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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Hudson Statement on the Passage of Energy and Commerce Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) released the following statement after the Committee on Energy and Commerce passed President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. 

    “After almost thirty hours of debate, I am proud to join my Republican colleagues in passing the Energy and Commerce Committee’s part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.” said Rep. Hudson. “This bill delivers on our promise of protecting the vulnerable, cutting wasteful spending, and renewing the middle-class tax cuts that effect every working family in America and fuel good jobs here at home. Our bill strengthens Medicaid by ending fraud and stopping handouts to illegal immigrants. We’re reining in Biden’s woke, reckless climate agenda, refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve depleted during the Biden Administration, and eliminating onerous regulations that threaten prosperity for you and your family. As Telecom Subcommittee Chair, I worked with my colleagues to raise $88 billion through spectrum auctions while protecting our defense and national security interests. This is about protecting hardworking families, restoring sanity to Washington, and putting America first.”

    

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Hudson, Pfluger, Balderson Lead Bill to Stop Flawed Social Cost of Energy from Driving Burdensome Regulations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), along with Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) and RSC House Energy Action Team Chairman (HEAT) Troy Balderson (OH-12), introduced the Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulation Act in the House and Senator James Lankford (OK) introduced the legislation in the Senate. This bill would prohibit the federal government from using the flawed social cost of carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, or any other greenhouse gas metric in the rulemaking process.

    “The Biden-Harris Administration used every tool at their disposal to advance their radical green agenda. My bill ensures that going forward, no Administration can use inaccurate, unreliable standards to pass dangerous regulations,” said Rep. Hudson.

    “For too long, unelected bureaucrats have relied upon biased and flawed research to wage war against American energy producers. To unleash a new era of American energy dominance, we must rein in onerous regulations that hamstring our economy. I thank Representative Hudson, Senator Lankford, and RSC HEAT Chair Balderson for leading this effort to get rid of ‘social cost of carbon’ estimates once and for all,” said RSC Chairman Pfluger.

    “As Administrator Zeldin noted last month in his historic deregulatory announcement, social cost of carbon hurts the United States’ global competitiveness and increases our reliance on foreign energy producers. I applaud Representative Hudson and Senator Lankford for leading this important bill,” said RSC HEAT Chairman Balderson.

    “Under President Trump, American energy dominance is back, and states like Oklahoma are fueling the charge,” said Sen. Lankford. “This bill pushes back on the Biden Administration’s war on American energy producers by ensuring federal rulemaking is grounded in facts—not flawed models or political agendas. It’s a necessary step to restore transparency, rein in government overreach, and keep American energy competitive.”

    Read the full text of the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Meeks Introduces Bill to Block Foreign-Gifted Luxury Jet to President Trump

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today introduced legislation to prohibit President Donald J. Trump, or any future president, from accepting a luxury aircraft reportedly offered by the government of Qatar. The bill aims to uphold constitutional safeguards against undue foreign influence. The legislation makes clear that such a gift is unacceptable, whether intended for his personal use, while in or out of office, or as a donation to the Trump Presidential Library. The bill reinforces long-standing constitutional principles that prohibit presidents from accepting gifts or titles from foreign governments without congressional consent. It also addresses a broader concern over foreign influence and the erosion of ethical norms surrounding the conduct of the president of the United States. 

    A PDF of the legislation is available here.

    “This is not just about one plane or one president, it’s about drawing a firm line against the appearance—or reality—of foreign governments currying favor by providing a free luxury jet to the President of the United States. Beyond the clear corruption and influence peddling on display, retrofitting this luxury plane to serve as Air Force 1 would be an enormous expense on U.S. taxpayers – estimated as much as $1 billion dollars – and would likely only be completed in time to be placed in Trump’s Presidential Library. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for Trump’s personal palace in the sky, especially as this administration cuts vital programs in the name of cost-cutting and asks American families to face the consequences of his trade war.  

    “Our national interest must never take a back seat to personal indulgence or foreign flattery. This legislation is a clear statement that the integrity of our democracy is not for sale—on the runway or anywhere else.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Recognizes Outstanding High School Students at Spring Awards Ceremony

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced the recipients of the Congressional Award, this year’s U.S. Service Academy nominees, and the winners of the 2025 Sixth Congressional District High School Arts Competition at an awards ceremony. 

    Pallone also announced the winners of the Congressional App Challenge and the winners of the tenth-annual Poetry Showcase. Students representing multiple local schools were honored at a reception at Middlesex College. 

    Pallone honored the 2025 recipients of the Congressional Award. Created by his predecessor, the late U.S. Rep. Jim Howard, the Congressional Award recognizes the initiative, achievement, and volunteer services of young people. The recipients include:

    Bronze Congressional Award Recipients:

    • Brody Gray, Rumson
    • Nyla Martin, Rumson
    • Timothy McCooey, Rumson

    Silver Congressional Award Recipients:

    • Hunter Barrett, Rumson
    • Aditya Herekar, Edison
    • Mahi Mahitcha, Edison
    • Ethan Poon, Edison

    Gold Congressional Award Recipients:

    • Suhani Sengupta, Edison

    “The Congressional Award is given to individuals whose accomplishments and dedication to their communities exemplifies the best qualities of the future,” Pallone said. “I’m proud to award this honor to this year’s recipients, and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.” 

    The New Jersey Congressman also honored the candidates he nominated to the U.S. Service Academies. The nominees include:

    U.S. Air Force Academy

    • Brody Cannan, Sayreville War Memorial High School
    • Jackson Gervais, Christian Brothers Academy
    • Cole Pangborn, Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School
    • Satyam Shah, Northwestern Preparatory School
    • Sanjna Thoguru, Rutgers Preparatory School
    • Brandon Trivino, Saint Joseph High School

    U.S. Naval Academy                                      

    • Carter Braun, Marine Academy of Science and Technology
    • Thomas Clark, Marine Academy of Science and Technology
    • Ryan Miller, Middletown High School North
    • Sanjna Thoguru, Rutgers Preparatory School
    • Brandon Trivino, Saint Joseph High School
    • Caitlin Williams, Trinity Hall

    U.S. Military Academy at West Point

    • Tyler Boelhower, Woodbridge High School
    • Carter Braun, Marine Academy of Science and Technology
    • Max Fredericks, Keyport High School
    • Reed Kerstetter, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
    • Ryan Miller, Middletown High School North
    • Hannah Nitka, High Technology High School
    • Kyle Pear, South Plainfield High School
    • Cassidy Robertson, Saint Rose High School
    • Brandon Trivino, Saint Joseph High School

    U.S. Merchant Marine Academy                  

    • Owen Bradford, Spotswood High School
    • Carter Braun, Marine Academy of Science and Technology
    • Robert Gallagher, Arthur L. Johnson High School
    • Reed Kerstetter, St. Thomas Aquinas High School
    • Ryan Miller, Middletown High School North
    • Brandon Trivino, Saint Joseph High School
    • Jacob Weir, Seneca High School

    “The value of military service to our nation cannot be overstated, and I am proud of the commitment that these nominees have shown to serving their country,” said Pallone. “These nominees showed outstanding academic and extra-curricular achievements, leadership, and motivation in serving our country. Our nation’s service academies are some of the highest caliber institutions that are committed to graduating leaders of character, honor, and integrity. New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District is home to so many bright and qualified students. I wish all of the nominees the very best of luck in the future and thank them for their willingness to serve.”

    Young artists from various schools in Middlesex and Monmouth counties participated in this year’s art competition. Local judges chose first, second and third place winners. They also awarded 15 honorable mentions. The first-place winner, Sylphania Njoku, will have her artwork displayed for the next year in the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.  

    Congressional Art Competition Winners:

    First Place: Sylphania Njoku, Piscataway High School

    Second Place: Emily Hsu, John P. Stevens High School

    Third Place: Elizabeth Poole, Piscataway High School

    Honorable Mentions: 

    • Shruthika Adaki, John P. Stevens High School
    • Mishti Bajaj, John P. Stevens High School
    • Gabriel DeJesus, Sayreville War Memorial High School
    • Yoskar Deleon, Perth Amboy High School
    • Julia Liu, John P. Stevens High School
    • Aaliyah Matias, Perth Amboy High School
    • Chasity McNamara, Edison High School
    • Haley Norris, Red Bank Regional High School
    • Ash Peña Martinez, Red Bank Regional High School
    • Gabrielle Petit-Homme, Piscataway High School
    • Patrick Powers, Raritan High School
    • Sofia Rojas, Piscataway High School
    • Mia Vargas, East Brunswick Magnet School
    • Ava Wallenstein, Sayreville War Memorial High School
    • Alexander Zayas, Perth Amboy High School

    “I have long believed that Congress should play a major role in encouraging interest in the arts,” Pallone said. “This competition provides a forum to help the aspiring young artists of our area gain recognition and exposure. Young artists can gain confidence in themselves and their abilities by displaying their work and having it evaluated by knowledgeable judges.”

    Pallone also announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. The competition encourages students to explore STEM education and highlights the value of computer science.

    First Place: Ekya Dogra, Sahil Ghosh and Adithiya Venkatakrishnan, all from Edison Academy Magnet School, with the app RADR: Rapid Amber Detection Response, which is an initiative to enhance amber alerts & assist in child abduction cases.  The core mission is to provide a faster, more efficient way of not just tracking abducted children, but any suspected vehicles supplementing law enforcement officers with autonomous technology. 

    Second Place: Ishaan Kunwar from Edison High School with the app CataSight, which aims to detect cataracts in fundus images, which are images of the back of the eye taken with an ophthalmoscope (fundus camera), using a machine learning approach that involves a Multilayer Perceptron Layer (MLP) model. The web app, developed using Streamlit, allows users to upload a fundus image and receive a diagnosis of “Cataract” or “Normal,” along with the probability of the prediction, which is out of 1 and rounded to the nearest 2 decimal places.

    Third Place: Neerav Gupta from John P. Stevens High School, with the app Symptix, an innovative app designed to assist users in navigating healthcare information and making informed decisions about their health. At its core, Symptix leverages cutting-edge AI technology to provide fast and reliable medical guidance based on user input. One of the key features of the app is an AI-powered chatbot, powered by the Gemini 1.0 pro model, which allows users to input their symptoms and receive an instant diagnosis. 

    “The Congressional App Challenge is an important platform for students to showcase their skills in programming and computer science while supporting the next generation’s interest in STEM subjects. I will continue to support investments in STEM education so that our country remains at the forefront of innovation and research. I congratulate this year’s winners and encourage everyone who has an idea to submit it for the competition next year,” said Pallone.

    Finally, Pallone announced the winners of the tenth-annual Poetry Showcase. The Poetry Showcase coincides with National Poetry Month, which is celebrated during the month of April. The showcase allows students of all ages to express themselves in writing under one of three thematic categories: civic engagement, the environment, and social justice. 

    “The Poetry Showcase is a wonderful opportunity for students of all ages to express themselves in writing while exploring themes that I believe resonate with their community,” Pallone concluded. “This year, we received over 600 submissions, which is a testament to our students’ dedication to literature and language. I want to thank everyone who participated and commend them for their commitment to this literary art.” 

    Category: Civic Engagement

    • Harshikha Anumala, Oak Tree Road School (Woodbridge) (Grades K-5)
    • Ameirah Gordon, Assumption Catholic School (Perth Amboy) (Grades 6-8)
    • Libby Peckman, Highland Park High School (Grades 9-12)

    Category: Environment 

    • Samantha Rybakov, Alan B. Shepard Elementary School (Old Bridge) (Grades K-5)
    • Sujena Maheshwaran Subashini, Thomas Jefferson Middle School (Edison) (Grades 6-8)
    • Alexander Poon, Edison Academy Magnet School (Grades 9-12)

    Category: Social Justice

    • Sophia Santos, South Amboy Elementary School (Grades K-5)
    • Scarlett Garcia, Carteret Junior High School (Grades 6-8)
    • Haniya Arif, Piscataway High School (Grades 9-12)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Adriano Espaillat Leads AI Leadership Roundtable on Equity, Access, and Opportunity 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement on the introduction of his bill, H.R. 3210 – the Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Inclusion Act, co-led by Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Ted Lieu (CA-39). The bill aims to close the AI literacy gap—particularly among Latino, Black, AAPI, and underserved populations and would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide grant funding awards to K-12 schools, nonprofits, and other organizations to promote AI literacy and foster inclusive participation. 

    The full text of the legislation can be found HERE. 

    “We have to meet communities where they are—students, working moms, seniors—and build from the ground up. That means making AI education and literacy as fundamental as reading, writing, and math,” said Congressman Espaillat. “My legislation puts AI directly into the curriculum of our schools and our workforce development programs to ensure everyone—no matter their zip code—has the opportunity to understand and succeed in a tech-driven future. If we don’t act now, we risk widening the digital divide and locking entire communities out of the economy of tomorrow.”
     

    “Artificial intelligence has opened a world of possibilities, and it is critical we prepare the next generation of workers with the skills to harness this technology,” Congressman Lieu said. “We’re investing in our country’s future when we ensure students of all backgrounds can learn about artificial intelligence and how to use it. I’m pleased to join Reps. Espaillat and Clarke in introducing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy and Inclusion Act to help close the AI literacy gap among students, particularly those in Latino, Black, AANHPI, and underserved communities.”

    “As Artificial Intelligence technologies continue to grow more effective in their capabilities and more ubiquitous in our communities, ensuring America’s diverse and underserved students are not left behind by the widening AI literacy gap must be a priority. Positioning our nation to thrive in this exciting new technological era means empowering our brightest, most talented young people with the skills and education they need to thrive, no matter their background. I’m proud to support this initiative that will meaningfully bridge the digital divide and ensure every young person can seize the opportunities AI provides,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

    Earlier this week, Espaillat, as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), in collaboration with Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Clarke and House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Lieu, hosted a Congressional AI Leadership Roundtable: Looking Ahead 2025.  

    The discussion featured AIandYou and focused on ensuring equitable access, AI literacy, education, and opportunity as artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the global economy. During the discussion, the Tri-Caucus leaders emphasized the urgency of preparing Latino and other historically excluded communities for the future of work. 

    Click here to view photos from the latest AI roundtable series. 

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    Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. 

    Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Espaillat and Díaz-Balart Reintroduce Bipartisan E-Waste Legislation for the 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

    The Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act (SEERA) Strengthens National Security by Halting the Export of Electronic Waste to High-Risk Foreign Entities

    WASHINGTON, DC – The ongoing national security concerns related to the United States’ unchecked export of electronic waste (“e-waste”)—such as old cell phones, computers, servers, and other gadgets—have prompted Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) to reintroduce the Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act (SEERA). 

    The bill would curb the flow of U.S. e-waste to foreign nations, which is on track to reach over 80 million tons by 2030. Upon its arrival in foreign nations, U.S. e-waste is frequently discarded in ways that are environmentally destructive, unlawfully turned into counterfeit electronics, or insufficiently refurbished electronics products that are then resold as new. Concerningly, these counterfeit and unsafe electronics are often then resold to buyers in the United States, where the faulty materials can make their way into critical U.S. military equipment.

    “As technology evolves faster than ever, so does the volume of electronic waste generated in the U.S.—waste that, if not properly managed, can pose serious risks to our national security and the environment,” said Rep. Espaillat. “Today, unregulated actors around the world continue to exploit U.S. e-waste to manufacture counterfeit electronics, some of which re-enter the global supply chain and threaten consumer safety, cybersecurity, and intellectual property. Proper e-waste recycling isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a national security imperative. SEERA addresses this urgent need by keeping sensitive materials out of the wrong hands, supporting climate goals, and creating thousands of American jobs through secure, domestic recycling infrastructure.” 

    “As we work to free America from unfair and hostile trade practices, the enactment of SEERA would be an important step in that direction–strengthening our national security against China and protecting our future. Proper handling of electronic waste ensures our critical data and infrastructure remain protected and that dangerous materials are handled responsibly. Importantly, it would set requirements for the recycling of these products to be done domestically while creating new jobs. Passing this legislation will fortify and reinforce our national security as well as our future,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.
     

    “The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER) is most appreciative of the leadership of Rep. Espaillat and Rep. Diaz-Balart in introducing this important bipartisan legislation to limit untested, nonworking e-scrap exports,” said Bob Houghton, CEO of Sage Sustainable Electronics and CAER Executive Committee member. “Under SEERA, our industry will play an integral role to address National Security concerns, further develop a domestic source of rare earth and critical minerals, and create up to 42,000 good paying jobs here in the United States.”

    The Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act prohibits the export of specified e-waste and outlines the process for the registration and compliance of export declarations and for the disposal of electronic waste in the United States.

    Click here to read this SEERA legislation in its entirety.

      
     

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    Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. 

    Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quigley Concludes Trip to Texas Primate Facilities, Introduces Bipartisan “Captive Primate Safety Act”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    Quigley and lawmakers introduced the bill to ban the private ownership of primates like chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs, bolstering public safety and animal welfare.

    Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) concluded a trip to Texas to visit the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary and the San Antonio Zoo, following his introduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Nancy Mace (SC-01) earlier this week.

    “Monkeys and apes belong in the wild—not in living rooms. This bill will ban private possession of these animals, ensuring that we are safe and primates are able to live freely,” said Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. “As the lead sponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act which was later signed into law, I’m proud to sponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act to advance the same protections for primates.”

    Signed into law in 2022, Quigley’s Big Cat Public Safety Act banned the private ownership and breeding of big cats including lions, tigers, and pumas. Similarly, the bipartisan Captive Primate Safety Act  will ban private ownership of non-human primates like chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. The bill will also prohibit interstate or foreign commerce of these animals, further preventing people from having them as pets. Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) also introduced this legislation in the Senate.

    “Primates are intelligent and social creatures. But when primates are kept as pets—in captivity and restrained—they can become highly unpredictable and dangerous,” Senator Blumenthal (CT). “Wild animals belong in the wild, and this legislation ends the inhumane exploitation of these animals as pets—protecting both people and primates.”

    “Private ownership of primates is a dangerous and outdated practice that puts both animals and communities at risk,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-01). “As a Co-Chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I’m taking action to put an end to this cruelty and close the legal gaps that allow it to continue. The Captive Primate Safety Act will ban the unlicensed trade and private possession of primates—reducing the threat of disease, preventing future tragedies, and ensuring these intelligent animals are no longer subjected to neglect and abuse. It’s time to get this done.”

    “Your family shouldn’t have to worry about wild monkeys next door. When reckless owners treat primates like pets, it’s law enforcement, taxpayers, and innocent families who pay the price,”  said Congresswoman Mace (SC-01). “The Captive Primate Safety Act  is simple: protect the public, protect law enforcement, and stop this dangerous trend before someone else gets hurt.”

    “Too many times, our sanctuary team has received frantic phone calls from primate pet owners desperate for us to help them. They purchase a monkey when they are just a few weeks old and have no idea that this small, vulnerable animal will soon become a dangerous risk to them and their families,” said Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA. “When the monkey reaches adolescence, the owners start to see instances of aggression – a natural behavior in monkeys – and these instances often escalate to the point of someone being seriously harmed. It is then that a sanctuary is called in to take on the monkey, as the owner realizes that they have made a mistake. Law enforcement is not trained to deal with these animals. This puts their staff in danger when they find illegally kept primates, or it means that confiscation is simply not possible for lack of somewhere for the monkeys to go. Given the dangers posed by primates to humans – including injury and disease transmission – forcing law enforcement agencies to take responsibility for the fallout of the primate pet trade is unacceptable.”

    “Primates are highly intelligent, social animals with complex needs that cannot be met in private homes,” said Allison Ludtke, legislative affairs manager at the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “The reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act offers a federal solution that is needed to end the trade of nonhuman primates as ‘pets’ in the U.S., instead of the current patchwork of laws that fail to fully address this issue. Keeping nonhuman primates as pets not only causes immense suffering for the animals but also puts the public at serious risk — resulting in injuries, physical and emotional trauma, and costly emergency responses from law enforcement who are unfairly put in the position of managing dangerous wild animals. ALDF applauds Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Quigley, Congressman Fitzpatrick, Congresswoman Mace, and Congresswoman Brownley for their leadership on this impactful and common sense legislation.”

    “Primates are wild animals, not pets or playthings” said Susan Millward, CEO and executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute. “Primates have natural instincts that can make them aggressive and unpredictable toward humans, and nobody wins when they’re kept inside a home. These animals suffer permanent physical and mental trauma when they are mutilated, isolated, caged, and malnourished. The Captive Primate Safety Act would protect primates from a lifetime of cruelty.”

    “Primates are not pets and the primate pet trade is a risk to human health, individual animal wellbeing, and fuels the illegal wildlife trade,” said Lincoln Park Zoo President & CEO Megan Ross, Ph.D. “The Captive Primate Safety Act not only ends the now-legal pet trade, but will protect these cognitively advanced animals.”

    To read the full text of the Captive Primate Safety Act, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly on Released American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

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

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after Hamas released American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander:

    “Edan Alexander is returning home after more than 19 months in brutal captivity by Hamas. I’m thinking of Edan and his family as they begin to recover and heal from unimaginable pain.

    “I urge for the continued release of all hostages, including the remains of four Americans to provide families with closure. We must secure a lasting peace in Gaza for Palestinians, Israelis and the Middle East region.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI BLASTS REPUBLICANS’ EFFORTS TO GUT MEDICAID DURING OPENING REMARKS AT ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE RECONCILIATION MARKUP

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), delivered the following opening remarks at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from millions of Americans. 

    A video of her remarks is available HERE. 

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  

      

    This committee wields immense power when it comes to reconciliation – and in the past we’ve used that power to deliver real results.   

      

    We expanded health care through the Affordable Care Act. We rescued the economy during COVID. We lowered drug costs. We made bold investments in clean energy and climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. 

      

    Tangible. Positive. Impact.  

      

    But that’s not what we’re doing today.  

      

    Today, my Republican colleagues are trying to ram through a bill that would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.  

      

    Let’s be honest about what is happening. No matter what Republicans say, there is no if about it – benefits will be cut.  

      

    And I’ve seen this playbook before.  

      

    Fifteen years ago – in this room – we debated and passed the Affordable Care Act.  

      

    I’ll never forget the passionate advocates who filled this room then – and how Republicans looked them in the eyes and voted against a bill that would provide them lifesaving health care.  

      

    Then I watched as Republicans tried again and again to repeal the ACA. And I fought back every time. And I will fight back just as hard today. 

      

    Because Republicans can choose to callously ignore the facts – but the impact in each of our communities is real and plain to see.  

      

    Cuts to Medicaid mean denying care to the most vulnerable among us: seniors in nursing homes, cancer patients, people with disabilities, and kids. 

      

    Kids like Sam. 

      

    Sam is 13 years old. He has Down syndrome, autism, and a severe speech disorder. And thanks to Medicaid—Sam is living a safe, supported, and dignified life. 

      

    Medicaid covers his in-home supportive services so Sam can live at home with his family—not in an institution. It provides Sam with services to help him build toward greater independence.  

      

    Sam’s mom said it best: “Disability rights are human rights. Medicaid is what allows Sam to live a life of dignity, with his rights intact.” 

      

    If this bill passes, those rights will be rolled back. The support that helps millions of families like Sam’s will be ripped away. 

     

    Today, we will hear Republicans try to defend their bill. They’ll tell us their cruel policies exempt kids like Sam, and pretend that they’re reinvesting in services to support him. 

    But that’s simply not true. 

    This bill cuts around $800 billion dollars from our health care safety net. It rips massive holes in states’ budgets – that are near impossible to fill. It sets devious paperwork traps to force families like Sam’s to jump through hoops to keep coverage.

    The math is clear. $800 billion dollars gouged out of our health system means $800 billion dollars less care to go around. 

    With this bill Republicans are choosing to rip away health care and abandon the American people. All to pay for temporary tax cuts for the wealthy, and to keep fueling corporate greed that’s making life harder for everyday Americans. 

     

    I’m here to fight for those Americans. And I’ll be here as long as it takes.  

    I yield back.  

                                                   

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aderholt Applauds Inclusion of Adoption Tax Credit Refundability in Budget Reconciliation Package

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Co-Chair of the Congressional Adoption Caucus and Chairman of the House VAT (Values Action Team), today announced a key milestone in ongoing efforts to support adoptive families: the inclusion of Adoption Tax Credit refundability in the House Ways and Means Committee’s reconciliation framework, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

    “One of our top priorities in reconciliation this year was providing families with a refundable Adoption Tax Credit,” said Congressman Aderholt. “I’m pleased to report that the Committee has included this much-needed provision in the draft package—a refundable amount of up to $5,000 for adoption expenses, indexed for inflation.”

    In March of 2025, the Congressman led the letter to House and Ways & Means Committee leadership urging inclusion of a refundable adoption credit in reconciliation.

    “For too long, the nonrefundable nature of the credit has limited its reach, particularly for working- and middle-class families who may not owe enough in taxes to use the full amount,” Aderholt continued. “Refundability means more children can be welcomed into permanent homes, and more families can say yes to adoption without being held back by financial constraints. I’m proud to see Republicans put families first in this year’s Budget Reconciliation.”

    As an original co-sponsor of H.R.2833 – Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025, Congressman Aderholt has consistently led bipartisan efforts to make adoption more accessible.

    “As Adoption Caucus Chairman and a longtime advocate for children and families, this is personal,” Aderholt said. “Making adoption more affordable is both morally right and fiscally responsible. Every child who moves from foster care into a forever home saves taxpayer dollars and gains a stable, loving environment.”

    Group Support: National Right to Life; Concerned Women for America; Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; March for Life Action; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; Students for Life Action; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Americans United for Life; Lifeline Children’s Services

    Though the bill has not yet passed, Congressman Aderholt remains committed to ensuring the refundability language remains intact as the reconciliation process moves forward.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts Nampa Man of Attempting to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOISE – After a three-day trial, a federal jury sitting in Boise found William Walls, 52, of Nampa, guilty of three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill presided over the trial, which began on May 12, and concluded with guilty verdicts on May 14.

    According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Walls used his cellphone to surreptitiously record three female children in the bathroom of his apartment. Walls was babysitting the victims at the time. The video captured one of the children showering and the other two children changing their clothes.

    The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of a child carries a minimum of fifteen years and up to life in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years and up to lifetime of supervised release. Walls will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction.

    Sentencing is set for July 31, 2025, before Judge Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the Nampa Police Department for a thorough and professional investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Erin Blackadar prosecuted the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Strengthens Legal Protections for Elderly

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — Seven Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Supreme People’s Court, have issued guidelines to improve legal services and protect the elderly.

    As China’s population ages, with more than 310 million people aged 60 and above, the move aims to address controversies surrounding the elderly and create a favourable social environment for the group.

    One of the key elements of the document is the improvement of infrastructure for unimpeded access of elderly people to judicial bodies and the improvement of the quality of services provided by them. In addition, the document provides for the provision of specialized services, such as preliminary court proceedings and the provision of these services at home.

    The recommendations also call for tougher penalties for crimes targeting older people, including fraud, theft and extortion, as well as attacks on their property rights under the guise of providing care services. They also focus on early risk prevention in areas such as inheritance disputes, elderly care, financial management and health-related products.

    To better protect vulnerable groups, the document proposes to remove income restrictions for older people seeking legal aid in cases of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.

    It also expands the reach of legal aid to include older people living alone, those with disabilities and those suffering from dementia. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing authorities to issue 20,000 license plates to carless families

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) — The Beijing Municipal People’s Government has decided to provide 20,000 additional license plates for new energy vehicles (NEVs), on top of the 40,000 license plates it allocated in January this year, aiming to further meet the transportation needs of car-less families, local authorities announced Friday.

    In 2025, the total quota for passenger car license plates in Beijing will be 160,000 units. This figure includes 100,000 units under the annual quota system and another 60,000 new license plates for NIE. According to the Beijing Transportation Bureau, the additional license plates are exclusively for NIE.

    The measure will bring the number of electric vehicle license plates provided to car-free families this year to 118,400, the department said.

    Starting from May 26, households that applied for a license plate can enter the city’s special points-based lottery system to check their ranking. Once verified, households will receive a certificate of confirmation of receipt of a license plate quota, which will be valid for 12 months.

    Beijing authorities have taken various measures to combat traffic congestion and air pollution, including introducing a lottery system for license plates for internal combustion engine vehicles in 2011 and allocating quotas for license plates for electric vehicles a few years later. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on the Passing of Former Missouri Governor and Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the passing of former Missouri Governor and Senator Christopher S. “Kit” Bond.

    “Kit Bond was a superb statesman, an exemplary public servant, and a dear friend to myself and Missourians across the Show Me State. From his time as State Auditor to his stewardship of Missouri as Governor, and eventually as Missouri’s Senator in Washington, Kit was the kind of elected official that every Missourian could be proud to call their representative; I know I was.  

    “Having come from the small town of Mexico, Missouri, Kit would go on to graduate top of his class in law school and use his brilliant legal mind to clerk for the Chief Judge on the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He was the epitome of the American Dream and what is possible through hard work and perseverance. While he could have stayed in Washington, D.C. to pursue a lucrative career in law, his love for Missouri and passion for public service were a magnetic force that brought him back home. 

    “As a City Councilman and then Mayor, I had the privilege of working with Governor-turned-Senator Bond on numerous projects to the benefit of Kansas City and those who reside in our community. From the Charles E. Whittaker Federal Courthouse to the National World War I Museum and Memorial, as well as the redevelopment of 18th & Vine and the construction of the Christopher S. Bond Bridge, one cannot walk around our community without experiencing the important work of Kit Bond – and every Kansas Citian should be grateful for his willingness to seek common ground and work across the aisle to make each of them possible.”

    “With time, our professional relationship grew into a profound friendship that I will cherish forever. It is with deep sadness that I say farewell to a true friend, and I extend my deepest condolences to the entire Bond family as they grieve this colossal loss. May every Missourian take a moment to give thanks to this Missouri hero, and may his memory be a blessing to all.”

    ###

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott: Republican Budget is a Big, Bad Bill

    Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: Scott: Republican Budget is a Big, Bad Bill

    WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) delivered the following statement at the House Budget Committee’s failed markup of Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, H. Con. Res. 14, President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”:  
     

     

    “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s hard to take my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seriously when they come here and give speech after speech after speech, complaining about the deficit and then support this reconciliation plan that INCREASES the deficit. But this should not come as a surprise because every single Democratic president and presidential administration since Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than the one they inherited. And every single Republican presidential administration since Nixon has left a WORSE deficit situation for the Democrats than the one they inherited. All without exception. 

    “So here we go again. A Republican president following a Democratic president. The Republicans are here to make speeches about deficits and debts, and then again set to increase the deficit and national debt just like clockwork. So, the reason we have all this debt is because Democrats have not been able to clean up the Republican messes as quickly as they make them.

    “This bill not only increases the deficit, it makes working families pay a price. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, I am particularly outraged Republicans want to fund tax cuts for corporations and billionaires by making cuts in educational and nutritional programs. This bill uses taxpayers’ money to take resources from public schools, which serve 90% of students, and divert them to private schools. The bill also harms children’s access to school meal programs and makes it harder for students to afford a college education. 

    “So, there’s nothing fiscally responsible about this budget and working families and middle-class families will pay the price.

    “Programs that keep kids, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities from going hungry and ensure that students receive a quality education should not be on the chopping block. And after weeks of statements from Republican members that the budget they voted for twice does not cut Medicaid, this bill will rip away health care away from millions of Americans using Medicaid and makes health care more expensive for everyone else.

    “This Big, Bad Bill is a collection of bad policies. It kicks millions of people off their health care, threatens food security for millions of families, makes it harder for students to afford education, and diverts taxpayer resources from public schools. It does all of this to give corporations and wealthy billionaires a tax cut and then it makes our debt worse. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this legislation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports Relaunches, Co-Chaired by Reps. Marc Veasey and Jake Ellzey

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports Relaunches, Co-Chaired by Reps. Marc Veasey and Jake Ellzey

    Washington, D.C. – May 16, 2025 – Yesterday, Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Jake Ellzey (R-TX) announced the official resurrection of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports, reaffirming Congress’s commitment to expanding access and increasing youth sports participation to communities across the nation.

    The caucus, co-chaired by Reps.Veasey and Ellzey, will bring together lawmakers to address the challenges facing our nation’s youth, including youth physical and mental health, juvenile crime, lagging educational outcomes, and lack of military preparedness, and the proven benefit of youth sports in counteracting and preventing these negative outcomes.   

    “Youth development is about more than academics—it’s about access to safe spaces where kids can play, grow, and thrive,” said Rep. Marc Veasey. “When I first co-chaired this caucus, our goal was to ensure every child—regardless of zip code—could benefit from the life skills, health, and community that sports provide. Reviving this caucus with Congressman Ellzey and our colleagues means we can do even more to break down barriers and invest in the next generation of leaders.”

    Rep. Jake Ellzey added, “As a former athlete and a parent, I know firsthand the positive impact sports can have on young people. Teamwork, discipline, and perseverance are lessons that last a lifetime. I’m proud to join Congressman Veasey in leading this bipartisan effort to support youth sports, strengthen our communities, and ensure every child has a chance to succeed—on and off the field.”

    The nation has a public health goal for youth participating in sports: 63% by the end of the decade, a target set through the Healthy People 2030 program administered by the Office of Health and Human Services. Currently our nation sits at 54% youth sports participation, as reflected in the latest available data from the National Children’s Health Survey.

    The revitalized caucus was announced today by Representatives Veasey and Ellzey at the National Physical Fitness and Sports Month’s Congressional Youth Sports Fest. The event was hosted by FundPlay Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to equalizing the playing field for youth sports, and featured activations by the National Football League and Washington Wizards, as well as other leading companies working to increase youth sports participation nationwide, in honor of National Physical Sports and Fitness Month (May 2025). 

    The Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports will focus on expanding access to facilities, increasing funding for community programs, and advocating for policies that support the holistic development of young athletes. The caucus welcomes the involvement of stakeholders nationwide as it embarks on this renewed mission.

    The current membership of the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports can be found here: https://fundplay.org/story/congressional-caucus-on-youth-sports/ 

    Media Contact:
    Edward Do (Walrod), Communications Director, Rep. Veasey, edward.do@mail.house.gov 
    Scott Gilfillan, Communications Director, Rep. Ellzey, Scott.Gilfillan@mail.house.gov 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Hoyer, Rep. Lynch Mobilize to Combat Attacks on Federal Workers Included in Republicans’ Extreme Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), and Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) hosted a roundtable yesterday with major federal employee groups and civil service organizations to coordinate action against the Republican Budget’s House Oversight Reconciliation provisions that steal earned wages, benefits, and retirement security from federal workers to subsidize tax giveaways to billionaires. Republicans’ budget includes provisions to steal earned retirement benefits, decrease the take home pay of existing and new federal employees, claw back already-promised retirement payments, and force new federal employees to choose between being subject to President Trump’s political purges of the federal workforce or receiving a smaller paycheck for their entire career.

    The roundtable follows a full Committee markup of the Reconciliation bill in which Oversight Committee Democrats offered twenty-five amendments that would add commonsense safeguards to the bill.  All Democratic amendments were rejected by Committee Republicans.

    “Republicans’ House Oversight Reconciliation provisions are the latest salvo in Donald Trump’s effort to demean, vilify, and traumatize our federal workers,” said Ranking Member Hoyer. “These are patriotic professionals who serve the American people every single day. Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Russell Vought, and DOGE’s illegal purge of our federal workers was never about improving efficiency and reducing waste – something every American supports. Their assault on the civil service is about consolidating their own power and dismantling vital services for Americans across the country. Whether it’s on Capitol Hill, in the courts, or on the picket line, I will keep working with Democrats to fight against the actions of this administration and fight for our federal workers.” 

    “The Trump Administration’s unprecedented assault on our civil service is creating a breakdown across federal agencies that Americans will feel for years to come.  Unfortunately, the Republicans’ reconciliation print is an effective greenlight for the Administration to continue to attack the federal workforce—it will reduce the pay of federal workers; it will break promises on entitled retirement benefits; it will deter current and federal employees from seeking justice against wrongful employment actions; and it will provide a back-door Schedule P/C, formerly known as Schedule F, to purge the federal workforce in Trump’s favor,” said Rep. Lynch. “Oversight Democrats are ready to solve the nation’s greatest crises, but we cannot in good conscience do that by sacrificing the well-being of federal employees and the quality of the federal civilian workforce. That’s why we must continue to stand up against Oversight Republicans’ reconciliation proposals.”

    Participants in the roundtable included representatives from:  AFL-CIO; American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Postal Workers Union (APWU); Democracy Forward; FAA Managers Association (FAAMA); International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM); National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU); National Association of Letter Carrier (NALC); National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU); National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA); Senior Executives Association, Professional Managers Association, and National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and Federal Managers Association (FMA).

    “Today’s hearing made it unmistakably clear that punitive cuts to federal employee benefits aren’t about saving money. They are about making life miserable for Americans serving in the federal government and driving experienced and dedicated employees away from federal service — harming every state, district, community, family, business, and individual who depend on the services these workers provide.  AFGE urges Members on both sides of the aisle to take notice of today’s discussion and reject the package of proposed changes to FERS that will reduce the take home pay of most federal workers and sharply reduce their expected retirement benefit,” said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

    “The physical demands of firefighting add up over the years, leaving many fire fighters sick or injured as a result of their service to the community. These dedicated public servants shouldn’t have to worry about quality healthcare and making ends meet if they’re forced to retire early. Benefits like the Special Retirement Supplement are key to ensuring fire fighters a dignified retirement until their Social Security benefits begin. Congress must preserve this annuity for federal fire fighters and reject this portion of the proposed reconciliation bill,” said International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward A. Kelly.

    “Members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union dedicated their lives to serving the United States Postal Service and its customers, but our hard work is being met with threats against our earned federal retirement benefits. Make no mistake, these proposed changes do nothing but harm the middle-class workers we represent. This is not how Congress makes America great again,” said National Postal Mail Handlers Union National President Paul V. Hogrogian.

    “The federal employee pay and benefit cuts included in the Republican budget constitute a complete abandonment of the commitment Congress has made to AUSAs and other federal civil servants. If these cuts are approved, the resulting increased workforce turnover, staff attrition with loss of expertise, and decreased morale in U.S. Attorney’s Offices will have real costs for taxpayers and undermine the capacity of those offices to accomplish their important public safety mission. NAAUSA calls on Congress to reject these cuts,” said Steve Wasserman, President of the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA). “The notion that we need to propose cuts elsewhere so that the Republicans can balance the budget on the backs of underpaid and underfunded federal prosecutors and Medicaid recipients to fund a tax cut for the super wealthy is grossly offensive. It is a false choice.”

    “Federal employees are not the cause of the government’s debt nor deficit. Career federal employees who reach the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks in government have forgone significant income opportunities while serving their nation. In addition to being dedicated to serving the mission of their agencies, career executives have signed on to Federal service with the promise of a pension and stable retirement — key parts of the government’s employment value proposition. Many dedicated senior executives made professional and family financial decisions based on these commitments.  Congress should keep the promises made to executives who have faithfully served the nation, often for decades,” said Marcus Hill, President of the Senior Executives Association (SEA). “SEA believes it is short-sighted to impose pay cuts that will only make the government less competitive and attractive as an employer for the talent needed to serve America, now and into the future. The association is open to discussing changes that can improve the system for future employees, but Congress should not disadvantage current federal employees who have devoted their lives and careers to public service.”

    “The $50 billion in cuts to federal employee pay and benefits are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they represent broken promises and disrupted lives,” said Kelly Reyes, Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA). “Our members have spent 25–30 years building a stable future based on longstanding agreements with the government, and now they’re questioning whether they can afford to retire. One manager described it as ‘changing the terms of the mortgage the day before closing.’ These proposals don’t just impact today’s workforce—they send a chilling message to the next generation, making it nearly impossible for government to recruit top talent in critical fields like accounting, cybersecurity, and data science, where private-sector competition is fierce. PMA members aren’t just thinking about themselves—they’re thinking about the teams they lead, the services they deliver, and the future of federal service itself. We are not opposed to hard conversations about sustainability, but changes of this magnitude must be prospective, not retroactive. Congress must honor the social contract made with current federal employees.”

    “The reconciliation provisions that the Republican majority on the House Oversight Committee advanced are a part of the Trump Administration’s effort to dismantle the government, eliminate federal employee unions, and inject political corruption into the civil service,” said International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Matt Biggs.  “The reconciliation provisions that cut federal retirement benefits break a commitment to federal workers who’ve dedicated their careers to public service and, if enacted, will be the last straw for so many highly qualified and knowledgeable workers at federal agencies who are being bullied, disrespected, and unlawfully fired and denied workforce protections by the Trump Administration. Our union will continue building bipartisan opposition to these provisions, and we applaud Oversight Committee Democrats for their strong defense of the merit-based, nonpartisan civil service.”

    “These proposals are a disgusting attack on every letter carrier, postal employee and federal employee,” said National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian L. Renfroe.  “Letter carriers earn their retirement benefits through hard work and already pay their fair share. If enacted, this would amount to a nearly 11 percent pay cut for some letter carriers, which is especially egregious since the Postal Service is an independent, off-budget agency. Taxpayers don’t fund USPS or our retirement benefits. NALC’s 295,000 active and retired letter carriers will continue fighting until these unfair attacks are off the table.”

    “The APWU is vehemently opposed to the proposed pension cuts,” said American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard.  “No worker should have the benefits they were promised placed in jeopardy to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. We must also fight to keep these benefits intact since they encourage people to apply for jobs at the United States Postal Service.”

    “The Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s reconciliation plan, which aims to cut $51 billion off the backs of federal and postal employees over the next decade, is simply wrong,” said Don Maston, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) President.  “Federal and postal employees don’t enter public service to get rich—they do it to serve their country and to be the backbone of the essential services that keep this nation running. They do it for stable, secure jobs with decent benefits.  To change pension and retirement benefits mid-career is not just unfair, it’s a broken promise to the workers who have dedicated their lives to serving the public. Federal workers cannot continue to be the easy target for budget savings.  The proposals put forth by the Oversight Committee are, in effect, substantial pay cuts for hardworking postal and federal employees, and must be removed from the final bill.  The NRLCA thanks Congressman Lynch and Congressman Hoyer for organizing this Roundtable discussion and ensuring our voices are heard.”

    “Federal and postal employees paid into and earned their accrued retirement benefits – they are not gifts,” said National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) Vice President John Hatton.  “No matter the degree of change, clawing back the full amount of those accrued benefit is theft, plain and simple.  What if a private-sector company took back a portion of vested contributions into a defined contribution plan?  Would that even be legal? Would that really be any different than cutting back the vested portion of a defined benefit plan?  Yet not only does this provision apply to vested federal employees, it applies to individuals who are currently eligible for retirement, or who become eligible in the next few years, taking away hard-earned benefits that they have relied upon in planning for retirement.”
     

    Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Stephen F. Lynch’s roundtable with
    major federal employee groups and civil service organizations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Davids Slams Extreme GOP Budget That Slashes Health Care and Food to Fund Billionaire Tax Breaks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

    Davids Backs Cutting Waste — Not Cutting Off Kansas Families.

    Last night, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee markup, Representative Sharice Davids spoke out against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget proposal, which would slash Medicaid and take food off Kansans’ tables — all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Davids noted the reckless proposal comes as families are struggling with higher costs caused by Trump’s reckless tariffs.

    House Republicans are pushing a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history — all to fund over $1 trillion in tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy. 

    Cuts to Health Care: A nonpartisan analysis estimates that 13.7 million Americans would lose health coverage with this bill. In total, more than 61,000 Kansans in Kansas’ Third District — including more than 41,000 children and 11,000 seniors — are at risk of losing coverage. Finally, Medicaid cuts would lead to more hospital closures, reduced services, and worse care for all Kansas families, especially in rural communities where 82 percent of hospitals operate at a loss.

    Cuts to Food Access: In Kansas’ Third District alone, 8,000 households could lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, up to 27,000 grocery stores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. Finally, cutting SNAP at these levels would reduce farm income by more than $30 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.

    Read a full transcript of Davids’ remarks below:

    “Thank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig.

    “Right now, families in Kansas and across the country are feeling the pinch of rising costs – in large part due to the administration’s reckless policies.

    “Prices are up, retirement savings are down, tariffs are impacting farmers, and for many, one unexpected bill could push them into crisis. This is not the time to pull the rug out from under folks who are doing their best to make ends meet.

    “Yet that’s exactly what this partisan Republican budget proposes: deep, harmful cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance — programs that help people stay afloat when times are tough.

    “Republicans have said their goal is to secure $1 trillion in federal cuts. But nonpartisan experts have said they can’t reach that goal without taking health care and food away from millions of parents, kids, seniors, pregnant women, veterans, and people with disabilities.

    “Look, I’m all for improving government efficiency and fiscal responsibility. But this budget proposal pushed by the Trump Administration has real consequences. 

    “It includes cuts that could force rural hospitals to close. Cuts that would mean empty dinner plates for families already struggling. But don’t take it from me — take it from Robert in Louisburg, Kansas, who wrote to my office. 

    “He said, and I quote: ‘To pay for massive tax giveaways to billionaires and wealthy corporations, these budget proposals would slash programs that help everyday families afford food, health care, child care, housing, education, and more.’

    “He continued by saying: ‘Families shouldn’t have to take hit after hit while billionaires get even more tax breaks. Enough is enough.’

    “I couldn’t agree more, Robert.

    “This budget doesn’t rein in waste. It doesn’t close corporate loopholes. It doesn’t go after fraud. What it does is protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations — and asks struggling families to foot the bill. And on top of that, it would likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit.

    “I was raised by a single mom who served in the Army. My brothers and I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I know what these programs mean for families like mine. We should be working to make them stronger and fairer — not slashing them to reward the wealthiest among us.

    “Kansans deserve smart policies that protect our economy, support hardworking people, and actually reduce fraud and waste — not rushed cuts that leave our communities hungrier, sicker, and further behind.

    “I would urge my colleagues, and in this instance, actually plead with my colleagues to please reject these reckless cuts. This body can do better than what we’ve been seeing.

    “Thank you, and I yield back.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar Receives Commitment From Agriculture Secretary Rollins to Solve Farm Labor Issue

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar Receives Commitment From Agriculture Secretary Rollins to Solve Farm Labor Issue

    Today, Congressman John Moolenaar, the only member of the House Appropriations Committee from Michigan, questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins in a budget hearing. In his questioning, Moolenaar secured a commitment from Rollins to address a long term solution on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which hurts Michigan farmers in it’s current formulation by requiring them to pay high wages for H-2A migrant farm workers. 

    “Michigan farmers utilize H-2A employees to grow and harvest the food we rely on every day. Unfortunately federal regulations require family farmers who take advantage of the program to take on unsustainable labor costs, making it difficult to make ends meet. I am grateful Secretary Rollins recognizes this and committed today to working with Congress and the Department of Labor to find a long-term solution to the AEWR calculation which will allow Michigan farmers to thrive,” said Moolenaar. 

    In February, Moolenaar introduced the Supporting Farm Operations Act, bipartisan legislation which sets the AEWR back to 2023 levels and freezes the wage rate until the end of 2026. Michigan farmers who utilize the program are currently required to pay H-2A employees $18.15 per hour, in addition to housing and transportation costs. 

    Moolenaar’s questioning of Secretary Rollins can be viewed here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schakowsky, Padilla, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

    Full Text of Bill (PDF)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. 

    There are no federal mandates regulating the number of patients a registered nurse (RN) can care for at one time in U.S. hospitals. As a result, RNs are consistently required to care for more patients than is safe, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Studies show that when RNs are forced to care for too many patients at one time, patients are at higher risk of preventable medical errors, avoidable complications, falls and injuries, pressure sores, increased length of hospital stay, higher numbers of hospital readmissions, and death. For each additional surgical patient in a registered nurse’s workload above the baseline nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4, the likelihood of patient death within 30 days increases by seven percent.

    “I am proud to reintroduce the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act with Senators Padilla and Merkley that will establish registered nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, provide whistleblower protection for nurses who advocate on behalf of their patients, and invest in training and career development to retain hardworking nurses in the workforce,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “For years, I’ve talked to exhausted nurses who have said they go home at night, wondering if they forgot to turn a patient because they were stretched far too thin. Study after study shows that safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios result in higher quality care for patients, lower health care costs, and a better workplace for nurses. It is past time that we act on the evidence, give nurses the support they deserve, and put patients over profits. Let’s get it done!”

    “Every patient deserves access to quality care, but the registered nursing staffing crisis across the country is putting patients at risk and leading to preventable health complications, especially in communities of color,” said Senator Padilla. “The numbers are clear: California’s mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient ratio is saving lives. Extending safe staffing at hospitals across the country is long overdue and is essential to retaining our nursing workforce and improving health outcomes.”

    “As the husband of a nurse, I’ve seen how our health care heroes give so much to keep communities in Oregon healthy every day,” said Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I am committed to fighting for safe staffing levels for both nurses and patients, to enhance the quality of patient care, reduce medical errors, and increase nurse retention. Nurses make the world so much better, one bedside at a time, and Congress must do all it can to tackle the challenges these life-saving professionals face.”
     
    “Nurses are constantly forced by our employers to care for too many patients than is safe. Yet, during National Nurses Week, those same employers hang banners or give out a free cookie to show their appreciation of us. It’s a slap in the face,” said Nancy Hagans, RN and NNU president. “Our patients deserve high-quality care, and nurses have always stood up to protect our patients. It’s time hospital managers are mandated to staff our units safely for our patients’ sake and to actually give nurses the resources and respect we deserve.”

    “Nurses know from caring for patients at the bedside, that safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios save lives. CNA fought for and won legislation in California ensuring safe staffing ratios, and unfortunately two decades later, we are still the only state in the country with a law of its kind,” said Sandy Reding, RN and CNA/NNOC President. “Nurses come to California from all over because of our ratios, and we are proud to continue the fight on the national level until every nurse is guaranteed safe staffing ratios, and our patients and our profession are protected.”

    “The understaffing crisis at hospitals and health care facilities puts 60 million older Americans at risk every year,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “This legislation will improve patient safety and health outcomes by requiring all healthcare facilities to maintain adequate nurse staffing ratios. Nurses, patients, and family members deserve nothing less.”

    “As some in Congress try to cut healthcare to hand tax breaks to billionaires, others are trying to invest in the safe staffing levels needed for high-quality patient care. All too often, patients face interminable delays, overcrowded waiting rooms, and understaffing that puts them in danger. It does not have to be this way. In many cases, we have enough qualified nurses, but they’ve been driven from the bedside by a healthcare system that puts profits over patients. With this bill, Rep. Schakowsky and Sens. Padilla and Merkley give us a path forward that holds hospitals accountable for staffing levels. These standards will improve outcomes for patients, make healthcare careers more sustainable and, in a medical emergency, reassure families that their local hospital is a safe place to get the care they need,” said Randi Weingarten, President, AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services.

    “Hospitals across the U.S. are faced with an intensifying staffing crisis, leaving dedicated nurses with no choice but to turn to jobs with better working conditions, regrettably leaving the patients they love and care for,” said Martha Baker, RN, Chairperson of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. “Congress needs to pass safe staffing ratios to allow all nurses—regardless of where we live or where we work—to provide the high-quality care that our patients need and deserve.

    “One nurse can be responsible for the care of an entire hospital floor — keeping multiple patients alive and on the path to recovery,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “They are truly the front-line heroes of our health care system, but they’re also human. Too often, they’re stretched thin, working exhausting hours that put patient care and their own health at risk. The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act gives nurses the backup they need to keep themselves and their patients safe and healthy. On behalf of the over 60,000 nurses in our AFSCME family, we thank Senator Padilla and Representative Schakowsky for championing real solutions for care and safety.”

    Studies have also found that registered nurse staffing levels in hospitals that serve communities of color are often lower, exacerbating health care disparities. Setting a single standard of nursing care across hospitals would improve outcomes for patients, including patients of color, through reduced readmission rates, increased satisfaction, and better obstetrical outcomes.

    Specifically, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act would:

    • Require hospitals to annually develop safe staffing plans that meet the bill’s mandated minimum RN staffing ratios and provide for additional staffing based on individual patient care needs;
    • Mandate that hospitals post notices on minimum ratios and maintain records on RN and other staffing;
    • Provide whistleblower protections, including administrative complaint process and cause of action, for nurses who speak out against assignments that are unsafe for the patient or nurse;
    • Authorize the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to enforce the minimum RN staffing ratios through administrative complaints and civil penalties.

    The bill is endorsed by organizations including National Nurses United, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), SEIU Healthcare, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Introduces Bipartisan Transformational Public Transit Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Rep. Hank Johnson introduces legislation to invest $80B in public transit across large cities, small towns, and rural communities to better serve constituents and working families

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, re-introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, which would provide $20 billion annually for four years ($80 billion total) to transit systems for their operating budgets.

    The bill would provide targeted federal funding to help transit agencies increase bus and rail service, especially in places with existing poor service, disadvantaged communities, and areas of persistent poverty. The funding will be in addition to existing state, local and farebox revenue and will support additional services above and beyond what is currently being provided. Agencies could use funding under this bill to make “substantial improvements to transit service.”

    “Transit in our communities is as essential as food on our tables, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads,” said Rep. Johnson. “This kind of funding is a game-changer for Atlanta and communities across the nation. Simply put, people could get to more places in less time using transit. Jobs, schools, and other daily destinations that previously took too long to reach would become more accessible. People would feel less strain on household budgets as their transportation costs shrink. They would have more time to spend with their families as time spent commuting falls.”

    The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act builds on the momentum of Infrastructure Week by supporting efforts to create a more equitable, efficient, and connected transportation system for all Americans.

    The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act would:

    •    Authorize $20 billion annually for FY2025-FY2028
    •    Create a new formula grant program to support the operating costs of public transportation and certain associated capital costs
    •    Require funds must be used for projects that make “substantial improvements to transit service” –  that directly boosts frequency of buses, trains and increases routes
    •    Clearly define funding for “areas of persistent poverty” and “underserved communities;”

    According to the Transit Center, a foundation that works to improve public transit in cities across the U.S., in Atlanta alone, $20 billion in annual transit funding could mean a 40 percent gain in service that could vastly improve access to transit that arrives at least every 15 minutes, all day, seven days a week.

    In some parts of the city, that would increase the number of jobs reachable within 30 minutes on transit by a factor of eight, it said.

    In cities and communities across the country, a federal program to support transit services could yield similar benefits by helping families lower transportation costs, drive economic opportunity and racial equity and reduce greenhouse gases.

    Cosponsors include: Reps. Cohen, McClellan, Tlaib,  Frost, Cleaver, Dean, Boyle, Doggett, Wilson (FL), Ramirez, Kennedy (NY), McIver, Norton, Smith (WA), Sykes, Gomez, Simon, D. Davis (IL), Schakowsky, Carbajal, Garcia (CA), Sanchez, Mullin, DelBene, McGarvey,  Raskin, R. Kelly, Garamendi, Veasey, Horsford, McBath, Meng, Ruiz, Carter (LA), Titus, Lynch, Fields, Morelle, Scanlon, Omar, Foushee, Tonko, Moore (WI), Adams, Magaziner, Pocan, Moulton, Evans (PA), Landsman, Thompson, Jayapal, Watson Coleman, DeGette, Mfume, Deluzio, Hayes, Thanedar, Barragán, Beatty, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Ocasio-Cortez, Garcia (IL), Lee (PA), Khanna, Neal, Pingree, Clarke (NY), Krishnamoorthi, Sherman, Budzinski, Ansari, Nadler, Cherfilus-McCormick, Ryan, Gottheimer, Casten, Jackson, Garcia (TX), Velazquez, Houlahan, Sorensen, Huffman, Foster, Chu, Ross, Vargas, Stansbury, Goldman, Amo, Moskowitz, Sewell, Dingell, Harder, Quigley, Salinas, Takano, Bishop, Ivey.

    The bill is supported by: Transport Workers Union of America, Amalgamated Transit Union, MARTA, T4America, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Campaign for Transit Justice, Sierra Club, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Union of Concerned Scientists

    What stakeholders are saying:

    “The federal government inexplicably funds transit capital investments without providing the operations funding to ensure that buses and trains can run safely, on time, and frequently enough to benefit working families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This bill would end a transit funding practice that doesn’t make sense and ensure that federal dollars can go toward transit operating expenses that improve service and ridership.”

    “Transportation labor has long supported strong federal action that facilitates sustainable and reliable public transit service,” Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO President Greg Regan said. “By providing $20 billion per year over the next four years, transit agencies would have the opportunity to increase service frequency, expand service areas, extend operating hours and overall improve the passenger experience. We applaud Rep. Johnson for understanding the importance of this public service and introducing this legislation.”

    To read the bill, click HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier Hosts Virtual Education Town Hall

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, announced he will host a virtual Education Town Hall on Wednesday, May 28that 4:00 p.m. This town hall comes in the wake of President Trump’s Executive Order attempting to dismantle the Department of Education, which administers the federal student loan program and funds resources for students with disabilities, among other important priorities. 

    To discuss how the Trump Administration’s recent actions will impact students around the country and in CA-10, Congressman DeSaulnier will be joined by Lynn Mackey, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, and Allegra Fischer, Senior Policy Attorney at Disability Rights California. The Congressman and panelists will also take questions live.
     

    Virtual Education Town Hall
    Wednesday, May 28th
    4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT
    Hosted on Zoom 
    Streamed on Facebook and YouTube

    To reserve your spot and receive a Zoom link or to request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. 

    This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 232nd town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Smart steps for futuristic education

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

    China calls for cultivating future-ready teachers, classrooms, schools and learning centers to meet the demands of the digital age, according to a white paper released during the 2025 World Digital Education Conference in Wuhan, Hubei province, which concluded on Friday.

    The White Paper on China’s Smart Education, issued by the Ministry of Education, declared 2025 the inaugural year of “smart education”, outlining a sweeping vision for transforming the country’s education system through artificial intelligence.

    Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how knowledge is delivered, how students learn, and how education systems are governed, setting a new trajectory for educational reform, it said.

    “AI will give teachers new roles and missions,” it said. Educators will be supported by intelligent tools that automate lesson planning and provide tailored instructional materials, easing administrative burdens and allowing more time for creative teaching.

    It will also assist in grading and analyzing homework, helping teachers track student progress and offer personalized services. Meanwhile, AI-driven multimodal data systems will evaluate teaching effectiveness, offering targeted recommendations to help instructors continuously improve teaching.

    According to the white paper, classrooms can be reimagined in the future, where teachers, students and intelligent machines work seamlessly together. Emerging technologies such as big data, virtual simulations and immersive environments will become central to instruction, fostering greater student engagement and knowledge construction.

    Smart schools of the future will use AI across every level of management from resource planning to personalized student evaluation. By analyzing labor market demands, AI can help align regional school programs with economic needs. It can also predict demographic changes to ensure the precise allocation of education resources, the white paper said.

    AI-powered tools will offer assessments of well-rounded student development, shifting the focus from rote learning to holistic growth, it added.

    In addition, student-centered future learning centers will integrate multimodal technologies to nurture core competencies. These centers will emphasize interdisciplinary and industry-based learning, powered by digital platforms that connect MOOCs, virtual labs and smart textbooks, it said.

    Personalized learning will be supported through precise recommendations based on AI profiling and big data analytics, aiming to help individuals adapt and thrive in the AI-driven world.

    Apart from technological infrastructure, the white paper highlighted a fundamental shift in educational values and content. Future education is expected to nurture students’ critical thinking, moral integrity and psychological resilience, it said.

    Cognitive skills, including innovation and systems thinking, and collaborative problem-solving will become core capabilities for students in the future, the white paper said. It also urges the responsible use of AI in education, calling for ethical guidelines and data privacy protections to prevent misuse.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia, Ukraine agree on large-scale POW swap, further talks in Istanbul

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

    Delegations of Russia and Ukraine start their meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye/Handout via Xinhua)

    Delegations of Russia and Ukraine concluded their meeting in Türkiye’s Istanbul on Friday, agreeing to hold a new round of negotiations and have a large-scale prisoner exchange.

    As a key outcome of the two-hour talks, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 people from each side.

    According to Russian diplomatic sources, Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky said the swap would take place soon. He also expressed overall satisfaction with the meeting and confirmed that Russia is ready to continue the dialogue.

    Medinsky noted that both sides will soon present their detailed views on a possible ceasefire, after which the negotiations will move forward.

    He also said that Ukraine proposed direct talks between the two presidents, and that Russia “took note” of the request.

    The convoy arrives at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office for meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convened at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office here on Friday for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Following the trilateral meeting, a separate session will be held between delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

    Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency, said both sides focused on three key topics: a ceasefire, the prisoner exchange, and the possibility of a future presidential summit.

    Umerov described the agreement on the prisoner swap as “the largest exchange since the beginning of the war.”

    In a post on X, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who chaired the negotiation, noted that the meeting produced several important outcomes aimed at building trust and laying the foundation for future negotiations.

    He said Russia and Ukraine agreed to “share with the other side in writing the conditions that would make it possible to reach a ceasefire,” and reached an agreement “to meet again in principle.”

    “As Türkiye, we will continue to make every effort to enable a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he said.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference at the Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye, May 15, 2025.  Zelensky said on Thursday that he would not personally show up at the negotiating table in Istanbul with a commitment to ending the conflict with Russia. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

    The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin. However, the Kremlin said Putin would not attend the talks.

    The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign orders on the up in Guangdong

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

    Chinese foreign trade companies are picking up steam in fulfilling orders after China and the United States announced on Monday that they had reached an agreement to reduce tariffs on each other during trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

    The influx of orders from the US has posed a challenge to the production and supply capabilities of foreign trade enterprises, business executives said.

    Wang Li, general manager of a home furniture company in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said that her company secured four new orders on Tuesday alone, worth a total value of $300,000, which is close to the total order value of the previous two weeks.

    “We have planned to send at least eight containers to the US within the week,” Wang said, adding that she predicts that orders will continue to surge in the following three months.

    Zhang Wulin, general manager of a digital technology company in Dongguan, Guangdong, said he has seen a rapid rebound in US orders following the tariff reductions.

    “All our sales representatives are now busy with shipping and have no time to count the order volume,” he said.

    Yan Longhai, secretary-general of the Guangzhou Cross-Border E-commerce Industry Association, said that based on the association’s customer feedback, orders secured in May have increased by 20 to 40 percent compared with the same period last month.

    “Due to the tariff reduction, the orders that were originally suspended will gradually resume,” he said.

    Chen Yongjun, a distinguished professor at Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, noted that the US remains one of the major trade partners of China. China’s exports to the US represented 14.7 percent of the country’s total in 2024, lower than the 19.2 percent recorded in 2018.

    Official data showed that Guangdong, as China’s largest foreign trade province, sold 948.81 billion yuan ($131.65 billion) worth of products to the US last year, with the proportion of exports to the US having fallen to 16.1 percent.

    The tariff reductions would help promote trade expansion between the two nations, said Chen. He urged domestic manufacturers to further improve product competitiveness and diversify their global market presence while increasing their presence in the US market.

    In Shanghai, Ding Linfeng, general manager of a local sunshade equipment company, said that a US customer had placed an order on Monday evening.

    Ding said the US customer was in a hurry to place a new order and hoped that production would be completed within a month, as maritime transportation of goods still takes another month.

    Ding said that he received orders worth more than 1 million yuan from the US on the night of the tariff reductions.

    Lin Xiaoming, general manager of Yiwu Lincy Lock Industry Co based in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, said that the company has continued to fulfill the contracts previously signed with its US clients following the tariff reductions, as now the tariff is much lower, which results in very high profits for them. “Therefore, they also continue to adhere to the previous contracts,” said Lin, whose company produces locks and exports more than 50,000 locks per day.

    “This year, our trade volume with other countries has been consistently increasing. The tariff interruptions have actually helped other countries gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Chinese market,” he said.

    The surge in orders from the rest of the world has also promoted the growth of the shipping and logistics industries.

    A Shenzhen-based international logistics company’s US route business is experiencing growth, with prices continuing to rise, but container shipments remain tight, said a local shipping executive.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Smith Visit Command Center in Northeastern Minnesota and Survey Wildfire Damage ?

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    TWO HARBORS, MINN. – Governor Tim Walz, and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) visited the Incident Command Center in Two Harbors, Minnesota to receive a briefing from officials battling the wildfires and to survey fire damage.
    “We heard directly about the incredible emergency response effort that is underway to contain these wildfires that spread so quickly.  I’m grateful to the firefighters, National Guard, Forest Service and local officials who are working tirelessly to fight these fires and keep people safe, ” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “I stand ready to support all efforts to make sure emergency responders  receive the resources they need to do their work so affected areas can start to rebuild.”
    “My heart is with the Minnesotans who have been forced to evacuate their homes and the communities facing these devastating wildfires. I’m grateful to the firefighters, emergency personnel, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, DNR, and local volunteers who are putting themselves on the line to protect lives and land,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “Being here today allowed us to speak directly with those coordinating the response so we can ensure they have the support and resources they need. In the face of loss and uncertainty, Minnesotans always show up for one another, and I know we’ll get through this together.”
    Walz, Klobuchar, and Smith were briefed on the Brimson Complex (made up of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires) and the Munger Shaw fires by Incident Commander Brian Jenkins with the Eastern Area Incident Management Team and other emergency response leaders and local officials. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A life of service: celebrating the career of Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, RNZ Pacific manager

    At this year’s May graduation ceremony, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University’s Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition for her contribution to education.

    Although she has now stepped down from the role, Luamanuvao served as the university’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Pasifika, for 14 years. In that time has worked tirelessly to raise Pasifika students’ achievement.

    “It’s really important that they [Pasifika students] make the most of the opportunities that education has to offer,” she said.

    “Secondly, education teaches you how to write, to research, to critique, but more importantly, become an informed voice and considering what’s happening in society now with AI and also technology and social media, it’s really important that we can tell our stories and share our values, and we counter that by receiving a good education and applying ourselves to do well.”

    When asked about the importance of service, Luamanuvao explained “there’s a saying in Samoan, ‘o le ala i le pule o le tautua’ so the road to authority and leadership is through service”.

    “And we’ve always been taught how important it is not to indulge in our own individual success, but to always become a voice and support our brothers and sisters, and our families and in our communities who are especially struggling.”

    Juliana Faataualofa Lafaialii, Samoa’s Deputy Head of Mission/Counsellor to NZ (from left); Philippa Toleafoa; Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban; Afamasaga Faamatalaupu Toleafoa, Samoa’s High Commissioner to NZ; and Labour MP Pesetatamalelagi Barbara Edmonds . Image: Pesetatamalelagi Barbara Edmonds/RNZ Pacific

    As she accepted her honorary doctorate, she spoke about the importance of women taking on leadership roles.

    ‘Our powerful women’
    “Yes, many Pacific people will know how powerful our women are, especially our mothers, our grandmothers, and great grandmothers. We actually come from cultures of very powerful and very strong women . . .  it’s not centered in the individual women. It’s centered on the well-being of our families, and our communities. And that’s what women leadership is all about in the Pacific.”

    She did not expect the honourary doctorate from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University because “I’ve always been aspirational for others. And we Pacific people have been brought up that we are the people of the ‘we’ and not the me.”

    The number of Pasifika students enrolled at the University, during Luamanuvao’s time as Assistant Vice-Chancellor, increased from 4.70 percent in 2010 to 6.64 pecent in 2024. She said she “would have loved to have doubled that number” so that it was more in line with the number of Pasifika people living in New Zealand.

    Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban and supporters during an International Women’s day event in Wellington. Image: RNZ Pacific

    Two of the initiatives she started, during her time at the University, was the Pasifika Roadshow taking information about university life out to the wider community and the Improving Pasifika Legal Education Project.

    Helping Pasifika Law students succeed was very important to her. While Pasifika make up make up only 3 percent of Lawyers, they are overrepresented in the legal system, comprising 12 percent of the prison population.

    Another passion of hers was encouraging Pasifika to enter academia. “I think we’ve had an increase in Pacific academics in some areas. For example, with the Faculty of Law, we’ve got two senior Pacific women in lecturer positions . . . We’ve also got four associate professors, and now I’ve finished, there’s also a vacancy for another.”

    Prior to her work in education Luamanuvao was the first Pasifika woman to enter New Zealand politics, in 1999.

    First Pacific woman MP
    “I was fortunate that when I ran for Parliament, I ran first as a list MP, and as you know, within the parties, they have selection process that are quite robust, and so I became the first Pacific woman MP.”

    “What motivated me was the car parts factory that closed in Wainuiomata, and most of the workers were men, but they were also Pacific, Māori and palagi, who basically arrived at work one morning and were told the factory was closing.”

    “But what really hit me, and hurt me, that these were not the values of Aotearoa. They’re not the values of our Pacific region. These are human beings, and for many men, particularly, to have a job, it’s about providing for your family. It’s about status.

    “So, if factories were going to close down, where was the planning to upskill them so they could continue in employment? None of them wanted to go for the unemployment benefit.

    “They wanted to continue in paid work. So it’s those milestones that I make it worthwhile. It’s just a pity, because election cycles are three years, and as you know, people will vote how they want to vote, and if there’s a change, all the hard work you’ve put in gets reversed and but fundamentally, I believe that New Zealand and Pacific people have wonderful values that all of us try to live by, and that will continue to feed the light and ensure that people have a choice.”

    Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban PhD and her husband Dr Peter Swain. Image: Trudy Logologo/RNZ Pacific

    Although she first entered Parliament as a list MP, she subsequently won the Mana electorate seat. She retained the seat ,for the Labour party, from 2002 until she stepped away from politics in 2010.

    During that time she was Minister of Pacific Peoples, 2007-2008, and even though Labour was defeated in the 2008 election, she continued to hold the Mana seat by a comfortable margin.

    Mentoring many MPs
    Although she has left political life, Luamanuvao has also been involved in mentoring many Pasifika Members of Parliament, and helping them cope with the challenges and opportunities that go with the role.

    One of the primary motivators in her life has been the struggles of her parents, who left Samoa in 1954 to build a better future for their children, in New Zealand. She acknowledged that all of her successes can be attributed to her parents and the sacrifices they made.

    “Yes, well, I think everybody can look at a genealogy of history of families leaving their homeland to come to Aotearoa, why, to build a better life and opportunities, including education for their children.

    “And I often remind our generation of young people now that your parents left their home, for you. And I’ve often reflected because my parents have passed away on the pain of leaving their parents, but there was always this loving generosity in that both my parents were the eldest of huge families.

    “They left everything for them, and actually arrived in New Zealand with very little. But there was this determination to succeed.

    “Secondly, they are a minority in a country where they’re not the majority, or they are the indigenous people of their country. So also, overcoming those barriers, their hard work, their dreams, but more importantly, the huge love for our communities and fairness and justice was installed in Ken and I my brother, from a very young age, about serving and about giving and about reciprocity.”

    Although she has left her role in tertiary education Luamanuvao vows to continue working to support the next generation of Pasifika leaders, in New Zealand and around the Pacific region.

    Her lifelong commitment to service, continues as she’s a founding member of The Fale Malae Trust, a group whose vision is to build an internationally significant, landmark Fale Malae on the Wellington waterfront.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER – WITH HUDSON VALLEY RELIGIOUS LEADERS, FARMERS AND FOOD BANKS- SAYS GOP JUST VOTED TO RIP AWAY NEARLY $300 BILLION FROM AMERICA’S LARGEST ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM, AND THAT COULD LEAD TO THOUSANDS…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Serves 170,000 In Hudson Valley Every Month And Already Nearly 1 Million Pounds Of Food Has Been Canceled Due To Trump’s Cruel USDA Cuts – And This Week The GOP Voted To Take ~$300 Billion From SNAP To Fund Trump’s Tax Breaks For Corporations & Billionaires, Which Will Lead To Families With Kids As Young As 7 Getting Kicked Off The Program
    Schumer, With Church Leaders & Advocates, Say Double Whammy Will Hurtle Hudson Valley To A Hunger Crisis, Impacting 200,000+ In Orange, Rockland, Westchester And Across Region, Millions Nationwide; Senator With Those On Frontline Of Getting Food To The Needy Demands GOP Block Cruel Cut To SNAP And Protect Anti-Hunger Programs
    Schumer: No Child Should Go To Bed Hungry. This Is Not A Partisan Issue; This Is A Moral Issue
    After House Republicans voted for the largest cut to the anti-hunger program SNAP in American history, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood with Hudson Valley religious leaders, food banks, and farmers to demand action against the devastating $300 billion SNAP to fund Trump’s tax cuts for corporations & billionaires, that would leave thousands of seniors, families, and children hungry. The senator joined with church leaders and hunger advocates to emphasize how this is a moral issue that we should all unite to stop, and demanded that NY House Republicans stand against stealing from SNAP, which over 200,000 in the Hudson Valley rely on for food.
    “No child should ever go to bed hungry. But Trump’s slashing of anti-hunger programs at the USDA has already cancelled nearly a million pounds of food for the Hudson Valley Food Bank in Montgomery and Feeding Westchester. Now, House Republicans are trying to make the largest cut to SNAP in history which could hurtle Hudson Valley families to a hunger crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Stealing from SNAP to pay for Trump’s tax breaks for corporations & billionaires is as backwards as it gets, and will result in thousands of kids, seniors, and families going hungry. Instead of feeding the hungry, they are feeding corporate greed.”
    Schumer added, “This is not a partisan issue, it is a moral issue. That is why I am here to show what these cuts mean for our local churches and food banks on the frontlines of fighting against hunger. It only takes a few NY House Republicans to join us to stop this cruel cut to SNAP. We need NY Republicans to protect these programs and block this bill, otherwise it will be families here in the Hudson Valley that go hungry.”
    Schumer explained how Trump’s USDA has already cruelly canceled $1 billion in food assistance, hurting the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, and if these SNAP cuts move forward it would be a double whammy, hurtling us to a hunger crisis. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline for nearly 3 million NY seniors, veterans and families who rely on the critical funding to purchase groceries. Schumer said that we should be investing more not less in anti-hunger programs, but under the Republican proposal, the average family would be reduced to just $5.00 per day per person. A breakdown of SNAP recipients in the Hudson Valley from the Center for American Progress can be found below:

    County

    SNAP Recipients

    % of County on SNAP

    SNAP Retailers

    Dutchess

    4,559

    6%

    168

    Orange

    40,035

    9.8%

    273

    Putnam

    3,487

    2.5%

    33

    Rockland

    43,843

    12.9%

    159

    Sullivan

    13,347

    16.7%

    121

    Ulster

    18,039

    9.9%

    154

    Westchester

    77,237

    7.8%

    567

    TOTAL

    200,547

     

    1,475

    Earlier this week, House Republicans advanced a bill that would rip $300 billion away from SNAP. This proposal would impact Hudson Valley residents in many ways, including the addition of a work requirement which would raise the age to access SNAP benefits from age 55 to age 64 and only exempt SNAP recipients from work requirements if they have someone younger than 7 years old in their household, down from the current exemption for all families with children under 18 years old.
    Schumer said, “I’m all for reducing any waste or fraud to make the program more efficient, but rushing to pass these massive damaging cuts with no plan while they slash our food banks is a recipe for disaster. Republicans a tying themselves in knots trying to justify these massive cuts. I ask my Republican friends this: which category does a hungry 7 year old fall under: are they waste? Are they fraud? Or are they abuse?”
    Schumer explained the Republican proposal to cut $300 billion from SNAP would inevitably mean costs of feeding families shift to states, who simply do not have the capacity to absorb this massive increase in expenses, risking families going hungry. Under this Republican proposal, states would be required to pay 5 – 25% of their state’s SNAP benefits based on the state’s error rate. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), mandating New York State to cover even a modest share of SNAP benefits would shift astronomical costs to the state, with even just 5% increasing New York State’s costs by nearly $3.5 billion from FY2026 to FY2034. The senator said it is impossible to cut this much from federal SNAP funding without ripping food away from hungry children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more.
    These agonizing decisions would be amplified even further at the local level, with non-profits, many of whom have already had their funding cut, unable to fill in the gap. Counties could even be forced to shoulder the burden of increased costs in SNAP, using more local dollars to provide coverage because less federal funding will be coming in. During recessions or economic downturns, these impacts will be even more acute, as more people apply for benefits and state revenue declines, more children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and more will be turned away from this vital program due to insufficient federal funding.
    According to CBPP, 13,000 people in NY-18 reside in households with adults ages 18-64 with school-age children and are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits under this Republican proposal. 8,000 people in NY-17 reside in households with adults ages 18-64 with school-age children and are at risk of losing some SNAP benefits if the current proposal becomes law, according to CBPP.
    The proposed SNAP cuts would be a blow to Hudson Valley food banks which have already been hit hard by Trump’s funding freezes and canceled payments. Earlier this year, the USDA canceled $1 billion in food assistance for organizations to purchase locally grown food. USDA programs provide food banks, schools, and other organizations with federal support to purchase local food products from NY farms.
    Trump’s USDA cuts have already hit the Hudson Valley hard. According to the Albany Times Union, the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley said it will deliver 2 million fewer meals to people in need. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, which covers 23 counties including the Hudson Valley, has already had 27 tractor-trailers of food canceled, which is nearly 1 million pounds meant to feed Capital Region families. That’s nearly 800,000 meals, and the food bank expects to lose over 200 tractor-trailers over the next year. According to the Journal News, the food bank’s Hudson Valley branch in Montgomery serves approximately 170,000 people every month across the Hudson Valley counties it serves. Due to a predicted drop in food through USDA programs, the food bank expects to distribute 2 million fewer meals. In addition, this past week, it was reported by News12 that Feeding Westchester has had a million pounds of food shipments canceled due to existing federal cuts. These cuts are exacerbating food insecurity and forcing food banks to rely on donations instead of a steady supply of resources from area producers.
    Schumer said these proposed cuts will limit food banks’ ability to keep shelves stocked as more people have been forced to rely on food banks to feed their families. Food bank workers and religious leaders across Upstate New York are concerned about the impact of potential cuts to SNAP on the people they serve, and farmers are worried there will be nowhere to sell their food if SNAP funding levels drop.
    “No matter which way you slice it, this Congressional Republican plan will screw Hudson Valley families, food banks and farmers from farm to table. We need everyone to stand up to these cuts that would take away food from our neighbors in need,” added Schumer.
    “My thanks to Senator Schumer for highlighting this critical issue. Cutting funding to food assistance programs as New York–and many other states–face an affordability crisis is truly odious public policy. These cuts would be particularly painful after funding for schools and food banks has already been brutally slashed. Those funding shortfalls affect not only school children and families in need, but the New York farmers and producers who supply food through federal programs. These cuts–and those pending–threaten the livelihood and safety of many New Yorkers, and I’m horrified that this administration has deemed funding corporate giveaways more important than feeding hungry Americans,” said New York State Senator James Skoufis.
    “To date, we’ve lost 1 million pounds due to USDA cuts – the equivalent of 750,000 meals – with an expected 6 million more slated to be cut by the end of 2025,” said Felicia Kalan, the Regional Food Bank’s Executive Vice President, Hudson Valley. “With neighbors already facing difficult decisions between paying for housing, medical care, or food, further cuts could devastate families, children, and seniors served by the Regional Food Bank’s network of partner agencies and programs. The meal gap is growing across the country, and all across New York, and the Regional Food Bank is fully committed to addressing this challenge.”
    “SNAP is our nation’s most powerful tool in the fight against hunger,” said Karen C. Erren, President & CEO of Feeding Westchester. “For every meal the Feeding America network of 200 food banks provides, SNAP delivers nine. With grocery prices already out of reach for too many of our neighbors and the rising cost of food and health care, now is not the time to scale back essential programs. Cuts to SNAP would be devastating for the millions of families, seniors, veterans, and children who rely on this vital support to make ends meet. Neighbors in our community are doing everything in their power to put food on the table – but they need a strong foundation to succeed. Access to food and health care is that foundation. Now is the time to come together to preserve and strengthen SNAP.”
    “As Mayor of the City of Newburgh, I cannot stand by while Republicans in Washington play politics with fundamental human needs. The House’s proposal to slash $300 billion in SNAP benefits – and President Trump’s relentless assault on the social safety net – are not just policy choices; they are moral failures. These devastating cuts to SNAP would rip food from the mouths of children, seniors, and working families in Newburgh, all to bankroll tax breaks for the wealthy. These unconscionable cuts will deepen inequality when we should be building a nation where no one is forced to choose between rent and their next meal,” said Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey.
    Proposed rollbacks to the country’s most widely utilized nutrition assistance program would strain budgets for Hudson Valley families. Schumer said decimating funding for SNAP right as costs at grocery stores across the country are skyrocketing will hit the Hudson Valley hard. According to the New York State Community Action Association, 12% of people in Orange County live in poverty, including more than 18% of children. According to No Kid Hungry, over half of New Yorkers reported going into debt in the past year due to rising food costs, with over 60% of families with children. Tariffs
    SNAP not only supplements families’ food budgets, it has also generated great economic benefits for New York State and NY-18 specifically. According to the National Grocers Association, grocery stores across New York State sold over $2.1 billion in groceries to people using SNAP benefits, including $99.7 million in NY-18. This created more than 18,500 New York jobs in the grocery industry, including 890 in NY-18, and generated more than $820.8 million in grocery industry wages, including $39.4 million in NY-18.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 16th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Fight to Protect Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Social Services from Republican Budget Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Democratic Senate colleagues in sending an open letter to the public exposing the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans’ plan to gut Head Start, Meals on Wheels, and other essential social services like those to prevent child abuse and provide special services for individuals with disabilities. 
    Republican senators are currently writing legislation that will give a tax break to the wealthiest by ripping away programs that American seniors, children, and families rely on. Republicans have targeted two essential funding sources for social services programs—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) — putting nearly 25 million children, seniors, and families at risk across the country.
    “We write to make our position on this legislation perfectly clear: Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by ripping away programs that almost 25 million Americans – close to 50% of whom are children – rely on for basic needs,” the senators wrote to the American public. 
    “Earlier this month, Congressional Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed a budget that sets the stage for existential cuts to the safety net. Republican leaders claim they have no plans to eliminate essential services, but tens of billions in catastrophic cuts to these programs appeared on Republicans’ published wish list, alongside cuts to Medicaid and SNAP,” the senators continued. “State and local leaders confirm that eliminating SSBG and TANF would reduce programs that serve our most vulnerable as states and localities are already operating under tight budget constraints.”
    The senators’ letter concludes: “Right now, Republicans are writing the most consequential legislation contemplated in decades entirely behind closed doors. That’s because Trump and Congressional Republicans must hide the ugly truth – their legislation feeds corporate and wealthy individuals’ greed by abandoning vulnerable children, starving seniors, and cutting off families in need. You, your family, and your neighbors deserve far better. Democrats are fighting to protect your communities from Republican cuts. Join us and keep up the fight.”
    The open letter to the public is led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).
    The full text of the letter is here and below:
    An open letter to the public:
    The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are planning to give another round of tax handouts to the ultra-wealthy and corporations that are paid for by gutting funding that supports Meals on Wheels, Head Start, and other essential programs that seniors, children, and working families rely on. While Republicans maintain that they are not cutting benefits for people, they have zeroed-in on two essential funding sources for these programs – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) – putting children, seniors, and families at risk across the country.
    We write to make our position on this legislation perfectly clear: Congress should not give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans by ripping away programs that almost 25 million Americans – close to 50% of whom are children – rely on for basic needs.
    Earlier this month, Congressional Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed a budget that sets the stage for existential cuts to the safety net. Republican leaders claim they have no plans to eliminate essential services, but tens of billions in catastrophic cuts to these programs appeared on Republicans’ published wish list, alongside cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. State and local leaders confirm that eliminating SSBG and TANF would reduce programs that serve our most vulnerable as states and localities are already operating under tight budget constraints.
    These devastating cuts will rip away access to child care and early education for close to 40,000 children, taking away programs that help set them up for successful lives. This will force working parents to walk an even tighter economic tightrope and make impossible choices about whether to cut back their hours or leave their jobs altogether to take care of their children. Moreover, these funding cuts will disproportionately impact kinship families – families in which grandparents or other family members raise children – as TANF is often their sole federal support outside of Social Security and the foster care system.
    Along with children, seniors will bear the brunt of these cuts. For example, in South Carolina, the state’s adult protective services is funded entirely by SSBG, raising questions about how the state will be able to effectively identify and prevent elder abuse without these dollars. SSBG is also a critical funding source for Meals on Wheels programs across the country. If Congressional Republicans get away with eliminating SSBG, the local Meals on Wheels program in Abilene, Texas will be forced to cut services for over half of the 1,700 seniors and people with disabilities across 15 rural communities it currently feeds. It doesn’t get crueler than going after a program that seniors rely on to eat what is often their only meal of the day, and there are programs like these in every community.
    Right now, Republicans are writing the most consequential legislation contemplated in decades entirely behind closed doors. That’s because Trump and Congressional Republicans must hide the ugly truth – their legislation feeds corporate and wealthy individuals’ greed by abandoning vulnerable children, starving seniors, and cutting off families in need. You, your family, and your neighbors deserve far better.
    Democrats are fighting to protect your communities from Republican cuts.
    Join us and keep up the fight.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: SHARC Energy Enters Into Short Term Loan Agreement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a short-term working capital loan agreement for up to $400,000 (the “Loan”).

    The Loan matures on July 31, 2025, subject to mutual agreement for extension, and bears interest at an annual rate of 8%. The Loan is secured against all present and after acquired assets of the Company.

    The Loan will be used for working capital purposes as SHARC Energy works through the working capital cycle of several SHARC and PIRANHA projects that are to be delivered over the next three months.

    In consideration of the Loan, the Company issued 800,000 stock options (the “Options”). Each Option entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at $0.10 per share for three years from the date of issuance.

    About SHARC Energy  

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy transfer with the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems exchange thermal energy with wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Freid Andriano
    Chairman

    For investor inquiries, please contact:   For media inquiries, please contact:
    Hanspaul Pannu   Mike Tanyi
    Chief Financial & Operating Officer   Director of Marketing & IT
    SHARC Energy   SHARC Energy
    Telephone: (604) 475-7710 ext. 4   Telephone: 604.475.7710 Ext.109
    Email: hanspaul.pannu@sharcenergy.com   Email: mike.tanyi@sharcenergy.com
         

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    The MIL Network –