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  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Pete Hegseth: “What’s an AST?”

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

    Vasquez Exposes Secretary Hegseth’s Shocking Ignorance on Border Issues in House Armed Services Hearing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a House Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) confronted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for his blatant lack of knowledge about the U.S.-Mexico border, despite the Department of Defense’s growing involvement and massive spending in the region.

    WATCH: VASQUEZ PRESSES SECRETARY HEGSETH IN HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

    Vasquez’s district includes 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, a fact that Hegseth was unaware of. It also includes some of the country’s most remote, rugged borderlands, and Vasquez pressed Hegseth on basic geography, local conditions, and defense department spending. The result was clear: the Secretary of Defense is dangerously unprepared for the role he’s been entrusted with.

    “Pete Hegseth couldn’t name how many miles of border exist in New Mexico. He couldn’t point to where the wall starts or ends. He couldn’t say whether there are roads in critical terrain. And he had no meaningful answer when I asked about surveillance technologies despite their clear value as modern, cost-effective alternatives to a border wall,” said Vasquez. “This is not just concerning—it’s disqualifying. The military doesn’t belong on our border.”

    Vasquez repeatedly highlighted the disconnect between the Department of Defense’s policies and the realities of life on the border, challenging Hegseth’s cookie-cutter rhetoric and false claims about the effectiveness of the administration’s strategy.

    “I have serious concerns with your fundamental lack of knowledge about the U.S.-Mexico border, considering the billions of dollars that DOD is slated to spend on this mission,” said Vasquez. “I would encourage you to do some homework on my region and learn what will actually make our border more secure and safer.”

    Hegseth had no response when asked about the Bootheel, a highly remote and strategically significant stretch of southern New Mexico. When pressed on terrain features like the Animas Mountains or local infrastructure, he dodged. When confronted with data showing the DOD diverted over $1 billion from troop housing and modernization to border deployments, he deflected.

    Hegseth notably admitted that a border wall is not always the most effective border security tool despite the administration’s stance on the issue, “I’m aware that there are places where walls are not as much as effective as other places, and I get that.”

    Vasquez continues to advocate for modern surveillance infrastructure, expanded port-of-entry capacity, and smarter, humane approaches to immigration. He has introduced bipartisan legislation to realign border security investments with what works on the ground, not what plays best on cable news.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Stands with President Trump to Defund NPR, PBS, and Wasteful Foreign Aid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today voted in favor of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which will eliminate $9.4 billion in wasteful foreign aid spending and funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS.

    This legislation passed the House by a vote of 214-212. 

    “H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act, is a bold step toward restoring fiscal sanity in Washington. By slashing billions in wasteful and woke spending, including $1.1 billion for left-wing propaganda outlets like NPR and PBS, $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street, and $6 million for so-called ‘Net Zero Cities’ in Mexico, we are cutting waste, fraud, and abuse to build a more efficient federal government. With our national debt soaring to nearly $37 trillion, we must get our fiscal house in order and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent in the best interest of the American people, not foreign pet projects or left-wing activism. By passing this legislation, House Republicans are delivering on President Trump’s America First mandate and returning hard-earned taxpayer dollars back to the American people,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Slams HUD Secretary Turner on Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Attacks on Affordable Housing & Homelessness Prevention 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Trump budget proposes halving HUD’s budget as key staff are let go in droves & funds signed into law are illegally frozen

    ICYMI: In Everett, Murray Holds Roundtable on Trump Putting $16.7 Million for Snohomish County Homelessness Prevention at Risk, Hears from Affected Organizations—Vows to Fight Housing Budget Cuts

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Secretary Turner*** 

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner at a Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for HUD and its sweeping staff losses and funding freezes that are already hurting communities across the country. Senator Murray pressed Secretary Turner on the Trump administration’s unprecedented and illegal freezing of funding for critical HUD programs and attacks on the Continuum of Care program that is vital to homelessness prevention in Snohomish County, King County, Pierce County, and other areas across Washington state. Murray also questioned Secretary Turner about the Trump administration blocking funding provided for HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, and his refusal to answer basic Congressional oversight questions on this program.

    In her opening comments, Vice Chair Murray said:

    “The entire point of your Department is to help Americans keep a roof over their head. I am really afraid pretty much everything that you and President Trump have done to date appears kind of in direct opposition to that goal.

    “First off, the President’s illegal funding freezes are causing chaos across the country. I was in Everett, in my home state of Washington, a few weeks ago, I was talking to organizations that help people find housing. And if they can’t get their already-awarded funding, they will be forced to start evicting people this summer and may even have to shut down their services altogether.

    “And on top of that, you’re pushing out 2,300 staff—who are dedicated public servants with decades of experience. I just don’t see how you can tell us with a straight face that forcing out over a quarter of your workforce is going to have no effect on your Department’s ability to meet its statutory responsibilities under law.

    “And now, after all the damage that’s been done, you are here today requesting that Congress slash funding for your Department nearly in half! Nearly in half! That would force millions of Americans out of their homes.


    “Your request would force states to make up for your draconian cuts and abdication of responsibility. I don’t know what state can afford to do that, especially when this administration is simultaneously working to shift even more costs to states for things like SNAP and health care.

    “It is kind of absurd to claim that we cannot afford basic programs that keep people off the streets, but we can hand trillions of dollars in new tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations.

    “Housing affordability and homelessness is a crisis in Washington state and in many places across the country, you know that—but this administration just appears to me to be trying to make it all worse.

    “And I’ll tell you right now: looking at your budget request, as far as I’m concerned as Vice Chair of this committee, it’s not going anywhere.”

    [ILLEGAL FUNDING FREEZES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by asking about the administration’s illegal funding freezes and attacks on critical housing and homeless prevention programs, including the Continuum of Care program: “I want to start with the funding that you are illegally freezing. The Continuum of Care program is essential to addressing homelessness in my home state of Washington. In March, HUD began issuing grant agreements with a host of new conditions that are deeply concerning and completely unrelated to HUD’s mission. HUD did that without notice, and without any explanation of what the vaguely worded conditions mean or what a grantee would be required to do. As I said earlier, organizations I have talked to in my state say that without these funds, they are going to evict people this summer. The courts, as you know, are sorting this out, I’m glad to see they’ve extended the preliminary injunction to stop HUD from enforcing these new and extreme requirements. Mr. Secretary, I want to ask you, are you going to, and I quote from the court order, ‘take every step necessary to effectuate this order, including clearing any administrative, operational, or technical hurdles to implementation’?”

    Secretary Turner replied, “As you have said this is under active litigation. And so we will leave it there. Once this is through litigation, I look forward to having a conversation, but right now I won’t comment on it.”

    “Not even to tell us if you’re following the court order?” pressed Senator Murray.

    Secretary Turner said, “I will follow the law—”

    Senator Murray reiterated her question, “Are you following the court order?”

    “Our team follows the law and the court order,” answered Secretary Turner.

    “Are you in full compliance with the court order?” followed up Senator Murray.

    “I’m not going to speak any more on it because it’s under active litigation,” said Secretary Turner, avoiding the question.

    Senator Murray continued to try and get clarification on where the funds stood with HUD, “Let me just follow up on this. When will you be in full compliance with the court order? Are funds being withheld today?”

    “We will be with you as soon as we can, once it’s done with active litigation,” Secretary Turner yet again dodged.

    “Are funds being withheld right now even though the court order is in place?” Senator Murray asked again.

    Secretary Turner tried to change the topic, “You know you talked about the 2,300 people—”

    “I just want you to know that I am talking about this Continuum of Care because I am hearing from providers in my state that funds are being withheld, meaning you are not in compliance. Are you aware of that?” Senator Murray further specified.

    Secretary Turner repeated his same talking point, “I am aware of the litigation. It’s in active litigation.”

    Senator Murray further explained to Secretary Turner that he was in violation of the court order and that is why she was asking, “I am hearing funds are still being withheld despite the court order. I need to know if you know that and if you’re going to make sure the funds are released.”

    “I’m the Secretary, so things that go on at HUD I’m well aware of. But I also know with this active litigation, that I am not going to say very much in our hearing today but happy to talk to you as time goes on as I’m able to. I’ll commit to that,” said Secretary Turner.

    Senator Murray made it clear, “Well, we are running out of time. They are going to start evicting people and they need those funds.”

    Secretary Turner again tried to change the subject, “Just to clarify, the 2,300 people that left HUD, it was voluntary, they were not forced out.”

    Senator Murray said, “I know, I have been hearing that from every secretary that comes before us.”

    Secretary Turner interjected, “This is just me from HUD, and I’m just telling you it was 2,300 that took the DRP—”

    “2,300 that were told if you don’t get out now you will be sorry in the future, so it is people that we need there,” Senator Murray pushed back.

    Senator Murray then pressed Secretary Turner on the funding held up for the Green and Resilient Retrofit program: “Let me move on to another example. Your Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, that was created to help make properties more resilient to disasters and less expensive to heat and cool. On day one, you and the President deemed this commonsense program ‘woke’ somehow and have illegally attempted to terminate it. The courts have now directed HUD to process and disburse those funds, but I want you know that we are hearing from owners that HUD is doing nothing to restore the administrative contract that DOGE cancelled—which is holding up this deal from moving forward. This Committee has now asked five times for HUD to brief my staff on this, yet they’ve refused to speak to us about basic legal requirements. So let me just ask you here today, why are you preventing HUD-assisted property owners from making often overdue upgrades to low-income and senior housing?”

    Secretary Turner again avoided the question he was capable of answering, “This also is under active litigation, as you know. And so, my comments on this will be zero to limited. It’s under active litigation, as soon as we get done with that I’m happy to speak with you.”

    “Well, there are people waiting. And this fund [is] critical and there are court orders, and I expect them to be followed. And I am just going to say for the record, there’s nothing objectionable about this funding. It is stunning to me that we are under a court order, and you’re not giving the money out. It’s for things like replacing windows and outdated HVAC systems, and installing fire-resistant roofs. These are things badly needed for people in this country,” concluded Senator Murray.

    ___________________________________

    President Trump’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 would slash funding for HUD by almost 50 percent—a staggering cut that would decimate the HUD housing assistance programs, kicking families out of their homes and making millions of Americans vulnerable to homelessness. Trump’s budget proposes to convert all rental assistance programs into a formula-based “State Rental Assistance Block Grant” and reduce total funding by $26.7 billion, or a 42 percent cut. His budget also proposes to consolidate the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program with the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program within the formula-based Emergency Solutions Grant and to time-limit assistance to two years, all while reducing overall funding by $532 million, or 12 percent. In addition, President Trump’s budget proposes to eliminate or reduce nearly all HUD programs, including eliminating major formula programs communities rely upon to develop new affordable housing and for community development activities. On May 29th, Senator Murray held a roundtable in Everett to hear from local housing and homelessness prevention organizations affected by the Trump administration’s senseless decision to jeopardize CoC grant funding by placing new, potentially unlawful conditions on the grant funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray, Former ACIP Member from WA State Raise Alarm Over Purge of Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    NEW: Kennedy’s new CDC panel includes members who have criticized vaccines and spread misinformation

    ***WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s unprecedented decision on Monday to fire every single member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Dr. Helen Chu joined Senator Murray for the press conference, a professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who was a member of ACIP until Monday—when she was fired by Secretary Kennedy alongside the entire panel of experts. Senator Murray and Dr. Chu laid out just how unprecedented and unthinkably dangerous this move is, and what it means for the future of vaccine policy and public health.

    On Wednesday, RFK Jr. announced eight new appointees to ACIP, including Dr. Robert Malone, a close adviser to RFK Jr. who downplayed the deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years, and Vicky Pebsworth, who is listed as a board member and volunteer director for the National Vaccine Information Center, a group that is notorious for spreading vaccine misinformation.  

    “RFK Jr. took a dangerous, practically unthinkable step to undermine public health and vaccine confidence—he fired every single member of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel,” said Senator Murray on today’s press call. “And he is already packing the panel with people who advocated letting COVID rip through communities, who serve as board members of vaccine disinformation groups, who promoted conspiracies and quack treatments for COVID and measles—and he is just getting started! It is really just about impossible to underscore how reckless and unprecedented this is. I mean, even some Republicans who voted for him—only did so after he convinced them he wouldn’t go this far. Of course they should have known better—I even warned them! You can’t trust this guy, he has a long history of attacking science and vaccines at every turn, he’s not going to give up that crusade when you give him tremendous power to wage it. But they ignored the obvious warnings—and now here we are. Let’s be clear, RFK Jr. is not just crossing a red line for public health, he is sprinting into dangerous, uncharted territory in support of totally deranged conspiracies, and he is dragging us all along with him. He is putting our communities—and our families—in harm’s way.”

    “The means by which vaccines are recommended for use in the United States is a careful, deliberate and rigorous process that has been in place for over 60 years. ACIP is widely regarded as the international gold standard for vaccine decision-making. Other countries have, in the past, considered the United States as a model to guide their own vaccine policies because they could be sure decisions were unbiased and based on evidence. But that may no longer be the case,” said Dr. Helen Chu, a professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Until Monday, Dr. Chu was also a member of ACIP until Secretary Kennedy abruptly dismissed the entire Committee this Monday. “We cannot dismantle a system that has allowed for open, evidence-based dialogue among experts, that has supported transparent, clear decision-making.  We cannot replace it with a process driven by one person’s beliefs. In the absence of an independent unbiased ACIP, we can no longer trust that safe and effective vaccines will be available to us and the people around us. I worry about the health and safety of people in our country—and the future of our public health infrastructure.”

