and reliable for the public.”

    Road crews will be resurfacing sections of the highway at night between 9 pm and 4:30 am from Tuesday, 8 April, to Wednesday, 16 April.

    Work will be carried out on Calabar Road, at the Cobham Drive/Troy Street roundabout, the southbound lanes of Cobham Drive near Evans Bay Parade, and at the Kilbirnie Crescent/Hamilton Road intersection.

    Hilliard says these sections of State Highway 1 need to be worked on.

    “People frequently ask why we are working on a road that appears to be fine. The fact is, like servicing your car, the best time to do maintenance is before major damage occurs.”

    “A road may still look like it is in good condition when we resurface it, but what we are doing is fixing it before bigger and more expensive problems arise,” Ms. Hilliard says.

    She says that because it is a well-used route, people traveling between the Wellington CBD and Miramar will experience delays while the work is completed. Stop/Go traffic management and directional closures will be used as needed.

    “Unfortunately, we cannot do this type of work without affecting traffic. Completing it at night is the least disruptive option.”

    “There are fewer vehicles on the road at night, and the work is timed outside of peak operating times for Wellington Airport. However, if you have a late evening flight, please allow extra time to get to and from the airport,” Ms. Hilliard says.

    These works are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in case of bad weather. Road resurfacing requires dry and warm weather conditions to be effective.

    Works schedule and detour maps

    • Tuesday, 8 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • SH1 Calabar Road near the Broadway/Stewart Duff Drive roundabout.
      • Stop/Go traffic management and 30 km/h temporary speed limit.
    • Wednesday, 9 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • Cobham Drive/Troy Street roundabout
      • Altered lane layout. Traffic can travel as normal
    • Thursday, 10 April, and Sunday, 13 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • SH1 Cobham Drive/Troy Street roundabout resurfacing
      • Northbound traffic detour via Troy Street, Rongotai Road, and Evans Bay Parade
    • Monday, 14 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • SH1 Cobham Drive resurfacing near Evans Bay Parade
      • Northbound  traffic detour via Troy Street, Rongotai Road, and Evans Bay Parade
    • Tuesday, 15 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • SH1 Cobham Drive resurfacing near Kilbirnie Crescent/Hamilton Road
      • Northbound detour via Evans Bay Parade, Rongotai Road, Crawford Road, and Wellington Road
    • Wednesday, 16 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
      • SH1 Cobham Drive resurfacing near Kilbirnie Crescent/Hamilton Road
      • Southbound detour via Wellington Road, Crawford Road, Rongotai Road, and Evans Bay Parade

    View larger SH1 Cobham Drive detour route [PDF, 130 KB]

    View larger SH1 Kilbirnie Crescent / Hamilton Road detour route [PDF, 119 KB]

    More information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is Australian bat lyssavirus? Can I catch it from bat poo? What if bats roost near me?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hamish McCallum, Emeritus Professor, infectious disease ecology, Griffith University

    Ken Griffiths/Shutterstock

    Last week, Queensland Health alerted the public about the risk of Australian bat lyssavirus, after a bat found near a school just north of Brisbane was given to a wildlife carer group.

    The bat later died, but it was not confirmed whether it carried the virus.

    This is not unusual. Volunteer wildlife carers respond to thousands of calls from the public every year after encountering sick, injured and orphaned bats. And testing them all routinely for the virus is not warranted or feasible.

    Here’s what you need to know about the risk of catching Australian bat lyssavirus and how it can be treated.

    What is bat lyssavirus?

    Australian bat lyssavirus belongs to the same group of viruses that includes rabies – one of the most notorious diseases humans can catch from animals. Rabies causes about 59,000 deaths worldwide a year, mainly after dog bites. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

    Australian bat lyssavirus was discovered in 1996. There have been only three confirmed cases of the virus in humans in Australia, the most recent in 2013. All three were fatal.

    Fortunately, because Australian bat lyssavirus and rabies are so closely related, the preventative measures that have been developed internationally against rabies can also protect humans from the effects of Australian bat lyssavirus.

    Australian bat lyssavirus and rabies have a long incubation period (the period between exposure to infection and appearance of symptoms). If preventative treatments are given during the incubation period, they are highly effective in preventing disease and saving lives.

    Such treatment reduces what is already a very low risk of illness and death to effectively zero.

    Australian bat lyssavirus and rabies (pictured here) are closely related.
    nobeastsofierce/Shutterstock

    How could I be exposed to the virus?

    The virus is present in the saliva of some Australian bats, including the large flying foxes (fruit-eating bats) and some smaller bats that eat insects. But the proportion of bats infected by the virus is normally very low – less than 0.5%.

    Infected bats may become sick and die, but some may appear unaffected. In other words, you can’t always tell just by looking at a bat whether it’s infected or not. However, there is evidence the virus is present at a higher level in sick bats than in healthy ones.

    You cannot be exposed to the virus by being under a flying fox roost, even if the bats poo on you. You cannot be exposed by having bats in your roof or in a shed.

    No, you can’t catch Australian bat lyssavirus from bat poo.
    Anna Evangeli

    But the virus can be transferred to a human via either a scratch or bite. That’s if an infected bat scratches or bites you, or if their saliva is transmitted to an existing wound.

    So you do need to be careful if you come across a sick or injured bat, or you find a child playing with a bat.

    There is no evidence the virus regularly infects dogs and cats, although rabies does.

    Nevertheless, given that Australian bat lyssavirus is a close relative of rabies and that rabies will infect most mammals, the possibility that it may sometimes spill over to mammals other than humans cannot be eliminated.

    For example, in 2013 two horses in the same paddock became infected and had to be euthanised. The source of infection was not identified.

    So you should also seek advice if you see an animal such as a dog or cat play with a dead or injured bat. Contact a wildlife care group for advice about the bat and a vet to discuss post-exposure treatment for your pet.

    If your dog plays with a dead or injured bat, seek advice from your veterinarian to be on the safe side.
    Lazy_Bear/Shutterstock

    How great is the risk?

    It is important to put the risk posed by Australian bat lyssavirus into perspective.

    Although each of the three deaths known to have been caused by the virus since 1996 is tragic, in 2017-2018 alone, 12 people in Australia died from
    bee or wasp stings.

    Bats play an important role in our ecosystems. Without the pollination and pest control services bats provide, our increasingly fragmented native forests would struggle to recover after fires, and we’d need to use more pesticides on our crops. There is also no evidence bat lyssaviruses are increasing in Australian bat populations.

    Is the risk to humans changing?

    However, as we encroach upon natural habitats via land clearing we are likely to have increased contact with wildlife, including bats.

    Mass mortality events in bats in Australia – such as those in recent years caused by extreme heat or bat paralysis syndrome (thought to be caused by bats ingesting an environmental toxin) – are likely to lead to increased contact between people, their pets and vulnerable bats.

    The risk to human health is therefore likely increasing, albeit from a very low level.

    What should I do?

    First, don’t panic. Infection is extraordinarily rare and will continue to be so.

    Second, don’t interfere with bat populations. Do not pick up sick or injured bats and do not allow your children or pets to play with them. Keep your pets inside at night to minimise potential contact with bats.

    Third, if you or a member of your family is bitten or scratched by a bat, or suspect you have been, seek medical attention, including post-exposure treatment. People who regularly handle bats, such as wildlife carers or researchers, should be vaccinated in advance. They are also trained to handle bats safely and use appropriate personal protection equipment.

    If you find a sick or injured bat, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation group or veterinarian.

    Hamish McCallum receives funding from the US NSF and fron the EU Horizons program. His work on bat virus disease ecology has previously been funded by the US NSF and DARPA

    Alison Peel receives funding from the US NIH. Her work on bat virus disease ecology has previously been funded by the ARC, US NSF and DARPA

    Cinthia is a volunteer wildlife carer for a not-for-profit organisation based in Southeast Queensland that works with bats.

    – ref. What is Australian bat lyssavirus? Can I catch it from bat poo? What if bats roost near me? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-australian-bat-lyssavirus-can-i-catch-it-from-bat-poo-what-if-bats-roost-near-me-252632

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Kyneton brigade saves the day for bird in a tangle

    Source:

    On Wednesday 26 March, Kyneton Fire Brigade was called to assist Wildlife Victoria with a bird rescue.

    Crews responded at about 1pm to reports of an animal stuck in a tree along the Campaspe River in Kyneton.  

    Wildlife Victoria attempted to free the currawong, which was suspended over the river, tangled in fishing wire. However, despite getting in the water they were unable to free the bird.  

    When they were unable to make the rescue, they contacted Kyneton Fire Brigade who arrived promptly and ready to help.  

    Crews used their rescue equipment to get the bird out of the tree and it was then able to be disentangled from the fishing line.  

    The bird had a damaged beak and a swollen wing but is expected to make a full recovery.  

    A spokesperson for the brigade said CFA volunteers are always ready to answer the call for help wherever it might come from. 

    “We’re incredibly proud of our volunteers, who never hesitate to step up, no matter who needs help,” they said.  

    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Improved hunting permit system on its way

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A new and improved hunting permit system will make it easier for New Zealanders to go hunting on public conservation land Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager says.

    “Longer permits, automatic reminders and better navigation are part of a significant upgrade that will make life easier for 34,000 hunters that hunt on open conservation land,” Minister Meager says.

    “The underlying technology of the current hunting permit system is outdated and in need of an update, and is being improved based on the direct feedback of hunters. This upgrade will support more hunters, both domestic and international, getting out and doing what they love.

    “This substantial upgrade to the permitting system will make it more reliable and easier to navigate on mobile devices, making it easier to obtain permits on the go. Hunting permits will now be valid for 12 months, an increase on the current four-month period. Hunters will also receive reminders 14 days before their permits are due to expire so they can easily obtain a new permit. 

    “The upgraded system will also make selecting hunting areas easier. Instead of the 54 hunting areas that hunters currently choose from, the system will be simplified so hunters choose from eight regions, four in the North Island and four in the South Island/Stewart Island. All existing hunting areas within the broader region will automatically be included on the permit, and hunters can also select all hunting areas within New Zealand at the press of a single button.

    “These may be simple changes, but they reflect a government which is committed to making it easier for New Zealanders to go hunting and fishing on conservation land, and are willing to listen to the feedback of the hunting community to do so.”

    This new system will be launched by the Department in Conservation in May.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fitting the ‘missing puzzle pieces’ – research sheds light on the deep history of social change in West Papua

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dylan Gaffney, Associate Professor of Palaeolithic Archaeology, University of Oxford

    Tristan Russell, CC BY-SA

    Owing to its violent political history, West Papua’s vibrant human past has long been ignored.

    Unlike its neighbour, the independent country of Papua New Guinea, West Papua’s cultural history is poorly understood. But now, for the first time, we have recorded this history in detail, shedding light on 50 millennia of untold stories of social change.

    By examining the territory’s archaeology, anthropology and linguistics, our new book fits together the missing puzzle pieces in Australasia’s human history. The book is the first to celebrate West Papua’s deep past, involving authors from West Papua itself, as well as Indonesia, Australasia and beyond.

    The new evidence shows West Papua is central to understanding how humans moved from Eurasia into the Australasian region, how they adapted to challenging new environments, independently developed agriculture, exchanged genes and languages, and traded exquisitely crafted objects.

    Archaeological evidence shows that people migrating from Eurasia into the Australasian region came through West Papua.
    Dylan Gaffney, CC BY-SA

    Early seafaring and adaptation

    During the Pleistocene epoch (2.5 million to 12,000 years ago), West Papua was connected to Australia in a massive continent called Sahul.

    Archaeological evidence from the limestone chamber of Mololo Cave shows some of the first people to settle Sahul arrived on the shores of present-day West Papua. There they quickly adapted to a host of new ecologies.

    The precise date of arrival of the first seafaring groups on Sahul is debated. However, a tree resin artefact from Mololo has been radiocarbon dated to show this happened more than 50,000 years ago.

    Genetic analyses support this early arrival time to Sahul. Our work suggests these earliest seafarers crossed along the northern route, one of two passages through the Indonesian islands.

    Human dispersal to West Papua during the Pleistocene epoch (about 50,000 years ago) and during the Lapita period (more than 3,000 years ago).
    Dylan Gaffney, CC BY-SA

    Interestingly, the first migrants carried with them the genetic legacy of intermarriages between our species, Homo sapiens, and the Denisovans, a now extinct species of hominins that lived in eastern Asia. Geneticists currently dispute whether these encounters took place in Southeast Asia, along a northerly or southerly route to Sahul, or even in Sahul itself.

    In the same way modern European populations retain about 2% of Neanderthal ancestry, many West Papuans retain about 3% of Denisovan heritage.

    As the Earth warmed at the end of the Pleistocene, rising seas split Sahul apart. The large savannah plains that joined West Papua and Papua New Guinea to Australia were submerged around 8,000 years ago. Much of West Papua’s southern and western coastlines became islands.

    Social transformations during the past 10,000 years

    As environments changed, so did people’s cuisine and culture.

    We know from sites in Papua New Guinea that people developed their own agricultural systems between 10,000 and 6,000 years ago, at a similar time to innovations in Asia and the Americas. However, agricultural systems were not universally adopted across the island.

    New chemical evidence from human tooth enamel in West Papua shows people retained a wide variety of diets, from fish and shellfish to forest plants and marsupials.

    One of the key unanswered questions in West Papua’s history is when cultivation emerged and how it spread into other regions, including Southeast Asia. Taro, bananas, yams and sago were all initially cultivated in New Guinea and have become important staple crops around the world.

    Moses Dialom, an archaeological fieldwork collaborator from the Raja Ampat Islands, examines excavated artefacts at Mololo Cave.
    Tristan Russell, CC BY-SA

    The arrival of pottery, some 3,000 years ago, represents movements of new people to the Pacific. These are best illustrated by iconic Lapita pottery, recorded by archaeologists from Papua New Guinea all the way to Samoa and Tonga.

    Lapita pottery makers spoke Austronesian languages, which became the ancestors of today’s Polynesian languages, including Māori.

    New pottery discoveries from Mololo Cave suggest the ancestors of Lapita pottery makers existed somewhere around West Papua. Finding the location of these ancestral Lapita settlements is a major priority for archaeological research in the territory.

    Rock paintings provide evidence of social change in West Papua.
    Tristan Russell, CC BY-SA

    Other evidence for social transformations includes rock paintings and even bronze axes. The latter were imported all the way from mainland Southeast Asia to West Papua around 2,000 years ago. Metal working was not practised in West Papua at this time and chemical analyses show some of these artefacts were made in northern Vietnam.

    At all times in the past, people had a rich and complex material culture. But only a small fraction of these objects survive for archaeologists to study, especially in humid tropical conditions.

    People settled diverse environments around West Papua, including montane cloud forests (upper left), lowland rainforests (upper right), mangrove swamps (lower left) and coastal beaches (lower right).
    Dylan Gaffney, CC BY-SA

    Living traditions and the movement of objects

    From the early 1800s, when West Papua was part of the Dutch East Indies, colonial administrators, scientists and explorers exported tonnes of West Papuan artefacts to European museums. Sometimes the objects were traded or gifted, other times stolen outright.

    In the early 1900s, many objects were also burned by missionaries who saw Indigenous material culture as evidence of paganism. The West Papuan objects that now inhabit museums in Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand are connections between modern people and their ancestral traditions.

    Sometimes these objects represent people’s direct ancestors. Major work is currently underway to connect West Papuans with these collections and to repatriate some of these objects to museums in West Papua. Unfortunately, funding remains a central issue for these museums.

    Many West Papuans continue to produce and use wooden carvings, string bags and shell ornaments. Anthropologists have described how people are actively reconfiguring their material culture, especially given the presence of new synthetic materials and a cash economy.

    A montage of images showing West Papuan archaeologists in the field. (A) Klementin Fairyo, left, is setting up a new excavation. (B) Martinus Tekege excavating pottery. (C) Sonya Kawer with wartime archaeology. (D) Abdul Razak Macap, right, sieving for archaeological artefacts at Mololo Cave.
    Klementin Fairyo, Martinus Tekege, Sonya Kawer, Abdul Razak Macap, CC BY-SA

    Far from being “ancient” people caught in the stone age – a stereotype propagated in both Indonesian and international media – West Papuans are actively confronting the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

    Despite our new findings, West Papua remains an enigma for researchers. It has a land area twice the size of Aotearoa New Zealand, but there are fewer than ten known archaeological sites that have been radiocarbon dated.

    By contrast, Aotearoa has thousands of dated sites. This means West Papua is the least well researched part of the Pacific and there is much more work to be done. Crucially, Papuan scholars need to be at the heart of this research.

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

    – ref. Fitting the ‘missing puzzle pieces’ – research sheds light on the deep history of social change in West Papua – https://theconversation.com/fitting-the-missing-puzzle-pieces-research-sheds-light-on-the-deep-history-of-social-change-in-west-papua-250616

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Father and son rescued from Pipe Clay Lagoon

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Father and son rescued from Pipe Clay Lagoon

    Friday, 28 March 2025 – 10:55 am.

    A father and son from Risdon Vale have been rescued while fishing in Pipe Clay Lagoon in southern Tasmania overnight.
    About 11pm Thursday 27 March, the 43-year-old man and his 14-year-old son were flounder fishing in Pipe Clay Lagoon.
    They called emergency services for assistance after becoming disoriented and entering deep water several hundred metres from land.
    Senior Constable Callum Herbert from police search and rescue said the pair were located by uniform officers and at about 12.45am after support from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
    “They were pulled from the water by members from Marine and Rescue Services in a specialised shallow draught vessel.
    “They were then taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia.
    “The rescue of these two individuals is a timely reminder for any members of the public who undertake activities on the water.
    “If the response had been delayed, the outcome in this case could have been disastrous.
    “We urge you to be prepared, even in waters that seem calm or you are familiar with, always plan ahead by checking the weather forecast, ensuring you have appropriate safety equipment, including a working charged mobile phone.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW REPORT: Trump Leaves Over 46 Million Students Without Protection from Discrimination

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, March 27 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today released a new report finding that the Trump administration has left more than 46 million students in 27 states and territories without dedicated investigators to protect their educational civil rights. Due to President Trump’s efforts to abolish the Department of Education and fire half of its workforce, millions of students who face antisemitism and Islamophobia, students with disabilities, students who are sexually harassed and LGBTQ+ students who are bullied have been left without recourse or protection. Staffers who were abruptly fired were actively investigating over 6,800 civil rights cases throughout the country – including cases of antisemitism and many other forms of hate and discrimination. The report comes on the heels of a Republican-led hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. 

    The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) receives thousands of complaints alleging civil rights violations annually – including a record of nearly 22,700 complaints last year. Trump’s reckless layoffs have impacted at least 43 percent of OCR’s staff, including the entire staff at seven out of 12 of OCR’s regional offices. These firings subject thousands of students to potentially unsafe learning environments – or leave them out of school entirely. The department has not communicated any plan to schools, students or families to ensure continued civil rights enforcement. 

    “If we are serious about reducing the unacceptable rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism on college campuses, we should not be defunding and dismantling the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights,” said Sanders. “Unfortunately and unacceptably, that is precisely what President Trump, Elon Musk and his minions at DOGE are doing. 46 million students in 27 states and territories have been left without dedicated staff to investigate their discrimination complaints. The staffers who were abruptly fired were investigating over 6,800 civil rights cases throughout the country – including cases of antisemitism and many other forms of hate and discrimination. These cases are still pending. They have not been resolved. That is unacceptable.” 

    Here are some of the key findings from the report: 

    • Over 46 million students in 27 states and territories have been left without dedicated civil rights investigators to protect their rights and investigate their complaints.
    • Staff investigating over 6,800 cases of discrimination have been fired – including staff investigating 74 percent of the nation’s open cases regarding national origin discrimination involving religion, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
    • OCR investigators caseloads will explode by over 200 percent and may rise from 42 cases per investigator to 86 cases.

    Even before Trump’s layoffs, caseloads for OCR staff were far too high. Now, fewer staff will lead to fewer investigations conducted and completed and to more students facing harassment, abuse, and discrimination. This undermines the department’s ability to protect students’ civil rights and compromises its ability to deliver a high-quality education to 26 million children living in high-poverty school districts, 7 million students receiving Pell Grants, and 9.5 million students with disabilities, no matter their race, ethnicity, income, zip code or disability status.

    Sanders concluded: “We are the wealthiest country in the history of the world. We should have the best education system of any country in the world and ensure all of our kids can get a decent education no matter what their race, creed, color or gender may be.”

    Read the full report here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Colleagues Introduce Honor Farmer Contracts Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, legislation to release illegally withheld funding for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Trump’s USDA has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers will be paid the money they laid out and are owed. Farmers and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without funding they rightfully planned for and need to keep operating. This legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers all past due payments as quickly as possible to prevent them from having to shut down their operations. U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) will introduce companion legislation in the House.
    When farmers successfully apply to USDA programs and then spend their own dollars in reliance upon signed contracts with the agency, they rightfully expect that they will receive reimbursement. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. If not quickly made whole, these organizations will be forced to make agonizing decisions to lay off staff and stop helping farmers, destroying years of progress in advancing local food systems.
    “Farmers across the country have been in limbo ever since the USDA froze previously signed agreements and contracts, with many facing catastrophic consequences if these freezes continue,” said Senator Booker. “USDA’s refusal to pay what is owed to farmers and the organizations that support them is theft, plain and simple. It’s a critical time of year for farmers and ranchers. They should be doing what they love – feeding our communities, not worrying about unpaid contracts. This legislation will fix that by forcing USDA and the Trump Administration to hold up their end of the deal.”
    “Over the last two months, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities have been left in limbo – waiting for the USDA to honor its promises,” said Representative Vasquez. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act is about restoring trust and keeping our word to the hardworking people who feed America. When farmers sign contracts, they expect the government to follow through. It’s that simple. This bill will immediately unfreeze critical funding, ensure farmers are paid for their work, and reopen essential USDA offices that were shuttered without notice. This legislation is standing up for rural America, protecting family farms, and strengthening our food system. Let’s do right by our farmers – because when they thrive, we all do.”
    “Regardless of the size of the farm, the crops grown, or the geographic location, interrupting or terminating farmer contracts undermines our nation’s economic, military, and food security, and as a whole hampers community efforts to support the overall well-being of Americans,” said Devin Cornia, Executive Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey. “We are grateful to Senator Booker and his Team for their efforts to resume basic investments in our country’s future.” 
    “We thank Senator Booker and Congressman Vasquez for their leadership in forcing Secretary Rollins to honor USDA obligations. Farm Action Fund was proud to lead more than 300 organizations in support of their efforts,” said Joe Maxwell, president of Farm Action Fund. “When farmers shake hands, it’s a deal. No less should be expected of our government or the Trump administration.” 
    “On Farm Aid’s hotline, we’re hearing from farmers and farmer-serving organizations who have frozen and canceled federal funding, and we know these are only a few of the thousands from around the country,” said Hannah Tremblay, Farm Aid’s policy and advocacy manager. “USDA’s withholding of payments owed under signed, lawful contracts is causing turmoil across our food system–and it couldn’t come at a worse time. As farmers plan their growing season, uncertainty is among the most dangerous elements they have to grapple with. The effects of this funding freeze are likely to compound and severely impact all aspects of our food system – from seed and soil, to farmer and consumer. Farm Aid fully supports the Honor Farmer Contracts Act to end this unlawful freeze now!
    “During the last several months, countless farmers, and the community-based organizations who serve them, have had their livelihoods thrown into doubt as USDA has deliberated whether or not to honor its own legal contracts,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act unequivocally reiterates a bedrock principle – USDA must honor its own word, and swiftly meet its legal obligations to farmers and organizations by immediately releasing funding on all signed contracts. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition thanks Senator Booker and all Members standing alongside farmers in asking USDA to honor its commitments.”
    “Senator Booker’s proposed legislation to unfreeze funding for promises made to the Family Farmers who feed the rest of us is timely and appropriate,” said Michael Kovach, President, Pennsylvania Farmers Union. “It is unfortunate that it has been necessitated by some well-intentioned, but ill-conceived actions that effectively broke these promises. As so few charged with feeding so many, American Farmers need more support, not less.” 
    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
    Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
    Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
    Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
    Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
    To see the full list of organizations endorsing the Honors Farmers Contacts, click here.
    The Honors Farmers Contacts is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-Ill), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). 
    To read the full text of the bill, click here

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Questions Defense Nominees at Confirmation Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Secretary of the Air Force nominee Dr. Troy Meink and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment nominee Michael Duffey at their confirmation hearing.During the hearing, Senator Fischer urged Dr. Meink to utilize all available tools to accelerate the Sentinel program and ensure that the Department of Defense works to improve the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. She also asked him about his plans to grow and evolve the Space Force.
    Additionally, Senator Fischer questioned Mr. Duffey about his views on the importance of maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent. She emphasized that strengthening our nuclear triad and nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) systems should be the top priority of the Department and the foundation of our strategic planning.Fischer Questions Defense Leadership:
    Senator Fischer: Having a safe, effective, reliable, and credible nuclear deterrent is the cornerstone of our national defense. Currently, each leg of our nuclear triad is undergoing a generational recapitalization to better align with the projected threat. The Department of the Air Force is responsible for two of the three legs: the land-based ICBMs and our bomber fleet. Dr. Meink, in your answers to the committee’s advance policy questions, you stated that, “the ground leg of the nuclear triad – Minuteman III and, over time, Sentinel – are foundational to strategic deterrence and defense of the homeland.” I agree with that. I also believe that we have an opportunity, following the analysis done during the Nunn-McCurdy breach, to incorporate lessons learned and build a stronger, more enduring Sentinel program than was originally proposed. Dr. Meink, if confirmed, will you commit to utilizing all available tools to accelerate Sentinel emplacement and ensure that our nation’s ICBM capability does move forward?
    Dr. Meink: 
    Thank you, Senator. If confirmed, I will do so, and I do appreciate the one-on-one conversation we had on this topic. I am looking forward to diving into the results of the Nunn-McCurdy, and then also obviously working the B-21 and the other activities, from a nuclear perspective, the Department supports.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Mr. Duffey, if confirmed as Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, you will oversee all nuclear modernization efforts and serve as chair of the Nuclear Weapons Council. Can you provide us with a short summary of your views on why we need such a strong nuclear deterrent?
    Mr. Duffey: 
    Madam Chair, thank you for the question, and yes, I look forward, if confirmed, to assisting in leading the department in the oversight of the nuclear modernization program. Nuclear modernization, as you mentioned, is the backbone of our strategic deterrent, and ensuring that we have a modern, capable nuclear enterprise that not only includes the B-21, which is a successful acquisition program by all accounts, but the Columbia-class submarine and the Sentinel nuclear ICBM are critical. As chair of the Nuclear Weapons Council, I look forward to the partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, working with this committee to ensure that we maintain the highest quality systems that not only deliver the weapons but the nuclear command and control system that would be required for a safe and secure deployment, if necessary. And I think it’s absolutely critical that we ensure that we have accelerated acquisition of those capabilities. Thank you.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Would you agree that our triad, along with NC3, the deterrent it provides, truly is the priority of the department, and that it underpins all of our strategic planning?
    Mr. Duffey: 
    I absolutely agree with that. Yes, ma’am.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Thank you. Dr. Meink, I believe we’re finally on a better path when it comes to space programs, and I’m impressed by what our Guardians have achieved over the last several years. But the Space Force is still a young organization, and there are likely still growing pains ahead. I am encouraged that the President nominated someone for this program with deep expertise in space programs. Dr. Meink, what’s your vision for how the Space Force should grow and how it should evolve as a service?
    Dr. Meink: 
    Thank you for the question, Senator. Yes, I’ve been fortunate enough to work space systems, both on the Air Force side, which then became the Space Force side, as well as from the IC side. Space is critical. This is actually one of the areas that we’re most challenged, I believe, from the rapidly evolving threat from China and others, both the direct threat to our systems as well as the threat those systems pose to our operations across the Department in general. I think the key to both acquisition and operations is making sure you have the best talented workforce. These are some of the most complicated systems, and if the U.S. is going to maintain our advantage, which we need to do in space, we need to make sure we have the right workforce. The Space Force is in the process of growing. I will support that activity to make sure we have the right numbers and the right skill set, and then make sure that the acquisitions themselves are delivering and that they’re getting into operation.
    Senator Fischer: 
    Can you give me a quick example of what new capabilities you think Space Force should be focusing on to acquire? Just a quick example?
    Dr. Meink:
     I think some of the space control and counter space systems are critical. Senator, I can’t dive into too many of the details, but that is probably the area that we’re being most stressed from a threat perspective.
    Senator Fischer:
     Okay, thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey, Congressman McGovern Introduce Legislation to Protect Deerfield River

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Bill Text (PDF)

    Washington (March 27, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (MA-02) today reintroduced the Deerfield River Wild and Scenic River Study Act, legislation to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the Deerfield River to identify portions of the river and its tributaries that could be incorporated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Deerfield River runs from southern Vermont through western Massachusetts to the Connecticut River and historically served as a travel route for native communities alongside the Mohawk Trail. Today, the river continues to serve as an invaluable resource for surrounding neighborhoods and the environment.

    “Deeply rooted in our Commonwealth’s history, the Deerfield River carries invaluable natural, cultural, and recreational value,” said Senator Markey. “From swimming and rafting to canoeing and fly fishing, the Deerfield River continues to serve as an important resource for Massachusetts families and visitors to the region. I am proud to join Congressman McGovern in reintroducing this legislation that will protect and preserve this natural beauty for generations to come.”

    “The Deerfield River is truly one of New England’s greatest natural treasures, with outstanding whitewater boating, scenery and fishing, and the Deerfield River Watershed Association is excited to work with Senator Markey and Ranking Member McGovern to introduce legislation to consider the Deerfield River for potential addition to the National?Wild and Scenic River System. To date, we have garnered the support of 21 watershed communities, including 14 Massachusetts communities and 7 Vermont towns, as well as 12 regional and state organizations, for this initiative, demonstrating the broad-based support for protecting this beautiful river,” said Christopher Curtis, Vice President of the Deerfield River Watershed Association.

    In February 2019, Senator Markey introduced legislation to designate portions of the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as scenic rivers under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, which was then signed into law that year under part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Murkowski Propose New Tax Credit to Promote Hydropower Facility Upgrades & Keep Energy Costs Affordable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    03.27.25

    Cantwell, Murkowski Propose New Tax Credit to Promote Hydropower Facility Upgrades & Keep Energy Costs Affordable

    Bipartisan legislation creates new federal incentive for dam safety and fish passage improvements, as well as help fund removal of obsolete river obstructions

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined Susan Collins (R-ME), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), in re-introducing bipartisan legislation to establish a new 30% federal tax incentive to encourage safety upgrades and improve fish passage at existing hydroelectric facilities, measures that will help ensure clean and affordable hydropower is able to continue power the Pacific Northwest economy. The bill would also create an additional complementary 30% tax credit to remove unused river barriers that do not produce electricity but are harming local ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities.

    “Clean and affordable hydropower is the backbone of Washington state’s economy and prosperity,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This measure will help ensure we can meet our urgent emission reduction goals while restoring miles of fish habitat.”

    “Hydropower provides clean, reliable, and affordable baseload energy around Alaska, but we’ve just begun to tap into our potential for this abundant resource,” Senator Murkowski said. “Our common sense legislation incentivizes hydropower along with innovation that will enhance grid resiliency, make our dams safer, and allow our fish habitats to thrive.”

    The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2025;

    • Establishes a 30% federal tax incentive to encourage upgrades to the safety and security of existing dams, investments that expand fish passage infrastructure, and improvements to water quality and recreational use opportunities at hydropower project sites. 
    • Establishes a first ever federal cost-share to encourage the removal of obsolete obstructions that harm river ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities.

    Both these tax incentives are available to be accessed by not-for-profit entities.

    The bipartisan Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act is widely supported by a number of key hydropower, utility, and conservation organizations — go HERE for a list of quotes from stakeholders

    Hydropower accounts for 5.7% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2023, including approximately sixty percent of Washington state’s total and is a vital component of state and regional greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Hydropower also has the unique ability to provide black start capabilities, grid voltage support, and integrate and balance increasing amounts of intermittent renewable energy sources.

    Many hydroelectric dams are decades old and face costly upgrades to keep them operational while providing affordable electricity. The current Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that covers hydropower only applies to investments that produce a marginal increase in power generation.

    This bipartisan legislation helps bridge the gap in current law by incentivizing upgrades that don’t result in power increases but are vitally important like adding fish-friendly turbines, fish ladders, and adding or replacing floodgates and spillways. Private, state, local, and non-profit groups can use the 30% federal tax incentive, with a direct pay option, to support efforts to demolish and remove unnecessary barriers with the owner’s consent.

    A joint proposal from the hydropower and river conservation community estimated that increased support for existing dam removal efforts could double the removal rate over the next ten years. That would result in the removal of 2,000 obsolete river obstructions and restore ecosystem functions essential for salmon recovery by opening up 20,000 miles of free-flowing river habitat.

    Sen. Cantwell has long been a consistent champion for hydropower production and pumped storage, including bipartisan legislation to reduce licensing barriers for small hydropower development, improve the FERC relicensing process to incentivize “early action” by utilities to make upgrades to dams that benefit ratepayers and the environment, maximize hydropower generation capacity where appropriate, and streamline pumped storage project approval.

    Last summer, Sen. Cantwell hosted a Pacific Northwest Energy Summit, to bring stakeholders together to discuss technological and policy solutions that will ensure NW ratepayers and our regional economy continue to benefit from abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy: Republicans Apply a Different Set of Rules for Elon Musk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    March 27, 2025

    [embedded content]

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to object to a Republican request for unanimous consent to pass a resolution that claims to condemn domestic terrorism but instead gives special treatment to Elon Musk. Murphy slammed the hypocrisy of condemning violence against Musk’s businesses while excusing the January 6th rioters who brutally attacked Capitol Police officers.

    “Come on, this resolution is not about violence or domestic terrorism. It just isn’t,” said Murphy. “This is a resolution that says one thing and one thing only: Elon Musk is in charge. He matters more than anybody else. Musk is subject to a different set of rules than everybody else. The Trump administration serves him, not us. The Republican Party serves him, not us. Elon Musk right now is effectively stealing from the American people. He is combing through our government, awarding himself contracts, canceling contracts for his competitors. He is shutting down agencies that stand in the way of his business [and] his growth. He’s giving himself access to secret information about government enforcement actions against his competitors.”

    “He is also, at the same time, currently the largest funder of Republican politics in the nation,” Murphy continued. “He spent a quarter of a billion dollars backing President Trump’s campaign. He recently told the president that he would contribute another $100 million to the president’s political arm, and guess what? At that same time, the president stood on the White House lawn to give a taxpayer-funded commercial for Elon Musk’s cars. That’s corruption at a scale that we have not seen before in this country. The integration of the Trump White House and the Republican Party and the business interests of the richest man in the world. It’s wrong.”

    Murphy highlighted the resolution’s pandering to Elon Musk despite thousands of other domestic terrorism incidents: “This resolution claims to say something about domestic terrorism, but the only terrorism, the only violence it mentions, is violence carried out against – you guessed it – Elon Musk. On an annual basis, there are 11,000 reported incidents of domestic terrorism. 11,000. Only a handful of them impact Tesla dealerships, but they’re the only acts of violence mentioned in this resolution. 52% of the reported attacks were based on racial or ethnic targeting by radicalized attackers, but they aren’t mentioned in this resolution. Only Elon Musk is mentioned in this resolution. Because a different set of rules apply to him. Because he is in charge, and he deserves protection that no one else gets. He deserves a White House TV commercial for his cars. He deserves to give himself contracts and steal from his competitors. He deserves to have his own resolution.”

    Murphy proposed the Senate also agree to a resolution expressing disapproval of the pardons of January 6th rioters: “This resolution just says that the specific set of people who viciously attacked police officers – the ones that hit the police officers over the head with metal poles – that those people shouldn’t have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card. And so why don’t we just be consistent? We don’t we say that violence matters when it’s committed against Elon Musk’s dealerships, and it matters when it’s committed against the people that protect us? And so my offer is to just pass both resolutions right now. Right now, we could just agree by unanimous consent to your resolution, and we could agree as a body that you shouldn’t pardon the people who brutally beat the people who show up every day to protect us. They matter, too. Elon Musk isn’t the only person that matters.”

    A full transcript of his remarks can be found below:

    MURPHY: “Mr. President, thank you. Reserving the right to object. Come on, this resolution is not about violence or domestic terrorism. It just isn’t. This is a resolution that says one thing and one thing only: Elon Musk is in charge. He matters more than anybody else. 

    “Musk is subject to a different set of rules than everybody else. The Trump administration serves him, not us. The Republican Party serves him, not us. Elon Musk right now is effectively stealing from the American people. He is combing through our government, awarding himself contracts, canceling contracts for his competitors. He is shutting down agencies that stand in the way of his business [and] his growth. He’s giving himself access to secret information about government enforcement actions against his competitors. 

    “He is also, at the same time, currently the largest funder of Republican politics in the nation. He spent a quarter of a billion dollars backing President Trump’s campaign. He recently told the president that he would contribute another $100 million to the president’s political arm, and guess what? At that same time, the president stood on the White House lawn to give a taxpayer-funded commercial for Elon Musk’s cars. That’s corruption at a scale that we have not seen before in this country. The integration of the Trump White House and the Republican Party and the business interests of the richest man in the world. It’s wrong. 

    “This resolution claims to say something about domestic terrorism, but the only terrorism, the only violence it mentions, is violence carried out against – you guessed it – Elon Musk. 

    “On an annual basis, there are 11,000 reported incidents of domestic terrorism. 11,000. Only a handful of them impact Tesla dealerships, but they’re the only acts of violence mentioned in this resolution. 52% of the reported attacks were based on racial or ethnic targeting by radicalized attackers, but they aren’t mentioned in this resolution. Only Elon Musk is mentioned in this resolution. Because a different set of rules apply to him. Because he is in charge, and he deserves protection that no one else gets. He deserves a White House TV commercial for his cars. He deserves to give himself contracts and steal from his competitors. He deserves to have his own resolution. 

    “And people are asking why? Why does the richest man in the country get this special treatment? To most people it feels pretty fishy. It definitely feels wrong. Now I hate violence of any kind, whether it’s perpetrated against right, left, or center. I’ve spent my life on this floor fighting violence. But I also hate inconsistency. 

    “So I’m going to make my colleague a pretty reasonable offer here. At the same time that President Trump is saying that he’s going to vigorously pursue people that attack Tesla dealerships, he’s giving pardons to the people who beat the hell out of Capitol Police officers. So I don’t think we should consent to a resolution that says we care about violence but only when it is committed against the business interests of the richest man in the world. 

    “I have a way to solve that problem. Senator Murray has a really simple resolution. A resolution that expresses our disapproval of the pardons that were issued for the very specific set of individuals who on January 6th brutally attacked Capitol Police officers. Now I understand that many of my Republican colleagues think that the people who trespassed here shouldn’t have been prosecuted. Let’s set aside that disagreement. This resolution just says that the specific set of people who viciously attacked police officers – the ones that hit the police officers over the head with metal poles – that those people shouldn’t have been given a get-out-of-jail-free card. And so why don’t we just be consistent? We don’t we say that violence matters when it’s committed against Elon Musk’s dealerships, and it matters when it’s committed against the people that protect us? And so my offer is to just pass both resolutions right now. Right now, we could just agree by unanimous consent to your resolution, and we could agree as a body that you shouldn’t pardon the people who brutally beat the people who show up every day to protect us. They matter, too. Elon Musk isn’t the only person that matters. Capitol Police officers matter, too. 

    “So I’d ask the Senator to modify her request to add the following: that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 42, a resolution condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers, that the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. If we agree to move forward on this unanimous consent, I think we can move forward on the Senator’s request as well.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Cantwell Reintroduce Bill to Support Hydropower Development

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    03.27.25
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today reintroduced their Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, which supports the development of hydroelectricity infrastructure by establishing a federal tax incentive to increase security and capacity of existing dams. This comes after Murkowski recently cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) to approve extensions for hydropower projects licensed before 2020, which will bolster projects that have been impacted by supply chain shortages and construction delays.
    “Hydropower provides clean, reliable, and affordable baseload energy around Alaska, but we’ve just begun to tap into our potential for this abundant resource,” Murkowski said. “Our common sense legislation incentivizes hydropower along with innovation that will enhance grid resiliency, make our dams safer, and allow our fish habitats to thrive.”
    “Thirty percent of Alaska’s electric energy comes from hydro and recent studies indicate significant opportunities for additional hydropower development. The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Lisa Murkowski, is critically important to the continued development and enhancement of hydropower in Alaska and throughout the nation,” Crystal Enkvist, Executive Director of the Alaska Power Association said. “Specifically, the ‘approved remote dam’ and the ‘interconnection property’ provisions are especially beneficial for Alaska because they allow for the construction of certain dams and the transmission necessary for those dams to be covered under a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC). Funding support for the construction of new hydro is absolutely what we need in Alaska. In addition to funding for new hydroelectric facilities, the 30 percent ITC incentivizes environmental improvements and dam safety upgrades at existing hydropower facilities. This is must-pass legislation that moves the needle for the advancement of hydropower.”
    “The Alaska Independent Power Producers Association appreciates the hard work by our Alaska delegation to support hydropower,” Joel Groves, President of the Alaska Independent Power Producers Association said. “We are pleased and readily support Senator Murkowski’s and Senator Sullivan’s leadership on the reintroduction of the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydropower and River Restoration bill. This legislation will move our Nation and our State towards enhanced energy security by supporting responsible hydropower development and enhancement. This legislation wisely positions America toward a brighter and more robust energy future and resultant economic prosperity.”
    “Federal support is critical to assist with the initial high capital costs of developing hydropower, which becomes our most secure and affordable energy option for future generations,” said Clay Koplin, CEO of the Cordova Electric Cooperative.
    The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act would establish:
    A 30% federal tax incentive to encourage upgrades to the safety and security of existing dams, investments that expand fish passage infrastructure, and improvements to water quality and recreational use opportunities at hydropower project sites; and 
    A first-ever federal cost-share to encourage the removal of obsolete obstructions that harm river ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities.
    Both incentives would be available to be accessed by not-for-profit entities.
    The bill is cosponsored by Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Angus King (I-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
    To learn more about hydropower in Alaska, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Australians almost never vote out a first-term government. So why is this year’s election looking so tight?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Pandanus Petter, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University

    Now that an election has been called, Australian voters will go to the polls on May 3 to decide the fate of the first-term, centre-left Australian Labor Party government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

    In Australia, national elections are held every three years. The official campaign period only lasts for around a month.

    This time around, Albanese will be seeking to hold onto power after breaking Labor’s nine-year dry spell by beating the more right-leaning Liberal Party, led by Scott Morrison, in 2022.

    Now, he’s up against the Liberals’ new leader, a conservative with a tough guy image, Peter Dutton. It’s looking like a tight race.

    So how do elections work in Australia, who’s contesting for the top spot and why is the race looking so close?

    For Albanese, the honeymoon is over

    Albanese was brought into power in 2022 on the back of dissatisfaction with the long-term and scandal-prone Liberal-National Coalition government.

    At the time, he was considered personally more competent, warm and sensible than Morrison.

    Unfortunately for Albanese, the dissatisfaction and stress about the cost of living hasn’t gone away.

    Governments in Australia almost always win a second term. However, initially high levels of public support have dissipated over the first term. Opinion polls are pointing to a close election, though Albanese’s approval ratings have had a boost in recent weeks.

    At the heart of what makes this such a tight contest are issues shared by many established democracies: the public’s persistent sense of economic hardship in the post-pandemic period and longer-term dissatisfaction with “politics as usual”, combined with an increased focus on party leaders.

    Around the world, incumbents have faced challenges holding onto power over the past year, with voters sweeping out the Conservatives in the United Kingdom and the Democrats in the United States.

    Australia has faced some similar economic challenges, such as relatively high inflation and cost-of-living problems.

    Likewise, Australia – like many other established democracies – has long-term trends of dissatisfaction with major parties and the political system itself.

    However, this distaste with “business as usual” manifests differently in Australia from comparable countries such the UK and US.

    Australia’s voting system

    In Australia, voting is compulsory, and those who fail to turn out face a small fine. Some observers have argued this pushes parties to try to persuade “swing” voters with more moderate policies, rather than rely on their faithful “bases” and court those with more extreme views who are more likely to vote.

    In the UK, by comparison, widespread public distaste with the Conservatives, combined with low turnout and first-past-the-post voting, delivered Keir Steirmer’s Labour Party a dramatic victory. This was despite a limited uptick in support.

    And in the US, turnout in the 2024 election was only about 64%. Donald Trump and the Republicans swept to power last year by channelling a deep anti-establishment sentiment among those people who voted.

    And the country is now so polarised, that the more strongly identifying Democrat and Republican voters who do turn out to vote can’t see eye to eye on highly emotionally charged issues which dominate the parties’ platforms. Independent voters are left without “centrist” options.

    Because Australia’s voting system is different, Dutton is unlikely to follow Trump’s far-right positioning too closely, despite dabbling in the “anti-woke” culture wars.

    It also explains why Albanese’s personal style is usually quite mild-mannered and why he’s unlikely to present himself as a radical reformer.

    However, neither man’s approach has made them wildly popular with the public. This means neither can rely on their own popularity to win over the public.

    Another factor making Australia distinct is that voters rank their choices, with their vote flowing to their second choice if their first choice doesn’t achieve a majority. This means many races in the 150-seat lower house of parliament are won from second place.

    Similarly, seats in the Senate (Australia’s second chamber, with the power to amend or block legislation) are won based on the proportion of votes a party receives in each state or territory. This gives minor parties and independents a better chance at winning seats compared to the lower house.

    This means dissatisfaction with the major parties has in recent years created space for minor parties and a new crop of well-organised independents to get elected and influence policy. In 2022, around one-third of voters helped independents and minor parties take seats off both the Liberals and Labor in the inner cities.

    To win government, Dutton will need to get them back, or take more volatile outer-suburban seats off Labor.

    The big policy concerns

    Against this backdrop, Australian voters both in 2022 and today have a fairly consistent set of policy concerns. And while parties want to be seen addressing them, their messaging isn’t always heard.

    The 2022 Australian Election Study, run by Australian political researchers, revealed that pessimism about the economy and concerns about the cost of living were front of mind when Australians voted out the Liberal-National Coalition government last federal election.

    This time around, one might think some relative improvement in economic factors like unemployment and cuts to interest rates would put a spring in the prime minister’s step.

    However, the public is still very concerned about the day-to-day cost-of-living pressures and practical issues such as access to health care.

    The government’s policy efforts in this direction – for example, tax cuts and subsidies for power bills – have so far not strongly cut through.

    What have the major parties promised?

    Comparing the parties’ platforms, Labor is firmly focused on economic and government service issues to support people in the short term.

    Although expected to announce the election earlier, Albanese was handed the opportunity of delivering an extra budget by a tropical storm in early March. This included spending promises foreshadowed earlier, as well as a new modest tax cut as an election sweetener.

    In the longer term, Labor has promised significant incentives to improve access to free doctor’s visits and focused on investments in women’s health, as well as technological infrastructure.

    Labor is also encouraging more people to fill skill shortages through vocational education and promising to make the transition to renewable energy, while simultaneously supporting local manufacturing.

    The Coalition, for its part, has been critical of these long-term goals and promised to repeal the newly legislated tax cuts in favour of subsidies for petrol. It has focused its message on reduced government spending, while strategically mirroring promises on health to avoid Labor attacks on that front.

    Dutton has also proposed cuts to migration to reduce housing pressures and a controversial plan to build nuclear power plants at the expense of renewables.

    Will these differences in long-term plans cut through? Or are people focused on short-term, hip-pocket concerns?

    This election, whatever the result, will not represent a long-term shifting of loyalties, but rather a precarious compact with distrustful voters looking for relief in uncertain times.

    Pandanus Petter is employed at the Australian National University with funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Australians almost never vote out a first-term government. So why is this year’s election looking so tight? – https://theconversation.com/australians-almost-never-vote-out-a-first-term-government-so-why-is-this-years-election-looking-so-tight-250249

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –