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  • MIL-OSI Security: South Carolina Man Charged in Maryland for Multi-Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud and Ponzi Schemes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed two indictments. The indictments charged a South Carolina man with defrauding Medicare through a laboratory test scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic and with defrauding customers of his private charter jet company.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG).

    As alleged in the first indictment, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick Britton-Harr, 41, of Charleston, South Carolina, and formerly of Annapolis, Maryland, offered COVID-19 screening tests to nursing home patients across the country. Britton-Harr then allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare, through his company Provista Health, for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests for these patients. The RPP tests were medically unnecessary, never ordered by a treating physician as required, and many were never actually performed, including tests for patients who were already deceased. Through Provista Health, Britton-Harr caused the submission of more than $15 million in fraudulent claims for RPP tests to Medicare.  Medicare eventually paid out more than $5 million.

    According to the second indictment, Britton-Harr owned and controlled AeroVanti, Inc. and its affiliated entities. Through AeroVanti, a private air club offering members a la carte access to private jets, Britton-Harr encouraged “Top Gun” members to pay $150,000 upfront to secure block flight hours. In return, Britton-Harr promised to use their money to purchase specific aircraft, in which Top Gun members would have a securitized interest.

    Britton-Harr recruited nearly 100 Top Gun members, who collectively paid approximately $15 million in upfront payments, to purchase five aircraft. Instead of buying the aircraft, Britton-Harr allegedly misappropriated members’ money for his own personal benefit, including paying for yachts and jewelry, his living expenses, and to rent a property near Tampa, Florida. Then Britton-Harr attempted to conceal his fraud by obtaining a $1.5-million loan to purchase one of the aircraft he already claimed that he purchased with Top Gun funds by withholding material information from the lender to obtain the loan.

    “It is unconscionable for someone to defraud the government and others for personal gain, especially as we faced a global health crisis,” Hayes said. “Britton-Harr showed a total disregard for those who depend on our Medicare system for health care services and for the individuals he scammed through his private-jet company. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal law-enforcement partners to bring those to justice who break the law and take advantage of others.”

    “The defendant allegedly perpetrated two fraud schemes, first exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud Medicare out of millions of dollars and then stealing millions more from customers of his aviation company, all for his personal benefit,” Galeotti said. “These indictments demonstrate the Criminal Division’s commitment to rooting out bad actors who steal from taxpayer-supported health care programs and defraud American consumers.”

    “Patick Britton-Harr’s repeated crimes reveal a man with no moral compass motivated by pure greed. His deceit and scheming resulted in a staggering amount of loss to American taxpayers and the public,” DelBagno said. “He tried to fleece the U.S. government out of millions by taking advantage of a national crisis. After his laboratory testing business failed, Britton-Harr again turned to deception. Time and again, he chose to lie, steal, and deceive. No more. This investigation holds Britton-Harr accountable for his crimes and sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will not allow such despicable behavior to go unchecked.”

    “Individuals who steal from Medicare waste taxpayer dollars and create incisions in the fabric that holds our health care system together. HHS-OIG will continue the pursuit of upholding the integrity, trust, and confidence in federal health care programs, which benefits the people they serve,” Dixon said. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continuously investigate alleged attempts to defraud these programs.”   

    “The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering and underscores the extraordinary lengths to which individuals will go to deceive and exploit others under the guise of legitimate business, including private aviation services,” Thompson said. “The DOT-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working in coordination with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who engage in egregious schemes designed solely for personal enrichment.”

    Britton-Harr is charged with five counts of health care fraud and one count of money laundering in the indictment related to his RPP scheme. Additionally, Britton-Harr is charged with six counts of wire fraud in the indictment connected to the AeroVanti scheme.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for each health care fraud and money laundering count. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DOT-OIG for their work in investigating these cases. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Matthew P. Phelps and Trial Attorneys David Peters and Chris Wenger, Criminal Division’s Fraud Section who are prosecuting these cases.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md  and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Heart Butte sex offender sentenced to over 20 years in prison for abusing multiple children

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – A Heart Butte man who sexually assaulted several minors while being required to register as a sex offender was sentenced today to 272 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Bradley Joseph Guardipee, 27, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that in July 2024, Jane Doe 3 disclosed she was sexually assaulted by Guardipee in 2022, when she was 11 years old. She said she was home sick from school and was left alone with Guardipee at a home in Heart Butte. She was taking a nap in another child’s bedroom while the other kids were at school. She woke up in pain to find her legs open and Guardipee on top of her penetrating her vagina with his penis. She reported she knew at least four other girls who were sexually abused by Guardipee. Forensic interviews followed and six girls disclosed some type of abusive touching by Guardipee.

    Jane Doe 1 reported being sexually abused by Guardipee since she was about three years old. She recalled that on March 6, 2024, when she was 12 years old, she and Guardipee had taken his grandfather to dialysis in Browning. After they dropped his grandfather off, Guardipee told her she could drive and to sit on his lap. Guardipee grabbed Jane Doe by her arms and forced her onto his lap. Guardipee touched her on the breast and under her underwear, digitally penetrating her.

    At the time of the March 2024 assault of Jane Doe 1, the defendant was required to register as a sex offender, though he never complied with that requirement. Guardipee was required to register after being convicted by a guilty plea on May 22, 2023, to sexual assault in Cascade County District Court.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Orlando U.S. Postal Employee Sentenced In “Fenta-Pill” Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Orlando Rosa Rodriguez (59, Orlando) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and money laundering. The court also ordered Rosa Rodriguez to forfeit two vehicles, both of which were traceable proceeds of the offense. Rosa Rodriguez pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025.

    According to court documents, co-defendants Jayson Perez-Quinones (48, Orlando) and Jovan Rivera Rodriguez (36, Kissimmee) arranged to receive shipments of thousands of pills that were pressed to look like pharmaceuticals but contained fentanyl – (so-called “fenta-pills”). At their home in Orlando, Perez-Quinones and co-defendant Karen AltaGracia Perez (44, Orlando) packaged those pills into individual pill bags (pictured below) for street delivery.

    Perez-Quinones and Perez then distributed those bags to mid-level distributors such as Rosa Rodriguez for resale. Rosa Rodriguez distributed those pills to customers, including in the parking of his workplace at the U.S. Postal Service. Rosa Rodriguez earned more than $300,000 in one 20-month period on top of his salary from the U.S. Postal Service and VA disability benefits. He used those proceeds to purchase sports cars, including a Corvette worth approximately $80,000, a Porsche 911 Carrera Coup worth approximately $92,000, and a Porsche 718 Cayman Coup worth approximately $120,000.   

    On June 13, 2023, AltaGracia Perez was sentenced to five years and six months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. On August 8, 2023, Perez-Quinones and Rivera Rodriguez were sentenced to 15 years’ and 5 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.       

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Fraud Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Donald A. Ennis, 43, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $513,072.28 in restitution for two counts of wire fraud. Ennis admitted that he filed false insurance claims to obtain $347,237.70 after setting fire to his residence and defrauded a volunteer fire department of $153,728 while serving as its finance and operations manager.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018 Ennis purchased a residence on Ridgeview Way in St. Albans with assistance from a mortgage company that required him to insure the residence for loss. Ennis obtained a residential insurance policy with a maximum value of $161,100 for the dwelling and $120,825 for its contents. Ennis paid an annual premium of approximately $979.35 for the policy, which had effective dates from November 8, 2020, through November 8, 2021. The policy covered losses for multiple contingencies including fire, and explicitly excluded intentional acts of loss or damage by Ennis.

    Ennis admitted that he intentionally set fire to his residence on February 15, 2021. The fire department responded but could not extinguish the fire, which consumed the residence and left it and its contents a total loss. Ennis falsely reported the fire to his Indiana-based insurance company as an accident later that day and began the process of filing a claim. Ennis admitted that he placed a series of claims electronically from February 21, 2021, to March 19, 2021, fraudulently claiming losses from the fire. Ennis further admitted that he obtained $347,237.70 from the insurance company as a result of this wire fraud scheme. The fraudulent insurance funds were deposited in Ennis’ bank account.

    From at least 2009 through 2022, Ennis worked for a volunteer fire department serving the Tornado area of Kanawha County. As its finance and operations manager, Ennis had access to the fire department’s North Carolina-based bank debit card and regularly acted as its accountant. Ennis admitted that from some time prior to March 19, 2020 through about September 18, 2022, he fraudulently obtained $153,728 of the fire department’s funds through a series of ATM withdrawals and dozens of unauthorized online purchases with its debit card for his personal benefit.

    “This prosecution sends an important and firm message that those who commit arson for financial gain will be prosecuted and brought to justice,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The fire put others at risk – first responders as well as neighbors. The defendant also deprived the volunteer fire department of vital funds.”

    Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner-Special Investigations Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-129.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced To More Than Seven Years In Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Robert Donoso (33, Orlando) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Donoso pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025. 

    According to court documents, Donoso engaged in importing and distributing methamphetamine for a year leading up to his arrest in April 2024. In April 2023, Donoso received a vehicle shipped from California that contained approximately 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of marijuana that was concealed inside a hidden “trap.” On April 8, 2024, Donoso received a delivery of 11 kilograms of methamphetamine from Pherai Bogeajis and was detained by law enforcement. The next day, Bogeajis’s home was searched and agents located another 50 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than $700,000.

    Bogeajis (35, Orlando) previously pleaded guilty for his role in the case and was sentenced in November 2024 to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. 

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, and the Oviedo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: In Revere, Massachusetts, Warren Lays Out the Dangers of Republican Bill to Cut Health Care for Millions

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    May 28, 2025
    Boston, MA – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined state and federal leaders at the Cambridge Health Alliance’s Revere Care Center to sound the alarm about Republicans’ planned cuts to health care for Massachusetts children, families, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. 
    Senator Warren laid out the impact of these planned cuts to health care and food assistance, and explained how the cuts would raise costs for working families. 
    “Right now, you probably know someone who counts on Medicaid to pay for medicine that helps treat their cancer, the hip replacement they need to walk, the inhaler their kid needs to breathe, or the nursing home that takes care of their aging parents. And they are all at risk,” said Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also made clear that Massachusetts leaders are united in fighting back against the cuts. 
    “We believe that no senior should be kicked to the curb so that Mark Zuckerberg [can] buy another Hawaiian island. And we believe that no person with a disability who needs a home health aide should have to give that up so that Jeff Bezos can buy a third yacht. We believe that, and that is why we are here to fight back,” concluded Senator Warren. 
    Transcript: Remarks on Medicaid Cuts at the Cambridge Health Alliance’s Revere Care CenterMay 27, 2025
    As Delivered
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: It is a real honor to stand here with the Governor, with [] Senator [Markey], with [] Senator [Edwards], with [] Mayor [Keefe], with the doctors, with the people who fight for health care here in the Commonwealth. I am grateful for that and I look forward to the fact that when we partner up, that’s how we make real change. 
    So, last week the House of Representatives passed Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” This would be the greatest transfer of wealth—from just one piece of legislation—from the poorest Americans to the richest Americans ever before in US history. Think about that: these guys are actually out there making history by taking away—from hardworking families, from people down on their luck, from seniors, from little babies—so that a handful of billionaires and corporate CEOs can get more giveaways from the government. 
    That’s the Republican plan: Billionaires win, everyone else loses.
    Now, the details are gruesome on this bill. This bill would: cut Medicaid, gut the Affordable Care Act, and slash food assistance.
    If it passes the Senate, this bill will rip health care away from 14 million people, over a quarter of a million right here in Massachusetts — all to pay for tax handouts for billionaires. 
    This Republican bill will raise costs for working families — from groceries to health care to utility bills — while making the richest Americans even richer.
    Here in Massachusetts, the consequences will be severe.
    In our state, Medicaid is known as MassHealth, and it covers almost two million people. If this bill passes, every one of them will be at risk of losing their health coverage. 
    That is one-third of all newborn babies and their mamas right here in Massachusetts at risk for losing their health care.
    That’s checkups and trips to the doctor for ear infections and money for asthma medications and for antibiotics for more than a third of all kids here in Massachusetts.
    That’s paying the monthly bills for almost TWO-thirds of all nursing home residents here in Massachusetts.
    As the Governor said, the pain will echo throughout our communities, hitting even those who don’t currently receive direct care. Without the guaranteed payments from Medicaid, our hospitals and community health centers are at risk.  
    Community hospitals, even with Medicaid reimbursement, are already struggling. 
    And right now, nearly half the funding for Massachusetts community health centers – which saves money by preventing people from needing to go to the emergency room – half their money currently comes from Medicaid that is on the chopping block by the Republicans. 
    When those hospitals and community health centers are forced to close, we all lose.  
    Now, right now, you probably know someone who counts on Medicaid to pay for the medicine that helps treat their cancer. You probably know someone who got the hip replacement they needed so that they can walk paid for by Medicaid. You probably know someone whose kid gets their inhaler from Medicaid, or the nursing home that takes care of their aging parents. And all of those are at risk.
    This is a full-blown crisis, and we are here to sound the alarm.
    I’m here with Governor Healey and with the senators and everyone behind me because we believe that no one in America should go without health care so that Elon Musk can take a rocket ship ride to Mars.
    We believe that no senior should be kicked to the curb so that Mark Zuckerberg wants to buy another Hawaiian island. 
    And we believe that no person with a disability who needs a home health aide should have to give that up so that Jeff Bezos can buy a third yacht. 
    We believe that and that is why we are here to fight back.
    I am proud to stand beside the Governor, and beside the senators, beside the mayor to make sure that everyone in Massachusetts and around the country gets the health care that they deserve.
    And with that, I will turn it over to a wonderful partner and a tremendous fighter in the United States Senate—my partner, Ed Markey.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Klobuchar, Van Hollen Urge Support for Homebuilding Tax Credits in Upcoming Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urged the Trump Administration to drop its misguided plan to cut homebuilding tax credits in the midst of a housing crisis. The lawmakers urged the administration to reconsider its preliminary Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget request, which would completely eliminate funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership Program.  
    “Many households are contributing more than half of their income to rent, leaving less for other needs like health care, groceries, or saving for emergencies. For-profit developers also struggle to build entry-level or middle-income housing, resulting in a focus on high-end construction with units unaffordable to working families,” wrote the Senators. “Now is the time for strong federal support for HOME and the Housing Trust Fund to close financing gaps and build more homes.”  
    “Unfortunately, reports of unauthorized funding freezes and contract cancellations have raised concerns among housing investors about the stability of all of the federal funding sources in their projects’ capital stack, leading them to reconsider their investments. Decreasing or eliminating the funding sources that make LIHTC projects financially feasible will have detrimental impacts on rural communities’ ability to build more housing, especially when coupled with Fannie Mae’s newly restricted investment activity in this space,” the Senators continued. 
    The Senators concluded: “States are making efforts to speed housing construction through zoning reforms, permitting streamlining, innovative incentive structures, and housing equity programs. Unless the federal government provides consistent, flexible funding to close the financing gap for major projects, this progress will stall. With that in mind, we urge you to provide an FY26 Budget Request that furthers HUD’s mission to ensure safe and clean affordable housing and reinforce low-income housing tax credit investor confidence by advocating for reliable funding for HOME and the Housing Trust Fund.” 
    HOME and the Housing Trust Fund programs work in conjunction with the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) to fuel affordable housing construction across the country. The LIHTC has funded the construction of almost 2.75 million affordable housing units across the country. However, despite the proven efficacy of these programs, the federal government has underinvested in them for decades, resulting in a severe, nationwide shortage of affordable rental housing for working families. 
    Read the full text of the letter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dan Goldman Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Federal Judges From Doxxing and Threats

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    Bipartisan Appropriations Letter Urges Congress to Fund Grant to Scrub Judges’ Personal Information from the Internet 

     

    Threats Against Judges Have Risen Over 100% in the Last 6 Weeks, Coinciding with Harsh Rhetoric from Trump Administration 

     

    Read the Letter Here 

    Washington, D.C – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Congresswoman Mikie Sherill (NJ-11) led a bipartisan group of 39 of their colleagues in writing to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science Chairman Hal Rogers (KY-05) and Ranking Member Grace Meng (NY-06) requesting that they provide $10 million for a program within the bipartisan Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2022 for state and local governments to remove the personal information of federal judges and their families from the internet, such as property tax records that would list addresses. 

    “As Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on federal judges, their safety and security are increasingly at risk. If judges alter their decisions out of fear for the safety of themselves and their families, then we no longer live under the rule of law,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. In order to enhance the security of federal judges, it is vital for Congress to fund this essential grant program and ensure that sensitive personal information, including home addresses, financial records, and details about family members, is kept private.” 

    Between 2015 and 2021, threats against federal judges rose by more than 450%, from 926 incidents in 2015 to 4,511 in 2021. The Trump administration’s recent rhetoric against individual judges who have rendered unfavorable rulings has only supercharged that trend, with threats against judges rising over 100% in the last six weeks alone. 

    “Time is of the essence in implementing the Anderl Act’s protections for our federal judges and their families, as members of the Federal judiciary have been exposed to an increased number of personal threats in connection to their role,” the Members wrote. 

    Named after Daniel Anderl—the son of a federal judge who was murdered by a disgruntled attorney who obtained the judge’s home address online—the law’s provisions authorizing anti-doxxing grants for state and local governments have never been funded. 

    “The importance of the Anderl Act to our federal judiciary and to our federal legal system cannot be overstated. It is critical that Congress take action to protect all our public servants on the federal bench and prevent this type of violence and threats in the future. Our judiciary, and by extension, our democracy, cannot continue to bear this burden alone,” the Members concluded. 

    Read the letter here or below:

    Dear Chair Rogers and Ranking Member Meng: 

    As you begin consideration of the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we ask that within the accounts funding the Department of Justice State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance account, you provide $10 million for the state and local government grant program authorized in Section 5934(c) of the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-263). 

    This program permits the Attorney General to make grants to States or units of local governments so they can remove personal information about federal judges and their families from their websites, such as property tax records that would list federal judges’ addresses. 

    Time is of the essence in implementing the Anderl Act’s protections for our federal judges and their families, as members of the Federal judiciary have been exposed to an increased number of personal threats in connection to their role.  Testifying before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and the Federal Government in February of this year, U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said that threats against federal judges have doubled in the past 3 years. In fact, from 2015 to 2021, threats against federal court personnel jumped more than 450 percent, from 926 incidents recorded in 2015 to 4,511 incidents in 2021. 

    Among the incidents demonstrating the unfortunate urgency of these measures is the 2020 murder of Daniel Anderl, for whom the legislation was named. The 20-year-old son of New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas, Daniel was shot and killed at home by a disgruntled lawyer who found the judge’s address on the internet and also critically wounded Judge Salas’ husband. 

    After Judge James Robart’s 2017 decision to block former President Trump’s travel ban, critics posted the judge’s home phone and address online. Judge Robart received 40,000 messages, 1,100 of which were serious enough to be investigated, and so many death threats that U.S. marshals set up camp around his house. Additionally, in 2022, a California man was indicted for attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. An FBI affidavit stated that the would-be assassin found Justice Kavanaugh’s address online. 

    In his annual year-end report in December, Chief Justice Roberts warned about the rising number of threats to the judiciary’s independence, including calls for violence against judges and “dangerous” suggestions by elected officials to disregard court rulings they disagree with. This warning was followed by another by the U.S. Marshals to federal judges indicating an “unusually high threat level” in March. The importance of the Anderl Act to our federal judiciary and to our federal legal system cannot be overstated. It is critical that Congress take action to protect all our public servants on the federal bench and prevent this type of violence and threats in the future. Our judiciary, and by extension, our democracy, cannot continue to bear this burden alone. 

    Thank you for your consideration of this important request. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT: One, Big, Beautiful Bill Cuts Spending, Fuels Growth

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cut spending, fuel growth, and level the fiscal footing of the American economy.
    Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, explains the bill’s historic nature:
    “The Big Beautiful Bill is NOT an annual budget bill and does not fund the departments of government. It does not finance our agencies or federal programs. Instead, it includes the single largest welfare reform in American history. Along with the largest tax cut and reform in American history. The most aggressive energy exploration in American history. And the strongest border bill in American history. All while reducing the deficit.”
    Miller goes on to explain how the legislation also reduces the deficit:
    “The bill saves more than 1.6 TRILLION in mandatory spending, including the largest-ever welfare reform. A remarkable achievement. I’ve also seen claims the bill increases the deficit. This lie is based on a CBO accounting gimmick. Income tax rates from the 2017 tax cut are set to expire in September. They were always planned to be permanent. CBO says maintaining *current* rates adds to the deficit, but by definition leaving these income tax rates unchanged cannot add one penny to the deficit. The bill’s spending cuts REDUCE the deficit against the current law baseline, which is the only correct baseline to use.”
    Meanwhile, Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, explains why so-called “forecasts” fail to account for the bill’s contributions to economic growth and debt reduction:
    “In making its projections, the CBO [Congressional Budget Office] has refused to account for — or ‘score’ as they say in CBO lingo — any of the new revenues from the Trump reciprocal tariffs.
    Remember here a key goal of Trump’s fair-trade policies is to shift the U.S. tax base from one primarily reliant on income taxes to one that, with the vision of the new External Revenue Service, is also supported by tariff revenues. Consider, then, the impacts on the CBO’s projected revenue shortfall of just the modest 10 percent global baseline tariff Trump recently put into effect.
    Such a tariff, depending on consumer responses (as measured by demand elasticities) and enforcement efficacy (i.e., how much cheating occurs), should generate between $2.3 trillion and $3.3 trillion in additional revenue over the ten-year forecast period. When this revenue is layered onto the enhanced dynamic growth scenario, the projected budget impact from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ranges from a modest $300 billion increase in the debt under the 2.2 percent growth assumption to as much as a $2 trillion surplus under the 2.7 percent growth assumption.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Stansbury Hold Town Hall in Albuquerque on GOP Attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    Town Hall Follows House Vote to Gut Critical Programs New Mexicans Rely On

    Albuquerque, N.M. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) held a town hall in Albuquerque on Tuesday to sound the alarm on Republican-led efforts to gut critical federal programs that New Mexicans rely on, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP.

    The town hall followed a House vote advancing legislation that would slash billions from health care and food assistance programs while delivering trillions in tax giveaways to the wealthiest Americans. New Mexicans packed the event to hear directly from Senator Luján and Representative Stansbury and to raise concerns about the devastating impact these Republican-led proposals would have on New Mexico families. Senator Luján and Representative Stansbury denounced the Republican proposal and warned that the legislation would impose the biggest cut to Medicaid and nutrition assistance in American history.

    “This Republican-led bill is a total rip-off for New Mexicans – all to line the pockets of people like President Trump and Elon Musk,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján. “The Republicans’ priorities couldn’t be more clear: tax handouts for billionaires and massive corporations, paid for by cutting health care, food assistance, and benefits for New Mexicans. We are not backing down. In the Senate, I’m going to keep fighting for our seniors, our children, and the future of New Mexico.”

    “We are in the fight of our lives for our communities, our democracy, and to make life better for our people. Every day, I am deeply honored to be in this fight for New Mexico alongside Senator Luján and our entire congressional delegation. Together we are working to defend our rights and Constitution and to tackle our biggest challenges from healthcare, housing and education to caring for our veterans and protecting our lands and waters,” said Representative Melanie Stansbury. “I am grateful to everyone who showed up to our Town Hall and who is speaking up and speaking out against the GOPs disastrous reconciliation bill which will gut Medicaid and food assistance for millions of Americans. As this bill heads to the Senate and the GOP continues to gut programs, we need you in this fight.”

    Impacts of the House GOP legislation include:

    • Cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, jeopardizing health care access for millions;
    • Cuts to SNAP, reducing food assistance for children, families, and seniors;
    • Many Americans making less than $51,000 a year will lose money;
    • Delivers 65% of benefits to the wealthiest Americans;
    • According to a study by Wharton, the Republicans’ plan will add $4.6 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA, SBA and the State of Arkansas Are Adding More Sites to Assist Survivors

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA, SBA and the State of Arkansas Are Adding More Sites to Assist Survivors

    FEMA, SBA and the State of Arkansas Are Adding More Sites to Assist Survivors

    LITTLE ROCK– The state of Arkansas, FEMA and U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer face-to-face help at four additional sites this week for residents affected by the March 14-15 and April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding

    Homeowners and renters in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties and impacted by the March 14-15 storms and tornadoes and may be eligible for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    Assistance is also available to eligible residents living in Clark, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Desha, Fulton, Hot Spring, Jackson, Miller, Ouachita, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St

    Francis and White counties impacted by the April 2-22 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding

    The four new locations providing survivor assistance include:CLARK COUNTYArkadelphia Recreation Center2555 Twin Rivers DriveArkadelphia, AR 71923Dates: Thursday, May 29 – Saturday, May 31Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    DESHA COUNTYMcGhee Municipal Complex901 Holly Street McGhee, AR 71654Dates: Thursday, May 29 – Saturday, May 31Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    CRITTENDEN COUNTYRoberta Jackson Neighborhood Center 1300 Polk AvenueWest Memphis, AR 72301Dates: Thursday, May 29 – Saturday, May 31Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    FULTON COUNTYFulton County Courthouse154 South Main StreetSalem, AR 72570Dates: Wednesday, May 28 – Saturday, May 31Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    Additional locations continuing to provide survivor assistance include: GREENE COUNTY Paragould Community Center3404 Linwood DriveParagould, AR 72112Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29Times: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    RANDOLPH COUNTYBlack River Technical CollegeAcademic Complex Building, Room AC 1001410 Highway 304 EastPocahontas, AR 72455Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29 Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    IZARD COUNTYOzarka College – John Miller Auditorium218 College DriveMelbourne, AR 72556Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29Hours: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    SALINE COUNTYSaline County Career and Technical Campus Auditorium13600 I-30 NorthBenton, AR 72019 Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Saturday, May 31Times: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    JACKSON COUNTYASU-Newport Center for Fine Arts7648 Victory BoulevardNewport, AR 72112 Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29Times: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    SHARP COUNTY Ash Flat City Hall897 Ash Flat DriveAsh Flat, AR 72513Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Saturday, May 31Times: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    MILLER COUNTYMiller County Office of Emergency Management – Conference Room409 Hazel StreetTexarkana, AR 71854 Dates: Tuesday, May 27 – Saturday, May 31Times: 8 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    SHARP COUNTYCity Hall – Cave CityConference Room201 South Main StreetCave City, AR 72521*Entrance and parking at back of buildingDates: Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29Times: 9 a

    m

    – 6 p

    m

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For more information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4865 or fema

    gov/disaster/4873

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/

    erika

    suzuki
    Wed, 05/28/2025 – 12:18

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Secretary Noem Honors Nicholas Quets, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Murdered by the Sinaloa Cartel

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are dismantling drug cartels that profit from trafficking, violence, and lawlessness

    WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security released a video featuring the parents of Nicholas Quets, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who was viciously murdered by members of the Sinaloa cartel.

    On October 18th, 2024, Nicholas Quets traveled to Rocky Point, Mexico, where upon entry, he encountered a Sinaloa cartel checkpoint. These cartel members attempted to steal his pickup truck before shooting him in the back through his heart, ultimately taking his life at just 31 years old.

    Watch the video.

    President Trump and Secretary Noem have taken decisive action to dismantle drug cartels. On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation expands law enforcement and the government’s ability to crack down on cartels’ drug and sex trafficking operations in the U.S.

    On what would have been Nicholas Quets’ 32nd birthday, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against six individuals and seven entities allegedly involved in a money-laundering network supporting the Sinaloa cartel.

    Earlier this month, HSI along with the help of the Mexican government arrested Jacobo Regalado “J3” a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. He is responsible for hundreds of homicides and smuggling illicit drugs into the U.S.

    Additionally, earlier this month, Pedro Inzunza Noriega and Pedro Inzunza Coronel, key leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), a powerful and violent faction of the Sinaloa cartel that is believed to be the world’s largest known fentanyl production network, were charged with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

    “Nicholas Quets was a patriot who served our country honorably and was killed by these cartel cowards who shot him in the back. President Trump and Secretary Noem are honoring his memory by dismantling the Sinaloa cartel and other drug cartels that profit from trafficking, violence, and lawlessness,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “President Trump’s strong leadership and these arrests and prosecutions of scum-of-the-earth cartel leaders are delivering results. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Do Not Travel to Venezuela

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    The State Department is warning Americans against travel to Venezuela and bordering areas for any reason. Americans who travel to Venezuela risk being wrongfully detained in prison for months or even years.

    Our simple message for Americans: Do NOT travel to Venezuela.

    — State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/
    Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/StateDept
    Substack: https://statedept.substack.com

    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSTATEBPA/signup/32562

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FG7sd6lj4M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation Calls For Answers From Navy On Proposal To Increase Training, Inert Bombings On Kaʻula Rock

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
    HONOLULU – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) pressed the U.S. Navy to publicly justify its ongoing training on Ka‘ula and the proposal to more than double the number of inert bombing and gunfire training exercises conducted on Ka‘ula in Kaua‘i County. The lawmakers called on the Navy to conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS) and provide a clear national security rationale outlining the need to conduct this type of training at Ka‘ula.
    “In Hawai‘i, there is a significant level of mistrust with the Department of Defense as a whole, and the Navy in particular,” the delegation wrote. “As the Navy has now determined it would like to double the inert bombing and gunfire training it currently carries out on one of our smaller and uninhabited islands, we write to urge the Navy to provide more information about the impacts to Ka‘ula to satisfy the concerns from Kaua‘i residents and the state writ large. This additional due diligence by the Navy should include a national security justification for this expansion and explain to the public how this training is reasonable given the impacts to Ka‘ula and the surrounding community. The onus is on the Navy to demonstrate this need with proper analysis.”
    The delegation added, “Too many pressing questions concerning the use of Ka‘ula remain unanswered. As part of a comprehensive EIS, the Navy must assure the public that it has an effective plan and will allocate resources to environmental remediation on Ka‘ula. This will also allow the public to fully understand the impacts of this increased bombing on Ka‘ula’s environment. In parallel to conducting a comprehensive EIS, we request that the Navy also submit a study to Congress clearly outlining the pressing national security requirements for training at Ka‘ula. Both of these efforts are necessary to provide sufficient information to the public about ongoing and proposed expanded training at Ka‘ula.”
    The full text of the letter is below and available here.
    Secretary Phelan,
    We write with our concerns about the Navy’s proposal to expand the usage of the island of Ka‘ula for increased inert bombing and gunfire training by the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. In Hawai‘i, there is a significant level of mistrust with the Department of Defense as a whole, and the Navy in particular. As the Navy has now determined it would like to double the inert bombing and gunfire training it currently carries out on one of our smaller and uninhabited islands, we write to urge the Navy to provide more information about the impacts to Ka‘ula to satisfy the concerns from Kaua‘i residents and the state writ large. This additional due diligence by the Navy should include a national security justification for this expansion and explain to the public how this training is reasonable given the impacts to Ka‘ula and the surrounding community. The onus is on the Navy to demonstrate this need with proper analysis. To that end, we believe the Navy must conduct a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS) and a study to demonstrate the national security need to retain training at Ka‘ula.
    Too many pressing questions concerning the use of Ka‘ula remain unanswered. As part of a comprehensive EIS, the Navy must assure the public that it has an effective plan and will allocate resources to environmental remediation on Ka‘ula. This will also allow the public to fully understand the impacts of this increased bombing on Ka‘ula’s environment. In parallel to conducting a comprehensive EIS, we request that the Navy also submit a study to Congress clearly outlining the pressing national security requirements for training at Ka‘ula. Both of these efforts are necessary to provide sufficient information to the public about ongoing and proposed expanded training at Ka‘ula.
    Doubling the amount of training at Ka?ula is a significant step that warrants more information on the environmental impacts to the island. The State’s seabird sanctuary on Ka‘ula is home to thousands of seabirds, and the island’s sea cliffs are a resting place for endangered species like monk seals. Despite these known populations of wildlife, the draft environmental assessment does not contain sufficient analysis that impacts on wildlife would be “less than significant.” The public deserves a clear, comprehensive, and evidence-based EIS to demonstrate that the Navy has done its due diligence on the environmental impacts of these trainings.
    Ka‘ula is also surrounded by prime fishing waters that, should training surge from 12 to 31 times per year, would further limit Kaua‘i fishermen’s access. Kaua‘i fishermen have a right to be able to access the waters around Ka‘ula on a reasonable basis. The ongoing inert bombing activity limits fishing, which would only become more difficult with the Navy’s proposed increase in training.
    As a part of the military’s study and investigation into why access to Ka‘ula has a national security requirement that outweighs potential impacts to Ka‘ula’s environment, we request that the following questions be addressed:
    While any training can be justified as necessary to national security, how would a reduction or termination of access to Ka‘ula impact readiness in units operating in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility (AOR)?
    Why has the Navy not already built in more redundancies to address any readiness issues due to a lack of availability of training ranges?
    What is a tangible impact to readiness lost if Ka‘ula is not available for training? What specific impacts will the services experience to units and personnel who are impacted by this loss of access?
    How has the Navy determined that there is an irreplaceable need for access to Ka‘ula that cannot be fulfilled by an alternative site?
    Additionally, we request a separate response to the below questions no later than June 16th, 2025:
    Does the Navy plan to program specific environmental remediation funding, including to address existing and future ordnance cleanup?
    How does the Navy plan to protect regular and reliable access to Ka‘ula’s waters with the proposed substantial increase in trainings? What assurances can the Navy provide to the Kaua‘i public that disruptions to access would not significantly impede their right to fish?
    How will the Navy effectively plan for increased environmental impacts to the southern end of Ka‘ula?
    While Ka‘ula provides a unique training opportunity for sustained overwater flights with overland targets that mimic environments in the region, what gaps exist in readiness that demand doubling training activity to be combat-credible? Is there a substantive scheduling and access issue at other training ranges that uniquely warrants this substantive jump in training activity at Ka‘ula?
    We look forward to your prompt response to this letter and your engagement on this issue.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – High energy prices and the functioning of EU energy markets – E-002040/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002040/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giorgio Gori (S&D), Stefano Bonaccini (S&D), Nicola Zingaretti (S&D), Yannis Maniatis (S&D), Dan Nica (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D), Dario Nardella (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Bruno Tobback (S&D), Nicolás González Casares (S&D), Elena Sancho Murillo (S&D)

    In his speech at the closing ceremony of the COTEC summit in Coimbra, Mario Draghi stressed that high energy prices, combined with the weaknesses of the energy network, are ‘a threat to the survival of our industry, a major obstacle to our competitiveness and an unbearable burden for our households, and, if not addressed, the major threat to our decarbonisation strategy’.

    One of the key measures suggested by Draghi, alongside a vast, European-level investment plan to build the networks and interconnectors needed to support the penetration of renewable energy, is action to ‘reform how our energy market operates, working to loosen the link between the prices of gas and renewables’. Draghi had the following to say about this issue: ‘it is disheartening to see how Europe has become hostage to consolidated special interests. The European Commission, which has already created a taskforce on transparency, may also want to launch an independent investigation into the overall functioning of EU energy markets’.

    Given the above:

    Does the Commission intend to open such an investigation to assess the effectiveness and transparency of energy markets and, if necessary, consider alternative market design options?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – The EU’s climate action strategy – 28-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Under the European Climate Law, the EU must reduce its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55 % by 2030 compared with 1990, and reach climate neutrality by 2050 (see trajectory in Figure 1). Over the 2005-2023 period, net emissions in the EU decreased by 30.5 % (37 % compared with 1990). The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is a significant carbon sink, although its capacity to increase carbon sequestration is under pressure, while the EU emissions trading system (ETS) is one of the most effective mitigation tools, having reduced emissions by the sectors it covers by 48.1 % since 2005. Sectors for which Member States are obliged to reduce GHG emissions under the ‘effort-sharing’ legislation decreased their emissions by 17.1 % in 2023 compared with 2005. Investments tracked as climate-related spending account for 42.6 % of the total grants and loans approved under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the REPowerEU initiative. By 30 June 2024, Member States had to update their national energy and climate plans (NECPs), aligned with the EU’s increased 2030 targets. As of May 2025, three final plans are still pending. A May 2025 assessment of submitted final NECPs show a significant gap reduction from earlier analysis, with net GHG emissions estimated to decrease by 54 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. In a 2023 survey, 46 % of EU citizens identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most Europeans (56 %) said it was the responsibility of the EU or the national government to tackle climate change, followed by business/industry (53 %); 35 % found it to be a personal responsibility. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Lifting of EU sanctions against Syria and repatriation of Syrian asylum seekers – E-000888/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU supports the transition process towards a unified, stable and peaceful Syria. As of 6 March 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over 356 200 Syrians have returned to Syria via neighbouring countries since early December 2024, and that almost 890 000 internally displaced persons have returned to their home region since November 2024.

    While remaining cautious due to the volatile situation in Syria and the many challenges which still lie ahead, and in line with the European Council conclusions of 19 December 2024[1], the EU is committed to help create the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees.

    The EU will continue to work with neighbouring countries as well as specialised agencies[2] in this regard, in particular by supporting Syrians who decide to go home and by stepping up its support for Syria’s socioeconomic recovery, including through the gradual easing of EU restrictive measures. The EU support and suspension of sanctions is commensurate with the developments in the country.

    Syrian nationals who are beneficiaries of international protection have a right to reside in the territory of a Member State that granted them protection.

    Directive 2011/95[3] provides for the conditions to assess whether the person has ceased to be a refugee or to be eligible for subsidiary protection and whether to revoke, end or refuse to renew refugee or subsidiary protection status[4].

    When a person is no longer a beneficiary of international protection and if they have no other right to stay, they fall under the scope of the Return Directive[5]. When implementing the Return Directive, Member States shall respect the principle of non-refoulement[6].

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/19/european-council-conclusions-19-december-2024/.
    • [2] Such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration.
    • [3] Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted (recast).
    • [4] This is subject to the procedural safeguards laid out in Directive 2013/32, including an individualised assessment and the right to an effective remedy against a decision withdrawing international protection status.
    • [5] Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals.
    • [6] Articles 4 and 19(2) of the Charter.
    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Vote on ‘Financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2024’ – Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

    Source: European Parliament

    On 4 June 2025 at 14.45, ECON Members will vote on the ‘Financial activities of the European Investment Bank – annual report 2024’. The draft report welcomes the strategic priorities of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for 2024-2027 and includes a strong call for the EIB to play an even bigger role in addressing Europe’s investment needs and funding common EU priorities. It also reiterates the Parliament’s call for an interinstitutional agreement between the Parliament and the EIB.

    As usual, the BUDG and ECON Committees alternate in preparing an own-initiative annual report on the EIB and this year it is ECON’s turn. Members tabled 317 amendments to the draft report by the Rapporteur, Francisco Assis, who then tabled five compromise amendments that deal with a wide range of topics. These include: closing the investment gap and fostering competitiveness; consolidating the EIB’s role as EU’s climate bank; financing peace, security and defence; addressing challenges in social infrastructure, cohesion policy and housing; promoting digital transformation and new technologies; EIB neighbourhood and Global Gateway; governance: accountability and transparency. The plenary vote is planned for the July 2025 part-session.

    Rapporteur: Francisco ASSIS (S&D) Shadows: Kinga KOLLÁR (EPP), Jaroslava POKORNÁ JERMANOVÁ (PfE), Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR), Ľudovít ÓDOR (Renew), Damian BOESELAGER (Greens/EFA), Marc BOTENGA (The Left)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Difficulties in implementing the law on livestock housing – E-001064/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission may intervene in cases raising issues, where there is sufficient evidence of a general practice, of a problem of compliance of national legislation with EU law.

    However, Law 4056/2012 concerns national administrative proceedings related to permits for the housing of farmed animals. Those administrative proceedings are not under the remit of EU law. Hence, this question is referring to national legislation that does not fall under the competence of the Union.

    The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan Regulation[1] includes several interventions that may help farmers to adapt to the new requirements.

    Under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027[2], in addition to direct payments, Greece envisages also support for farm modernisation investments, bio-security interventions and advisory services.

    Where Union law imposes new requirements on farmers, support may be granted for investments to comply with those requirements for a maximum of 24 months from the date on which they become mandatory for the holding.

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj.
    • [2] https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/category/sskap-2023-2027/sskap-egkrisi-tropopoiiseis/.
    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: DOC reveals surprising toilet paper stats

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  29 May 2025

    The North Canterbury ranger’s job is to not only clean public toilets at DOC sites but also replace the toilet paper.

    Now DOC has revealed how much toilet paper was ordered by regional offices around Aotearoa for the 2024/2025 period, a whopping 15.5 million metres nationally.

    That’s roughly 15,500 kilometres of paper which would stretch the length of New Zealand nearly ten times.

    The figures reveal across DOC’s operational regions the most toilet paper was ordered by the Southern South Island which includes Fiordland and the Great Walks (3,103,037 metres), followed closely by the Northern South Island which includes Abel Tasman Great Walks and the iconic Tōtaranui campground (3,069,369) and in third place, Hauraki Waikato Taranaki (which includes the Coromandel) 2,727,160 metres.

    Daryl Sweeney looks after DOC sites in Canterbury including the toilets at the hugely popular and culturally significant Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill on the highway to Arthurs Pass and the West Coast.

    “What we do outdoors makes all the difference for New Zealand’s unique nature. This includes toileting responsibly. How and where we go is key to ensuring we do no harm to our great outdoors.

    “Visitors are encouraged to go to the toilet before they start their trip and plan stops at toilets along the way. Those heading further into the backcountry need to know what to do when there’s no toilet – you can find this advice on DOC’s website.”

    And it’s not just about using the facilities provided, says Daryl Sweeney.

    “It’s shocking how much toilet paper is used. Sometimes it’s piled up beside the toilet in a mountain. The state some of the toilets are left in is also appalling to be honest,” he says.

    “You wouldn’t do this at home so why would you do it in public toilets. Everyone has a role to respect the natural environment and not leave rubbish in and around these places.”

    North Canterbury Operations Manager Leeann Ellis says Daryl is just one of the hard-working rangers nationally who drive kilometres every day across multiple sites to replace toilet paper and keep facilities clean, including over the weekends and on public holidays.

    “Many people don’t realise this is a core role DOC undertakes. It takes a huge amount of time for our rangers and some of what they deal with would turn your stomach,” she says.

    With the opening of bookings for all the Great Walks this month, and on the eve of Kings Birthday holiday weekend, DOC says it’s a timely reminder for people to look after public facilities at DOC sites, to read the signs and not leave rubbish around for others to pick up.

    Daryl Sweeney says everyone has a part to play in looking after nature and says it would be a huge bonus for him if the toilets were left in a better state.

    “I’m answering other people’s calls of nature,” he jokes, “but it’s about time people answered their own, and respected the amazing places they are visiting. I feel like if people had to do my job for a day, they’d understand. My message is use the toilets provided, use less toilet paper, put it in the toilet or the bin and leave the toilet in a tidy state. It’s simple.”

    Find out more on the DOC website.

    Poo in a loo – and be prepared for when there isn’t one: Know before you go

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

    Celebrate World Otter Day May 28 at N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    jejohnson6

    PINE KNOLL SHORES

    Guests to the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will have an opportunity to watch some exciting otter enrichment during World Otter Day on May 28 with North American river otters Eno, Pee Dee, and Rocky. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    The World Otter Day celebration at the Aquarium will include some otter-inspired activities in the Discovery Classroom and a special enrichment for the three otters at 11 a.m.

    “Otters have such a playful nature — the littlest thing makes them happy. They are charismatic animals and watching them always rejuvenates me. We should celebrate World Otter Day every day,” said Kristen Cook, NCAPKS otterkeeper. “Watching the otters inspires me and our guests to help protect them and their habitats.”

    Otters at the N.C. Aquariums

    All three N.C. Aquariums are home to different otter species that inspire guests to appreciate and conserve otters worldwide. Both N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island care for North American river otters. N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a family of Asian small-clawed otters.

    There are 14 species of otter around the world and World Otter Day was founded by the International Otter Survival Fund to highlight and bring awareness to threats otter species are facing.

    While North American river otters are listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened species, their numbers had been reduced significantly in the late 1800s due to over-trapping and habitat degradation and are still not found living in the entirety of their historic range. Their population made a comeback from the brink of extinction in the 1900s thanks to conservation and reintroduction efforts.

    What can you do?

    While one person can’t do everything, everyone can do something — individual actions in your community can protect local species and they can create a ripple effect that can lead to protections for species across the globe

        • Keep local watersheds clean from litter and pollution.

        • Join a local trash pick-up or beach clean-up event.

        • Find a citizen science monitoring opportunity to help researchers and conservation gain more insight on otters.

        • Buy bird-friendly coffee—it’s produced on farms with a shade cover that provides important habitat for different species, preventing deforestation and destruction of homes for animals like Asian small-clawed otters.

        • Don’t ever support illegally traded wild animals as pets.

    Advanced Tickets Required
    Summertime is always busy at the Aquarium and otters are always a guest favorite. Seeing a special enrichment may increase interest and make the day busier than normal. For an enhanced visitor experience, get tickets online and in advance at www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-pks

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    May 28, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Where’s Joey?”: A sister’s promise echoes through a Wyoming military tribute 

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    Wyoming Veterans Commission 

    By Joseph Coslett Jr. 

    CHEYENNE, Wyo. – It was May 1968. The air was warm, and the laughter of children echoed through an alley in a quiet Wyoming neighborhood. That’s when two men in uniform appeared, walking toward a family’s future, carrying with them the unbearable weight of final news. 
     
    “We got excited to see them,” the sister said, her voice trembling but sure, as she stood before the crowd gathered for the Gold Star Tribute Ceremony. “We just knew Joey would be right behind them.” 
     
    But Pfc. Joseph Padilla would not come home from Vietnam. 
     
    The sister, only nine years old at the time, shared her story as if it happened yesterday. Her voice, filled with childlike innocence and lifelong grief, painted a portrait of the moment her world changed. 
     
    “We thought maybe Joey was hiding—playing hide-and-seek like he always did,” she said. 

    But that game would end in a silence no child should endure. 

    East High School ROTC Color Guard presents the colors while the East High School Choir Abby Petri and Kourtney Keller sing the National Anthem. Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)

    As the ceremony unfolded, her words reached the hearts of every listener. “I remember him saying, ‘You found me,’ and I began to cry.” That memory became a promise: To never forget Joey or anyone like him. 
     
    That promise bloomed into the Joseph A. Padilla Military Tribute Project. A banner initiative honoring the fallen, created not for attention, but for remembrance. Each banner carries a name, a face, a life given in service. 
     
    With support from First Lady Jennie Gordon, Gold Star Families, and Blue Federal Credit Union, the banners now hang with solemn pride. “They welcomed us with open arms,” she said. “This is our third year. I will forever be grateful.” 
     
    Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s Adjutant General, followed her. “Memories, unless they’re shared, can’t be passed on,” he said. “Ceremonies like this matter because they keep the stories alive.” 
     
    He reminded the audience of the quiet strength behind every Gold Star Family: the parents, siblings, children and spouses who bear the burden of remembrance. Quoting President Reagan, Porter asked the question that begins our national anthem: “Does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave? 
     
    “It’s not a certainty,” he said. “It’s a commitment. One we must all renew.” 

    Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming’s adjutant general, addresses attendees during the ceremony, encouraging all to “remember through action, not just words.” Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)

    That theme—commitment—ran through every speaker’s message. Retired Master Sgt. Russell Telander, with over five decades in the American Legion, read a poem written with the whispered memories of a veteran. Its lines carried both sorrow and hope:  
    What force inside me made me choose 
    to fight a war I knew I’d lose, 
    to seek the truth I feared to see? 
    What sort of demon was in me? 

    What force inside made me think, 
    in terms of hell, I would not sink? 
    And then, once engulfed by its ways, 
    who would count my remaining days? 

    Who picked me up when I fell flat 
    and said I was better than that? 
    And as I chose to end the fight, 
    who thanked me and said I was right? 

    Who chose the path that I would draw on, 
    who left when I said—when I said “gone”? 
    And when I knew the time was near, 
    who held my hand and calmed my fear? 

    What force inside me made me trust 
    that what I did was good and just, 
    and for the rest of life I’d see, 
    there was no demon inside of me. 

    Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)

    Telander invited the public to help place over 5,000 flags across five Cheyenne cemeteries to honor the silent rows of the departed. 
     
    Sheriff Brian Kozak echoed the theme of shared duty. “Nearly half of our deputies are Guard members or veterans,” he said. “When you’re in need—call us. We ride for the brand too.” 
     
    Then Nick Warren, survivor outreach service coordinator and the final speaker, came the charge to live worthy lives in the wake of sacrifice. “They gave every day,” he said. “Let us dare to be great.” 
     
    Near the ceremony’s end, silence settled as names were read. Each followed by the quiet nod of those who remembered.  The Gold Star isn’t a title anyone wants. It is a mark of tragedy transformed into honor. A blue star in a window becomes gold when a life is lost. But in that gold, there is something sacred—something eternal. 

    East High School ROTC Color Guard presents the colors while the East High School Choir Abby Petri and Kourtney Keller sing the National Anthem. Community members gather to honor Gold Star families during the 3rd Annual Honoring Our Veterans Memorial Day Joseph A. Padilla Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyoming, May 22, 2025. Gold Star families are those who have lost an immediate family member in military service—bearing the enduring weight of sacrifice and the legacy of their loved one’s courage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joseph Coslett Jr.)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 141-Unit Public Housing Development Completed in Troy

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the redeveloped John P. Taylor Apartments in the city of Troy. The new $67 million seven-story mixed-use building, developed by Pennrose, features 141 affordable apartments and ground floor retail space, replacing the complex’s two original towers which were demolished in 2022 after having been vacant for more than a decade. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has financed more than 1,300 affordable homes in Rensselaer County. The redevelopment of the John P. Taylor Apartments continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

    “The completion of the John P. Taylor Apartments is another step forward in our ongoing mission to create and preserve affordable housing opportunities for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “This complex demonstrates how important our investments are for communities like Troy. This comprehensive project delivers 141 modern, energy-efficient affordable homes and significant infrastructure improvements that support the city’s continued efforts to revitalize its downtown waterfront.”

    The redevelopment of the John P. Taylor Apartments was a priority of the Revitalize Riverside component of Troy’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which was awarded by the State in 2021. The Revitalize Riverside plan was designed to enhance Troy’s South Central neighborhood and is part of a comprehensive strategy to create commercial space, add new housing, restore Troy’s downtown street grid, and improve the Congress Street Bridge which serves as an important artery to several of the region’s major roadways.

    All units are supported by Project-based Section 8 vouchers issued by the Troy Housing Authority. Residents of the original John P. Taylor Apartments were given a preference for placement in the new apartments.

    The new building was constructed to meet EPA Energy Star Multifamily New Construction and Enterprise Green Communities PLUS criteria. The development utilizes advanced energy efficiency features including all-electric HVAC, increased insulation, and an energy recovery ventilation system.

    The John P. Taylor Apartments will offer an array of modern amenities for residents, including free Wi-Fi, washers and dryers in every apartment, and common areas such as a fitness center, community room, and outdoor patio.

    State financing includes Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generate $30 million in equity and $20 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The Department of State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative provided $1.6 million in support. The Federal Home Loan Bank provided $1.4 million.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Replacing aging public housing stock with modern homes and amenities is one of the most impactful ways to increase quality of life and make housing more affordable for families. This $67 million project, developed by Pennrose in partnership with the Troy Housing Authority, not only provides 141 new apartments but connects people to the city and further revitalizes Troy’s historic waterfront. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, HCR is proud to work alongside state and local partners to support efforts that are delivering thousands of affordable homes and improving affordability across New York.”

    New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The new Taylor Apartments are a major step towards Governor Hochul’s efforts to make New York more affordable and to create badly needed housing throughout our state. We are incredibly proud of how the Downtown Revitalization Initiative takes a holistic approach in creating opportunities for communities to thrive and for residents to have an affordable place to call home. Congratulations on this successful project completion.”

    U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said, “Every family in Troy deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit that I worked hard to protect and expand has delivered millions to build over 140 new homes at the John P. Taylor Apartments – a redeveloped waterfront building with energy-efficient air conditioning and ventilation systems. High housing costs are a key driver of inflation so we must build more housing for working people to bring down those high prices. I’m proud to have secured federal funding to raze the old, outdated and dilapidated Taylor towers, so that this wonderful new era at the Taylor Apartments could begin. I applaud Governor Hochul’s work increasing access to affordable housing in the Capital Region and across New York, and I will continue working to deliver federal resources to ensure that every New Yorker has a roof over their heads.”

    Assemblymember John McDonald said, “The redevelopment of the John P. Taylor Apartments is a great example of what can be accomplished when state and local partners work together to meet the needs of our communities. This project not only provides high-quality, affordable housing for families in Troy, but it also strengthens the city’s economy through smart, community-focused investment. I’m proud to support initiatives like this that enhance quality of life and create new opportunities for Capital Region residents.”

    Troy Mayor Carmella R. Mantello said, “The completion of the John P. Taylor Apartments marks a major milestone in our continued efforts to move Troy forward. This transformative redevelopment is made possible through the partnership of Pennrose, the Troy Housing Authority, and our city. It not only brings much-needed state of the art affordable housing to our downtown waterfront but also strengthens the connection between our neighborhoods and the Capital Region. Together, we are building a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous future for all who call Troy home.”

    Troy City Council President Sue Steele said, “It was a great honor for me to serve as Chair of the Troy Housing Authority Board of Commissioners during the planning, demolition and construction of Taylor 1. This project transformed our city’s downtown while also providing new, modern housing for tenants of the THA. On behalf of the board I want to thank each and everyone involved in making this a reality. I’m grateful for the combined vision of local, state and federal partners and Pennrose to step up and address a critical housing need in our city.”

    Troy Housing Authority Executive Director Deborah Witkowski said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul and our federal and state partners for their investment in the City of Troy and the new Taylor I building which provides 141 units of high-end affordable housing with modern-day amenities that encourage a healthy, sustainable environment for the residents we serve. The Taylor I building is only the beginning of the overall Taylor Apartments revitalization plan that will eventually include other mixed-use, mixed-income buildings with direct access to the riverfront, recreational areas, and a connection to Troy’s downtown district.”

    Pennrose Regional Vice President Dylan Salmons said, “Today’s ribbon cutting is a significant milestone in the years-long effort to revitalize the historic downtown, and we look forward to continuing the momentum with phase II. We’d especially like to thank the local community, neighborhood stakeholders, and residents of Taylor Apartments for their time, feedback, continued trust, and collaboration throughout this process.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY 2026 Enacted Budget included more than $1.5 billion in new state funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. In addition, as part of the FY 2023 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY 2025 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $750 million in discretionary funding. Currently, more than 300 communities have been certified, including Troy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Launch of New I Love NY Summer Tourism Camapign

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of I LOVE NY’s new integrated summer tourism and travel campaign, highlighted by two new ads running through August across New York State, and in traditional drive markets including Canada. This includes advertising across broadcast, streaming and social platforms, and showcases some of the attractions and activities available. The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY’s largest mobile marketing tour ever, and additional complementary travel industry efforts to promote visitation to the State’s 11 diverse vacation regions.

    “Tourism is synonymous with New York State, thanks to all of our amazing attractions, from beaches to high peaks, from the Erie Canal to iconic museums and performing arts venues,” Governor Hochul said. “This vital industry is facing challenging new political and economic headwinds. That’s why supporting our tourism industry is more important than ever, and why we are getting out the message that no matter where you’re from, you’re always welcome in New York State.”

    I LOVE NY’s multifaceted summer tourism campaign begins with two new ads featuring a new tagline – “New York State: Everything You Love.” – reflecting the depth and breadth of the world-class attractions and memory-making activities available in communities throughout the state. The new ads can be viewed here and www.iloveny.com/summer.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Tourism is crucial to New York State, supporting jobs and local economies, and we have so many incredible attractions ready to welcome visitors, from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point. This summer, New York wants to extend a special invitation to travelers from across America and all around the world: this is the perfect opportunity to plan a trip to celebrate history, explore our incredible landscapes, and enjoy all that our incredible state has to offer.”

    Empire State Development Division of Tourism Executive Director and Vice President Ross D. Levi said, “In addition to iconic attractions across our state’s eleven beautiful vacation regions, the next few months in New York hold special delights for travelers from near and far. Guests can look forward to special events commemorating the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, a summer of thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course headlined by the Belmont Stakes and Travers races, the Ryder Cup tournament at Bethpage golf course on Long Island, and food and fun at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse. The endless variety of activities shows that there truly is everything to love in New York State.”

    As part of this new campaign, I LOVE NY is extending a special invitation to international visitors – especially Canada, which represents New York’s largest inbound international market. International visitation is vital to New York State’s tourism economy. Historically, overseas visitors plan longer trips and produce more direct spending during their stays. New for this year’s campaign is a direct-to-consumer international marketing element in the United Kingdom and Australia, which includes digital billboards, plus streaming and digital advertising. I LOVE NY also continues to work with members of the travel trade industry, like tour operators and travel agents in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia through trade shows, sales missions and familiarization tours.

    The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY’s largest-ever mobile marketing tour with more than 40 stops throughout the Northeast. The mobile tour will make stops at popular events such as music festivals, street fairs and sporting events where guests can interact with fun experiences to learn more about the state’s attractions, win special I LOVE NY prizes, and take pictures with a large I LOVE NY logo sculpture.

    Under Governor Hochul, tourism is New York State’s second largest industry, supporting one in 10 jobs. Recently, more than 306.3 million travelers visited New York State, generating $88 billion in direct spending and a record-high economic impact of $137 billion. Each year, tourism spending saves the average New York State household $1,400 in taxes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Larsen Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

    Today, Rep. Rick Larsen announced the launch of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). The annual competition, which runs through Thursday, October 30, 2025, is open to high school and middle school students who live in or attend school in Washington state’s 2nd congressional district.

    Students can compete in the CAC by creating an application for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, or other devices such as robotics and wearable technology. The CAC accepts any programming language, including C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or “block code.”

    “The Congressional App Competition is an opportunity for students to show off their skills,” said Rep. Larsen, whose office has participated in the CAC every year since its founding. “Northwest Washington is a leader in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for young people, and I look forward to seeing the region’s STEM creativity and talent showcased in this year’s submissions.”

    Last year’s winner, Sydney Vo from Mariner High School in Everett, designed a website and app called AccessLink to help individuals experiencing homelessness connect with resources like shelters, food banks, and more.

    Students can sign up to participate and read the full competition rules at https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/students/student-registration/. Students have until 9:00 a.m. PST on Thursday, October 30, 2025, to register and enter, but CAC organizers recommend students register early to receive extra support and tips.

    Rep. Larsen will announce a district winner in December and invite the winner to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Science Fair in Washington, D.C. Winning apps will be electronically displayed in the U.S. Capitol and on the CAC’s house.gov website. 

    Students and STEM educators who want to learn more about the competition should reach out to Jessica Zuleta at Jessica.Zuleta@mail.house.gov or at (425) 252-3188.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Capture Fugitive Mother in California Following Multi-State Investigation

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Concord, NH – The United States Marshals Service District of New Hampshire (USMS D/NH) today announced the successful apprehension of fugitive Kristyanna Hall (31) by the USMS Central District of California (C/CA) Fugitive Task Force in Sherman Oaks, California. Hall had fled New Hampshire with her four children, defying court orders that required her to relinquish custody in early February.

    The arrest comes just six days after the children were safely recovered by the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement partners from a motel in Ontario, California, over fifty miles from where Hall was ultimately found.

    The Rochester Police Department initially requested assistance from the USMS D/NH on May 13, after developing credible leads that Hall and the children were in Murrieta, California. Leveraging its nationwide enforcement network and the expertise of its local partners, the United States Marshals Service-led team tracked the children from a residence in Murrieta to the motel in Ontario, where they were safely recovered.

    Subsequent intelligence and investigative efforts led the C/CA Fugitive Task Force to a facility on Valley Vista Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. Task Force Officers were granted entry and arrested Hall without incident. She is currently being held at the Van Nuys Jail on fugitive charges and will await extradition to New Hampshire.

    “This case demonstrates the strength of interagency cooperation and the commitment of the U.S. Marshals Service to safeguard our communities and protect vulnerable children,” said William R. Hart, Jr., United States Marshal for the District of New Hampshire. “Reuniting the children with their legal guardian last Thursday, and the arrest of Ms. Hall yesterday, marks the end to a months-long investigation that spanned thousands of miles, multiple jurisdictions, and required the undivided attention of many dedicated law enforcement professional that I am proud to work among.”

    The U.S. Marshals Service extends its thanks to the Rochester Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and multiple task force partners in California for their critical roles in this operation.

    The USMS New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force was formed in the fall of 2002 and is headquartered at the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse in Concord. The task force coordinates federal, state, county, and local resources to develop leads, gather intelligence, track and apprehend targeted fugitives. The Task Force receives vital support from Strafford, Merrimack and Rockingham Counties, as well as the cities of Manchester, Nashua and Concord. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Arkansas Private Nonprofits Affected by April Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Arkansas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding occurring April 2-22.

    The disaster declaration covers the Arkansas counties of Clark, Clay, Craighead, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Little River, Lonoke, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Pike, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone and Woodruff.

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature impacted by physical damages or financial losses directly related to the disaster are eligible to apply for both business physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

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

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low as 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA will set loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Missouri Private Nonprofits Affected by March Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Missouri affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires occurring March 14-15.

    The disaster declaration covers the Missouri counties of Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne.

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature impacted by physical damages or financial losses directly related to the disaster are eligible to apply for both business physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

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

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low as 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA will set loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 21, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Fight Trump’s Illegal Gutting of ENERGY STAR Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 28, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined 20 of their Senate colleagues to demand the Trump Administration immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In their letter, the Senators highlight the cost-saving benefits of the program, which is projected to save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products.
    “For over three decades, the ENERGY STAR program has lowered Americans’ energy bills by informing consumers about energy efficient products. The program has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under authority of Section 103 of the Clean Air Act, most recently receiving $35.7 million in fiscal year 2025 appropriations,” wrote the Senators. “Reporting has indicated, however, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate ENERGY STAR without Congressional approval. Not only is the program protected under federal statute and thus illegal for the Administration to terminate unilaterally, but this decision also lacks basic economic sense. We write to urge you to immediately reverse course.” 
    Since 1992, ENERGY STAR has reduced energy costs for American families and businesses by $500 billion, including $42 billion worth of savings in 2020 alone. For every federal dollar spent on ENERGY STAR, Americans have enjoyed $350 in savings.
    The Senators continued: “ENERGY STAR is the epitome of an effective public-private partnership. As the program’s administrators, EPA and the Department of Energy set qualifying energy efficiency standards for products. EPA also protects the integrity of the ENERGY STAR brand, ensuring it remains well-known, trusted, and indicative of a quality product. Appliance manufacturers then voluntarily display the ENERGY STAR label, notifying consumers that a product will reduce their energy consumption and lower utility bills. The program strengthens consumer choice by sharing critical product information.”
    Administered by the EPA and Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary, market-based program that has saved consumers billions of dollars annually. The ENERGY STAR program has cumulatively reduced four billion metric tons of harmful emissions and currently supports more than 790,000 American jobs manufacturing and installing ENERGY STAR products.
    “Eliminating the ENERGY STAR program will not only raise energy costs for American families and businesses, but also inflict far-reaching economic harms, threatening industry jobs and the reliability of the grid at a time of growing demand. We again urge you to immediately reconsider eliminating this popular and effective Congressionally authorized program,” the Senators concluded.
    ENERGY STAR is strongly supported by a wide array of manufacturers, homebuilders, housing organizations, building owners, small businesses, and other organizations. In April, the U.S. Real Estate Industry sent a letter to the Trump Administration expressing its strong support for the ENERGY STAR program. Additionally, the U.S. Green Buildings Council partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy in leading over 1,000 organizations in urging the Trump Administration to protect the program and maintain full funding and staffing levels.
    The letter was led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). In addition to Merkley and Wyden, the letter was signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
    Click here to read and download the full letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Norma Torres joins Rep. Nanette Barragán in Urging Trump Administration to Protect Head Start Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 28, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Norma Torres (CA-35) joined Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) in sending a letter to President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging them to safeguard federal funding for the Head Start program. The letter comes in response to alarming reports that the Trump Administration considered eliminating Head Start funding during recent federal budget discussions.

    “From Los Angeles County to the Central Valley to rural tribal lands, Head Start provides comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to children who are disproportionately impacted by poverty and housing instability,” wrote the members. “These essential services support our state’s economy by allowing parents to work and go to school, while giving our future workforce the strong start that they need to be successful later in life.”

    California is home to one of the largest populations of Head Start children in the nation. In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, Head Start and Early Head Start programs served more than 94,000 children across the state. These programs offer critical support to children by integrating early education with health, nutrition, and family services—providing targeted support to those experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequities.

    “The elimination or reduction of Head Start funding would be catastrophic,” the letter states. “In California, it would shut the doors of 1,835 Head Start and Early Head Start Centers and eliminate access to early education for tens of thousands of children—disproportionately children of color, English learners, children with disabilities, and those living in low-income and rural communities.”

    Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has served over 40 million children and families nationwide. Decades of research confirm that the program improves school readiness, boosts long-term academic and employment outcomes, and helps break the cycle of poverty.

    “Head Start is not optional—it is a national commitment that must be honored,” the members added. “I will continue fighting to protect this vital investment in our children’s futures.”

    The letter was co-signed by each of the 45 Democratic members of the California Congressional Delegation: Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Pete Aguilar, Nancy Pelosi, Robert Garcia, Linda Sánchez, John Garamendi, Kevin Mullin, Mark Takano, Ted Lieu, Julia Brownley, Maxine Waters, Laura Friedman, J. Luis Correa, Ro Khanna, Mike Thompson, Mark DeSaulnier, Juan Vargas, Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr., Judy Chu, Derek Tran, Raul Ruiz, Jared Huffman, Doris Matsui, Salud Carbajal, Brad Sherman, Ami Bera, Jimmy Panetta, Zoe Lofgren, Eric Swalwell, Lateefah Simon, Dave Min, Jimmy Gomez, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jim Costa, George Whitesides, Luz Rivas, Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, Josh Harder, Adam Gray, Mike Levin, and Sam Liccardo.

    The full letter can be found here and below:

    President Trump and Secretary Kennedy:

    We write today to express serious concern over reports that your Administration considered proposals to eliminate federal funding for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Head Start program in recent budget discussions. While we are relieved that the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Fiscal Year 2026 proposal did not include this cut, that such an action was even contemplated underscores the vulnerability of this vital program under your Administration. As members of the California Congressional Delegation, we urge you to safeguard this critical program, which plays an irreplaceable role in supporting California’s children and families, especially those facing economic hardship and systemic barriers.

    California is home to one of the largest populations of Head Start children in the nation. In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, more than 94,000 children and pregnant women in California were served by Head Start and Early Head Start programs.[1] These services are not just beneficial—they are essential. From Los Angeles County to the Central Valley to rural tribal lands, Head Start provides comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to children who are disproportionately impacted by poverty and housing instability. These essential services support our state’s economy by allowing parents to work and go to school, while giving our future workforce the strong start that they need to be successful later in life.

    Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has supported more than 40 million children and their families nationwide—and millions in California alone.[2] Research continues to confirm what educators and parents have long known: Head Start works. It boosts school readiness, improves long-term academic outcomes, increases high school graduation and employment rates, and helps break cycles of generational poverty.

    The elimination or reduction of Head Start funding would be catastrophic. In California, it would shut the doors of 1,835 Head Start and Early Head Start Centers and eliminate access to early education for tens of thousands of children—disproportionately children of color, English learners, children with disabilities, and those living in low-income and rural communities.[3] Thousands of parents would also lose their ability to go to work or school, and otherwise participate in the economy.

    Head Start is not optional—it is a national commitment that must be honored. For these reasons, we urge you to reject any future attempts to weaken or eliminate this program and to ensure its continued success for the children and families who rely on it every day.

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    MIL OSI USA News –