    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.

    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    In particular, Senator Murray has been leading the charge against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut lifesaving research at NIH and pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH skilled scientists, grants administrators, and other employees at the agency. When the Trump administration attempted to illegally cap indirect cost rates at 15 percent, Senator Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in a letter decrying the proposed change, and introduced amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution to reverse it, which Republicans blocked. 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. 

    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “I am here today to sound the alarm for public health, and to sound it as loud as I possibly can. Because this week, RFK Jr. took a dangerous, practically unthinkable step to undermine public health and vaccine confidence. He fired every single member of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel. Every. Single. One.

    “And he is already packing the panel with people who advocated letting COVID rip through communities, who serve as board members of vaccine disinformation groups, who promoted conspiracies and quack treatments for COVID and measles—and he is just getting started! It is really just about impossible to underscore how reckless and unprecedented this is.

    “I mean—even some Republicans who voted for him—only did so after he convinced them he wouldn’t go this far. Of course, they should have known better—I even warned them! You can’t trust this guy. He has a long history of attacking science and vaccines at every turn—he’s not going to give up that crusade when you give him tremendous power to wage it. But they ignored the obvious warnings. And now here we are.

    “Let’s be clear, RFK Jr. is not just crossing a red line for public health, he is sprinting into dangerous, uncharted territory in support of totally deranged conspiracies, and he is dragging us all along with him! He is putting our communities and our families in harm’s way.

    “Here’s what everyone needs to know. The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has a simple, important job. Look at the data. Look at the science. And make recommendations on the vaccines FDA has approved as safe and effective.

    “That work has serious repercussions. These recommendations impact public confidence and trust in our vaccines. These recommendations are trusted by health care providers as they talk to patients and discuss their personal health decisions.

    “And these recommendations affect whether health plans—including Medicare and Medicaid—are required to cover vaccines at zero cost to patients or insurance companies can force Americans to foot the bill for vaccines that keep them safe or parents get guidance about which vaccines their children should receive and when.

    “Guess what happens when vaccines become more expensive for patients? Guess what happens when Trump’s highest-ranking health official ignores the facts and tells people our vaccine experts can’t be trusted? Guess what happens when RFK Jr. packs the CDC advisory committee wall-to-wall with his favorite anti-science grifters and conspiracy pushers?

    “Fewer people are going to get vaccinated. This is not rocket science.

    “Maybe they think—because of RFK’s Jr.’s disinformation—that measles isn’t a big deal. Maybe they think—incorrectly—that it’s safer to get whooping cough than the vaccine. Maybe they just can’t afford it anymore—because the vaccine they wanted to protect their family is no longer covered by insurance.

    “Whatever the reason, the result is going to be the same. Diseases we can fight—diseases we can prevent—spreading like wildfire through our communities, through our schools, through our nursing homes. Kids are going to be hospitalized, even killed, all because one conspiracy theorist thinks he knows better than qualified medical experts, and centuries of research.

    “We’ve already seen an historic measles outbreak on RFK Jr.’s watch. His response to it has been a complete disaster, promoting quack cures and spreading lies about vaccines, as cases skyrocket.

    “And, if RFK Jr.’s flood of disinformation is allowed to drown out real science, it’s not just going to be measles—we are going to see a full parade of horrors come raging back.

    “We have to speak up. And we have to make sure we are countering nonsense with reality with facts. We have to make sure parents get the message: that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving.

    “And so, I am using my megaphone today, to not just raise the alarm, but to raise up the voice of an expert who knows the science of vaccines and who knows the stakes of this moment.

    “I’m pleased to be joined by one of the CDC advisory members RFK Jr. is trying to silence through firing: UW’s own Dr. Helen Chu. Thank you all for joining this call today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Forceful Senate Floor Speech, Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Aggressively Detaining Senator Padilla at Public Press Conference

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to respond to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) being tackled, handcuffed, and violently removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference this afternoon.  

    Senator Murray’s full remarks on the Senate floor, as delivered are below:

    “Mr. President, I come to the floor this afternoon, to the United States Senate, a place where people are elected by their constituents to come here to be their voice, every one of us. Republican, Democrat, elected by the people who we represent, to come here and be their voice and to do the job.

    “What is that job? To make sure that we are being their voice and speaking out for them, and part of that has to be asking questions. Part of that has to be demanding accountability. That has to be getting information so we can do the best job possible.

    “It is unacceptable that a United States Senator, in his own home state, elected by millions of people, went to ask a question for his constituents, to get an answer, and was brutally thrown to the ground and handcuffed.

    “That is wrong, and I cannot believe that we don’t have Senators on both sides of the aisle calling this out as outrageous.

    “This is what a democracy is about, Mr. President. Mr. President, it is about us coming to the United States Senate, speaking out, asking questions, getting information, so we can be their voice.

    “What happens when that voice is stifled? What happens when that voice is thrown to the floor and handcuffed? Our democracy is lost.

    “Mr. President, I have been here more than 32 years. I have come to this floor often to speak out, to be angry, to be a voice for my people. I have never come this close to having tears in my eyes, as I speak to both sides of this aisle, about this horrendous incident that occurred.

    “We are a democracy, but we can lose that democracy. It can be gone, unless all of us speak out and forcibly reject what happened to a United States Senator.

    “And to send the message that in this democracy it is just, it is right, it is part of our responsibility to speak up, to ask questions, and to be able to have the knowledge we need to represent the people that we come here for.

    “We use our voices, Mr. President. We use our votes, Mr. President, to be a part of this democracy. Not violence.

    “When violence is done by someone representing this administration, in a forceful way, against a United States Senator, how does any one of us go home and tell our constituents that they can be part of a democracy, speak out about what they believe in?

    “This is so wrong. This is so wrong.

    “Mr. President, I hope others speak up and speak out, and as a voice we say we want our democracy to succeed, and in order to succeed we need to be able to use our voices and to use our votes and to ask questions without being forcibly thrown to the ground, without being arrested by speaking up.

    “I say to the entire country, we have a democracy. We will lose it if we can’t use our voices. We will lose this democracy. None of us should be silent. None of us.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DeGette Statement on Passage of Steep White House Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO–01) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 4, Donald Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions package to codify cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    “House Republicans handed Donald Trump and Elon Musk everything they wanted. They’re gutting foreign aid, zeroing out public broadcasting, and cutting off lifelines for the world’s most vulnerable —all programs that have been historically bipartisan.

    “USAID’s life-saving humanitarian programs help mothers survive childbirth, prevent infectious disease outbreaks, and deliver critical HIV/AIDS treatment. Because of the $8.3 billion in cuts, millions of people across the world will die. It is estimated that cuts from DOGE have already led to the deaths of 300,000 people—most of them children.

    “Here at home, the Republican majority is zeroing out federal support for PBS and NPR. Why? Because Trump doesn’t like their factual reporting. These cuts will cause millions of Americans to lose access to local news, essential emergency alerts, and educational programming.

    “As the Senate considers deep cuts to other essential programs, like Medicaid, it is particularly outrageous that the House is voting to weaken American institutions here and abroad.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Introduces Resolution Recognizing Black Contributions to Music

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a resolution celebrating the contributions of Black Americans to the musical heritage of the United States and designating June as Black Music Appreciation Month. In addition, the resolution recognizes the lack of access to arts education and training for Black students and calls for greater access to music education. U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), and André Carson (D-IN-07) introduced a resolution in the House recognizing June as Black Music Month.

    “America’s music history has long been defined by Black music, but Black singers, songwriters, and musicians rarely get the recognition they deserve for their contributions and art,” said Senator Booker. “This resolution honors Black musicians from Aretha Franklin to Kendrick Lamar, along with so many others who have made an invaluable impact on our cultural history. I’m pleased to stand alongside my colleagues to recognize these artists and also recommit ourselves to expanding access to music education for children across the nation.” 

    “Black music is the soul of American music, shaping our culture in indelible and immeasurable ways. Black Music sets the rhythm of Black life and has shared our story, our joys, and our struggle with the world. Black Music Month is an important opportunity to support music and arts education, including for diverse communities, and connect Black music to the wider story of Black history, including as we celebrate Juneteenth this month. I am proud to introduce our resolution in the House with Congressman Meeks and Congressman Carson and to join with Senator Booker in announcing our resolutions,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

    “To African American communities, music is more than just entertainment, it is a force of identity, healing, and resistance,” said Congressman Meeks. “I am honored to represent a district that has been home to musical legends such as Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. African American music is woven into the DNA of this nation—it tells our stories, preserves our struggles, and celebrates our triumphs. We must continue celebrating Black music and its cultural impact worldwide.”

    “Black music has always been more than entertainment. It’s a pathway for truth, resistance, and cultural pride,” said Congressman André Carson. “From the rhythms carried by our ancestors to the beats of hip hop transcending through today’s movements, Black music has always told our story when words alone did not suffice. This Black Music Month, we honor the genres we birthed and the voices that continue to inspire justice, joy, and speak truth to power across the world.”

    The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: A Cuthbertson Consulting, Cold Narly Generation LLC, Conn Selmer, JazzSLAM, League of American Orchestras, Music Education Consultants, Inc., Music Travel Consultants, National Association for Music Education, National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music, NAMM, National Concerts, Ohio Music Education Association, New Jersey Music Educators Association, Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, and TeachRock.

    “Regardless of our socio-economic backgrounds or geographic location within the US, the impact and contributions of Black music is woven into the fabric of our nation. Our music is not just important because of the uniqueness of the art form, but the nurturing provided by those who first introduced the melodies, rhythms, and phrases to us as young music learners in elementary schools, and with our local communities far and wide. The economic impact to small towns and big cities which embrace the expression of this music in houses of worship and entertainment venues contributes and builds local legacies enabling us to preserve, embrace, and expand these gifts for the next generation of music makers, consumers, and admirers.  By supporting and exploring the contribution of Black Music making, we can provide a richer experience which recognizes and celebrates the vital contributions of all those who create and offer this art to our communities, enhancing everyone’s understanding and appreciation for cultural history through the arts,” said NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, Chair of Berklee’s Music Education Department.

    “The New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) proudly supports Senator Cory Booker’s resolution recognizing June 2025 as Black Music Month. Black musicians and composers have shaped every facet of America’s musical heritage. We recognize the urgent need for greater access to high-quality, culturally relevant music education for Black students, an issue highlighted in this important resolution. NJMEA remains committed to fostering inclusive music programs and expanding access to high-quality music education so that all students can see their identities, cultures, and experiences reflected in the music they study and perform,” said NJMEA President, David Westawski.

    “June is Black Music Month, created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to honor the dynamic artistic narrative that chronicles the aspirations, achievements, innovations, and resilience of generations of Americans past and present, from the deep south field hollers that resonate from six score years ago to the electrifying blues, jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop born in the crucible of today’s largest urban centers, with the voices and rhythms that will carry us into the future. It was in April of 1979 that WBGO signed on the air as Newark Public Radio, a fact that inextricably binds our story to the profound legacy of music created out of the richness of the African American experience. Black Music represents extraordinary value and significance in New Jersey’s artistic and cultural heritage, and it provides the foundation for our representation as the world’s foremost jazz media organization. It is, in fact, the impact that Black artists have had on the world of music that makes WBGO possible. Black music is not just a genre; it is a gift to the world. WBGO is proud to support Senator Cory Booker’s efforts to celebrate this monumental inheritance, not just for one month, but for every day of our existence,” said WBGO President and CEO, Steven A. Williams.

    “The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society is in full support of the Black Music Month Resolution by Senator Cory Booker. Preserving the culture of Black Music is very important because every genre of music has been influenced by Black Music. It’s more important today than ever before to educate the history of Black Music. The impact of Black Music Culture is not only in America, but all over the world,” said the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society President and CEO, Perry Thompson.

    The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Senate Speech, Warren Condemns Assault of Senator Alex Padilla: “Trump is Making This Nation Look More and More Like a Fascist State”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 12, 2025

    Warren calls on Republicans to join Democrats in demanding investigation into the incident

    “If this is how federal agents treat a United States senator who peacefully asks questions of this administration, then we all have to ask: how far will they go? How violent will they get?” 

    Video of Floor Speech (YouTube)

    Washington, D.C. — Following the violent assault on U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke out on the Senate Floor.

    “This is a horrifying moment in our nation’s history,” said Senator Warren. 

    During Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference, Senator Padilla identified himself, saying, “I am Senator Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.” In response, he was shoved to the ground and eventually pinned down and handcuffed. 

    Senator Warren called out ICE’s recent excessive use of force and aggressive detention tactics, saying “what happened to Senator Padilla, today, is happening every day all across this country, every day. DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech.” 

    “Every day Donald Trump is making this nation look more and more like a fascist state,” Senator Warren continued. 

    Senator Warren called for Republicans to join Democrats in demanding a bipartisan investigation into the incident. 

    Transcript: Floor Speech on Assault on Senator Alex Padilla
    U.S. Senate Floor
    June 12, 2025

    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: This a horrifying moment in our nation’s history. Today, United States Senator Alex Padilla was violently removed from a public briefing for asking questions on behalf of the people he represents. People in California who deserve answers about the brutal crackdown on protesters. 

    I’ve watched the video, as many of you have as well. Let me just describe what it shows. 

    Officers pushed Senator Padilla backwards out of the room as he said the words, “I am Senator Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.” He was then shoved to the ground. When the Senator complied with the officers and went on his knees, he was forcibly pinned onto his stomach. He was ordered to put his hands behind his back. He can be heard on the video saying he is trying to comply with their orders. Officers then put handcuffs on the senator while he was lying on the ground. His staff was then told to stop recording the handcuffing. 

    He was put in handcuffs for asking a simple question. 

    He was put in handcuffs for doing his job as a United States Senator. 

    He was put in handcuffs for standing up for the Constitution of the United States. 

    He was put in handcuffs for representing the people of California. 

    Now, if you’re not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to suppress free speech, then just watch the video. Watch the video. 

    If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to undermine the foundations of our democracy. Watch the video. 

    If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are hell bent on punishing people with differing opinions than those of the President, then watch the video. 

    And here is the really chilling part. 

    Make no mistake, what happened to Senator Padilla, today, is happening every day all across this country, every day. 

    DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech. 

    Every day Donald Trump is making this nation look more and more like a fascist state. 

    If this is how federal agents treat a United States senator who peacefully asks questions of this administration, then we all have to ask: How far will they go? How violent will they get? 

    I know my Republican colleagues can see what happened today was wrong. But will any Republican senator speak up for our democracy? 

    They know Senator Padilla’s character. 

    They know that Senator Padilla is a kind man. A man who is concerned for his children. A man who is concerned for his home. A man who has dedicated his life to public service. A man who is a patriot. 

    Where are our Republican colleagues? 

    Where is the Republican Senate? 

    Where are you? Stand up and speak out. 

    This is a continuation of what we’ve been seeing, intimidate every other check on presidential power in this country. 

    Fire the civil service. 

    Get rid of those people. 

    Threaten to imprison judges. 

    Criminally charge House members who try to visit an ICE facility. 

    Arrest senators who ask questions. 

    This is not a drill. This is an assault on our democracy. 

    I am calling on my Republican colleagues to join us in demanding a bipartisan investigation into this incident. 

    What happened at this press conference was disgraceful. It was un-American. And every member of the United States Senate should condemn it and condemn it now. 

    Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated citizens on Russia Day at the opening of the Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya in Sevastopol after the exhibition was updated

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On Russia Day, the Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya opened its updated permanent exhibition at the New Chersonesus museum and temple complex in Sevastopol. Before the opening, a flag parade took place, presenting the history of Russia through the evolution of its flags – from the banner of Dmitry Donskoy to the modern tricolor. Each flag reflected its era and its values.

    “I congratulate everyone on Russia Day! All the flags that passed in the parade were in one way or another related to historical events that took place many centuries ago. But, of course, the most important event is the baptism of Rus, which predetermined the future of the statehood of our country and the unification of the Slavic peoples,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, together with Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea, the Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev and the head of the Foundation for the Support of Humanities “My History” Ivan Yesin assessed the new exhibition.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko added that the opening of the updated exhibition is a very important event for the further development of the spiritual and educational center “New Chersonesos”.

    “We see a continuing interest in all the exhibits: over half a million people have visited the exhibition in six months. I am sure that after the opening of the updated exhibit, the number will increase even more. Memory is probably the most important thing we should preserve. And as our President says, while respecting our memory, we should be focused on the future, learning from the lessons of our history,” he said.

    The updated exhibition has received a fundamentally new format. Each hall is an interactive “paragraph of a living history textbook” combining modern technologies and proven scientific material. Instead of traditional showcases, there are documentaries, historical reconstructions, archival photos and maps visualized with the help of artificial intelligence. The technological platform of the exhibition is based on new-generation multimedia solutions: artificial intelligence is used not only to visualize historical stories, but also to create reconstructions of urban landscapes, household items, architecture and images of people from different eras. All digital materials have been collected and verified by professional historians and employees of specialized museums.

    The museum has become a space for historical immersion, where the past comes to life in meaningful halls: from the map of Prince Vladimir’s campaign to Korsun, which marked the beginning of Christian Rus’, to the manifesto of Catherine II on the annexation of Crimea. The exhibition takes the viewer through the drama of the collapse of the USSR and the difficult fate of Crimea and Novorossiya, the era of the all-Union health resort and the turning points of the Yalta Conference to the military valor of the peninsula during the Great Patriotic War and the history of the Black Sea Fleet. The route ends with halls dedicated to outstanding people who played a key role in the history of Crimea, and historical events that shaped its modern appearance.

    “The museum and temple complex presented two grand projects today. The flag parade – a brilliant idea of Bishop Tikhon – demonstrated the course of history, the formation of Russian statehood. The new exhibition of the Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya is a truly exciting spectacle that will allow all Sevastopol residents and guests of our city to visually immerse themselves in the history of our country. And now we are all creating the future with our own hands. I am sure that it will be even greater. The progressive movement of our country will continue if we all put maximum effort into it,” said Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev.

    The updated exhibition is oriented towards both independent visits and excursion formats.

    The initiative to create a spiritual and educational center in Sevastopol was first expressed by the President of the Russian Federation during a visit to the Chersonesos Taurica Museum-Reserve in 2015.

    Also in Sevastopol, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev laid flowers at the Eternal Flame at the Soldier and Sailor monument. Teenagers from the governor’s school labor teams also took part in the laying ceremony.

    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 Russia: In Sevastopol, Dmitry Chernyshenko and Metropolitan Tikhon discussed traditional values and the national project “Youth and Children” with young people

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea held a meeting with young people on Russia Day at the Tochka Opory center. Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev also took part in it.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated everyone on Russia Day and noted that this time it is especially significant: “2025 is the year of the 80th anniversary of our Great Victory and the year declared by our President Vladimir Putin as the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland.”

    He stressed the importance of preserving and transmitting traditional spiritual and moral values.

    “An entire national project was launched – this is also a precedent, there is nothing like it anywhere in the world – “Youth and Children”. It has a large number of events, more than 160. And since you guys are active, leaders of the youth movement, you must navigate these events and understand how these events will work to strengthen the values that are enshrined in the presidential decree,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke about the measures of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    Thus, within the framework of the national project, the competition “Region for the Young” is being held. A year ago, President Vladimir Putin opened 12 year-round youth educational centers. For example, in Crimea and Sevastopol, this is the Academy of Creative Industries “Meganom” and the youth historical and cultural center “Istoki”.

    The key events in these centers will be the Rosmolodezh forums, of which there will be 27 this year with the participation of about 20 thousand people. Among them are the Territory of Meanings forum, the Tavrida.ART educational trips at the Meganom Academy, the Mashuk forum at the Mashuk knowledge center, the Shum media forum in the Kaliningrad region, etc.

    “The national project includes many different subprojects: development of volunteerism, for example, the “Region of Good Deeds” competition, implementation of international programs and events based on 90 open friendship clubs or at the annual youth rally. By the way, this year it will be held in Nizhny Novgorod and will unite 2 thousand people from different countries. One cannot help but recall patriotic projects, including the “Orlyata Rossii” and “Zarnitsa 2.0″ programs,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    During the meeting, Dmitry Chernyshenko answered questions from young people. For example, the coach of the International Volunteer Corps of the 80th Anniversary of Victory, Kristina Menshakova, asked how to understand that you are a patriot of your homeland. And the curator of the governor’s school labor teams, Sergei Sychev, asked about mentors: how the vice-premier understands the word “mentor” and whether he had any.

    Answering questions, Dmitry Chernyshenko mentioned that he himself is a mentor to Hero of Russia Stepan Belov within the framework of the “Time of Heroes” program.

    “It is here, in Sevastopol, that there is a special place of power for our country, and in all centuries our enemies have tried to lay claim to this place, to hatch various plans. We understand the significance of the baptism of Rus, which ensured our future statehood. In difficult moments of our Fatherland, the words of Admiral Kornilov “Defend Sevastopol!” came to mind. In the life of our and your generation, there is now a time when we must again defend both Sevastopol and our values. But I am sure: we will cope with everything,” said Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev.

    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 USA News: REPORT: Failure to Pass One Big Beautiful Bill Will Kill 1.1+ Million Manufacturing Jobs

    Source: US Whitehouse

    More than 1.1 million jobs in the manufacturing sector and nearly six million jobs overall will be lost if Congress fails to extend the Trump Tax Cuts in President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, according to a new report — negative effects on small businesses that are swift, severe, and completely avoidable.

    Here are some key takeaways from the report:

    • “More than 96% of businesses in America are organized as pass-throughs, meaning that they pay tax at individual income tax rates. Tax reform created a 20% deduction to allow these small businesses to compete on a level playing field with their peers organized as corporations … The pass-through deduction will expire completely at the end of 2025. A recent NAM survey found that 93% of pass-through manufacturers reported that the loss of this deduction will harm their ability to grow, create jobs and invest in their business.”
    • “The combination of the reduction in the top rate and the 20% passthrough deduction resulted in significant tax savings for these small businesses—enabling them to invest in new equipment, machinery, facilities and job creation. More than 74% of manufacturers have fewer than 20 employees, so it is crucial to the sector that Congress preserve tax reform’s competitive tax rates for small businesses.”
    • “If Congress does not act, accelerated depreciation will be entirely absent from the U.S. tax code for the first time in decades—limiting manufacturers’ ability to invest in the equipment and machinery they need to drive economic growth and job creation and making it more costly for businesses to invest in the U.S.”
    • “More than 90% of businesses in America are family-owned. In the manufacturing industry, family-owned businesses are a critical part of the manufacturing supply chain and pillars of their local communities … The estate tax exemption threshold is scheduled to be reduced by half at the end of 2025, subjecting more family business assets to taxation and threatening the viability of these businesses when the owner passes away. Congress should protect family-owned manufacturers by preserving the increased exemption threshold.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Washington Post Op-Ed, Pressley & Hamilton Reject “Trump Accounts,” Urge Congress to Embrace Baby Bonds to Close Wealth Gap

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    “Trump accounts fall drastically short of addressing the real hurdles Americans face.”

    “In a just nation, everyone should have the economic power and financial opportunity to build wealth and live the productive life they choose. That’s what baby bonds offer: real solutions to wealth inequality and real investments that can transform the future for millions of children.”

    WASHINGTON – In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and economist Darrick Hamilton discussed the regressive, ineffective “Trump Accounts” provision of Republicans’ reconciliation bill, outlined how Trump Accounts fall short of what is needed to close the wealth gap in America, and urged Congress to embrace Baby Bonds to advance economic justice.

    For over six years, Rep. Pressley and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), in partnership with Mr. Hamilton, have championed Baby Bonds, bicameral legislation to close the racial wealth gap, disrupt cycles of intergenerational poverty, and make economic opportunity a birthright for every child.

    The full text of the op-ed is available below and can be read on the Washington Post website here.

    Washington Post Op-Ed: ‘Trump accounts’ will save kids? Republicans can’t be serious.
    By Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Darrick Hamilton
    June 11, 2025

    In the United States, the wealthiest nation in the world, a child born into poverty is unlikely to ever climb out of it. Wealth inequality in this country has reached historic highs, with the top 10 percent of households holding 67 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 50 percent holds just 2.5 percent. This means that millions of children grow up lacking basic economic security.

    Now as much as ever, we need real investment in our children.

    The Republican reconciliation bill that recently passed the House does nothing to address our glaring wealth inequality. Not only does it slash Medicaid, food assistance and other essential programs for the more than 30 percent of Americans who can’t put together $400 for an emergency expense, but also tucked into this harmful bill are provisions that claim Americans can build wealth through “Trump accounts.” Under the GOP proposal, every child born in the next four years would receive a one-time $1,000 government contribution into a tax-free investment account, to which families may contribute up to $5,000 annually.

    But this is not a serious solution.

    Trump accounts fall drastically short of addressing the real hurdles Americans face. These accounts are built on the presumption that individuals lack the incentive to save. In fact, what they lack is disposable income. Anyone can lawfully open a savings account for their child, such as a 529 account for college, but most are not positioned to take advantage of such accounts. A 2016 Federal Reserve Bank study found that just 2.5 percent of all families had a 529 savings account — and among households in the bottom half of the income distribution, that number dropped to only 0.3 percent. Most are not positioned to take advantage of new savings accounts. And by restricting eligibility to children born in the next four years, the proposal makes clear it was never intended to truly confront generational poverty and the wealth gap.

    Trump accounts are structured to benefit primarily more affluent families — those who already have money to invest. For those struggling to put food on the table or afford a doctor’s visit, the choice isn’t between consumption and investment — it’s between groceries and medicine. Though many Americans could use real support — such as extra cash when a new baby arrives — the Republican bill moving through the Senate threatens to slash essential programs, leaving families worse off. And ironically, it contains no provision to protect low-income recipients from the “benefit cliff” — the asset limits that could disqualify them from essential services such as housing or income support once they reach adulthood.

    Contrast this with the legislative vision we’ve championed for more than six years: baby bonds.

    Known in Congress as the American Opportunity Accounts Act, the legislation to create baby bonds is rooted in the principle that every child, no matter their race, family income or birth circumstances, deserves a fair shot at building wealth and securing their future.

    Here’s how it works: Every child receives $1,000 at birth. But unlike Trump accounts, baby bonds don’t stop there. Children would continueto receive additional deposits from the government every year, progressivelyscaled to family income. These funds would grow over time in safe, federally managed investment accounts. At age 18, young adults could access their accounts to pay for allowable expenses, including homeownership, higher education or starting a business — the kind of human and financial capital investments that change life trajectories. Building wealth from birth this way is cost-effective — supercharging dollars through years of interest — and also disrupts the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

    Baby bonds also tackle the root problem of asset inequality — something the regressive tax structure of the Trump accounts does not fix. Rather than simply encouraging investment by those who already have the money, baby bonds seek to ensure that everyone has a meaningful stake in the economy and an opportunity to build financial stability and wealth.

    Baby bonds wouldn’t replace private investment — they would complement it by providing every young person with a baseline of security. They would create a public foundation of capital while still allowing private investment and individual agency. In doing so, they don’t displace the market but expand the pool of those who can benefit from it.

    There is also a deeper issue at play. Trump accounts amount to a government subsidy for asset managers — another tax-advantaged inflow into the financial services industry. In effect, they are a backdoor giveaway to Wall Street, wrapped in the rhetoric of economic populism.

    Our country has a long history of wealth-building programs that expanded opportunity — from the Homestead Act to the GI Bill, which led to the greatest expansion of the middle class in U.S. history. But too often, those benefits were not accessible to all Americans, especially Black Americans and Native Americans, from whom much of the land seeded in the Homestead Act was taken, often violently. We now have the chance to design a 21st-century wealth-building initiative that is inclusive, equitable and grounded in sound economic theory and evidence.

    We vehemently oppose the Republican budget reconciliation bill and urge the Senate to halt this attack on Medicaid, food assistance and more. In a just nation, everyone should have the economic power and financial opportunity to build wealth and live the productive life they choose. That’s what baby bonds offer: real solutions to wealth inequality and real investments that can transform the future for millions of children.

    Darrick Hamilton is chief economist at the AFL-CIO and director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School. Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat, represents Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lynn Woman Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison for Coercing and Enticing Two Victims to Engage In Prostitution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Lynn woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for sex trafficking.

    Latasha Anderson, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 20 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2025, Latasha Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement. Latasha Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023, along with her co-defendants Jermall Anderson and Jennifer Fortier.

    From 2012 through 2016, Latasha Anderson, along with her co-conspirators and at the direction of Jermall Anderson, used threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force two different victims to prostitute on their behalf. Jermall Anderson’s wide-ranging sex trafficking operation targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling with drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources and coerced them into providing commercial sex for the defendants’ benefit. Latasha Anderson coerced and enticed these victims to engage in prostitution throughout New England, New York and New Jersey.  

    In March 2025, Jermall Anderson was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2025, Fortier was sentenced to 58 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

    Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Conn., the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments (Mass.) and the Hampden (Conn.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation Announces $30 Million Public Offering of Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

    TORONTO, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation (TSX:AI, AI.DB.D, AI.DB.F and AI.DB.G) (“Atrium”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters bookrun by TD Securities Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, pursuant to which the underwriters will purchase $30 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of Atrium due September 30, 2032 at a price of $1,000 per debenture. Atrium has also granted to the underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional $4,500,000 aggregate principal amount of debentures at the same price, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of up to 30 days following closing of the offering, to cover over-allotments. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the gross proceeds of the offering will total $34,500,000.

    Atrium will use the net proceeds of the offering to repay existing indebtedness under its revolving operating credit facility, which will then be available to be drawn, as required, for general corporate purposes, particularly funding future mortgage loan opportunities.

    The offering of debentures is expected to close on or about June 30, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    The debentures will mature on September 30, 2032 and will accrue interest at the rate of 6.00% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears on March 31 and September 30 in each year, commencing March 31, 2026. At the holder’s option, the debentures may be converted into common shares of Atrium at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of the business day immediately preceding the maturity date and the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption of the debentures. The conversion price will be $13.65 for each common share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

    The debentures will be direct, unsecured obligations of Atrium, subordinated to other senior indebtedness of Atrium, ranking pari-passu to Atrium’s existing 5.50% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due December 31, 2025, 5.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due December 31, 2028, and 5.10% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due March 31, 2029.

    The debentures will not be redeemable before September 30, 2028. On and after September 30, 2028 and prior to September 30, 2030, the debentures may be redeemed, in whole or in part, from time to time at Atrium’s option at par plus accrued and unpaid interest, provided that the weighted average trading price of the common shares of Atrium on the Toronto Stock Exchange during the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day preceding the date on which notice of the redemption is given is not less than 125% of the conversion price. On and after September 30, 2030, Atrium may, at its option, redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, from time to time at par plus accrued and unpaid interest.

    Subject to specified conditions, Atrium will have the right to repay the outstanding principal amount of the debentures, on maturity or redemption, through the issuance of its common shares. Atrium will also have the option to satisfy its obligation to pay interest through the issuance and sale of its common shares.

    On or before June 18, 2025, the Company will file with the securities commissions or other similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada (excluding Quebec), a preliminary short form prospectus relating to the issuance of the debentures. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless an exemption from registration is available. This news release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Atrium in any jurisdiction.

    About Atrium

    Canada’s Premier Non-Bank Lender™

    Atrium is a non-bank provider of residential and commercial mortgages that lends in major urban centres in Canada where the stability and liquidity of real estate are high. Atrium’s objectives are to provide its shareholders with stable and secure dividends and preserve shareholders’ equity by lending within conservative risk parameters.

    Atrium is a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC) as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada), so is not taxed on income provided that its taxable income is paid to its shareholders in the form of dividends within 90 days after December 31 each year. Such dividends are generally treated by shareholders as interest income, so that each shareholder is in the same position as if the mortgage investments made by the company had been made directly by the shareholder. For further information, please refer to regulatory filings available at www.sedarplus.ca or Atrium’s website at www.atriummic.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements. Much of this information can be identified by words such as “expect to,” “expected,” “will,” “estimated” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events and includes the expected use of proceeds and the expected closing date of the offering. Atrium believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.

    Forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the ability to satisfy regulatory, stock exchange and commercial closing conditions of the offering, the uncertainty associated with accessing capital markets and the risks related to Atrium’s business, including those identified in Atrium’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the heading “Risk Factors” (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, Atrium undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For further information, please contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Leader Schumer, Wyden, Merkley Release Data Detailing Hundreds of Rural Hospitals Across U.S. at Risk Due to Republican Health Care Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Over 300 Rural Hospitals at Disproportionate Risk of Closure, Conversion, or Service Reductions
    Lawmakers Also Provided Data to President Trump, Leader Thune, and Speaker Johnson in Letter
    Letter and Data | Sheps Response
    Washington (June 12, 2025) – Following House Republicans’ passage of a bill that would impose the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history, slashing funding for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion and triggering more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Budget Committee, released detailed data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill concluding that Republican health care cuts could place over 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions. The data is based on financial indicators including: share of Medicaid patients served, previous years of negative total margins, and data modeling on future financial distress.
    The lawmakers also sent the data in a letter to President Trump, Leader John Thune, and Speaker Mike Johnson, writing, “Addressing the crisis in rural health care access is a national, bipartisan priority, and it should be bipartisan to not worsen that crisis. However, if your party passes these health care cuts into law, Americans in rural communities across the country risk losing health care services and jobs supported by their local hospitals. We urge you to read the attached report and reconsider your position. It is not too late to stop these cuts. Billionaire tax breaks are not worth the cost to American lives and livelihoods.”
    The response from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states, “Substantial cuts to Medicaid or Medicare payments could increase the number of unprofitable rural hospitals and elevate their risk of financial distress. In response, hospitals may be forced to reduce service lines, convert to a different type of health care facility, or close altogether.” The data shows the following regarding at-risk rural hospitals:
    Over 338 rural hospitals are at particular risk of closure, conversion, or service reduction from substantial health care cuts because the hospitals either take a high relative share of Medicaid patients, or have experienced 3 years of negative total margins, or both. This includes 33 hospitals in Louisiana, 35 hospitals in Kentucky, and 21 hospitals in Oklahoma.
    In Alaska, 4 rural hospitals – more than 40 percent of rural hospitals with available data – serve high concentrations of Medicaid patients.
    In West Virginia, nearly a quarter of rural hospitals are serving high concentrations of Medicaid patients, and 15 percent of rural hospitals are at the highest relative risk of financial distress.
    In Alabama, 8 rural hospitals – nearly 20 percent of rural hospitals with available data – are in the highest relative risk category of financial distress.
    In Tennessee, 9 rural hospitals – or 18 percent of rural hospitals in the state with available data – have experienced 3 years of negative total margins, and 9 rural hospitals are at highest relative risk of financial distress.
    In the face of these Republican cuts, a majority of adults living in rural areas are concerned that health care cuts will “negatively impact hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers in [their] community.” Rural hospitals are struggling; in 2023, there were 50 fewer rural hospitals than in 2017, and a lack of health care access in rural America is contributing to worse health outcomes. Faced with additional cuts to their revenue, many rural hospitals may be forced to stop providing certain services, including obstetric, mental health, and emergency room care, convert to clinics or standalone emergency centers, or close altogether. Rural hospitals are often the largest employers in rural communities, and when a rural hospital closes or scales back their services, communities are not only forced to grapple with losing access to health care, but also with job loss and the resulting financial insecurity.
    “If Republicans plan to pass drastic cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and effectively repeal the Affordable Care Act, communities should know exactly what they stand to lose,” said Senator Markey. “These health care cuts won’t just kick millions off their insurance. These cuts will plunge hospitals across the country into financial chaos, and as this data demonstrates, hundreds of rural hospitals across the country may be forced to stop providing care, limit their services, or close altogether. If hospitals close, many rural communities will lose the biggest employer they have. Seniors, the disabled, and pregnant people will have to travel farther to access care. Families will lose access to care. People will die. The more information we have about this bill, the worse it seems. No life or job is worth a yes vote on this big billionaire bill. We must make sure every American can see how Republicans are willing to pay for billionaire tax breaks with people’s lives, and we must defeat this ugly bill.”
    “As this report proves, the Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ is a matter of life and death for millions of Americans. The cruel and far-reaching cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are putting hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closure, limiting services, or mass layoffs,” said Leader Schumer. “Rural Americans already face more obstacles to getting healthcare and many are the lifeblood and major employers of their communities, all of which Republicans are risking to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
    “As I hold town hall meetings in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, I frequently hear about struggles folks have in accessing health care in their communities. This isn’t a red state or blue state issue. Medicaid helps every state – especially rural communities,” said Senator Merkley. “More than 300 rural hospitals will be at risk of shutting down – in Oregon and across the country – if Republicans betray middle class families and make these drastic cuts to Medicaid, all so that billionaires can pay less in taxes. This is the Republican plan: families lose, and billionaires win.”
    The lawmakers sent a letter to the Sheps Center director on June 4, 2025, requesting the Center’s expert analysis of how this bill will impact rural hospitals and the communities they serve, particularly inquiring about which rural hospitals in the country treat the highest share of Medicaid recipients; how many rural hospitals are currently in financial distress or at risk of closure; and if the health care cuts in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill were to become law, would the rural hospitals with the highest share of Medicaid recipients or that are currently in financial distress face risk of closure or have to reduce services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Like an underwater bushfire’: SA’s marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Barrera, PhD Candidate, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide

    Paul Macdonald of Edithburgh Diving

    South Australian beaches have been awash with foamy, discoloured water and dead marine life for months. The problem hasn’t gone away; it has spread.

    Devastating scenes of death and destruction mobilised locals along the Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The state government has hosted emergency meetings, most recently with marine and environment experts from around Australia, and issued weekly updates.

    Unfortunately, there are few ways to stop the bloom. Scientists had hoped strong westerly winds would break it up and push it out to sea. But so far, the wild weather has just pushed it through the Murray Mouth into the Coorong. And even if the bloom is washed away this winter, it could return in spring.

    This bloom represents a stark warning to coastal communities, as well as tourism, seafood and aquaculture industries. It’s a sign of what’s to come, in Australia and around the world, as the oceans warm.

    South Australia’s marine emblem, the leafy sea dragon, washed up on Stokes Bay in Kangaroo Island during the harmful algal bloom.
    RAD KI

    An unprecedented algal bloom

    The first sign of trouble came in March this year, when dozens of surfers and beachgoers fell ill. Many reported sore eyes, coughing or trouble breathing.

    Water testing soon revealed the cause: a harmful algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi.

    Most people felt better within hours or days of leaving the beach. But marine life of all kinds was washing up dead or dying.

    Fish habitat charity OzFish set up a new citizen science project to capture the data, using iNaturalist.

    OzFish SA project manager Brad Martin told a public forum the bloom was like an “underwater bushfire”, adding:

    It’s suffocating fish, it’s taking the oxygen out of the water and it’s producing toxins.

    Photos of dead fish, seahorses, octopuses and rays were already circulating on social media. So OzFish encouraged people to start using iNaturalist, to identify the species and capture the data.

    The data shows more than 200 species of marine creatures died, including 100 types of fish and sharks. This includes popular recreational fishing species such as flathead, squid, crabs and rock lobsters.

    Almost half the deaths were ray-finned fish species. A quarter were sharks and ray species. Then came soft-bodied “cephalopods” such as cuttlefish and octopus, and crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and prawns.

    Most of these species live on or near the sea floor with small home ranges. As in a bushfire, they have little chance of escape. Other fish that live in the open ocean, such as whiting, snapper and tuna, can swim away.

    Ray-finned fish, sharks and rays dominate the death toll from the marine algal bloom, as recorded on iNaturalist.
    Brad Martin, OzFish

    The culprit

    K. mikimotoi is a type of microalgae. It uses sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow and divide, releasing oxygen.

    In calm conditions, with plenty of light and warmth, the algal cells divide rapidly. Ideal conditions for algal growth are becoming more common as the climate changes and seas warm.

    Algal toxins are known to cause illness and sometimes death in humans, pets and livestock.

    K. mikimotoi is lethal to marine life, not humans. But the toxic effects in marine life are complicated and poorly understood.

    The algae irritates fish gills, causing cell death and bleeding. It also causes hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the blood. And when the algae die off, decomposition consumes huge amounts of oxygen – leaving marine life to suffocate.

    Scientists now suspect other Karenia species may be involved too, due to the detection of brevetoxins in shellfish. This is the first detection of brevetoxins in Australia.

    Grim scenes greeted divers in murky water at Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula. (Paul Macdonald of Edithburgh Diving)

    What can be done?

    A marine heatwave is largely to blame. Sea surface temperatures have been 2.5°C warmer than usual since September. Relatively calm conditions, with little wind and small swells, also enabled the bloom to grow. Now it’s a matter of waiting for strong westerly winds to blow it all away.

    The latest update shows sea surface temperatures have stabilised. But deeper gulf and shelf waters remain 1–2°C above average for this time of the year.

    Climate change is making future blooms more likely. So tackling climate change is one way to help.

    Another is minimising the runoff of nutrients into waterways. Microalgae can be found anywhere with enough water, light and nutrients. So reducing pollution can help reduce the risk of algal blooms.

    This includes better management of fertiliser on farms and in home gardens. Lower levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous will reduce the risk of future blooms in marine and inland waterways.

    When it comes to blue-green algae, flushing with freshwater and stirring it up can disperse the colonies and prevent a bloom.

    Monitoring is also important. OzFish encourages South Australians to continue providing photo reports via iNaturalist. Any new fish kills should also be reported to the state government.

    The harmful algal bloom has transformed the reef at Edithburgh Jetty on the Yorke Peninsula. (Great Southern Reef)

    Microalgae are not all bad

    It’s worth remembering life on Earth wouldn’t exist without microalgae. These tiny organisms produced 60% of the oxygen in the atmosphere today, and play an important role in balanced ecosystems.

    The algae spirulina is a common dietary supplement. Microalgae are also potentially useful for water recycling, as a renewable biofuel and for capturing and storing greenhouse gases.

    Heeding the lessons

    Once a harmful algal bloom begins, it will persist for as long as conditions remain suitable.

    This bloom already has lasted three months, and there’s no guarantee the end is near.

    Recovery will be slow, as shown in the historical record and other parts of the world. And the risk of a repeat event is high.

    Further research is needed to keep these ancient organisms in check.

    With thanks to OzFish SA project manager Brad Martin, who contributed to this article.

    Erin Barrera receives funding from The Hospital Research Foundation, through SA Health.

    – ref. ‘Like an underwater bushfire’: SA’s marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path – https://theconversation.com/like-an-underwater-bushfire-sas-marine-algal-bloom-is-still-killing-almost-everything-in-its-path-257885

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada expands and diversifies its creative industries market reach in East Asia

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    GATINEAU, June 12, 2025

    The Indo-Pacific region is home to some of our most important creative export markets and represents great growth potential for Canada. We are seizing opportunities to thrive in these booming markets.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, celebrates a successful Canadian creative industry trade mission to East Asia. From June 1 to June 12, the Government of Canada led a multi-sector delegation of more than 40 Canadian companies and organizations with high export potential to South Korea and Japan to expand their networks and develop new creative partnerships in these markets.

    As Canada works to build a stronger, more resilient economy, the Government of Canada and its partners supported a selected group of Canadian experts and creative industry leaders from the audiovisual, book publishing, interactive and digital media, music, and performing arts sectors in building valuable connections and securing business deals with key industry players from Japan and South Korea.

    The program also included strategic site visits and expert market information sessions, and showcased Canada’s creative business potential at Expo 2025 Osaka. The Year of Cultural Exchanges between Canada and the Republic of Korea also provided a unique springboard for creative industries in both countries to deepen their cultural ties and increase trade, with the concert by Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in Seoul on May 31 being a signature event to mark the closing of this special year.

    Canada is committed to further deepening its ties and fostering global collaboration and innovation in the creative sector. The Government will continue to work closely with Canada’s creative industry professionals to drive the expansion of their presence in international markets, strengthen their global competitiveness and showcase Canada as a partner of choice.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nadler Speech on Situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories

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

    Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), the most senior Jewish Member of the House of Representatives, spoke on the House floor regarding the current situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories:

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Israeli security, Palestinian freedom, a just, peaceful, and swift end to the war in Gaza, and an eventual, viable, and negotiated two-state solution.

    The situation in Gaza today is dire. I want to be clear: the war in Gaza began with Hamas’ brutal attack on innocent Israelis on October 7th, the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. For many in the Jewish community, in the United States and around the world, time stopped on that day, and has not yet resumed. It will resume when all the hostages are home. It will resume when the war is over, and the reservists can return to their families. It will resume when there is enough food, water, and medicine in Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe. It will resume when families on both sides of the border can sleep peacefully without the constant fear of rockets and bombs falling from the sky. It will resume when there is a lasting, durable, and negotiated ceasefire.

    And Mr. Speaker, that day need not be far away. Israel achieved its goal of destroying the military capabilities and existential threat of Hamas months ago. Now Prime Minister Netanyahu should be proclaiming victory and indicating his readiness to withdraw from Gaza contingent on the return of all the hostages—both living and dead. He should be signaling his willingness to support an international security force on an interim basis to ensure law and order, and Israel’s support for international investment in the training and equipping of an eventual Palestinian security force. He should be supporting confidence building measures in the West Bank which empower the Palestinian Authority—contingent on the PA embracing and implementing real reforms, he should not be enacting an annexationist vision, while the plague of settler violence runs rampant.

    The alternative, Mr. Speaker, is a stark and disturbing picture. This week, Tom Friedman wrote in the New York times that, if “Israel goes ahead with Netanyahu’s vow to perpetuate this war indefinitely — to try to achieve… the far right’s fantasy of ridding Gaza of Palestinians and resettling it with Israelis — Jews worldwide better prepare themselves, their children and their grandchildren for a reality they’ve never known: to be Jewish in a world where the Jewish state is a pariah state — a source of shame, not of pride.  Because one day, foreign photographers and reporters will be allowed to go into Gaza unescorted by the Israeli Army. And when they do, and the full horror of the destruction there becomes clear to all…”

    Friedman continued, Mr. Speaker, writing, “Israel, instead of being seen by Jews as a safe haven from antisemitism, will be seen as a new engine generating it; sane Israelis will line up to emigrate to Australia and America rather than beckon their fellow Jews to come Israel’s way. That dystopian future is not here yet, but if you don’t see its outlines gathering, you are deluding yourself.”

    Mr. Friedman is not alone in this analysis. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, former Israeli security officials have been speaking out.

    Last week, two former Israeli Air Force pilots, Brigadier General Asaf Agmon and Colonel Uri Arad, published a letter in Hebrew in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. They wrote “as the war in Gaza dragged on, it became clear that it was losing its strategic and security purposes and instead served primarily the political and personal interests of the government. It thus became an unmistakably immoral war, and increasingly appeared to be a war of revenge.”

    I agree with these distinguished former officials. It is clear to me that we long ago reached the point where victory is no longer the goal, and the main obstacle to bringing the hostages home and ending the war is the politics of one man: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    General Agmon and Colonel Arad are not peace activists, Mr. Speaker. They are former top Israeli air force pilots and high-ranking officers, and we must heed their calls.

    They are not alone, Mr. Speaker. Commanders for Israel’s Security is a movement of over 550 retired senior officials from Israel’s defense, security and diplomatic services. The Commanders, as they are often referred to, recently published a letter urging Jewish diaspora voices to speak out in favor of ending the violence in Gaza. They wrote, “Accused of weakening Israel or betraying their connection to the Jewish state, they are told that those who live abroad or do not serve in the I.D.F. must keep silent. We categorically reject the notion that Jews in the diaspora must remain silent on matters concerning Israel… To those who fear that public criticism undermines Israel, we say that open, honest dialogue only reinforces our democracy and our security.”

    This is true for this body too, Mr. Speaker. We all must speak up. If our voices contribute to preventing one more ounce of bloodshed, or to the return home of a hostage one minute sooner, or gets one more piece of bread into the hands of a starving Gazan, or helps redeem the moral position of the State of Israel, our words are worth it. Jewish tradition teaches in Mishna Sanhedrin that “saving one life is like saving the whole world.” I hope that we can come together to heed the voices that are speaking out at this moment, and that together work to save as many worlds as we can.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Notorious Landlord Mike Nijjar and PAMA Management for Violating California Housing Laws and Exploiting Tenants

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Bonta today filed a lawsuit against a group of property management and real estate holding companies owned by Southern California rental-housing tycoon Swaranjit “Mike” Nijjar, his sister Daljit “DJ” Kler, and other members of his family. The lawsuit filed today, after a three-year investigation, alleges Nijjar’s companies, commonly known as PAMA Management, egregiously violated numerous California laws by subjecting tenants to unsafe units marked by cockroach and rodent infestations, leaking roofs, overflowing sewage, and other problems. The lawsuit also alleges that the companies discriminate against applicants with Section 8 housing vouchers, overcharge some tenants for rent, and use leases that deceive tenants about their legal rights, among other violations. Most tenants living in PAMA properties have low or fixed incomes, and many are faced with the horrible choice between enduring serious and sometimes catastrophic conditions or becoming homeless. In the complaint filed today in Los Angeles County, Attorney General Bonta seeks penalties, full restitution for financial harm to tenants, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and injunctive relief barring Mr. Nijjar, PAMA, and related companies from continuing these unlawful and appalling business practices. 

    “PAMA and the companies owned by Mike Nijjar and his family are notorious for their rampant, slum-like conditions — some so bad that residents have suffered tragic results. Our investigation into Nijjar’s properties revealed PAMA exploited vulnerable families, refusing to invest the resources needed to eradicate pest infestations, fix outdated roofs, and install functioning plumbing systems, all while deceiving tenants about their rights to sue their landlord and demand repairs,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Nijjar and his associates have treated lawsuit after lawsuit and code violation after code violation as the cost of doing business and have been allowed to operate and collect hundreds of millions of dollars each year from families who sleep, shower, and feed their children in unhealthy and deplorable conditions. Enough is enough — today, I step in. I am grateful to all the people who came forward, including the DOJ Consumer Protection Team, California reporters who sounded the alarm, local code enforcement officers who tirelessly respond to tenant complaints, and, most of all, PAMA tenants who spoke out about their distressing experiences.” 

    Background 

    The Nijjar family and their related companies own and manage over 22,000 rental housing units statewide, primarily in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties — but also spanning up to Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. Code enforcement officers in these communities routinely cite the Nijjar family’s properties for violating minimum habitability standards. In recent years, the family’s companies have settled dozens of lawsuits alleging habitability defects and unsafe conditions; these lawsuits have involved hundreds of tenants, including some children who have become seriously injured at PAMA properties. In 2016, an infant died in a fire at one of PAMA’s mobile homes in Kern County — which was not permitted for human occupancy. 

    Through this all, it has been business as usual for Mike Nijjar and his corporate entities, which continue to buy new properties, ignore tenants’ pleas for repairs, and operate under an expanding list of company names that makes it difficult for tenants to understand who they are renting from. Tenants may know them by the names of their current and recent property management companies: not only PAMA Management, but also, I E Rental Homes, Bridge Management, Equity Management, Golden Management, Hightower Management, Legacy Management, Mobile Management, Pro Management, and Regency Management. 

    Following extensive reporting from the press and stakeholders, the California Department of Justice began an investigation into PAMA in late 2022 that uncovered widespread habitability violations and other egregious violations of tenants’ rights. 

    Violation of Basic Habitability Standards 

    The Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges that, through their failure to properly maintain units, PAMA and related companies put tenant safety and health at immediate risk. While PAMA units suffer from extensive maintenance issues, among the most common are:

    • water intrusion from leaking roofs and outdated plumbing; 
    • structural damage caused by water intrusion and deferred maintenance;
    • malfunctioning plumbing, including surfacing sewage; and 
    • cockroach and rodent infestations. 

    These violations are not just a mistake; they are part of ongoing business practices. PAMA defers necessary investments in maintenance in favor of quick and cheap repairs; uses unskilled handymen even for specialized work; provides little to no training to staff, many of whom have no experience in property management; and fails to track maintenance requests in any systematic, routine fashion — requests are often lost or never completed. PAMA is aware of these issues and knows their operations lead to uninhabitable conditions, yet these business practices have persisted for years.

    Deceptive Lease Terms

    The lawsuit also alleges that PAMA and related companies entered into tens of thousands of leases with unlawful and deceptive terms that attempt to invalidate rights guaranteed by law. Such rights include the tenant’s right to sue their landlord and present their case to a jury; to make repairs that the landlord neglected and deduct the cost of such repairs from rent; and to have the landlord exercise a duty of care to prevent personal injury or personal property damage.

    PAMA also violated California law by refusing to provide Spanish translations of these leases and other important documents, despite intentionally soliciting Spanish-speaking tenants through dual-language advertising and the hiring of Spanish-speaking employees to fill vacant units and communicate with tenants.  

    Discrimination against Tenants with Section 8 Vouchers

    The lawsuit further alleges that PAMA and related companies discriminate against applicants with Section 8 vouchers who are looking for a home. Section 8 vouchers help low-income families rent housing from private landlords, allowing the family to pay part of the rent while the government pays the rest. In California, it is unlawful to discriminate against a tenant or housing applicant based on their source of income, including their receipt of Section 8 rental assistance. Management companies related to PAMA have violated the law by telling applicants with vouchers that there is a waiting list for units, or that no rental units are available, even when units are in fact available and are being rented to applicants without Section 8 vouchers. 

    Unlawful Rent Increases and Other Misconduct

    The Attorney General’s lawsuit also alleges violations of California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA) at over 2,000 units, where PAMA and related companies shifted certain mandatory utilities costs — which used to be paid by the landlord — onto their tenants. For tenants protected by the TPA, it is unlawful for landlords to ignore the rent cap when requiring tenants to pay new or increased fees or utility charges. The complaint alleges that these companies began charging tenants for shared utilities, like water, through a ratio utility billing system, known as “RUBS,” forcing tenants to pay for utility charges beyond their control. The combination of these new utility fees and annual rent increases resulted in total increases of up to 20% — more than double the TPA’s rent cap. Furthermore, PAMA and related companies violated the TPA’s notice requirements by failing to include in tenants’ leases legally mandated disclosures to let a tenant know whether the TPA’s protections — which include rent-increase controls and limitations on evictions — apply to them. 

    In addition to the violations above, the lawsuit alleges that PAMA and related companies issued unlawful eviction notices to dozens or hundreds of tenants, and also that the companies have failed to comply with basic real-estate licensing requirements since 2020.

    Anyone – including current or former tenants – who has information that might be relevant to this case are encouraged to share their stories with our office by going to oag.ca.gov/report. To learn more about your rights as a tenant, please visit here.  

    A copy of the complaint can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fugitive Physician Sentenced to Prison in Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: US State of California

    A California physician was sentenced today in Los Angeles to 54 months in prison for health care fraud arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. She is a fugitive and was sentenced in absentia.

    According to court documents, Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, of Porter Ranch, was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From approximately January 2012 to July 2018, she falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four Los Angeles area home health agencies. These certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare. In some instances, Baltaian pre-signed blank, undated physician certification forms knowing that the home health agencies would falsify the forms to make appear that she had seen the Medicare beneficiaries and made clinical findings to support the need for home health care, when she had done neither. Baltaian received cash payments related to these referrals and also separately billed Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications.

    Between January 2012 and July 2018, four home health agencies used Baltaian’s false certifications to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare, resulting in loss to the government estimated at $1,497,159.64.

    Baltaian pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on Nov. 21, 2024. At sentencing, she was also ordered to pay $1,497,159.64 in restitution.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Perez of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Matthew Belz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fugitive Physician Sentenced to Prison in Medicare Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A California physician was sentenced today in Los Angeles to 54 months in prison for health care fraud arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. She is a fugitive and was sentenced in absentia.

    According to court documents, Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, of Porter Ranch, was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From approximately January 2012 to July 2018, she falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four Los Angeles area home health agencies. These certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare. In some instances, Baltaian pre-signed blank, undated physician certification forms knowing that the home health agencies would falsify the forms to make appear that she had seen the Medicare beneficiaries and made clinical findings to support the need for home health care, when she had done neither. Baltaian received cash payments related to these referrals and also separately billed Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications.

    Between January 2012 and July 2018, four home health agencies used Baltaian’s false certifications to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare, resulting in loss to the government estimated at $1,497,159.64.

    Baltaian pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud on Nov. 21, 2024. At sentencing, she was also ordered to pay $1,497,159.64 in restitution.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Omar Perez of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement.

    The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Matthew Belz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley-Wyden Report Exposes How Organ Procurement Organizations Game the System, Fail to Adequately Address Conflicts of Interest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), current Ranking Member, released the results of their bipartisan investigation into nonprofit Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO), which are responsible for obtaining donated organs for transplant and research in the United States. 
    The senators’ staff report reveals additional transparency is needed to strengthen the integrity of the organ procurement network and ensure the health and safety of organ donors and recipients. The investigation confirms the senators’ long-standing concerns, outlining examples of abuse to boost performance ratings and inadequate efforts by OPOs to identify and resolve conflicts of interest.  
    Building on their nearly two decades of work to bring accountability to the organ donation system, Grassley and Wyden launched their investigation in the 118th Congress. As of 2024, 170 million Americans are registered organ donors. Since 1988, nearly 1.1 million life-saving transplants in the U.S. have been made possible from more than a half-million organ donors.  
    “As millions of American families know first-hand, the organ donation system is a matter of life and death. It’s critical to restore integrity to this system and to strengthen the public’s trust in it. Our investigation uncovered clear examples of OPOs exploiting a loophole in direct opposition to congressional intent. We also uncovered OPOs’ failure to clearly and effectively address conflicts of interest. Together, we are working to ensure the stewardship of precious organs is transparent, accountable and effective in order to save lives,” Grassley said. 
    “Americans expect the national organ transplant system to be fair and efficient so as many patients as possible receive the life-saving donation they need,” Wyden said. “Organ procurement organizations are a key link in this chain, and this investigation demonstrates there’s still more work to be done to improve the system. I look forward to building on our work to make the organ procurement network accountable and successful on behalf of American families who are counting on a transplant.” 
    Full text of the investigative report and records can be found HERE.   
    In the course of its investigation, staff reviewed internal research protocols and conflicts of interest documents produced by seventeen OPOs, including One Legacy, Donor Alliance, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, Indiana Donor Network, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, Mid-America Transplant, New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network, LifeBanc, Lifeline of Ohio, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Midwest Transplant Network, Versiti Wisconsin, LifeShare Network, Gift of Life Donor Program, Tennessee Donor Services and New Mexico Donor Services. 
    Pancreata Loophole:
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can re-certify OPOs if they meet certain standards. However, CMS has never decertified an OPO, allowing organizations to face little-to-no consequences for underperformance. To enhance accountability, CMS released a final rule in 2020 to update OPOs’ performance metrics. 
    The rule created a loophole allowing pancreata recovered for research to be counted toward recertification, without clear verification the organs were actually used to advance research. Since the CMS rule was finalized five years ago, pancreata recovered for research by OPOs has increased more than four-fold, without a matching increase in researchers’ demand. 
    Grassley and Wyden have sounded the alarm on the pancreata loophole for over three years, beginning with an April 2022 letter to then-Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra and CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure. 
    The investigation also found serious concerns regarding OPOs’ relationships with third-party research clearinghouses and biobanks. After handing over procured pancreata to third party research arrangements, OPOs had little-to-no ability to verify the organs were utilized for research or that the research conducted was appropriate. OPOs surveyed by the senators reported an 850% increase in pancreata recovered for research without reporting a clear and corresponding research benefit. 
    This undermines HHS oversight and allows underperforming OPOs to inflate their performance at the cost of critically ill patients. The loophole directly violates congressional intent, including the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004.  
    Conflicts of Interest:
    Grassley and Wyden asked eight OPOs to disclose their conflicts of interest policies. Their investigation found CMS does not require uniform conflict of interest policies and procedures, which caused key differences between conflict of interest definitions, as well as who is covered under conflict of interest policies. 
    Despite overwhelming evidence OPOs should address allegations of conflicting business and financial relationships, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is not required to collect details on financial relationships, board member compensation or affiliated businesses. The investigation also found that OPTN and its former sole contractor, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), failed to act following formal complaints about financial conflicts of interest. 
    Recommendations:
    CMS should clarify the requirements and expectations of OPOs reporting pancreata to be counted toward certification or recertification, to ensure OPOs are following the law and congressional intent.
    CMS should further clarify OPO conflict of interest policies to make clear that OPO governing boards and medical advisory boards, as well as CMS surveyors, monitor actual and potential conflicts.
    OPOs should clearly define policy coverage, scope of conflicts and disclosure procedures.
    OPOs should ensure board involvement, oversight and recording.  
    Background: 
    Grassley and Wyden have long sounded the alarm regarding conflicts of interest within the transplant system. In 2020, they wrote to HHS saying, “OPOs have greater financial incentives to focus more on tissue recovery compared to their incentives to recover lifesaving organs.”   
    A 2022 Senate Finance Committee hearing and staff report highlighted a 2012 case involving the Alabama Organ Center (AOC) and its Executive Director who, according to a whistleblower complaint, participated in a “money laundering” scheme and violated AOC’s own “Standard Operating Procedure.” Following multiple apparent financial conflicts between OPOs and outside entities, Grassley and Wyden sent a letter in 2023 requesting answers on certain OPOs’ financial interests and business relationships.   
    Grassley and Wyden are also the authors of bipartisan Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, which marked the first reforms to the U.S. organ donation system in nearly 40 years. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Critical Juvenile Justice Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today introduced the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDPA) Reauthorization Act to reauthorize key delinquency prevention programs and bolster federal protections for incarcerated minors.
    “Kids in our juvenile justice system ought to be treated fairly and given the tools they need to succeed,” Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill builds off decades of work to strengthen the core tenets of this critical program, and I thank Senator Whitehouse for his continued partnership to protect and improve outcomes for at-risk youth.” 
    “Senator Grassley has been a steadfast partner in strengthening protections for kids in the justice system. I’m proud to continue our bipartisan work to equip state and local communities with resources to keep kids out of the juvenile justice system and to give young people a better chance to get their lives on track after getting out,” Whitehouse said.
    The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act would:
    Reauthorize the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program through 2030. This program:
    Empowers local stakeholders to better meet their communities’ needs,
    Improves the effectiveness of State Juvenile Justice Advisory Groups, and
    Strengthens federal protections for kids in the justice system.

    Renew the Youth PROMISE Grants and the Tribal Youth Program to support at-risk or delinquent youth at the local level.
    Download bill text HERE.
    Background:
    In 2018, Grassley and Whitehouse championed the first reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in nearly 16 years. Their landmark legislation made significant updates to the 1974 law, including measures to expand program oversight, promote screening for mental illness and substance abuse, prohibit the shackling of pregnant youth in juvenile detention, ensure the separation of juvenile and adult offenders and provide detained children access to adequate legal representation.
    Last year, Grassley joined Iowans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of JJDPA and was honored by Iowa youth for his work to reform the juvenile justice system.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Kelly, Clarke, Watson Coleman, Fitzpatrick introduce the Bipartisan Protect Black Women and Girls Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    WASHINGTON – The Co-Chairs of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls – U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) – and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Protect Black Women and Girls Act. The bill would establish a task force to examine the socioeconomic conditions and experiences of Black women and girls.

    “Black women and girls deserve every opportunity to thrive but are too often held back by years of systemic racism and sexism. We must do more than simply acknowledge these disparities and instead put forth holistic solutions,” said Rep. Kelly. “The Protect Black Women and Girls Act establishes a task force to examine every part of life, from education to healthcare to economic opportunities. With this bill, we are delivering coordinated policy efforts to dismantle barriers facing Black women and girls and ensure they can lead happy, healthy lives.”

    “For too long, Black women and girls of every walk of life have been denied access to deserved opportunities for no reasons beyond their sex and race. Unfairness and inequality will never have a place in our nation, and we have a moral responsibility to take meaningful action to root them out in every space they arise,” said Rep. Clarke.  “The Protect Black Women and Girls Act represents a significant step toward ridding our nation of a sin that has persisted within it for centuries, and I am proud to work alongside my fellow co-chairs to see it enacted.”

    “I’m proud to stand with my fellow co-chairs Rep. Kelly and Rep. Clarke in introducing this crucial piece of bipartisan legislation,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “The Protecting Black Women and Girls Act is an important step toward addressing the root causes of the disproportionate challenges Black women and girls face. We must all work together to do more for this nation’s Black women and girls to ensure they have equal opportunity to thrive.”

    “This legislation is about using the full force of federal policy to confront disparities that have gone unaddressed for far too long,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “By establishing a cross-agency task force, we’re working to ensure that federal programs are not only equitable in intent, but effective in practice—targeting systemic barriers in healthcare, education, economic mobility, housing, and civil rights. Our goal is simple: to build a smarter, more accountable federal response that delivers measurable progress for Black women and girls nationwide.”

    The Protect Black Women and Girls Act is endorsed by In Our Own Voice, The Black Women Health Imperative (BWHI) and Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA).

    “At a time when our civil rights are under threat like never before, the Protect Women and Girls Act is the urgent response needed in order to address the disproportionate impact Black women are facing across this administration’s multifaceted attacks on the economy, reproductive and public health, education, the environment and more,” said Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda. “We are thankful to co-chairs Rep. Kelly, Rep. Watson Coleman, Rep. Clarke and the entire Congressional Caucus of Black Women and Girls for their tireless efforts in support of this legislative action. In Our Own Voice is proud to endorse the Protect Black Women and Girls Act, a critical piece of legislation that will help improve outcomes for Black women, girls and gender-expansive people in the U.S.”

    “The Black Women’s Health Imperative stands in full support of the Protect Black Women and Girls Act,” said Dr. Ifeoma Udoh, Executive Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Science at BWHI. “Our work as an organization addresses the programming and policy which impacts the pipeline to healthcare, education and leadership for Black women with our partners and collaborators. This bill presents an opportunity to address these gaps and ensure that we can solve the problems structurally that impact the fully holistic lives of Black women and girls.”

    “Black Mamas Matter Alliance proudly endorses the Protect Black Women and Girls Act introduced by Congresswoman Robin Kelly. This critical and groundbreaking legislation reflects the core values and heart of our mission we champion — advancing Black Maternal Health and driving equitable change and opportunity for Black women and girls,” said Angela D. Aina, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BMMA. “The bill centers and prioritizes the wellbeing of Black women and girls, acknowledges the daily social and structural harms we endure, and calls for restorative justice as a pathway to healing and transformation. By naming and addressing the systemic inequities that impact our lives, this Act is a critical step toward building a future where Black women and girls are seen, protected, valued, and empowered to thrive.”

    The Protect Black Women and Girls Act would establish an Interagency Task Force to:

    • Identify and assess the efficacy of policies and programs at the federal, state and local levels designed to improve outcomes for Black women and girls;
    • Make recommendations to improve these policies and programs;
    • Cover issues involving Black women and girls in education, economic development, healthcare, justice, civil rights and housing;
    • Submit recommendations to Congress, the President, and each state or local government on policies, practices, programs and incentives that should be adopted to improve outcomes;
    • Direct the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to conduct a study and collect data on the effects of specified economic, health, criminal justice and social service factors on Black women and girls.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Meet Bloomberg’s C++ Guild

    Source: Bloomberg Press Statements

    Headline: Meet Bloomberg’s C++ Guild

    C++ is at the heart of Bloomberg’s infrastructure, powering everything from low-level libraries to highly performant financial applications, analytics, and trading systems. Maintaining a best-in-class C++ environment requires a collaborative approach to knowledge sharing and continuous education, and that’s where Bloomberg’s C++ Guild comes in.

    The C++ Guild is one of 12 guilds Bloomberg has created to provide structured forums for people to share technical knowledge, tools, code, and best practices. The C++ Guild, in particular, is dedicated to strengthening Bloomberg’s use of the language and related areas such as training, ISO standardization, and application design. Guild members’ influence also extends across the industry through tech talks at key conferences and meetups, open source contributions, and through the standardization process. Through these efforts, the Guild ensures that Bloomberg remains a C++ innovator, while empowering the broader tech community to drive the language forward.

    However, the Guild isn’t just a technical forum. It’s also a catalyst for professional growth. Members gain opportunities to sharpen their expertise, learn from industry leaders, and become recognized technical experts themselves. We asked individuals from this community to share more about the C++ Guild and discuss how it has shaped each of their careers.

    First, let’s meet Aurelien Cassagnes, a Tokyo-based Team Lead in Bloomberg’s Feeds Engineering group. He started in 2015 as an intern and then served as an individual contributor (IC) for eight years before becoming a team lead in 2024.

    How did you get involved with the C++ Guild? And what is your role in the Guild?
    I knew someone else from the APAC region was involved in the C++ Guild’s API Reviews Working Group, so I decided to join that same group to keep our efforts focused.

    The API Reviews Working Group is tasked with defining best practices for the most fundamental APIs used at Bloomberg and ensuring compliance. It also brings together engineers with different skills and backgrounds to review far-reaching internal libraries or code that is used in open source projects that Bloomberg publishes. For example, before the release of BlazingMQ, a modern high-performance open source message queuing system, the C++ Guild’s API Reviews group was extensively involved in reviewing its code.

    How did you become a co-lead of a Working Group?
    My group lead and I discussed my available bandwidth to focus on this guild, while still being able to deliver for my team. I later decided to also join the Conferences Working Group in order to bring back some of the expertise in the region, as it’s quite challenging to source events locally.

    The two prior co-leads of the API Reviews Working Group were happy with the work I was doing there and they trusted me to lead the local chapter. I started some other local initiatives to grow the guild, such as making sure that our teams know what services we provide and finding opportunities for our engineers to participate in Standards Committee meetings or write C++ standards proposals. Those efforts were ultimately rewarded with being picked as a Guild Leader, which is a title I wear as proudly as Team Lead.

    We recently launched another working group locally to handle the writing of a standards proposal. All in all, having participated in multiple groups has shown me the power of building a strong network in the guild.

    What do you tell engineers about why they should get involved in the C++ Guild?
    Guilds are the perfect place to stretch your engineering muscle beyond your day-to-day tasks. You’ll work alongside world-class experts who are excited to share their skills. So if you are looking for a venue to grow as an engineer, this is a great place. The guild is not only for you to receive; we are also interested and open to see what you want to contribute. The guild is an investment, and you get tenfold the time and effort you put in.

    How has the C++ Guild community supported your career development?
    As the guild looked to expand its presence in APAC, they trusted me to lead the local chapter, and thus was positively noticed and supported by my manager. Because I was invested in finding opportunities for our engineers, I took even more initiative and nominated and sent my people to events, and this was also noticed. I have no doubt that these were some of the milestones that were considered when my managers decided to make me a team lead. It’s safe to say that I feel a whole lot more complete as an engineer thanks to being in the guild.

    Last year, you attended CppCon. Why is it important for Bloomberg engineers to attend, participate, and speak at technical conferences?
    While we are immersed in our day-to-day work, it’s easy to forget that best practices and the bar for excellence in C++ is a moving target. But the language keeps evolving. Bloomberg aims to lead this movement, and is committed to being a strong voice in the C++ Standards conversation. So we want our engineers to be engaged in the community, to learn from it, and to give back.

    This starts by fostering a culture of curiosity and openness. Question the status quo, understand where we are, and improve on it. We invest in our engineers so they have the opportunity to share what they know with the community at a conference or a local meetup, get feedback, and take their ideas to the next level. Ultimately, when an engineer presents a proposal on stage at CppCon, they will reach and influence the community at scale, so we make sure we utilize that opportunity for both our business’ and the individual’s growth.

    “Guilds are the perfect place to stretch your engineering muscle beyond your day-to-day tasks. You’ll work alongside world-class experts who are excited to share their skills. So if you are looking for a venue to grow as an engineer, this is a great place.”

    – Aurelien Cassagnes

    Elena Vorobyeva is Team Lead on the Sessions Infrastructure team, part of Platform Security. She first joined Bloomberg as a contractor on the Real-time Data team. She eventually accepted a permanent position working on application middleware, and then market data.

    Tell us about how you got involved with the C++ Guild?
    I am the Lead of the C++ Guild’s Conference Working Group. When I first joined the guild in 2019, there were several groups within the Guild that were in need of leadership. I chose to lead the Conference Working Group because national and international conferences create possibilities for community-wide professional development and education. I also enjoy sharing my own fascination with and knowledge of C++.

    What is your Working Group charged with?
    The Conference Working Group is responsible for managing conference-related activities. Each year, we recommend which conferences related to C++ that the Engineering department should sponsor. We decide which sponsorship level best aligns with Bloomberg’s objectives. We also provide support and assistance to individuals participating in these conferences, whether as first-time attendees or seasoned presenters. This ensures that our team members are well-prepared and can make the most of their conference experience.

    Why is it important for Bloomberg engineers to attend, participate in, and speak at technical conferences?
    Each year, Bloomberg participates in more than a dozen C++ conferences around the globe. We also have many engineers involved in WG21, the ISO C++ Committee that helps shape the international standard for the C++ language. Bloomberg has one of the world’s largest C++ codebases, and as that investment grows, it is important to show our commitment to this language, which leads in both performance and safety.

    Bloomberg’s engineers are widely recognized as thought leaders and experts in the field. At conferences and on committees, we also have a chance to discover insights, share perspectives and get inspiration from experts outside the company.

    Conferences are also an excellent way to show potential talent that Bloomberg is not only a financial services company, but also a leading software company. In addition to presenting our work, we get to share our unique company culture, where people can stretch professionally and contribute to the evolution of technology. People from other companies tell us that they are fascinated that every Bloomberg employee they talk to tells the same story: we love where we are, and we trust that we are appreciated.

    Our own employees come home from these conferences with a renewed appreciation for what Bloomberg offers, both professionally and as a place to work and grow. The chance to present their work to outside audiences offers people a moment to step back and understand what they have accomplished and how much that matters to the greater C++ community.

    How has the C++ Guild community supported your career development?
    The Guild community continues to introduce me to a network of talented and driven people outside of my own department. The meetups and events organized and supported by the Guild have given me the opportunity to deepen my technical knowledge in C++ and other related areas. Being involved in the Conference Working Group has allowed me to mentor colleagues across the company. I feel like I am helping to create – while also being given – a comprehensive platform for both personal and professional growth.

    What makes guilds a great way for engineers to learn new skills and develop their interests in emerging technologies?
    Guilds provide a dynamic environment to share information both throughout our company and externally as well. Interaction with a diverse array of Working Groups allows contributors to focus on many aspects of professional development. In the C++ Guild, deeply technical Working Groups collaborate to conduct in-depth exploration of current topics such as Reflection, Inter-Thread Communication, and API review, while others focus on community and organization, event planning, presentation, and project management. This variety ensures that every engineer can find a group that aligns with their own interests and career goals, and can also learn from the research and work of others. In addition, people can flexibly commit to join the Guild and participate when they have time or an interest in doing so. Everybody is welcome!

    “The meetups and events organized and supported by the Guild have given me the opportunity to deepen my technical knowledge in C++ and other related areas. Being involved in the Conference Working Group has allowed me to mentor colleagues across the company. I feel like I am helping to create – while also being given – a comprehensive platform for both personal and professional growth.”

    – Elena Vorobyeva

    Jessica Winer is a Junior Software Engineer working on Bloomberg’s Asset and Investment Management (AIM) Enterprise product. She is responsible for creating a highly configurable automated user experience for Post Trade. She joined Bloomberg three years ago.

    Tell us about how you got involved with the C++ Guild? How long were you at Bloomberg before you got involved with the community?
    When joining Bloomberg, I was particularly drawn to the company’s “Choose your own adventure” style of career development. I’ve tried to take full advantage of a wealth of opportunities offered to me to have impact across the firm. I have been able to dive into the deep end of technical projects, have gotten lost in the weeds, and climbed my way out. And I’ve been able to take projects from ideas to reality even at this early stage of my career. My Team Lead pointed me towards guilds as an avenue for exposure and technical exploration. As a new member of the C++ Guild, I have gotten to work with engineers across the company.

    What initiatives have you been actively involved in?
    I have gotten involved in a few different working groups, such as the Recommended Libraries Working Group, where I learned about weighing the qualities of different tools to solve a specific technical problem.

    As part of the Testing Working Group, I’ve learned about testing best practices across Bloomberg, and have contributed to tools to increase testing coverage. This group is particularly interesting to me, as I have been co-leading a local department working group for testing for over a year, where we have been creating a cross-department solution for Gherkin-style system tests which can be run automatically on a daily interval. Through the Guild, I realized that a lot of the questions we were deliberating in our department were already being discussed Bloomberg-wide.

    Most recently I have been working in the Conferences Working Group, learning more about the organization of conferences and Bloomberg’s involvement externally.

    Are there any conferences you have attended as a speaker or presented your work?
    My first conference through Bloomberg was CppCon 2023, which is the world’s largest C++ conference. While I enjoyed learning from brilliant minds and expanding my knowledge in formal sessions, it was truly incredible to meet members of the C++ Standards Committee, who are helping to evolve the language, as well as Bjarne Stroustrup, who created the language. These people all went out of their way to welcome us into the community. After attending CppCon, I co-created a presentation on system design with a colleague, which we presented at ACCU 2024 in Bristol, UK.

    What’s one thing you wish people knew about the Guilds?
    Guilds are meant to be a learning opportunity for those at the company. You don’t already have to be a domain expert to join. You will become part of a network of brilliant engineers and domain expertise will follow.

    In 2024, you attended CppCon. Why is it important for Bloomberg engineers to attend, participate in, and speak at technical conferences?
    Conferences are a great opportunity to meet brilliant engineers both in and outside of Bloomberg. Attending conferences gives you dedicated time to learn from others and to improve your technical skills.

    “When joining Bloomberg, I was particularly drawn to the company’s “Choose your own adventure” style of career development. I’ve tried to take full advantage of a wealth of opportunities offered to me to have impact across the firm. I have been able to dive into the deep end of technical projects, have gotten lost in the weeds, and climbed my way out. And I’ve been able to take projects from ideas to reality even at this early stage of my career.”

    – Jessica Winer

    Conor Spilsbury is a Senior Software Engineer within the Trade Automation and Execution organization, where he works on Bloomberg’s Listed Securities Execution Management System, EMSX, a real-time, high throughput, multi-asset transactional trading platform used by financial institutions around the world to manage their daily trading activity. He has worked at Bloomberg for five years, having joined as an entry-level engineer in the infrastructure team after finishing his master’s degree in mathematics. He is now working on deepening the integration between EMSX and AIM, our buy-side OMS, as part of Bloomberg’s enterprise offerings.

    How did you get involved with the C++ Guild?
    I am always looking for what more I can be doing – both in my own team and beyond. Six months after I joined Bloomberg, I read a post in one of the internal newsletters looking for help in organizing Guild activities. My managers at Bloomberg have always encouraged and supported me to participate.

    The Guild is responsible for a C++ newsletter that is regularly sent to engineers at Bloomberg. We use this to share recent updates in the C++ community, including changes to our build tools, tooling or library updates, advertising upcoming conferences that engineers can attend, internal transfer opportunities, internal talks from Bloomberg employees or special guests (e.g., the C++ Guild recently hosted Sean Baxter to talk about the Circle Compiler), and ultimately highlighting opportunities for engineers to get involved in the C++ community itself.

    The newsletter has been running for five years now and we still experiment with what we can include in it. For example, we’re also trying to do more to promote ways to contribute to “inner source” projects and have been running a “Feature of the Month” column which shares a tip about a C++ feature. The most recent newsletter included tips on C++23’s ‘std::expected’.

    How did you become co-chair?
    As the Guild has grown, we have expanded the domains that we work on, which means there are all kinds of new opportunities for engineers to get involved in. The Guild is organized into dedicated Working Groups, each of which is focused on a particular domain.

    I found myself making contributions to multiple different WGs and have led two of them; I’ve contributed to API Reviews, Communications, Membership, Recommended Libraries, Testing, and organized our presence at an internal conference called “Guild Week” over multiple years, and even delivered talks at this conference.

    One of the primary forms of responsibility for me in recent years has come from being involved in Membership and supporting new members to get involved. This has also led me to presenting talks about Guild to other internal communities at Bloomberg.

    After a few years of making increasingly larger contributions across multiple working groups, I put myself forward to be the next chair of the Guild and I was fortunate to receive a lot of support.

    What are some of the ways the C++ Guild’s members influence C++ utilization both within and outside the company ?
    One of our goals is to bring engineers across the company together to work on influencing the direction of C++ at Bloomberg and improving the development experience internally. We do this by establishing best practices and guiding principles based on community feedback and contributions.

    For example, our Tooling Working Group maintains and improves our tools for C++ development along with standardizing this tooling. They are currently working on implementing the Common Package Specification as described by our very own Bret Brown at CppCon 2023 in collaboration with KitWare.

    In addition, Bloomberg has many active contributors to new features in the C++ programming language, and we have a Working Group that coordinates our efforts with the wider international standardization working group for C++, WG21. For example, Dan Katz, our previous Guild co-chair, is a co-author on the paper that proposes to add Reflection into C++26, which will be a major milestone for the language.

    How has the C++ Guild community supported your career development?
    I’ve been able to gain a lot more technical knowledge, including expert insights, best practices, and industry trends that have helped me deepen my understanding of the language and stay up-to-date with the latest developments both internally at Bloomberg and externally in the wider community.

    Being involved in the Guild is also a unique opportunity to have company-wide impact and to gain leadership experience whilst remaining an individual contributor as opposed to going down a Team Lead or Management track. I’ve taken the lead in organizing Guild initiatives, setting direction, and mentoring others to achieve our goals. This experience has not only helped me become a more effective team player but also given me the confidence to take on new challenges in my own role. I’ve been able to bring this experience back to my team and make more meaningful contributions as a result.

    The community has also provided me with opportunities to meet and connect with engineers in other departments, which has been a great way to expand my network and learn about new areas of the company. It’s amazing how often I’ve been able to find the exact person I need to answer a question or provide guidance.

    I found this particularly useful when I was looking for a new challenge and decided to move teams internally to an entirely new domain. Thanks to the Guild, I had already established relationships with engineers who could offer valuable advice and introductions. As it turns out, the first time I met two of my current teammates in EMSX was when the three of us were attending CppCon, a C++ industry conference!

    At CppCon 2024, I gave my first talk at a conference which was a really rewarding experience. In particular, collaborating with colleagues as we went back and forth improving the talk together.

    How do you encourage employees to get involved?
    Some engineers will join the Guild with a clear idea of what they want to work on, but others may not know where to start. In either case, the most important thing is to bring enthusiasm and a curiosity to learn more. To help with this, we have a Membership Working Group that pairs each new member with an experienced Guild member to support them. It all comes down to trying out new things, volunteering to get involved in an initiative, or pitching something new and sharing ideas.

    Ultimately, the more perspectives represented by engineers in the Guild, the better. Our goal is to reach engineers across the entire company in all of our departments and at every experience level to improve their experience.

    “Being involved in the Guild is also a unique opportunity to have company-wide impact and to gain leadership experience whilst remaining an individual contributor as opposed to going down a Team Lead or Management track.”

    – Conor Spilsbury

    Check out some open roles with our engineering teams that utilize C++.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Building pathways together: Bloomberg, TIAA/Nuveen, and City Tutors invest in the next generation

    Source: Bloomberg Press Statements

    Headline: Building pathways together: Bloomberg, TIAA/Nuveen, and City Tutors invest in the next generation

    On a recent spring evening, more than 100 students, mentors, and professionals came together at Bloomberg’s Global Headquarters for a career-focused gathering hosted in partnership with TIAA/Nuveen and City Tutors. This gathering was part of Bloomberg’s Your Path, Your Future program, an initiative designed to introduce young people to careers in industries where Bloomberg has expertise — including technology, data, news, and finance — and to connect young people with experienced professionals who can help them navigate the path to success. 

    Designed with students at the center, the evening featured a dynamic panel, small-group breakout sessions, and direct networking opportunities with professionals. Participants asked thoughtful questions, shared personal stories, and gained exposure to real career journeys. Mentors left energized by the insight, determination, and readiness they saw in the room. 

    “We created Your Path, Your Future to help young people see what’s possible and to connect them with the people and experiences that can help them get there,” said Nancy Cutler, who leads Corporate Philanthropy for the Americas at Bloomberg. “Partnering with City Tutors and TIAA/Nuveen shows the power of working together around a shared purpose to scale our impact and create more pathways to success.”

    Building on years of collaboration, the evening marked Bloomberg’s first in-person event with City Tutors, a nonprofit working to expand opportunities for young people across New York City. Attendees included undergraduates, recent grads, and master’s students from across CUNY’s 25 campuses, many of whom are balancing school, work, and caregiving while pursuing their career goals.

    “Our community carries more than most—juggling school, work, caregiving, and the hopes of their families. And still, they show up with hunger, curiosity, and the drive to grow. What made this night special was that the professionals from Bloomberg and TIAA/Nuveen truly saw that. They saw themselves in our students. They responded with care, openness, and real respect. Our learners left feeling seen, and excited to imagine themselves in places like this, not as visitors, but as future colleagues,” said Garri Rivkin, Executive Director, The City Tutors.

    Since 2021, more than 160 Bloomberg employees have volunteered with City Tutors, with 68 currently serving as active mentors. This event built on that momentum and on Bloomberg’s broader efforts to expand access to careers in technology, news, and finance through mentorship and community engagement. 

    A shared investment in talent and community

    For Bloomberg and TIAA/Nuveen, this was an opportunity to connect with homegrown NYC talent. These students and young professionals brought insight, skill, and determination, and left the evening with new tools and perspectives to fuel their career journeys. The evening served as both a showcase of shared commitment and a celebration of what’s possible through partnership.

    “This meaningful partnership with Bloomberg and The City Tutors aligned perfectly with TIAA/Nuveen’s Igniting Brighter Futures initiative, which exposes high school and college students, many of whom are first-generation college students, to a range of careers in the financial services and asset management industries,” said Amy O’Brien, Global Head of Responsible Investing at Nuveen. “Through our Igniting Brighter Futures initiative, we aim to inspire and provide life skills that help prepare students for success and a pathway to and through college and into the workforce.”

    TIAA/Nuveen’s participation added to the experience, reflecting a strong partnership between the two companies and a shared commitment to supporting future leaders. Together, Bloomberg and TIAA/Nuveen created a space where the learners could ask questions, gain visibility into career paths, and begin building meaningful professional relationships.

    A night of perspective and possibility

    That spirit of possibility could be felt throughout the evening. Participants arrived prepared with questions, goals, and a hunger to learn. They left not only with answers, but also with greater confidence, clarity, and a better understanding of the steps ahead. These conversations offered insight into real career journeys and the value of building connections along the way.

    “I got a glimpse of real office culture and saw how welcoming everyone was. It wasn’t about being the most talented but about embracing new perspectives,” said Mitu Akter, Baruch College student

    Mentors also walked away with a renewed sense of purpose, inspired by the students’ energy and reminded of how impactful one conversation can be. “It was an amazing event. The panelists offered thoughtful guidance, personal stories, and practical advice that really resonated. The students were highly engaged and eager to build connections. You could feel the energy in the room—it was truly inspiring,” said Rebecca Emery, Bloomberg mentor.

    As the evening came to a close, one message stood out: Your Path, Your Future is more than a program. It was a commitment to community, to collaboration, and to the next generation of leaders. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Northern Ireland: Racist violence fuelled by disinformation and irresponsible political rhetoric

    Source: Amnesty International –

    In response to the continued racist and violent disorder spreading across Northern Ireland, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:

    “We are in the midst of a racist pogrom. Families have already lost their homes, and lives may soon be lost unless this violence ends now. We are only a petrol bomb away from someone being killed.

    “This violence is being fuelled by racist hatred – stoked by disinformation on social media and amplified by politicians who irresponsibly conflate immigration with crime and social issues which affect all communities.

    “We need politicians to speak truthfully about immigration, not echo vague concerns from the streets or false claims on social media that profit off lies.

    “According to the 2021 census, only 3.4% people in Northern Ireland are from minority ethnic backgrounds. That means 96.6% are not. We remain the whitest and least diverse part of the UK and Ireland.

    “While immigration has gradually increased over the last decade, crime rates have fallen – except for racially motivated hate crime, which is now higher than sectarian hate crime. People from immigrant and minoritised communities are far more likely to be victims of hate crime than anyone else.

    “Recent research from the Northern Ireland Assembly highlights migrant workers are vital in sustaining essential public services, including hospitals and community care. We must do more to protect their rights to live free from harassment and violence – we should recognise, thank, and celebrate them for their contributions to and enrichment of our communities.”

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    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Calls for More Success Stories to Be Written in China-Africa Cooperation Chronicle

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    CHANGSHA, June 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for more successful examples of China-Africa cooperation to promote China-Africa friendship and bring hope for independent development and better livelihoods to the African continent.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, cited the experience of Gambian agricultural entrepreneur Musa Darboe, who benefited greatly from Chinese hybrid rice technology.

    Wang Yi made the remarks on Wednesday during a conversation with Darboe at a reception to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province.

    At the reception, M. Darboe shared his experience of how the introduction of hybrid rice cultivation technology developed by Chinese scientist Yuan Longping has significantly increased rice yields in Gambia. According to him, thanks to the help of Chinese agricultural experts in Africa, he has achieved prosperity and his homeland has said goodbye to hunger.

    M. Darboe, who brought rice from The Gambia to China as a sign of respect for Yuan Longping, expressed his willingness to learn more about China’s agricultural technology and modernization experience and to promote the deepening and expansion of Gambian-Chinese cooperation.

    Wang Yi noted that one of the key priorities of China’s friendship with African countries is to improve the living conditions of ordinary Africans. He assured that China will continue to strive to achieve the common good and common interests, and bring more tangible benefits to the people of the African continent.

    Hunan Province is the birthplace of Yuan Longping, a rice scientist who made significant contributions to the development of rice farming in China and is known as the “father of hybrid rice.” Yuan Longping passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Head of the Presidential Administration of Mongolia G. Zandanshatar appointed as the country’s new Prime Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ULAN BATOR, June 13 (Xinhua) — Mongolian Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Gombojavyn Zandanshatar was appointed as the new prime minister of Mongolia on Friday following a plenary session of the State Great Khural (parliament) of the country.

    His candidacy was submitted to the deputies for consideration by the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, and 92.3 percent of legislators voted for it.

    G. Zandanshatar, 55, graduated from the Irkutsk Institute of National Economy (now Baikal State University) in 1992 with a degree in financier and economist. That same year, he also received a master’s degree in economics and finance from the same university.

    Since 2004, he has been elected as a deputy of the State Great Khural four times. In 2009-2012, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. From 2017 to 2019, he served as the head of government affairs, and in 2019-2024, he worked as the Chairman of the Parliament.

    On June 9 this year, the ruling Mongolian People’s Party endorsed the candidacy of 55-year-old G. Zandanshatar as the country’s next prime minister. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Immediate need to protect primary residences and address the housing crisis in the European Union – E-002171/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002171/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Elena Kountoura (The Left)

    In recent years, the housing crisis has taken on alarming proportions in many EU Member States, affecting an ever-increasing number of citizens who are unable to meet housing costs and their loan obligations.[1] In Greece in particular, the economic crisis dating back many years has led thousands of households to lose their primary residence through auctions.[2]

    Despite repeated calls for the protection of borrowers,[3] especially the vulnerable, in many cases their loans are sold to funds and debt management companies (servicers) at prices significantly lower than the original debt, without them having the opportunity to repurchase them on correspondingly favourable terms. Furthermore, the aggressive and inhumane collection practices applied by such actors intensify the pressures on borrowers and guarantors.[4]

    :

    • 1.What measures does the Commission intend to put in place to ensure full protection of primary residences at EU level, in particular for vulnerable citizens?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to propose guidelines or legislative measures to prohibit the transfer of mortgage loans to servicers and funds, given the aggressive recovery practices they often follow?
    • 3.Does the Commission intend to propose the establishment of an EU framework for the early detection of repayment difficulties and the automatic activation of support measures, through the adoption of legislation allowing borrowers who have proven difficulty in meeting their loan obligations to have a priority right to redeem their loans at a discount or to secure more favourable repayment terms?

    Submitted: 30.5.2025

    • [1] In recent years, the social and economic impacts of this state of affairs have worsened, especially for vulnerable groups of the population, such as low-wage earners, single-parent families, people with disabilities, pensioners and young people. Forced evictions and auctions violate fundamental rights and lead to wider consequences, such as homelessness, social exclusion and the disruption of social cohesion and family life.
    • [2] The removal of primary residence protection resulted in a 5.8 % reduction in the homeownership rate between 2019 and 2023, from 75.4 % of the population to 69.6 %.
    • [3] With the establishment of minimum standards in the EU, such as a general moratorium on evictions, debt restructuring mechanisms, mandatory acceptance of the arrangement by servicers and funds, more favourable repayment terms, state guarantees, etc.
    • [4] Loan guarantors, who are often family members or close acquaintances, are also severely affected, facing the possible loss of their own home or property.
    Last updated: 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –