Category: Justice

MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on the Reported Visit of Trump Administration Officials to Alcatraz

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the reported visit of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to Alcatraz announcing a plan to reopen the island’s federal penitentiary:

“With stiff competition, the planned announcement to reopen Alcatraz as a federal penitentiary is the Trump Administration’s stupidest initiative yet. It should concern us all that clearly the only intellectual resources the Administration has drawn upon for this foolish notion are decades-old fictional Hollywood movies.

“Make no mistake: this stupidity is a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from this Administration’s cruelest actions yet in their Big, Ugly Law, which takes away food from children and rips health care from millions to give tax breaks to billionaires. It remains to be seen how this Administration could possibly afford to spend billions to convert and maintain Alcatraz as a prison when they are already adding trillions of dollars to the national debt with their sinful law.

“Should reason not prevail and Republicans bring this absurdity before the Congress, Democrats will use every parliamentary and budgetary tactic available to stop the lunacy.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Blasts Supreme Court Decision Enabling Mass Layoffs at Education Department: “A Grave Blow to the Rule of Law.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. – Today on the House Floor, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi denounced the Supreme Court’s recent decision permitting the President to move forward with mass layoffs at the Department of Education. In her remarks, Pelosi described the ruling as a grave blow to the rule of law and a dangerous expansion of executive authority that undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.

Pointing to the broader consequences of gutting education investments, Pelosi warned that these cuts serve the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the nation’s future.

Watch her full remarks here.

Read the transcript of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s Floor remarks below:

Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court’s ridiculous decision this week to allow the President to proceed with mass layoffs at the Department of Education is a grave blow to the rule of law and defies Congressional authority.

Justice Sotomayor’s dissent warns that the Court is ‘enabling the executive branch to undermine Congress’s power of the purse.’ And she is absolutely right.

Perhaps the Republicans in the House, the Senate and the White House do not understand that nothing brings more money to the U.S. Treasury than the education of the American people.

Early childhood education, K-through-12, higher education, post-grad and lifetime learning for our workers.

They’re cutting education to give tax breaks to the richest people at the expense of America’s future—the education of the American people.

The Court’s disregard for the authority of the legislative branch empowers executive overreach at the expense of accountability and democracy.

My colleagues, take pride in being a Member of the House. Support this institution and our constitutional right with the power of the purse.

I yield back.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 20, 2025
Japan heads to polls in key test for Prime Minister Ishiba

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Japanese voters could unleash political turmoil as they head to the polls on Sunday in a tightly contested upper house election, with rising prices and immigration concerns threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s grip on power.

Opinion polls suggest Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito may fall short of the 50 seats needed to retain control of the 248-seat upper house of parliament, in an election where half the seats are up for grabs.

Polls show that smaller opposition parties pushing for tax cuts and increased public spending are set to gain — among them, the right-wing Sanseito, which vows to curb immigration, oppose foreign capital inflows, and reverse gender equality initiatives.

A poor showing by the coalition could shake investor confidence in the world’s fourth-largest economy and disrupt critical trade talks with the United States, analysts said.

Ishiba may have to choose between stepping aside for a new LDP leader or scrambling to secure the backing of some opposition parties through policy compromises, said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group in Japan.

“Each scenario requires the LDP and Komeito to make certain concessions, and will be challenging, as any potential partner has leverage in the negotiations,” he added.

After the election, Japan faces a deadline of August 1 to strike a trade deal with the United States or risk punishing tariffs in its largest export market.

Such import levies could squeeze the economy and further pressure the government to provide financial relief to households already reeling from inflation — including a doubling of rice prices since last year.

With an eye on a jittery government bond market, the LDP has called for fiscal restraint, rejecting opposition demands for major tax cuts and increased welfare spending to soften the blow.

Ishiba’s administration lost its majority in the more powerful lower house in October — the LDP’s worst showing in 15 years — roiling financial markets and leaving the prime minister vulnerable to no-confidence motions that could topple his administration and trigger a fresh general election.

Police said a male driver had been shot while being assaulted by onlookers and was taken to a hospital. His condition remains unknown.

Ruled by the LDP for most of the post-war period, Japan has so far largely avoided the social divisions and political fracturing seen in other industrialised democracies.

Voting ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), when media outlets are expected to project results based on exit polls.

-Reuters

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Family rescued from Mount Field National Park

Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

Family rescued from Mount Field National Park

Sunday, 20 July 2025 – 1:24 pm.

Six people, including three children, have been safely retrieved from the Mount Field area this morning after being caught in heavy snow overnight.
The family raised the alarm with police shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, after heavy snowfall meant they could no longer access the walking track.
Search Coordinator Callum Herbert said police were able to speak with the group briefly to provide advice.
“The walkers were advised to return to the nearby Newdegate Hut and await the rescue crew,” he said.
“Due to the extreme weather conditions, the helicopter wasn’t able to reach the area, so a search and rescue team of police and Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedics was sent in on foot.”
“The rescue team reached the walkers at the hut shortly before midnight, finding them all safe, but cold and wet.”
“Given their condition and the hazardous environment, including strong winds and nearly one foot of snow, we determined it was unsafe to walk them out during the night.”
“Medical assistance, food and sleeping bags were provided overnight to ensure everyone could remain safely sheltered.”
“The helicopter was sent in once conditions allowed this morning, and the group was safely returned to the visitor centre about 10.30am.”
“We are thankful the walkers were able to reach emergency services by phone yesterday, or the outcome could easily have been far worse.”
“The Tasmanian family had set off on a planned day walk, but the turn in weather conditions was significant, and the situation quickly became dangerous.”

MIL OSI News –

July 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: After yet another election, Tasmanians are left wondering what the point of it was

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania

When the results firmed up a few hours after polling closed on Saturday, many Tasmanians would have been wondering, “what was the point of all that?”.

A state election only 16 months after the last one looks to have delivered a parliament with a broadly similar distribution of seats.

Read more:
Liberals easily win most seats at Tasmanian election, but Labor may form government

The results

By the time counting ceased last night, the ABC had the Liberals on 14 seats, Labor on nine, the Greens on five, and three confirmed independents.

The ABC’s projections of the Tasmanian election, captured at 11:15am on July 20th.
ABC News

With 65.3% of the vote counted, four seats remained in doubt. There was a small positive swing to the Liberals (3.3%), while a swing against Labor of 3.1% has them on track for their worst primary vote in more than a hundred years. The final seats may not be confirmed for a couple of weeks.

Love, Labor’s lost

At this stage, it looks like Labor’s gambit – instigating the no confidence motion that led to this election – has utterly failed. The party will now need to engage in some sober self-reflection on two fronts.

First, there is the one-dimensional strategy that brought on the election and allowed the Liberals to blame Labor – and leader Dean Winter in particular – for dragging Tasmanians to the polls again.

Labor had hoped that targeting the no confidence motion specifically at Premier Jeremy Rockliff would encourage the conservative-leaning Liberal cabinet to turf out their moderate leader.

It was a near thing. Rockliff’s rivals apparently had almost enough votes to depose him by the time the Governor called the election.

But did anyone at Labor HQ plan for what would happen if their gamble failed and the Liberals held firm under Rockliff? As Labor’s woefully under-prepared campaign stumbled into motion, it seemed the answer was “no”.

Second, there will be questions asked about that lacklustre campaign, just as there were in 2024. An opposition could not ask for more favourable conditions: an 11-year incumbent government suffering a string of high profile policy failures; a looming mountain of debt; and ongoing health, education, housing, cost of living and sustainability challenges.

And yet, Labor suffered negative swings in every seat, and they are battling to match their 2024 result of 10 seats.

Liberals and Greens hold firm

The Liberals will be pleased with the result. In the face of the dire circumstances outlined above, they have secured a positive swing in their primary vote and may pick up one or (at an outside chance) two additional seats.

It doesn’t seem like their pro-stadium stance lost them votes in the north – where the proposal is unpopular – in part because Labor denied themselves a point of difference by also supporting the stadium.

Another important factor in the north was the recruitment of two former federal Liberal MPs in Bass and Braddon, who are both polling well so far. However, their success may come at the expense of sitting Liberal members.

The Greens’ vote held steady, with a projected 0.2% increase in their primary vote. All of their MPs had been returned before the close of counting on Saturday night, and they will be hoping one more can scrape through in Braddon.

The crossbench zoo

As expected, ex-Labor MP David O’Byrne, centre-left Kristie Johnston, and maverick Northwester Craig Garland were all returned. Johnston and Garland, in particlar, seem to have strongly increased their vote shares.

There will be at least one new independent, with anti-salmon farm advocate Peter George securing a very strong primary vote in Franklin off the back of his recent federal campaign.

There is a chance that this broadly progressive crossbench will be joined by climate change denier and pro-gun rights candidate Carlo di Falco (Lyons) from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers.

Where to now?

So how are the major party leaders approaching the looming period of wheeling and dealing? Who’s forming minority government?

Rockliff was the first to address the tally room on election night. He boldly claimed that the voters had re-endorsed his Liberal government – based on their increased vote share – and said he will ask the Governor to recommission him as premier.

However, with only 14 or 15 seats, it will be challenging for the Liberals to implement their agenda in a parliament featuring a crossbench that is, for the most part, solidly progressive and vehemently anti-stadium.

The Greens’ leader, Rosalie Woodruff, also spoke and again extended an offer of cooperation to Labor.

Finally, as election night drew to a close, Labor Leader Dean Winter stepped up to speak. His tonally confused speech began with a tribute to murdered Tasmanian Police Constable Keith Smith, then shifted to the need for a more collaborative approach to politics. Winter left things on a cliffhanger, essentially saying “let’s wait and see”.

Observers in the room noted the speech was strikingly similar to that given by former leader Rebecca White following the 2024 election – shortly before she was replaced by Winter.

Will Labor have a crack at forming government? There would be a few obstacles to this. First, Winter would have to negotiate support from the diverse crossbench, including the Greens, with whom he has previously vowed not to collaborate.

He and Labor have ignored previous opportunities to seize government in this way, the most recent being just five weeks ago. A change in tack at this stage could be difficult to sell.

And if Rockliff forges ahead with his stated plan, Labor and the crossbench would need to vote down a new Liberal minority government on the floor of parliament. Labor would need to be very certain of their ability to govern before doing this – or risk another election.

So while all of the party leaders spoke of maturity and collaboration in their speeches, until actions match words, Tasmanians will be forced to watch the parliamentary shenanigans continue.

Robert Hortle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. After yet another election, Tasmanians are left wondering what the point of it was – https://theconversation.com/after-yet-another-election-tasmanians-are-left-wondering-what-the-point-of-it-was-260505

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Structure fire – Braitling

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

NT Police are calling for information following a suspicious structure fire in Braitling on Saturday evening.

Around 6:45pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received multiple reports of a unit on fire at a residential complex on Elliot Street.

Emergency services attended and NT Fire and Rescue Services extinguished the blaze, with a search of the premises confirming no one was inside at the time.

Initial investigations indicate the fire is suspicious, with two mattresses, one on the ground floor and another on the top floor, identified as the points of ignition.

A crime scene was declared, and investigations remain ongoing.

Police urge anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage around the time of the incident, to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500073181.

MIL OSI News –

July 20, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £75 Million boost for hospices to transform end-of-life care

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

£75 Million boost for hospices to transform end-of-life care

£75 million to modernise facilities and deliver upgrades to hospices across England including specially adapted beds, rooms, and technology.

Families will see further improvements in end-of-life care as the government releases £75 million for hospices to deliver major upgrades and enhancements to facilities including separate family rooms, solar panels to reduce energy costs and communal lounges.

More than 170 hospices across England will receive a share of the funding – the largest cash injection ever – to ensure patients receive the highest quality end-of-life care in comfortable, dignified surroundings.

It follows a £25 million boost in February, delivering the government’s £100 million investment confirmed in December. This is already supporting urgent building repairs and creating warmer, homely spaces.

This cash marks a further step in the delivery of the government’s Plan for Change, improving care in the community where people need it most.

Hospices include Wigan and Leigh – visited by Health Minister Stephen Kinnock this week – which used its funding to replace a flat roof which was leaking. It will use the additional funding to replace its heating system – helping create a better, more comfortable environment for patients and enabling staff to deliver higher quality care.

Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:

Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most.

At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity.

I have seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending.

End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.

Other improvements already made at hospices across the country include:

Major building works and modernised facilities
Digital transformation to improve data sharing between healthcare providers
Development of outreach services to extend care beyond physical buildings
Creation of more welcoming spaces for families, including outdoor areas
Energy efficiency measures to improve sustainability

This includes Garden House Hospice Care in Stevenage which has refurbished its integrated procedures unit with eight new specially adapted beds and mattresses and created a separate room for patients’ close family members to spend the night when needed. The hospice has also equipped all its nurses with laptops with single logins to stop them carrying too much equipment when visiting patients.

They now record their notes electronically and have become paperless – nurses can now spend less time on administration and more time focusing on what matters most – providing compassionate care to patients and support to their families.

The new cash injection is for the financial year 2025/26 and will be distributed by Hospice UK to hospices. Hospices have been allocated a pot of funding and will be able to proceed with upgrades, invoicing Hospice UK once work has been completed.

Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said:

The announcement in late 2024 of £100 million in capital funding for hospices was welcome recognition from the government of the immense pressure facing hospices, and their urgent need for more financial support.

We were pleased to distribute the first £25 million of this funding early in March. We know this money has made a huge difference to hospices and the next £75 million will continue to help them invest in their buildings, facilities, and digital infrastructure.

While this one-off investment has been very welcome, it’s critical that we continue to work with government to secure long-term reform to ensure hospice care is there for everyone who needs it, whoever and wherever they are.

The government has just emphasised the importance of hospices in their 10 Year Plan for the NHS and the role they can play in shifting care from hospitals into the community. With the right support, there is so much more they can do to realise the vision set out in the 10 Year Plan. We look forward to working with government to make this a reality.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie said:

Marie Curie welcome this grant funding, which we will be investing in helping to ensure people living with terminal illness are well cared for across England – whether in our hospice buildings, or in their own homes through improvements in use of digital technology

We look forward to working with the Government to ensure longer-term funding is put in place to ensure the best possible palliative care is sustainably available for everyone who needs it, including in their new neighbourhood health centres in the most deprived communities.

Notes to editors

Hospice UK is managing the distribution without charging administration fees.
Breakdown of funding:

Hospice Names	Service	Region	Region-detail	Value
Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust (Birmingham)	Children	England	West Midlands	906,009
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service (MAIDENHEAD)	Children	England	South Central	143,868
Alice House Hospice (HARTLEPOOL)	Adults	England	North East	182,598
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (CAMBRIDGE)	Adults	England	East Of England	706,038
Ashgate Hospicecare (Chesterfield)	Adults	England	East Midlands	633,770
Barnsley Hospice (Barnsley)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	240,117
Bassetlaw Hospice of the Good Shepherd	Adults	England	East Midlands	21,822
Beaumond House Hospice Care (NEWARK)	Adults	England	East Midlands	98,556
The Hospice Charity Partnership (BIRMINGHAM)	Adults	England	West Midlands	1,113,392
Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice (Sheffield)	Children	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	221,517
Blythe House Hospice (High Peak)	Adults	England	East Midlands	119,874
Bolton Hospice (Bolton)	Adults	England	North West	321,556
Bury Hospice (Bury)	Adults	England	North West	185,022
Butterfly Hospice	Adults	England	East Midlands	36,645
Butterwick Hospice Care (Stockton-on-Tees)	Both	England	North East	181,126
Campden Home Nursing CIO (CHIPPING CAMPDEN)	Adults	England	South West	69,180
Children’s Hospice South West (Barnstaple)	Children	England	South West	814,983
Claire House Children’s Hospice (BEBINGTON)	Children	England	North West	513,514
Compton Care (Wolverhampton)	Adults	England	West Midlands	647,697
Cornwall Hospice Care (ST. AUSTELL)	Adults	England	South West	482,954
Demelza Hospice Care for Children – Demelza Kent (Sittingbourne)	Children	England	South East Coast	726,405
Derian House Children’s Hospice (Chorley)	Children	England	North West	345,812
Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation – Willow Burn Hospice (Lanchester)	Adults	England	North East	71,909
Dorothy House Hospice Care (BRADFORD-ON-AVON)	Adults	England	South West	886,978
Douglas Macmillan Hospice (Stoke-on-trent)	Both	England	West Midlands	985,433
Dove Cottage Day Hospice (Melton Mowbray)	Adults	England	East Midlands	27,927
Dove House Hospice (HULL)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	332,097
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice (Oldham)	Adults	England	North West	277,090
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Cambridge)	Children	England	East Of England	657,927
East Cheshire Hospice (Macclesfield)	Adults	England	North West	388,471
East Lancashire Hospice (Blackburn)	Adults	England	North West	256,539
Eden Valley Hospice (Carlisle)	Both	England	North West	276,661
Ellenor (Northfleet)	Both	England	South East Coast	404,132
Farleigh Hospice (Chelmsford)	Adults	England	East Of England	804,804
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice (Huddersfield)	Children	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	225,696
Francis House Children’s Hospice (MANCHESTER)	Children	England	North West	456,213
Garden House Hospice (LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY)	Adults	England	East Of England	369,785
Great Oaks Hospice (Coleford)	Adults	England	South West	74,748
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice (LONDON)	Adults	England	London	692,418
Halton Haven Hospice (Runcorn)	Adults	England	North West	166,182
Harlington Hospice Association (KINGS LANGLEY)	Adults	England	London	346,552
Haven House Children’s Hospice (WOODFORD GREEN)	Children	England	London	265,338
Havens Hospices (Southend on Sea)	Both	England	East Of England	783,256
Heart of Kent Hospice (Maidstone)	Adults	England	South East Coast	288,828
Helen and Douglas House Hospice Care for Children and Young Adults (OXFORD)	Children	England	South Central	492,205
Hope House Childrens Hospice (OSWESTRY)	Children	England	West Midlands	434,393
Hospice at Home West Cumbria (WORKINGTON)	Adults	England	North West	101,692
Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland (DALSTON)	Adults	England	North West	93,861
Hospice in the Weald (TUNBRIDGE WELLS)	Both	England	South East Coast	594,580
Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted)	Adults	England	East Of England	364,857
Hospice of the Good Shepherd (Chester)	Adults	England	North West	243,555
HospiceCare North Northumberland (ALNWICK)	Adults	England	North East	55,858
Hospiscare (Exeter)	Adults	England	South West	539,545
Isabel Hospice (Welwyn Garden City)	Adults	England	East Of England	349,756
Jessie May (Bristol)	Children	England	South West	68,779
John Eastwood Hospice	Adults	England	East Midlands	37,651
Julia’s House (WIMBORNE)	Children	England	South West	393,945
Kate’s Home Nursing (CHELTENHAM)	Adults	England	South West	26,529
Katharine House Hospice	Adults	England	South Central	106,311
Katharine House Hospice (Stafford) (STAFFORD)	Adults	England	West Midlands	292,620
Keech Hospice Care (STREATLEY)	Both	England	East Of England	569,259
Kemp Hospice (Kidderminster)	Adults	England	West Midlands	65,565
Kirkwood Hospice (HUDDERSFIELD)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	481,264
Lakelands Hospice (Corby)	Adults	England	East Midlands	27,910
Lawrence Home Nursing Team	Adults	England	South Central	28,758
Lewis-Manning Hospice Care (Poole)	Adults	England	South West	146,139
Lindsey Lodge Hospice (Scunthorpe)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	233,137
Longfield (Minchinhampton)	Adults	England	South West	150,687
LOROS Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice (Leicester)	Adults	England	East Midlands	908,253
Marie Curie (Head office) (LONDON)	Adults	National	National	3,741,578
Martin House (WETHERBY)	Children	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	435,788
Mary Ann Evans Hospice (Nuneaton)	Adults	England	West Midlands	111,447
Mary Stevens Hospice (STOURBRIDGE)	Adults	England	West Midlands	249,600
Mountbatten Isle of Wight (NEWPORT)	Adults	England	South Central	995,867
Naomi House and Jacksplace Children’s Hospice (Winchester)	Children	England	South Central	363,155
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice (Barnet)	Children	England	London	343,815
North Devon Hospice (Barnstaple)	Adults	England	South West	309,979
North London Hospice (London)	Adults	England	London	849,842
Saint Michael’s Hospice (HARROGATE)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	419,864
Nottinghamshire Hospice (NOTTINGHAM)	Adults	England	East Midlands	216,116
Oakhaven Hospice (LYMINGTON)	Adults	England	South Central	469,395
Overgate Hospice (Elland)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	251,077
Pendleside Hospice (Burnley)	Adults	England	North West	285,768
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (FARNHAM)	Adults	England	South East Coast	827,194
Pilgrims Hospices In East Kent (Canterbury)	Adults	England	South East Coast	872,396
Primrose Hospice (Bromsgrove)	Adults	England	West Midlands	86,956
Princess Alice Hospice (Esher )	Adults	England	South East Coast	792,957
Priscilla Bacon Hospice Care Ltd	Adults	England	East Of England	11,537
Prospect Hospice (Wroughton)	Adults	England	South West	380,937
Queenscourt Hospice (SOUTHPORT)	Adults	England	North West	411,471
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Loughborough)	Children	England	East Midlands	433,026
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care (WATFORD)	Both	England	East Of England	835,737
Richard House Children’s Hospice (London)	Children	England	London	257,538
Rosemary Foundation – Hospice at Home (PETERSFIELD)	Adults	England	South Central	51,690
Rossendale Hospice (Rawtenstall)	Adults	England	North West	75,687
Rotherham Hospice (ROTHERHAM)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	363,202
Rowcroft – The Torbay and South Devon Hospice (Toruqay)	Adults	England	South West	474,903
Royal Trinity Hospice (London)	Adults	England	London	954,730
Saint Catherine’s Hospice (Scarborough)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	313,138
Saint Francis Hospice (Havering-Atte-Bower)	Adults	England	London	573,393
Severn Hospice (Shrewsbury)	Adults	England	West Midlands	688,781
Shipston Home Nursing (Shipston-on-Stour)	Adults	England	West Midlands	30,618
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices (Hampton)	Children	England	South East Coast	509,193
Sidmouth Hospice at Home	Adults	England	South West	50,777
Sobell Hospice Charity Limited	Adults	England	South Central	235,825
South Bucks Hospice (HIGH WYCOMBE)	Adults	England	South Central	57,314
St Barnabas Hospices (WORTHING)	Both	England	South East Coast	1,864,066
Springhill Hospice (Rochdale)	Adults	England	North West	335,915
St Andrew’s Hospice (Grimsby) (Grimsby)	Both	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	277,767
St Ann’s Hospice (CHEADLE)	Adults	England	North West	677,719
St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice (Lincoln)	Adults	England	East Midlands	709,550
St Catherine’s Hospice (Crawley) (Crawley)	Adults	England	South East Coast	609,426
St Catherine’s Hospice, Lancashire (Lostock Hall, Preston)	Adults	England	North West	500,160
St Christopher’s Hospice (LONDON)	Adults	England	London	1,569,819
St Clare West Essex Hospice Care Trust (Hastingwood)	Adults	England	East Of England	434,835
St Cuthbert’s Hospice (DURHAM)	Adults	England	North East	205,458
St Elizabeth Hospice (Ipswich)	Adults	England	East Of England	714,417
St Gemma’s Hospice (LEEDS)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	675,424
St Giles Hospice (LICHFIELD)	Adults	England	West Midlands	641,379
St Helena Hospice (COLCHESTER)	Adults	England	East Of England	711,249
St John’s Hospice	Adults	England	London	440,816
St John’s Hospice, Lancaster (Lancaster)	Adults	England	North West	379,872
St Joseph’s Hospice (London) (London )	Adults	England	London	938,909
St Joseph’s Hospice Association (LIVERPOOL)	Adults	England	North West	200,161
St Leonard’s Hospice (YORK)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	426,238
St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice (Winsford)	Adults	England	North West	252,533
St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon) (BASILDON)	Adults	England	East Of England	453,446
St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow And Brent) (Harrow)	Adults	England	London	527,405
St Luke’s Hospice (Sheffield) (Sheffield)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	770,529
St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth (Plymouth)	Adults	England	South West	665,871
St Margaret’s Hospice (Somerset) (TAUNTON)	Adults	England	South West	611,916
St Mary’s Hospice (Ulverston)	Adults	England	North West	258,538
St Michael’s Hospice (BASINGSTOKE)	Adults	England	South Central	258,005
St Michael’s Hospice (Hastings & Rother) (St. Leonards-on-Sea)	Adults	England	South East Coast	440,829
St Michael’s Hospice (Hereford) (Hereford)	Adults	England	West Midlands	499,423
St Nicholas Hospice Care (Bury St Edmunds)	Adults	England	East Of England	292,742
St Oswald’s Hospice (Newcastle upon Tyne)	Both	England	North East	751,441
St Peter & St James Hospice (North Chailey )	Adults	England	South East Coast	234,096
St Peter’s Hospice (Bristol)	Adults	England	South West	753,756
St Raphael’s Hospice (SUTTON)	Adults	England	London	395,307
St Richard’s Hospice (Worcester)	Adults	England	West Midlands	512,652
St Rocco’s Hospice (Warrington)	Adults	England	North West	265,263
St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Chichester) (Bosham)	Adults	England	South East Coast	423,855
St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne) (Eastbourne )	Adults	England	South East Coast	537,573
Sue Ryder ( London)	Adults	National	National	3,750,000
Teesside Hospice Care Foundation (Middlesbrough)	Adults	England	North East	224,192
Thames Hospice (Maidenhead)	Adults	England	South Central	672,002
The Darlington & District Hospice Movement (St Teresa’s Hospice) (Darlington)	Adults	England	North East	230,736
The Myton Hospices (Warwick)	Adults	England	West Midlands	671,378
The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House (Kings Lynn)	Adults	England	East Of England	244,593
The Prince of Wales Hospice (Pontefract)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	211,175
The Rowans Hospice (Waterlooville)	Adults	England	South Central	513,362
The Shakespeare Hospice (Stratford Upon Avon)	Adults	England	West Midlands	96,648
Treetops Hospice Care (RISLEY)	Adults	England	East Midlands	196,402
Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services (Blackpool)	Both	England	North West	615,213
Tynedale Hospice at Home (Hexham)	Adults	England	North East	47,593
Wakefield Hospice (Ossett)	Adults	England	Yorkshire And Humberside	235,143
Weldmar Hospicecare (DORCHESTER)	Adults	England	South West	525,405
Weston Hospicecare (Weston-super-Mare)	Adults	England	South West	214,899
Wigan and Leigh Hospice (Wigan)	Adults	England	North West	369,258
Willen Hospice (MILTON KEYNES )	Adults	England	South Central	431,061
Willow Wood Hospice (Ashton-under-Lyne)	Adults	England	North West	181,350
Willowbrook Hospice (Prescot)	Adults	England	North West	299,610
Wirral Hospice St John’s (Wirral)	Adults	England	North West	393,841
Woking & Sam Beare Hospice (WOKING)	Adults	England	South East Coast	481,630
Woodlands Hospice (LIVERPOOL)	Adults	England	North West	59,820
Zoe’s Place – Baby Hospice (Coventry)	Children	England	West Midlands	225,490

Published 20 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 20, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: ATF National Response Team Joins LA Explosion Investigation That Killed Three Sheriff Detectives

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Los Angeles Field Division is on scene with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisting with the investigation of an explosion that claimed the lives of three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives earlier today. Additionally, ATF has activated its National Response Team to deploy to the scene of the explosion located at Biscailuz Training Center at 1060 N. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, California.

NRT provides an immediate and sustained nationwide response capability, typically deploying within 24 hours of notification, with state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified ATF personnel specializing in explosives investigations.

ATF’s NRT consists of Special Agents, Certified Fire Investigators, a Forensic Chemist, Intelligence Research Specialist, Certified Explosives Specialist, Law Enforcement Training Specialist, Fire Protection Engineer, Electrical Engineer and an Accelerant Detection Canine with handler.

“ATF is here to work alongside our local partners and share whatever resources we have to help determine the cause of this explosion,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Cooper, of the Los Angeles Field Division. “While the pain of this loss will always be felt, we hope our efforts provide the answers a tragedy like this demands.”

This is the 14th NRT activation this fiscal year and the 934th since the program began in 1978. The team brings definitive expertise and an array of state-of-the-art equipment to the investigation of major explosives and fire incidents. The team can rapidly respond to assist local and state law enforcement or fire service personnel in onsite investigations.

“Anytime a first responder loses their life in the line of duty, it is a tragic loss to the community and this nation,” said Brian Lovin, the supervisor of ATF’s NRT. “We are heartbroken for the family, friends and fellow deputies, and vow to work alongside our partners with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to determine how and why this tragedy occurred.”

Past NRT activations include such incidents as: more than 200 fire scenes resulting from civil unrest throughout the Midwest in 2020, a series of bombings in Austin, Texas in 2018; and national-level incidents such as the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon; the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta; the Oklahoma City bombing and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

The NRT was most recently deployed to Esparto, Calif. for an explosion and fire at a fireworks facility.

ATF is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating this explosion. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Man wanted in connection with sexual assault in Hammersmith

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man seen in CCTV footage, following a sexual assault in May.

A woman in her 30s reported that a man sexually assaulted her in Hammersmith Grove, W6 at around 03:40hrs on Sunday, 18 May.

She is currently being supported by specialist officers.

On the morning of the assault, the victim was followed by a man as she walked along Hammersmith Grove, past Hammersmith Underground station. He caught up to her and sexually assaulted her before running off towards Hammersmith Broadway.

After the victim reported the sexual assault, officers launched an immediate investigation.

They tracked the man’s movements on CCTV before the offence – where he was seen walking along King Street, Hammersmith. Following the assault, he was seen running north on Park Road towards Browning Avenue before heading into a residential area.

He is described as white, in his 20s and approximately 5ft 8in to 6ft tall. He has dark hair and was wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers and white trainers.

Detective Superintendent Lucy O’Connor, leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets of London without being attacked. That is why we need to identify a man in connection with this incident and are now asking the public to help.

“If you were in the area on the morning of Sunday, 18 May or if you recognise the man in the footage, please contact us as soon as possible.”

If you have any relevant information to share, please call 101 providing the reference 01/7513051/25 or message @MetCC on X.

MIL Security OSI –

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: How the QAnon movement entered mainstream politics – and why the silence on Epstein files matters

Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Art Jipson, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Dayton

QAnon supporters wait for Donald Trump to speak at a campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation on September 22, 2020, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. eff Swensen/Getty Images

The Justice Department asked a federal court on July 18, 2025, to unseal grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein’s case. The direction from President Donald Trump came after weeks of frustration among some far-right groups over his administration’s refusal to release the complete and unredacted “Epstein files.”

Epstein, a wealthy financier with high-profile connections, was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and later died by suicide in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial.

In early 2025, a federal court unsealed portions of the court documents. While names of some of the alleged clients and victims were released, many were redacted or withheld.

Epstein’s arrest and death became a central focus for QAnon followers, who saw them as proof of a hidden global elite engaged in child trafficking and protected by powerful institutions. The release – or withholding – of the Epstein files is often cited within QAnon movement circles as evidence of a broader cover-up by the so-called “deep state.”

Some followers of the MAGA – Make America Great Again – movement and the Republican Party believe in the false claim that the United States is secretly controlled by a cabal of elites who are pedophiles, sex traffickers and satanists.

Over time, what started as a baseless conspiracy on obscure platforms has migrated into the mainstream. It has influenced rhetoric and policy debates, and even reshaped the American political landscape. The foundational belief of many of the QAnon followers is that Trump is a heroic figure fighting the elite pedophile ring.

Trump’s attempts at downplaying or obstructing the very disclosures they believe would validate their worldview has led to confusion. To some, the delay in the release of the files feels like a betrayal, or even the possibility of his wrongdoing. Others are trying to reinterpret Trump’s actions through increasingly baseless conspiracy logic.

Trump has publicly dismissed demands for the full release of the Epstein Files as a “hoax.” He has also made false claims. On July 15, 2025, Trump said: “And I would say that, you know, these files were made up by Comey. They were made up by Obama.”

As a scholar who studies extremism, I know that the movement views Trump as a mythological figure and it interprets Trump’s actions to fit this overarching narrative – an elasticity which makes the movement both durable and dangerous.

From Pizzagate to QAnon

The QAnon movement began with the Pizzagate conspiracy theory in 2016, which falsely claimed that high-ranking Democrats were operating a child sex trafficking ring out of a Washington, D.C., pizzeria. The baseless theory gained enough online momentum that a man armed with an assault rifle stormed the restaurant, seeking to “free the children.”

In 2017, an anonymous figure called “Q” began posting cryptic messages on message boards like 4chan and 8kun. The baseless accusations of a global network of elites involved in controlling global institutions, including governments, businesses, and the media, as well as operating a child trafficking and ritual abuse, were central to the QAnon movement’s narrative.

Supporters of President Donald Trump with messages referring to the QAnon conspiracy theory at a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center on February 21, 2020.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

The movement has recruited followers through language like “Save the Children,” to mobilize around issues of child trafficking.

The QAnon movement recruits new followers through appeals to stop child trafficking.
Hollie Adams/Getty Images

Many QAnon adherents, particularly women, were drawn to the movement through such appeals to child protection. According to psychologists Sophia Moskalenko and Mia Bloom, this type of appeal taps into powerful emotional instincts, making conspiracy theories like QAnon more persuasive and harder to dislodge, even in the face of contradictory evidence.

QAnon movement’s rise

QAnon followers perceived Trump as a messianic figure working to expose this cabal in a climactic reckoning known as “The Storm” – a moment when mass arrests would finally bring justice.

They claimed that this moment would eventually bring about a “Great Awakening,” a reference to the religious revivalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries. In this context the phrase described the supposed political and spiritual enlightenment that would follow “The Storm” – a moment of mass realization when people would “wake up” to the truth about the “deep state.”

Trump reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words ‘The Storm is Coming.’
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

In 2019, the FBI identified QAnon as a domestic terrorism threat, and major social media platforms began banning related content, but by then, QAnon had bled into mainstream conservative politics. Q-endorsing candidates, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, ran for and won elected office a year later.

Trump and QAnon

During Trump’s first administration – from 2017 to 2021 – the QAnon movement flourished. The posts from Q claimed to reveal insider knowledge of a secret war being waged by the president, often in coordination with the military, against the powerful elite.

Trump never explicitly endorsed the movement, but he did little to distance himself from it.

His administration also included figures, like former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who openly interacted with Q content online.

Trump’s rhetoric, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election, gave new life to QAnon narratives. When he questioned the integrity of the electoral process, QAnon followers interpreted it as confirmation of the deep state’s meddling.

However, after Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race, QAnon followers revised their original prophecy to maintain belief in “The Storm” and “The Great Awakening.” Some claimed the defeat was part of a larger secret plan, with Biden’s presidency serving as a cover for exposing the deep state. Some believed Trump remained the true president behind the scenes, while others reframed the awakening as a spiritual rather than political event.

Indeed, by 2020, several congressional candidates openly embraced or showed sympathy for the QAnon movement.

At various campaign rallies in 2022 and after Trump used the movement’s symbolism. On Truth Social, his social media platform, he retweeted Q-affiliated accounts, and praised QAnon supporters as “people who love our country.” That same year he reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.”

After the 2020 elections

Trump’s departure from the White House in January 2021 created an existential crisis for the QAnon movement. Predictions that he would declare martial law or arrest Joe Biden and other Democrats on Inauguration Day failed to materialize. Q’s posts also stopped, leaving many followers adrift.

Some abandoned the theory. Others rationalized the failed predictions or embraced new conspiracy narratives, such as the belief that Trump was still secretly in charge or that the military would soon act to reinstate him.

Some QAnon communities merged with or were absorbed into broader anti-vaccine, anti-globalist, and Christian nationalist movements.

How big is the movement?

Estimating the number of QAnon believers is difficult because many individuals do not openly identify with the movement, and those who do often hold a range of loosely connected or partial beliefs rather than adhering to a consistent or uniform ideology. Not everyone who shares a Q meme or echoes a Q talking point identifies as being part of the movement.

That said, surveys by groups like the 2024 Public Religion Research Institute and the Associated Press have found that 15–20% of Americans believe in some of QAnon’s core claims, such as the existence of a secret group of Satan-worshipping elites controlling the government.

Among Republican voters, the number is often higher.

This does not mean all these people are hardcore QAnon adherents, but it does show how far the narrative, or parts of it, has seeped into mainstream thinking.

Epstein as evidence of ‘the cabal’

The Trump administration’s failure to disclose the information in Epstein files has fueled internal confusion, disillusionment and even radicalization within the movement.

For some QAnon believers, this failure was a turning point: if Trump – once seen as the hero in the conspiracy narrative – would not or could not reveal the truth, then the “deep state” must be more entrenched than imagined.

At the same time, frustrations have grown within MAGA and the QAnon movement’s spaces. Some see it as a failure to fulfill one of his most important promises: exposing elite pedophiles. Others believe the delay is strategic, another example of “the plan” requiring more patience.

The QAnon movement continues to evolve, even as its central figure hedges and hesitates, showing how potent myths can be in times of uncertainty. In my view, understanding why this belief continues to gain traction is essential for understanding the current state of American democracy.

Art Jipson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How the QAnon movement entered mainstream politics – and why the silence on Epstein files matters – https://theconversation.com/how-the-qanon-movement-entered-mainstream-politics-and-why-the-silence-on-epstein-files-matters-261316

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: International mediation organization aims to promote peaceful settlement of international disputes: China’s Permanent Representative

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

VIENNA, July 19 (Xinhua) — The International Mediation Organization (IMO) will become the leading intergovernmental organization helping resolve international disputes through mediation, Li Song, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Vienna, said at a reception for the IMO held on the sidelines of the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Noting that the UN Charter clearly states that mediation is one of the preferred methods for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, Li Song said the IGO will be the world’s first intergovernmental legal organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.

UNCITRAL Secretary Anne Joubin-Bret noted that she attended the signing ceremony of the Convention Establishing IGOs in Hong Kong in May this year. She expressed hope that in the future the organization will strengthen cooperation with UNCITRAL to jointly promote the development of the international legal order.

IGO is an important global public good provided by China jointly with like-minded countries to meet the development trend and demand for international mediation.

Under the IGO Convention, the organization will provide mediation services to settle three types of international disputes submitted by the parties by mutual consent expressed before or after the dispute has arisen: disputes between States, commercial or investment disputes between a State and a national of another State, and international commercial disputes between individuals. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Brazil’s supreme court decides to impose legal restrictions on ex-president Bolsonaro

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

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (L, front) leaves the headquarters of Criminal Police of Brazil where he was fitted with an electronic anklet for monitoring, in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 18, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)

A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the measures include nightly house arrest on weekdays, full-time house arrest on weekends and holidays, wearing an electronic ankle monitor, and a ban on contacting foreign diplomats or visiting embassies and consulates, the supreme court said in a press release.

According to the release, the former president and his son had lobbied in the United States to solicit sanctions against Brazilian officials.

The justice stated that Brazil’s sovereignty will never be negotiated, reaffirming the supreme court’s determination to defend democratic and constitutional principles.

The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian exports effective Aug. 1. Trump linked the hefty tariffs to the ongoing legal proceedings against Bolsonaro.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reacts during a special session at the Brazilian Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, July 17, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C) leaves the headquarters of Criminal Police of Brazil where he was fitted with an electronic anklet for monitoring, in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 18, 2025. A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court on Friday decided to impose strict legal restrictions on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro for coercion, obstruction of justice, and attack on national sovereignty.(Xinhua/Lucio Tavora)

MIL OSI China News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ICE deportation action lands Marshallese, Micronesians in Guantánamo ‘terror’ base
By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal/RNZ Pacific correspondent

United States immigration and deportation enforcement continues to ramp up, impacting on Marshallese and Micronesians in new and unprecedented ways.

The Trump administration’s directive to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and deport massive numbers of potentially illegal aliens, including those with convictions from decades past, is seeing Marshallese and Micronesians swept up by ICE.

The latest unprecedented development is Marshallese and Micronesians being removed from the United States to the offshore detention facility at the US Navy base in Guantánamo Bay — a facility set up to jail terrorists suspected of involvement in the 9/11 airplane attacks in the US in 2001.

Marshall Islands Ambassador to the US Charles Paul this week confirmed a media report that one Marshallese was currently incarcerated at Guantánamo, which is also known as “GTMO”.

The same report from nationnews.com said 72 detainees from 26 countries had been sent to GTMO last week, including from the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

A statement issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE operations, concerning detention of foreigners with criminal records at GTMO said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was using “every tool available to get criminal illegal aliens off our streets and out of our country.”

But the action was criticised by a Marshallese advocate for citizens from the Compact countries in the US.

‘Legal, ethical concerns’
“As a Compact of Free Association (COFA) advocate and ordinary indigenous citizen of the Marshallese Islands, I strongly condemn the detention of COFA migrants — including citizens from the Republic of the Marshall Islands — at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay,” Benson Gideon said in a social media post this week.

“This action raises urgent legal, constitutional, and ethical concerns that must be addressed without delay.”

Since seeing the news about detention of a Marshallese in this US facility used to hold suspected terrorists, Ambassador Paul said he had “been in touch with ICE to repatriate one Marshallese being detained.”

Paul said he was “awaiting all the documents pertaining to the criminal charges, but we were informed that the individual has several felony and misdemeanor convictions. We are working closely with ICE to expedite this process.”

Gideon said bluntly the detention of the Marshallese was a breach of Compact treaty obligations.

“The COFA agreement guarantees fair treatment. Military detention undermines this commitment,” he said.

Gideon listed the strong Marshallese links with the US — service in high numbers in the US military, hosting of the Kwajalein missile range, US military control of Marshall Islands ocean and air space — as examples of Marshallese contributions to the US.

‘Treated as criminals’
“Despite these sacrifices, our people are being treated as criminals and confined in a facility historically associated with terrorism suspects,” he said.

“I call on the US Embassy in Majuro to publicly address this injustice and work with federal agencies to ensure COFA Marshallese residents are treated with dignity and fairness.

“If we are good enough to host your missile ranges, fight in your military, and support your defence strategy, then we are good enough to be protected — not punished. Let justice, transparency, and respect prevail.”

There were 72 immigration detainees at Guantánamo Bay, 58 of them classified as high-risk and 14 in the low-risk category, reported nationnews.com.

The report added that the criminal records of the detainees include convictions for homicide; sexual offences, including against children; child pornography; assault with a weapon; kidnapping; drug smuggling; and robbery.

Civil rights advocates have called the detention of immigration detainees at Guantanamo Bay punitive and unlawful, arguing in an active lawsuit that federal law does not allow the government to hold those awaiting deportation outside of US territory.

In other US immigration and deportation developments:
- The delivery last month by US military aircraft of 18 Marshallese deported from the US and escorted by armed ICE agents is another example of the ramped-up deportation focus of the Trump administration. Since the early 2000s more than 300 Marshall Islanders have been deported from the US. Prior to the Trump administration, past deportations were managed by US Marshals escorting deportees individually on commercial flights.
- According to Marshall Islands authorities, there have not been any deportations since the June 10 military flight to Majuro, suggesting that group deportations may be the way the Trump administration handles further deportations.
- Individual travellers flying into Honolulu whose passports note place of birth as Kiribati are reportedly now being refused entry. This reportedly happened to a Marshallese passport holder late last month who had previously travel
- led in and out of the US without issue.
Most Marshallese passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to the US, though there are different levels of access to the US based on if citizenship was gained through naturalisation or a passport sales programme in the 1980s and 1990s.

US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Laura Stone said, however, that “the visa-free travel rules have not changed.”

She said she could not speak to any individual traveller’s situation without adequate information to evaluate the situation.

She pointed out that citizenship “acquired through naturalisation, marriage, investment, adoption” have different rules. Stone urged all travellers to examine the rules carefully and determine their eligibility for visa-free travel.

“If they have a question, we would be happy to answer their enquiry at ConsMajuro@state.gov,” she added.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
July 19, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ICE deportation action lands Marshallese, Micronesians in Guantánamo ‘terror’ base
By Giff Johnson, editor, Marshall Islands Journal/RNZ Pacific correspondent

United States immigration and deportation enforcement continues to ramp up, impacting on Marshallese and Micronesians in new and unprecedented ways.

The Trump administration’s directive to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and deport massive numbers of potentially illegal aliens, including those with convictions from decades past, is seeing Marshallese and Micronesians swept up by ICE.

The latest unprecedented development is Marshallese and Micronesians being removed from the United States to the offshore detention facility at the US Navy base in Guantánamo Bay — a facility set up to jail terrorists suspected of involvement in the 9/11 airplane attacks in the US in 2001.

Marshall Islands Ambassador to the US Charles Paul this week confirmed a media report that one Marshallese was currently incarcerated at Guantánamo, which is also known as “GTMO”.

The same report from nationnews.com said 72 detainees from 26 countries had been sent to GTMO last week, including from the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

A statement issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE operations, concerning detention of foreigners with criminal records at GTMO said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was using “every tool available to get criminal illegal aliens off our streets and out of our country.”

But the action was criticised by a Marshallese advocate for citizens from the Compact countries in the US.

‘Legal, ethical concerns’
“As a Compact of Free Association (COFA) advocate and ordinary indigenous citizen of the Marshallese Islands, I strongly condemn the detention of COFA migrants — including citizens from the Republic of the Marshall Islands — at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay,” Benson Gideon said in a social media post this week.

“This action raises urgent legal, constitutional, and ethical concerns that must be addressed without delay.”

Since seeing the news about detention of a Marshallese in this US facility used to hold suspected terrorists, Ambassador Paul said he had “been in touch with ICE to repatriate one Marshallese being detained.”

Paul said he was “awaiting all the documents pertaining to the criminal charges, but we were informed that the individual has several felony and misdemeanor convictions. We are working closely with ICE to expedite this process.”

Gideon said bluntly the detention of the Marshallese was a breach of Compact treaty obligations.

“The COFA agreement guarantees fair treatment. Military detention undermines this commitment,” he said.

Gideon listed the strong Marshallese links with the US — service in high numbers in the US military, hosting of the Kwajalein missile range, US military control of Marshall Islands ocean and air space — as examples of Marshallese contributions to the US.

‘Treated as criminals’
“Despite these sacrifices, our people are being treated as criminals and confined in a facility historically associated with terrorism suspects,” he said.

“I call on the US Embassy in Majuro to publicly address this injustice and work with federal agencies to ensure COFA Marshallese residents are treated with dignity and fairness.

“If we are good enough to host your missile ranges, fight in your military, and support your defence strategy, then we are good enough to be protected — not punished. Let justice, transparency, and respect prevail.”

There were 72 immigration detainees at Guantánamo Bay, 58 of them classified as high-risk and 14 in the low-risk category, reported nationnews.com.

The report added that the criminal records of the detainees include convictions for homicide; sexual offences, including against children; child pornography; assault with a weapon; kidnapping; drug smuggling; and robbery.

Civil rights advocates have called the detention of immigration detainees at Guantanamo Bay punitive and unlawful, arguing in an active lawsuit that federal law does not allow the government to hold those awaiting deportation outside of US territory.

In other US immigration and deportation developments:
- The delivery last month by US military aircraft of 18 Marshallese deported from the US and escorted by armed ICE agents is another example of the ramped-up deportation focus of the Trump administration. Since the early 2000s more than 300 Marshall Islanders have been deported from the US. Prior to the Trump administration, past deportations were managed by US Marshals escorting deportees individually on commercial flights.
- According to Marshall Islands authorities, there have not been any deportations since the June 10 military flight to Majuro, suggesting that group deportations may be the way the Trump administration handles further deportations.
- Individual travellers flying into Honolulu whose passports note place of birth as Kiribati are reportedly now being refused entry. This reportedly happened to a Marshallese passport holder late last month who had previously travel
- led in and out of the US without issue.
Most Marshallese passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to the US, though there are different levels of access to the US based on if citizenship was gained through naturalisation or a passport sales programme in the 1980s and 1990s.

US Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Laura Stone said, however, that “the visa-free travel rules have not changed.”

She said she could not speak to any individual traveller’s situation without adequate information to evaluate the situation.

She pointed out that citizenship “acquired through naturalisation, marriage, investment, adoption” have different rules. Stone urged all travellers to examine the rules carefully and determine their eligibility for visa-free travel.

“If they have a question, we would be happy to answer their enquiry at ConsMajuro@state.gov,” she added.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Death – Tiwi

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force are investigating after 7-year-old child died in Tiwi this afternoon.

Around 1:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 7-year-old female was struck by a falling palm tree at an address in Tiwi while playing in the yard.

Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital; however, she was pronounced deceased prior to arrival.

A 11-year-old male was struck also struck by the palm tree and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident is not believed to be suspicious.

Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

MIL OSI News –

July 19, 2025
Amarnath Yatra proceeds peacefully, over 2.73 lakh pilgrims have had darshan

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The annual Amarnath Yatra continues to progress smoothly, with over 2.73 lakh pilgrims having had darshan at the holy cave shrine in the last 16 days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, officials confirmed.

On Saturday, a fresh batch of 6,365 pilgrims departed from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys. The first convoy, comprising 92 vehicles, left at 3:25 a.m. with 2,851 pilgrims heading to the Baltal base camp, while the second convoy of 119 vehicles departed at 3:53 a.m., carrying 3,514 yatris to the Pahalgam base camp.

Rituals associated with the Yatra are also underway. On July 10, the Bhumi Pujan of the Chhari Mubarak-the sacred mace of Lord Shiva-was performed at the Gauri Shankar temple in Pahalgam. The ceremony was led by Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, the custodian of the mace. The Chhari Mubarak was taken from its seat at Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar to Pahalgam and later returned to its original place. It will begin its final journey to the cave shrine on August 4 and reach on August 9, marking the culmination of the Yatra on Shravan Purnima, which also coincides with Raksha Bandhan.

In the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow—where 26 civilians were killed—authorities have implemented extensive multi-layered security measures. An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to strengthen the existing presence of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police forces.

Pilgrims can undertake the 38-day Yatra via two routes: the traditional Pahalgam route, a 46 km trek taking four days via Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni; or the shorter Baltal route, involving a 14 km trek that allows a return the same day. However, helicopter services have not been made available this year due to security concerns.

The cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva. The formation is known to wax and wane with the lunar cycle.

— IANS

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins and Colleagues Successfully Secure the Release of Crucial Education Funding for Schools and Afterschool Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

Published: July 18, 2025

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it will officially release critical Fiscal Year 2025 funding to support 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provide afterschool and summer learning opportunities for students. This announcement comes in response to a letter sent this week by Senator Collins and some of her Republican colleagues to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), advocating for the release of anticipated education formula funding. Senator Collins also personally spoke to Education Secretary Linda McMahon to advocate for the release of this frozen funding yesterday.

“21^st Century Community Learning Centers support low-income families and rural communities with after-school programs and summer education that enable students to thrive and parents to continue working. This funding was appropriated by Congress and is relied on by many in our state. I am so glad my colleagues and I were able to work together to effectively urge the Administration to get these funds released. There is more funding that still needs to be disbursed, and I will continue to work to ensure it is delivered swiftly so educators can prepare for the upcoming academic year with certainty and Maine students and families have the resources they need to succeed,” said Senator Collins.

Specifically, the letter, led by Senator Capito (R-WV) and Senator Collins, requests that the Administration faithfully implement the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Full-Year Continuing Resolution Act, which Congress passed and President Trump signed into law earlier this year. The letter was also signed by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). The complete text of the letter can be read here.

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and a founding member of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Collins has been a strong supporter of 21^st Century Community Learning Centers.

Last week, Senator Collins also announced that the Department of Education awarded a total of $4,981,867 in TRIO Student Support Services grants to 11 Maine colleges and universities after her questioning of Secretary McMahon on the proposed elimination of TRIO programs during an Appropriations hearing.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated assault – Palmerston

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police have arrested a 50-year-old female in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred in Palmerston on Friday evening.

Around 8:20pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a man had allegedly been stabbed during a domestic violence disturbance at the Palmerston Bus Exchange.

Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, where the male victim was located unconscious. He was conveyed to Palmerston Regional Hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 50-year-old female was arrested at the scene and a crime scene was established. CCTV footage has been obtained, and investigations are ongoing.

Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that may assist, to contact 131 444. Please quote reference number P25192391. Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

MIL OSI News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Announce Legislation to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

July 18, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would implement federal enforceable workplace heat stress protections in Oregon and nationwide.

“As evidenced by this week’s high temperatures in Oregon, record-hot weather is here to stay thanks to the growing climate crisis,” Wyden said. “I applaud this legislation that takes common-sense steps to protect workers from preventable hazards like heatstroke. With the ongoing climate crisis driving up temperatures, I will keep battling for more protections for the hard-working Oregonians most exposed to dangerous heat conditions.”

“Climate chaos is creating hotter, longer summers, putting many workers at risk of heat-related health issues on the job. Many Oregonians work outdoors – in our fields, in our forests, and off our shores and protecting them from the dangers of extreme heat is critical,” said Merkley. “The Asunción Valdivia Heat Stress Injury, Illness, and Fatality Prevention Act will provide essential safeguards in the workplace and help save the lives of working Americans.”

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act would protect the safety and health of indoor and outdoor workers exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. The legislation would protect workers against occupational exposure to excessive heat by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish an enforceable federal standard to protect workers in high-heat environments with common-sense measures like paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. The bill also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.

The bill is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia, who died in 2004 after picking grapes in California for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious, but instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia’s son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2024 was the warmest year on record for the United States. The past decade, including 2024, was the hottest on record, marking a decade of extreme heat that will only get worse. Heat-related illnesses can cause heat cramps, organ damage, heat exhaustion, stroke, and even death. Between 1992 and 2017, heat stress injuries killed 815 U.S. workers and seriously injured more than 70,000. The failure to implement simple heat safety measures costs U.S. employers nearly $100 billion every year in lost productivity.

From 2011-2020, heat exposure killed at least 400 workers and caused nearly 34,000 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work; both are likely vast underestimates. Farm workers and construction workers suffer the highest incidence of heat illness. And no matter what the weather is outside, workers in factories, commercial kitchens, and other workplaces, including ones where workers must wear personal protective equipment , can face dangerously high heat conditions all year round.

The bill was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and U.S. Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-Va., and Alma Adams, D-N.C. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

The Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act has the support of a broad coalition of more than 250 groups, including: Rural Coalition, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE!, Communication Workers of America, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Sierra Club, United Farm Workers, Farmworker Justice, Public Citizen, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Steelworkers, National Resources Defense Council, American Lung Association, and Health Partnerships.

“Every worker safety rule in America is written in blood,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “The UFW has been fighting for heat safety protections for decades. Over 20 years later, Asuncion Valdivia’s death still hurts. There are so many other farm workers — many whose names we do not know — who have also been killed by extreme heat on the job in the years since. Enough is enough. Every farm worker deserves access to water, shade, and paid rest breaks — it’s past time for Congress get this done.”

“Everyone deserves safe working conditions, but powerful corporations have not done enough to protect their workers from hot working environments, exacerbated by the climate crisis,” said Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO. “Extreme heat is increasingly causing indoor and outdoor workers to collapse or even die on the job, and our union family has already lost too many members to preventable, work-related heat illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) must issue a strong heat rule, not a weak one, to ensure workers have specific protections they need and to be able to raise unsafe working conditions without fear of retaliation.”

“It’s long past time for meaningful legislation to protect Teamsters and other workers from the effects of prolonged heat exposure and dangerous heat levels while at work,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, and limitations on time exposed to heat are simple common sense steps that should be mandated immediately. Waiting to implement these measures is unacceptable and will result in the further loss of lives.”

The full text of the bill is here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Presses Bondi, Patel, Bongino On Rifts Between DOJ, FBI, White House On Epstein Files

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

July 18, 2025

Durbin files official oversight requests with Bondi, Patel, Bongino, as MAGA world continues imploding over the Epstein cover up and breaking reporting by the Wall Street Journal describes Trump sending a lewd letter to Epstein

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino on apparent discrepancies regarding the handling of the Epstein files and findings from a July 7 Department of Justice (DOJ) memorandum and instructions reportedly received by FBI personnel to identify records mentioning President Trump.

In letters to Bondi, Patel, and Bongino, Durbin began by highlighting contradictions between its first finding revealing no “incriminating client list” and Bondi’s public statements, writing: “The first finding directly contradicts public statements Attorney General Bondi has repeatedly made. On February 21, 17 days after her confirmation as Attorney General, Attorney General Bondi was asked directly by Fox News’ America Reports host John Roberts: ‘DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients; will that really happen?’ She responded: ‘It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.’ On February 27, Attorney General Bondi released binders of documents related to Epstein to conservative influencers and commentators, but despite the major media event the White House staged around this release, these files were largely already publicly available. After intense blowback from this incident, Attorney General Bondi then appeared on another FOX News show, Life Liberty Levin, and claimed that a ‘whistleblower’ told her that ‘New York SDNY [was] sitting on thousands of pages of documents’; that ‘we will get everything’; that she was ‘assured’ there was more; and that the country would eventually see ‘the full Epstein files.’ She also claimed that the ‘FBI withheld all of those documents’ and you were providing a detailed report as an explanation for the FBI’s actions with respect to those materials.”

Durbin then invoked breaking reporting that Trump sent a bawdy letter to Epstein, writing: “Notably, in 2002, Mr. Trump said of Mr. Epstein, ‘I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy, He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.’ Just yesterday, it was reported that the Department previously reviewed a ‘leather-bound album’ comprised of dozens of letters from Mr. Epstein’s friends in celebration of his 50th birthday in 2003. The letters were collected by Mr. Epstein’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell and included one from President Trump that allegedly ‘contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker … and the future president’s signature is a squiggly ‘Donald’ below her waist.’”

Durbin continued: “Despite tens of thousands of personnel hours reviewing and re-reviewing these Epstein-related records over the course of two weeks in March, it took DOJ more than three additional months to officially find there is ‘no incriminating ‘client list,’’ and the memorandum with this finding includes no mention of the whistleblower or additional documents, the existence of which Attorney General Bondi publicly claimed on February 27.”

Durbin then discussed public scrutiny over the memorandum’s second finding that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, writing: “The second finding in the July 7 memorandum does not contradict any official statement from DOJ and accords with the DOJ Inspector General’s investigation into the Bureau of Prisons’ custody of Jeffrey Epstein. However, public skepticism of the government’s transparency in this matter has been needlessly increased due to the release of surveillance video from outside of Jeffrey Epstein’s cell in the hours leading up to his death, which the July 7 memorandum described as ‘full raw’ footage; in fact, the footage was likely modified, according to the metadata embedded in the video.”

To Director Patel, Durbin wrote: “According to information my office received, the FBI was pressured to put approximately 1,000 personnel in its Information Management Division (IMD) … on 24-hour shifts to review approximately 100,000 Epstein-related records in order to produce more documents that could then be released on an arbitrarily short deadline. This effort, which reportedly took place from March 14 through the end of March, was haphazardly supplemented by hundreds of FBI New York Field Office personnel, many of whom lacked the expertise to identify statutorily-protected information regarding child victims and child witnesses or properly handle FOIA requests. My office was told that these personnel were instructed to ‘flag’ any records in which President Trump was mentioned.”

To Deputy Director Bongino, Durbin wrote: “Prior to becoming FBI Deputy Director, you spent years as a private citizen making claims about the Jeffrey Epstein case. For example, you stated: ‘That Jeffrey Epstein story is a big deal. Please do not let that story go. Keep your eye on it.’ On July 11, far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed that you and FBI Director Patel ‘[were] livid with [Attorney General Bondi] over her DOJ Memo and the lack of transparency from her office regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.’ Subsequent public reporting indicates this apparent dispute came to a head at a meeting between White House, DOJ, and FBI officials that you and Director Patel attended, leading to claims that you may resign from your position over these issues. You have made no public statements since these reports have come out, but reports have emerged that the dispute may have been related to Attorney General Bondi accusing you of leaking to NewsNation a story critical of her for allegedly preventing the FBI from releasing more Epstein-related records.”

Durbin concluded with requests for information to be produced by August 1, 2025, citing “the serious questions about the veracity of Attorney General Bondi’s public statements regarding the Epstein-related records in DOJ’s possession and the effect those questions are having on the public’s ability to trust DOJ’s July 7 finding that there is ‘no incriminating “client list.”’”

For a PDF of the letter to Attorney General Bondi, click here.

For a PDF of the letter to Director Patel, click here.

For a PDF of the letter to Deputy Director Bongino, click here.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: CCTV footage released following murder of Rene Graham in Ladbroke Grove

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Rene Graham almost a year ago say that the answers sit within a “small pocket of the community”.

A murder investigation was launched after Rene was killed in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park at around 19:20hrs on Sunday, 21 July.

CCTV footage showed the suspect walking calmly towards the busy park before he entered via the children’s play area and shot Rene in the chest. Rene sadly died at the scene.

Footage also showed that after shooting Rene, the suspect chased and attempted to shoot a second victim, before fleeing the area. Detectives have released some of the CCTV today to assist their investigation and independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation said: “Rene was tragically shot dead during a busy music festival. Since the launch of the investigation, officers have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and taken numerous statements from witnesses.

“Rene’s family have continued to be supported throughout these enquiries, and they remain understandably devastated about his death.

“Recently, a man in his 20s was interviewed under caution in relation to Rene’s murder and we continue to investigate all lines of enquiry.”

The footage released today shows the suspect walking in the direction of the park, appearing to pull a gun from his pocket and then running from the area shortly after the shooting.

DCI Foxwell added: “The person responsible for Rene’s murder opened fire in a busy park where dozens of people, including very young children, were enjoying themselves.

“Officers have appealed to the local community on multiple occasions – we believe there are people sitting on the name of the person responsible.

“This person, who was willing to take the life of Rene and risk the lives of others, remains in your community. Now is the time to get in touch with us to give Rene’s family the peace they deserve.

“Our thoughts, remain as ever, with them.”

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Rene’s murder.

Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, said: “Rene, was very sadly murdered last year in broad daylight with over two hundred people present.

“The significant and lasting impact on his family, friends, and the local community, cannot be underestimated and our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones.

“We believe someone who either witnessed the incident or knows of someone who was there on the day, will have information. No matter how insignificant they think it could be, it could help bring those responsible to justice. You can contact Crimestoppers completely anonymously – we won’t ask for your name and are unable to identify your telephone number or IP address if you are reporting online.

“We don’t record calls, so once you have contacted our Charity there is no further involvement. Your information is passed anonymously on to the Police with no questions asked. Please do the right thing to find justice for Rene, who was only 15 years-old at the time of his death. Your information could make a real difference, and you may be eligible for a reward.”

Crimestoppers urges anyone with information regarding Rene’s murder or any details that could assist the investigation to come forward. Information can be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Any information can be provided to police by calling 101 or messaging @MetCC on X, providing the reference CAD 6343/21Jul.

MIL Security OSI –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, McGovern, Project Bread Sound Alarm on Republicans’ Devastating Food Assistance Cuts, Harm to Massachusetts Families
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Massachusetts Families Fear Worsening Hunger Crisis Amid Trump’s Cuts to SNAP in Big, Ugly Bill

Photos (DropBox)

EAST BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) convened a listening session in East Boston with Project Bread, the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts, to highlight the devastating impacts that Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill will have on Massachusetts families who rely on federal food assistance.

“No one in Massachusetts – no child, student, parent, or senior – should go hungry.,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill is a shameful betrayal of our shared humanity and will make communities in the Massachusetts 7^th and across the country hungrier, poorer, and sicker. SNAP is a lifeline, especially for families facing other insecurities, and for Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ households that face the highest rates of food insecurity. Listening to families directly impacted by this crisis is essential as we chart a path forward, and I’m grateful to fight alongside Rep. McGovern, Project Bread, state and local leaders, and critical food assistance, nutrition, and farming advocates to ensure food justice for all.”

“Federal nutrition assistance programs put food on the table for families across Massachusetts. Today, we heard directly from some of those families about how the Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and DOGE cuts will make families more hungry and less healthy. Forty-two million people – the vast majority of which are working people, kids, seniors, and people with disabilities – will see their SNAP benefits cut and families with teenagers, older adults, veterans, former foster youth, and homeless people could lose their benefits altogether,” said Rep. James P. McGovern, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. “Kids will have less nutritious food at school and families utilizing food pantries will have less access to fruits and vegetables. I can’t think of anything more cruel than taking food away from hungry families all to fund tax breaks for billionaires.”

“Project Bread hears from over 25,000 families every year just how critical food assistance programs are. People experiencing hunger share how they are working hard to provide for their families, navigating work challenges, health crises, family concerns, and much more, and it is important that we listen and uplift the real stories of food insecurity in Massachusetts,” said Erin McAleer, President and CEO of Project Bread. “We invest in building connections with those directly experiencing hunger because that lived expertise is central to how we develop and implement sustainable community solutions. Hunger is a policy choice. In Massachusetts, we are lucky to have powerful congressional and community leaders ready to listen, learn, and lead in the fight to ensure everyone can put food on the table.”

Congresswoman Pressley, Congressman McGovern, and Project Bread discussed the stories of people with lived experience in the Massachusetts 7th, as well as partners and advocates, including Ricardo Henry, Community Leader of Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative; Sandra Nijjar, Founder of East Boston Community Soup Kitchen; Carlos Morales, Food Access Manager of La Colaborativa; Michelle Doyle, Meals Program Director of Prospect Hill Academy Charter School; Alexandra Mello, Project Bread Council of Experts; Janin Otero, Project Bread Council of Experts, and others. Also joining them were state and local officials, including State Representative Adrian Madaro, State Senator Lydia Edwards, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata; Jeffrey McCue, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance; Julianne Stelmaszyk, Director of the Division of Food Security at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources; Allison Bovell-Ammon, Assistant Undersecretary for Children and Family Services at the MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services; and Aliza Wasserman, Director of the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Food Justice.

Photo from the listening session are available here.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a champion for food security and justice and ensuring families have the essential food assistance they deserve. She has been an outspoken critic of the Big, Ugly Bill since its inception and Republicans’ harmful cuts to SNAP and other government service programs.
- Rep. Pressley joined colleagues at a press conference imploring the House to reject the cruel and harmful legislation.
- Rep. Pressley joined the Congressional Black Caucus and over 100 colleagues in stalling a vote on the Big, Ugly Bill.
- Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Senate’s passage of the Big, Ugly Bill and vowing to continue fighting it using every tool available.
- Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates from Caring Across Generations, Care Can’t Wait, and partner organizations to protest Trump’s and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill that proposes disastrous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs and would leave communities sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable.
- Ahead of the House’s vote on the bill, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor in which she made a direct appeal to her Republican colleagues to oppose this cruel and harmful bill.
- Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed the bill’s proposed Medicaid cuts, which would decimate reproductive healthcare in America and worsen maternal health outcomes.
- Rep. Pressley co-hosted a press conference with Color of Change to oppose the Republicans’ cruel and harmful budget reconciliation package, which would gut critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
- In the House Oversight Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Rep. Pressley demanded Republicans answer to the families who would go hungry by way of this reconciliation bill – and she was met with silence.
- In an impassioned speech on the House floor, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors.
###

MIL OSI USA News –
July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Releases Report, Finds Firearm Microstamping Technology Viable
Source: US State of California

Friday, July 18, 2025

Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released a report finding that firearm microstamping technology is technologically viable when imprinting a unique microscopic array of characters, referred to as a microstamp, on spent cartridge cases discharged by a firearm into which a microstamped firing pin has been installed. This report follows recent amendments to the Unsafe Handgun Act, including requiring that new semiautomatic pistols must have microstamping capabilities that allow law enforcement to trace a shell casing to the pistol that fired it. The California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation found that microstamping components installed in semiautomatic pistols regularly produce microstamps on spent cartridge cases discharged by these firearms, including after sustained or repeat firing. The investigation was led by DOJ’s Bureau of Forensic Services, performed in consultation with relevant legal and subject matter experts, and included input from stakeholders, who were invited to provide written comments relevant to DOJ’s technological viability investigation.

“My office’s investigation into the technological viability of microstamping components has found that this technology is viable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Microstamping technology could help law enforcement match cartridges found at crime scenes directly to the firearms they came from. Today, my office released a report outlining the findings of our investigation in an effort to provide appropriate transparency as to the basis of our determination.”

Microstamping technology causes a firearm to imprint a unique microscopic code onto ammunition cartridge cases when a firearm is fired that identifies the firearm’s make, model, and serial number, helping law enforcement match cartridges found at crime scenes directly to the firearms they came from.

In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 452, authored by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), which amended California’s Unsafe Handgun Act and added separate Penal Code provisions that adopted new requirements concerning microstamping components in semiautomatic pistols sold or transferred in the state. California Penal Code section 27532 required DOJ to investigate the technological viability of microstamping components. Beginning January 1st, 2028, the Unsafe Handgun Act will mandate that all semiautomatic handguns sold by licensed dealers must be verified as microstamping enabled.

In the report, DOJ outlines the findings of the investigation, including:
- Engraved firing pins consistently leave legible microstamps on spent cartridge cases.
- In many tested firearms and ammunition types, microstamping components can reliably imprint all data needed to identify the firearm.
- Even incomplete microstamps can yield useful leads for solving and prosecuting gun crimes.
- Using partial microstamps is equivalent to using partial fingerprints, license plates, or firearm serial numbers as investigative leads.
This fall, DOJ will work to provide written guidance on performance standards for entities engaged in the business of producing microstamping components. Starting early next year, DOJ will start accepting applications for licensure of entities to engage in the business of producing microstamping components that meet these performance standards.

A full copy of the report can be found here.
# # #

MIL OSI USA News –
July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: First National Bank Alaska named one of top banks in the nation by Bank Director magazine

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bank Director, a leading resource for the financial industry, named First National (OTCQX:FBAK) as the tenth best bank in the United States on its Top 25 Banks list and the third best bank on its Top Banks with Less than $5 Billion in Total Assets list. Bank Director uses four metrics to assess performance: return on equity, return on assets, asset quality and capital adequacy.

“I’m especially pleased Bank Director recognized the high quality of the bank’s loans, maintained through our philosophy that all loans must not only make sense for the bank, but also be beneficial for the borrower,” said Betsy Lawer, First National Chair and CEO/President. “These accolades are a powerful testament to the leadership, vision, and dedication of First National’s Board of Directors and executive management team, as well as the 621 employees who bring that vision to life every day.”

Alaska’s community bank since 1922, First National Bank Alaska proudly meets the financial needs of Alaskans with ATMs and 28 locations in 19 communities throughout the state, and by providing banking services to meet their needs across the nation and around the world.

In 2025, Alaska Business readers voted First National “Best of Alaska Business” in the Best Place to Work category for the 10th year in a row, Best Bank/Credit Union for the fifth time, and Best Customer Service for the second year in a row. That year, Forbes also selected First National as the sixth best bank on their America’s Best Banks list and one of the top two Banks in the State, and Newsweek recognized the bank as one of the nation’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions. The bank was also voted “Best of Alaska” in 2024 in the Anchorage Daily News awards, ranking as one of the top three in the Bank/Financial category for the sixth year in a row. American Banker again recognized First National as a “Best Bank to Work For” in 2024, for the seventh consecutive year.

For more than a century, the bank has been committed to supporting the communities it serves. In 2024, for the eighth consecutive reporting period, over a span of twenty-four years, First National received an Outstanding Community Reinvestment Act performance rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

First National Bank Alaska is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and recognized as a Minority Depository Institution by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as it is majority-owned by women.

Contact:
Corporate Communications
907-777-3409

The MIL Network –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rosen Introduces Bill to Declare Extreme Heat a Major Disaster

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act. The bill would explicitly authorize extreme heat as eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration by the President under the Stafford Act, which recognizes fires, floods, explosions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes as eligible disasters. This would help communities like those in Nevada access federal resources and funding to respond to these disasters and prepare for future extreme heat waves. On Monday, Las Vegas had the hottest day recorded so far this year, and the death toll of heat-related deaths has already risen to 29 people in Southern Nevada.
CBS News: The June heat dome broke records. Lawmakers are now trying to classify extreme heat as a disaster
There have been 27 major disaster declarations issued by President Trump so far in 2025. The disasters range in size and scope, from the L.A. wildfires to Midwest tornadoes and the Texas flooding as well as several winter storms. Many of them have resulted in fatalities and billions of dollars in damage to property and businesses, but one major deadly weather event that occurred in June hasn’t been declared: an extreme heat wave.
But there’s no disaster declaration for the event listed on the FEMA website.
That’s because extreme heat is not considered a “disaster” that is eligible for federal funding, according to the Stafford Act, which is the guiding law that outlines when and how the president can declare disasters and direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to state and local governments.
Now, three Democratic lawmakers are attempting to change that. Senators Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, along with Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas, have proposed legislation to classify extreme heat as a disaster, which would allow federal funding to flow into areas where hotter temperatures cause significant physical and economic distress.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada senator wants federal funding for extreme heat emergencies
Sen. Jacky Rosen introduced legislation today to designate extreme heat as a major disaster, which would allow communities to receive federal aid during heat-related emergencies.
The Extreme Heat Emergency Act, co-sponsored by Rosen, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. and Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, would help Nevada and other states respond to extreme heat events and prevent future disasters, according to a Wednesday press release.
“Last year, more than 500 people died in one single county in Nevada from heat-related illnesses,” Rosen wrote in the press release. “Current federal policy ignores the physical and health risks that such extremely high temperatures have on our communities, which is why I’m introducing a bill to change that.”
The release cites heat-related deaths and critical infrastructure damage as severe effects of extreme temperature. Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S., according to the release.
KOH Reno: Nevada Sen. Moves to Declare Extreme Heat a ‘Major Disaster’
Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is introducing legislation to declare extreme heat a major disaster.
If passed and signed into law, the Extreme Heat Emergency Act would add extreme temperatures to a list of disasters eligible to receive federal aid.
Currently, the president has the authority to declare disasters for fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural catastrophes.
Twenty-nine Clark County residents have died from heat-related illnesses this summer. Last year, the county saw more than 500 heat-related deaths.
KLAS Las Vegas: After Las Vegas’ hottest summer ever, Rosen seeks to classify extreme heat as major disaster
Anchor: “A Nevada Senator wants more federal money available during extreme heat. Democrat Jacky Rosen [is] introducing a bill to have extreme heat listed as a major federal disaster. She cited the hundreds of fatalities in Clark County, where heat is listed as a related cause. That bill would unlock disaster funding available for things like hurricanes and tornadoes.”
KSNV Las Vegas: Nevada’s Rosen joins push to add extreme heat to major disaster declarations
Anchor: “Speaking of the extreme heat, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is pushing to add that to the list of natural disasters that are eligible for federal aid, joined by representatives from Arizona and Texas. The bill would allow communities experiencing heat waves access to federal resources and funding. Last year, there were more than 500 heat-related deaths in Clark County alone. Senator Rosen argues current federal policy ignores the dangers and health risks posed by heat, adding that classifying heat as a major disaster will help the community respond and prepare for future heat events.”
KOLO Reno: Rosen helps introduce bill to declare extreme heat a major disaster
Anchor: “Senator Jacky Rosen is helping to introduce a bill focused on the dangers of heat and getting federal funding to prepare for extreme heat events. The Extreme Heat Emergency Act would explicitly authorize extreme heat as being eligible for a “major disaster declaration” by the president under the Stafford Act. Rosen says the bill would help communities across our state access federal resources and money to prepare for future heat waves.”
KTVN Reno: Lawmakers push for federal disaster declaration on extreme heat
Anchor: “Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego introduced the Extreme Heat Emergency Act to add extreme heat to the list of disasters eligible for a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. This designation would allow local governments to request federal aid similar to what is available for hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Push for Upholding Bipartisan EXPLORE Act to Benefit Lake Tahoe Basin

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – Today, Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joined California Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum requesting that they make sure the Lake Tahoe Basin benefits from the bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which was signed into law last Congress. Their letter comes in advance of the 29th Lake Tahoe Summit, which will take place on August 6, 2025.
“Lake Tahoe is a beautiful, unique environment that both our states cherish and enjoy for its plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities and its precious natural resource value,” the Senators wrote. “We follow a line of previous California and Nevada Senators who have worked with numerous administrations across decades to preserve and protect Lake Tahoe for Californians, Nevadans, and the millions of people from beyond our states who visit Tahoe every year.”
In the letter, the lawmakers urge the agencies to take action on the opportunities presented by the EXPLORE Act, which includes improving outdoor recreation access on U.S. public lands, supporting gateway communities, strengthening conservation efforts, and boosting the outdoor recreation economy. The Senators request that USDA and DOI utilize the EXPLORE Act to implement the following in the Tahoe region:
Select Tahoe’s long-distance bike trails for official designation and create a new unpaved trail that circumnavigates the region.
Account for the unique needs of Tahoe’s gateway community in terms of housing, municipal infrastructure, visitation, and expansion of visitation on federal land.
Direct a USDA pilot program with a pay-for-performance finance model for recreation projects on or benefiting Forest Service lands.
Affirm that Tahoe qualifies as a participant in the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, making it eligible for grants to improve recreational opportunities.
Read the full letter here.
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen are champions for Nevada’s great outdoor spaces and public lands. They passed critical legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects public lands in Nevada and across the U.S. They passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, and they delivered critical funding to protect Lake Tahoe in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Cortez Masto has introduced legislation to ban oil and gas development in Nevada’s beautiful and pristine Ruby Mountains.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Helps Advance First Four Spending Bills with Alaska Wins

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
07.18.25
Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, voted to advance four bills for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) that contain significant investments for Alaska. The four appropriations bills that passed committee are for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (AG); Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon); Commerce, Justice, and Science and Related Agencies (CJS); and Legislative Branch (LEG). All were approved in committee, and will now advance to the Senate floor for consideration.
“With crucial investments in affordable housing, infrastructure, public safety, and fisheries, we are addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by Alaskans, and helping the sustainability and future of not only our communities, but our way of life. I am proud to fight for Alaskan priorities and ensure that our state’s needs are met,” said Senator Murkowski.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE (CJS) APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Supporting NOAA’s Mission in Alaska
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a vital partner for the state of Alaska, leveraging partnerships at federal, state, local, and Tribal levels. NOAA provides everything from real time weather forecasts to fisheries monitoring, so that our communities are safe and our way of life is sustainable. To that end, Senator Murkowski prioritized ensuring the agency had programmatic support from the CJS Appropriations Bill to further advance their core missions in Alaska.
One of the largest wins included $75 million for NOAA to recapitalize vessels, so that the fleet can continue to provide state-of-the-art weather forecasts and fisheries monitoring. The budget also included a $1 million increase for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Observations, which directly supports Alaska’s Ocean Observing System.
Wins for NOAA Fisheries that will support sustainable seafood harvesting and conserving habitat:
$10 million increase for Fisheries Surveys to support the historical levels of Alaska trawl surveys and exploring shifting fish stocks
$3.125 million for the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP), an increase of $250,000. This program was established to develop improved fishing practices and gear technologies in the effort of reducing bycatch.
$4 million for the Fishery Survey Contingency Fund, which was established through the U.S. Treasury to compensate Alaska fishermen for economic losses.
$5.5 million increase for Salmon Management Activities, which will be used to support the production of 42 million hatchery fish, to help increase the harvest for Tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries.
$41.5 million for the Pacific Salmon Treaty, a $500K increase from last fiscal year. This funding will go towards joint United States/Canada management of salmon fishing to prevent over-fishing and provide for optimum harvest
$58.4 million for Observers and Training, including $2 million for the North Pacific Observer Program. These programs are essential for the conservation and management of fisheries in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Island, and Gulf of Alaska
Wins for NOAA Weather & Climate Monitoring Systems
$5 million increase for the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). The NDBC is a network of monitoring infrastructure that collects and analyzes real-time data to ensure maritime safety.
$10 million increase for Analyze, Forecast, and Support – includes language supporting tsunami detection and response systems relevant to Alaska.
Advancing Connectivity in Alaska
Senator Murkowski has set herself apart with her focus on broadband infrastructure in Alaska, shepherding record investment to the state through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. She continues to be a leader in the space, inserting report language in the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program that acknowledges Alaska’s challenges with short construction seasons and logistics, laying the groundwork for future flexibility and support if needed. She also directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to consider supplemental funding that would ensure rural and remote Tribal projects are completed.
Promoting Public Safety in Alaska
Public safety in Alaska is always foremost on Senator Murkowski’s mind—particularly in our rural communities. She used the CJS bill as a vehicle for direct investment towards advancing that goal. The bill includes an increase in funding for the Tribal Youth Program, which does everything from improvements to the juvenile justice system, invest in alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs, and offer mental health services for Tribal youth. She was able to secure a 5% Tribal Set-Aside in the Crime Victims Fund along with strong report language that supports Tribal flexibility and streamlined access. The Senator also included increased funding for Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction, with language supporting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) efforts and improved Department of Justice (DOJ) grant coordination for Native communities. Additionally, the bill follows up on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on MMIW with a directive for immediate reporting.
Alaska faces some of the highest rates of sexual assault per capita of any state, and Senator Murkowski was intent on using the CJS bill to address this crisis. She approved an almost tripling of the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Grants funding, which will support training and resources for forensic examination of sexual assault survivors. The Senator also included report language directing the Office for Victims of Crime/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to support Alaska-specific Child Advocacy Centers.
The bill also includes funding increases for Transitional Housing Assistance, Underserved Populations Program, Regional Information Sharing Systems, and Veterans Treatment Courts.
Investing in Arctic Research
As the leading expert in Congress on Arctic policy and polar affairs, Senator Murkowski uses her position to advance American priorities in the North. The bill provides $9.1 billion, just $60 million below the last enacted level – preserving support for critical Arctic scientific research despite tight fiscal constraints. Arctic research remains a priority, with the National Science Foundation (NSF) playing a key role in supporting long-term monitoring, infrastructure development, and partnerships with Alaska-based institutions and Indigenous communities.
In addition to broader programmatic funding to help Alaskans, Murkowski was able to secure investments in this bill that are specific to local 17 Alaska communities or entities, projects that have been requested and prioritized by local governments and organizations:
Anchorage: $305,000 to support the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Alaska so they can further advance their mission of catching child sexual predators
Anchorage: $1.5 million for the University of Alaska Anchorage to acquire specialty equipment that will help propel the institution to be a leader in biotechnological innovation, leveraging Alaska’s Arctic environment
Bethel: $70,000 for the purchase and installation of a new security system at the Bethel Police Department’s headquarters
Cordova: $355,000 to update equipment for climate and ecosystem monitoring as part of a ten-year long study of the region
Fairbanks: $1.5 million to develop drone-borne maritime lidar to count salmon.
Statewide: $498,000 for the creation and deployment of a Mobile Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that will provide coordinated care to survivors of sexual assault in rural communities where traditional, stationary services may not be readily available
Southeast: $500,000 for Sealaska Heritage Institute to develop and implement a sustainable workforce development program to address growth in fisheries and ocean sciences in Southeast Alaska over the next ten years
Ketchikan: $3 million to upgrade its radio communication system, which has been identified as an essential public safety need in the after-action plan following recent landslides to improve disaster response and community resilience
Statewide: $2 million for the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation to modernize and revitalize Alaska’s seafood industry by investing in processing innovation, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements.
Statewide: $2.5 million for the North Pacific Research Board to investigate how ecosystem changes in the Northern Bering Sea influence species of commercial, ecological, and subsistence importance to inform local, state, and federal fisheries management
Statewide: $1 million to help implement Next Generation 911, which will improve location accuracy and system resiliency for emergency call centers
Statewide: $500,000 for the Bering Sea Fisherman’s Association to enable Tribes and Tribal organizations to participate as Cooperating Agencies in environmental analysis and management decisions made by federal agencies that affect subsistence resources.
Statewide: $165,000 for the Alaska Ocean Observing System to purchase an Imaging Flow CytoBots (IFCBs) to continue monitoring for harmful algal blooms.
Statewide: $1 million for Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center to support Tribes in implementing survivor-centered and trauma-informed programs in Tribal justice systems
Statewide: $3.5 million for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) to support their mission of serving survivors of gender-based violence
Unalaska: $3.5 million for the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute to genetically analyze chum salmon from the pollock fishery bycatch in the Bering Sea to determine when and where Western Alaska chum salmon are being caught
Valdez: $5.5 million to replace obsolete and failed emergency services communication towers and equipment
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES (AG) APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Investments in housing and community development
Affordable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Alaska and our country. Senator Murkowski was intent on using the AG spending bill to address this challenge, particularly in rural communities where the cost of development remains prohibitively high. She supported $1.715 billion for the Rental Assistance Program, which will help low-income families around the country with for affordable rental housing in rural areas. She was able to secure $25 million for very low-income housing repair grants so that Alaskans can stay in their homes safely.
Also included in the legislation was $1.25 billion for direct loans to improve critical infrastructure such as public safety buildings and community centers in rural communities.
Updating Alaska’s clean water and utility infrastructure
Senator Murkowski has made it her mission to ensure Alaska has the infrastructure to support daily life – no matter what community Alaskans’ call home. She was able to include $65 million for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grants, and inserted report language that would prioritize Alaska Native communities. She also was able to secure $8 million for the High Energy Cost Grant Program, which assists energy providers in lowering energy costs for families with extremely high per-household energy costs.
Bolstering food security and agriculture
Senator Murkowski has been focused on bolstering Alaska’s food security for many years. She was able to secure a number of Alaska-specific wins, including:
$5 million for Micro-Grants for Food Security, with report language prioritizing eligibility for reindeer herders, greenhouse growers, and hydroponic farmers
$5 million for Alaska Native-Serving Institutions to promote equal access to education in rural Alaska and provide sustainable food and energy solutions for Alaska Native communities
$3.5 million for the Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Transportation Program, helping offset high freight costs for Alaskan producers
$3 million for the FDPIR 638 Contracting Authority Pilot, with direction for the USDA to allow direct purchases of traditional foods directly from small indigenous producers
$888.9 million for the Summer Food Service Program, with report language supporting the continued implementation of non-congregate meal service to ensure low-income students can eat while school is out
$1.826 billion for Agricultural Research Service, with continued funding for research on cover crops and cereal grains for northern climates and permafrost regions
In addition, the bill includes $80 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program’s storage and distribution funding to ensure rural food banks can receive supplies; a $3 billion increase for Child Nutrition programs, including School Breakfast and School Lunch programs, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, as well as a $603 million increase to fully fund Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill also directs USDA to work with states, tribes, and local stakeholders to use federal nutrition dollars for the direct purchase of foods from local and regional producers for the various food assistance programs.
In addition to programmatic funding to help Alaskans, Murkowski was able to secure investments in this bill that are specific for 10 Alaska communities, projects that have been requested and prioritized by local governments and organizations:
Bethel: $605,000 to establish a permanent Food Bank and Pantry in Bethel
Eagle: $750,000 for the construction of a fire hall/public safety building for the local fire department and Emergency Medical Services team
Houston: $1.95 million for the construction of Public Works Facility so preventive maintenance can be performed on equipment
Kenai: $2.045 million for the installation of telecommunications infrastructure to improve emergency response times and enhance public communications
Nunapitchuk: $55,000 to develop a Preliminary Investigation Feasibility Report whether the Native Village of Nunapitchuk can pursue a community-wide relocation project in the Nunavakanukakslak Lake-Johnson River Watershed
Petersburg: $225,000 to purchase emergency response equipment for the local fire department
Statewide: $4.2 million for Alaska Municipal League to purchase heavy equipment for several communities designed to conduct road improvements and maintain infrastructure in rural Alaska
Statewide: $750,000 to expand veterinary care in rural Alaska to prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks in communities off the road system
Whittier: $310,000 for the removal and abatement of asbestos hazards in community housing where 85% of the city’s residents live
Wrangell: $2.438 million to rehabilitate Wrangell’s Public Safety Building and Emergency Operations Center
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES (MILCON) APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Ensuring Alaska’s military bases are state-of-the-art facilities
Senator Murkowski is committed to supporting servicemembers in Alaska to ensure they have access to up-to-date resources as they protect and defend our nation, but also bolster their personal well-being as they adapt to life in Alaska. She secured over $400 million in programmatic funding for a Joint Integrated Testing and Training Center (JITTC) at JBER for the Air Force, a base supply complex at JBER for the Air National Guard, and a barracks at Fort Wainwright for the Army.
Supporting Alaska’s veterans
Senator Murkowski was able to secure funding for the construction of State Extended Care Facilities and Veterans Cemeteries. She also secured report language directing the VA to focus on benefits eligibility education for veterans who lack a direct road connection to a VA facility. She also secured her annual bill language to allow for care-sharing agreements between Federally Qualified Health Centers in the State of Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service. She made certain that the VA received full funding for mental health programs, telehealth programs, women veteran gender-specific care programs, homelessness programs, and for the Office of Rural Health.
In addition to programmatic funding, Murkowski was able to secure investments in this bill that are specific for 3 of Alaska military installations, projects that have been requested and prioritized by the Department of Defense:
JBER: $45 million to complete the runway extension project for the Air Force.
Eielson Air Force Base: $6.7 million to finish planning and designing of a new permanent party dormitory for the Air Force.
Fort Wainwright: $7.7 million to begin the planning and designing of a new dining facility for the Army.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (LEG) APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Senator Murkowski inserted report language in the Legislative Branch FY26 Appropriations Act that incentivizes the Senate Dining Room and food-service facilities in the Capitol to source domestic seafood products, including wild-caught Alaska salmon.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart, Gonzales, Espaillat Lead Latino-Jewish Caucus in Marking Anniversary of AMIA Jewish Center Bombing, Demand Accountability

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“More than three decades after the tragic AMIA Jewish Center bombing, and there’s still no justice for the 85 victims, the hundreds of injured, and countless people who were traumatized by this attack,” said Wasserman Schultz. “With antisemitism skyrocketing around the world, this gruesome attack on Argentina’s thriving Jewish community cannot go unanswered. Congressmen Diaz-Balart, Espaillat, Gonzales, and I are all proud to honor the victims of this attack and keep up the vital pursuit of justice for their loved ones.”

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Co-Chair of the Latino-Jewish Caucus, was joined by fellow Co-Chairs, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) in sponsoring a resolution to commemorate the 31^st anniversary of the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires and demanding justice and accountability for those responsible for the attack.

“More than three decades after the tragic AMIA Jewish Center bombing, and there’s still no justice for the 85 victims, the hundreds of injured, and countless people who were traumatized by this attack,” said Wasserman Schultz. “With antisemitism skyrocketing around the world, this gruesome attack on Argentina’s thriving Jewish community cannot go unanswered. Congressmen Diaz-Balart, Espaillat, Gonzales, and I are all proud to honor the victims of this attack and keep up the vital pursuit of justice for their loved ones.”

“Today, we honor and mourn the 85 innocent lives, overwhelmingly members of Argentina’s Jewish community, who were brutally murdered, and the more than 300 injured, in the deadliest antisemitic terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. On July 18, 1994, the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires was targeted in an act of blatant antisemitism,” said Diaz-Balart. “I remain committed to demanding justice and accountability for the vile perpetrators of this crime, including Iran’s former Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and other terrorists. We must never forget the victims, and we must continue to condemn the alarming rise of antisemitism wherever it appears and hold accountable those who engage in such heinous acts.”

“As co-chair of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, I am proud to join my colleagues to reintroduce this resolution that recognizes the 31st anniversary of the attack on the AMIA in Buenos Aires, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history,” said Espaillat. “Today’s bipartisan resolution demonstrates the Caucus’ commitment to ensuring justice for each of the victims as we embrace their families and loved ones. Terrorism and antisemitism have no place in our society, and the reintroduction of this legislation reaffirms our solidarity with the Jewish community in Argentina and around the world.”

“31 years ago, 85 souls were taken from our world far too soon in the AMIA Jewish Center bombing in Buenos Aires. We will never forget the victims, their families, and all those touched by this horrific tragedy,” said Gonzales. “Now more than ever, America needs steady voices in Congress in the fight to eradicate antisemitism. As leaders of the Latino-Jewish Caucus, this is central to our mission.”

“This week, Argentine and Jewish communities worldwide mark the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust until Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. For over three decades, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has persistently advocated for justice, urging Argentina to hold those responsible accountable. The AMIA bombing, carried out by Hezbollah operatives, is a reminder of the global threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies. We commend the co-chairs of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), for their leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing truth and justice, and for sustaining awareness of the Iranian regime’s continuous destabilizing activities around the world. Let this anniversary renew our commitment to ensure the victims are never forgotten, that justice is ultimately served, and that dangerous proxies can no longer sow terror across the globe,” said Dina Siegel Vann, Director, The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, AJC.

First established in 2011 with support from the American Jewish Committee, the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus has cemented stronger bonds based on Latino and Jewish communities’ shared histories as immigrants and minorities. It has also been vocal in responding to the growing wave of antisemitism across the globe in the U.S. The 25-member Caucus is now led by Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Díaz-Balart, Espaillat, and Tony Gonzales. Last July, Rep. Wasserman Schultz joined a Congressional delegation to Buenos Aires to participate in the formal 30^th anniversary commemoration of the AMIA attack.

The text of House Resolution 597 can be found here and below:

Condemning the attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and encouraging accountability

for the attack.

Whereas, 31 years ago, on July 18, 1994, 85 innocent people were killed and more than 300 were injured when the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;

Whereas at that time, the AMIA bombing was the deadliest attack on Jewish people outside Israel since the Holocaust;

Whereas it is reported that considerable evidence links the attack to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, and sponsored by Iran, a U.S.-designated state

sponsor of terrorism since 1984;

Whereas, two years earlier, Hezbollah operatives also blew up the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 civilians and injuring 242;

Whereas the 31 years since the bombing have been marred by a failure to bring those responsible, including Iran backed operatives and their Hezbollah proxies, to justice;

Whereas, in September 2004, ten years after the attack, Alberto Nisman was appointed as the Special Prosecutor in charge of the 1994 AMIA bombing investigation;

Whereas, in October 2006, Argentine prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martinez Burgos formally accused the Iranian regime of directing the bombing, and the Hezbollah militia of carrying it out;

Whereas the Argentine prosecutors charged Iranian nationals as suspects in the AMIA bombing, including—

(1) Ali Fallahijan, Iran’s former intelligence minister;

(2) Mohsen Rabbani, Iran’s former cultural attache´ in Buenos Aires;

(3) Ahmad Reza Asghari, a former Iranian diplomat posted to Argentina;

(4) Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s former defense minister;

(5) Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran’s former foreign minister; (6) Mohsen Rezaee, former chief commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps;

(7) Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former President of Iran; and

(8) Hadi Soleimanpour, former Iranian ambassador to Argentina;

Whereas Ibrahim Hussein Berro, a member of the terrorist group Hezbollah, was identified as the AMIA bomber;

Whereas, in November 2006, an Argentine judge issued arrest warrants for 8 Iranian nationals, including high ranking regime and military operatives, and one Lebanese national, who were named as suspects in the AMIA bombing;

Whereas, in November 2007, INTERPOL voted to put the following suspects in the 1994 AMIA attack on its most wanted list—Ali Fallahijan, Mohsen Rabbani, Ahmad Reza Asghari, Ahmad Vahidi, Mohsen Razaee from Iran, and Imad Fayez Moughnieh from Lebanon;

Whereas INTERPOL currently has three red alerts in place in relation to the AMIA attack ;

Whereas, on January 13, 2015, prosecutor Alberto Nisman alleged in a complaint that then-Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and then-Minister of Foreign Relations Hector Timerman conspired to cover up Iranian involvement in the 1994 terrorist bombing, and reportedly agreed to negotiate immunity for Iranian suspects and help get their names removed from the INTERPOL list;

Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was scheduled to present his new findings to the Argentinian Congress on January 19, 2015;

Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found shot in the head in his apartment in Buenos Aires on January 18, 2015;

Whereas the investigation of the AMIA bombing has been marked by judicial misconduct and undue influence;

Whereas, to date, no one has been brought to justice for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, or the death of Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman;

Whereas former Federal judge Juan Jose Galeano and former State Intelligence Secretariat intelligence head Hugo Anzorreguy have both been convicted and sentenced to prison for subverting the investigation and concealing evidence;

Whereas, in 2019, the Argentine Government declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization, expelled all members of the organization from the country, and froze their assets in Argentina;

Whereas, in 2020, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez reaffirmed the commitment of the Argentine Republic to bring those responsible for the attack to justice;

Whereas, on April 12th, 2024, Argentina’s highest criminal court, the Argentine Court of Cassation, broke the extended silence of the justice system by affirming Iran’s responsibility for the deadly bombing and declaring it a ‘‘crime against humanity’’;

Whereas according to news reports of the ruling, the court identified ‘‘top Iranian officials and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commanders in its determination that Iran carried out the bombings in response to Argentina scrapping three contracts that would have provided Tehran with nuclear technology in the mid-1980s’’;

Whereas Argentine President Javier Milei commended the high court’s ruling, noting that the determination was a ‘‘significant step’’ that put an end to decades of ‘‘delays and cover-ups’’;

Whereas leaders in Argentina’s Jewish community, including AMIA President Amos Linetzky, noted that the historic ruling would finally provide an opportunity for survivors and relatives of victims to seek legal action against Iran;

Whereas the Foreign Ministry of Argentina responded to the court’s ruling by requesting that INTERPOL issue an immediate international arrest notice for Ahmad Vahidi, who is now the Iranian Interior Minister, ‘‘as one of those responsible for the attack on AMIA’’

Whereas, in March 2025, Argentina passed Law No. 27.784, which allows trial in absentia, opening the door for prosecuting foreign suspects not present in the country;

Whereas, in April 2025, AMIA special prosecutor Sebastia´n Basso requested both national and international arrest warrants for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei under the authority of Law No. 27.784;

Whereas, on June 26, 2025, Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas ruled that a trial in absentia would be held for the 10 men accused of planning and ordering the terrorist attack on the AMIA; and

Whereas, today, Argentina is home to more than 250,000 Jewish people, making it the largest home to Jews in Latin America and the 6th largest in the world:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns the 1994 attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and remembers the victims of this heinous act;

(2) honors the memory of the victims and expresses sympathy to their relatives, who have waited for more than 3 decades without justice for the loss of their loved ones;

(3) underscores the concern of the United States regarding the continuing delay in the proper resolution of this case;

(4) calls for the perpetrators of this horrific act, including Iranian and Hezbollah operatives, to be held accountable for their crimes;

(5) commends the Government of Argentina for designating Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations and urges other United States allies and partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to do the same;

(6) demands that INTERPOL member countries comply with arrest orders for individuals responsible for the deadly attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center; and

(7) stands in solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina and the broader Latin American and Caribbean Jewish diaspora at a time of surging antisemitism around the world.

####

MIL OSI USA News –

July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Booker: “Either Bove and the Justice Department are Lying about the Epstein Situation…Or They Are Showing A Dangerous Lack of Transparency”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers advancing EmilBove–who’s been called “Trump’s worst nomination yet”– to be a Third Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Judiciary Committee member U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has been calling out Bove for his unethical behavior, professional scandals, and failure to meet the ethical standards essential for a lifetime judicial appointment.

On MSNBC’s Deadline with Nicolle Wallace, Senator Booker spoke about a letter he sent to Bove requesting information about his involvement in Trump’s Epstein cover up.

Senator Booker: “Either Bove and the Justice Department are lying about the Epstein situation…or they are showing a dangerous lack of transparency.”

See more about Senator Booker’s work to hold Bove accountable:
- The Hill: Booker seeks Epstein info from Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove
- The New York Times: Bove Denies Suggesting Justice Dept. Ignore Court Orders
- NJ.com: Booker slams Trump judicial nominee: ‘Complete disregard for the rule of law’
- New Jersey Globe: Republicans turn down Booker’s request for extra hearing with Bove whistleblower
@SenBooker:

Booker: “I wrote a letter directly to Emil Bove today about his role in withholding the Epstein files from the American people. This is a portion of the letter…

“Mr. Bove on behalf of myself and the American people I represent, we deserve answers, especially before you’re put on one of the highest courts in the land.”

THE FACTS ABOUT EMIL BOVE:
- A corroborated allegation from a whistleblower revealed that Bove directed attorneys to defy a court order.
- Federal criminal defense lawyers described Bove as a “drunk driver” as a prosecutor.
- An editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Bove is “one person who has no business working in the federal government, let alone receiving a lifetime appointment as a federal judge.”
- New Jersey’s Tom Moran stated, Bove is “Trump’s worst nomination yet.”
- Meanwhile The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board wrote, Bove’s reputation “is as a smashmouth partisan who wields the law as a weapon.”
MIL OSI USA News –
July 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Heinrich, Neguse, Moore Introduce Bill to Expand and Improve Access to Clean Water in Tribal Communities
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

Half of households on Native American reservations lack access to reliable water sources, clean drinking water, or adequate sanitation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Martin Heinrich alongside Representatives Joe Neguse and Gwen Moore recently introduced the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act to dramatically expand access to clean water in Tribal communities by investing in water infrastructure. This bill would increase funding through the Indian Health Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Reclamation to support water infrastructure projects in Tribal communities and help provide clean water to Native American households that currently lack access.

“Clean drinking water is a basic necessity. Yet, so many of our Tribal communities have been left without the infrastructure. It’s unacceptable,” said Hickenlooper. “Let’s cut red tape and invest in modern resources to finally deliver safe, accessible water to every Tribe.”

“Too many Tribal communities in Colorado and across the country cannot access clean, safe water,” said Bennet. “This legislation builds on our efforts to improve access for Tribes in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It fulfills the federal government’s promise to provide these communities with the clean water they deserve.”

“Nearly half of Native American households lack access to clean and reliable water supplies. That is completely unacceptable,” said Heinrich. “By addressing a significant backlog of infrastructure projects and removing barriers to federal programs that provide technical and financial assistance to Tribes, this legislation is an important step toward delivering clean drinking water to all families in Indian Country.”

“Access to clean water is a basic human right—and yet for far too long, Native American tribes have lacked access to safe and affordable water and reliable wastewater infrastructure. Our tribal communities deserve better,” said Neguse. “That’s why I’m honored to join Senator Bennet in introducing the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act, a bill that takes meaningful steps to close the gap between Native American households and access to clean and reliable water supplies.”

“An estimated 48 percent of homes on tribal lands lack access to clean drinking water or sanitation services. This is a serious public health issue that demands a federal response. I join my colleagues in supporting this important legislation, which will help tribes improve longstanding water infrastructure challenges and uphold trust and treaty obligations under the Constitution,” said Moore.

“It is far past time to ensure that Native people have the same level of basic water service most Americans take for granted,” said Manuel Heart, Chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. “This bill’s recognition of the need for technical support and operation and maintenance assistance for Tribal water supply facilities is not only essential to realizing the benefit of investment in water infrastructure, but also a critical step toward increasing Tribal independence and governance capabilities.”

Lack of access to clean drinking water is a significant barrier for many Native American communities. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Native American households are 19 times more likely than white households to lack indoor plumbing. A 2021 report commissioned by the Colorado River Water and Tribes Initiative documents the different barriers to accessing safe and reliable drinking water among tribes in the Colorado River Basin, along with some of the deficiencies in the federal programs designed to address this problem, and offers recommendations for improvement. Lack of access to drinking water negatively impacts health, education, economic development, and other aspects of daily life.

Specifically, the bill would:
- Authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development, to make grants and loans for technical and financial assistance, as well as for construction;
- Increase funding authorizations for USDA’s Rural Development Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program by $100 million per year for five years, provide $30 million per year specifically for technical assistance, and ensure that Native communities are treated equitably and appropriately when considered for grants and loans;
- Increase funding authorizations for existing programs of the Indian Health Service for water and sanitation facilities construction over a five year period, including for community facilities ($2.5 billion), technical assistance ($150 million), and operation and maintenance assistance ($500 million); and
- Authorize $90 million over five years for the Bureau of Reclamation’s existing Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 19, 2025

Category: Justice

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