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  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement on Passage of Federal Budget Resolution

    Source: US State of New York

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    April 10, 2025

    Albany, NY

    “This morning, Congressional Republicans passed a budget resolution to line the pockets of the rich at the expense of everyday Americans. Backed by all seven New York Republicans, this budget slashes funding for affordable housing, threatens access to health care and nutrition benefits, and throws out environmental protections for our most vulnerable communities — all while cutting taxes for the ultra-wealthy. At a time when Trump’s reckless tariffs threaten to hike the costs of everything from baby food to minivans, this budget will make day-to-day life even more expensive for middle class families. Trump and his allies in Congress are hellbent on standing in the way of a better, more affordable New York — these sky-high prices and dangerous cuts are on their hands.”

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    The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any information set out in those destinations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. External web sites operate at the direction of their respective owners who should be contacted directly with questions regarding the content of these sites.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Swarmed Crowdfunding Campaign Funds in Under 24 Hours Amid Record Bee Losses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Swarmed, the community platform for reporting and rescuing honey bee swarms, has reached its Kickstarter funding goal in less than a day. The campaign comes as beekeepers across the U.S. report record hive losses, exceeding 60% according to recent data from Project Apis m., a leading pollinator research nonprofit.

    Swarmed reached full funding in under 24 hours to expand its real-time swarm alert system, built to connect communities and beekeepers during critical spring swarm season.

    Swarmed connects public reports of honey bee swarms directly to local beekeepers who safely rescue and rehome them. Since launching, Swarmed has already supported over 2,000 successful swarm rescues, protecting vital pollinators that would otherwise likely be exterminated.

    The Kickstarter funding will accelerate the development of Swarmed’s platform, adding new tools for beekeepers and monitoring biodiversity:

    • Swarm Likelihood Maps: Predictive heatmaps based on over 35,000 past swarm reports to help beekeepers respond faster.
    • Real-Time Mobile Alerts: Improved, faster notifications directly to beekeepers’ devices.
    • Bee Friendliness Map: Using swarm data collected exclusively by Swarmed and environmental datasets to create a map that uses bees as biomonitors, helping communities assess and improve local pollinator ecosystem health.

    “Every year, hundreds of thousands of bee swarms happen across the country,” says Mateo Kaiser, Swarmed’s founder and a certified Master Beekeeper. “But the public often doesn’t know who to call, and beekeepers, who are eager to catch these swarms to replenish their hives, can be difficult to reach. Reporting a swarm directly to a local beekeeper through Swarmed more than doubles the chance the bees will survive. This crowdfunding success means we’ll get better tools in place just in time for peak swarm season this spring.”

    Swarmed will remain open to backers through May 7, offering lifetime memberships, early access to new features, and specialized tools for both hobbyists and professional beekeepers.

    To learn more, visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swarmed/swarmed-protecting-honey-bee-swarms

    Swarm season (April-June) presents a timely opportunity for stories exploring what bee swarms are, how the public can safely get them removed by contacting local beekeepers through Swarmed, and why these efforts are critical amid rising bee colony losses.

    Media Contact: Mateo Kaiser, Founder mateo@beeswarmed.org

    Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1cL_yoJC7n6hNsO09qpyLPo6IBhJXcA0-

    About Swarmed: Swarmed is a beekeeper-founded platform dedicated to protecting honey bee populations by improving public and beekeeper collaboration during swarm season. With thousands of successful rescues and growing community engagement, Swarmed is changing how we respond to wild bee swarms, promoting sustainable, bee-friendly solutions nationwide.

    Swarmed will soon add a new data dashboard with swarm likelihood maps, bloom timing, and local response metrics, giving beekeepers better tools to plan and act during peak swarm season.

    About Swarmed

    Connecting communities to protect honey bees.

    Press inquiries

    Swarmed
    https://beeswarmed.org
    Mateo Kaiser
    mateo@beeswarmed.org
    548 View Street, Mountain View, CA 94041

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Tops Global Soundbar Sales for 11th Consecutive Year

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics America, the global leader in TV innovation for 19 consecutive years, today announced that it has maintained its position as the world’s top soundbar brand for the 11th year in a row.1
    According to market research firm FutureSource Consulting, Samsung captured a global market share of 20.1% in revenue and 18.4% in sales volume in 2024, further strengthening its leadership in the premium audio industry, having held the #1 position since 2014.
    This continued success is driven by the immersive sound experiences buyers have come to expect from Samsung soundbars, as well as their seamless integration with Samsung TVs.
    The flagship HW-Q990D, launched in 2024, has been particularly well received, offering Q-Symphony technology that synchronizes the audio experience between Samsung soundbars and Samsung TVs, along with AI-powered audio optimization features that deliver a one-of-a-kind home entertainment experience.

    This commitment to innovation has earned Samsung widespread recognition from industry experts and global tech media. Newsweek recognized the HW-Q990D with its prestigious Editors Choice award, praising it as “the best Dolby Atmos soundbar you can buy in 2024.” Additionally, the HW-S800D, our sleek lifestyle soundbar, was named Editor’s Choice by Techlicious, which described it as “the perfect choice for anyone looking to upgrade their TV’s sound without sacrificing style or space.”
    Building on this momentum, Samsung will continue to push the boundaries of audio innovation in 2025. This year’s lineup introduces several new and enhanced AI features, improved connectivity and refined audio processing to take home theater audio to new heights.
    “We’re proud to be recognized as the global leader in soundbars for 11 consecutive years and believe this honor is a testament to our commitment to delivering premium audio experiences,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to push innovation forward, enhancing both sound quality and usability to create an even more seamless and immersive home entertainment experience.”

    For more information on Samsung soundbars, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/home-theater/sound-bars/.

    1Source: © 2025 Futuresource Consulting, Worldwide Soundbar Market Share by manufacturer. Annual units and value basis.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 10 April 2025 News release Countries are already experiencing significant health system disruptions – WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) issues warning on health service disruptions reported in 70% of its surveyed country offices as a result of sudden suspensions and reductions in official development assistance (ODA) for health.

    The findings, based on rapid WHO assessment of the fast-evolving situation, raise concern for potentially deeper and prolonged effects on health systems and services across the world, especially in vulnerable and fragile settings. This requires urgent action and international response.

    The new rapid stock take conducted in March–April 2025 with 108 WHO country offices, primarily in low- and lower-middle-income countries, shows that many countries are working to increase or reallocate funding from domestic and alternative external sources to address gaps. However, up to 24% of WHO Country Office responses suggest budget cuts are already translating into increased out-of-pocket payments. The poor and vulnerable likely risk bearing the additional brunt of these impacts.

    “These results paint a worrying picture about the impact of the sudden and unplanned cuts to aid on the health of millions of people,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Although these cuts are a shock, they are also driving an accelerated transition away from aid dependency to a more sustainable self-reliance, based on domestic resources. Many countries are asking for WHO’s support, and WHO is working with them to identify and tailor the most effective measures.”

    The stock take reports provide an early snapshot and insights from WHO country offices that work closely with ministries of health, providing regular support on health systems policies and planning. The stock take aimed at identifying the urgent support countries need to avoid catastrophic impacts on the health of the populations and to guide monitoring of the rapidly evolving situation. 

    Key findings from the stock take show the following.

    • The suspensions and reductions in ODA are disrupting all health system functions, with the most frequently reported impacts being on health emergency preparedness and response (70%), public health surveillance (66%), service provision (58%), humanitarian aid (56%), and the health and care workforce (54%).
    • Health services are being disrupted across the board in at least one third of the responding countries, with high levels of disruptions reported in outbreak detection and response, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, family planning, and maternal and child health services.
    • The nature and scale of service disruptions are comparable to those observed during the peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in some settings. 
    • Critical shortages in the availability of medicines and health products are leaving one third of responding countries without commodities for major service areas.
    • The pause in ODA has led to job losses for health and care workers in over half of responding countries, and significant disruptions to trainings.
    • Information systems are particularly impacted as key health data collection is disrupted. Over 40% of countries experienced disruptions to key information systems, including collaborative surveillance and emergency systems, health management information systems, disease-specific reporting systems, lab information systems, and household/population surveys.
    • Eighty-one of the 108 WHO country offices have expressed the need for support across a broad range of health areas, including innovative funding and resource mobilization, targeted technical assistance and support.

    Given the rapidly evolving context, WHO will be monitoring the situation over time and will engage the global health community, including partners and donor agencies, to inform urgent response plans to mitigate deepening country impacts and enable greater sustainability.  

    Note to editors:

    These findings represent a snapshot of the health systems and health services situation in the context of a rapidly evolving situation. Senior WHO country office staff were surveyed over the period of 7 March to 2 April 2025 to provide inputs and observations on the impact of ODA suspensions and reductions through a structured survey. WHO country offices in low- and lower-middle-income countries across all six WHO regions were included in this survey. They do not reflect the official views of the governments in the countries, territories and areas. WHO has a global presence in 150+ locations putting central focus on countries and populations, working to protect and improve the health of everyone, everywhere. More information.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Government Seeks Death Penalty for Federal Inmate Charged with First Degree Murder

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment this week, charging Ishmael Petty, 56, with first degree murder and murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence.

    According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2020, Petty murdered a fellow inmate while the two were housed in the same unit at the U.S. Penitentiary-Florence, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado. Petty has been in federal custody since a 1998 conviction for bank robbery. In 2002, Petty was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an inmate at another federal prison. In 2015, Petty was sentenced to 60 years in prison for an assault on two federal officers at ADX.

    For the current charges, the maximum penalty is death, and Attorney General Bondi has authorized the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado to pursue capital punishment in this case. Consistent with that authorization, the U.S. Attorney filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Petty.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado made the announcement.

    The FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.

    This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: First Federal Savings Bank Awarded $27,500 in Funds to Habitat for Humanity Through FHLBank Indianapolis Grant Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Federal Savings Bank, a member bank of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis), awarded Habitat for Humanity $27,500 in grant funds through the Community Multiplier – Member Match Program.

    A press conference and check presentation ceremony were hosted on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 PM CST at First Federal Savings Bank’s corporate headquarters located at 5001 Davis Lant Drive Evansville, IN 47715.

    The $27,500 grant will support Habitat for Humanity’s educational assistance programs for current and prospective homeowners.

    “We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity in support of their educational assistance programs for current and prospective homeowners,” said Courtney Schmitt, VP, Marketing Manager at First Federal Savings Bank. “Homeownership is a cornerstone of financial stability, and by investing in these programs, we are helping individuals and families build stronger, more secure futures. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering communities through financial education and support.”

    Beth Folz, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville stated “We were excited to hear from First Federal Savings Bank that we had been selected to receive this wonderful grant from the Community Multiplier program. We are thrilled for the future Habitat homeowners who will be impacted by the financial education programs that we can offer due to this tremendous support.”

    The Community Multiplier – Member Match program is FHLBank Indianapolis’ newest program offering, designed to support targeted affordable housing initiatives that fall outside of FHLBank Indianapolis’ other grant programs.   Community Multiplier offers grants between $25,000 and $125,000 for non-profit organizations headquartered in Indiana or Michigan who partner with an FHLBank Indianapolis member financial institution on targeted affordable housing initiatives. With a 10% matching funds commitment from the member financial institution, FHLBank Indianapolis is providing grants between $25,000 and $125,000. The program opened March 27, 2025 with a $5 million allocation and is available until October 1, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.

    About First Federal Savings Bank Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

    First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

    Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis: Building Partnerships. Serving Communities.

    FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank included in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded and receive no Congressional appropriations. FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com and follow the Bank on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @FHLBankIndy.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/KAZAKHSTAN – “We have to be a bit like children”: Sister Irena’s mission in the villages around Almaty

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 10 April 2025

    Almaty (Agenzia Fides) – “First saints, then missionaries,” Saint Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Congregations of the Consolata Missionaries and Missionary Sisters, used to say. And that is the first gift we should ask for every day, says Sister Irena Candida De Alberto Solomone, originally from Africa, who, for three years, has been proclaiming the Gospel with four other sisters in the outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s most populous city.Kazakhstan, a crossroads of peoples and cultures in the heart of Asia, is a young country, as young as its Catholic community. A small flock (only 1% of the 19 million inhabitants are Catholic) that coexists peacefully with other faith communities (more than 70% of the population is Muslim, and 26% is Orthodox Christian).The current parish in Kazakhstan “is a parish composed primarily of the descendants of immigrants from Europe. But gradually, people born here are also asking to become part of the community”.Sister Irena is originally from Mozambique, where her vocation matured, as she tells Fides: “It is difficult to explain exactly how my vocation was born. Since childhood, when I attended catechism classes and, above all, prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation, I understood that Jesus is a person to be loved. With Confirmation, one becomes an active part of the Church, and every baptized person must assume responsibility. That is why, immediately after my Confirmation, I became a catechist in my parish.”At the time, Irena was 16 years old and had realized that “the Church is the place where one can fully live one’s faith. Like the other girls, I went to school, played basketball, and practiced dancing. But I felt a growing desire to give my life to God. After high school, at the age of 19, I decided to join the Consolata Missionary Sisters. In 1993, at the age of 24, I became a nun.”During these years, Irena also made the decision to go as a missionary “far from home, outside of Mozambique.”The Congregation of the Consolata Missionary Sisters provides for a period of several years before receiving the mandate: “My first destination was Italy, then I received the mandate and was initially destined for the United States of America. I lived there for 17 years.” In 2017, her destination changed: Asia. Sister Irena lived in Afghanistan for several years, then in 2022 she moved to the steppes of Kazakhstan: “I did not expect this. The Congregation’s project is to expand the missions, that is, to spread the Gospel where Christ is not yet known, where the Church is not yet developed.”But what does it mean to proclaim the Gospel in a country where the vast majority of the population belongs to another religion? For Sister Irena, it is “a precious opportunity,” because the charism of the Consolata Missionary Sisters is precisely to “reach those places and people where the Church’s presence is lacking, where there is a need to hear the Good News.””The best attitude,” adds the missionary sister, “is to have an open heart and an open mind. Since arriving here, we have realized that we have to be a bit like children. That means we have to start our lives a little bit anew: from studying the local language to exploring the places and culture of this country. This already leads us to the encounter with the Kazakh people. A people made up of many ethnic groups, but all with open hearts and open minds.” All activities “must take place on the church grounds. But they allow us to keep our facilities open. And that is a blessing in itself.”The community of sisters to which Irena belongs is also multi-ethnic, like the context in which the sisters are called to live their missionary vocation: Sister Irena lives with Sister Claudia from Colombia, Sister Dorota from Poland, and Sister Argentina from Mozambique. They are accompanied by two priests, Father Simon from Poland and Father Ladislaus from Korea.There are a total of seven villages around the city of Almaty where the Consolata Missionary Sisters work. And in Almaty, according to Sister Irena, “the government organizes many interfaith meetings. Father Simon often participates in these events so that we can maintain peaceful relations with everyone.”The Diocese of Almaty covers a total area of 711,600 km² and has 11 parishes. Of the 7,350,240 inhabitants, 42,000 are Catholics (0.6% of the total population). In the village of Janashari, “we have a playground and a facility that can accommodate about 20 people.” And even this playground, where people of other religions come together, becomes a place of encounter and dialogue for us.””And today,” adds the missionary sister, “we have some seminarians who will soon be ordained deacons.” And the veneration of saints or the Virgin Mary “has also begun to spread. That is beautiful, and we are only at the beginning.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller Participates in Ways and Means Health Hearing on the Biosimilar Market

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) participated in a Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing to discuss how biosimilars are safe, effective, and affordable options for patients who need complex pharmaceutical products and examine the challenges and opportunities to increase patient access to these alternatives.

    Click here to watch the remarks.

    Congresswoman Miller began by highlighting how biosimilars could help reduce health care costs for West Virginians. 

     

    “The majority of my work in the health care space is focused on ensuring robust patient access to care, particularly for rural patients. In my district, the median household income is $52,742 – which makes my district one of the most financially-constrained in the country. Additionally, 1.2 million people in West Virginia have at least one chronic disease.  In a state of only 1.7 million people, that means that most West Virginians are on a tight budget already – and then also have to consider the potential high cost of managing their health. Biosimilars seem to be a great option that can help reduce patient costs, but it appears from your testimonies that we have some work to do to make sure patients and providers are educated on biosimilar options, and insurers are putting these drugs onto their formularies.”

     

    Congresswoman Miller asked Dr. Debra Patt, MD, President, Community Oncology Alliance, about the increase in exposure to biosimilars. 

     

    “The medical community is well versed in comparison to a decade ago regarding biosimilars and I’d mentioned earlier, but I think that conversation has gotten a lot easier. Though, there are other barriers that that we face. For example, if I have a patient that’s on Trastuzumab or Herceptin to treat metastatic breast cancer, and I talk to them about switching to a biosimilar product, the insurance company and the pharmacy benefit manager will prioritize a specific biosimilar that we’re underwater on, meaning that our costs exceed our reimbursement. That doesn’t we’re not able to pick that choice because of viability. So yes, I think there’s a role in education, but there are other barriers that I think lead to suboptimal utilization. Between the patient and the insurance company, there needs to be better communication,” said Dr. Patt.

     
    Congresswoman Miller asked Dr. Colin Edgerton, MD, Director, Articularis Healthcare Group, what are the most common questions patients ask when considering switching to a biosimilar.

     

    “Typically, patients are most interested in the potential side effects of the drug. There can be consternation if they’re on one particular agent and they’re considering switching, or their insurance plan is maintaining a switch. So those are generally the topics of conversation when it comes to price. I don’t think there’s the understanding of how access can improve as these costs come down, and that is something I enjoy, opening that conversation with them and explaining that. But as we’ve said, a lot of that opportunity has been squandered because the formulary construction is not allowing patients access to the biosimilars, and when the Biosimilars are favored on a formulary, the economics now are upside down, because, as Dr. Pratt had mentioned, with Back Door rebates, moving from the manufacturer to the pharmacy benefit manager, now the cost of the drug is actually higher than the reimbursement,” said Dr. Edgerton.
     
    Congresswoman Miller highlighted how in the Inflation Reduction Act complicated biosimilar development and asked Craig Burton, Executive Director, Biosimilars Council, how consistent lawmaking will improve the biosimilar marketplace.

     

    “For biosimilar manufacture, if you’re thinking about investing $300 million in a new in a new, lower cost product, you need predictability. You need to know that that market is going to be there 10 years from now, when you get to the end of that race. That means you need to know what you need to be able to guess what the market size is going to look like. It also means you need to know you’re going to get adoption. So not only do biosimilars face all the issues we’ve discussed today, but the IRA puts in place what I think was a well-intended approach that will harm biosimilar adoption,” said Mr. Burton.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Introduces the HAPPY BIRTHDAY Budget Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    Would prohibit spending on a military parade for Donald Trump’s June 14 birthday

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today introduced the Halting All Parades for Presidents’ Yearly Birthdays; It Risks Taxpayer Harm, Damages, And Your (HAPPY BIRTHDAY) Budget Act. The measure, introduced after press accounts of White House plans to stage a parade from the Pentagon to the White House on Donald Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14, would prohibit enacting such a plan and any future presidential birthday parades going forward.

    “Donald Trump may imagine himself an all-powerful ruler, but he is a president, not a potentate, and the American people don’t pay tribute to him as if he were a king. Least of all do we waste taxpayer dollars burnishing his insatiable ego. This bill makes clear that any president, now or in the future, cannot make the public pay for his birthday entertainment or swell his covetous pride.”

    Military parades are traditionally reserved for national celebrations, commemorations of military service or significant public occasions, not personal milestones like birthdays. A military parade during President Trump’s first term in office was canceled over cost concerns, including estimated costs to the military of $92 million and public safety costs to the District of Columbia of more than $21 million.

    In addition, the measure points out that heavy military equipment risks damages to roads and streets never designed support their weight. Although the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday is June 14 and it is also Flag Day, the army has never held a parade to celebrate its own birthday.

    The measure would provide a sense of Congress that public funds should not be “expended on displays of military force for personal glorification.” It also encourages President Trump to consider alternative birthday celebrations that don’t include fighter jet flyovers or armored vehicles, such as cake, golf or a bingo night.

    The measure concludes: “Congress extends a sincere ‘Happy Birthday’ to Donald J. Trump, free of charge, and encourages all Americans who wish to send birthday wishes to the President to do so through the United States Postal Service, the only service expressly authorized in the Constitution of the United States for the transmission of personal correspondence, where neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DESJARLAIS CHAIRS FIRST STRAT FORCES HEARING OF 119th CONGRESS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (4th District of Tennessee)

    (WASHINGTON, D.C.) –Yesterday, Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) gaveled in his first hearing as chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee. 

    The hearing was a posture review of the U.S. strategic forces’ capabilities.

    Members of the subcommittee had the opportunity to hear from and question, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command General Anthony Cotton, Commander of U.S. Space Command General Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Northern Command General Gregory Guillot, and Mr. John Hill, who is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, within the Office of the Secretary of Defense

    DesJarlais said in his opening statement, “I think it’s worth noting that the three officers in front of us today represent different combatant commands, with different missions, and different priorities, but they each face a common problem. All of you are responsible for mission areas where the United States once enjoyed superiority, but we are now increasingly confronted by adversaries.”

    The Tennessee congressman was interested in hearing from witnesses about their assessment of the current threat environment.

    “Our adversaries recognized the foundational role that each of these mission areas play in our defense strategy. They cannot compete with our conventional forces, so they have chosen to target our homeland, hold our space systems at risk, and expand their nuclear arsenals to challenge our deterrent. These threats have been building for some time, but the pace is accelerating.” 

     

    DesJarlais concluded his opening statement with saying that he believes the House Armed Services Strategic Forcessubcommittee is the most important committee in Congress. 

     

    “These growing threats and how we as a nation choose to respond to them is why I really do believe this is the most important subcommittee in Congress.”

     

    ###

     

    The full Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on April 9, 2025 can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, Velázquez, Ocasio-Cortez, and Hernández Press DOE to Deploy Renewable Energy Funds for Puerto Rico

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

    April 10, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Pablo José Hernández (D-PR) urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate solar installations under Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund’s (PR-ERF) programs, warning that continued delays could have severe consequences for vulnerable communities across the island.
     
    “Every hurricane season we fail to act, we risk lives,” the lawmakers wrote. “The funding has been obligated, the technology exists, and the urgent need for these programs is clear. We call on the Department to move swiftly to fulfill the intent of Congress and protect the people of Puerto Rico.”
     
    Congress established the PR-ERF with $1 billion through the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, thanks to the leadership of the late Representative Raúl M. Grijalva. Lawmakers were explicit that the funding support rooftop solar and battery storage systems for last-mile communities and individuals with electricity-dependent disabilities and medical conditions.
     
    “This request was made in response to both the proven reliability of rooftop solar and battery systems, which consistently preserved power during major storms, and to direct appeals from residents across Puerto Rico urging Congress to lower the cost barriers for acquiring these systems,” the Members wrote. “These stakeholders specifically emphasized the need for rooftop solar systems to mitigate the disproportionate health impacts and mortality for elderly residents and residents with disabilities, as was seen during Hurricane María in 2017 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022.”
     
    In the letter, the lawmakers applauded the launch of the DOE’s Solar Access Program and call on the Department to accelerate installations without delay. They also urged immediate action on the Resilient Communities Program, which remains stalled, noting that the Department has not yet finalized agreements to release $365 million intended to enhance energy security in multi-family housing properties and community healthcare facilities.
     
    “With hurricane season quickly approaching, any further delay risks severe consequences,” continued the lawmakers. “In Puerto Rico, where power outages are frequent and backup power is often out of reach for many, the failure to deploy decentralized energy systems puts lives at risk.”
     
    The letter underscores that rooftop solar with battery storage is the most practical and proven way to improve energy security in Puerto Rico. Tens of thousands of systems already in use produce 1.1 gigawatts of power and help prevent up to 56 hours of outages each year by supplying electricity directly to homes. The PR-ERF will expand this network and strengthen the island’s ability to avoid blackouts during peak demand.
     
    In the letter, the Members request a briefing from DOE on the PR-ERF’s progress, including a timeline for finalizing agreements and launching installations.
     
    Read the full letter.
     

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    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EIA expects less oil demand and lower oil and gasoline prices in an uncertain market

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
    WASHINGTON DC 20585

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 10, 2025

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects recent developments in global trade policy and oil production to contribute to lower global demand growth for petroleum products through 2026, which contributes to significantly lower oil prices than previously forecast.

    In its April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA points out significant uncertainties in energy supply, demand, and prices.

    The STEO is based on current market conditions, and in the first week of April, numerous developments affected the global market—especially oil markets. On April 2, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order announcing a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all countries, which also included higher tariffs on some countries. On April 4, China responded by imposing 34% tariffs on imports from the United States. Amid the tariff announcements, OPEC+ members announced on April 3 that some countries will start oil production increases in May that were originally set for July.

    These announcements caused the Brent crude oil spot price to fall by 12% on April 2 to $68 per barrel on April 4. EIA completed its forecasts on April 7, so the April STEO includes some of the recent changes in the energy market, but the agency expects continued volatility as market participants respond to further developments.

    U.S. energy market indicators 2024 2025 2026
    Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel) $81 $68 $61
    Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon) $3.30 $3.10 $3.10
    U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day) 13.2 13.5 13.6
    Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units) $2.20 $4.30 $4.60
    U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day) 12 15 16
    Shares of U.S. electricity generation       
    Natural gas 42% 40% 40%
    Coal 16% 16% 15%
    Renewables 23% 25% 27%
    Nuclear 19% 19% 19%
    U.S. GDP (percentage change) 2.8% 2.0% 2.0%
    U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons) 4.8 4.8 4.7
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, April 2025
    Note: Values in this table are rounded and may not match values in other tables in the STEO.

    Some key highlights from the April STEO include:

    • Global oil supply, demand, and prices: EIA expects continued growth in U.S. and global oil production as OPEC+ accelerates its previously announced production increases and the United States exempts energy from its recently announced tariffs. EIA expects global oil inventories to increase starting in the middle of 2025, but market uncertainty could lead to lower economic growth, which could lead to less growth in demand for petroleum products than EIA had previously forecast. The combination of growing supply and lower demand leads EIA to expect the Brent crude oil price to average less than $70 per barrel in 2025 and fall to an average of just over $60 per barrel in 2026. Those prices are about 10% lower than the March STEO forecast and reflect more uncertainty around global oil demand growth as well the potential for additional supply from OPEC+ in the coming months.
    • Other uncertainties in EIA’s oil price forecasts include existing sanctions on Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, which also could affect oil prices.
    • Gasoline prices: EIA forecasts the U.S. retail price for regular-grade gasoline to average about $3.10 per gallon this summer, mostly because of expected lower crude oil prices. If the forecast holds, this price would be the lowest inflation-adjusted summer average gasoline price since 2020.
    • U.S. propane markets: Among energy products, EIA expects China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods will have the largest effect on propane because China is typically a major importer of U.S. propane. Some propane previously exported to China will likely find new destinations, but EIA expects that reduced propane export demand will cause propane inventories on the U.S. Gulf Coast to rise and put downward pressure on the Mt. Belvieu propane spot price.
    • Natural gas demand: EIA expects U.S. natural gas demand to grow by 4% in 2025, averaging just over 115 billion cubic feet per day. This increase is led by a 18% increase in exports and a 9% increase in residential and commercial consumption for space heating. The increase in natural gas exports is driven primarily by growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports as two new LNG export facilities—Plaquemines Phase 1 and Golden Pass LNG—ramp up operations.
    • Although China announced on April 7 that it would no longer import U.S. LNG, EIA expects that ample global demand for LNG and flexible destination clauses in U.S. LNG contracts mean U.S. LNG exports will be largely unaffected by recent trade policy developments.
    • Natural gas inventories and prices: U.S working natural gas inventories ended the withdrawal season 6% below the five-year average because cold weather in January and February resulted in more natural gas than average being withdrawn from storage. EIA continues to expect higher natural gas prices this year, with the Henry Hub price averaging about $4.30 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025, up $2.10 per MMBtu from 2024. EIA expects the annual average price to increase in 2026 to about $4.60 per MMBtu.
    • Trade policy assumptions: The U.S. macroeconomic outlook used in the STEO is based on S&P Global’s macroeconomic model. Although that model was released in mid-March and does not completely reflect the trade policies announced the first week of April, its assumptions are partly in line with what the President announced on April 2. S&P Global’s forecast assumes an increasing universal tariff that will reach 10% by the end of 2025 and a higher rate on U.S. imports from China. We use Oxford Economics for our global GDP forecast, which was also completed in mid-March, prior to the most recent tariff announcements.

    The full April 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.

    The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.

    EIA Program Contact: Tim Hess, STEO@eia.gov
    EIA Press Contact: Chris Higginbotham, EIAMedia@eia.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two men convicted of manslaughter

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have been convicted of manslaughter following the death of 34-year-old Justin Henry in Croydon.

    Lewis Benjamin, 30 (29.03.1994) of Waddon New Road, Croydon and Jamal Ali-Richards, 29 (20.10.1995) of Thornlaw Road, Norwood appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 10 April 2025, where following an eight-week-trial, they were both convicted of manslaughter. They were found not guilty of murder.

    The court heard that while Justin had been reported missing, Benjamin and Ali-Richards were discarding of his body and attempting to clean up evidence of his death.

    Detective Chief Inspector Craig Magee of the Met’s Specialist Crime Team who led the investigation said:

    “Justin’s disappearance prompted a complex and extensive investigation.

    “Today’s verdict is testament to the painstaking efforts of the investigation team. Benjamin and Ali-Richards went to great lengths to dispose of evidence and cover their tracks, which included significant attempts to dispose of Justin’s body. Despite these efforts, the team worked tirelessly to piece together the evidence and establish the facts.

    “The loss of Justin continues to have a long lasting and devastating impact on his family and friends. Throughout the investigation and trial, the strength and resilience shown by them has been extraordinary. I hope that today’s verdict will provide an opportunity for them to begin rebuilding their lives.”

    Justin was reported missing on Monday, 16 October 2023 as he never returned home after he left his girlfriend’s house the evening before.

    CCTV enquiries showed Justin was last seen alive buying food at McDonald’s drive-thru in Croydon on Sunday, 15 October before driving to Waddon New Road, where Benjamin lived. Justin’s car stayed for over two hours and was then moved to Kingswood Drive a 19 minute drive away, it is believed that Justin had sadly died by this point and someone else had moved his vehicle.

    The location of Justin’s car highlighted Lewis Benjamin, who lived on Waddon New Road, as a suspect. His friend, Jamal Ali-Richards was also determined as a suspect.

    When officers arrived at Lewis Benjamin’s address, it had been cleared of most furniture and the carpet had been ripped up and removed. The flat also appeared to have been recently deep-cleaned. Police declared the flat as a crime scene and forensic officers were called to the property, they located small spatters of blood on the walls.

    Less than 100 metres from the address, officers located black plastic bags which contained a section of heavily blood soaked carpet. When tested, the blood from the address and the carpet was matched to Justin Henry.

    Benjamin was arrested on 24 October 2023. When officers arrived at this address, he ran into the back garden, throwing his phone away before being detained and arrested. When his phone was analysed, it showed that Benjamin had been in contact with Justin Henry prior to his disappearance.

    In interview, he refused to answer any questions. Despite this, he was charged on 25 October 2023 with murder.

    Ali-Richards handed himself into police and was arrested on 27 October 2023. He was subsequently charged with murder on 29 October.

    Officers continued to analyse CCTV footage and other information. On Monday, 6 November officers located one of two cars the defendants had bought in the days following the murder and placed false number plates on. This car was parked off Dale Road in Purley. When forensic officers arrived, Justin’s body was located in the boot.

    On 17 February 2025, Lewis Benjamin pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice following his attempts to disguise his actions and dispose of evidence. On 21 March 2025, during the trial, Jamal Ali-Richards also pleaded guilty to this. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder, but following an eight-week trial which began on 17 February 2025, they were both convicted of manslaughter.

    DCI Craig Magee added: “Today’s verdict sends a clear message that we will work tirelessly to hold those who commit such crimes to account.”

    Ali-Richards and Benjamin will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, 10 June 2025 for sentencing.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Government Seeks Death Penalty for Federal Inmate Charged with First Degree Murder

    Source: United States Attorneys General 3

    A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment this week, charging Ishmael Petty, 56, with first degree murder and murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence.

    According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2020, Petty murdered a fellow inmate while the two were housed in the same unit at the U.S. Penitentiary-Florence, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado. Petty has been in federal custody since a 1998 conviction for bank robbery. In 2002, Petty was sentenced to life in prison for murdering an inmate at another federal prison. In 2015, Petty was sentenced to 60 years in prison for an assault on two federal officers at ADX.

    For the current charges, the maximum penalty is death, and Attorney General Bondi has authorized the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado to pursue capital punishment in this case. Consistent with that authorization, the U.S. Attorney filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Petty.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado made the announcement.

    The FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case.

    This case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortunium Wealth Management Expands to Apollo Beach, Florida

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Apollo Beach, Florida, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortunium Wealth Management has opened a new office in Apollo Beach, Florida. The new office marks an exciting step in the firm’s mission to help individuals and businesses achieve long-term financial success. Located at 411 Apollo Beach Boulevard, Suite 100, the firm now offers financial planning, retirement strategies, and insurance solutions to clients in the Tampa Bay area.


    Fortunium Wealth Management Logo

    Helping Clients Build, Grow, and Preserve Wealth

    Founded by Joel Marius, Fortunium Wealth Management provides personalized financial services that help clients create strategies to build, grow, and preserve their wealth. The firm focuses on ethical, client-first strategies and offers solutions tailored to meet the needs of each individual and business.

    Joel Marius, Founder of Fortunium Wealth Management

    “At Fortunium, we believe financial clarity creates life freedom,” said Marius, President of Fortunium. “Our mission is to guide individuals and businesses with personalized strategies that build strong foundations, support success, and preserve legacies. This new office in Apollo Beach allows us to bring these solutions to even more people in the Tampa Bay area.” 

    Strategic Location to Serve the Tampa Bay Area

    Fortunium’s new office in Apollo Beach is part of the firm’s expansion plan and commitment to serving the growing Tampa Bay community. The region is home to many individuals and businesses that need professional financial guidance.

    Marius explained why Apollo Beach is an ideal location for Fortunium to grow: “We’re excited to bring our personalized wealth management services here. By being closer to our clients, we can offer more timely support and build stronger, lasting relationships.”

    Comprehensive Services for All Stages of Financial Life

    Fortunium Wealth Management offers various services to help individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. The firm provides expert financial planning, helping clients create strategies for both short- and long-term goals. Whether clients plan for retirement, build portfolios, or protect their legacy, Fortunium offers solutions that meet their unique needs. 

    Additionally, the firm specializes in retirement planning, helping clients prepare for a confident and secure future. Fortunium also offers insurance solutions, including life, disability, and long-term care insurance, to help protect families and secure financial futures.

    “Financial planning is not just about numbers; it’s about creating a clear path for the future,” shared Marius. “At Fortunium, we provide the support clients need to protect what matters most and build wealth that lasts for generations.”

    Building a Legacy With Fortunium Wealth Management

    Fortunium Wealth Management is built on three core principles: building strong financial foundations, supporting ongoing success, and preserving legacies. The firm is dedicated to helping clients navigate today’s complex financial world while keeping their long-term goals in mind.

    “Helping our clients build and protect their wealth is what drives us,” Marius explained. “We want them to retire with confidence, protect their families, and leave a lasting legacy. Every client’s needs are unique, so our approach is always personalized.”

    About Fortunium Wealth Management

    Fortunium Wealth Management is a comprehensive financial services firm based in Apollo Beach, Florida, proudly serving individuals, families, and business owners across the Tampa Bay area. The company specializes in personalized financial planning, retirement strategies, insurance solutions, and business wealth management. 

    Guided by a commitment to ethics, transparency, and long-term relationships, Fortunium helps clients build tailored strategies and confidently move toward financial independence. Whether you are planning for retirement, protecting your legacy, or growing your wealth, Fortunium is here to help you thrive.

    Learn more at http://www.FortuniumWM.com or connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: EIA expects less oil demand and lower oil and gasoline prices in an uncertain market

    Source: US Energy Information Administration – EIA

    Headline: EIA expects less oil demand and lower oil and gasoline prices in an uncertain market

    U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
    WASHINGTON DC 20585

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 10, 2025

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects recent developments in global trade policy and oil production to contribute to lower global demand growth for petroleum products through 2026, which contributes to significantly lower oil prices than previously forecast.

    In its April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA points out significant uncertainties in energy supply, demand, and prices.

    The STEO is based on current market conditions, and in the first week of April, numerous developments affected the global market—especially oil markets. On April 2, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order announcing a minimum 10% tariff on imports from all countries, which also included higher tariffs on some countries. On April 4, China responded by imposing 34% tariffs on imports from the United States. Amid the tariff announcements, OPEC+ members announced on April 3 that some countries will start oil production increases in May that were originally set for July.

    These announcements caused the Brent crude oil spot price to fall by 12% on April 2 to $68 per barrel on April 4. EIA completed its forecasts on April 7, so the April STEO includes some of the recent changes in the energy market, but the agency expects continued volatility as market participants respond to further developments.

    U.S. energy market indicators 2024 2025 2026
    Brent crude oil spot price (dollars per barrel) $81 $68 $61
    Retail gasoline price (dollars per gallon) $3.30 $3.10 $3.10
    U.S. crude oil production (million barrels per day) 13.2 13.5 13.6
    Natural gas price at Henry Hub (dollars per million British thermal units) $2.20 $4.30 $4.60
    U.S. liquefied natural gas gross exports (billion cubic feet per day) 12 15 16
    Shares of U.S. electricity generation       
    Natural gas 42% 40% 40%
    Coal 16% 16% 15%
    Renewables 23% 25% 27%
    Nuclear 19% 19% 19%
    U.S. GDP (percentage change) 2.8% 2.0% 2.0%
    U.S. CO2 emissions (billion metric tons) 4.8 4.8 4.7
    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, April 2025
    Note: Values in this table are rounded and may not match values in other tables in the STEO.

    Some key highlights from the April STEO include:

    • Global oil supply, demand, and prices: EIA expects continued growth in U.S. and global oil production as OPEC+ accelerates its previously announced production increases and the United States exempts energy from its recently announced tariffs. EIA expects global oil inventories to increase starting in the middle of 2025, but market uncertainty could lead to lower economic growth, which could lead to less growth in demand for petroleum products than EIA had previously forecast. The combination of growing supply and lower demand leads EIA to expect the Brent crude oil price to average less than $70 per barrel in 2025 and fall to an average of just over $60 per barrel in 2026. Those prices are about 10% lower than the March STEO forecast and reflect more uncertainty around global oil demand growth as well the potential for additional supply from OPEC+ in the coming months.
    • Other uncertainties in EIA’s oil price forecasts include existing sanctions on Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, which also could affect oil prices.
    • Gasoline prices: EIA forecasts the U.S. retail price for regular-grade gasoline to average about $3.10 per gallon this summer, mostly because of expected lower crude oil prices. If the forecast holds, this price would be the lowest inflation-adjusted summer average gasoline price since 2020.
    • U.S. propane markets: Among energy products, EIA expects China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods will have the largest effect on propane because China is typically a major importer of U.S. propane. Some propane previously exported to China will likely find new destinations, but EIA expects that reduced propane export demand will cause propane inventories on the U.S. Gulf Coast to rise and put downward pressure on the Mt. Belvieu propane spot price.
    • Natural gas demand: EIA expects U.S. natural gas demand to grow by 4% in 2025, averaging just over 115 billion cubic feet per day. This increase is led by a 18% increase in exports and a 9% increase in residential and commercial consumption for space heating. The increase in natural gas exports is driven primarily by growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports as two new LNG export facilities—Plaquemines Phase 1 and Golden Pass LNG—ramp up operations.
    • Although China announced on April 7 that it would no longer import U.S. LNG, EIA expects that ample global demand for LNG and flexible destination clauses in U.S. LNG contracts mean U.S. LNG exports will be largely unaffected by recent trade policy developments.
    • Natural gas inventories and prices: U.S working natural gas inventories ended the withdrawal season 6% below the five-year average because cold weather in January and February resulted in more natural gas than average being withdrawn from storage. EIA continues to expect higher natural gas prices this year, with the Henry Hub price averaging about $4.30 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2025, up $2.10 per MMBtu from 2024. EIA expects the annual average price to increase in 2026 to about $4.60 per MMBtu.
    • Trade policy assumptions: The U.S. macroeconomic outlook used in the STEO is based on S&P Global’s macroeconomic model. Although that model was released in mid-March and does not completely reflect the trade policies announced the first week of April, its assumptions are partly in line with what the President announced on April 2. S&P Global’s forecast assumes an increasing universal tariff that will reach 10% by the end of 2025 and a higher rate on U.S. imports from China. We use Oxford Economics for our global GDP forecast, which was also completed in mid-March, prior to the most recent tariff announcements.

    The full April 2025 Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.

    The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. government. The views in the product and this press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.

    EIA Program Contact: Tim Hess, STEO@eia.gov
    EIA Press Contact: Chris Higginbotham, EIAMedia@eia.gov

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Votes No on SAVE Act That Threatens Voting Rights for Millions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI03) voted against the SAVE Act, legislation passed by House Republicans that, despite its name, would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to vote—especially women, service members, Native Americans, and rural voters.

    “Let me be clear: only United States citizens should be deciding our elections. Republicans are trying to sell the SAVE Act as a way to stop non-citizens from voting, but we know that’s already illegal. What this bill really does is make it harder for citizens to vote, especially women,” said Rep. Scholten. “This bill doesn’t solve a real problem—it creates one. A busy working mom juggling a job, kids, and everything else life throws at her shouldn’t have to jump through bureaucratic hoops just to exercise her fundamental right to vote. That’s not election security. That’s voter suppression.”

    The SAVE Act would hit married women particularly hard as it requires the name on one’s birth certificate to match the driver’s license exactly. As many as 69 million women could be impacted simply because they changed their last name when they got married. Under this bill, those women could be blocked from registering to vote without a passport, which costs $130. 

    In addition, Military and Tribal IDs would no longer be valid, which would put a steep burden on Native Americans and service members who would be required to submit sensitive military records just to cast a ballot. 

    West Michigan, in particular, is also home to many individuals who were born in the South and came North to find freedom during the Great Migration, who changed their names upon arrival to start a new, more liberated life. Many haven’t been back to the counties they were born in for decades. Under the SAVE Act, they would be forced to track down their original birth certificate from their birth county and jump through unnecessary hoops.  

    Scholten voted no to stand up for every American’s fundamental right to vote—no matter their name, background, or ZIP code. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Hoyle Introduces Vote at Home Act to Improve Americans’ Access to the Ballot Box

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    April 10, 2025

    Introduction comes as House Republicans bring forward the SAVE Act, which threatens to jeopardize millions of Americans’ ability to vote

    For Immediate Release: April 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the Vote at Home Act to provide a new path forward on voting that makes elections more accessible, more secure, and more affordable. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) also intends to introduce a companion bill in the Senate.

    House Republican leadership also brought the SAVE Act to the floor for a vote today – a bill that threatens to put at risk the ability for millions of Americans to register to vote. This includes 69 million married women who have changed their last name, and 140 million Americans who do not have a passport.

    Conversely, the Vote at Home Act expands vote by mail initiatives which several states, including Oregon, have found successfully increases voter participation. This was also the case nationally in 2020, when despite a global pandemic, the general election had record high turnout as a result of more vote by mail options. Vote by mail also lowers the cost of holding elections. For example, after the state of Oregon adopted vote by mail, the cost of administering an election dropped nearly 30 percent.

    “Oregon was the first state to enact full vote by mail in 1995, an effort led by both Democratic and Republican Secretaries of State,” said Rep. Hoyle. “We have seen the positive impact that mail in voting has had in Oregon – not only does it improve access for eligible voters, but every ballot has a paper copy making it the most secure form of voting. Voting is a Constitutionally protected right and I’ll fight to make sure every eligible voter can make their voice heard. I am proud to introduce legislation that does exactly that.”

    “For years, Oregonians have been casting their ballot right from the comfort of their own home,” Sen. Wyden said. “Voting at home is not only efficient and secure, but it also gives working Americans who can’t afford to go off the clock the ability to exercise their fundamental right to vote. With Trump and his MAGA pals trying to take away voting rights for millions of Americans, it’s more important than ever for Congress to do right by the American people by ensuring they can make their voices heard in the 2026 elections and have a government that represents them.”

    The Vote at Home Act is endorsed by the National Vote at Home Institute, Stand Up America, End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund, and the Institute for Responsive Government Action.

    Barbara Smith Warner, the Executive Director of the National Vote at Home Institute: “If you want to support and strengthen our democracy, there’s no better way than to support Vote at Home election systems. When every active registered voter automatically receives a mailed out paper ballot, several weeks before every election; can return them by postage-free mail or in person to a wide range of accessible, convenient and secure locations; and can track them online, in real time, to ensure their vote is counted, we all win.”

    Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America: “Voting by mail is essential for millions of Americans––including working people, college students, rural residents, and seniors––who rely on it to make their voices heard. It provides a secure and convenient way to cast our ballots, especially for those who face challenges getting to the polls due to long distances, hectic work schedules, and other barriers. The Vote at Home Act is a crucial step toward strengthening our democracy by ensuring every voter has the option to cast their ballot from home, return it with a pre-paid envelope, and be automatically registered at their local DMV. We are grateful to Senator Wyden and Representative Hoyle for continuing to champion the freedom to vote in Congress.”

    Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United Action Fund: “While Republicans in Congress and across the country try to make it harder for women, seniors, and young voters to cast a ballot, Congresswoman Hoyle and Senator Wyden are fighting to protect every American’s ability to vote without unnecessary barriers. The Vote at Home Act meets this moment by expanding access, increasing security, and making the voting process more convenient. This commonsense solution will ensure that more Americans can make their voices heard in government. We thank Congresswoman Hoyle and Senator Wyden for their continued leadership in defending our Constitutional right to the ballot box.”

    This bill is co-sponsored by 13 of Rep. Hoyle’s colleagues, including Reps. Bonamici (OR-01), Carson (IN-07), Chu (CA-28), Deluzio (PA-17), Dexter (OR-03), (Hank) Johnson (GA-04), Norton (DC-AL), Salinas (OR-06), Schakowsky (IL-09), Tlaib (MI-12), Tonko (NY-20), Veasey (TX-33), and Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

    The text of the Vote at Home Act is available here.

    Background

    The Vote at Home Act

    • Ensures all voters have a chance to research their ballots. By sending all registered voters their ballot weeks before Election Day, voters will have the opportunity to carefully study the candidates and issues before casting their ballots. 

    SAVE Act

    • Under the SAVE Act over 20 million Americans would become ineligible to vote and those who have changed their name, for example in marriage, could also be purged from voter rolls.

    • Last month, President Trump issued an Executive Order that included many of the SAVE Act’s prescriptions which makes it more difficult to vote and requires onerous additional verification when registering.

    • Many of the SAVE Act’s provisions can be found in a similar New Hampshire law that took effect this year. Under this law, women who had changed their name in marriage were forced to re-register to vote and provide proof of their name change before obtaining their registration.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seddon appointed as construction partner for £11.5 million Watermill School satellite project

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 10th April 2025

    Work is underway on a multi-million-pound school project to provide more first-class learning opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    The £11.5 million scheme will see the construction of a new satellite facility to the existing Watermill School in Packmoor.

    It will help more Stoke-on-Trent children get the education and support they need closer to their homes.

    Stoke-on-Trent-based Seddon Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to construct the new building complex on Turnhurst Road, which will accommodate up to 70 pupils and is funded through the city council’s Schools Capital Programme.

    A ground-breaking ceremony took place on April 9 to officially launch the start of work. The building is expected to be completed by July 2026 – and it is set to be open to pupils from September 2026.

    The satellite school is being built on the site of the former Middlehurst School, which was closed in 2014 and demolished in 2022 – bringing a vacant site back into use.

    Watermill School, which became an Academy in 2019 as part of the Orchard Community Trust, has been designed to provide for a wide range of pupils’ needs to be addressed through educational, social, physical and emotional growth for three-to-16-year-olds.

    Pupils at the school all have learning difficulties of some kind – this may include moderate, severe, physical and multiple learning difficulties and autism.

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education and anti-poverty at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Watermill School satellite will help expand on the vital work it does in creating an inclusive environment that values diversity and equality and provides strong foundations for pupils to thrive and accomplish their goals in life.

    “We’re committed to ensuring that we have an agreed vision across the city, and our partnerships, so that children and young people with SEND have the right support, at the right time, delivered by the right people.

    “Making sure that children can access the support they need in their local communities is a really important part of this, so I’m really pleased that we are increasing the number of SEND school places available in the city.”

    Councillor Finlay Gordon McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This project is another clear sign that we are regenerating Stoke-on-Trent for the benefit of everyone.

    “Seddon has been involved at every step of the process, through the pre-construction design and planning phase. Their appointment as the main contractor will see this exciting and much-needed development moving forward at pace.”

    It is the latest project that Seddon is working on for the council. In December, the company was appointed to carry out the £5 million transformation of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

    Lee Shaw, Commercial Manager at Seddon, said: “This is a project we’re deeply proud to be delivering – not just because of the difference it will make to children and families, but because it represents a strong collaboration between experienced, regional partners. We’re excited to be on site and to see the vision start to take shape.”

    Watermill School Head Teacher Jen Lomas said: “Watermill School and Orchard Community Trust are delighted to be part of the expansion of special school places within Stoke-on-Trent. We are planning with Seddon, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and other partners to ensure that our expansion will support the delivery of our carefully designed inclusive curriculum.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on Indigenous Nurses Day

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has released the following statement on the fourth annual B.C. Indigenous Nurses Day, April 10, 2025:

    “Today, April 10, is Indigenous Nurses Day, an opportunity to acknowledge, honour and celebrate Indigenous nurses for their incredible contributions to health care in British Columbia.

    “We recognize the unique knowledge, experience and determination of generations of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nurses who have advanced Indigenous health care. Bringing expertise that is rooted in interconnection with the environment, community, and culture, Indigenous nurses are a crucial part of our health-care system, providing culturally safe and appropriate care to people in communities across the province.

    “Indigenous nurses show ongoing dedication in creating and supporting culturally safe health services, programs and connections that increase Indigenous representation and access to evolving, team-based health care. Their contributions are essential to further develop and improve the quality of life, well-being and health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in B.C.

    “This day is an opportunity to recognize the work to dismantle harmful colonial practices and systems and to continue to move forward on commitments to provide Indigenous-specific cultural safety, trauma-informed practices, and anti-racism initiatives in our health-care system, upheld with the In Plain Sight report and B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy.

    “It is with deep gratitude that we celebrate the achievements and contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nurses, and reflect on the legacies of Canada’s first Indigenous nurses.

    “Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, a Kanien’kehà:ka woman who was Canada’s first Indigenous registered nurse, served in the First World War as a nurse and was the first Indigenous women to vote, is a founding point of reference as we move forward on this path.

    “The life and work of Rose Casper, a St’at’imc woman and the first Indigenous nurse in Western Canada, who attended the Kamloops residential school and nursed for more than 50 years, is also a beacon of inspiration for Indigenous nurses, educators, and students helping to transform our health-care system.

    “This is a day for Indigenous nurses and their allies to come together to preserve the cultural integrity and traditional knowledge they hold, and recognize their tenacity, courage, and activism to meet the health-care needs of Indigenous Peoples.

    “Thank you to all Indigenous nurses for your amazing work and for ensuring access to integrated, trauma-informed, culturally safe health care for all.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding will strengthen emergency support for evacuees

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Local governments and First Nations throughout the province will receive funding to improve emergency support services (ESS) for people evacuated from their homes during emergencies in British Columbia.

    “Emergency support services can be a lifeline for people who have to leave their homes during disasters,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “By investing in training and equipment, we help to ensure people receive the support they need quickly and efficiently.”

    The Province is providing more than $5 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), through the ESS equipment and training stream, for 113 projects. The funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services, through volunteer recruitment and retention efforts, volunteer training and the purchase of ESS equipment.

    “The people who provide Emergency Support Services are often the first source of respite and help for those impacted most by emergencies,” said Trish Mandewo, president, Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). “This funding will help make those services more robust and resilient so help is there when British Columbians need it. UBCM is pleased to administer this program in partnership with the Province.”

    Local community projects include:

    • boosting training and response capacity in the Strathcona Regional District, through emergency exercises and ESS volunteer training;
    • enhancing Quatsino First Nation’s emergency-support capacity through volunteer training, digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, as well as volunteer engagement activities to strengthen and sustain local response teams;
    • strengthening emergency response in Fort St. James and Nak’azdli Whut’en by developing a new ESS program for Nak’azdli and building capacity within Fort St. James’s existing program, with a focus on co-ordinated training and mutual support during emergencies;
    • enhancing Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness with a fully equipped, self-sufficient mobile ESS trailer to support more effective on-site emergency response with power, communication tools and essential supplies; and
    • improving group lodging supplies, office equipment and registration systems for Kwikwetlem First Nation to enhance emergency shelter capacity and support staff and volunteers in the southwestern B.C.

    The CEPF is a suite of funding programs designed to help local governments and First Nations better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. These programs include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centre equipment and training, volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training, and Indigenous cultural safety and humility training. Composite fire departments are those that have a mix of paid staff and volunteers.

    Since its establishment in 2017, the Province has committed $369 million into CEPF. To date, approximately $315 million has been provided for approximately 2,400 projects across all CEPF streams. This fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

    Quotes:

    Danielle Veach, mayor, Village of Pouce Coupe –

    “This funding for our mobile emergency response trailer will significantly enhance Pouce Coupe’s emergency preparedness and regional response capacity, and the fully equipped unit will strengthen on-site emergency services with power, communication tools and vital supplies. Beyond local needs, it will support regional emergency training and collaboration between local governments and Indigenous partners. This investment is a critical step toward a more connected, resilient and inclusive emergency response network across northeastern B.C.”

    Chief Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation –

    “This funding is helping Quatsino First Nation strengthen emergency preparedness and local response capacity. Investments in equipment such as digital registration tools, portable generators and comfort kits, along with volunteer training and mock disaster exercises, are helping us build a strong, community-led ESS program. These resources ensure we can respond quickly and confidently when emergencies arise, while also engaging and supporting our members to lead emergency response efforts on the ground.”

    Chief Ron Giesbrecht, Kwikwetlem First Nation –

    “This funding will significantly enhance our capacity for emergency response. The allocation of these resources will enable us to acquire essential group lodging supplies, office equipment, and registration systems. These enhancements will support timely and effective assistance during emergencies, ensuring first responders are well-prepared to meet community needs during an evacuation. This funding represents a vital step toward strengthening local resilience and improving the overall effectiveness of regional emergency response efforts.”

    Ryan McVey, fire chief/protective services director, District of Fort St. James –

    “This funding for equipment, training and recruitment will help the Nak’azdli Whut’en–Fort St. James joint ESS team strengthen the region’s ability to respond to emergencies. By investing in co-ordinated training and mutual support, this project continues to ensure our joint effort can assist not only those living in our community, but anyone in our northern region who needs essential services during an emergency.”

    Mark Baker, chair, Strathcona Regional District Board –

    “The support and compassionate care provided to displaced individuals depends greatly on the commitment of volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time to SRD’s emergency support services program. This funding will enhance both recognition and training for emergency support teams across eight communities, strengthening the heart of the region’s emergency response.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $18 million to support approximately 598 projects through the ESS Equipment and Training stream.
    • This funding program covers 100% of eligible costs, as much as $40,000 per eligible applicant.
    • CEPF projects support the implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act by enhancing community response and recovery efforts.

    Learn More:

    For a backgrounder with details about CEPF recipients under the ESS Training and Equipment stream, visit:
    https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BKGRND_CEPF_Emergency_Support_Services_APRIL2025.pdf

    For more information about Emergency Support Services, visit:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/ess

    For more information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit:
    https://www.ubcm.ca/funding-programs/local-government-program-services/community-emergency-preparedness-fund

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Everett man charged federally for illegally possessing a destructive device, a firearm and ammunition

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly tossed an explosive into victims’ car then left a voicemail message using racial slurs

    Seattle – A 54-year-old Everett, Washington man will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle today at 2:00, after being charged federally in connection with a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor’s car, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven Goldstine was originally charged in Snohomish County for the suspected hate crime. He is now charged in federal court by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a destructive device, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

    According to records filed in the case, on December 31, 2024, Everett Police responded to reports of an explosion in a car parked at an apartment complex. The victims told police they suspected Goldstine due to prior conflicts they had had with him. The day after the explosion they received a voice message using racial slurs and referencing the explosion in the vehicle. Further analysis of the records led investigators to believe it was Goldstine.

    Using video footage from the apartment complex and other cameras in the area investigators determined the bomber’s clothing and direction of travel. When they executed a search warrant at Goldstine’s home law enforcement found a jacket and shoes that appeared to match those seen in the video.  Law enforcement also seized more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Goldstine is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for burglary, arson and possession of stolen property.

    In reviewing Goldstine’s history, law enforcement determined that on September 17, 2020, law enforcement searched Goldstine’s residence following a report that while out in his car he had pointed a gun at protestors. The action was captured on video. In the search of Goldstine’s home in 2020, the firearm was seized by law enforcement. The federal complaint filed this week charges Goldstine with that illegal firearms possession.

    Unlawful possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a firearm, as charged in this case, are both punishable by up to ten years in prison. Unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

    The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    The case is being investigated by the Everett Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Finstad Votes to Advance Fiscally Responsible Budget

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) issued the following statement after voting in support of the Senate’s amendment to the House-passed budget resolution:

    “By passing today’s resolution, we have opened the door for House and Senate committees to begin drafting legislation that aligns with the Trump administration’s overall goal of reducing our massive deficit,” said Rep. Finstad. “The budget blueprint that the House voted on today is the next step in advancing a fiscally responsible budget and allows us to continue our work to identify the necessary investments and savings that will ultimately put us on track to get our financial house in order.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Secretary letter on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Home Secretary letter on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    The Home Secretary has written to all police and crime commissioners and chief constables in England and Wales about the launch of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee (accessible)

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    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    PDF, 129 KB, 5 pages

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    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Details

    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables in England and Wales outlining the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal jury convicts South Dakota man of sexually abusing two victims on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS — A federal jury yesterday convicted a South Dakota man of multiple crimes involving the sexual abuse of two victims on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    After a two-day trial, the jury found the defendant, Farron Gene American Horse, Sr., 40, guilty of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact as charged in an indictment. On the more serious charge of sexual abuse, American Horse faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to life of supervised release.

    Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 17, 2025. American Horse will remain in custody pending further proceedings.

    “Protecting the public on our Native American reservations has been, and remains, a top priority for the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in Montana, especially vulnerable victims like those in this case. The defendant’s decision to abuse the children he was supposed to be caring for, is abhorrent and tragic. The jury’s guilty verdict should serve as a warning to others who would abuse others that they will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I want to thank the Assistant U. S. Attorneys and staff in our office, and the law enforcement agents from the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services for their hard work on the case.” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

    The government alleged at trial and in court documents that American Horse sexually abused the victims in September and October 2020 in Hays, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. In the summer of 2020, American Horse went to live with a woman and her family in Hays and helped look after the children. In October 2020, one victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, who had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet reached the age of 16 years, disclosed being sexually abused by American Horse while spending the night at the woman’s residence. About this time, another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, who also had attained the age of 12 years but had not yet reached the age of 16 years, disclosed that American Horse had touched her while she was sleeping at the woman’s home weeks earlier.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Luttrell Votes to Support FY25 Budget Framework Focused on Border Security, Energy, and Tax Relief

    Source:

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) voted in favor of the Senate Amendment to H.Con.Res. 14, the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget resolution. This vote is a critical step in moving forward with a budget that addresses the challenges facing our nation, including border security, national defense, and the future of our economy.

    “This budget framework sets the stage for delivering on some of the biggest priorities I hear about from folks back home — securing the border, unleashing American energy, strengthening our military, and keeping taxes low for working families and small businesses.

    I voted yes because we need to move forward with a plan that gives us the tools to rein in wasteful spending and get our fiscal house in order. The reconciliation instructions included in this resolution lay out a clear path for us to make good on conservative policies, like making the Trump tax cuts permanent, cutting red tape, and keeping our nation secure,” said Congressman Luttrell.

    Luttrell continued, “That said, I believe we need to push harder for real, enforceable savings. The House instructions call for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, while the Senate side has just $4 billion. That’s not going to cut it when we’re staring down nearly $35 trillion in debt.

    I’m going to keep working to make sure the final product reflects real fiscal discipline.”

    The budget resolution establishes the congressional budget framework for FY 2025 and lays out recommended levels of spending, revenue, debt, and deficits for fiscal years 2026 through 2034. It also includes reconciliation instructions for both Senate and House authorizing committees, guiding efforts to enact key budgetary proposals. This includes provisions to strengthen border security, advance energy independence, bolster national security, and cut taxes to stimulate economic growth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Tenney Votes to Advance Budget Framework, Paving Way for Trump Tax Cuts and America First Agenda

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

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement on the passage of the Senate Amendment of Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which sets the top line numbers of the budget reconciliation process.

    This legislation passed the House by a vote of 216-214.

    “Americans gave Congressional Republicans a clear mandate: reduce out-of-control government spending, secure our borders, and reignite economic growth, and we will deliver,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Today’s vote marks the next step in fulfilling that mandate: beginning the drafting process of the reconciliation bill. From here, we will begin writing the language for one big, beautiful bill. In this legislation, we are committed to preserving the historic tax cuts secured under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enhancing border security, unleashing American energy production, reeling in our national debt, and locking in DOGE savings. In addition, by passing this bill today, House Republicans reiterate our commitment to finding at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, saving the American people money from fraud, abuse and waste, while preserving essential programs.”

    “Any effort to slow this momentum now would jeopardize our ability to deliver on what the American people overwhelmingly supported in the 2024 election, especially the Trump Tax Cuts. On December 31, 2025, the Trump Tax Cuts are set to expire, triggering an average 22% tax hike for American families. In addition, 2 million family-owned farms would have their death tax exemption slashed, and 40 million families would see their household child tax credit cut in half. Preserving and expanding these tax cuts is essential for the financial security of every hard-working American.”

    “By kicking off this reconciliation process, House Republicans are taking decisive steps toward fulfilling our promises and advancing President Trump’s America First agenda.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger Presses Biden Administration Officials on Decision to Ban LNG Exports

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

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, questioned witnesses in the full committee hearing yesterday titled, “Converting Energy into Intelligence: The Future of AI Technology, Human Discovery, and American Global Competitiveness.”

    Earlier this year, four Department of Energy (DOE) sources revealed that the Biden administration intentionally withheld a final draft of a study that could have challenged the administration’s decision to ban LNG exports in January 2024. The decision to bury this study raises significant concerns about transparency within the Biden administration’s DOE, especially given that the study revealed LNG exports would lower emissions.

    Restricting the free flow of commodities discourages investment in critical infrastructure, such as pipelines, which in turn affects downstream consumption – ultimately making it more difficult to supply the energy needed to power data centers across the country. This is why during the hearing, Rep. Pfluger questioned David Turk, who served as the Deputy Secretary of Energy during the Biden Administration, on the former administration’s decision to pause natural gas exports despite reports that countered this decision.

    Watch Rep. Pfluger’s full line of questioning HERE or read highlights from his interaction with Mr. Turk below.

    Rep. Pfluger: Were you aware of the 2023 study’s findings prior to the January 26 decision to indefinitely ban new export authorizations under section three of the Natural Gas Act?

    Mr. Turk: So we didn’t ban any. We did the study in order to take a step back because we’ve authorized so much. Up to half of our natural gas production right now is authorized to actually go abroad and to be sold, including to China. So what we did was take a pause to complete the study. 

    Rep. Pfluger: Pause, ban, we can debate this all day long. But why was the study not released immediately after it was done?

    Mr. Turk: So it was. We released the study once the efforts finished the study. 

    Rep. Pfluger: Do you disagree that the study was more favorable to LNG than the Biden administration would have liked, and that’s why there was a pause put on LNG exports?

    Mr. Turk: The pause was so that we could do the study before making decisions and to actually have our independent experts, and the independent experts in our national labs were the ones who did the study.

    Rep. Pfluger: So do you agree that the emissions of natural gas were better and more consistent and actually more favorable than what you claimed and what Secretary Granholm claimed in the attempt to ban natural gas exports? 

    Mr. Turk: So LNG exports have a very, very significant greenhouse gas footprint. So just one project, we’re talking 4 BCF per day, that project itself has more emissions throughout the life cycle, methane emissions, but CO two combustion when that gas is burned, than 141 countries in our world. Just one facility, 141 countries in our world. That’s pretty significant. 

    Rep. Pfluger: So you stand by your decision to ban LNG exports?

    Mr. Turk: Again, we did a pause so we could do the study so that any Secretary of State could have a good independent analysis.

    Rep. Pfluger: Your decision to do that is going to impact these guys right here. It’s going to impact our ability to provide power for the AI data center.

    Background:

    This questioning follows news first reported on by the Daily Caller claiming that Biden Administration officials ‘intentionally buried’ studies to justify their major crackdown on energy.

    Rep. Pfluger also introduced the “Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act” earlier this year to shift responsibility for approving liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects out of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) hands after the department unilaterally froze approvals for such projects for most of 2024 under the Biden administration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MENG-ELECTED OFFICIALS ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS FOR FLOODING

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

    QUEENS, NY – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) and other elected officials from Queens issued the following joint statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke federal money to address flooding in Queens, in particular cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The elected officials include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, State Senators John Liu and Jessica Ramos; Assembly Members Catalina Cruz, Larinda Hooks, Jessica González-Rojas and Nily Rozic; and Council Members Francisco Moya and Sandra Ung.

    “The Administration’s decision to slash more than $300 million in federal funding for infrastructure projects across New York State is unacceptable and it will have devastating impacts in Queens. This includes vital funding to combat flooding, such as cutting $46 million through the Kissena Corridor Cloudburst Hub and $47 million for the Corona East Cloudburst Hub. We all remember how Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on our borough. Lives were lost, and homes and businesses sustained extensive damage. We fought hard for these needed funds and without the money, more lives and property will be put at risk. We should be better prepared against the threat of future flooding and mitigate the effects of severe storms and heavy rainfall which we continue to experience year after year. But slashing this funding will leave us less prepared and susceptible to more devastation. We urge the administration to immediately abandon this reckless decision.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MENG: U.S. ARMY VETERAN FROM QUEENS UNJUSTLY FIRED FROM NYC VETERANS HOSPITAL GETS JOB BACK

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

    Congresswoman’s constituent, Luke Graziani, has been rehired after he was her guest at the President’s address to Congress last month to stand against mass terminations of federal employees; Graziani was among these tens of thousands of laid off workers

    QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that Luke Graziani, the veteran from Woodside, Queens who was unjustly fired from his job at a New York City veterans hospital, has been reinstated to his position, and is back at work at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx.

    Graziani, 45, was rehired after Meng brought him as her guest to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress last month (on March 4) to stand against the ongoing mass firings of federal employees and veterans. He was among these tens of thousands of federal workers that the new administration has unfairly terminated across numerous federal agencies over the past several weeks. 

    Graziani is a 20-year U.S. Army veteran who is a public affairs officer at the hospital. He was abruptly laid off in February and returned to work nearly two weeks ago. Meng had intervened with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on his behalf urging the agency to reinstate him, and he was rehired after a federal judge last month ordered the Department, and other federal agencies, to reinstate probationary workers who were terminated.

    Prior to working at the medical center, Graziani served two tours in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. 

    “I’m glad the Administration has been forced to walk back some of its indiscriminate firings, but people like Luke should have never been terminated,” said Congresswoman Meng. “I am pleased that his attending the President’s speech as my guest sent a powerful message that these mass layoffs of federal workers and veterans is unacceptable. We have not forgotten about the many employees who continue to be impacted, and I renew my call for them to be brought back to the federal workforce.”

    “After the trauma of being terminated through a thoughtless and robotic email, returning to my role at the VA feels like justice has been restored,” said Graziani. “I’m thankful to Congresswoman Meng for giving me space to stand beside her in bringing national attention to these indiscriminate firings. While I’m back doing the work I love—supporting fellow veterans—I remain concerned for dedicated public servants still fighting to regain their positions and for the looming threat of future force reductions. This experience has, if nothing else, reinforced my belief in the importance of standing up for what’s right.” 

    Graziani is the father of four children and his Woodside home is located in Meng’s congressional district.

    In Congress, Meng has worked to assist veterans by sponsoring and supporting legislation, securing funding and spearheading local initiatives.         

    MIL OSI USA News –