NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: HHS Folds to Grassley Oversight, Reverses Course on $89 Billion Biden-Era Contract Awarded to Shady Nonprofit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    Washington Free Beacon: HHS to Reevaluate $89 Billion Contract Awarded to Shadowy University of California Nonprofit
    Sen. Chuck Grassley hails agency’s decision to reverse Biden’s ‘outrageous’ award
    Andrew Kerr
    April 30, 2025

    The National Institutes of Health is having second thoughts about a behemoth $89 billion contract it awarded to a seemingly dormant California nonprofit organization during the final days of former president Joe Biden’s term.

    The National Cancer Institute, a subsidiary of the NIH, awarded a 25-year, $89 billion contract to the Alliance for Advancing Biomedical Research to operate a cancer research lab at Maryland’s Fort Detrick on January 17, just three days before Biden left office. The reward marked a remarkable turn of fortune for the nascent nonprofit organization, which shares close ties to the University of California’s National Laboratories but hadn’t raised or spent a penny since its founding in 2022, according to its available Form 990 tax filings. The nonprofit group exists with the “specific purpose to operate exclusively for the benefit of, to perform the functions of, and/or to carry out the purposes of The Regents of the University of California,” according to its 2022 tax filing.

    But the Alliance for Advancing Biomedical Research now risks seeing its multibillion-dollar taxpayer-funded windfall slip through its fingers, according to an April 8 notice obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, showing that the Department of Health and Human Services—NIH’s parent agency—is reevaluating all the original bids for the contract and will possibly award it to another company.

    The agency’s move came just weeks after Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) sent a letter in late February to the NIH demanding to know why the agency awarded the massive contract to an untested nonprofit with close ties to the University of California, a system that, according to the senator, not only has a history of spending around 40 percent of its federal research funding on administrative costs, but also has a dubious record of leaving its laboratories open to national security breaches by the Chinese Communist Party.

    “It’s outrageous Biden’s NIH shoved a nearly $90 billion contract out the door just days before President Trump returned to office,” Grassley told the Free Beacon. “Even worse, the money would have flowed to an organization that can’t clearly protect itself from adversaries like China. I’m very glad HHS heeded my calls to reverse course and is now re-evaluating its initial proposal. I urge the department to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars as it works to defeat cancer and save lives.”

    …

    The nonprofit’s close ties to the University of California was of great concern to Grassley, who noted in his February 26 letter to NIH acting director Matthew Memoli that the university has a record of keeping about 40 percent of its federal research funding for research costs, a figure that far exceeds the Trump administration’s cap on such expenditures at 15 percent.

    “It is critical to ensure taxpayer-funded research dollars are actually spent on research, not university administrative expenses,” Grassley wrote in his letter.

    Grassley also said he was concerned about the University of California’s well-documented failure to protect its labs from security breaches by China’s government.

    “It has been reported that between 1987 and 2021, at least 162 scientists who had worked at Los Alamos [National Laboratory] returned to China to support a variety of domestic research and development programs, including at least 59 who were involved with China’s talent programs,” Grassley wrote. “It appears that the University of California’s inability to keep China out of U.S. R&D is an issue that spans nearly four decades.”

    …

    HHS notified Leidos on April 9 that NIH had taken the “voluntary corrective action” to reevaluate the initial contract proposals and possibly make a new reward determination, according to a letter obtained by the Free Beacon.

    …

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. pronounces provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival

    The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.  

    Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As we learn more about the victims, we are also learning their loss is felt deeply across the province.

    This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province.

    The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province. It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witnessed the horrific scene, and to offer deep appreciation to community partners, the police, paramedics and those working at the hospitals for their dedicated service at a trying time. Hundreds of volunteers and community members are also stepping up to help at a trying time.

    A backgrounder follows.

    People in British Columbia impacted by the tragic events at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival can access the following supports:

    • Anyone who witnessed or experienced trauma at the event is encouraged to access resources through the VPD Victim Services Unit: 604 717-3321 and VictimLinkBC: call or text 1 800 563-0808, or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca to be connected to services that can help, including counselling resources. For details, visit: https://victimlinkbc.ca/
    • ICBC supports are available for people who have been injured, as well as witnesses and the family members of those killed, including counselling. For more information, visit: https://icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/2025-04-27-lapu-lapu-tragedy
    • B.C.’s crisis line at 310-6789 (no area code needed) is available for anyone who needs mental-health supports. Crisis lines provide immediate support in the moment, as well as connections to ongoing supports.
    • Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits are available to victims, immediate family members and witnesses: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits
    • School districts are also taking action to support students, staff and families, including making more counsellors available. A list of resources has also been sent out to districts throughout the province to provide to students and their families looking for support.
    • Supports are available for first responders and health-care workers who are on the front lines, and we encourage all workers to reach out to their employers and/or unions if they are struggling.
    • BC Emergency Health Service’s (BCEHS) Critical Incident Management Stress team is providing mental-health and wellness support to employees who have been affected by these events in addition to the support provided by BCEHS leaders and supervisors. 
    • Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) staff and medical staff can contact the VCH Employee and Family Assistance Program to access confidential counselling and wellness any time, 24/7.

    The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) is working closely with the City of Vancouver and meeting with Filipino BC, the Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA), the Red Cross, United Way and other partners to identify further supports required.

    Those wishing to sign the book of condolences for victims of this tragedy can visit the Hall of Honour at the B.C. legislature or visit: https://submit.digital.gov.bc.ca/app/form/submit?f=f4944988-5402-45a8-bb9c-7b2a95f928d9

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 30th, 2025 Heinrich Announces Legislation to Combat Gun Trafficking, Protect Communities from Gun Violence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Legislation builds on Heinrich’s work to increase criminal penalties for straw purchases and stop illegal gun trafficking out of our country
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the core bipartisan group of senators who negotiated and passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), co-sponsored the Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act, legislation to protect communities from gun violence by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of machinegun conversion devices including ‘auto-sears’ — illegal gun modification devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons — and seize all profits that come from the illegal trafficking of these devices.
    “I’m proud that the provisions I wrote in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act have already led to hundreds of arrests and kept firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals. But with at least 91 mass shooting in the United States already this year, it’s clear we have more work to do,” said Heinrich. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act, which will help law enforcement keep New Mexicans safe from gun violence by providing new tools to combat illegal gun trafficking.”
    Specifically, the Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act will: 

    Direct the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of the Treasury to develop a coordinated national strategy to prevent or intercept the importation and trafficking of automatic gun conversion devices;

    The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.),  Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 
    The legislation is endorsed by GIFFORDS and Brady: United Against Gun Violence.
    The text of the bill is here. 
    Heinrich-Led Gun Trafficking and Straw Purchase Provisions: 
    Heinrich-led provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act increased criminal penalties for straw purchasers and made it a crime, for the first time ever, to traffic firearms out of the United States. Straw purchasers are people who buy guns for those who cannot buy them directly themselves due to their age, felony criminal convictions, or other limitations. By increasing penalties for straw purchasing, Heinrich’s provision is helping to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who would use them against our communities. By making it illegal to traffic firearms out of the country, Heinrich’s provision gave law enforcement the tools needed to prosecute and disrupt the flow of firearms to Mexico and the Northern Triangle, fueling the violence that has driven so many to flee their home countries.  
    To date, the Department of Justice has charged more than 600 defendants using BSCA’s gun trafficking and straw purchasing laws, removing hundreds of firearms off the streets in the process. These cases are significant, often preventing and prosecuting highly dangerous activity, such as crimes linked to organized trafficking rings and transnational criminal organizations.  
    For example, in March 2024, the Justice Department charged several defendants with trafficking and straw purchasing over 100 firearms, including many military-grade weapons, that were allegedly intended to be smuggled to a Mexican drug cartel. In April 2024, a defendant was sentenced to 276 months in prison for firearms trafficking and straw purchasing, as well as distribution of fentanyl, where the evidence showed that two of the trafficked firearms had been used in gang-related shootings. In 2o23, a defendant was sentenced to two years in prison for running an illegal gun trafficking enterprise, repeatedly taking money to lie on firearm purchase forms and obtain weapons for convicted felons. 
    In New Mexico, the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico has charged 11 defendants with BSCA violations. 
    Heinrich’s Longtime Leadership to Tackle Gun Violence:
    A gun owner and father, Heinrich has long worked to advance and pass bipartisan policies that save lives, protect public safety, and reduce gun violence.
    This month, Heinrich introduced his Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act and bipartisan Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act, commonsense legislation designed to protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.
    Heinrich recently convened a press conference in Albuquerque with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, community leaders, and students to announce the introduction of his GOSAFE Act. For photos and videos of that event, click here.

    In October 2024, Heinrich secured critical funding for New Mexico law enforcement to purchase four new NIBIN machines for Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup, and Roswell. This allows law enforcement to trace firearms used in crimes and hold criminals accountable, all while saving officers valuable time and resources.
    In 2017, Heinrich cosponsored the bipartisan Fix NICS Act, which now requires federal and state authorities to produce background check implementation plans and holds federal agencies accountable for reporting relevant criminal records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). He also led the successful call to repeal the Dickey Amendment, which had previously prevented the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from funding research on gun violence and its effects on public health.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW: Baldwin Exposes Trump Administration for Stopping $47 Million from Treatment for Cancer Patients

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, exposed that the Trump administration has stopped $47 million in funding for critical cancer treatment at nine National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Centers across the country. NCI Cancer Centers are some of the top medical and research institutions that lead the fight against cancer through research, treatment, and public education. At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research, Baldwin asked Emily Stenson, whose daughter with stage 4 cancer participated in clinical trials funded by NCI at Seattle Children’s Hospital, what threats to this care mean to similar families.

    “The Trump administration is at it again – as families battling cancer are relying on clinical trials or treatment to fight another day, the Trump administration is pulling the rug out from under them and defunding the very cancer centers that patients rely on to get lifesaving care,” said Senator Baldwin. “They think we won’t notice, but I do. Cancer treatment is not something that can just be put on hold or stopped – ask any family who is in this fight. President Trump is squeezing Wisconsin families – now, including cancer patients – every way he can, all so he can fund a tax break for his wealthy allies, and it needs to stop.”

    The funding that has been halted at NCI-designated cancer centers across the country includes, cancer centers at Dana Faber, Dartmouth, Ohio State, Duke, University of Virginia, University of Colorado, New York University, St. Jude, and Rutgers University. NCI Cancer Centers are responsible for developing cutting-edge and innovative approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Senator Baldwin uncovered that nearly half of NCI’s Cancer Center Support Grants had renewal dates in the first few months of 2025 have not been awarded or funded.  

    At the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Mrs. Stenson discussed her daughter Charlie’s pediatric cancer diagnosis and the clinical trials at Seattle Children’s Hospital that Charlie participated in.

    During the first 100 days, the Trump Administration has taken unprecedented actions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that are having devastating impacts on biomedical research, innovation, national security, and America’s competitiveness. Last month, Senator Baldwin revealed that the Trump administration halted $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Head Start Alum Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Blast Attacks to Head Start, Demand RFK Jr. Immediately Release Funding, Reverse Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Head Start Alum Senator Reverend Warnock, Colleagues Blast Attacks to Head Start, Demand RFK Jr. Immediately Release Funding, Reverse Firings

    Senators Reverend Warnock and Patty Murray led a total of 41 lawmakers in demanding answers on Trump administration’s actions undermining Head Start, as President Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the program

    Senator Reverend Warnock is one of two Head Start alum currently serving in the Senate

    Senator Reverend Warnock is a founding member of the Head Start Caucus

    Senator Reverend Warnock previously introduced the bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act), which would boost the childcare workforce and increase access to Early Head Start programs

    Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers: “Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff, and gut high-quality services for children”

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) led 41 of their Senate colleagues in an effort calling out the Trump administration’s direct attacks on Head Start. The letter, addressed to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighted his legal obligation to administer the program, and demanded HHS immediately release Head Start funding and reverse the mass firing of Head Start staff and gutting of the offices that help ensure high-quality services are available for thousands of children and families across the country.

    “We write to express our strong opposition to the actions you have taken to directly attack and undermine the federal Head Start program. Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff, and gut high-quality services for children. Already this year, this Administration has withheld almost $1 billion in federal grant funding from Head Start programs, a 37 percent decrease compared to the amount of funding awarded during the same period last year,” wrote the lawmakers. “It is abundantly clear that these actions are part of a broader effort to ultimately eliminate the program altogether, as the Administration reportedly plans to do in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.”

    “You even acknowledged the value of Head Start following a recent visit to a Virginia Head Start center,” the lawmakers continued, contrasting that statement of support with the Trump administration’s actions. “However, as a result of your actions to withhold and delay funding and undermine the administration of this vital program, Head Start centers are in serious jeopardy and have already had their day to day operations impacted. Programs are increasingly worried that they will not be able to make payroll, pay rent, and remain open to serve the hundreds of thousands of children and families who depend on their services in communities across the nation.”

    Importantly, they note that without funding, which has so far not gone out the door, many more programs could be forced to close.

    “[W]e urge you to immediately reinstate fired staff across all Offices of Head Start, and cease all actions to delay the awarding and disbursement of funding to Head Start programs across this country,” the Senators warned, concluding the letter.

    As a Head Start alum, Senator Warnock has been a strong advocate for the program. Senator Warnock introduced his bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act). The legislation, which was co-led by Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), would address early child care workforce shortages by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously. Additionally, in August of 2023, Senator Warnock returned to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia, to tour Early Head Start classrooms at the Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) for Savannah-Chatham County and hear from local early learning leaders about the workforce shortages impacting this critical early education program serving low-income families and their children.

    In addition to Senator Murray, the letter was authored by Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and in addition to Senator Warnock the letter was signed by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Angus King (I-ME), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA).

    The letter can be viewed HERE and is below.

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    We write to express our strong opposition to the actions you have taken to directly attack and undermine the federal Head Start program. Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff, and gut high-quality services for children. Already this year, this Administration has withheld almost $1 billion in federal grant funding from Head Start programs, a 37 percent decrease compared to the amount of funding awarded during the same period last year. It is abundantly clear that these actions are part of a broader effort to ultimately eliminate the program altogether, as the Administration reportedly plans to do in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.

    Head Start provides early childhood education and comprehensive health and social services to nearly 800,000 young children every year in communities across this country, and employs about 250,000 dedicated staff. Head Start is a critical source of child care for working families, particularly in rural and Tribal communities, where Head Start programs are often the only option for high-quality child care services. HeadStart programs ensure children receive appropriate health and dental care, nutrition support, and referrals to other critical services for parents, such as job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing support.

    You even acknowledged the value of Head Start following a recent visit to a Virginia Head Start center, where you said, “I had a very inspiring tour. I saw a devoted staff and a lot of happy children. They are getting the kind of education and socialization they need, and they are also getting a couple of meals a day.”

    However, as a result of your actions to withhold and delay funding and undermine the administration of this vital program, Head Start centers are in serious jeopardy and have already had their day to day operations impacted. Programs are increasingly worried that they will not be able to make payroll, pay rent, and remain open to serve the hundreds of thousands of children and families who depend on their services in communities across the nation.

    Since the very start of this Administration, Head Start programs have been under attack. On January 27th, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo (M-25-13) that suddenly froze the disbursement of grant funding for federal programs and services government-wide, including Head Start. Despite the Administration’s clarification that Head Start programs would not be the target of the funding freeze, many Head Startprograms across the country were unable to draw down their grant funds through the Payment Management System (PMS) for weeks. At one point, the National Head StartAssociation reported 37 programs serving nearly 15,000 children across the country could not access their federal funding. Head Start programs operate with thin margins and on short-term budgets from HHS, and without any communication from the Administration about the status of funding, programs were forced to temporarily close or to lay off staff. In Wisconsin, the National Centers for Learning Excellence, which serves more than 200 children and their families, shut down for a week and laid off staff due to the funding freeze.

    On April 1st, you abruptly closed five of the ten regional offices that help local grantees administer Head Start programs in 22 states. This left hundreds of programs without dedicated points of contact to address mission critical issues like approving grant renewals and modifications, investigating child health and safety incidents, and providing training and technical assistance to ensure high-quality services for children. While some grantees were assigned a new program specialist, we understand many have not been receiving responses to their inquiries. This is on top of the estimated 97 Office of Head Start central office staff that were terminated due to their probationary status and the recent reduction in force. You promised “radical transparency” as Secretary, yet it is unclear how these actions will improve Head Start programs, and you and your staff refuse to respond to basic inquiries and requests for information.

    On March 14th, 2025, the Office of Head Start (OHS) notified all Head Start programs that “the use of federal funding for any training and technical assistance or other program expenditures that promote or take part in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives” will not be approved and that any questions should be directed to regional offices. Programs have not received any guidance for what would be considered “DEI” but this policy is potentially in direct conflict with statutory and regulatory program requirements, such as providing culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional services for English learners. Many programs cannot direct questions to regional staff, as half of regional offices were abruptly closed, and as unprecedented actions are being taken to delay and withhold funding, Head Start programs have been intentionally left with little to no guidance.

    Head Start programs are now arbitrarily required to provide justifications for each draw down of funds that is necessary to operate their programs, despite already receiving a federal grant award for these purposes. As of April 14th, Head Start programs have reportedly received correspondence from an email address “defendthespend@hhs.gov” requiring programs to submit a “specific description of why the funds are necessary and why they are aligned to the award” before programs can have funding disbursed. It has been reported that political appointees must sign off on every draw down of funds. This creates an illusion of improving oversight but only serves to add unnecessary red tape by requiring the manual sign off on hundreds of thousands of individual actions annually across the Department based on two to three sentence justifications. Already some grantees have reported delays in receiving funds, and have reported that furloughs or closures are imminent if funds are not released. For an administration that purports to value local autonomy and efficiency in federally funded programs, your actions have achieved the exact opposite.

    Finally, Head Start grantees are still waiting on payments and grant renewals from the Office of Head Start, including programs whose grants end on April 30th, 2025. These notices should have gone out by now, yet we are concerned to hear programs report they have received little to no correspondence regarding their grant renewals. Additionally, because we started fiscal year 2025 under a short-term continuing resolution, as is usual, some grantees have only received partial funding for the first few months of the year. But with a full year funding bill in place, these grantees should have received full funding by now, yet some are reporting that they have not received the full amount of their grants and will run out of funds this month or next. On Wednesday, April 16th, the delays in Head Start funding led to the closure of Head Start centers serving more than 400 children in Sunnyside, Washington.

    The Administration has a legal and moral obligation to disburse Head Start funds to programs and to uphold the program’s promise to provide high-quality early education services to low income children and families across this country. The fiscal year 2025 appropriations act provided $12.3 billion for Head Start, the same as the fiscal year 2024 level. The Head Start Act includes an explicit formula for how appropriated funds should be allocated. There is no justifiable reason for the delay in funding we have seen over the last two months, and you have refused to offer any kind of explanation. However, this week’s leaked fiscal year 2026 budget documents indicated the Office of Management and Budget was directing the Department, consistent with the Administration’s proposal to eliminate Head Start in fiscal year 2026, to “ensure to the extent allowable FY2025 funds are available to close out the program.” If this explains any of the delay in awarding fiscal year 2025 funding, we want to be clear, no funds were provided in fiscal year 2025 to “close out the program,” and it would be wholly unacceptable and likely illegal if the Department tries to carry out this directive.

    Finally, the leaked budget documents provided a justification, albeit brief, for eliminating Head Start in fiscal year 2026 that makes this Administration’s priorities clear and puts the Department’s actions over the last several months in context. The Administration argues that eliminating Head Start, “is consistent with the Administration’s goals of returning education to the States and increasing parental choice.” It is shocking to see an argument that eliminating a program that provides comprehensive early childhood care and education to 800,000 children and their families would increase parental choice. It is particularly concerning to see that argument in the context of the significant delay in awarding fiscal year 2025 appropriated funds and what that indicates about the intent behind the Department’s actions. We believe it is obvious that eliminating Head Start would be detrimental to hundreds of thousands of children and families. Similarly, we believe it is obvious that delaying funding like we have seen over the last two months, forcing Head Start programs to close, and leaving families to scramble to find quality, affordable alternatives puts the education and well-being of some of the most vulnerable young children in America at risk. In our view, that is unacceptable.

    Therefore, we urge you to immediately reinstate fired staff across all Offices of HeadStart, and cease all actions to delay the awarding and disbursement of funding to HeadStart programs across this country.

    Please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than 10 days from receipt:

    1. Will you reinstate the staff who administer Head Start programs and reopen the closed regional offices responsible for overseeing Head Start programs in 22 states?
      1. When is HHS going to share information on the reorganization plan for the consolidation of the regional offices?
      2. Please provide the contact information for each program specialist designated to the 22 states who lost their regional office.
      3. Who is responsible for ensuring there are no delays or lapses in funding, nor any disruptions to Head Start program operations now that these states do not have a regional office?
    1. How many employees at the Offices of Head Start have been terminated, including the five regional offices and the central office?
      1. Which officials at HHS were involved in the staffing reduction decisions for OHS and what planning, if any, was undertaken prior to these reductions? Please describe the events that unfolded and name each office that was involved in the decision. Further, please name the official(s) who approved the staffing reductions.
    1. Can you confirm that the Administration will distribute all Head Start funds appropriated by Congress to Head Start programs in FY 25, as required by the HeadStart Act?
    1. Please provide a list of all grantees with 5-year Head Start grant renewals that start between now and the end of the fiscal year: May 1st, June 1st, July 1st, August 1st, and September 1st.
      1. Will any funding be delayed for grantees that are due to receive their annual funding on May 1st or beyond?
    1. Why are funding awards delayed for grantees that received partial awards during the first continuing resolution for FY25?
      1. When can HHS guarantee that all funds will be awarded for partially funded Head Start programs?
    1. What is the “Tier 2” department for review that is delaying drawn down for HeadStart programs in the Payment Management System?
      1. When should programs expect to receive their funds?
      2. Please provide all communication that went to Head Start grantees on the new review process.
    1. What guidance and clarifications have been provided to Head Start grantees on DEI expenditures?
      1. How is HHS evaluating Head Start programs’ expenditures and grant awards for DEI?
      2. What justifications are being used to prohibit DEI?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce the Living Donor Protection Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
     
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353April 30, 2025
    Cotton, Gillibrand, and Colleagues Reintroduce the Living Donor Protection Act 
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-New York) today reintroduced the Living Donor Protection Act, legislation that will protect the rights of living organ donors. The Living Donor Protection Act would ensure living donors do not face discrimination from insurance companies, codify Department of Labor (DOL) guidance that covers living donors under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the private and civil service, remove barriers to organ donation, and provide certainty to donors and recipients. 
    Co-sponsoring the legislation are Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Kristen Gillibrand (D-New York), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon). Representatives Jerrold Nadler (New York-12) and Don Bacon (Nebraska-02) are introducing companion legislation in the House. 
    “Organ donors make an extraordinary sacrifice so someone else can have a new chance at life,” said Senator Cotton. “The Living Donor Protection Act would encourage more donors to step forward by protecting them from adverse consequences like denial of coverage and job loss.” 
    “It’s a tragedy that so many people die while waiting for life-saving organ donations. We must do more to remove the barriers that keep Americans from donating,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Living Donor Protection Act would help ensure that the individuals who are willing to save someone’s life through an organ donation can do so without worrying that they’ll face insurance discrimination or that they could lose their job as they recover. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation and will keep fighting to finally get it passed.”
    “Our state is fortunate to have Nebraska Medicine, which has a robust living donor kidney exchange program, performing more kidney chains which involves anonymous donors donating to someone without a compatible living donor, than almost any hospital nationwide. However, some living donors are discriminated against when it comes to rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance,” said Representative Bacon. “They also don’t always receive adequate time to recover from the surgeries related to their selfless gift. This legislation will help open the doors to more living donors so we can save more lives.”
    “When an organ donor decides to donate one of their organs to someone else, they aren’t just saving someone’s life—they’re making one of the most selfless, difficult decisions anyone could ever make. The last thing they need in the midst of that challenging process is to be confronted by needless roadblocks or insurance discrimination,” said Representative Nadler. “These roadblocks can make it economically impossible for potential donors to make that choice and, simply put, they are costing lives. April is National Donate Life Month, and I’m proud to introduce the Living Donor Protection Act to bring awareness to this issue and knock down these needless barriers to lifesaving organ donation.”
    Full text of the bill may be found here.
     The Living Donor Protection Act would:  
    Prohibit life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors. 
    Amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition for private and civil service employees.
    Direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update their material on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan, Booker Introduce Bipartisan Keep Finfish Free Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
    04.30.25
    WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Keep Finfish Free Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit federal agencies from issuing any permit or taking any other action to authorize or facilitate commercial finfish aquaculture operations in federal waters, known as the exclusive economic zone, from 3 to 200 nautical miles off U.S. shores, unless Congress passes future legislation explicitly authorizing such permits. The legislation is consistent with current Alaska state law, which bans offshore finfish farming in state waters.
    “Alaskans are deeply invested in protecting the health of our marine ecosystem and maintaining the sustainability of our world-class fisheries,” said Senator Sullivan. “That is why I’m introducing legislation with Senator Booker to ban risky fish farming operations in federal waters that could jeopardize the health of our fish species and undermine Alaska’s coastal fishing communities. I hope my colleagues will join us in passing this important legislation to keep American finfish healthy and free!”
    “Industrial finfish aquaculture operations are like underwater factory farms, polluting our oceans and spreading potentially deadly diseases and parasites to wild fish,” said Senator Booker. “These operations use millions of pounds of wild fish to feed the caged fish at an unsustainable rate of consumption that depletes marine resources in traditional fishing areas. As we make decisions that will impact the future of our oceans, we should not go down the unsustainable road of allowing commercial finfish aquaculture in our federal waters. Instead we should chart a different path built around the health of wild fish stocks and ocean ecosystems.”
    “Reintroduction of the Keep Finfish Free Act is a welcome display of support that Senator Sullivan and Senator Booker have for the fisher people who provide natural and healthy food to the world,” said Melanie Brown, Native Alaskan fisherwoman and outreach director at SalmonState. “Thank you, Senators, for leading the charge on keeping net pens out of the waters of our wild-caught fisheries.”
    “Thank you, Senator Booker, for introducing the Keep Finfish Free Act. The last thing our ocean needs is industrialization, especially off New Jersey and New York coasts,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, based in Long Branch, NJ. “Offshore finfish farms would harm and contaminate our wild and free ocean with pollution including from pharmaceuticals, chemical feed, and concentrated fecal matter. It will also promote diseases and genetic mutations which will threaten native species. In short, nothing but yuck. We need strong laws to ensure our ocean is clean and healthy for all to enjoy today and for future generations.”
    “What affects fishers affects farmers, too; we co-exist within the same food systems. Factory farming on land has displaced small producers, harmed rural communities, and depleted natural resources,” said Cali Alexander, board member and policy chair with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ (NOFA-NJ), and former state seafood administrator with the NJ Department of Health. “Now, industrial-scale fish farming threatens to do the same. So we at NOFA-NJ are grateful to Senator Booker for co-sponsoring the Keep Finfish Free Act, a vital push toward keeping food production truly sustainable and in the hands of those who put food on our plates.”
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Colleagues’ Resolution Recognizing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month Passes Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Last night, the Senate resolution introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) designating April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month passed the Senate unanimously. This resolution is endorsed by more than 20 national and state organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America, Buckner International, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Now, Children At Risk, Children’s Trust Fund Alliance, Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Family Compass, First3Years, Healthy Families America, Illuminate Colorado, National Association of Counsel for Children, Tennessee Voices, TexProtects, The Kempe Foundation, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, United Ways of Texas, and Zero to Three. Text is below, and the full resolution can be viewed here.
    “Whereas children are fundamental to the success of the United States and will shape the future of the United States;
    Whereas elected representatives and leaders in the communities of the United States must be ever vigilant and proactive in support of evidence-based means to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to support families;
    Whereas adverse childhood experiences (referred to in this preamble as ‘ACEs’) are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood with lasting effects and include experiences of violence, abuse, or neglect;
    Whereas at least 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death are associated with ACEs;
    Whereas preventing ACEs could reduce many health conditions and long-term negative effects on life, opportunity, and well-being, including—
    (1) up to 21,000,000 cases of depression;
    (2) up to 1,900,000 cases of heart disease; and
    (3) up to 2,500,000 cases of overweight and obesity;
    Whereas every child is filled with tremendous promise, and we all have a collective responsibility to prevent ACEs, foster the potential of every child, and promote positive childhood experiences;
    Whereas preventing child abuse and neglect can reduce the costly lifetime economic burden associated with child maltreatment;
    Whereas, in 2023, an estimated 7,782,000 children were referred to child protective services agencies, alleging maltreatment;
    Whereas each year approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences child abuse, neglect, or both;
    Whereas reports indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will become victims of child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday;
    Whereas 93 percent of child sexual abuse victims are abused by a person they know and trust;
    Whereas children who are sexually abused, especially when not provided appropriate treatment and support, often suffer lifelong consequences, such as physical and mental health challenges and higher risk of drug and alcohol misuse and suicide;
    Whereas, in 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received nearly 36,200,000 reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation, a 12-percent increase from 2022, the highest number of reports ever received in 1 year;
    Whereas education and awareness of possible signs of child abuse and neglect should be prioritized for purposes of prevention; and
    Whereas, by intervening to prevent adversity and build resilience during the most critical years of development of a child, voluntary, evidence-based, home-visiting programs have shown positive impact on—
    (1) reducing the recurrence of child abuse and neglect;
    (2) decreasing the incidence of low-birthweight babies;
    (3) improved school readiness for children; and
    (4) increased high school graduation rates: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate—
    (1) supports the designation of April 2025 as ‘National Child Abuse Prevention Month’;
    (2) expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse Prevention Month;
    (3) recognizes that child abuse and neglect and child sexual abuse are preventable, and that a healthy and prosperous society depends on strong families and communities;
    (4) supports efforts to increase the awareness of, and provide education for, the general public of the United States, with respect to preventing child abuse and neglect and building protective factors for families;
    (5) supports the efforts to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse heal;
    (6) supports justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse; and
    (7) recognizes the need for prevention, healing, and justice efforts related to childhood abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Business First Bancshares, Inc. Appoints Alejandro M. Sanchez to its Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BATON ROUGE, La., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Business First Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST), the holding company for b1BANK, has announced the appointment of Alejandro M. Sanchez to the Business First Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors and b1BANK Board of Directors, effective March 27, 2025.

    Sanchez is the president and CEO of Salva Financial Group of Florida, a consulting group advising financial institutions on strategic planning, regulatory compliance and crisis management. He also serves as an executive advisor to Nasdaq and holds board positions with Popular, Inc. (Nasdaq: BPOP), the holding company for Popular Bank and Republic Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: RBCAA), the holding company for Republic Bank & Trust, contributing expertise in governance, risk management and audit oversight.

    Sanchez led the Florida Bankers Association as president and CEO from 1998 to 2023, advocating for the state’s banking industry. He was nominated by President George W. Bush as one of three Presidential appointees for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board from 2002 to 2010 and was invited by President Obama to serve an additional two years.

    “Alex’s deep experience guiding financial institutions through complex regulatory environments and strategic transformations aligns closely with our growth strategy and governance objectives,” said Jude Melville, chairman and CEO of b1BANK. “His leadership and seasoned perspective will help us thoughtfully navigate opportunities and challenges, enhancing our capacity to serve our clients and communities effectively.”

    “It is an honor to join the Business First Bancshares board,” said Sanchez. “I look forward to contributing to the company’s strategic vision and ongoing success.”

    Sanchez holds a Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law and a Bachelor of Science from Troy University. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1976 to 1981.

    About Business First Bancshares Inc.

    As of March 31, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq: BFST) through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, has $7.8 billion in assets, $7.1 billion in assets under management through b1BANK’s affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW) (excludes $0.9 billion of b1BANK assets managed by SSW) and operates Banking Centers and Loan Production Offices in markets across Louisiana and Texas providing commercial and personal banking products and services. b1BANK is a 2024 Mastercard “Innovation Award” winner and multiyear winner of American Banker Magazine’s “Best Banks to Work For.” Visit b1BANK.com for more information.

    Media Contact: Misty Albrecht
    b1BANK
    225.286.7879
    Misty.Albrecht@b1BANK.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b9e3cc0-4786-4497-9e7c-ce188ece6be6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Huffman Re-Introduces Bill to Protect Health Care Consumers from Predatory Practices

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    April 30, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) re-introduced legislation to protect consumers from Health Care Sharing Ministries’ deceptive practices and expand access to accurate information about health coverage options. The Health Care Sharing Transparency Act would help ensure consumers receive clear and truthful information before enrolling in a health share plan. By holding Health Care Sharing Ministries – also known as Health Share plans – accountable for inaccurate or untimely disclosures and by ensuring providers offer clear information regarding care, this bill helps address some of the dangerous health care practices plaguing consumers across the country.

    “Health Care Sharing Ministries prey on people in search of medical coverage, leading them to purchase inadequate medical coverage when they may need it most,” said Rep. Huffman. “Through deceptive marketing tactics and overt appeals to religion, certain providers lure consumers into purchasing plans that can leave patients without the care they need or lead them into deep medical debt. We need to combat these unethical tactics with serious federal action. My legislation would help protect consumers from Health Share plans’ predatory practices and ensure consumers have access to clear, accurate information about their health care options when making important decisions about coverage for themselves and their loved ones. As more and more Americans fall victim to misleading and unregulated Health Care Sharing Ministries, it’s more important than ever that we respond with proper reform.”

    Health Share Caring Ministries are a limited form of health coverage that require members – who must share a common set of religious or ethical beliefs – to submit monthly payments to cover the qualified expenses of other members. Health Share plans do not have to comply with the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act, provide limited benefits for their members, and do not guarantee payment for medical claims. Recent data shows Health Share plans deem only half of members’ health expenses eligible for reimbursement. They also exclude coverage altogether for services such as abortions, contraception, mental health, substance use disorders, chronic conditions, certain preexisting conditions, and even maternity care. 

    With more for-profit administrators taking advantage of loopholes to market Health Share plans to broader audiences through deceptive practices, roughly 1.7 million Americans have now enrolled in one of these plans and are at serious risk of being denied necessary treatments and services.

    The Health Share Transparency Act would:

    • Empower consumers with the knowledge to distinguish between comprehensive, regulated health insurance products and Health Shares by requiring Health Shares to disclose clear information during the enrollment process. 
    • Provide new data for regulators to assess the threat Health Shares pose to public health – including rates of service denials, enrollment, service area, average out of pocket expenses for Health Share Members, and the contents of complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 
    • Ensure health insurance brokers selling Health Shares inform consumers if they are eligible for better, more comprehensive forms of health coverage – including the ACA, Medicaid, or Medicare – and accurately describe the scope of benefits provided by Health Shares.

    “We know that quality health insurance is essential for cancer patients. But too often, people – including cancer patients – enroll in a health sharing ministry, thinking they are covered, only to find out later that they can’t access the care they need. We applaud Rep. Huffman for introducing this important legislation which will help us learn more about health coverage that frequently leaves patients exposed to both physical and financial harm,” said Dr. Gwen Nichols, Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

    “FFRF Action Fund strongly supports the Health Share Transparency Act, and we thank Rep. Jared Huffman for reintroducing this vital legislation and making this bill a priority for the Congressional Freethought Caucus. Access to health care should never be conditioned on someone’s religious belief — yet healthcare sharing ministries routinely exploit religious exemptions to avoid accountability while misleading consumers. This bill is a crucial step toward protecting the public and upholding the separation of state and church,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, President of FFRF Action Fund.

    “Everyone deserves health care coverage that is comprehensive and transparent about its policies, and unfortunately health care sharing ministries can’t offer either,” said Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “Too often, health care sharing ministries’ deceptive practices leave American families in unanticipated medical debt with nowhere to turn for relief–all in the name of religion. This issue demands federal attention. We are proud to throw our full support behind the Health Share Transparency Act, and we applaud Congressman Huffman for his leadership in shepherding forward this critical legislation.”

    The bill is endorsed by AiArthritis, AIDS Institute, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, American Humanist Association, Arthritis Foundation, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, CancerCare, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Center for Freethought Equality, Epilepsy Foundation of America, FFRF Action Fund, Hemophilia Federation of America, Immune Deficiency Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship, National Health Council, National Patient Advocate Foundation, National Psoriasis Foundation, Secular Coalition for America, and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

    Cosponsors include Representatives Jamie Raskin, Sean Casten, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Seth Moulton, Steve Cohen, Jan Schakowsky, and Maxwell Frost.

    Full bill text can be found here.

    A summary of the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces House Bill to Expand Nationwide Background Checks for Contractors Working with Children

    Source:

    Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces House Bill to Expand Nationwide Background Checks for Contractors Working with Children

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) introduced the Comprehensive Health & Integrity in Licensing and Documentation Act (CHILD Act) of 2025, along with Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL). This bill ensures that all individuals with unsupervised access to children— whether full-time employees or independent contractors—are eligible for nationwide background checks.

    The CHILD Act of 2025 aims to close a dangerous loophole created by the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2018, which inadvertently limited access to FBI background checks for contractors working in schools and other child-focused settings.

    The National Child Protection Act (NCPA) of 1993 encouraged states to use federal background checks for people working with vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, or those with disabilities. In 2018, a law was introduced that narrowed who could be checked, leaving out many contractors—including those working directly with kids. The CHILD Act of 2025 fixes this by allowing schools, afterschool programs, and similar organizations to run full federal background checks on anyone, including contractors, who may have access to children and vulnerable groups.

    In South Carolina, independent contractors who work with children are typically required to pass FBI and SLED background checks. However, some states lack the NCPA statute, and contractors can’t directly access the federal system unless they work through a state agency or local school district—leading to confusion, inconsistency, and potential risk. Other states have even weaker protections, with some relying only on name-based checks or allowing individual school districts to decide for themselves.

    “This is about consistency and accountability,” said Congressman Fry. “Parents shouldn’t have to wonder if individuals who have unsupervised contact with their kids, such as after-school tutors, nurses, school bus drivers, transportation providers, or other contracted personnel, have been fully vetted or not. The CHILD Act would fix this loophole and provide parents with peace of mind and students with a safe environment.”

    “Parents shouldn’t have any question that the teachers, staff, and other personnel taking care of their kids at school have been thoroughly vetted,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “That’s why I’m helping lead the CHILD Act, a bipartisan bill to fix an oversight in the law and ensure contractors who work with kids are subject to nationwide background checks. It’s the right thing to do for our kids and a commonsense fix to help keep our schools safe.”

    This is the House companion bill to legislation introduced in the Senate by the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL).

    “Parents should feel more confident that every individual who works with their children has been properly and thoroughly vetted,” said Senator Grassley. “My bipartisan legislation with Senator Durbin would amend the Child Protection Improvements Act to help ensure all child care workers, including contractors, undergo nationwide background checks,” Grassley said. “Our legislative fix will help keep kids safe and give parents greater peace of mind.”

    “When parents drop their kids off at school, they shouldn’t have to worry if their children are safe in the care of the school’s faculty,” said Senator Durbin. “While the Child Protection Improvements Act was passed with the intent of keeping children safe, it created an inadvertent complication in securing nationwide background checks for all personnel with unsupervised access to children, namely contractors hired by schools. Schools often rely on contractors for a number of services geared toward children, including providing safe transportation. Today, I’m introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Grassley to correct the current patchwork approach to securing nationwide background checks for those who work with children.”

    The CHILD Act of 2025 is supported by HopSkipDrive, the National District Attorneys Association, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Transportation & Education Equity, Roundtable, Parents Helping Parents, Inc., National Diversity Coalition, RaisingHOPE, Inc., National Center on Adoption and Permanency, and Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE).

    “Safety has always been, and will always be, our top priority at HopSkipDrive and background checks are an integral component of our 15-step certification process,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “We are proud to support the bipartisan CHILD Act to amend the National Child Protection Act and enhance access to safe, reliable student transportation. This crucial amendment will help ensure the highest standards of safety are met nationwide, and we extend our gratitude to the bill sponsors for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “NDAA is happy to support the CHILD Act of 2025, which safeguards our most vulnerable populations by allowing businesses and organizations to conduct thorough background checks of individuals that are under contract with a qualified entity,” said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association.

    The supporting organizations also submitted this letter.

    Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: At Hearing, Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Threatening Biomedical Research and Jeopardizing Americans’ Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH AND READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning***

    ***WATCH AND READ: Emily Stenson’s testimony***

    Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on biomedical research—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored why the investments we make in biomedical research are so vital, what’s at stake for patients and families as Trump takes a wrecking ball to this research, and why Congress must forcefully push back.

    In just 100 days, President Trump and his administration have taken unprecedented actions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that are having devastating impacts on biomedical research, innovation, and ultimately, the lives of millions of patients and families. The Trump administration’s actions are delaying funding and stalling research for lifesaving treatments and cures, weakening our biomedical workforce, cancelling vital ongoing studies and trials, and threatening to undo decades of hard-won progress.

    At the hearing, Senator Murray shared the story of Emily Stenson, a mom and patient advocate from Washington state whose daughter Charlie was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just three years old but who, thanks to a National Cancer Institute clinical trial at Seattle Children’s Hospital, has been cancer free since December 2024. You can WATCH and READ Emily’s testimony here.

    Senator Murray emphasized that these lifesaving cancer trials are now on the chopping block as the Trump administration terminates $137 million in cancer research grants and plans to cut the NIH budget in half, and asked Emily, “If half of the cancer clinical trials were suddenly cancelled—what would that mean for patients like Charlie and the people you know on the cancer ward at Seattle Children’s?”

    Emily replied, “It would be devastating. There’s no other option often than a clinical trial. And how can you look at these families and say, we’re taking away the only option to save your child. There’s no funding. It feels like the government doesn’t care about families like ours if they take that away. It will be futures left in the balance.”

    Senator Murray also asked Dr. Sudip Parikh, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Dr. Barry Sleckman, Director of the University of Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the impact Trump’s attacks on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have on the future of biomedical research and Americans’ health.

    Senator Murray noted that over the last three months, NIH has awarded billions less in funding than over the same period in previous years, which is unprecedented for an agency that typically awards 60,000 grants a year. All the while, Trump has fired or pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH employees, including grant administrators whose job it is to award this funding. Senator Murray asked Dr. Parikh, “At this rate, do you think NIH will be able to spend the $47 billion Congress passed and President Trump signed into law?”

    Dr. Parikh responded, “Thank you for that. If the will is there they can because I know the program folks that are still there, and they will work harder than anybody to work with the scientists in the field, to do the peer review, to get those dollars out. Because those dollars are not just about getting money out the door, it’s about funding the ideas that have been proposed, and there are plenty of proposals, there are plenty of good ideas. We don’t fund enough; the pay lines are already at 20 and 10 percent. We need to make sure that we do get those out, because otherwise it will be impoundment by default.”

    “Well, we know that they have canceled peer review panels and they’re firing staff. So, can they get that funding out the door effectively?” Senator Murray followed up.

    “Only if it becomes a priority. Only if it becomes a priority. We have to make sure that it can go out. I am confident that it can, if they make it a priority. I have not seen that yet,” Dr. Parikh replied.

    Senator Murray pressed, “Who’s the ‘they’?”

    “The ‘they’ is the NIH. The NIH administrators, leaders, and the Department of Health and Human Services. We have to be able to say that we are going to start awarding these grants at the rate that it requires to get the fully appropriated amount that you all approved at the end of last fiscal year,” Dr. Parikh responded.

    “To your knowledge, has that been done?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Dr. Parikh stated, “Not yet, the rate isn’t quite there yet.”

    Senator Murray also discussed the Trump administration’s announcement that they would stop funding the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which they later claimed they would reverse. WHI studies cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women—and thanks to this research, 126,000 cases of breast cancer and 76,000 cases of heart disease were prevented over a decade. The Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle is the clinical coordinating center for WHI and one of four regional centers. Senator Murray noted that: “The annual funding for these centers costs about $10 million, that’s less than half by the way of what taxpayers spend on President Trump’s golf trips just in case you were keeping track over the last 3 months—$10 million!”

    “How important, I wanted to ask you, is sex in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and do you think now is the time to be cutting breast cancer research?” Senator Murray continued by asking Dr. Sleckman.

    Dr. Sleckman replied, “Thank you for that question, Senator. You know, let me make a comment first about the Women’s Health Study. These types of studies are essential for cancer and understanding the basis of cancer. This is a very long-term study, not a five-year grant. Something where they’ve been following women for decades and using that information to understand about cancer risk and then make informed decisions about cancer prevention. These types of studies could only be funded in a large, organized way through the federal government, the NIH and the NCI. Getting back to your question, is that it’s extremely important to study the biological difference between men and women when it comes to cancer risk, cancer progression, and cancer treatment—extremely important. There are large groups at pretty much all NCI cancer centers that either take that into account when they’re designing a trial or are studying it specifically—absolutely important. Thank you for that question.” 

    ____________________________

    As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH has long been considered one of America’s crown jewels with a long history of strong bipartisan support from Congress. Less than 1 percent of the federal budget goes to medical research, yet NIH research drives our economy at the national and local levels by supporting thousands of jobs in every state. More than 83 percent of NIH’s budget goes to more than 300,000 research personnel at over 3,000 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions. NIH directly and indirectly supports more than 550,000 jobs across the country. It pays off: local communities see $2.56 of economic activity for every dollar invested in this research. NIH-funded research contributed to 354 out of 356 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2010 to 2019. The FDA plays an intricate role in advancing the biomedical research ecosystem in the United States, by regulating, promoting, and supporting the approval of new drugs, biologics, and medical devices coming on the market.

    Despite this, President Trump has systematically undermined NIH and the research it funds, as well as the FDA. He has terminated nearly 800 NIH grants across the country, cutting off more than $1.1 billion in essential research and trials. So far this year, he has slow walked roughly $2 billion in vital NIH funding that should be going out the door to fund the research that might discover the next treatment or cure that will change—or save—a patient’s life. Funding for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer research are just a few examples of large multi-million-dollar research grants that we know are being held hostage. He has illegally sought to cut billions in funding for universities to conduct this vital research by illegally capping the indirect cost rate in direct violation of bipartisan appropriations law. President Trump has pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH employees and 4,000 FDA employees—decimating the very work responsible for discovering lifechanging treatments and cures and ensuring they can safely get to market. He also reportedly plans to propose to nearly halve NIH’s budget.

    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Murray has led Congressional efforts to boost biomedical research. Previously, over her years as Chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at NIH, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Trupanion Publishes 2024 Annual Letter to Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, has published its 2024 annual shareholder letter from CEO and President, Margi Tooth. The letter is now available on the Company’s Investor Relations website here.

    About Trupanion:

    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, certain countries in Continental Europe, and Australia with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Contact: 

    Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
    Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
    Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wethersfield Woman Admits Role in Scheme that Defrauded Connecticut’s Medicaid Program of More Than $1.8 Million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SUHAIL APONTE, 38, of Wethersfield, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a health care fraud offense related to a Medicaid fraud scheme.

    The Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP) is a Connecticut Department of Social Services-administered program that provides medical assistance to low income persons.  CTMAP’s benefit packages, referred to as “HUSKY” or “Connecticut Medicaid,” are jointly funded by the State of Connecticut and the federal government.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Aponte was the sole principal and registered agent of Minds Cornerstone LLC, dba Minds Cornerstone Behavior Therapy Services (“Minds Cornerstone”), an Autism Specialist Group, which was registered with the State of Connecticut in June 2021.  Beginning in approximately November 2021, Aponte, who is not a licensed provider, was involved in a scheme in which she and a co-conspirator used Minds Cornerstone to defraud the Connecticut Medicaid Program by submitting fraudulent claims for applied behavior analysis (“ABA”) services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (“ASD”).  The scheme involved billing for Medicaid for services purportedly rendered to patients when company payroll records indicate employees were not compensated for the associated services; direct supervision services purportedly provided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (“BCBA”) of a behavioral technician, when the corresponding procedure code for behavioral technician services was not billed; services purportedly rendered to patients who were actually in an inpatient hospital; and services purportedly rendered when parents of patients and former employees of Minds Cornerstone confirmed those services did not occur.

    Between November 2021 and January 2025, Aponte and her co-conspirator submitted or caused to be submitted to Medicaid fraudulent claims that resulted in a loss of approximately $1,876,617 to the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

    From approximately May 2022 until November 2024, Aponte was also employed by the State of Connecticut in the Office of Policy and Management.

    Aponte pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

    As part of her plea, Aponte has agreed to the forfeiture of approximately $459,000 in funds seized from various bank accounts she controlled, as well as her interest in additional bank accounts and two parcels of land in Hartford.

    Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for July 30.

    Aponte has been released on a $100,000 bond since her arrest on January 16, 2025.

    This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Social Services.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stay well this summer

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Staying well-hydrated is essential in hot weather.

    In brief:

    • Hot weather can bring a range of health concerns.
    • There are ways to prepare and protect yourself against getting sick.
    • Read on for advice on health issues commonly experienced in summer.

    From sunburn to salmonella, hot weather can present a range of health concerns.

    Seek medical help if you or someone you know becomes unwell.

    Beat the heat

    Signs of heat exhaustion include nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fainting, and headaches.

    In extreme heat, be sure to do the following.

    • Wear sunscreen and a hat.
    • Plan your day around the heat. Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.
    • Drink plenty of water. Talk to your GP about how much water you should drink in hot weather if they normally limit your fluid intake.
    • Pack a drink bottle. Remember there are water refill stations in public places like shopping centres and parks.
    • Go somewhere where there is air conditioning. If it’s too hot at home, ACT libraries are a great place to stay cool while also keeping young ones entertained. You could also consider shopping centres or museums.
    • Check in with friends and family.

    Who is at higher risk?

    Some people are at higher risk of heat-related illness. These include babies, young children, those who are older, pregnant or have medical conditions and people who work outdoors. Don’t forget to look out for your pets too.

    If you’re at higher risk, talk to your GP about how to prepare for extreme heat.

    Find more tips on the ACT Health website.

    Keep aware of air quality

    In the warmer months, air quality can decrease due to bushfire and grassfire smoke, dust storms and elevated pollen levels.

    Some people are more sensitive to dust and smoke, including:

    • people with a heart or lung condition
    • people with diabetes
    • babies and children
    • older people
    • pregnant people.

    Prepare by chatting to your GP. Make sure your prescription medicines are up to date and to have an action plan in case your symptoms flare up.

    Stay indoors and close your doors and windows during periods of poor air quality.

    Take note of prescribed burns

    It’s worth noting the ACT Government conducts several prescribed burns each year to manage fire risk across the region. Plan ahead and find out when prescribed burns are happening in your area. Check the ESA website to see a list of active incidents. And if you see a fire unattended, call triple-zero (000).

    You can check Canberra’s current air quality on the ACT Health website.

    You can also monitor pollen levels by downloading the free AirRater app or by visiting the Canberra Pollen Count and Forecast Service website.

    Be aware of thunderstorm asthma

    If you have asthma, or even hay fever, you’re probably aware of thunderstorm asthma.

    While rare, it can sudden, serious and even life-threatening. Thunderstorms can cause some people to develop severe asthma symptoms very quickly.

    To be as prepared as possible, ensure your hay fever and /or asthma action plan is up to date. If you have asthma or have had it in the past, always carry a reliever (puffer).

    Protect against mosquito bites

    To protect yourself against mozzie bites and reduce the risk of exposure to the diseases they may carry:

    • cover up with a light-coloured, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt, long pants and covered shoes when outside
    • apply mosquito repellent and reapply it regularly
    • take special care during peak mosquito biting hours (in the ACT most mosquitoes become active at dawn and dusk, and into the evening)
    • remove potential mosquito breeding sites from around the home
    • use flyscreens on windows and doors.

    Learn more about mosquito risk and prevention.

    Be mindful of food preparation and storage safety

    The risk of food poisoning is higher in summer. Many Canberrans entertain outdoors, attend barbecues away from home and enjoy festive leftovers.

    Bacteria in food multiply faster in warm environments. Refrigerating and disposing of food appropriately is important to reduce the chance of becoming unwell.

    Christmas ham, for example, lasts up to 14 days (depending on how you store it). It also takes up precious room in your fridge, so be sure to bin it once it’s past its prime.

    Prevent illness by keeping hands and utensils clean, cooking foods, like meats, thoroughly and discarding food that has been left out for more than four hours.

    View the ACT Health’s Food safety in hot weather web page for more details.

    Check recreational water quality

    It’s important to check the conditions of recreational waterways before swimming or playing in lakes and ponds.

    Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites and algae are often found in waterways.

    If you or your family drink water in recreational waterways while swimming or camping, for example, you can become sick.

    The most common illness from poor water quality is gastroenteritis.

    More information

    Visit the ACT Government website for health advice during spring and summer.

    If you feel unwell, or are concerned about your health, see your GP, visit a Walk-in Centre or consult another healthcare professional.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cumberland County Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center Agrees to Pay $19.75 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Camden, N.J. – Summit BHC New Jersey, LLC, d/b/a Seabrook, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Bridgeton, New Jersey, has agreed to pay $19.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced today. As alleged, Seabrook submitted claims to the Community Care Program of Veterans Health Administration (“VHA”) and New Jersey’s Medicaid program for short-term residential treatment and partial hospitalization care for which it was not properly licensed or contracted and misled State inspectors.

    The settlement resolves allegations relating to the care provided and billed by Seabrook, principally to the VHA Community Care Program.  The United States alleged that, during the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024, Seabrook provided services for which it had no license; sought to conceal those improperly performed services from state inspectors; failed to employ a sufficient number of properly-credentialed caregivers; failed to employ a sufficient number of caregivers credentialed in treating patients with both mental health and addiction issues; provided the same care to veterans it provided to other patients, while claiming to be providing specialized care; and kept false, inconsistent, and inadequate records of the care provided to veterans and other patients.

    “Today’s resolution demonstrates once again this Office’s commitment to ensure that America’s veterans receive the care they deserve and for which the government has paid.  Veterans and Medicaid recipients must receive care from fully qualified, licensed providers in facilities that meet state law in all respects.  We stand ready to enforce these standards and protect the Americans who need this care.” 

    – U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

    “This civil settlement reinforces the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of VA’s healthcare programs and preserving taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “Providers who participate in the VA Community Care Program must be licensed and follow state and federal law when billing the VA. The VA OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate providers who fail to meet these standards in providing healthcare to our nation’s veterans.”

    “Our federal health care systems serve vulnerable populations, and by not providing the level of care they deserve that purpose is undermined,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).  “HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously pursue those who exploit government health programs.”

    The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former Seabrook employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.  In this matter, the relator is receiving at least approximately $3,555,137.28 as her share of the recovery in this case.

    Seabrook cooperated in the investigation and resolution of this matter, including by independently investigating the matter, implementing remedial measures, and disciplining responsible individuals.

    The resolution was the result of efforts by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Offices of Inspectors General for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Health and Human Services.

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Kaufman of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

    The case is captioned United States ex rel. Coulter and the State of New Jersey v. Seabrook House, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 23-cv-00451 (D.N.J.).

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only.  There has been no determination of liability.

                                                               ###

    Counsel for Seabrook: Richard Westling, Epstein Becker Green, P.C. and Matthew Curley, Bass, Berry, & Sims, PLC

    Counsel for Relator Jennifer Coulter: Ross Begelman and Marc Orlow, Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins, P.C.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Delisting of Securities of TLGY Acquisition Corporation; Target Global Acquisition I Corp.; Inception Growth Acquisition Limited; Healthcare AI Acquisition Corp.; Globalink Investment Inc.; BurTech Acquisition Corp; Mountain & Co. I Acquisition Corp.; Pearl Holdings Acquisition Corp; Alpha Star Acquisition Corporation; CF Acquisition Corp. VII; Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited; Finnovate Acquisition Corp.; Exela Technologies, Inc.; Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I; Molecular Templates, Inc.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Nasdaq Stock Market announced today that it will delist the Class A common stock of Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc. Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc.’s stock was suspended on October 18, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock of Orgenesis Inc. Orgenesis Inc.’s stock was suspended on October 21, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock of ShiftPixy, Inc. ShiftPixy, Inc.’s stock was suspended on October 28, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock of Novo Integrated Sciences, Inc. Novo Integrated Sciences, Inc.’s stock was suspended on November 6, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of Mountain & Co. I Acquisition Corp. Mountain & Co. I Acquisition Corp.’s securities were suspended on November 7, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock and 6.00% Series B Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of Exela Technologies, Inc. Exela Technologies, Inc.’s securities were suspended on November 8, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of Finnovate Acquisition Corp. Finnovate Acquisition Corp.’s securities were suspended on November 12, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A common stock of Mondee Holdings, Inc. Mondee Holdings, Inc.’s stock was suspended on December 6, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of TLGY Acquisition Corporation. TLGY Acquisition Corporation’s securities were suspended on December 9, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, warrants, and units of Target Global Acquisition I Corp. Target Global Acquisition I Corp.’s securities were suspended on December 17, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock, warrants, units, and rights of Inception Growth Acquisition Limited. Inception Growth Acquisition Limited’s securities were suspended on December 17, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of Healthcare AI Acquisition Corp. Healthcare AI Acquisition Corp.’s securities were suspended on December 17, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock, warrants, rights, and units of Globalink Investment Inc. Globalink Investment Inc.’s securities were suspended on December 17, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the unit of BurTech Acquisition Corp. BurTech Acquisition Corp.’s security was suspended on December 18, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of Pearl Holdings Acquisition Corp. Pearl Holdings Acquisition Corp’s securities were suspended on December 23, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the ordinary shares, warrants, rights, and units of Alpha Star Acquisition Corporation. Alpha Star Acquisition Corporation’s securities were suspended on December 23, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A common stock, warrants, and units of CF Acquisition Corp VII. CF Acquisition Corp. VII’s securities were suspended on December 23, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the ordinary shares, rights, units, and warrants of Kairous Acquisition Corp Limited. Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited’s securities were suspended on December 23, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the Class A ordinary shares, units, and warrants of Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I. Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I’s securities were suspended on December 24, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the unit of FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp. FTAC Emerald Acquisition Corp.’s security was suspended on December 24, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock of Molecular Templates, Inc. Molecular Templates, Inc.’s stock was suspended on December 26, 2024 and has not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    Nasdaq also announced today that it will delist the common stock, warrants, and rights of NorthView Acquisition Corporation. NorthView Acquisition Corporation’s securities were suspended on December 27, 2024 and have not traded on Nasdaq since that time.

    For more information about The Nasdaq Stock Market, visit the Nasdaq Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com. Nasdaq’s rules governing the delisting of securities can be found in the Nasdaq Rule 5800 Series, available on the Nasdaq Web site: https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/nasdaq/rules/nasdaq-5800-series.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 289 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Ukrainian engineers and construction workers are carrying out temporary repairs of the Chornobyl site’s New Safe Confinement (NSC) that was severely damaged in a drone attack earlier this year, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

    The drone strike on 14 February pierced a big hole through the roof of the large confinement structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor destroyed in the 1986 accident and protect it from external hazards. It took several weeks to completely extinguish the fires and smouldering caused by this strike.

    The IAEA team based at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine visited the NSC in recent days to discuss ongoing efforts by the site to assess the building’s structural integrity following the attack almost three months ago and to observe repairs of the inner and outer cladding to prevent water ingress.

    “Immediately after the drone strike Ukrainian emergency personnel rushed to contain and eventually put out the fires. The site is now focusing its efforts on assessing the full extent of the damage while also carrying out short-term repairs. It is clear that the confinement structure – constructed at huge expense and with major international support – suffered extensive damage,” Director General Grossi said.

    The Director General reiterated, however, that there has not been any radioactive release as a result of the damage, and that the NSC is able to continue to perform its protective function.

    At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the IAEA team has continued to hear explosions in the distance every day over the past week, a constant reminder of the potential dangers facing nuclear safety and security.

    The IAEA team has conducted walkdowns across the site to observe site activities, visiting all Emergency Control Rooms of the six reactors, the safety systems of unit 4, and the two fresh fuel storage facilities.

    At Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – three of their total of nine reactors remained shutdown for maintenance and refuelling outages.  

    At the South Ukraine NPP, the IAEA team reported about many air raid alarms over the past week. The team was informed by the site that six drones were detected at a distance of 1.5 km from the plant in the night of 25 April, coinciding with the sound of military activity that appeared to be coming from an attempt to shoot them down.

    At the Khmelnytskyy NPP, the IAEA team members were required to shelter on the morning of 30 April due to an air raid alert.

    As part of the IAEA’s medical assistance programme for Ukraine, 200 boxes of influenza medication were delivered to the National Research Centre for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (NRCRM), funded by Japan.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee, RIDOH Recognize Health Professional Loan Repayment Awardees and Donors

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), and the Board of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program proudly recognized the 2024 cohort of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program recipients at a State House ceremony today. The event also honored the donors and partners whose support continues to drive the program’s success.

    By offering loan repayment assistance, the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program supports the recruitment and retention of high-quality, community-centered healthcare professionals who serve in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. This year, the program reached a major milestone�58 clinicians received awards, the largest cohort in the program’s history. The program provided over $1.6 million in loan repayment relief to recruit and retain health professionals in Rhode Island. Awardees include physicians, dentists, nurses, and behavioral healthcare providers, each of whom has pledged to serve in medically underserved communities for a minimum of two years.

    Governor McKee proposed an additional $200,000 investment in the FY26 state budget to further grow the program, specifically targeting primary care physicians and pediatricians. This funding would be matched by federal dollars and expand the program’s reach. If passed by the General Assembly, it will also be the first time that general revenue is invested in the program since Fiscal Year 2008.

    Today’s announcement comes a day after Governor McKee announced a series of short- and long-term strategic actions to strengthen Rhode Island’s primary care system. The included accelerating a primary care Medicaid rate review, requiring commercial health insurers to increase funding for primary care reimbursements, reducing red tape by easing prior authorization requirements, providing grants to help primary care practices serve additional patients and hire new providers, and strengthening fiscal oversight of Rhode Island’s health care system.

    “Programs like the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program are a critical part of the solution�helping us attract and retain providers in the communities that need them most,” said Governor McKee. “This is about making smart, long-term investments in our healthcare workforce so that every Rhode Islander can receive timely, quality care.”

    The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program is jointly administered by RIDOH and the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. The program is made possible through a combination of federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and generous contributions from local organizations and donors. The Rhode Island Health Center Association (RIHCA) played a central role in securing matching funds from many of these partners.

    “The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program helps defray the cost of medical education, making the pathway to a career in primary care in Rhode Island more affordable for more students and new healthcare professionals,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “It also helps ensure that all communities have the opportunity to benefit from some of the most talented, dedicated members of our health care workforce.”

    “On behalf of Rhode Island’s health centers, the Rhode Island Health Center Association extends our congratulations and appreciation to all the 2024 awardees,” said Elena Nicolella, President and CEO of RIHCA. “We, along with our funding partners, understand how vital this program is to building a healthcare workforce that truly reflects and serves our communities.”

    Since its inception in 1994, the Rhode Island Health Professional Loan Repayment Program has provided more than $11.4 million in student loan repayment relief, empowering 337 clinicians to serve in medically underserved communities across the state. Over that time, the program has issued 358 total awards, including 279 first-time awards that have helped recruit new providers into areas of greatest need, and 79 retention awards that ensure continuity of care by allowing experienced clinicians to stay in the communities they serve.

    These targeted investments have not only helped relieve the financial burden of educational debt but have also strengthened both the pipeline and the long-term retention of Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce. Since 2013, 91% of awardees have maintained an active license in Rhode Island after completing their service obligation. As a result, more than 100,000 Rhode Islanders receive care each year from current or former program participants.

    2024 Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Donors include:

    Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Care New England, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Prospect CharterCARE, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Rhode Island Health Center Association, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

    2024 Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Awardees Honored Include:

    Class of 2024 Agbelese Mofoluso, DNP, NP Alexa Allard, FNP-C Lexsey Almeida, LMHC Amanda Anacleto, APRN Natalia Aponte, RN Susana Arenas, LMHC Ashlee Austin, LCSW Jeffrey Bouley, FNP-C Garrett Bowen, MD Estefania Clavijo, LCSW Alexis Corey, RN Yamila Cos, DDS Marissa Dacruz, PA-C, CPH Randy D’Aquila, RN Shital Desai, DNP, MSN, FNP-C Laura Dobler, LCSW Lucinda Doman, RN Elizabeth Duran, RN Michelle Eche, LCSW John Gambino, RN Analisa Goncalves, LCSW Michelle Gras, PA-C Janick Hippolyte, APRN Roxanne Jardin, RN Alondra Jimenez, RN Kristen Julius- Woodbine, LCSW Mariam Kanteh, PA-C Erica Knarr, DMD Kimberly Kozlosky, APRN Madison Lombari, PA-C Matthew Lorenz, MD Ariadna Lozano, LCSW Taisha Macedo, APRN Sasha Martinez, RN Elizabeth Meyer, MD Sage Mueller, LCSW Irma Nalic, DMD Vanny Nhem-Raphael, RN Dayna Orourke, APRN Ashleigh Ortiz, RN Ashley Paradizo, RDH Nithin Paul, MD Marylin Powers, DO Jorge Resendiz, RN Cristina Restrepo, RDH Taylor Robbins, APRN Ernesto Rocha, RN Casey Rote, APRN John Saad, DMD Alyssa Saccoccia , RN Sarah Satterlee, APRN Nicole Schachman, APRN Kelly Smith, RN Wesley Smyth, APRN Jeannette Sorace-Burton, APRN Alison Turner, LMHC Bernadette Waleryszak, RN Cruz Zapata, LCSW

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commencement Student Speaker Spotlight: Daniella Dennis

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Meet Daniella Dennis of New Britain. Her parents were born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated to America in the late 1990s. The youngest of four siblings, her mother as a Certified Nursing Assistant introduced her to the medical field. Before matriculating at UConn School of Medicine she was an EMT and a patient care technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, she will be entering emergency medicine residency at UConn and will be a proud first-generation college graduate and first doctor in her family. Her advice to all students: no matter what stage you are at, you can never have too many mentors. 

    Why did you choose the UConn School of Medicine?

    I was born and raised in Connecticut so UConn growing up was a dream school for me. Something I’ve loved about UConn is its Team Based Learning curriculum which makes it very unique compared to other medical schools and its cohesiveness between faculty and students.

    Tell us more about your path to medical school.

    After New Britain High School, I attended Central Connecticut State University where I was a biomolecular science major with a minor in community engagement and graduated in 2018. Following graduation, I took two gap years where I worked as an EMT and as a patient care tech over at Hartford Hospital and then matriculated at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in the fall of 2021.

    What activities were you involved with as a student?

    I was involved in a multitude of different leadership positions including being secretary of the Student National Medical Association, a part of the Gold Humanism Society, in various surgical student groups and participated as a mentor as part of the Health Career Opportunities Programs — a pipeline program created by Dr. Marja Hurley here at UConn Health that helps students from high school who come from underrepresented backgrounds including those who are first-generation college students to be able to get into college and then furthermore get into medical and dental school.

    What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

    How willing faculty are open to listening to student feedback and always looking for different ways to improve the curriculum and always looking for other new ways to improve student wellness.

    What’s one thing every student should do during their time at UConn?

    One of my favorite events that UConn has every single year is Culture Shock which is run in collaboration with the Student National Medical Association, the Latino Medical Association, and the Student National Dental Association. Culture shock is essentially our version of a school-wide talent show where we have students showcase their various talents and their cultures and most importantly it’s a great time to have the entire student body and faculty be around for a great night of celebration. The event raises money for various charities within the Greater Hartford Area. This event takes place every December and I’m glad to have been able to participate in Culture Shock and be able to attend the event every single year since my first year of medical school. I absolutely love seeing people in my class and even upper-class students be involved. Whether it’s my peers showcasing their singing skills, dancing, or most importantly the most famous part of the night is our fashion show where you get to showcase various pieces and clothing from your particular culture.

    Who inspired you to enter health care?

    It started with my mother who was a certified nursing assistant at a rehabilitation center and in elementary school after school I would visit her at work and be around various health care professionals including physicians, nurses, and physician assistants and I became very curious at that time at an early age about becoming a doctor. It wasn’t really until high school where we had a Health Academy that’s focused on helping students go into health care professionals that I really started to think more about becoming a physician. Furthermore I had a great relationship with my pediatrician growing up who became one of my first mentors in the field of medicine that I made the final decision to go to medical school after my sophomore year of college where during that summer between freshman and sophomore year I did a six-week program at Columbia University focused on first generation college students who were interested in going into health professional careers. During that program, I was able to shadow various physicians and different medical sub-specialties which really gave me the confidence and knowledge to go into medicine. From that experience I decided to go on the pathway of becoming a doctor and I’ve had a multitude of other great inspiration and mentors along the way that helped guide me on this path.

    What are your plans after graduation?

    I’ll be continuing my journey here at UConn as an Emergency Medicine resident physician.

    What’s one thing that will always make you think of UConn?

    The people! The faculty, friends, and mentors are what makes UConn have its collaborative feel and most importantly always making you feel comfortable and welcomed.

    What does being a part of UConn mean to you?

    I love being at UConn! Being at UConn feels at home. I think most importantly the reason that I love being here is that it feels like a community. I’m very thankful for my colleagues who’ve helped me throughout my entire medical school time. I really do love the faculty who also have been very supportive and very attentive to student wellness. These are the characteristics and traits that I want to continue to have as I transition in the next part of my journey of becoming a resident.

    What’s it going to be like to walk across the Commencement stage and get your degree?

    It’s going to be a huge accomplishment for me, especially in my case being a first-generation college student and now to be the first person in my family to become a doctor. It’s going to be an amazing accomplishment to share this moment with friends and family watching me on the stage and I’m super thankful for their support in terms of this entire journey to be able to get to this point.

    Any final words of wisdom for incoming students?

    Get involved and explore as early as you possibly can and most importantly you can never have too many mentors there’s always something that you can learn and grow from someone no matter what field that they come from. Always take advantage of the ability to ask for help.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Keep Moving” David’s Story of Living Well with Parkinson’s

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Every April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month shines a light on the more than 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and many aspects of daily life. At UConn Health, we’re proud to care for hundreds of individuals navigating this journey, including Bristol resident David Swarts, who has become an advocate for living well in the face of a challenging diagnosis.

    Swarts, now 79, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in September 2021. Like many, his journey began with subtle symptoms, tremors, balance changes, and eventually a loss of smell. Over time, the changes became more pronounced, but Swarts chose not to let the diagnosis define him.

    “I have it, and I’m going to live for today, not worry about the future and how Parkinson’s will affect it,” he says. “There are things to think about, but not to worry about day in and day out.”

    Swarts receives care from more than nine UConn Health providers, including his neurologist, Dr. Chindhuri Selvadurai, all of whom work together using a shared medical record system to stay coordinated on his care. It’s one of the many things Swarts values about UConn Health. “All my doctors can see each other’s notes. They know what’s going on, and that gives me confidence in the care I’m getting,” he says.

    At UConn Health’s Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the Brain and Spine Institute Selvadurai and her colleagues diagnose and treat those with Parkinson’s.

    “Early diagnosis can lead to better access to education, resources, and specialized treatments. Exercise is the best way to slow the progression of disease. Medications including oral and a new FDA approved injection are used to treat the symptoms and other options include exercise, physical therapy and occupational therapy,” says Selvadurai.

    There is also brain stimulation surgery for patients with Parkinson’s disease. This has been proven to improve quality of life in patients, reduce medication burden, reduce the number of falls and symptom fluctuation.

    We have a robust Parkinson’s disease (PD) clinic that provides multidisciplinary attention to patients and families living with PD. We offer social services, neurorehabilitation, and supportive care and planning services integrated into the same environment, allowing for continuity of care. The

    In addition to managing Parkinson’s, David recently underwent a knee replacement at UConn Health and worked hard in physical therapy to regain strength. Now, he’s back at the gym several times a week through the Silver Fox program at the Bristol Senior Center. He uses the treadmill, rowing machine, and elliptical to stay active.

    “Exercise is key,” Swarts says. “Just keep moving. That’s my motto.”

    He’s also trying new medications and staying involved in the Parkinson’s community. Last week, he attended a local support group where he performed a humorous skit and shared a booklet he wrote on life with Parkinson’s.

    “Seeing others at different stages helped me reflect on my own progress,” he says. “It’s important to stay connected and keep a sense of humor.”

    One of Swarts biggest motivations? His family. He recently ordered a rollator walker so he can attend his grandsons’ track meets at Bristol Central High School. “I don’t want to miss out,” he says.

    He’s also explored dance therapy, and a local group called ParkiPong, which combines table tennis with community support. He credits these experiences, and his attitude, for helping him stay strong, both physically and mentally.

    As we mark Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Swarts’s story is a reminder that while Parkinson’s brings challenges, it also brings opportunities: to grow, to connect, and to keep moving.

    “Focus on the disorder and deal with it,” he says. “Don’t succumb.”

    “Managing Parkinson’s requires a coordinated, team-based approach. At UConn Health, we bring together a multidisciplinary team and foster an environment where patients feel truly empowered to take an active role in their care,” says Dr. Selvadurai.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn School of Pharmacy Places Second in 2025 AMCP P&T Competition: Following Back-to-Back National Championships

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In April, UConn placed second in the AMCP’s annual P&T Competition! The event invites many pharmacy schools across the nation to participate in a multiple-stage, intensive competition showcasing a team of four dedicated students from each school. 

    Students during the judging portion of the competition

    Out of 47 participating teams from pharmacy schools across the country, 15 advanced to the Semi-Final round, and just 5 teams moved on to present to a mock P&T Committee during the AMCP Annual Meeting in Houston on April 1, 2025.  

    This annual competition offers students an immersive opportunity to apply skills essential to formulary decision-making – an area critical to the practice of managed care pharmacy. Competing teams are tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of a medication’s clinical economic, and safety profile to inform whether it should be added to a formulary. 

    This year’s UConn team was the youngest to ever represent the University, composed primarily of first year pharmacy students. Team members included Hira Ilyas (P3), Owen Kwok (P1), Maggie Liu (P1), and Emily Szydlo (P1) – a group whose dedication and insight impressed judges. 

    Their success reflects not only their talent but the supportive network guiding them. Associate Professor Christina Polomoff serves as the faculty advisor for the competition team and for UConn’s student AMCP chapter. Additional support comes from a group of dedicated managed care leaders: Jeffrey Casberg, Andrew Cournoyer, Joseph Honcz, Daniel Shan, and Glen Smyth, whose guidance continues to shape the program’s growth.

    Headshot of Christina Polomoff (UConn Photo)

    Adding to the celebration, Polomoff was named the recipient of the 2025 AMCP Individual Contribution Award. This national honor recognizes her leadership in expanding managed care education at UConn School of Pharmacy, from integrating managed care concepts into the core curriculum, to coordinating a dedicated elective, to offering hands-on experiences through her advanced pharmacy practice rotation at Hartford HealthCare Integrated Care Partners. 

    This award is about raising awareness about managed care.” – Christina Polomoff, Pharm.D.

    Polomoff believes her award exemplifies the progress UConn Pharmacy has made in increasing the visibility of managed care and its career opportunities to students – a momentum she’s excited to continue within the School and beyond.

    UConn’s continued success in this prestigious national competition is a testament to the School of Pharmacy’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and preparing the next generation of managed care leaders. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Sullivan Introduce Bipartisan Keep Finfish Free Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the Keep Finfish Free Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit federal agencies from issuing any permit or taking any other action to authorize or facilitate commercial finfish aquaculture operations in federal waters, known as the exclusive economic zone, from 3 to 200 nautical miles off U.S. shores, unless Congress passes future legislation explicitly authorizing such permits.
    Commercial finfish aquaculture, often with Atlantic salmon, utilizes infrastructure consisting of massive cages and intensive feeding systems. Commercial offshore cages typically contain hundreds of thousands of fish. Aquaculture nets are porous and can allow for waste and pathogens—viruses, bacteria, and parasites—to pass from farmed fish inside the cages to wild fish and shellfish outside the cages.
    “Industrial finfish aquaculture operations are like underwater factory farms, polluting our oceans and spreading potentially deadly diseases and parasites to wild fish,” said Senator Booker. “These operations use millions of pounds of wild fish to feed the caged fish at an unsustainable rate of consumption that depletes marine resources in traditional fishing areas. As we make decisions that will impact the future of our oceans, we should not go down the unsustainable road of allowing commercial finfish aquaculture in our federal waters. Instead we should chart a different path built around the health of wild fish stocks and ocean ecosystems.”
    “Alaskans are deeply invested in protecting the health of our marine ecosystem, and maintaining sustainability of our world-class fisheries,” said Senator Sullivan. “That is why I’m introducing legislation with Senator Booker to ban risky fish farming operations in federal waters that could jeopardize the health of our fish species and undermine Alaska’s coastal fishing communities. I hope my colleagues will join us in passing this important legislation to keep American finfish healthy and free!”
    “Thank you, Senator Booker, for introducing the Keep Finfish Free Act. The last thing our ocean needs is industrialization, especially off New Jersey and New York coasts,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, based in Long Branch, NJ. “Offshore finfish farms would harm and contaminate our wild and free ocean with pollution including from pharmaceuticals, chemical feed, and concentrated fecal matter. It will also promote diseases and genetic mutations which will threaten native species. In short, nothing but yuck. We need strong laws to ensure our ocean is clean and healthy for all to enjoy today and for future generations.”
    “What affects fishers affects farmers, too; we co-exist within the same food systems. Factory farming on land has displaced small producers, harmed rural communities, and depleted natural resources,” said Cali Alexander, board member and policy chair with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ (NOFA-NJ), and former state seafood administrator with the NJ Department of Health. “Now, industrial-scale fish farming threatens to do the same. So we at NOFA-NJ are grateful to Senator Booker for co-sponsoring the Keep Finfish Free Act, a vital push toward keeping food production truly sustainable and in the hands of those who put food on our plates.”
    “Reintroduction of the Keep Finfish Free Act is a welcome display of support that Senator Sullivan and Senator Booker have for the fisher people who provide natural and healthy food to the world,” said Melanie Brown, Native Alaskan fisherwoman and outreach director at SalmonState. “Thank you, Senators, for leading the charge on keeping net pens out of the waters of our wild-caught fisheries.”
    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer, Norton, Van Hollen Lead Bicameral Letter on Cuts to Medicaid in District of Columbia

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Amid reports that House Republicans plan to reduce the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in the District of Columbia, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 15 Members in sending a letter to leaders on the House Committee on Energy & Commerce decrying the proposed cuts to Medicaid in the District. The letter is signed by all Democrats in the National Capital Region, including Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Representatives Robert “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Donald Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), and April McClain Delaney (MD-06).

    In 2024, 264,332 people enrolled in Medicaid in the District, including 3 in every 7 children, 4 in every 5 nursing home residents, and 1 in every 2 working-age adults with disabilities. Many of these Americans risk losing coverage if D.C.’s FMAP is reduced. A lower FMAP would also force hospitals, clinics, and local health centers to close their doors, undermining care for everyone in the region. 

    “It is imperative that our constituents, and those who seek care within our jurisdictions, have reliable access to health care,” the Members wrote in their letter. “Cuts to Medicaid will have devastating impacts regionally and nationwide, decreasing the availability of providers and services, forcing millions of American families to lose coverage, and increasing wait times for patients in need. Moreover, cuts threaten our region’s health centers, hospitals, nursing homes, home and community-based care providers, and behavioral health providers.”

    “Such a change would be catastrophic, destabilizing the health care system of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and beyond and impacting the hundreds of thousands of constituents who live, work, travel through, or receive care in D.C. each day,” the Members continued.

    “As a top children’s hospital and the region’s only Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center, we are deeply concerned that the proposed cuts to D.C. Medicaid will have unintended consequences and will put critical health care for children at risk,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, President and CEO of Children’s National Hospital. “These proposals would force us to immediately scale back the specialized care that hundreds of thousands of families from all 50 states and D.C. rely on each year, including the 55 percent of our patients who are covered by Medicaid.” 

    “Cutting DC’s Medicaid funding would decimate health care, emergency preparedness, and public safety in the city, impacting not only DC residents but those who work and visit the city,” said Jacqueline Bowens, President and CEO of DC Hospital Association. “Cuts would force reductions in services at hospitals and have a ripple effect on the city budget and essential public safety services, including police, fire, education, and substance abuse, mental health, and homeless services.”

    The full text of the letter is included below:

    Dear Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Carter, and Ranking Member DeGette:

    We write in strong opposition to the proposals contemplated in the FY25 Budget Resolution to cut Medicaid. It is imperative that our constituents, and those who seek care within our jurisdictions, have reliable access to health care. Cuts to Medicaid will have devastating impacts regionally and nationwide, decreasing the availability of providers and services, forcing millions of American families to lose coverage, and increasing wait times for patients in need. Moreover, cuts threaten our region’s health centers, hospitals, nursing homes, home and community-based care providers, and behavioral health providers. These indispensable providers serve low-income, military-connected, and disabled children and adults, and play a unique role in our nation’s capital.

    We write with particular concern regarding proposals to reduce the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for the District of Columbia. Such a change would be catastrophic, destabilizing the health care system of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region and beyond and impacting the hundreds of thousands of constituents who live, work, travel through, or receive care in D.C. each day. Notably, this includes Members of Congress and their staff, members of the administration, visiting dignitaries, and their families, as well as families across the country who rely on D.C.’s specialized care. We all depend on and expect our nation’s capital to have a quality, responsive health care system. Efforts to weaken that system through cuts to Medicaid undermine the stability and resilience our region requires and would have reverberating effects across the country.

    In 1997, a Republican Congress passed the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (Revitalization Act), which established the current 70 percent D.C. FMAP and transferred certain functions and costs from the D.C. government to the federal government. Congress passed the Revitalization Act in part because it recognized that it imposes unique revenue limitations on D.C., which operates as a state, county, and city. Congress imposes three main revenue limitations on D.C.: D.C. cannot tax income earned in D.C. by nonresidents, depriving D.C. of more than $3 billion in revenue per year; D.C. cannot permit buildings to exceed certain height limitations; and D.C. cannot tax its sizable federal property.

    As it currently stands, other jurisdictions are entitled to a higher FMAP than D.C. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 set the FMAP for American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands permanently at 83% and set the FMAP for Puerto Rico at 76% through FY 2027. Five states (Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, New Mexico, and Kentucky) have FMAPs that are higher than D.C.

    Reducing D.C.’s FMAP would weaken care for all in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, regardless of insurance status. Medicaid supports nearly a quarter of D.C.’s population, including 3 in 7 children and 4 in 5 nursing home residents. For example, proposals to reduce D.C.’s FMAP from 70 percent to 50 percent would create a $1.1 billion annual hole in local funds and ultimately result in a total loss of $2.1 billion per year in program funds to local hospitals, universities, and providers. This equates to a 40 percent cut in funding directly impacting health care providers. Hospitals in the region project at least $232 million in uncompensated care due to D.C.’s FMAP reductions, with at least one medical system expecting to close altogether. Impacts would reverberate across fire and emergency services, police recruitment and retention, and behavioral health resources and threaten the ability of hospitals and other safety net providers to stay open. Community-based providers in Virginia and Maryland risk being overwhelmed, as demand rises from D.C. residents seeking timely care.

    Further, without corresponding funding or infrastructure support, it would be challenging for the rest of the region to shoulder the responsibility for regional emergency response. D.C.’s four Level I trauma centers, including those at Children’s National Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, provide vital care for patients in major incidents or emergency situations, including those involving Members of Congress, federal employees, and visitors. Reducing D.C.’s FMAP would have a particularly disproportionate impact on the provision of trauma and specialty capacities, principally for burn and pediatric patients.

    Reductions to D.C.’s FMAP would adversely limit regional access to life-saving and specialized pediatric care. We note with particular alarm the potential impacts on Children’s National, which provides specialized care to patients from all 50 states, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, and North Carolina. 73% of hospital stays and emergency department visits at Children’s National are covered by Medicaid. Reductions in Medicaid funding would likely result in the hospital making significant cuts to primary care, behavioral health, and outpatient subspecialty services, with families having to travel further to obtain such care or going without it. Further, local federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) anticipate that a change to D.C.’s FMAP would result in a loss of coverage for more than 33,000 adult health center patients and a loss of $58 million in payments, leaving them unable to serve over 24,000 of their current patients.

    Reductions to D.C.’s FMAP would be catastrophic for our local providers and pose grave challenges to ensuring patients in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond receive necessary care. As you consider potential policy options through Budget Reconciliation, we urge you to strongly oppose all cuts to Medicaid and to protect the current FMAP for the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Grassley, Colleagues Highlight National Fentanyl Awareness Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and colleagues introduced a resolution designating April 29th, 2025, as “National Fentanyl Awareness Day” to highlight the dangers of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
    “Tens of thousands of Americans die each year from fentanyl. In President Trump’s first 100 Days, Republicans have done their best to fight this epidemic, including advancing my HALT Fentanyl Act,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s bring the death toll to zero.”
    “Fentanyl overdoses claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans last year, many of whom suffered from accidental poisonings after taking counterfeit prescription pills. President Trump has taken strong action to stem the flow of fentanyl pills. Additionally, Congress must act to hold corporations accountable for their role in the illicit drug trade,” Grassley said. “Our resolution demonstrates continuing resolve to put an end to America’s fentanyl epidemic.” “Fentanyl overdoses claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans last year, many of whom suffered from accidental poisonings after taking counterfeit prescription pills. President Trump has taken strong action to stem the flow of fentanyl pills. Additionally, Congress must act to hold corporations accountable for their role in the illicit drug trade,” said Senator Grassley. “Our resolution demonstrates continuing resolve to put an end to America’s fentanyl epidemic.”
    Cassidy and Grassley were joined by U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jim Justice (R-WV), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hoeven (R-ND), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
    Background
    In February, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor amid Senate Democrats’ attempt to undermine his HALT Fentanyl Act to make permanent the temporary classification of fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). 
    Drug overdoses, largely driven by fentanyl, are the leading cause of death among young adults aged 18 to 45 years old. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl account for 66 percent of the total U.S. overdose deaths. In the last two fiscal years, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized record amounts of fentanyl —nearly 50,000 pounds—enough to produce more than 2 billion lethal doses. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths—74,702 of which were attributed to fentanyl. This was primarily fueled by synthetic opioids, including illegal fentanyl, which are largely manufactured in Mexico from raw materials supplied by China. In 2022, there were over 50.6 million fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than doubling the amount seized in 2021.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova: Five world-class genomic research centers will be created in 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova held a meeting of the Council for the implementation of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies for 2019–2030. The agenda included summing up the results of the competitive selection of organizations on the basis of which world-class genomic research centers will be created, as well as the competition for the distribution of grants for the implementation of research programs and projects in the field of genetics.

    “We are starting the next stage of the implementation of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies – with updated objectives, a reboot of previously implemented areas and the selection of new research centers. It is extremely important that the centers selected today bring the expected results. According to the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development, approved by the President in 2024, genetic technologies are designated as a priority area. Our goal is not only to deepen fundamental research in this area, but also to ensure its practical implementation,” said Tatyana Golikova.

    As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, the centers will be created in four areas of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies until 2030:

    · biosafety and ensuring technological independence;

    · genetic technologies for agricultural development;

    · genetic technologies for medicine;

    · genetic technologies for industrial microbiology.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, noted that the conditions of the competition had been revised.

    “Today we are faced with the most important task of achieving technological leadership, in connection with which many programs for supporting scientific research have been finalized, including the program for creating world-class genomic research centers. Now, the presence of an industrial partner or a qualified customer is one of the key conditions for participation in the competition,” the minister emphasized.

    World-class genomic research centers are consortia that unite the potential of research institutes, universities, and organizations of the real sector of the economy. Their activities contribute to the acquisition of new knowledge in the field of genetics and the development of new technologies.

    Following a competitive selection process, the government has formed a list of organizations on the basis of which five world-class genomic research centers will begin operating in 2025–2030.

    The Center for High-Precision Genetic Technologies for Medicine will be created on the basis of a consortium of the V.A. Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, and the National Medical Research Center of Hematology. Its main areas of work include the creation of anti-cancer drugs based on recombinant oncolytic viruses, drugs for the treatment of ischemic strokes, technologies for obtaining functional protein structures and pharmacogenetic approaches for medical diagnostics, as well as personnel training and retraining.

    The Center for Predictive Genetics, Pharmacogenetics and Personalized Therapy is being created on the basis of the Russian Scientific Center of Surgery named after Academician B.V. Petrovsky. The expected results of the center include, for example, the search for and identification of new genes responsible for cardiovascular diseases; the development of a diagnostic technology (“liquid biopsy”) for monitoring the risks of rejection and oncological diseases in patients who have undergone organ transplantation; the creation of a remote access advisory center for doctors and the development of higher and professional education programs in the field of genetics and pharmacogenetics.

    The world-class genomic research center “Genetic reprogramming and gene therapy” is being created on the basis of a consortium of five organizations: the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Physical and Chemical Medicine named after Yu.M. Lopukhin of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, the State Research Center “Institute of Immunology” of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Moscow Clinical Research Center named after A.S. Loginov. The center’s program involves bringing several completely original drugs to implementation, for example, for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary angioedema.

    The activities of the World-Class Genomic Research Center “Ensuring Biological Safety and Technological Independence” of Rospotrebnadzor are aimed at actively introducing modern genomic technologies and synthetic biology methods into the country’s biosafety system. In particular, within the framework of the project, scientists set themselves the task of describing viruses of vertebrate and arthropod carriers in natural reservoirs that have pathogenic potential. As a result, taking into account the use of modern technological solutions for metavirome analysis, new, previously undescribed or modified viruses will be identified and their zoonotic and pathogenic potential for humans will be assessed. This will allow the Russian Federation to become the third country in the world to implement such global projects.

    The Kurchatov Genome Center consortium will include the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology. The center’s main tasks include creating producer strains (bacterial systems), methodologies for designing varieties based on the analysis of large genotyping data, developing new varieties and hybrids, prototypes of varieties of strategically important agricultural crops obtained using genome editing, as well as developing and implementing educational programs for specialists (in genomic selection) and gifted schoolchildren.

    In addition, following the results of the competition for the distribution of grants for the implementation of research programs and projects in the field of genetics, 13 teams conducting research in the field of genetics and 14 projects that will result in the creation of bioresource collections will receive support. The total amount of their funding in 2025 will be 1.7 billion rubles.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Number of sampling sites under Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme adjusted to enhance cost-effectiveness

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    In response to a media report that the current number of sampling sites under the Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme has been substantially reduced, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 30) clarified and emphasised that the decision to adjust the number of sampling sites was made to align with the latest objectives of the programme and was based on scientific analysis, with a view to enhancing cost-effectiveness while ensuring that the effectiveness in monitoring the activity level of COVID-19 in Hong Kong would not be compromised.
     
         During the COVID-19 epidemic, the new sewage testing approach for quantitative detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus became an important tool for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to track the spread of the virus and identify the source of infection. At that time, when the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in sewage samples, the CHP would trace the source of the virus through the sewage network for source identification and early detection of infected cases. The CHP successfully identified more than 26 500 confirmed cases through the programme, most of which were asymptomatic. This played a pivotal role in the timely implementation of isolation and quarantine measures in response to different stages of development to interrupt the spread of the disease in the community. The project won the Gold Award in the “Performance Improvement and Operational Solutions” category of the 2024 International Water Association Project Innovation Awards, fully recognising the HKSAR Government’s innovative spirit and outstanding technological achievements in using sewage surveillance to combat the epidemic.
     
    With the resumption of normalcy, COVID-19 has been managed as a general respiratory disease. As a result, the objective of sewage surveillance has shifted from source tracing to routine surveillance of the virus activity in the community. The CHP continuously optimised the programme while maintaining the effectiveness of the surveillance, using simulation models to analyse different combinations of sampling sites. Results showed that by changing the number of sampling sites from the 120 to 154 (i.e. three to 14 per district) to one per district (i.e. 18 in total) located further downstream which covered the largest population (covering over 2.2 million people in total), the trend of the sewage viral load data and the relevant clinical surveillance indicators (including the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2) were highly correlated. In other words, adjusting the number of sampling sites does not affect the effectiveness of surveillance.
     
    The optimised strategy, implemented since April 2024, continues to monitor the activity of COVID-19 effectively, while significantly reducing operating costs by nearly 80 per cent. Surveillance results and analyses will be disseminated weekly by the CHP through the “COVID-19 & Flu Express” for public information.
     
    Looking ahead, the HKSAR Government will continue to enhance the sewage surveillance technology and explore its application to the surveillance of other infectious diseases, with a view to detecting the risk of different infectious diseases at an early stage and formulating appropriate public health response measures in a timely manner to protect public health.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand, Cotton, Nadler, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Protect Organ Donors

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced legislation to protect the rights of living organ donors. The Living Donor Protection Act would ensure living donors do not face discrimination from insurance companies, codify Department of Labor (DOL) guidance that covers living donors under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the private and civil service, remove barriers to organ donation, and provide certainty to donors and recipients. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Don Bacon (R-NE) lead this legislation in the House of Representatives.

    Currently, there are roughly 8,000 New Yorkers on the national transplant waiting list, with approximately 7,000 waiting for a kidney.In NYS, the average wait time for a kidney transplant is about five to six years, and during that time, many patients become too sick to receive a transplant or die. Nearly 500 New Yorkers die each year waiting for an organ transplant. Receiving an organ from a living donor can shorten this wait time and ultimately allow the best chance for long-term success. Unfortunately, studies have found that up to one in four living donors report discrimination in the rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance, and they can struggle to receive time off from work to complete their donation and recovery. Reducing barriers to living organ donation and educating potential donors on the protections provided to them under law will help to promote living organ donation and save the lives of those waiting for a transplant.

    “It’s a tragedy that so many people die while waiting for life-saving organ donations. We must do more to remove the barriers that keep Americans from donating,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Living Donor Protection Act would help ensure that the individuals who are willing to save someone’s life through an organ donation can do so without worrying that they’ll face insurance discrimination or that they could lose their job as they recover. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation and will keep fighting to finally get it passed.” 

    “Organ donors make an extraordinary sacrifice so someone else can have a new chance at life,” said Senator Cotton. “The Living Donor Protection Act would encourage more donors to step forward by protecting them from adverse consequences like denial of coverage and job loss.”

    “When an organ donor decides to donate one of their organs to someone else, they aren’t just saving someone’s life—they’re making one of the most selfless, difficult decisions anyone could ever make. The last thing they need in the midst of that challenging process is to be confronted by needless roadblocks or insurance discrimination,” said Representative Nadler. “These roadblocks can make it economically impossible for potential donors to make that choice and, simply put, they are costing lives. April is National Donate Life Month, and I’m proud to introduce the Living Donor Protection Act to bring awareness to this issue and knock down these needless barriers to lifesaving organ donation.”

    “Our state is fortunate to have Nebraska Medicine, which has a robust living donor kidney exchange program, performing more kidney chains which involves anonymous donors donating to someone without a compatible living donor, than almost any hospital nationwide. However, some living donors are discriminated against when it comes to rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance,” said Representative Bacon. “They also don’t always receive adequate time to recover from the surgeries related to their selfless gift. This legislation will help open the doors to more living donors so we can save more lives.”

    The Living Donor Protection Act would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation by: 

    1) Prohibiting life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors; 

    2) Amending the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition for private and civil service employees; and 

    3) Directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update its materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

    The Living Donor Protection Act is cosponsored bySenators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

    The Living Donor Protection Act is endorsed by Alport Syndrome Foundation, American Association of Kidney Patients, American Council of Life Insurers, American Heart Association, American Kidney Fund, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Society of Transplantation, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Global Liver Institute, IGA Nephropathy Foundation, International Society of Glomerular Disease, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, National Kidney Foundation, the Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance (NKCA), North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, Northwest Kidney Centers, the PKD Foundation, the Rogosin Institute, Sanofi, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), and Renal Physicians Association.

    “The selfless individuals who give the gift of life by donating a kidney should not face discrimination by life, long-term care, or disability insurers,” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. “This legislation would be a significant step in efforts to encourage more living donors and reduce the kidney transplant waiting list by providing the protections that living donors should receive for their lifesaving actions.”

    “The Living Donor Protection Act is a critical step forward in protecting those who make the selfless choice to save lives through organ donation,” said Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation and a transplant recipient. “By removing barriers and ensuring donors don’t face discrimination, we can help address the national organ shortage crisis and save more lives. I thank Senators Cotton and Gillibrand, and Representatives Bacon and Nadler, for their leadership, and I strongly urge Congress to pass this vital legislation this year.”

    “With nearly 9,300 people in the U.S. waiting for a liver transplant right now, the need for living donors is great. Approximately 25% of people on the liver transplant list will die waiting due to lack of available organs. The Living Donor Protection Act is critical to helping level the playing field for living organ donors, ensuring that they are not discriminated against in obtaining life, disability or long-term care insurance and have job protections for medical leave after donation. We are so grateful to Senators Cotton and Gillibrand and Representatives Bacon and Nadler for stepping up for living organ donors and patients throughout the country,” said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation and caregiver to a transplant patient.

    “ASN commends the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act, critical legislation which will remove barriers that discourage living donors from providing the life-saving gift of a kidney transplant,” said ASN President Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN. “Americans who are considering becoming living donors deserve more support than the current system provides for them, and ASN believes the Living Donor Protection Act is a critical step to achieve this goal.”

    “As a pioneer in transplantation since performing New York State’s first living donor kidney transplant in 1963, The Rogosin Institute believes that kidney transplantation is the ideal treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease,” said the Rogosin Institute. “We are proud to wholeheartedly endorse the Living Donor Protection Act removing barriers to donation such as insurance uncertainty and financial insecurity. Rogosin extends our thanks to the bipartisan members of Congress supporting this critical legislation. We thank Senators Gillibrand and Cotton and Congressmen Bacon and Nadler for championing the Living Donor Protection Act.”

    “As nonprofit dialysis providers, kidney transplant is an ideal outcome for many of our patients and legislation to protect and support living donors is critical to our patient-centered mission,” said Monica Massaro, Executive Director of NKCA.

    “Living organ donors save people’s lives and should be able to give the gift of life without fear of insurance discrimination or financial retribution, especially as they recover from surgery. The Living Donor Protection Act rightfully protects these selfless individuals from this,” said Maureen McBride, Ph.D., CEO of the United Network for Organ Sharing. “Thank you, Sens. Cotton and Gillibrand and Reps. Bacon and Nadler for your bipartisan leadership and for standing up for living organ donors.”

    “On behalf of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing a majority of the nation’s transplant professionals, our Society strongly applauds and endorses the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA),” said Dr. Jon Kobashigawa, President, American Society of Transplantation (AST). “AST is grateful for the ongoing and steadfast leadership of Senators Cotton, Gillibrand and Representatives Bacon and Nadler to protect transplant patients and strengthen living donation.  The LDPA is a patient-focused bill seeking to remove policy barriers that might otherwise prevent an individual from providing a lifesaving donor organ.  AST greatly appreciates this bipartisan, bicameral, and patient centric legislation. We look forward to working with you to advance the LDPA in this 119th Congress.”

    “Life insurers support helping more people access financial protection for themselves and their families,” said American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO David Chavern. “The Living Donor Protection Act lets organ donors access life, disability, or long-term care coverage while recognizing fair underwriting practices. It’s an important initiative that will protect those who save lives through organ donations.”

    “On behalf of all kidney patients, organ donors and American taxpayers, the American Association of Kidney Patients salutes U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon and Jerrold Nadler for introducing the bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act so that living organ donors will no longer face the Hobbesian choice of saving an innocent human life at the risk of losing insurance coverages that provide economic security and peace of mind to their families and loved ones. The time is now for America to transcend high-cost, high-mortality dialysis care as the default solution for people living with kidney failure and to encourage greater living organ donation and greater transplant opportunities for all Americans in need of a life-saving organ,” said Edward V. Hickey, III, President of the American Association of Kidney Patients.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER CALLS ON EPA TO CUT RED TAPE AND STOP DELAYING CONTRACT FOR CANANDAIGUA TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER FOR 40,000 IN ONTARIO & WAYNE COUNTIES

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Schumer Secured $1.75M In Fed Funding For Canandaigua to Upgrade Drinking Water System To Remove Toxic Chemicals Linked To Liver And Kidney Damage And Cancer

    Despite Canandaigua Having All Its Paperwork In Order For Months, EPA Has Delayed Signing Final Agreement And If They Do Not Sign Off In Next 30 Days Construction Will Not Be Able To Begin As Planned

    Schumer: EPA Must Cut Red Tape To Protect Thousands Of Families And Seniors Across Rochester-Finger Lakes

    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut through the red tape and stop delays to help the City of Canandaigua install crucial equipment to remove disinfection by-product (DBP) chemicals – which have been linked to health issues including liver and kidney damage and cancer – from the water supply. Schumer explained that last year he secured $1.75 million in federal funding for Canandaigua, but the EPA has been dragging its feet on signing off on the final agreement, which the city needs in the next 30 days so construction can start this fall as planned.

    “Every family and resident from Canandaigua to Walworth deserves access to clean and safe drinking water. I was proud to secure $1.75 million so Canandaigua can upgrade its drinking water system and eliminate harmful chemicals that have been linked to liver and kidney damage and cancer, but if the EPA doesn’t stop its delays the project can’t move forward. We need the EPA needs to cut the red tape and sign off on the final agreement so construction can start this fall as planned, not to do so risks both public health and good jobs,” said Senator Schumer. “Every day the EPA drags its feet it is jeopardizing the health and safety of over 40,000 New Yorkers across Ontario and Wayne Counties. I will always fight to keep New York’s drinking water clean and our communities safe and healthy.”

    Disinfection by-products (DBP) have recently been found in excess of the maximum contaminant level established by the EPA in the water of systems that have purchased the city’s water. Schumer secured $1.75 million in federal funding in the fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to enable the City of Canandaigua to install a new aeration system into its three water storage tanks that will eliminate the DPA chemicals. This system will specifically integrate aerators and mixers into the city’s water storage tanks to eliminate the harmful DBPs from the drinking water supply. These DBPs are formed when disinfectants, like chlorine, react with naturally occurring substances in the water which have known toxicity and carcinogenic impacts that have been linked to liver and kidney damage and cancer.

    Canandaigua City Manager John Goodwin said, “We appreciate Senator Schumer’s support to secure and obligate this federal funding that will ensure that the City will continue to be able to provide high quality and safe drinking water to not just city residents, but to residents in towns across Ontario and Wayne County.”

    The city needs the EPA to sign off on the final agreement so it has the funding it needs to go out to bid in the next 30 days and construction can start this fall as planned. Schumer in a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin explained this funding is key to improving water quality for approximately 40,000 New Yorkers in Canandaigua and surrounding communities across Ontario and Wayne Counties.

    Schumer’s letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin can be found HERE or below:

    Dear Administrator Zeldin:

    I write to express my deep concern regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) unacceptable delay in finalizing the grant agreement necessary to release critical funding for the City of Canandaigua’s drinking water treatment system upgrade. This funding is essential to safeguard the health and safety of over 40,000 residents across Ontario and Wayne Counties, from Canandaigua itself to neighboring towns like Bristol, Hopewell, Farmington and Manchester and communities served by the Wayne County Water Authority like Macedon, Walworth, and Palmyra.

    I was proud to secure a bi-partisan $1.75 million Congressionally Directed Spending investment in fiscal year 2024 to enable Canandaigua’s installation of crucial equipment to remove hazardous disinfection byproducts from the public water supply – chemicals which are known to cause serious health issues, including liver and kidney damage, as well as cancer. This project, developed through collaboration between city officials and state regulators, directly responds to urgent mandates to improve water quality and protect public health.

    Now, despite the clear congressional intent and urgent public health need, the City of Canandaigua is facing severe uncertainty. The City must go out to bid within the next 30 days in order to begin design and construction this fall and stay on track to deliver safe, clean drinking water to its residents. Yet, EPA’s persistent delays in approving the final agreements threaten to derail this delicate timeline, jeopardizing both the health of thousands of New Yorkers and the public’s trust in federal responsiveness.

    The EPA’s delay in obligating this funding is unacceptable and is placing entire communities at risk. Every day that passes without final approval raises the risks to public health, increases potential project costs, and undermines the ability of responsible municipalities to deliver safe and essential drinking water services to local residents, farms, businesses, and organizations.

    Therefore, I urge EPA to immediately approve the final grant agreement and release the $1.75 million funding to allow the City of Canandaigua to move forward without delay. The lives, health, and well-being of tens of thousands of Upstate New Yorkers depend on swift and decisive action.

    I stand ready to work with you to resolve any outstanding issues, but make no mistake: delay is not an option. The residents of Ontario and Wayne Counties deserve safe drinking water, and they deserve it without obstruction.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Launch of Connecticut’s e-Apprenticeship System

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (CROMWELL, CT) – In commemoration of National Apprenticeship Day, Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today participated in the monthly meeting of the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council, where they announced the upcoming launch of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s new e-Apprenticeship system.

    Going live on May 1, 2025, the e-Apprenticeship system will bring online the agency’s Registered Apprenticeship Training Program through the e-license system that is already in use by multiple Connecticut state agencies. The system will allow sponsor employers to register new apprentices, update information on their registered apprentices, and pay program fees, all over the internet. Additionally, registered apprentices will be able to use the system to track their progress.

    The Registered Apprenticeship Training Program connects employers to registered apprentices, who can receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction, master a trade, and earn while they learn. Thousands of businesses across Connecticut have participated in the program, helping them increase their workforce recruitment and proficiency. Depending on the trade, registered apprenticeship programs may last anywhere between one and four years. Upon completion, registered apprentices receive an industry recognized, portable credential that certifies completion of the program, distinguishes the apprentice as a master of their craft, and makes the apprentice eligible to take any state occupational licensing exams.

    Currently, there are more than 7,000 registered apprentices working for approximately 1,800 employers within more than 50 industries in Connecticut.

    “Registered apprenticeships are a great way for employers to train and build their workforce, and for workers to receive on-the-job training and master a trade that will benefit them throughout their careers,” Governor Lamont said. “Many businesses have job openings that need to be filled by workers trained with certain sets of skills, and filling those positions through registered apprenticeships is a great way for a company to build that talent and really invest in their workforce. Bringing this program online with the e-Apprenticeship system will make it even easier for businesses and workers to participate.”

    “Registered apprenticeships are tried and true training for skilled tradespeople like electricians and welders, and they are a great career pathway for other occupations,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “Over the past several years, employers in industries including childcare, education, health, and cosmetology have participated in apprenticeships to train their next generation workforce. Thanks to support from Governor Lamont, Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program continues to expand and help employers meet their hiring needs.”

    “As demand for highly skilled workers increases, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship strategies have proven very successful in meeting both employer and industry need in training, acquiring, and retaining employees,” Todd Berch, director of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, said. “Registered apprenticeships are rigorous and quite distinct from internships or corporate training programs. They must meet high standards of mastery, and registered apprentices put in thousands of hours before completing the program.”

    Today’s council meeting was held in Cromwell at Jessica’s Color Room Salon, the first business in the state to offer a cosmetology apprenticeship through the program. The salon’s registered apprentice completed 2,000 training hours over the course of 15 months and is now licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as a hairdresser.

    “The Office of Apprenticeship Training helped me identify exactly what we needed to do to prepare and train our registered apprentice,” Jessica Dudley, owner of the salon, said. “It was a good solution to have someone on the job who was also building skills. It also helped me start looking at issues like succession planning and how to expand my business.”

    Businesses that want to participate in the program and workers who are interested in becoming a registered apprentice should visit the Office of Apprenticeship Training program’s website at portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/apprenticeships.

    The new e-Apprenticeship system can also be accessed through that website when it launches on May 1.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –