NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Laurel Lee Introduces Bill to Help Holocaust Survivors and Families Reclaim Stolen Art

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) introduced the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act Improvements of 2025, a bipartisan bill that will help Holocaust survivors and their families reclaim artwork stolen by the Nazis. The bill removes the upcoming 2026 expiration date from the original law and makes key updates to ensure that survivors’ claims are heard fairly in court.

    Congresswoman Lee is joined by Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Jerrod Nadler (NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08). Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is leading the companion legislation in the Senate.

    “The Nazi regime stole not only lives but legacies, including cultural and family treasures that carry deep personal and historical meaning,”said Congresswoman Lee. “This bill ensures that families who lost everything during the Holocaust are given a fair shot at justice. These claims should be decided on the truth, not on legal loopholes or paperwork deadlines. With this legislation, we reaffirm our commitment to standing with Holocaust survivors and their families. They deserve to have their stories heard and their property returned. It’s never too late to do the right thing.”

    “Justice delayed should not be justice denied, especially for Holocaust survivors and their families,” said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. “This bill ensures they can continue seeking justice in U.S. courts, without being blocked by procedural loopholes. We have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law and stand with those still fighting to recover what was wrongfully taken during one of history’s darkest chapters.”

    “During the Holocaust, the Nazis stripped Jewish families of countless works of art, culture, and heritage. The effects of these atrocities are still being felt today by survivors and their families,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12). “I was proud to be a lead sponsor of the HEAR Act when it passed in 2016 and am proud to help lead my colleagues in reintroducing the bill today. As a matter of principle, we affirm that in the United States, everyone who has a credible claim deserves to have their day in court. This bill realizes that principle and ensures that every family has the right to a fair and just process based solely on the merits of their claim. We cannot fix the past, but this bill is a promise to the victims of the Holocaust that the United States is committed to creating a fair judicial process for the return of property that was wrongfully stolen during the darkest period of human history.” 

    “The Nazis murdered more than 6 million Jews, including 1.5 million children under the age of 12.  Looting art and other possessions from Jewish families was an essential part of Hitler’s concerted plan to annihilate the Jewish people. To allow museums here and in Europe, and foreign governments to keep Nazi looted art perpetuates the crimes of the Nazi regime, and demeans the memory of six million Jewish souls.  We applaud Congress for making sure that families can recover their treasured legacies, and that the true history of the Nazis’ brutal campaign of murder and theft cannot be erased or trivialized by the scoundrels who refuse to return looted art,”David Schaecter, Holocaust survivor and President of the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA. 

    “This legislation renews and strengthens the HEAR Act, which is set to expire, by closing critical loopholes and addressing key oversights. It reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that rightful owners of Nazi-looted art—and their families—receive the restitution they are owed. Any museum that knowingly retains stolen works is complicit in perpetuating the injustice inflicted on Holocaust victims. We have both a moral and legal obligation to correct these wrongs and to ensure the crimes of the Holocaust are neither forgiven nor forgotten,”Joel Greenberg, President of Art Ashes.

    “We strongly support this legislation.  Each artwork or object taken during the Holocaust is more than property – it holds the memory of a life, a family, a community culture. Restituting these items is not simply about returning possessions; it is about restoring history, identity, and a measure of justice to those who lost everything,”said Gideon Taylor, President of World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO).

     

    Background: 

    The original HEAR Act was passed in 2016 to provide families with a fair opportunity to recover art looted by the Nazis during World War II. It created a six-year window for legal claims, starting from the time a family discovers where their stolen art is located. The law was meant to ensure that cases are decided based on facts, not thrown out due to complicated legal deadlines. However, in recent years, some courts have dismissed these claims using time-based technical defenses, which goes against the original purpose of the law. 

    The new bill eliminates the 2026 “sunset clause,” which would have ended the protections offered by the HEAR Act. It also makes clear that as long as a family files within six years of discovering their artwork’s location, their case cannot be dismissed simply because of how much time has passed. This change is especially important as the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline.

    The bill also responds to a 2021 Supreme Court ruling (Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp) that made it harder to sue foreign governments involved in looting or holding art stolen during the Holocaust. Under this legislation, families will be able to bring claims in U.S. courts as long as the foreign government or museum has ties to the United States. The bill also blocks other legal defenses that could be used to avoid facing the facts in court and allows families to sue foreign defendants if they have any significant contact with the U.S., not just in one state.

    The bill is supported by a wide range of respected organizations, including: Art Ashes, Agudath Israel of America, American Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Bet Tzedek – House of Justice, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Action Fund, Creative Community for Peace, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, Florida Holocaust Museum, Holocaust Center for Humanity (Seattle), Holocaust Museum Houston, Holocaust Museum LA, Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Jewish Women International (JWI), Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust (New York), Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (Cincinnati), Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, StandWithUs, The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, World Jewish Congress, and the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: One person killed, two injured in shooting in southern Poland

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    WARSAW, June 27 (Xinhua) — At least one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting in southern Poland on Friday morning, Polish television channel Polsat News reported.

    According to the TV channel, the incident occurred at around 10:00 local time /08:00 GMT/ in the village of Stara Wieś, located in the Limanowski district of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

    Police spokeswoman Jolanta Batko confirmed that three people had been shot dead.

    Authorities said the suspect fled into nearby woods and a major manhunt is underway. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three killed in tourist plane crash in France

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    PARIS, June 27 (Xinhua) — A tourist plane belonging to an aeroclub crashed in the commune of Chamfoll in north-central France on Friday afternoon, killing all three people on board.

    The single-engine Cessna 172 crashed in a residential area just after 4 p.m. local time, narrowly missing nearby houses, according to authorities in the Eure-et-Loir department.

    The plane crash killed two men and one woman.

    The crash site was quickly cordoned off by emergency services. An investigation is underway under the direction of the Air Transport Gendarmerie and the National Police. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty for Computer Hacking

    Source: US FBI

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has pleaded guilty for hacking into the computer system at an area nonprofit.

    Nicholas Michael Kloster, 32, admitted during his plea that he caused reckless damage to a protected computer owned by an area nonprofit during unauthorized access. Kloster admitted that he entered the premises of a nonprofit corporation on May 20, 2024. Kloster entered an area that is not available to the public and accessed a computer with access to the company’s network.

    Kloster specifically admitted that he utilized a boot disk to access the computer through multiple user accounts. By accessing the computer in this manner, Kloster was able to circumvent the password requirements by changing the password assigned to one or more users. Kloster was then able to install a virtual private network on this computer. Since Kloster’s intrusion into its computer and its network, the company has sustained significant losses in an attempt to remediate the effects from this intrusion.

    Under federal statutes, Kloster is subject to a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment in federal prison without parole, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and an order of restitution. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle and Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missouri Man Admits Trying to Meet Teen for Sex

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted trying to meet a 16-year-old to engage in sexual activity.

    Anthony Justin Snelson, 39, of Arnold, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. He admitted engaging in an inappropriate conversation via TikTok with a teen. After the victim’s mother discovered the conversation, she took it over and began impersonating the victim. She later had her daughter call Snelson, who requested a nude photo and asked if the victim wanted to meet and “mess around,” Snelson’s plea says. The mother called the St. Louis County Police Department on Aug. 12, 2024, after a meeting had been arranged, and officers arrested Snelson when he arrived. He admitted in an interview with police that the reason he met with the teen was “to maybe mess around,” his plea says.

    Snelson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30. The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.

    The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missouri Man Admits Trying to Meet Teen for Sex

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted trying to meet a 16-year-old to engage in sexual activity.

    Anthony Justin Snelson, 39, of Arnold, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. He admitted engaging in an inappropriate conversation via TikTok with a teen. After the victim’s mother discovered the conversation, she took it over and began impersonating the victim. She later had her daughter call Snelson, who requested a nude photo and asked if the victim wanted to meet and “mess around,” Snelson’s plea says. The mother called the St. Louis County Police Department on Aug. 12, 2024, after a meeting had been arranged, and officers arrested Snelson when he arrived. He admitted in an interview with police that the reason he met with the teen was “to maybe mess around,” his plea says.

    Snelson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30. The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.

    The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on Resignation of Jim Ryan As President of UVA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    Published: June 27 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after Jim Ryan resigned as President of University of Virginia following pressure from the Department of Justice (DOJ):
    “Virginia’s economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system. It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth’s globally recognized university remove President Ryan—a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous ‘culture war’ traps. Decisions about UVA’s leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia’s well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia’s future.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement of U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine on Resignation of Jim Ryan as UVA President

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON —Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after Jim Ryan resigned as President of University of Virginia following pressure from the Department of Justice (DOJ):
    “Virginia’s economy and prosperity depend on the strength and integrity of our higher education system. It is outrageous that officials in the Trump Department of Justice demanded the Commonwealth’s globally recognized university remove President Ryan—a strong leader who has served UVA honorably and moved the university forward—over ridiculous ‘culture war’ traps. Decisions about UVA’s leadership belong solely to its Board of Visitors, in keeping with Virginia’s well-established and respected system of higher education governance. This is a mistake that hurts Virginia’s future.”
        

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Narrowing Judicial Power to Issue Nationwide Injunctions

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, released the following statement regarding today’s Supreme Court decision limiting the power of judges to issue nationwide injunctions. 

    “This is a breathtakingly misguided decision from the Supreme Court that will create chaos, irreparable damage, and uneven application of the law across the country. It fundamentally undermines the system of checks and balances in this country by limiting the scope of nationwide injunctions, while also throwing into question whether or not Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order on birthright citizenship will take effect.

    “Our legal system relies on judges and courts holding the Administration accountable when it violates the Constitution. Now, the Supreme Court majority has severely hamstrung federal courts’ ability to stop unconstitutional actions. Instead, we will have a patchwork of rulings that means one person’s constitutional rights may be protected, while another’s are not — depending on their zip code. This ruling is, as Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in her dissenting opinion, an ‘open invitation to bypass the Constitution,’ and as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said, an ‘existential threat to the rule of law.’ 

    “While the Supreme Court did not rule on the specific question of the merits of Trump’s unconstitutional attempts to strip away birthright citizenship, this ruling will now require class action lawsuits to be filed in multiple courts. Let me be clear: birthright citizenship is a constitutional right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. No matter how hard the Trump Administration tries to undo it with the stroke of a pen, it remains wholly unconstitutional, and we will never give up the fight to rein in this unconstitutional action.”

    Issues: Government Reform & Ethics

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kelly to hold telephone town hall to help Pennsylvanians fight fraud, stop scams

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, July 8, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) will hold a telephone town hall to help Pennsylvanians fight fraud, stop scams, and offer ways to protect your personal information. Officials from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will join the call to offer insight and answer questions.

    In April, the FBI released its annual Internet Crime Report, which revealed scammers stole more than $16 billion from Americans in 2024, a 33% increase in losses from 2023.

    “My office often received numerous calls from constituents who remain incredibly concerned about, or have even fallen victim to, scams and fraud,” said Rep. Kelly. “Our goal with this live telephone town hall is to give Pennsylvanians the tools necessary to fight back and to protect their personal information at a time when scams and fraud are on the rise. We hope you can join us!”

    DETAILS

    Who: Rep. Mike Kelly & Experts from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FBI.
    What: Live Telephone Town Hall  — “Fight Fraud, Stop Scams, & How to Protect Your Personal Information”
    When: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 6:30p.m. ET
    Pinless Participant Dial-In: 855-531-1063
    Livestream:Facebook.com/MikeKellyPA

    BACKGROUND

    According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the top three cybercrimes, by number of complaints reported by victims in 2024, were phishing/spoofing, extortion, and personal data breaches. Victims of investment fraud, specifically those involving cryptocurrency, reported the most losses—totaling over $6.5 billion.

    In April, Pennsylvania State Police investigated cybertheft after a Crawford County couple was reportedly scammed out of more than $2,000.

    Just this week, state officials warned Pennsylvanians to watch for an ongoing fake inheritance scam.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Judge Kenneth A. Talley named district administrative judge for the District Court of Maryland in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties

    Source: US State of Maryland

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 27, 2025

    Government Relations and Public Affairs
    187 Harry S. Truman Parkway
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401

    Judge Kenneth A. Talley named district administrative judge for the District Court of Maryland in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties

    ANNAPOLIS, Md. – District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey, with the approval of Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader, has named Charles County District Court Judge Kenneth A. Talley as the new administrative judge for District 4 (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties). Judge Talley’s new role is effective August 1, 2025.

    Judge Talley succeeds District Administrative Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser, who will step down from her administrative judge role in preparation for her retirement in 2026.

    “Judge Talley is an excellent jurist and choice as the new administrative judge for the District Court in Southern Maryland,” said Supreme Court of Maryland Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader. “I am confident that he will continue to be an effective leader in his district to provide fair, efficient, and effective justice for all.”

    District 4 Administrative Judge Kenneth A. Talley

    District administrative judges oversee the administration of the court and manage trial calendars to ensure the expeditious disposition of cases.

    “Judge Talley’s leadership in the District Court in Charles County for the past 16 years has prepared him to take on this new role,” said District Court of Maryland Chief Judge John P. Morrissey. “Administrative Judge Chesser has been an exemplary administrative Judge, has served her District well for the past 15 years, and will be available to manage the transition with Judge Talley.”   

    Judge Talley was appointed as an associate judge to the District Court in Charles County in May 2009 by then-Governor Martin O’Malley. 

    Judge Talley has served on the Judiciary’s Security and Post-COVID Judicial Operations Committees. Additionally, he served as a member of the Maryland Judiciary’s Judicial Council Equal Justice Committee from 2020 to 2022. 

    Judge Talley served as a law clerk for retired Judge Herman C. Dawson, Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, from 1998 to 1999, before starting his career as an attorney at Don Ansell & Associates, at which he worked from 1999 to 2000. He formerly served as an assistant public defender in Charles County from 2000 to 2005. Additionally, he served as a partner at Collins & Talley from 2005 to 2007, and as an assistant state’s attorney in Charles County from 2007 to 2009. 

    Judge Talley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in government and politics in 1990, and a juris doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1993. He is admitted to the Maryland Bar, and he is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association. He has been a member of the Charles County Bar Association since 2002, serving on its board of directors from 2004 to 2009, as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president, and still served in the role as president upon his appointment to the bench in 2009. Judge Talley was also a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

    Judge Talley served from 2004 to 2007 as a community judge for the Charles County Teen Court Program, where he earned the Community Judge Appreciation Award for Outstanding Service. He also served as a member of the board of directors of Jude House, Inc. In 2001, Judge Talley earned the Assistant Public Defender of the Year Award, District IV.

    “It is a great honor and a privilege to be able to serve the citizens, staff, and judges of Southern Maryland, said Judge Kenneth A. Talley, Charles County District Court.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Landmark Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today signed into law S.7672A/A.6769A, a pivotal measure aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of state and local government networks across New York. First announced in Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State, this legislation will improve the State’s ability to respond to threats, safeguard critical infrastructure and reduce statewide cybersecurity risks. Governor Hochul made the announcement today following a meeting with City, County, Town and Village officials from across the State to discuss current security efforts in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

    “My top priority as Governor is the security and safety of all New Yorkers, and with this legislation we’re strengthening our ability to respond to and ultimately prevent cyber threats all across our state,” Governor Hochul said. “As global conflicts escalate and cyber threats evolve, so must our response, and we are taking a whole of government approach in doing so. Requiring timely incident reporting and providing annual cybersecurity training for government employees will build a stronger digital shield for every community across the State and ensure they get the support they need when it matters most.”

    The legislation mandates that all municipal corporations and public authorities promptly report cybersecurity incidents and ransom payments to the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), fortifying the statewide defense against digital threats. Under the new law, municipalities and public authorities are required to report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours to DHSES and provide notice of payment of a ransom within 24 hours. The legislation also mandates annual cybersecurity awareness training for government employees across New York and sets data protection standards for State-maintained information systems.

    New York State Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern said, “The cyber threats that municipalities face have never been more numerous, more sophisticated, or more dangerous, and coordinated whole-of-government information sharing is more important than ever to tackle these threats. This legislation will enable New York State to build situational awareness of statewide cyber threat activity and create a comprehensive threat picture that can protect all New Yorkers. Ensuring that state and local government employees complete annual cybersecurity awareness training adds another line of cyber defense and empowers government employees statewide to recognize and respond to cyber threats.”

    State and local governments are on the front lines of a growing wave of cyberattacks that threaten essential services and public data. As attackers become more sophisticated and aggressive, municipalities face mounting risks with limited support and rapidly evolving threats. Recent ransomware incidents across the country have underscored the urgent need for coordinated, statewide action to help local agencies respond swiftly and protect the communities they serve. The 72-hour reporting requirement will give New York State critical visibility into threats, allowing for faster response, better coordination and damage limitation.

    State Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “Protecting the public is government’s most important responsibility, but attacks on critical infrastructure put essential services and the people who rely on them at risk. This bill gives municipalities the structure, support, and accountability they need to protect residents and taxpayers from prolonged disruption in the event of a cyberattack. I thank Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the Legislature for recognizing the cost of inaction and for advancing this important legislation.”

    State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “In our increasingly digital world, our data is constantly at risk. As emerging technologies make it easier for hackers to access our data, readiness isn’t just an option for our government; it’s our imperative. I thank the sponsor for introducing this bill and the Governor for signing it into law. It is a smart measure that will improve municipal cybersecurity posture and threat intelligence sharing within the state. I look forward to more legislation on cybersecurity being considered so we can make New York as technologically safe as possible.”

    Assemblymember Billy Jones said, “This piece of legislation is vital for our ever-changing technological state. The unique threats digital attackers pose to our municipalities requires a strong and direct response, and this bill will allow our local and state leaders to do just that. Cybersecurity is an increasingly important topic across all sectors of the state, and ensuring our government offices and agencies are able to respond to threats is critical.”

    Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “Since the August 2023 release of Governor Hochul’s NYS Cybersecurity Strategy, New York has steadily increased cybersecurity assistance to local governments. This important legislation continues that commitment by requiring prompt reporting of cyberattacks and ransom payments and cybersecurity training of government employees. Full knowledge of cyberattacks statewide will allow state cyber agencies to better advise local governments and school districts about the evolving threat environment. This new law is another example of Governor Hochul and the Legislature working together to expand our resilience to these threats.”

    New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “As Governor Hochul says, our number one job is to keep New Yorkers safe. That includes protecting local governments from cyberattacks. This bill will ensure that all local governments and public authorities report cyberattacks soon after they occur so that our cyber security team has the information we need to respond to the ever-changing threat landscape.”

    New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Information Technology Services Dru Rai said, “Training and awareness is a key component in enhancing New York’s statewide cybersecurity posture and creating an army of cyber warriors who can better shield their IT assets, safeguard sensitive data and protect all New Yorkers. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s strong leadership and historic cybersecurity investments, as well as our ongoing partnership with the Senate, Assembly and our local governments, New York State is better prepared than ever to take the fight to the enemy. Cyber threat actors will continue to change their tactics in an attempt to find even the slightest vulnerability, but as a State we will continue to adapt, evolve, educate and strengthen our overall defenses to aggressively and proactively meet this challenge.”

    New York Association of Towns Executive Director Christopher A Koetzle said, “Municipalities face ever-increasing and sophisticated cyber threats. I applaud the governor and the Legislature for helping to better protect our local governments across the state and giving them more tools to prepare for and respond to these growing threats. NYAOT has long stood in partnership with NYMIR in its mission of delivering cyber security training to each of our member towns and this bill will ensure that more towns make training a priority in the coming years.”

    New York State Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “Almost everything that counties and local governments do today rely on some type of information technology system, and we know that these systems are under threat. This new law is designed to raise the baseline of understanding of cybersecurity for all local leaders and employees so we can all better defend the information systems and data we all rely on to operate government and serve residents. On behalf of the county governments of New York, we commend Governor Hochul for approving this legislation.”

    New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Barbara Van Epps said, “NYCOM applauds Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for making cybersecurity a top priority for New York. The enactment of this legislation marks a critical step forward in strengthening our collective defense against digital threats to the State and its local governments. By requiring prompt incident reporting, ransomware disclosures and annual cybersecurity training, the Governor is sending a clear message: cybersecurity is not just an IT issue — it’s a core public safety priority that demands coordination, vigilance and shared responsibility.”

    The enactment of S.7672A/A.6769A underscores New York State’s commitment to cybersecurity, setting a precedent for other states to follow in protecting both state and local critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has led the nation in developing smart and effective cybersecurity policy — from nation-leading financial sector regulations to landmark legislation to protect New York’s energy grid from cyberattacks, and first-in-the-nation hospital cybersecurity regulations.

    These and other initiatives build on Governor Hochul’s previous actions and investments to build a more resilient, safer and secure digital environment for all New Yorkers. Following escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Governor Hochul immediately convened the State’s top security personnel from counterintelligence, State Police and Homeland Security. In order to protect New York’s municipalities and cyber infrastructure, Governor Hochul has invested millions of dollars to harden local assets and ensure the protection of critical data that’s used to deliver services to New Yorkers.

    Over the last three years, Governor Hochul has also made foundational investments in New York’s cybersecurity by establishing the NYS Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC), operationalizing the statewide shared services program for counties and municipalities and expanding the State’s law enforcement cyber capabilities by growing the Computer Crimes Unit, Cyber Analysis Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Center at the New York State Police.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS and DOJ Announce Streamlined Process for Fining Illegal Aliens

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new joint federal rule with the Department of Justice (DOJ) that will make it easier and more efficient to fine illegal aliens.

    The current process requires giving illegal aliens 30 days’ notice of the intent to fine them before a fine is issued. This new rule will eliminate the 30-day notice period, authorize DHS immigration officers to send fines to illegal aliens by regular mail, and shorten the process that applies if illegal aliens contest their fines.

    “The law doesn’t enforce itself; there must be consequences for breaking it.” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for law and order and making our government more effective and efficient at enforcing the American people’s immigration laws. Financial penalties like these are just one more reason why illegal aliens should use CBP Home to self-deport now before it’s too late.”

    The new process will be applied to:

    • Aliens who enter the United States illegally
    • Aliens who ignore removal orders or delay their removal
    • Aliens who do not honor agreements to comply with judges’ voluntary departure orders

    Fines include:

    • $100 to $500 per unlawful entry or attempted entry
    • $1,992 to $9,970 for failure to honor a voluntary departure order
    • Up to $998 per day for willfully failing to comply with a removal order

    Fines such as these were never issued by DHS prior to President Trump’s first term in office. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped issuing them when President Biden took office. Shortly after President Trump returned to office, ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 13, 2025, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE

    Aliens who self-deport through the CBP Home App will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States. All illegal aliens are encouraged to start their CBP Home self-deportation process immediately.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Joins Krishnamoorthi to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Services for Children In Schools

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C — 6/26/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler joined Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) in introducing the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act, bipartisan legislation with the goal of aiding schools in connecting students with the mental health services needed to succeed and thrive. Students and young people continue to face unprecedented mental health challenges inside and outside of school, with pressure and stress impacting Americans across the country. This legislation seeks to ensure all students, particularly those in underserved communities and under-resourced school districts, have access to appropriate and timely care.

    Also joining Congressman Krishnamoorthi in introducing this bipartisan bill are Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-08).

    “Students across the country are facing a growing mental health crisis, and we have a responsibility to ensure they’re not navigating it alone. The Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act will help break down barriers to care, especially for students in rural and underserved communities, by expanding access to telehealth in our schools. I’m proud to join Rep. Krishnamoorthi and our colleagues in delivering resources for our students and schools,” Congressman Lawler said.

    “Our school systems are lifelines of support when young people need mental health care and don’t know where to turn,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “Currently, most American school districts are unequipped to support our children, but our Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act will fill in the gaps and connect young people with the mental health services they need. By investing in the mental health of America’s future generations, we are setting all students up for success, regardless of their background or where they live.”

    “The youth mental health crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time, and schools cannot tackle it without real support,” Congressman Fitzpatrick said. “The Connecting Students to Mental Health Services Act delivers targeted, high-impact resources—especially for underserved communities—to ensure students get the care they need. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, my priority is to advance solutions like this that strengthen our system and ensure every student has a clear path to support, stability, and success.”

    “Getting students better access to mental health resources is so important,” Congressman Landsman said. “As a former teacher and the son of teachers, I’ve seen firsthand what’s happening in our classrooms – and know how much more we can do. Expanding access to care in our schools, especially through telehealth, will give our students what they need to be stronger and healthier. And when it’s easier to connect with professionals to work through what they’re facing, they’re in a much better position to succeed in school and life.”

    “As a mom of four, I know how essential providing mental health services to students is to their success. We need to make sure we are investing in America’s youth, and that starts with making sure they can succeed in the classroom,” Congresswoman Bynum said. “That’s why I’m so proud to introduce the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act which takes important steps towards providing this vital care to our students in rural and high-poverty areas, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive now and for generations to come.”

    The legislation would support partnerships between public schools and community-based mental health providers by:

    • Establishing a grant program through the Department of Education to fund school-based mental health coordination initiatives;
    • Supporting the hiring and training of school mental health professionals and liaisons;
    • Helping schools create referral pathways to community providers and expand access to tele-mental health options.

    The legislation has been endorsed by leading mental health and education organizations, including the School Superintendents Association (AASA), National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National Association of Social Workers.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler, Hill, Gottheimer, Kean Jr., and Moskowitz Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Countries That Wrongfully Detain Americans

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C — 6/27/25… This week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), French Hill (AR-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) introduced the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, which would create a designation for countries or nonstate actors that engage in the unlawful or wrongful detention of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, empowering the Secretary of State and Congress to hold them accountable.

    The bill provides congressional oversight by requiring that all state sponsors of unlawful or wrongful detention designations expire unless Congress passes a joint resolution to approve them within six months. Congress would also have the authority to terminate a designation through a joint resolution, ensuring these decisions reflect the interests of the American people and are subject to public accountability.

    This legislation further directs the Secretary of State to brief Congress on whether the following countries should be designated under this new authority:

    • China
    • Russia
    • Iran
    • Afghanistan
    • Eritrea
    • Nicaragua
    • Syria
    • Venezuela
    • Belarus

    “As a co-lead on the Countering Wrongful Detention Act, I’m proud to be joining a bipartisan group of colleagues working to protect Americans held hostage by rogue nations as political pawns. This legislation will provide the State Department with the necessary tools to exert pressure while ensuring that Congress maintains accountability. American families deserve nothing less,” said Congressman Lawler.

    “When Americans are wrongfully detained abroad, it’s not just a personal tragedy — it’s a direct attack on the United States. Those who wrongfully detain Americans must know that there will be real consequences for using U.S. citizens as political pawns. That’s why our bill gives the State Department the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable while keeping Congress firmly engaged in the process. This bipartisan bill is a strong step toward protecting Americans by deterring and punishing them,” said Congressman Hill.

    “As the United States faces increasing threats from foreign adversaries, protecting Americans abroad must remain a top priority. I am proud to help introduce the bipartisan Countering Wrongful Detention Act alongside Congressman Hill to ensure the State Department has the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “This bipartisan bill will help bring home Americans wrongfully detained around the world and strengthen efforts to prevent future hostage taking. To those being held, and their families, our message is clear: we stand with you and we are fighting every day to bring you home.”

    “My constituent, Sarah Moriarty, lost her father, Robert Levinson, after he was taken hostage by Iran in 2007. Her family spent years wondering where he was, not knowing if he was alive or if they would ever see him again. Sadly, far too many American families have lived through that same kind of fear and heartbreak,” said Congressman Kean Jr. “Hostile regimes like Iran continue to use innocent Americans as bargaining chips, dehumanizing and mistreating them—and in some cases, even taking their lives. The Countering Wrongful Detention Act makes it clear that there will be consequences for this kind of behavior, and the United States will always go to great lengths to protect its citizens.”

    “For years, my constituent Bob Levinson was illegally, unjustly, and unacceptably held by the Iranian regime. Bad actors like these can’t detain Americans without cause and think they can get away with it. I’m helping lead the Countering Wrongful Detention Act because this bipartisan bill puts real tools in place that’ll crack down on this practice and send a strong, bipartisan signal that our government will hold accountable any state or nonstate actors who threaten Americans in this way,” said Congressman Moskowitz. 

    “Since the introduction of PPD30 ten years ago, and the Robert A. Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act in 2019, we have seen marked improvement in how our government handles the cases of American nationals held hostage by state and nonstate actors,” said Sarah (Levinson) Moriarty, Co-Founder of R. A. Levinson & Associates and Fellow, New America Future Security Program. “This important bipartisan legislation, coming at such a critical time when Americans continue to be taken on a weekly basis as political bargaining chips, is a giant leap forward in creating tangible deterrence that stops bad actors from continuing this horrific practice. Thank you to Representatives Hill, Gottheimer, Kean Jr., Lawler, and Moskowitz for their leadership on this issue. We hope to see this legislation passed by Congress and swiftly signed into law, as we know it will help prevent so many Americans from falling victim to the suffering that my father, my family, my friends in the hostage community, and far too many others have experienced.”

    “The Foley Foundation supports the bipartisan introduction of this bill in the House of Representatives by Reps. Hill, Kean Jr, Lawler, Gottheimer, and Moskowitz to ensure hostile regimes that take American nationals for political leverage face greater and targeted consequences. We welcome oversight provisions to require public testimony or public reporting that will allow the American people to better understand the threat of international hostage-taking.” 

    The bipartisan legislation creates a new authority for the Secretary of State to formally designate countries or nonstate actors as state sponsors of unlawful or wrongful detention, creating a deterrent framework similar to the existing state sponsors of terrorism designation. Once designated, the Secretary may impose a range of penalties on those governments, including diplomatic and economic consequences.

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. 

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    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Nunn, Wyden Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Abusers From Targeting Survivors with Technology

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Zach Nunn (R-IA), along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), today reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help prevent domestic abusers from using technology to stalk, harass, or control survivors.

    In today’s rapidly growing digital environment, technology-enabled abuse has taken many forms, including social media platforms, phone-based apps, and specialty spyware programs. Because of the diversity of platforms in today’s growing digital environment, it’s clear that abuse does not require huge financial resources or sophisticated understanding of technology, and survivors rarely have the tools they need to recognize and prevent abuse.  

    The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act would provide new grant funding to clinics and other partnerships focused on domestic violence and technology-enabled abuse prevention. It would also support new training that would give organizations the specialized services necessary to help survivors with a range of experiences.

    “It’s critical that we recognize domestic abuse and sexual harassment often extend beyond physical violence,” Dingell said. “To fully protect survivors, we must keep up with the many ways that abusers can use technology to stalk, harass, control, or otherwise endanger their victims. This legislation will support specialized education and resources for advocates and victim service providers to recognize, prevent, and combat tech-enabled abuse.”

    “In the Iowa statehouse, I led efforts to protect survivors from the growing threat of digital abuse. Now, we’re taking that work nationwide,” Nunn said. “This bill strengthens community-based networks that are on the frontlines, giving them the tools to recognize and address tech-enabled abuse and help victims secure their devices. Survivors deserve both safety and support, and this legislation delivers both.”

    “As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics of abusers who are grossly leveraging many different platforms to stalk, harass, and control survivors of domestic violence – from tracking them on social media to hacking into their email,” Wyden said. “Survivors deserve support and the tools to protect against abuse in any shape or form. More education, training, and health care clinics are needed.”

    The legislation would take two steps in combating technology-enabled domestic abuse:

    1. It would authorize a pilot project run by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women to establish more tech-enabled abuse clinics. The program would provide $2 million grants for up to 15 clinics and other organizations that support survivors of sexual and domestic violence who are experiencing technology-enabled abuse.
    2. It would establish another grant program, which is also under the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women, to ensure nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions develop and implement training and technical assistance for groups working to prevent tech-enabled abuse.

    The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act is endorsed by National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Legal Momentum, Clinic to End Tech Abuse, EndTAB, New Beginnings, Natalie Dolci of the Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiative (endorsed in her personal capacity), Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Sexual Assault Support Services of Oregon, Center for Hope and Safety of Oregon, and the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

    “Technology facilitated abuse is one of the fastest growing threats victims and survivors face today. The reintroduction of the Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act is a vital step toward ensuring survivors have the expert support they need to stay safe in an increasingly digital world. We’re deeply grateful to Rep. Dingell, Rep. Nunn, and Senator Wyden for their leadership in advancing meaningful, survivor-centered solutions to this urgent issue,” said Marium Durrani, Vice President of Policy for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

    “Legal Momentum is proud to endorse the Tech Safety for Victims Act to help ensure that survivors of technology facilitated abuse receive the support and services they need and deserve. As technology makes it easier than ever to upend people’s lives, it’s crucial that survivors are protected not just in their homes and communities, but also in the digital spaces where abuse occurs more and more frequently. This legislation would provide critical resources to help survivors reclaim and rebuild their lives after the trauma of cyber abuse,” said Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director at Legal Momentum.

    “People experiencing tech-enabled abuse often don’t know where to turn. Our clinic has helped hundreds of New Yorkers over the last few years, but survivors around the country urgently need assistance. This Act could expand access to similar support services and develop knowledge about evolving forms of tech-enabled abuse,” said Thomas E. Kadri, Legislative & Policy Director of the Clinic to End Tech Abuse.

    “Programs that serve survivors of gender-based violence need additional support and technical assistance to keep up with increasingly pervasive tech abuse. Failure to provide this enhancement to victim services infrastructure will compromise the safety of survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault,” said Natalie Dolci, of the Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiative (endorsed in her personal capacity).

    “Technology can be weaponized to cause harm or by victims seeking safety. I have heard countless stories about various forms of tech being used to harass, stalk and control someone by abusive partners. This bill is needed to further address all forms of technology and the intersection with violence. It will provide anti-domestic violence organizations with needed funding to further develop Safety planning resources technology and be able to respond effectively to the ever changing tech landscape,” said Keri Moran-Kuhn, Executive Director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Nunn, Wyden Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Abusers From Targeting Survivors with Technology

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Zach Nunn (R-IA), along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), today reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help prevent domestic abusers from using technology to stalk, harass, or control survivors.

    In today’s rapidly growing digital environment, technology-enabled abuse has taken many forms, including social media platforms, phone-based apps, and specialty spyware programs. Because of the diversity of platforms in today’s growing digital environment, it’s clear that abuse does not require huge financial resources or sophisticated understanding of technology, and survivors rarely have the tools they need to recognize and prevent abuse.  

    The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act would provide new grant funding to clinics and other partnerships focused on domestic violence and technology-enabled abuse prevention. It would also support new training that would give organizations the specialized services necessary to help survivors with a range of experiences.

    “It’s critical that we recognize domestic abuse and sexual harassment often extend beyond physical violence,” Dingell said. “To fully protect survivors, we must keep up with the many ways that abusers can use technology to stalk, harass, control, or otherwise endanger their victims. This legislation will support specialized education and resources for advocates and victim service providers to recognize, prevent, and combat tech-enabled abuse.”

    “In the Iowa statehouse, I led efforts to protect survivors from the growing threat of digital abuse. Now, we’re taking that work nationwide,” Nunn said. “This bill strengthens community-based networks that are on the frontlines, giving them the tools to recognize and address tech-enabled abuse and help victims secure their devices. Survivors deserve both safety and support, and this legislation delivers both.”

    “As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics of abusers who are grossly leveraging many different platforms to stalk, harass, and control survivors of domestic violence – from tracking them on social media to hacking into their email,” Wyden said. “Survivors deserve support and the tools to protect against abuse in any shape or form. More education, training, and health care clinics are needed.”

    The legislation would take two steps in combating technology-enabled domestic abuse:

    1. It would authorize a pilot project run by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women to establish more tech-enabled abuse clinics. The program would provide $2 million grants for up to 15 clinics and other organizations that support survivors of sexual and domestic violence who are experiencing technology-enabled abuse.
    2. It would establish another grant program, which is also under the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women, to ensure nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions develop and implement training and technical assistance for groups working to prevent tech-enabled abuse.

    The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act is endorsed by National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Legal Momentum, Clinic to End Tech Abuse, EndTAB, New Beginnings, Natalie Dolci of the Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiative (endorsed in her personal capacity), Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Sexual Assault Support Services of Oregon, Center for Hope and Safety of Oregon, and the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

    “Technology facilitated abuse is one of the fastest growing threats victims and survivors face today. The reintroduction of the Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act is a vital step toward ensuring survivors have the expert support they need to stay safe in an increasingly digital world. We’re deeply grateful to Rep. Dingell, Rep. Nunn, and Senator Wyden for their leadership in advancing meaningful, survivor-centered solutions to this urgent issue,” said Marium Durrani, Vice President of Policy for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

    “Legal Momentum is proud to endorse the Tech Safety for Victims Act to help ensure that survivors of technology facilitated abuse receive the support and services they need and deserve. As technology makes it easier than ever to upend people’s lives, it’s crucial that survivors are protected not just in their homes and communities, but also in the digital spaces where abuse occurs more and more frequently. This legislation would provide critical resources to help survivors reclaim and rebuild their lives after the trauma of cyber abuse,” said Azaleea Carlea, Legal Director at Legal Momentum.

    “People experiencing tech-enabled abuse often don’t know where to turn. Our clinic has helped hundreds of New Yorkers over the last few years, but survivors around the country urgently need assistance. This Act could expand access to similar support services and develop knowledge about evolving forms of tech-enabled abuse,” said Thomas E. Kadri, Legislative & Policy Director of the Clinic to End Tech Abuse.

    “Programs that serve survivors of gender-based violence need additional support and technical assistance to keep up with increasingly pervasive tech abuse. Failure to provide this enhancement to victim services infrastructure will compromise the safety of survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault,” said Natalie Dolci, of the Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiative (endorsed in her personal capacity).

    “Technology can be weaponized to cause harm or by victims seeking safety. I have heard countless stories about various forms of tech being used to harass, stalk and control someone by abusive partners. This bill is needed to further address all forms of technology and the intersection with violence. It will provide anti-domestic violence organizations with needed funding to further develop Safety planning resources technology and be able to respond effectively to the ever changing tech landscape,” said Keri Moran-Kuhn, Executive Director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of Universal Service Fund: Congress must ensure its stability into the future

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Supreme Court’s opinion issued today in Consumers’ Research v. Federal Communications Commission considering the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) releases the following statement:
     

    The Supreme Court upheld what most observers know to be true: the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) is fully constitutional. As the amicus brief signed by CWA explained, “Universal service principles have been a key element of American communications policy since the nation’s founding.”

     

    While the legality of the Fund’s structure should never have been in doubt, the communications industry has changed since the USF was originally created in 1996. As technicians and customer service representatives in the telecommunication industry, CWA members see the positive impact of the USF every day. We also recognize that broadband internet and other emerging technologies now play a central role in our daily lives. It’s time for Congress to recognize this and take action to modernize the contribution mechanism supporting the fund to ensure that these essential services are available and affordable for all Americans.

     

    We are gratified that Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), along with House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Richard Hudson (R-NC9) and Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA7), have re-started the Universal Service Fund Working Group. The working group puts Congress in a good position to take the action needed.

     

    This round of litigation and briefing before the Supreme Court emphasized that support for the Universal Service Fund and the programs it supports are strong and broadly held. Companies and organizations as diverse as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the National Foreign Trade Council, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, the School Superintendents Association and the American Library Association, filed amicus briefs in support of the constitutionality of the fund, and illustrating the many devastating consequences that would arise if it failed.

     

    CWA members stand ready to ensure that the USF is used to provide support to building and maintaining high-quality, fiber broadband infrastructure in rural and remote areas of the country and that low-income households can afford to purchase those services. Without such a network that reaches everyone and that everyone can afford, the well-being of our communities and our nation will be under threat.

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why experts expect Russian interference in upcoming election on Ukraine’s borders

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    When Moldovans go to the polls in parliamentary elections on September 28, it will be the third time in less than a year – after a referendum on future EU membership and presidential elections last autumn.

    In both of the recent elections pro-European forces scraped to victory, thanks to a strong turnout among Moldovan diaspora voters, primarily in western Europe and north America. And in both elections, Russian interference was a significant factor. This is unlikely to change in the upcoming parliamentary vote. Moldova is too important a battleground in Russia’s campaign to rebuild a Soviet-style sphere of influence in eastern Europe.

    Wedged between EU and Nato member Romania to the west and Ukraine to the east, Moldova has its own aspirations for EU accession. But with a breakaway region in Transnistria, which is host to a Russian military base and “peacekeeping force” and whose population is leaning heavily towards Russia, this will not be a straightforward path to membership.

    What’s more, a Euro-sceptic and Moscow-friendly government after the next elections might allow the Kremlin to increase its military presence in the region and thereby pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Romania. While not quite equivalent to Russia’s unsinkable aircraft carrier of Kaliningrad, a more Russia-friendly Moldovan government would be a major strategic asset for Moscow.

    Unsurprisingly, Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, and her Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky have little doubt that further destabilisation is at the top of Russia’s agenda. Fears about a Russian escalation in the months before the elections are neither new nor unfounded.

    There were worries that Moldova and Transnistria might be next on the Kremlin’s agenda as far back as the aftermath of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. These worries resurfaced when Moscow, rather prematurely, announced the beginning of stage two of its war against Ukraine in late April, 2022.

    Russia’s hopes of capturing all of southern Ukraine may not have materialised yet, but they are not off the Kremlin’s agenda. And a track record of false-flag operations in Transnistria and a coup attempt in Moldova do not bode well in the run-up to the elections.

    Knife-edge elections are nothing new in Moldova. The country is not only physically divided along the river Nistru, but even in the territory controlled by the government, opinions over its future geopolitical orientation remain split.

    With no pre-1991 history of independent statehood, parts of Moldova were part of Ukraine, Romania and the Soviet Union. Russian is widely spoken and, while declining in number, Moldovan labour migrants to Russia remain important contributors of remittances, which accounted for over 12 percent of the country’s GDP in 2023.

    A large number of Moldovans are, therefore, not keen on severing all ties with Russia. This does not mean they are supporters of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or opponents of closer relations with the European Union. But as the referendum and presidential elections in October 2024, if pushed to make a choice between Russia and Europe and manipulated by Russian fear-mongering and vote buying, pro-European majorities remain slim.

    This is despite the significant support that the EU has provided to Moldova, including €1.9 billion (£1.6 billion) in financial support to facilitate reforms as part of the country’s efforts to join the EU. And there’s also nearly €200 million in military assistance over the past four years, including a €20 million package for improved air defences announced in April.

    Russian interference in the 2024 election was well documented.

    The EU has also provided several emergency aid packages to assist the country’s population during repeated energy crises triggered by Russia. Since then, the Moldovans and Brussels have agreed on comprehensive energy strategy that will make the country immune to Russian blackmail.

    This pattern of competitive influence seeking by Russia and the EU is long-standing and has not produced any decisive, lasting breakthroughs for either side.

    When the current president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, won in 2020, she defeated her opponent, Igor Dodon, by a decisive 58% to 42% margin, equivalent to some 250,000 votes that separated the candidates in the second round. Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) obtained almost 53% of votes in the 2021 parliamentary elections and gained 63 seats in the 101-seat parliament. Not since the 2005 elections, won by the communist party under then-president Vladimir Voronin, had there been a a majority single-party government in Moldova. According to current opinion polls, PAS remains the strongest party with levels of support between 27% and 37%.

    In a crowded field of political parties and their leaders in which disappointment and doubt are the prevailing negative emotions among the electorate, Sandu and PAS remain the least unpopular choices. They have weathered the fall-out from the war in Ukraine well so far – managing the influx of refugees, keeping relations with Transnistria stable, and steering Moldova through a near-constant cost-of-living and energy crisis. Anti-government protests in 2022-23 eventually fizzled out.

    Russia’s election interference in 2024 was ultimately not successful in cheating pro-European voters out of their victories in the presidential elections and the referendum on future EU membership. But this is unlikely to stop the Kremlin from trying again in the run-up to parliamentary elections in September.

    Moscow will try to disrupt and delay Moldova’s already bumpy road to EU membership. A weakened pro-European government after parliamentary elections would be a very useful tool for Russia. Moldova and its European allies are in for an unusually hot summer.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Why experts expect Russian interference in upcoming election on Ukraine’s borders – https://theconversation.com/why-experts-expect-russian-interference-in-upcoming-election-on-ukraines-borders-258445

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: China is constructing a new hero cult – here’s why that matters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Vincent K.L. Chang, Assistant Professor of the History and International Relations of Modern China, Leiden University

    A tour guide competition was held in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late May. This was not some fun contest. According to Chinese state media, it was a carefully conceived effort to “attract and cultivate a group of politically firm and professionally skilled storytellers of heroes and martyrs in the new era”.

    It symbolises the ambitious and far-reaching campaign launched by the Chinese state to revive the country’s pantheon of national heroes and martyrs. The aim is to unite and mobilise the nation in what Chinese leadership see as the crucial final phase in the quest to become a modern global superpower.

    On the same day as the Wuhan competition, but 750 miles further inland in Sichuan province, children from a kindergarten gathered with martyrs’ family members to engage in traditional crafts. The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist party, the People’s Daily, explained how this activity helped “pass on the torch of heroes” to young generations.

    And two weeks earlier, in China’s eastern province of Shandong, representatives from the official state news agency, Xinhua, attended an immersive training session on hero spirit. By coming “face to face” with heroes of the past, the trainees were able to grasp the “spirit” that had guided the extraordinary deeds of these ordinary people.

    This “facing up” to past heroes increasingly takes place through digital means. Thanks to developments in AI, and with the help of universities, museums and various government units, numerous Chinese people have now been “reunited” or become “acquainted” with family members martyred decades ago.

    Activities such as these have become commonplace in recent years. They are encouraged, guided and overseen by an expanding architecture of laws and regulations. There are at least two reasons why the campaign to build a new “spirit” of heroism and sacrifice requires attention beyond China-watchers.

    Chinese memory politics

    The first reason is the increasingly global reach of the campaign. Just as China’s economic statecraft is affecting global trade and finance, so too are Chinese memory politics spreading across the globe and reshaping the transnational memory landscape.

    Beijing has become an active sponsor of commemorations that are concerned more with shaping the future than looking into the past. Recent examples include Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and Minsk, and joint commemorations in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, of the Chinese “martyrs” of Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy there in 1999.



    Read more:
    Russia-China ties on full display on Victory Day – but all is not as well as Putin is making out

    China is also fostering bilateral memory partnerships in south-east Asia and Africa. And it has even resorted to memory diplomacy in seeking improved relations with the US by invoking the spirit of Sino-US cooperation during the second world war.

    China’s historical statecraft operates globally in the legal realm, too. Laws have come into effect that aim to promote patriotism and spread “core socialist values” among Chinese communities worldwide.

    Chinese embassies and consulates are required to locate Chinese martyrs buried in their host jurisdictions, and erect and maintain memorials for them. They are also expected to organise commemorations involving local Chinese diasporic and expat communities.

    Recent laws have been used to detain Chinese citizens living abroad. One example is Chinese artist Gao Zhen. Gao had been a permanent US resident for 13 years when he was detained in China in 2024 for his critical depictions of Mao Zedong a decade earlier.

    Gao was charged with the crime of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs” under a law that did not exist when he created and exhibited his artwork.

    The second reason why China’s martyrs and heroes campaign matters globally is possibly more disturbing. China has become an example of a growing body of cases where state actors seek to shape and control historical memory.

    With several democracies beginning to show signs of democratic backsliding, the Chinese case is one of many that show that polar distinctions between “liberal” and “illiberal” systems are untenable.

    Perhaps the most obvious example of a democracy in democratic recession is the US. Donald Trump, a constitutionally elected president, is relying on a series of executive orders to consolidate power and hamper critical debate.

    One such directive, issued late in Trump’s first term, entails a proposal to build a so-called “national garden of American heroes”. The proposal was revived recently with an executive order on “restoring truth and sanity to American history”.

    The order aims to remove what the administration deems divisive and anti-American ideologies from national museums and public monuments.

    Washington’s efforts to control how history is presented seem to come straight out of Beijing’s playbook. In 2020, during his July 4 address, Trump claimed: “Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children.”

    These words eerily resemble those used previously by Chinese president Xi Jinping to justify his campaign against what he calls “historical nihilism” – attempts to “destroy” the Chinese nation by eradicating its history.

    Memory laws have also been adopted across Europe. The European Parliament, for example, has codified its own historical interpretations of the causes of the second world war in an attempt to counter what it labels Russian disinformation.

    The causes and consequences of war have always been and will continue to be hotly debated among historians, and there is no need for the EU’s bureaucracy to unilaterally “resolve” these debates.

    A problem with these bureaucratic efforts to codify historical interpretation is that they feed memory wars and fuel escalation. Even more damaging is that they emulate authoritarian practices of “dictating” history and restricting debate.

    These examples show that distinctions between authoritarian and democratic regimes are not as pristine as is often claimed. Increasingly, global memory practices are evolving and possibly converging on a fluid spectrum between these two poles.

    China’s new hero cult is an important case for shedding light on these dynamics.

    Vincent K.L. Chang receives research funding from the Dutch government.

    – ref. China is constructing a new hero cult – here’s why that matters – https://theconversation.com/china-is-constructing-a-new-hero-cult-heres-why-that-matters-259075

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: China is constructing a new hero cult – here’s why that matters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Vincent K.L. Chang, Assistant Professor of the History and International Relations of Modern China, Leiden University

    A tour guide competition was held in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late May. This was not some fun contest. According to Chinese state media, it was a carefully conceived effort to “attract and cultivate a group of politically firm and professionally skilled storytellers of heroes and martyrs in the new era”.

    It symbolises the ambitious and far-reaching campaign launched by the Chinese state to revive the country’s pantheon of national heroes and martyrs. The aim is to unite and mobilise the nation in what Chinese leadership see as the crucial final phase in the quest to become a modern global superpower.

    On the same day as the Wuhan competition, but 750 miles further inland in Sichuan province, children from a kindergarten gathered with martyrs’ family members to engage in traditional crafts. The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist party, the People’s Daily, explained how this activity helped “pass on the torch of heroes” to young generations.

    And two weeks earlier, in China’s eastern province of Shandong, representatives from the official state news agency, Xinhua, attended an immersive training session on hero spirit. By coming “face to face” with heroes of the past, the trainees were able to grasp the “spirit” that had guided the extraordinary deeds of these ordinary people.

    This “facing up” to past heroes increasingly takes place through digital means. Thanks to developments in AI, and with the help of universities, museums and various government units, numerous Chinese people have now been “reunited” or become “acquainted” with family members martyred decades ago.

    Activities such as these have become commonplace in recent years. They are encouraged, guided and overseen by an expanding architecture of laws and regulations. There are at least two reasons why the campaign to build a new “spirit” of heroism and sacrifice requires attention beyond China-watchers.

    Chinese memory politics

    The first reason is the increasingly global reach of the campaign. Just as China’s economic statecraft is affecting global trade and finance, so too are Chinese memory politics spreading across the globe and reshaping the transnational memory landscape.

    Beijing has become an active sponsor of commemorations that are concerned more with shaping the future than looking into the past. Recent examples include Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and Minsk, and joint commemorations in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, of the Chinese “martyrs” of Nato’s bombing of the Chinese embassy there in 1999.



    Read more:
    Russia-China ties on full display on Victory Day – but all is not as well as Putin is making out

    China is also fostering bilateral memory partnerships in south-east Asia and Africa. And it has even resorted to memory diplomacy in seeking improved relations with the US by invoking the spirit of Sino-US cooperation during the second world war.

    China’s historical statecraft operates globally in the legal realm, too. Laws have come into effect that aim to promote patriotism and spread “core socialist values” among Chinese communities worldwide.

    Chinese embassies and consulates are required to locate Chinese martyrs buried in their host jurisdictions, and erect and maintain memorials for them. They are also expected to organise commemorations involving local Chinese diasporic and expat communities.

    Recent laws have been used to detain Chinese citizens living abroad. One example is Chinese artist Gao Zhen. Gao had been a permanent US resident for 13 years when he was detained in China in 2024 for his critical depictions of Mao Zedong a decade earlier.

    Gao was charged with the crime of “slandering China’s heroes and martyrs” under a law that did not exist when he created and exhibited his artwork.

    The second reason why China’s martyrs and heroes campaign matters globally is possibly more disturbing. China has become an example of a growing body of cases where state actors seek to shape and control historical memory.

    With several democracies beginning to show signs of democratic backsliding, the Chinese case is one of many that show that polar distinctions between “liberal” and “illiberal” systems are untenable.

    Perhaps the most obvious example of a democracy in democratic recession is the US. Donald Trump, a constitutionally elected president, is relying on a series of executive orders to consolidate power and hamper critical debate.

    One such directive, issued late in Trump’s first term, entails a proposal to build a so-called “national garden of American heroes”. The proposal was revived recently with an executive order on “restoring truth and sanity to American history”.

    The order aims to remove what the administration deems divisive and anti-American ideologies from national museums and public monuments.

    Washington’s efforts to control how history is presented seem to come straight out of Beijing’s playbook. In 2020, during his July 4 address, Trump claimed: “Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children.”

    These words eerily resemble those used previously by Chinese president Xi Jinping to justify his campaign against what he calls “historical nihilism” – attempts to “destroy” the Chinese nation by eradicating its history.

    Memory laws have also been adopted across Europe. The European Parliament, for example, has codified its own historical interpretations of the causes of the second world war in an attempt to counter what it labels Russian disinformation.

    The causes and consequences of war have always been and will continue to be hotly debated among historians, and there is no need for the EU’s bureaucracy to unilaterally “resolve” these debates.

    A problem with these bureaucratic efforts to codify historical interpretation is that they feed memory wars and fuel escalation. Even more damaging is that they emulate authoritarian practices of “dictating” history and restricting debate.

    These examples show that distinctions between authoritarian and democratic regimes are not as pristine as is often claimed. Increasingly, global memory practices are evolving and possibly converging on a fluid spectrum between these two poles.

    China’s new hero cult is an important case for shedding light on these dynamics.

    Vincent K.L. Chang receives research funding from the Dutch government.

    – ref. China is constructing a new hero cult – here’s why that matters – https://theconversation.com/china-is-constructing-a-new-hero-cult-heres-why-that-matters-259075

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government Announces Over $640,000 in Additional Investments to Address Gender Based Violence

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 27, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan continues to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence with a new investment of over $640,000 to support four unique initiatives administered by community-based organizations and the agencies that support them. These funds are in addition to the $3.8 million provided to 16 agencies across Saskatchewan announced in early 2025.

    The National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is a ten-year collaborative framework for a national approach to ending gender-based violence. The Government of Canada has provided Saskatchewan $20.3 million over four years to implement new initiatives that create opportunities for action. 

    “We are proud to empower and support community-based organizations across the province as they create programs, provide services and research new practices to build safe communities,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C. said. “This increased investment will strengthen outreach and provide families with the tools they need to build a successful path forward.”

    This funding will be provided to the following community-based organizations and agencies that support them to develop new initiatives:

    • Building Active Bystanders Training Program (ChangeMakers – $313,960): This funding is being provided to Changemakers to develop a Building Active Bystanders program, which will teach people how to safely intervene in and report incidents involving interpersonal violence.
       
    • Indigenous Led Approaches to Addressing Gender-based Violence: Through this initiative, a total of $120,000 will be provided to three agencies to enhance support for Indigenous approaches to gender-based violence.
    • Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) ($40,000): The Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission will guide the FSIN Women’s Secretariat in developing a strategy for addressing gender-based violence in Urban and Rural First Nation communities.
       
    • YWCA Regina ($40,000): YWCA Regina will support the Bridging Culture and Care project with an Elder in Residence and traditional healing sessions with All Nations Hope Network. 
       
    • YWCA Saskatoon ($40,000): YWCA Saskatoonwill lead an initiative to train staff on how to provide culturally appropriate services and furnish and decorate new transitional housing in a culturally appropriate way for Indigenous clients.
    • Safe and Together Model Evaluation (Qatalyst Group – $110,566): The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the Ministry of Social Services will provide funding to Qatalyst to evaluate the Safe and Together program, which works to improve collaboration among service providers in addressing the actions and behaviours of perpetrators of violence. 
    • Maddison Sessions Conference (Buckspring Foundation, $100,000): The Maddison Sessons Conference was hosted in Saskatoon in April of 2025. The event provided strong networking opportunities and promoted an exchange of ideas among those working in the area of gender-based violence, law enforcement, lawyers and advocates.  

    “Saskatchewan’s implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is focused on prevention, this includes expanding awareness and education, increasing Indigenous-led approaches and support for survivors,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Alana Ross said. “This additional funding will help these community-based organizations continue to deliver service and supports that will build a safer Saskatchewan, free of interpersonal violence and abuse.”

    “Funding through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is crucial to the YWCA’s ability to ensure that women and children experiencing violence have access to culturally appropriate healing and can make lifelong connections with Indigenous community and support,” YWCA Regina Chief Executive Officer Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen said. “This impact ensures sustainable support as women navigate their healing journey.”

    This year, the Government of Saskatchewan is dedicating approximately $32 million to partners that facilitate interpersonal violence programs and services through the justice system. This includes $14.2 million per year being provided to community-based partners, over $4.1 million in funding through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, annualized funding for second-stage shelters, and additional funding for Victims Services and other important supports.

    “Local, community-based solutions are how we move forward – and that is exactly what this investment supports,” Federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez said. “Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, the Government of Canada is working alongside organizations in Saskatchewan to help build programs that reflect people’s lived experiences, meet survivors where they are, and create safer communities for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people across the province.”

    For additional information about Saskatchewan’s work under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, visit:

    Major Investments Made to End Gender based Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Province Invests $1.2 Million to Support Survivors of Human Trafficking | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Saskatchewan Supports National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government Announces Over $640,000 in Additional Investments to Address Gender Based Violence

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 27, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan continues to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence with a new investment of over $640,000 to support four unique initiatives administered by community-based organizations and the agencies that support them. These funds are in addition to the $3.8 million provided to 16 agencies across Saskatchewan announced in early 2025.

    The National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is a ten-year collaborative framework for a national approach to ending gender-based violence. The Government of Canada has provided Saskatchewan $20.3 million over four years to implement new initiatives that create opportunities for action. 

    “We are proud to empower and support community-based organizations across the province as they create programs, provide services and research new practices to build safe communities,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C. said. “This increased investment will strengthen outreach and provide families with the tools they need to build a successful path forward.”

    This funding will be provided to the following community-based organizations and agencies that support them to develop new initiatives:

    • Building Active Bystanders Training Program (ChangeMakers – $313,960): This funding is being provided to Changemakers to develop a Building Active Bystanders program, which will teach people how to safely intervene in and report incidents involving interpersonal violence.
       
    • Indigenous Led Approaches to Addressing Gender-based Violence: Through this initiative, a total of $120,000 will be provided to three agencies to enhance support for Indigenous approaches to gender-based violence.
    • Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) ($40,000): The Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission will guide the FSIN Women’s Secretariat in developing a strategy for addressing gender-based violence in Urban and Rural First Nation communities.
       
    • YWCA Regina ($40,000): YWCA Regina will support the Bridging Culture and Care project with an Elder in Residence and traditional healing sessions with All Nations Hope Network. 
       
    • YWCA Saskatoon ($40,000): YWCA Saskatoonwill lead an initiative to train staff on how to provide culturally appropriate services and furnish and decorate new transitional housing in a culturally appropriate way for Indigenous clients.
    • Safe and Together Model Evaluation (Qatalyst Group – $110,566): The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the Ministry of Social Services will provide funding to Qatalyst to evaluate the Safe and Together program, which works to improve collaboration among service providers in addressing the actions and behaviours of perpetrators of violence. 
    • Maddison Sessions Conference (Buckspring Foundation, $100,000): The Maddison Sessons Conference was hosted in Saskatoon in April of 2025. The event provided strong networking opportunities and promoted an exchange of ideas among those working in the area of gender-based violence, law enforcement, lawyers and advocates.  

    “Saskatchewan’s implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is focused on prevention, this includes expanding awareness and education, increasing Indigenous-led approaches and support for survivors,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Alana Ross said. “This additional funding will help these community-based organizations continue to deliver service and supports that will build a safer Saskatchewan, free of interpersonal violence and abuse.”

    “Funding through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is crucial to the YWCA’s ability to ensure that women and children experiencing violence have access to culturally appropriate healing and can make lifelong connections with Indigenous community and support,” YWCA Regina Chief Executive Officer Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen said. “This impact ensures sustainable support as women navigate their healing journey.”

    This year, the Government of Saskatchewan is dedicating approximately $32 million to partners that facilitate interpersonal violence programs and services through the justice system. This includes $14.2 million per year being provided to community-based partners, over $4.1 million in funding through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, annualized funding for second-stage shelters, and additional funding for Victims Services and other important supports.

    “Local, community-based solutions are how we move forward – and that is exactly what this investment supports,” Federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) Rechie Valdez said. “Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, the Government of Canada is working alongside organizations in Saskatchewan to help build programs that reflect people’s lived experiences, meet survivors where they are, and create safer communities for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people across the province.”

    For additional information about Saskatchewan’s work under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, visit:

    Major Investments Made to End Gender based Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Province Invests $1.2 Million to Support Survivors of Human Trafficking | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    Saskatchewan Supports National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence | News and Media | Government of Saskatchewan.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia and Senator Elizabeth Warren Reintroduce ‘AMMO Act’ to Prevent Bulk Sales of Ammunition During Gun Violence Awareness Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Garcia California (42nd District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced the “Ammunition Modernization and Monitoring Oversight (AMMO) Act.” The bill would restrict bulk sales of ammunition by requiring businesses to conduct background checks on buyers and would require businesses who sell ammunition to obtain the same federal license as gun dealers. Additionally, the bill would also apply the same prohibition on straw purchases for ammunition that currently exists for firearms, restricting individuals from purchasing ammunition to then sell illegally to others and requiring data sharing on ammunition sales. The bill is also co-led by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). The full bill text can be found here.

     “It makes absolutely no sense that anyone in this country can walk into a business and buy as much ammunition as they want, with no background check and no questions asked,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “We need to do everything in our power to prevent mass shootings and end our nation’s gun violence epidemic. During Gun Violence Awareness Month, I’m proud to help lead a bill that closes this loophole with a commonsense fix that will save lives and protect our communities.”

    “Our government needs to step up and limit access to ammunition if we want to stop the gun violence epidemic in this country. I’m going to keep fighting to keep our communities safe from potential mass shooters,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren

    “Far too many families endure the deep emotional and financial pain that comes with losing a loved one to gun violence. The costs are felt throughout entire communities,” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “So, I’m proud to work with Congressman Robert Garcia to introduce comprehensive legislation that would close the gaping ammunition regulation loopholes in our gun safety laws. Our constituents want safer communities, and this bill will save lives.”

    “Today, any individual can purchase unlimited rounds of ammunition in a single transaction with no questions asked, not even a background check to ensure they can legally possess firearms and ammunition. This enables people to rapidly amass tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition for trafficking and other nefarious purposes, jeopardizing public safety. By limiting ammunition transactions and requiring dealers to obtain licenses and complete background checks on ammunition sales, the AMMO Act will prevent the rapid stockpiling of ammunition and ammunition trafficking. Brady thanks Congressman Garcia for introducing this legislation to address the supply-side of gun violence.” – Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady

    “The fact that anyone can easily purchase countless rounds of ammunition without even a background check is a recipe for mass tragedy. We applaud Rep. Garcia for introducing life-saving legislation that would make ammo dealers abide by the same rules as gun dealers, which is the very definition of common sense.” –John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety 

    “NICJR is thrilled to support this important legislation.” – David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform

    Currently, there is essentially no regulation governing the sales of ammunition. Businesses are not required to possess licenses in order to sell ammo and can sell to any buyer, in any quantity, without a background check, and with no recordkeeping or data sharing. 

    The bill prohibits bulk sales of ammunition based on the type of ammo. It specifically limits individuals to 100 rounds for .50 caliber ammo, the most deadly, potent military grade, and 1000 rounds for all other ammunition within a 5-day period.

    The AMMO Act is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Newtown Action Alliance, Orange Ribbons for Jaime, Community Justice Action Fund, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, Voters of Tomorrow, and Sandy Hook Promise.

    Congressman Garcia is a staunch believer in common sense gun violence prevention. He first introduced the AMMO Act alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren in the 118th Congress. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Garcia has cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation to help protect our communities from gun violence, such as the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025, the Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act, and the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025. As former Mayor of Long Beach, he spent his time in office publicly supporting gun reform at the state and local level.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Balint Joins Bonamici and Frost to Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care and Services for LGBTQI+ Seniors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Becca Balint (D-VT), and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) introduced legislation to improve the long-term health and care of LGBTQI+ seniors.

    Decades of marginalization and institutional barriers have left LGBTQI+ seniors with fewer sources of support, higher poverty rates, increased social isolation, and inadequate access to health care. Many of these seniors enter their golden years with the detrimental physical and emotional health effects of having lived through a lifetime of discrimination. The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would help overcome these barriers by decreasing isolation, improving health, and increasing access to culturally competent services and supports.

    The legislation is named for Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz, long-time advocates for LGBTQI+ equality. Connie fought for the rights of LGBTQI+ older adults until her death in 2018. Ruthie, her widow, continues to serve as a champion for the cause.

    “Decades of discrimination have left many LGBTQI+ seniors without the support and resources they need to stay healthy as they age,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “LGBTQI+ seniors are resilient, and they deserve to enjoy full, vibrant lives with the support they need to thrive. I’m grateful for Ruthie and Connie’s advocacy on behalf of LGBTQI+ seniors, and I’m glad to lead this legislation in their honor to provide LGBTQI+ seniors specialized access to care and services without discrimination.”

    “LGBTQI+ Americans are facing an overwhelming rise in attacks in the face of a hateful administration,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint. “And our LGBTQI+ seniors are being left behind with fewer supports, higher poverty and social isolation rates, and inaccessible health care. We owe it to our seniors to ensure they have access to the care and services they need. I’m proud to join Reps. Bonamici and Frost in uplifting the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors and celebrating the work of Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz.”

    “Like all Americans, our LGBTQ+ elders deserve to be able to live their golden years with the peace and security of quality, affordable care and a community that loves and respects them,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “In honor of the incredible work of Florida’s own Ruth and Connie, we must act as LGBTQ+ seniors face poverty and isolation to ensure they can live their lives free of discrimination.”

    The legislation is endorsed by: Congressional Equality Caucus, SAGE, Human Rights Campaign, Justice in Aging, and Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).

    “SAGE is honored to cosponsor the Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act, which addresses a critical need: support for the ever-growing number of LGBTQ+ Americans who are over 60,” said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “By permanently establishing the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging, aging service providers will have access to a wealth of resources, information, and tools to help them create welcoming and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ participants.”

    LGBTQI+ seniors now face additional obstacles from an administration that seeks to disenfranchise them and their community. Because of these profound challenges, LGBTQI+ seniors require specialized services and support that are scarce and severely underfunded in every part of the country.

    The Ruthie and Connie LGBTQI Elder Americans Act would:

    • Include LGBTQI+ older adults among women, rural, and racial and ethnic minorities as a population with the greatest economic and social needs under OAA;
    • Permanently establish the National Resource Center on LGBTQI Aging to provide critical resources, information, and tools for aging service providers to better address the needs of LGBTQI+ seniors;
    • Require the Assistant Secretary of Aging to oversee data collection for LGBTQI+ adults, their needs, and efficacy of state aging resources to meet those needs.
    • Require the long-term care ombudsman to collect and analyze data regarding LGBTQI+ discrimination; and,
    • Prioritize grants for organizations working to improve LGBTQI+ health, long-term care, and access to culturally responsive services.

    The legislation in the House is cosponsored by Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Summer Lee (D-PA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ed Case (D-HI), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Andre Carson (D-IN), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Lateefah Simon (D-CA).

    A fact sheet about the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here.

    Bonamici also Chairs the Congressional LGBTQI+ Equality Caucus’ LGBTQI+ Aging Issues Task Force, and led the last two bipartisan updates to the Older Americans Act.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Statement on Supreme Court’s Universal Injunctions Decision

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement in light of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Trump v. CASA, Inc., affirming universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts.”  
    “Today’s decision is a significant step towards addressing the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions. I’m heartened to hear a supermajority of the Supreme Court echo what I’ve said repeatedly: judges’ constitutional authority is limited to deciding cases and controversies. Universal injunctions are an unconstitutional afront to our nation’s system of checks and balances, and ought to be stopped for good. 
    “The Supreme Court has now affirmed that federal courts are overstepping in their use of universal injunctions, and the Department of Justice has a right to forcefully challenge such overreach. As Judiciary Chairman, I’ve secured parliamentarian-approved provisions in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill that will help the Justice Department fight back against injunctions, and I’ll continue working to move additional legislative solutions, including my Judicial Relief Clarification Act, towards the finish line.” 
    Background:
    Grassley’s provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill to address universal injunctions include: hiring additional federal attorneys to challenge universal injunctions, requiring courts to track and publish metrics on universal injunctions and establishing judicial training programs regarding the lack of legal basis for universal injunctions. 
    Grassley is also spearheading legislation to limit federal court orders to parties directly before the court – ending the practice of universal injunctions and clarifying the constitutional role of the judicial branch. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Statement on Supreme Court’s Universal Injunctions Decision

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement in light of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Trump v. CASA, Inc., affirming universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts.”  
    “Today’s decision is a significant step towards addressing the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions. I’m heartened to hear a supermajority of the Supreme Court echo what I’ve said repeatedly: judges’ constitutional authority is limited to deciding cases and controversies. Universal injunctions are an unconstitutional afront to our nation’s system of checks and balances, and ought to be stopped for good. 
    “The Supreme Court has now affirmed that federal courts are overstepping in their use of universal injunctions, and the Department of Justice has a right to forcefully challenge such overreach. As Judiciary Chairman, I’ve secured parliamentarian-approved provisions in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill that will help the Justice Department fight back against injunctions, and I’ll continue working to move additional legislative solutions, including my Judicial Relief Clarification Act, towards the finish line.” 
    Background:
    Grassley’s provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill to address universal injunctions include: hiring additional federal attorneys to challenge universal injunctions, requiring courts to track and publish metrics on universal injunctions and establishing judicial training programs regarding the lack of legal basis for universal injunctions. 
    Grassley is also spearheading legislation to limit federal court orders to parties directly before the court – ending the practice of universal injunctions and clarifying the constitutional role of the judicial branch. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a drug distribution offense involving fentanyl. The defendant is currently awaiting trial on murder charges in Massachusetts state court.

    Csean Skerritt, a/k/a “Shizz Grimmy,” a/k/a “Black,” 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 68 months federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In March 2025, Skerritt pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In March 2025, Skerritt was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    As part of a drug trafficking investigation, on Feb. 1, 2023, Skerritt agreed to sell 50 grams of fentanyl to an individual in exchange for $1,500. Following a series of communications, Skerritt met the individual at a pre-arranged location. There, Skerritt entered the individual’s car and provided approximately 52.3 grams of fentanyl in exchange for the agreed-upon amount.

    On March 9, 2023, Skerritt was indicted for murder in the Massachusetts Superior Court and is awaiting trial.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a drug distribution offense involving fentanyl. The defendant is currently awaiting trial on murder charges in Massachusetts state court.

    Csean Skerritt, a/k/a “Shizz Grimmy,” a/k/a “Black,” 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 68 months federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In March 2025, Skerritt pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In March 2025, Skerritt was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    As part of a drug trafficking investigation, on Feb. 1, 2023, Skerritt agreed to sell 50 grams of fentanyl to an individual in exchange for $1,500. Following a series of communications, Skerritt met the individual at a pre-arranged location. There, Skerritt entered the individual’s car and provided approximately 52.3 grams of fentanyl in exchange for the agreed-upon amount.

    On March 9, 2023, Skerritt was indicted for murder in the Massachusetts Superior Court and is awaiting trial.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

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

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Robber Caught by Joint Law Enforcement Effort After Escaping Custody

    Source: US FBI

    DETROIT — Markiese King, 31, of Detroit, Michigan was charged this week, with a six-count indictment alleging three counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, two counts of Use and Carry of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Prisoner Escape, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today.

    According to the indictment, King is alleged to have robbed a Dollar General store in the city of Detroit on May 20, 2025.  After entering the store, King allegedly brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store’s employees.

    The indictment also alleges that on May 23, 2025, King robbed an Advance Auto Parts in the city of Warren, Michigan. King threatened the store’s employees and demanded money.

    Between the second and third robberies, King allegedly left the Cherry Health Residential Reentry Center, where he was in custody for a prior conviction, without permission. After escaping, on May 28, 2025, King allegedly robbed an AutoZone in Highland Park, Michigan again brandishing a pistol at employees.

    The Detroit Police Department, Warren Police Department, Highland Park Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Macomb County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force, and Detroit Violent Crime Task Force, as well as the U.S. Marshal’s Service worked together to identify and locate King leading to his swift arrest on May 30, 2025. King has been in custody since that arrest.

    An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Micah Wallace. 
     

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