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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Putin and Sobyanin opened an innovative practical platform in Rudnev

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the Day of Secondary Vocational Education, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Russian Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov opened the Rudnevo practical training site for Moscow colleges.

    “We have started building a large area related to education. This is secondary vocational education. This building where we are is an intercollegiate center for training specialists on high-tech equipment. Next, a laboratory complex is being built. Next, a building for the Stankin University is being built, where there will be a student training center, their laboratories and production areas. Next, a building for the production of Rostec machine tools will be built. So this is a large machine-building complex that will be a center of competence for our country,” the Moscow Mayor said.

    The Rudnevo site is the first innovative educational space for practical training of qualified personnel taking into account the needs of the Moscow economy, which is the largest production and scientific-engineering center of Russia. More than 4.5 thousand enterprises operate here and over 750 thousand people work.

    Educational platform “Rudnevo”

    The college training platform was created taking into account the new concept of secondary vocational education (SVE) development. The capital’s industrial enterprises took part in the development of the project. Advanced training programs, workshops equipped with the most modern equipment, close cooperation with future employers ensure high quality training of sought-after specialists.

    The educational platform is located in the industrial park “Rudnevo”, which is part of the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. College students will study on the same territory with industrial partners – future employers.

    “The site’s capacity allows for training more than three thousand people per year. Practical classes are conducted by the most competent and experienced master teachers and employees of partner employers. Students from 15 Moscow colleges will be the first to undergo practical training here. A Center for Professional Competencies has also been created on the site. Its tasks include updating educational programs and forecasting the emergence of new competencies,” he wrote in his

    telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    The building with a total area of 9.1 thousand square meters houses a high-tech complex, which includes 21 workshops and laboratories. It is as close as possible to the conditions of real production. Here, students will be able to practice professional skills in production conditions in such areas and specialties as:

    — mechanical engineering (assembly mechanic, turner, milling machine operator, operator of CNC machines, general machine operator, welder (manual and partially mechanized welding – surfacing), adjuster of machines and equipment in mechanical processing, specialist in the quality control department);

    — electronics (installer of electronic equipment and devices, assembler of electronic equipment and devices, adjuster of electronic equipment and devices, SMD line operator);

    — automation of production (specialist in servicing mechatronic and robotic systems, fitter of control and measuring instruments and automation, specialist in additive technologies);

    — aviation industry, including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) (aircraft electrical equipment fitter, aircraft equipment assembler, aircraft composite parts assembler, unmanned aircraft system operator up to 30 kilograms).

    Thanks to cooperation with residents of the Rudnevo Industrial Park, all conditions for training have been created on the site. Workshops and laboratories are equipped with equipment that is installed in production facilities, and the training programs take into account the needs of future employers.

    The training and production complex of the site includes three blocks.

    The industrial block consists of a section where CNC machines are installed, laboratories for metrology, standardization and certification, precision digital measurements, mechanical engineering design, as well as testing grounds for turning, milling machines, and metalworking and welding work.

    The UAS production site includes areas for programming, installation of aviation and electronic equipment, final assembly of UAS, modeling and manufacturing of molds, composite materials, unit and modular assembly, as well as laboratories for aerodynamics, aeromechanics and UAS data analysis.

    The multi-profile unit consists of metalworking and electrical installation workshops, laboratories for technical systems control, materials science and composite materials, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

    The uniqueness of the workshops is that they allow for a full-fledged production process to be organized. At the UAS site, students will be able to manufacture drone bodies, solder electronic boards, program, assemble, pilot, and decipher flight data, and in the mechanical engineering zone, they will be able to do metalwork and evaluate the quality of finished products.

    Large industrial enterprises take part in the practical training of students. Among them are the Moscow machine-building plants Avangard and Skorost, the production complex Salut, the National Helicopter Manufacturing Center named after M.L. Mil and N.I. Kamov, the Moscow Design and Production Complex Universal named after A.I. Privalov, the companies Gaskar Group, Kronstadt, Aeromax, Nyukon Energy, CARS, Vemina Aviaprestige, Monolith, Aeropribor-Voskhod.

    Preparing students at the educational site “Rudnevo”

    The capacity of the Rudnevo educational site allows it to train more than three thousand students per year.

    In the 2024/2025 academic year, practical training will be provided to students from 15 secondary specialized educational institutions. These include Polytechnic College No. 8 named after I.F. Pavlov, Polytechnic College named after N.N. Godovikov, Moscow State Educational Complex, College of Communications No. 54 named after P.M. Vostrukhin, College of Automation and Information Technology No. 20, Educational Complex “Yugo-Zapad”, Moscow Industrial College, College of Architecture, Design and Reengineering No. 26, College of Hospitality Industry and Management No. 23, Police College, Moscow College of Business Technologies, College of Modern Technologies named after M.F. Panov, College of Entrepreneurship No. 11, First Moscow Educational Complex and Technological College No. 24.

    Depending on the specialty, students will be able to complete a single professional module in one of the courses or work on site for the entire period of study. In addition, they will have the opportunity to find employment at a partner enterprise. In this case, you can complete your studies according to an individual schedule.

    Practical classes will be conducted by competent and experienced master teachers, as well as representatives of partner employers. In total, 42 masters of industrial training from Moscow colleges and 40 current employees of industrial enterprises of the capital will be able to teach at the site.

    A center of professional competencies has been created on the basis of the site. Here they will be engaged in updating educational programs taking into account the prospective development of science and production technologies, forecasting the emergence of new competencies based on the transformation of production and including them in training programs, as well as methodological support for industrial training masters and improving their pedagogical and professional skills. Cooperation with the country’s leading engineering universities, such as the Moscow State Technological University (MSTU) “Stankin” and the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman, will help solve these problems.

    In addition, an entrance control of students’ readiness to master programs at the Rudnevo educational platform is provided. For this purpose, the center of professional competencies will interact with partner colleges, providing them with methodological and consulting support.

    Each student has an individual work place on the site. The logistics of the classrooms are well thought out: for example, there are areas for project and group work. Modern public spaces will make extracurricular time comfortable.

    In the coworking space, students can work on projects, discuss ideas, and analyze situations they have considered in class. The assembly hall is designed for conferences and business events.

    The college has a 147-seat canteen where students on a budget are provided with free hot meals. On the third floor there is a cafe whose products are produced and sold by students of Moscow food colleges.

    In addition to the practical training platform for colleges, the Moscow Government, together with MSTU Stankin, is implementing a project within the framework of which the first competence center for the machine tool industry in the country is being created in Rudnev.

    The 19.5 thousand square meter building will house a tool and equipment testing center, an expert analysis center, a design bureau, pilot production, a reverse engineering center, and a numerical control center.

    The center will be able to train and practice about a thousand students per year. The site also organizes pilot and small-scale production of specialized products.

    On the industrial policy of the city of Moscow

    Modern Moscow is the largest industrial and scientific-engineering center of Russia. There are more than 4.5 thousand industrial enterprises in the capital, employing more than 750 thousand people.

    Every year, 150 new technology companies open in Moscow and dozens of investment projects are implemented, providing the city with additional jobs. By 2030, the number of industrial production facilities will increase to 5.5 thousand, and their employees – to 850 thousand. The total area of industrial infrastructure will grow from 14 million square meters to 21 million.

    The manufacturing industry is the driving force behind Moscow’s economic development.

    “I will say about industry that in general it is actively developing. Over the past five years, I reported, the manufacturing industry has doubled,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

    By the end of 2024, private and public investment will amount to 310 billion rubles. According to forecasts, by 2030 they will grow by 620 billion rubles – to 930 billion rubles.

    One of the effective measures to support the city is the localization of industrial enterprises in the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. This is the center for the development of the capital’s advanced high-tech industry, which includes six sites with a total area of more than 280 hectares. More than 1.5 million square meters of industrial and public-business areas have been built here. The plan is to increase this figure to 3.8 million square meters by 2030.

    Today, there are more than 220 enterprises operating in Technopolis Moscow, 112 of which have resident status and receive tax preferences. Residents are exempt from paying property, land and transport taxes for 10 years, and the income tax rate for them is only two percent instead of 20.

    During the operation of the special economic zone, companies invested about 330 billion rubles in the development of their high-tech production facilities and created 22 thousand jobs. The volume of investments from the Moscow budget amounted to almost 135 billion rubles.

    Innovative developments of enterprises can be applied in various fields – from microelectronics to medicine and space. Among them are optical multiplexers, portable ultrasound machines, mobile ventilator complexes, multifunctional amphibious robots designed for reconnaissance and liquidation of consequences of accidents at various flooded objects, nuclear power plants and mines.

    Another tool for developing Moscow industry is clustering. By 2030, more than 13 inter-industry clusters will operate in Moscow – this is over seven million square meters of production space and 100 thousand jobs.

    Thus, one of the largest pharmaceutical clusters in the country, which includes 13 companies, is successfully operating at the Alabushevo site of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone. A photonics and microelectronics cluster has also opened there, with 61 companies participating. Total investments in this site amounted to 137.9 billion rubles, of which 7.9 billion rubles were invested by the Moscow Government. Total investments will grow to 353 billion rubles by 2030.

    Two years ago, the Moscow cluster of electric vehicle manufacturing began its work. It included 64 companies, most of which receive benefits from the city. In particular, they are exempt from paying property, land and transport taxes.

    One of the important projects is the construction of the first gigafactory in Russia for the production of batteries. The city has signed an offset contract for the supply of batteries for public electric transport. The total purchase amount will be 172 billion rubles over six years. The enterprise will produce 50 thousand batteries per year, which will cover about 40 percent of the needs of the Russian market. The opening of the production will create 900 new jobs. The total investment in the project is 52 billion rubles, of which 25 billion rubles were allocated by the Moscow Government, and 27 billion are private funds.

    On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a new industrial park was opened in Rudnevo in 2023. Federal Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Today it unites 11 leading developers and manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems. The enterprises have created more than 2.8 thousand jobs. Investments in the industrial park “Rudnevo” amounted to 97 billion rubles, of which 20 billion rubles are private funds, and 77 billion rubles were invested by the Government of Moscow. By 2030, a total of 490 billion rubles will be invested.

    Work is currently underway to form food and construction clusters in TiNAO.

    The food cluster will build over 800 thousand square meters of industrial space and create 11.4 thousand jobs. Private investments will reach almost 90 billion rubles.

    The opening of the construction cluster will create 30 thousand jobs. More than 1.6 million square meters of industrial real estate will be built within its boundaries. Private investments will amount to almost 145 billion rubles.

    In the capital it is being created shipyard for the production of electric ships. Its capacity will occupy 23 thousand square meters. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. The enterprise will provide more than 500 new high-tech jobs. Investments from the Moscow Government amount to more than 4.6 billion rubles.

    In addition, two new large industrial clusters will appear in TiNAO – automobile manufacturing and eco-industrial. In total, almost 23 thousand highly qualified jobs will be created there.

    Sobyanin named innovative clusters that will be created in New Moscow

    A cluster of innovative technologies in the field of construction is being created on the basis of OOO “Innovative Technology Plant – Monarch”. Last year, the first stage was put into operation – this is an experimental plant with an area of 26.6 thousand square meters. The volume of investments amounted to 3.4 billion rubles. Today, 500 people work here.

    A glass cluster is also being built in TiNAO. 120 hectares will be allocated for it for facilities with a total area of 840 thousand square meters. 9.6 thousand jobs will appear here. Investments will exceed 105 billion rubles. The implementation of the project will allow to cover the need for special glass, including medical glass.

    The elevator construction industry is quite promising for investment. The departure of foreign companies from the domestic market opens up new opportunities for capital enterprises to occupy vacant niches. Thus, on the basis of the Karacharovsky Mechanical Plant, a cluster of elevator construction and vertical transport of Moscow is being formed, which will accelerate the development and localization of vertical transport production in Russia.

    The National Space Center is being built on the territory of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. This is a large-scale project implemented jointly with Roscosmos. According to preliminary estimates, about 27 thousand jobs will be created on the site.

    Moscow has historically had a strong scientific base. Today, in the R sphere

    There are 735 higher education institutions (excluding branches) in Russia. At the same time, every fifth university is located in Moscow, which confirms the presence of significant human resources potential in the capital and the high level of training of students for work in high-tech enterprises.

    Today in Moscow, specialists in engineering and technical fields are trained at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the Stankin Moscow State Technological University, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, the Lomonosov Moscow State University, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the MISiS University of Science and Technology and other leading universities.

    In order to increase the number of qualified personnel annually graduating for the industrial sector, the Moscow Government is modernizing the system of secondary vocational education and implementing accelerated training of engineering personnel.

    Industrial Park “Rudnevo”

    “Rudnevo” is an industrial park within the SEZ “Technopolis Moscow”, built in the east of the city in record time to accommodate critically important production. This is an example of a modern high-tech industrial park, where it is convenient to work, study, create production and educational clusters.

    Construction work in Rudnev began at the end of 2020. During the construction of production buildings, domestic materials were used (for a number of items, import substitution was 100%) and modern technologies, which made it possible to reduce construction time by 35-50 percent, and the cost of work by 10-15 percent.

    Currently, 21 production buildings with a total area of 377 thousand square meters have been erected, including a pilot production facility and a design bureau. Additional production buildings are in the active stage of construction, as well as a social infrastructure building, which will house laboratories, office space, a training center and other social facilities for company employees.

    In the future, 21 thousand highly qualified jobs will be created at the enterprises in Rudnev, primarily for residents of the rapidly developing Moscow districts of Kosino-Ukhtomsky, Vykhino-Zhulebino and Nekrasovka, as well as the urban district of Lyubertsy in the Moscow region.

    Thanks to the SEZ regime, companies – residents of Rudnev receive significant tax benefits. In particular, they are exempt from property, transport and land taxes. The income tax rate for them is only two percent. Residents have a free customs zone regime and land lease benefits.

    In addition to the Federal Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, the Rudnevo Industrial Park also houses a production building for the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern and an industrial complex for PJSC Yakovlev, which currently produces wing kits for the MS-21 medium-range aircraft.

    In addition, enterprises producing ATMs, electrical capacitors, absorbent linen, equipment for industrial waste sorting, and others have set up their production facilities in Rudnev.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11847050/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin spoke about the development of secondary vocational education in Moscow

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Today, 275 thousand students study in Moscow colleges, and by 2030 their number will double to 420 thousand. This was announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin during the opening of the practical training site for Moscow colleges “Rudnevo”. The event was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov.

    “We plan to double the number of students studying in colleges and graduates in five years. Thus, the number of students in colleges and higher education institutions will be comparable. Which, in general, is necessary for the economy today. What do we plan to do? We have two thousand real laboratories, workshops. We plan to update them by 100 percent by 2027. To make both laboratories and workshops modern,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

    In addition, according to the Mayor of Moscow, it is planned to build 400 thousand square meters of campuses, renovate existing sites and create shared-use centers.

    Today, there are 178 colleges operating in Moscow. Most specialists are trained for the IT sector, industry, creative industry and construction. Thanks to the high quality of training, graduates of the capital’s colleges quickly find work, Sergei Sobyanin said in on your telegram channel.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    Secondary vocational education is actively developing throughout the country. More than 65 percent of all workers are specialists with secondary vocational education, noted Sergey Kravtsov.

    “It is important that the programs in colleges have become as practice-oriented as possible. About 80 percent of the educational process is practice. We updated the standards together with the industries. New 400 standards, directly with the enterprises for the requirements that the enterprises need. We do not forget about general education: Russian, mathematics, history, new history textbooks for colleges from this year and education. Each college has an education advisor,” said Sergey Kravtsov.

    Colleges prepare specialists that industries need. Some of the students begin their professional activities while still studying. According to Sergey Kravtsov, today more than 90 thousand college students are employed in the military-industrial complex.

    “The measures that are being implemented increase the prestige of blue-collar jobs. Last year, 1.25 million applications were submitted to colleges. Three people per place on average, in some specialties – nine people per place. 62.5 percent of ninth-graders choose colleges. In particular, career guidance helps, which we have been conducting in schools since last year from the sixth grade, when children come to colleges and to production facilities,” said Sergey Kravtsov.

    Labor market in Moscow

    The capital’s labor market is one of the largest and most diversified in the world. More than 8.6 million people are employed in the city’s economic sectors. Moscow has a constant need for qualified personnel, as well as a minimal level of unemployment.

    75 percent of employers are interested in specialists with secondary vocational education. Demand for college graduates is observed in such industries as industry, transport, logistics, construction, trade and information technology (IT).

    “Today, 75 percent of secondary vocational education personnel are required. At the same time, we train 63 percent of specialists with higher education in Moscow, and only 18 percent of secondary vocational education specialists. And another 19 percent of short programs are workers,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

    At the same time, the professional training system is primarily focused on specialists with higher education. There is an imbalance between the needs of the market and the capabilities of the professional education system. The demand for mid-level specialists with decent salaries is a stable trend in the capital’s labor market.

    The city pays special attention to the development of the secondary vocational education system. Currently, there are 178 colleges in the capital, including 71 private, 44 federal and 63 colleges under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Government. More than 270 thousand students study there, including almost 130 thousand people receive education in city colleges.

    20.6 thousand students study in city colleges in IT fields. 20.1 thousand people receive education in the industrial sector, 14.7 thousand Muscovites in creative industries and construction, 14.2 thousand and 13.4 thousand students in transport and healthcare, respectively. 12.9 thousand city residents study specialties related to hospitality, nine thousand students in education and social spheres, and 6.5 thousand people in security and law. 3.2 thousand Muscovites receive education in finance and trade, 1.5 thousand in culture and art, and 0.4 thousand students in sports.

    Last year, 93 percent of city college graduates found jobs.

    In 2023, an additional program of career guidance and career testing for ninth-graders was introduced. Thanks to this, graduates were able to get acquainted with modern professions taught in Moscow colleges. The program aroused great interest among teenagers and their parents. More than 60 thousand schoolchildren took free career testing, and over 70 percent of its participants decided to enroll in secondary vocational education institutions.

    Professional auditions, excursions to employers and interactive quests: Moscow ninth-graders completed a comprehensive career guidance program

    In 2024, the Moscow Government doubled the number of Moscow schoolchildren who graduated from city colleges nine classes. In total, 16 thousand additional budget places were created in popular areas. These include medicine, security, finance, information technology, hospitality, creative industries, industry, construction and transport.

    As a result, about 45 thousand students entered city colleges. Of these, about 36 thousand ninth-grade graduates study on a budget basis.

    The increase in budget places satisfies the demand of young people to obtain promising and in-demand specialties, allowing them to begin professional activities as early as 18–19 years of age.

    It is planned that by 2030 the number of students in Moscow (city, federal and private) colleges will grow to 420 thousand. Admission will increase by 53 percent: more than 150 thousand students will enroll in colleges annually – primarily ninth-grade graduates from the capital and other regions. Secondary vocational education programs will be taught to 11th-grade graduates and adults who want to obtain a popular and promising specialty.

    Modernization of the secondary vocational education system

    Increasing the number of college students is an important component of the modernization of the secondary vocational education system carried out by the Moscow Government. It is based on two basic principles:

    — relevance and demand — educational programs are developed with the participation of employers and professional associations;

    — practical orientation — students are immersed in a professional environment from the first year, and practical classes make up at least 70 percent of the total training time and are conducted under the guidance of experienced mentors.

    Sergei Sobyanin: At least 70% of classes in Moscow colleges will be practical

    As part of the modernization of the secondary vocational education system, the infrastructure and content of educational programs are being updated. This work includes several aspects.

    Constant interaction with enterprises and work at their request. For this purpose, colleges cooperate with many organizations. Today, among the partners of the capital’s institutions of secondary vocational education are more than three thousand employers. Among them are the state corporation Rostec, the State Unitary Enterprise Moscow Metro, JSC Sheremetyevo Security, PJSC MOEK, JSC Concern VKO Almaz-Antey, OOO Glavstroy, PJSC MGTS, PJSC Rostelecom, GUP Mosgortrans, PJSC Sberbank of Russia, PJSC Gazprom, the association of Russian automobile dealers, OOO Inzhenerstroy, OOO Spetsgrad, JSC Moscow Automobile Plant Moskvich, JSC NPP Toriy, the holding company United Confectioners and other companies.

    For the second year, a unique practice has been implemented — conducting a qualification exam in the conditions of a real production process. Its successful completion provides an opportunity to receive a rank and a job offer at the same time. In addition, employers participate in the development of the content and criteria for assessing the final demonstration exam and are part of the examination committee.

    Updating educational programs. The content of educational programs is formed on the basis of a competency profile compiled jointly with the professional community and industry representatives. In total, city colleges provide training in 170 specialties.

    By September 1, 2024, 60 percent of the programs currently being studied by 43 thousand college students have been updated. By the 2026/2027 academic year, all educational programs will be brought up to the new standard. In addition, a system for adapting programs to new technologies and changing labor market needs will be created. The main objective is to train a student who is ready to start full-time work immediately after graduation.

    “One of the most important problems is the quality of teachers. Since we have a large production potential, we are solving this problem. Reducing the training time to three years, today – four years. We are simply compressing some programs so that the guys can enter real life faster,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

    The duration of training is reduced by increasing its intensity. This academic year, the number of four-year programs has been reduced by 70 percent. Starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, all preparatory programs will be designed for two years for those who have completed 11th grade and three years for ninth-graders.

    Multidisciplinary and increasing the level of qualification. Students have the opportunity to master not one, but even two or three professions during their studies. This increases the competitiveness of young specialists in the labor market.

    For example, in the specialty “mechanical engineering technology”, a graduate receives the basic qualification of “technician-technologist”, as well as the opportunity to work in the professions of “general profile machine operator”, “setter of machines and manipulators with program control”, “controller of machine and metalwork works”.

    The city is forming a mandatory level of training quality for each profession. The minimum standard of qualification level will be the third category, and for some specialties – the fourth.

    Previously, college graduates received no higher than a second degree. They were not allowed to work in complex types of production. The guys had to be trained further. As a result, the wages of young specialists were low.

    Digitalization of education using the services of “MES College”. Since September 2024, teachers and students of 47 city colleges have had access to the electronic services of the “Moscow Electronic School” to prepare for classes (“MESH”). This improved the quality of education and made the educational process more accessible and convenient for all participants.

    Currently, the “MES” is being finalized to meet the specifics and objectives of professional education. It will be completed by 2026. Specialized forms of control and certification will be introduced, a student portfolio, an electronic grade book, personal student and teacher accounts, as well as an electronic library of materials for teachers will be created.

    The MES library will feature a set of materials designed for modern formats and teaching technologies: electronic lesson plans with video assignments and tests, interactive applications, virtual laboratories, electronic teaching aids, and digital textbooks.

    Improving the material and technical base of secondary vocational education. A practical training site for Moscow colleges operates in the Rudnevo industrial park. In 2024–2025, it is planned to open two more similar sites — Pechatniki and Yug. Their educational capacity will allow them to train 20,000 students annually, as well as adults who want to get a new specialty.

    A large-scale process of equipping colleges with new modern equipment has begun. Thus, by the end of 2024, it is planned to update and create about 650 educational laboratories and workshops. In 2025, 1,450 workshops will be updated, and in 2026-2027 – another 300 workshops.

    In total, it is planned to re-equip about 2050 laboratories and workshops. This will allow practical and laboratory work to be carried out at a modern technological level using equipment installed at the capital’s enterprises.

    It is planned to build seven innovative educational campuses with a total area of almost 400 thousand square meters to accommodate more than 60 thousand students. Among them are colleges in the fields of creative industry, information technology, healthcare, hospitality, industry, transport, construction and others. The buildings are designed for modern educational technologies taking into account the best world practices. There will be ergonomic premises with a comfortable educational environment and the effect of complete immersion in the profession.

    The new campuses will feature professional workshops, as well as internal and external full-cycle production sites for students to practice their complex skills in conditions close to reality. The educational space will include coworking spaces and transformable rooms for group and project work.

    In addition, the plans include a major overhaul of the Moscow Technological College and the Moscow College of Management, Hotel Business and Information Technology “Tsaritsyno”. These are three buildings with a total area of 50 thousand square meters.

    By 2031, it is planned to completely renew the infrastructure of city colleges.

    Expansion of the career guidance program for schoolchildren. In the 2024/2025 academic year, the program will cover eighth-graders in addition to ninth-graders. It is expected that about 100 thousand Moscow schoolchildren will be able to take part in it.

    One of the new areas will be student-to-school mentoring. Senior students will visit schools and talk about college education, share their success stories, and help kids make the right choice.

    The pool of employers — project partners — will expand. In the new academic year, schoolchildren will visit companies operating in all sectors of the city’s economy. They will get acquainted with high-tech equipment and talk to specialists.

    In particular, excursions to the territories of industrial enterprises of the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”, professional tests and master classes with the best employees of resident companies are planned.

    Particular attention will be paid to working with parents. Saturday meetings are planned at career guidance centers with labor market experts and college representatives.

    You can find out more about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges on the portal “School. Moscow”, in the section “Atlas of Professions” and podcast “The Key to the Profession”. Useful content about secondary vocational education is also published in the telegram channel “Moscow education” and the group of the same name on the social network “VKontakte”.

    Raising the prestige of secondary vocational education. In 2024, the Moscow Government established grants for capital colleges for achieving high results in teaching students.

    In total, it is planned to award 20 grants: three first-degree grants of 40 million rubles, seven second-degree grants of 25 million rubles, and 10 third-degree grants of 15 million rubles.

    When determining grant recipients, students’ results in passing qualification and demonstration exams, victories in professional skills championships, as well as graduate employment results and other achievements will be taken into account.

    The grant funds are planned to be used for additional material incentives for teachers and masters of industrial training who have achieved high results in their work. This will become an additional incentive for improving the quality of secondary vocational education in Moscow.

    The first colleges to receive grants will be determined based on the results of the 2024/2025 academic year. In the future, incentive funds are planned to be awarded to the best secondary vocational education institutions annually.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11848050/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard rescues 14 Haitian migrants left stranded by smugglers on Monito Island, Puerto Rico

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    10/02/2024 02:00 PM EDT

    The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos rescued 14 migrants, Sunday, who were left stranded by smugglers on the uninhabited natural reserve of Monito Island, Puerto Rico, in the Mona Passage. The rescue involved efforts and coordination with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) partner agencies and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Park Rangers.

    For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Seizure of contraband and unauthorized items at Edmonton Institution

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    On August 19, 2024, as a result of the vigilance of staff, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Edmonton Institution, a maximum security federal institution.

    August 26, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta – Correctional Service Canada

    On August 19, 2024, as a result of the vigilance of staff, contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Edmonton Institution, a maximum security federal institution.

    Among the items seized were THC, crystal methamphetamine and cell phones. In total, the institutional value of the seized items is estimated at $917,400.

    The police have been informed and the establishment is investigating.

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has a number of tools to prevent the introduction of drugs into its institutions. These tools include ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, personal property, inmates and visitors.

    CSC is strengthening measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions to ensure a safe and secure environment for all. CSC is also working in partnership with police forces to take action against individuals who attempt to bring contraband into correctional institutions.

    CSC has also established a telephone information line for all federal institutions to provide additional information on activities related to the security of CSC institutions. This may include activities related to drug use or trafficking that could threaten the safety of visitors, inmates or people working in CSC institutions.

    Using the toll-free line, 1-866-780-3784, helps ensure that the information transmitted is protected and that anonymity remains maintained.

    -30-

    Jeff CampbellRegional Communications ManagerRegional Administration, Prairies(306) 222-2258

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Middle Landing  — Have you seen this stolen trailer?

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Chaleur Region RCMP is seeking the public’s help locating a stolen trailer near Middle Landing, N.B.

    The theft is believed to have occurred sometime after 5 p.m. on September 18, 2024, and before 1:40 p.m., on September 22, 2024, at a residence on Anacon Road, near Middle Landing.

    The trailer is described as a white 2011 Heartland North Trail, with New Brunswick licence plate TNJ 338, and vehicle identification number 5SFNB3121BE229775.

    If you have seen the trailer since September 18, or if you have information that could help further the investigation, please contact the Chaleur Region RCMP at 506-548-7771. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at http://www.crimenb.ca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada, CRITUC, and FortisAlberta support project to plan transition to zero-emission vehicles

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Press release

    Edmonton, Alberta, January 31, 2024 — Communities across the country are developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing carbon emissions from public transit.

    Today, Minister Randy Boissonnault, Curtis Eck, Vice President, Engineering, FortisAlberta, and Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), announced a combined investment of $550,092 for the Alberta Municipal Constellation Project.

    The Alberta Municipal Constellation Project is a comprehensive study to guide the acquisition and deployment of zero-emission buses for nine transit agencies – Airdrie, Banff/Bow Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, Hinton, Leduc, Rocky View, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County and Whitecourt – in Alberta by assessing the economic, technical and environmental considerations associated with this transition. The study, led by CUTRIC and FortisAlberta, is being conducted in collaboration with local municipalities and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). The project will guide local transit agencies in planning for the integration of zero-emission buses in the years ahead and provide a regional energy needs modelling study to ensure that needs can be met. Once the project is complete, the results will be shared with all participating communities, helping to spread the benefits of this important project.

    By investing in the electrification of Canada’s public transit systems, the Government of Canada is ensuring that communities across the country have access to clean and affordable transportation, which helps grow our country’s economy and improve the lives of Canadians.

    Quotes

    “When we invest in Alberta, we must consider current and future generations of our province. Our government remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and we will achieve this goal by funding clean transit projects, like this collaboration with FortisAlberta, OSPE, CUTRIC and local transit agencies. This project will provide Albertans with cleaner, quieter and more efficient travel, while contributing to our collective efforts to combat climate change.”

    The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “We are committed to supporting municipalities in our service area in their efforts to decarbonize their transit fleets. Our collaboration is designed to provide a comprehensive analytical framework that assesses economic impacts and designs energy management strategies for seamless integration into Alberta’s electricity grid. Leveraging our distribution planning expertise, FortisAlberta will assess and mitigate the challenges of grid capacity and voltage constraints associated with the decarbonization of municipal fleets. This initiative will facilitate the efficient and effective use of existing distribution infrastructure, ensuring a sustainable transition to greener transit solutions.”

    Curtis Eck, Vice President, Engineering, FortisAlberta

    “This first-of-its-kind project symbolizes the power of collaboration, bringing together municipalities and FortisAlberta to lead the way in zero-emission vehicles in the years to come. Through this project, we hope to not only meet the evolving energy needs of these regions, but also serve as a catalyst for positive change in sustainable transportation. We are confident that the results of this study will guide our partner organizations in their strategic planning and decision-making, fostering a cleaner, greener future for Alberta communities. CUTRIC looks forward to leading the way in innovative and environmentally responsible public transit.”

    Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)

    “The Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission is committed to supporting the introduction of low-emission vehicles and related infrastructure in our region. As we operate in and around Banff National Park, it is essential that we respect the environment and be at the forefront of reducing emissions in the operation of our transit services. Fortis and CUTRIC’s involvement in the project is a critical step in continuing our transition and we are excited to be part of this initiative!”

    Martin Bean, CEO, Roam Transit

    “Our partnership with FortisAlberta and other municipalities on the electric bus feasibility study reflects our commitment to a more sustainable future. We are grateful for the support we receive from Infrastructure Canada through the Zero Emission Transit Fund. Airdrie is on the path to sustainable and efficient public transit.”

    Peter Brown, Mayor of the City of Airdrie

    Quick Facts

    The Government of Canada is providing a contribution of $440,074 to this project through the Zero Emission Public Transit Fund (ZETF). FortisAlberta is contributing $110,018.

    The nine Alberta communities included in this study are: Airdrie, Banff/Bow Valley, Fort Saskatchewan, Hinton, Leduc, Rocky View, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County and Whitecourt. The study will help these communities plan their transition to zero-emission buses.

    The FTCZE helps communities transition to zero-emission school and transit buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Canada’s net-zero emissions targets. By electrifying their bus fleets, communities are working to ensure our children benefit from a cleaner environment, while supporting Canada’s manufacturing sector.

    This Fund is closely coordinated with the Zero-Emission Bus Initiative, under which the BIC has committed to investing more than $1.5 billion to support the acquisition of zero-emission buses.

    The Government of Canada is investing billions of dollars to provide predictable federal funding for public transit. This funding will be available starting in 2026–27 to support solutions for reliable, fast, affordable and clean public transit. The CZETF complements Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. As part of this plan, the federal government is committing to providing permanent federal funding for public transit to ensure every community has clean and affordable transportation options.

    Under an agreement with CRITUC, the Government of Canada is investing $10 million over five years through the FTCZE to help transit bus operators conduct planning work and improve their readiness for a transition to zero-emission bus fleets.

    CRITUC’s mission is to support the commercialization of technologies through industry-led research, development, demonstration and integration projects that bring innovative design to Canada’s low-carbon smart mobility ecosystem.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal AhmedManager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsInfrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Media RelationsFortisAlbertaPeter BrodskyManager, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications403-514-4040peter.brodsky@fortisalberta.com

    Media RelationsCanadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)Rachael D’AmoreTalk Shop Mediarachael@talkshopmedia.com

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Texas Hospital CEO to Pay Over $5.3M to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Laboratory Testing

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Former hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Jeffrey Madison, of Georgetown, Texas, has agreed to pay $5,343,630 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving illegal payments to physicians for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Madison also has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes.

    “The Justice Department will continue to pursue individuals — including C-suite executives — who commit health care fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Kickbacks to physicians from laboratories or other healthcare providers can undermine healthcare decision-making, subject patients to unnecessary medical services and waste taxpayer funds.”

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlement announced today resolves allegations in a lawsuit alleging that Madison, the former CEO of Little River Healthcare (Little River), a critical access hospital in Rockdale, Texas, caused the submission of false claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE from January 2015 to June 2018. Madison allegedly agreed to a kickback scheme in which Little River paid commissions to recruiters who used purported management service organizations (MSOs) to pay kickbacks to doctors to induce their laboratory testing referrals to Little River. The settlement resolves allegations that Madison knowingly signed, and caused others to sign, false certifications in Medicare cost reports regarding Little River’s compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute, and thereby caused the submission of false claims to federal health care programs.

    In addition, the settlement resolves allegations in the same lawsuit that, after defendant Doyce Cartrett Jr., M.D., of Silsbee, Texas, informed Little River of his potential laboratory testing referral volume, Madison agreed to have Little River pay Cartrett $2,000 per month in kickbacks disguised as purported medical director fees from February 2015 to May 2017, to induce Cartrett to shift his laboratory testing referrals to Little River. Madison allegedly agreed for Little River to pay the monthly fees, even though Little River did not receive any genuine medical director services from Dr. Cartrett.

    Madison did not contest, and accepted responsibility for, the allegations against him in the United States’ amended complaint. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Madison was excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs for 25 years. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al. ex rel. STF LLC v. True Health Diagnostics LLC et al., No. 4:16-cv-547 (EDTX).

    “Seeing past a corporate entity and holding individuals responsible for making the decisions to engage marketers to pay providers for their laboratory referrals is what justice requires,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “This settlement is a testament to our continued efforts to combat fraud against our federal healthcare programs and to hold accountable all participants who profited from knowingly violating the laws meant to guard against overutilization of medical services and protect the public fisc.”

    “Illegal kickback payments, even when disguised as medical director fees, undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient benefit from these schemes, but it is ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”

    “Our nation’s uniformed military service members and their families should never have to question the integrity of their healthcare providers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office. “Medical decisions influenced by greed destroy the fundamental element of trust in patient care. This settlement reinforces the commitment the DCIS shares with our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department to pursue all available remedies against those who conspire to commit fraud against our Military Health System.”

    The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG and DCIS. The United States has recovered over $52 million relating to conduct involving MSO kickbacks to health care providers, which includes recoveries from 46 physicians.

    Trial Attorneys Christopher Terranova and Gavin Thole of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Betty Young for the Eastern District of Texas handled the case.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Settlement

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Maryland Department of State Police to Resolve Allegations of Race and Gender Discrimination in State Trooper Hiring Process

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to resolve the United States’ claims that MDSP’s hiring process for state troopers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the United States alleges that MDSP uses a written test that discriminates against Black candidates and a physical fitness test that discriminates against female candidates. The agreement must still be approved by a federal judge.

    The settlement agreement resolves a civil pattern and practice investigation the Civil Rights Division opened on July 15, 2022. As part of the investigation, the division conducted an in-depth review of MDSP’s hiring practices, the composition of its sworn personnel, applicant data, and information received from the Maryland State Police, and concluded the State’s written and physical fitness tests do not meaningfully distinguish between applicants who can and cannot perform the position of Trooper. These tests also had the effect of disqualifying Black and female applicants from the hiring process at significantly disproportionate rates. The department thus concluded that these tests violate Title VII.

    “Equal employment opportunities in law enforcement are not just a core civil right but essential to ensuring that those who serve reflect the rich racial and gender diversity of the communities they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The underrepresentation of Blacks and women in law enforcement undermines public safety and runs contrary to the principle of equal opportunity which is central in our job market. This agreement requires the Maryland Department of State Police to institute meaningful reforms, remove unlawful barriers in its hiring process, and provide restitution and relief to those already harmed, ensuring that all qualified applicants have a fair chance to serve. The Justice Department will continue working to ensure equal access to employment opportunities for all Americans.”

    “This settlement agreement is a reflection of our continued mission to protect the civil rights of all Marylanders, including those of our sworn law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to protect all citizens equally. We are pleased that MDSP is committed to ensuring that its hiring processes will not discriminate on the basis of race or gender.” 

    The complaint, filed today in the District of Maryland, alleges that MDSP’s use of a written test called the Police Officer Selection Test (POST) disproportionately excludes Black candidates, and its use of a physical fitness test called the Functional Fitness Assessment Test (FFAT) disproportionately excludes female candidates, from employment as troopers. The United States alleges that MDSP’s uses of the POST and the FFAT are not job related or consistent with business necessity, and thus, violate Title VII.

    Under the terms of the consent decree, MDSP will:

    • Adopt written and physical fitness tests that do not discriminate in violation of Title VII;
    • Provide data to the United States on the administration of the new tests to ensure compliance;
    • Pay $2.75 million in back pay to applicants who were disqualified by MDSP’s use of the challenged tests; and
    • Hire up to 25 applicants who were unfairly disqualified by those tests and who successfully complete MDSP’s new trooper screening and selection process.

    Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also employment practices that result in a disparate impact on a protected group, unless such practices are job related and consistent with business necessity.

    You can learn more about the contents of the agreement from this fact sheet and a statement from Assistant Attorney General Clarke here.

    The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. The Division has issued a new fact sheet on Combating Hiring Discrimination by Police and Fire Departments to help applicants for public safety jobs understand their Title VII rights to be free from discriminatory hiring processes. More information about the Civil Rights Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt.

    Senior Trial Attorneys Emily Given and Cheyenne N. Chambers of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Phillips for the District of Maryland are handling this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sixty-Eight Defendants Charged in Indictment of Dozens of Members and Associates of California White Supremacist Gang

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Federal and local law enforcement today arrested 42 members and associates of the SFV Peckerwoods, a San Fernando Valley, California-based white supremacist street gang, on a 76-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they engaged in a years-long pattern of racketeering activity that included trafficking of drugs — including fentanyl — illegal firearms possession, and COVID-19 benefits and loan fraud.

    “The Justice Department has dealt a decisive blow to the San Fernando Valley (SFV) Peckerwoods, a violent white supremacist gang that we charge is responsible for trafficking deadly fentanyl and other drugs, committing robberies, and perpetrating financial fraud to fund both their criminal enterprise and that of the Aryan Brotherhood,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “With today’s charges and arrests, the Justice Department, together with our state, local, and federal partners has targeted the heart of this gang’s operations, and we will continue to zero in on the criminal enterprises that endanger our communities.”

    The indictment unsealed today charges a total of 68 defendants with a score of federal crimes: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices.

    The defendants arrested today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized large quantities of illegal firearms, and dozens of pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, according to the indictment.

    “The Peckerwoods’ violent white-supremacist ideology and wide-ranging criminal activity pose a grave menace to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “By allegedly engaging in everything from drug-trafficking to firearms offenses to identity theft to COVID fraud, and through their alliance with a neo-Nazi prison gang, the Peckerwoods are a destructive force. In prosecuting the members of the Peckerwoods criminal organization, our office is carrying out its mission to protect the public from the most dangerous threats.”

    “This operation, led by our Joint Terrorism Task Force, disrupted a racially motivated violent extremist group who engaged in a wide range of criminal activity,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “This case strikes at the heart of our collective mission to rid our communities of the corrosive elements that fuel violence and extremism that greatly impact our way of life. The FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners, remains strongly committed to working every day to make sure the people of the Southland remain safe.”

    “The San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, the Aryan Brotherhood, and their associates are fused by one thing: hatred,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Allen of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “It appears, however, that the business of hate was not enough for them. Driven by greed, they engaged in other crimes, including drug distribution, pushing out deadly fentanyl onto our streets. Operating from corners of the San Fernando Valley, they conducted their crimes within and beyond the 8-1-8 community. Today’s large-scale indictments and arrests reflect our relentless commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that continue to harm our communities.”

    According to the indictment that a grand jury returned on Sept. 26, the Peckerwoods is a street gang based in communities in the San Fernando Valley whose members engage in a wide variety of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, violent crime, and fraud. As a white supremacist gang, the Peckerwoods at times takes orders from the Aryan Brotherhood, California’s dominant prison-based white supremacist gang, and maintains an alliance with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, which controls most Latino street gangs in California. The Peckerwoods use Nazi tattoos, graffiti, and iconography to indicate their violent white supremacy extremist ideology. These tattoos and iconography include swastikas, the symbol “88”, used by violent white supremacy extremists as code for “Heil Hitler”, and images of Nazi aircraft.

    Members and associates of the gang used social media to share information with each other about their criminal activities and gang rules, to identify gang members in good standing, and to target people who broke the gang’s rules. The social media use included a members-only Facebook group and private, direct messages between the gang’s members and associates.

    From at least December 2016 to September, Peckerwoods members conducted and participated in the affairs of their criminal enterprise by engaging in violence and threats of violence to preserve and expand the gang’s criminal operations, which promoted a climate of fear. Members and associates of the gang illegally maintained firearms and ammunition in furtherance of these aims.

    To generate revenue for the gang, its members trafficked narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Specifically, lead defendant Claire Patricia Haviland, 62, of Chatsworth, California, and co-defendants Brian Glenn Ekelund, 53, of Chatsworth, and Brianne Brewer, 38, of North Hollywood, California, maintained and oversaw drug stash houses where large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs were stored prior to distribution. Haviland and Ekelund allegedly mailed illegal drugs to customers and used applications such as Zelle and CashApp to receive money from drug buyers and send money to their drug sources.

    They also generated revenue via robberies and financial fraud and participated in identity theft schemes. For example, from at least March 2021 to July 2023, defendants Sean Craig Gluckman, 35, of Encino, California; Maria Anna James, 30, of Canyon Country, California; and others submitted false and fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to aid businesses harmed by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants – posing as sole proprietors – signed fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of individuals incarcerated in California state prisons and collected a portion of the fraudulently obtained proceeds from co-conspirators as payment for their assistance.

    In April 2021, Gluckman submitted an application that falsely stated he was a self-employed “artist/writer” with a gross income of nearly $250,000. Later that month, he obtained a PPP loan in the amount of $20,833. In a separate scheme, Gluckman submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) applications in the names of other people to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to fraudulently obtain jobless benefits.

    “The proliferation of gang related organized crime deteriorates the core of our society,” said Chief Dominic Choi of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Taking guns out of the hands of gang members and drugs from our streets is just one more step towards reducing this deterioration. Today is yet another example of how local, regional, and federal law enforcement, with a matched dedication, are working together to investigate, apprehend and prosecute criminals.”          

    “When criminal organizations cross jurisdictional lines, it makes conducting investigations and subsequent prosecutions much more difficult,” said Sheriff Jim Fryhoff of the Ventura County, California, Sheriff’s Office. “Having our federal law enforcement partners involvement in such cases greatly enhances our ability to protect not only the citizens of our county, but also those of our region of the state.”

    If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    The FBI, DEA, Los Angeles Police Department, and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. The Simi Valley Police Department; California Highway Patrol; Glendale Police Department; Burbank Police Department; Redondo Beach Police Department; Beverly Hills Police Department; Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Department of Veterans Affairs Police; Department of Labor; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Los Angeles County Probation Department; Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services; Pasadena Fire Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and IRS Criminal Investigation provided assistance in the investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema M. El-Amamy, Jeremiah M. Levine, and Alexander Su for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit http://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On Sept. 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California to jointly head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Justice Department established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at http://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Dr. Andrew Arnold Awarded Highest Honor of The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The William F. Neuman Award, the oldest and most prestigious honor conferred by the ASBMR, recognizes Dr. Andrew Arnold for his outstanding and major scientific contributions in the area of bone and mineral research and for contributions to associates and trainees in teaching, research, and administration.

    Dr. Andrew Arnold accepting the highest honor of ASBMR from its President Laura Calvi, MD.

    Arnold accepted the Society’s highest honor during its late September ASBMR 2024 Annual Meeting in Toronto.

    Arnold is a pioneer in studying endocrine tumors and hyperparathyroidism. Arnold’s achievements include discovery of cyclin D1, the first known parathyroid oncogene and fundamental cell cycle regulator.

    The award is named for William F. Neuman, Ph.D., a world-renowned scientist in the field of mineral metabolism. Neuman’s seminal work on bone-seeking isotopes as part of the Manhattan Project was followed by major works in the chemistry of mineral and matrix, the function of bone cells, the metabolism of parathyroid hormone, and the concept of bone membrane.

    Arnold shared, “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the ASBMR. Receiving the William F. Neuman Award is uniquely meaningful, coming from my academic home society and the organization most familiar with the contributions of our group.”

    Arnold currently serves UConn’s medical school as the Murray-Heilig Chair in Molecular Medicine, professor of Medicine and Genetics & Genome Sciences, and chief of the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism. He is also director of the Center for Molecular Oncology, chief academic officer for the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and also directs the Office of Physician-Scientist Career Development.

    He attended Brown University and Harvard Medical School, trained in internal medicine at University of Chicago followed by fellowships in molecular oncology at NIH and endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital. On the faculty of Harvard Medical School and MGH he led the Laboratory of Endocrine Oncology, then moved to UConn School of Medicine.

    In addition to the William F. Neuman Award, Arnold’s honors include the ASBMR’s Fuller Albright Award and Louis Avioli Founders Award, the Gerald Aurbach Award of the Endocrine Society, the International Medal of the Society for Endocrinology, and the Outstanding Investigator Award of the American Federation for Medical Research.

    “Space prevents me from individually acknowledging most of the wonderful friends, colleagues, collaborators who have profoundly impacted the achievements recognized here, been tremendously supportive, and have made working in our field so enjoyable,” said Arnold. “Certainly among them are Henry Kronenberg, Sundeep Khosla, John Eisman, John Bilezikian, John Potts, Fred Kaplan, Raj Thakker; plus, in memory, Stan Korsmeyer, Larry Raisz and Arthur Broadus. Hank Kronenberg’s role is outsized – my appreciation for his mentorship, scientific insights, and decades-long friendship knows no bounds – I cannot thank him enough. Past and present members of my laboratory group and collaborating investigators, especially Jessica Costa, absolutely share in this recognition, and special thanks and love to my family.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lieutenant Governor Primavera Celebrates Walk/Roll to School Day at Celebrity Crossing Guard Event

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera joined more than 40 local community leaders and figures as an honorary crossing guard at Dora Moore Elementary school in Denver. The event  celebrates National Walk/Roll to School Day, and highlights the important job of crossing guards in keeping our students and communities safe.

    “I am thrilled to get to join so many leaders from across Denver to help educate children on the importance of street safety. Thank you to all our crossing guards for being role models to Colorado’s children, and helping to keep our communities safe. It is no easy task, and rain or shine our crossing guards are up for the job,” said Lt. Governor Primavera.

    National Walk/Roll to School Day brings to light the importance of road safety and road etiquette in order to keep school zones safe. Lt. Governor Primavera, spent the morning helping students of all ages and abilities cross the street safely, promoting accessibility and encouraging students to get outside and enjoy a walk through the community.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS’ 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment Indicates the Threat of Domestic and Foreign Terrorism in the Homeland Remains High

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS’ 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment Indicates the Threat of Domestic and Foreign Terrorism in the Homeland Remains High

    “The Homeland Security Assessment provides an important overview of the dynamic and evolving threat landscape, illustrating just how varied and challenging the threats we confront are,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “It is because of the remarkable DHS workforce, and our close collaboration with our federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners, that we are able to meet the challenges and keep the American people safe and secure.” 

    Assessments from the 2025 HTA: 

    • Public Safety and Security: The terrorism threat environment in the Homeland is expected to remain high over the coming year. This is due to a confluence of factors, including potential violent extremist responses to domestic sociopolitical developments — particularly the 2024 election cycle — and international events like the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Lone offenders and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al Qa’ida maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland. 
    • Illegal Drugs: Illegal drugs smuggled into and sold in the United States by transnational and domestic criminal actors continue to pose a lethal threat to communities in the United States. DHS has surged resources to address this threat, seized more fentanyl in the last two fiscal years than in the prior five years combined, and is investing in new technology to increase detection capabilities. Thanks to these and other efforts, the number of overdose deaths have declined by more than 10 percent in the 12 months leading up to April 2024 – the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history. That said, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the most lethal of drugs trafficked into the country and continue to pose a national security threat. Adulterated cocaine and methamphetamine also pose a threat. 
    • Influence Operations and Transnational Repression: We expect the Homeland will face threats to public safety from state actors using subversive tactics in an effort to stroke discord and undermine confidence in U.S. domestic institutions. Malign foreign actors seek to target ethnic and religious minorities, political dissidents, and journalists in the United States to silence and harass its critics abroad. 
    • Border and Immigration Security: Migrant encounters at our border have steadily declined since the beginning of 2024 and have declined even further since the issuance of the Presidential Proclamation and complementary Interim Final Rule (IFR) were announced on June 4 – decreasing more than 55% in the past four months. We nonetheless expect some individuals with criminal connections to seek to continue to exploit migrants. DHS remains acutely focused on identifying those who may present a threat to public safety or national security and stopping them from entering the United States. 
    • Critical Infrastructure Security: Domestic and foreign adversaries are expected to continue to target our critical infrastructure via prepositioning, cyber, and physical attacks. The People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Iran are expected to remain the most pressing foreign threats to our critical infrastructure.  Nation-states, criminal hacktivists, and financially motivated criminals will likely hone their techniques to disrupt U.S. services or to conduct espionage focused on gaining access to U.S. networks and critical infrastructure entities. We assess that domestic and foreign violent extremists will continue to call for physical attacks on critical infrastructure in furtherance of their ideological goals and, in response to international conflicts and crises. 
    • Economic Security: Our adversaries – including the PRC – will continue non-market policies and practices, economic espionage and coercive economic tools, and illicit acquisition of technologies and intellectual property to undercut U.S. and partner competitiveness. 

    Operational components and offices across the Department are involved in combatting threats and working alongside our federal, state, and local partners. Some examples of these efforts include:  

    • DHS conducts screening and vetting of individuals encountered at the border to identify national security or public safety threats and refers any individuals who are identified as posing a threat to public safety or national security to the appropriate law enforcement authority for detention, removal, and potential prosecution. DHS continually monitors available sources of intelligence and law enforcement information to identify new threats and public safety risks. If and when any new information emerges, DHS, including ICE and CBP, works closely with the FBI and other partners to take appropriate action. 
    • In addition to biometric and biographic screening and vetting of every individual encountered, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expanded information sharing agreements with international partners to enhance their ability to prevent, detect, and investigate trafficking and other crimes. CBP’s National Targeting Center continuously works to detect individuals and travelers that threaten our country’s security, while also building a network of partner nations committed to fighting global threats. 
    • DHS, through CBP and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has stopped more illicit fentanyl and 
      arrested more individuals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two fiscal years than in the previous five 
      years combined. 
    • DHS is leading the federal effort to combat fentanyl internationally, through information-sharing, 
      multinational enforcement operations, and global cooperation with federal, state, and local 
      partners and stakeholder to disrupt fentanyl networks within our communities. 
    • DHS has arrested over 3,600 subjects connected to fentanyl-seizure events, which directly 
      degrades the organized criminal networks responsible for bringing fentanyl into our communities, seized over 2,200 pill presses, and seized over 27,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl to stop it at our 
      borders and in our communities before it can hurt the American public. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    As State, Federal Response Efforts Continue, Biden-Harris Administration Provides Over $10 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

    WASHINGTON — As search and rescue, power restoration and communications capability remain top priorities throughout the Southeast, FEMA has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $10 million in flexible, upfront funding. 

    More than 4,800 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed and more than 1,000 are from FEMA. To date, FEMA has shipped over 8.8 million meals, more than 7.4 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 225,000 tarps to the region.

    Today, President Biden will be in North Carolina and Vice President Harris will be in Georgia meeting with community leaders and first responders. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will remain in North Carolina to oversee response efforts and ensure the federal government provides urgent and extensive support to Asheville and surrounding areas.

    President Biden has approved a Major Disaster declaration for 24 counties and cities in Virginia. This declaration comes in addition to areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Disaster survivors in these areas can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA.

    People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated counties should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. 

    There are three ways apply for FEMA assistance: 

    Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.  

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. They are also helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

    People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist. 

    North Carolina 

    President Biden will visit today to survey damage and meet with community leaders and first responders. So far, FEMA has received over 30,000 applications and provided more than $2.6 million to survivors. 

    As of today, more than 62% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Nearly 8,000 crews continue to assist with remaining power restoration efforts. 

    Cellular restoration continues to improve, with less than 50% of cellular sites down as of today. Ten counties, down from 17, have 50% or more cell sites down. Two Federal Communications Commission surveillance teams are conducting inspection operations on equipment in targeted counties. 

    To date, FEMA has helped provide 67 total Starlink to the state, including 3 Starlinks for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and 4 Starlinks for critical lifeline locations as determined by the state. 

    As of today, search and rescue teams have conducted nearly 1,500 structural evaluations and over 1,660 human and animal interactions including rescues, evacuations and other assistance. Additional federal search and rescue teams are enroute to support the mission.

    Voluntary organizations are supporting mass feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft delivery.

    Four additional shelters opened yesterday, totaling 29 shelters with over 1,000 occupants. 

    The Salvation Army has provided over 1,000 meals, 1,900 snacks and 1,900 beverages to survivors. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in heavily impacted areas.

    The North Carolina National Guard has delivered 12 aircraft pallets, totaling more than 100,000lbs of food and over 38,000lbs of water to Asheville. 

    Information for Residents: 

    • Residents should not travel to western North Carolina to keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews. 
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts. 

    Florida

    Today, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    In Florida, FEMA has received over 85,000 applications for assistance and has provided more than $4.8 million to survivors. 

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting either debris assessments or water/wastewater assessments across seven counties. 

    The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. Sixteen shelters remain open with over 500 occupants. 

    The Salvation Army has 29 active mobile feeding units serving meals and distributing supplies in nine counties. 

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions. 

    Georgia

    Vice President Harris will visit Richmond County today to survey damage and meet with the community. As of today, more than 60% of originally reported power outages have been restored.

    In Georgia, FEMA has received over 60,000 applications for assistance. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    The Salvation Army has 26 active mobile feeding units providing meals and support to 10 counties in the affected areas. 

    The American Red Cross is conducting direct emergency feeding and working with feeding partners to provide distribution in support of partner production. One new shelter opened yesterday, totaling 8 shelters with over 500 occupants. 

    Team Rubicon continues route clearance operations in Ray City. 

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene.

    South Carolina

    Today, Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will begin canvassing impacted communities across the state, meeting survivors where they are, to register for FEMA assistance. 

    As of today, more than half of originally reported power outages have been restored, including all Trauma 1-level hospitals. 

    In South Carolina, FEMA has received over 70,000 applications and distributed more than $4.4 million to survivors. 

    The state has established a Mass Feeding Task Force to include multiple voluntary agencies. FEMA is supporting the state’s feeding mission with Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water. 

    Information for Residents: 

    • Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133.
    • Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.

    Virginia 

    Last night, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the commonwealth. 

    Residents in Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe counties and the independent city of Galax can begin applying for assistance today. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

    Damage assessments are continuing in other areas and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

    Tennessee

    In Tennessee, shelter and mass feeding operations are ongoing. The Salvation Army has provided over 250 meals, 60 snacks and more than 180 beverages to survivors. 

    Eight shelters remain open with decreasing populations, as people are able to safely return home. 

    Power and cellular restoration continues to improve. Now less than 0.2% of customers are without power and less than 15% of cellular sites are down. As of today, there are no counties with 50% or more cell sites out.

    Information for Residents

    • Residents can call 1-800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to relay as much information as possible including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts. 
    • Counties have started establishing donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photo and Video Chronology — Annual Kīlauea GPS Campaign Survey

    Source: US Geological Survey

    HVO scientists are conducting the annual Kīlauea GPS campaign. During the survey, GPS instruments are deployed at established benchmarks so that their recorded positions can be compared with those from previous years to discern subtle patterns of ground deformation associated with volcanic activity.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten Statement on Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    October 02, 2024

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has released the following statement:

    “My heart breaks for those who tragically lost their lives to Hurricane Helene. My thoughts are with their families and friends as they try to make sense of it all. I grieve as well for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods to the storm. The routines of our daily lives, whether at our homes, schools, workplaces, or neighborhoods, can be thrown into turmoil in a second. We should never take the pleasures of a normal day for granted.

    “Our primary task now is to help our fellow Americans in need. For those of us in Congress, knowing that the short-term spending bill we passed last week won’t cover all of FEMA’s costs from this storm, we must promptly address this issue. Further, Congress has an obligation to immediately start working to mitigate the underlying causes and protect people from future risks.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill Increasing Public Transparency and Accountability into Corporate Criminal Settlement Agreements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act, bipartisan legislation to increase public transparency and accountability by allowing courts to consider the public interest in approving corporate criminal settlement agreements that don’t involve a conviction. The bipartisan bill will also provide more prosecutorial tools to combat corporate criminal actors by extending statutes of limitations and requiring more cooperation by wrongdoers in order to receive a reduction in punishment. 
    In recent years, the country has seen a rise in deferred and non-prosecution agreements—which allow corporations to resolve criminal liability without a conviction in exchange for fines or other smaller punishments. Yet, the FBI estimates the annual cost of corporate crime —$300 billion—is 20 times greater than the cost of street crime. At least 40 Fortune 500 companies have received a deferred and non-prosecution agreement, including recently Citigroup, Boeing, and Monsanto. 
    “All wrongdoers should be held accountable for their actions—plain and simple. Yet federal prosecution of white-collar crimes has fallen to record lows in recent years, making it easier for ultra-wealthy executives to game the system and avoid responsibility when they hurt hardworking people. It’s also making it harder for the victims of corporate crimes to get justice, and that’s unacceptable,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will ensure a level playing field and provide needed accountability.”  
    “More and more big businesses are receiving a slap on the wrist by the DOJ for corporate misbehavior, allowing corporations to skirt litigation fees while incentivizing repeated offenses. This bipartisan legislation has the teeth to hold Corporate America accountable and would crack down on DOJ’s sweetheart deals,” said Senator Hawley. 
    In order to ensure public accountability for corporate wrongdoing in our judicial system, the Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act would: 

    Require more judicial scrutiny of deferred or non-prosecution agreements to ensure these agreements are in the public’s interest. 
    Require corporations placed in one of these agreements or on probation to use effective compliance monitoring instead of skirting monitoring, as in the case of Boeing’s recent agreement. 
    Require federal agencies keep a public list and copy of these deferred and non-prosecution agreements they enter so the public can see the contents of them. 
    Extend all statutes of limitations related to corporate criminal offenses by five years to provide prosecutors more time to bring complex cases. 
    Redefine substantial assistance for a sentencing reduction in the context of corporate criminal offenders to require actual assistance in identifying and prosecuting individual bad actors within a corporation. 

    The Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act is endorsed by Professor Brad Garrett, author of Too Big to Jail. 
    Learn more about the Hold Corporate Criminals Accountable Act. 
    Read the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: DOJ Secures Agreement with MD State Police to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination in Hiring

    Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)

    The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to resolve the United States’ claims that MDSP’s hiring process for state troopers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the United States alleges that MDSP uses a written test that discriminates against Black candidates and a physical fitness test that discriminates against female candidates. The agreement must still be approved by a federal judge.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoxawmtrGAo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act Signed into Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, announced that her bipartisan Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Reauthorization Act, which she co-authored with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), has been signed into law. The legislation will extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. This funding from the the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) supports rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic.

    “It is vital that Americans who live in rural parts of Maine and across the country have access to lifesaving emergency medical services, which is why I have long advocated for funding to support access to quality rural health care,” said Senator Collins. “I thank my colleagues for supporting this critical bipartisan legislation that will help to alleviate staffing shortages, upgrade training and equipment, and ultimately boost response times when seconds count. This program will continue to make a real difference for recruiting and retaining EMS personnel in Maine’s rural communities.”

    The bipartisan SIREN Act was initially signed into law in 2018 as part of the Farm Bill. Since then, Senators Collins and Durbin have led the appropriations effort to grow the program from $5 million annually to $11.5 million this year, resulting in a total of $40 million in grants nationwide to 42 states. The SIREN Act has resulted in new funds to rural EMS/fire agencies in Maine, most recently for the Brooks Ambulance Service, MaineHealth, the Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service, and the United Ambulance Service.

    A decline in primary care and hospital service availability, workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, great distances between health care facilities, and low insurance reimbursement for transport and emergency treatment have all strained rural EMS agencies. At the same time, EMS agencies today are tasked with ever-greater responsibilities— preparing for natural and manmade disasters and bioterror threats, supporting the chronic and emergency care needs of an aging population, and responding on the front lines of the opioid epidemic.  These first responders are often the only health care providers in their area and face difficulty in personnel recruitment and retention, and securing expensive equipment.

    The SIREN Reauthorization Act is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Rural Health Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fire Protection Association.

    The complete text of the legislation can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins’ Two Bills to Combat Alzheimer’s Signed into Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, announced that two bipartisan bills she authored—the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA)—have been signed into law. These bills will cement and build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease.

    “We have made tremendous progress in recent years to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which holds great promise to end this disease that has had a devastating effect on millions of Americans and their families,” said Senator Collins, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “These two bills will maintain our momentum and make sure that we do not take our foot off the pedal just as our investments in basic research are beginning to translate into potential new treatments. We must not let Alzheimer’s to be one of the defining diseases of our children’s generation as it has ours.”

    “The bipartisan NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act being signed into law today represents a major step forward in the fight against this devastating disease,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer and AIM president. “On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, thank you to Sen. Collins for your continued, outstanding leadership in advancing these critical bills through the legislative process and getting them signed into law today. Together they will build on the progress made in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia for years to come.”

    “With the bipartisan NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act being signed into law, our nation has renewed its commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia,” said Drew Wyman, executive director, Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter. “Thank you to Sen. Collins for your leadership in introducing and advancing these pivotal bills, and for your longstanding dedication to the Alzheimer’s community in Maine and across the nation.”

    “These two bills are incredibly important to the work we are doing to end the scourge of Alzheimer’s,” said George Vradenburg, chair and co-founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “By reinforcing our national commitment to fighting this crisis and requiring accountability for every federal dollar spent, these bills help ensure that our country will keep its foot on the gas to stop this disease. We look forward to working with Health and Human Services on establishing new national goals for 2035 and engaging the business community in those conversations so we can address the enormous economic impact of Alzheimer’s. We’re also grateful for the leadership of Senators Collins, Markey, Warner, and Capito and for every member of the Senate who joined them in getting these bills across the finish line.”

    More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s costs our nation an astonishing $360 billion per year, including $231 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. If we continue along this trajectory, Alzheimer’s is projected to claim the minds of 13.8 million seniors by 2060 and nearly surpass $1 trillion in annual costs by 2050. In 2022, family caregivers provided 18 billion hours of unpaid care for loved ones with dementia.

    In 2011, Senator Susan Collins authored the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) with then-Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN).  NAPA convened a panel of experts, who created a coordinated strategic national plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025. The law was set to expire and needed to be reauthorized to ensure that research investments remain coordinated, and their impact maximized.

    The NAPA Reauthorization Act will:

    • Reauthorize NAPA through 2035 and modernize the legislation to reflect strides that have been made to understand the disease, such as including a new focus on promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors.
    • Update language in recognition of the need to include underserved populations, including individuals with Down syndrome, who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s as they age.

    This bill is endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and LuMind IDSC Foundation.

    The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act will:

    • Continue through 2035 a requirement that the Director of the National Institutes of Health submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals.
      • Only two other areas of biomedical research – cancer and HIV/AIDS – have been the subject of special budget development aimed at speeding discovery.

    Senator Collins authored the NAPA Reauthorization Act with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). Both bills are cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

    The NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act are endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

    The complete text of the NAPA Reauthorization Act can be read here.

    The complete text of the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Drumheller Institution inmate dies

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    On February 26, 2024, Abdirahman Mahamed, an inmate at Drumheller Institution, died while in our custody.

    February 27, 2024 – Drumheller, Alberta – Correctional Service Canada

    On February 26, 2024, Abdirahman Mahamed, an inmate at Drumheller Institution, died while in our custody.

    At the time of death, the person had been serving a sentence of 3 years and 4 months for possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition since May 5, 2023.

    The person’s relatives have been informed.

    As is always the case in the event of a death, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances of the incident. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.

    Roxane Braun Advisor, Media Relations and Community LiaisonRegional Administration – Prairies(306) 514-2203

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Increasing energy efficiency of Elizabeth Métis Settlement community hall will improve this local gathering place

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Press release

    Elizabeth Métis Settlement, Alberta, April 29, 2024 — Upgrades to the local community hall will make this gathering place better and more energy efficient thanks to an investment of nearly $250,000 from the federal government.

    Announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault and Elizabeth Métis Settlement President Kathy Lepine, this project will improve the settlement’s main community centre, where people come together for cultural, recreational and local activities throughout the year.

    Improvements are underway to the Community Hall, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintenance costs through boiler replacements, smart thermostats, low-flow fixtures, and LED and solar-powered lighting. The Community Hall at Elizabeth Métis Settlement is located in the centre of the community and is widely used by local residents as a gathering place for social activities and celebrations. The hall is a communal gathering place for youth and seniors. It features a stage for performances, a kitchen, a nursing station, outdoor play areas, and baseball diamonds. Improvements to this central hub for community members will enhance the quality of life for all members of Elizabeth Métis Settlement.

    The funding announced today by the federal government through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program aims to improve the places where Canadians work, learn, play, live, and gather by reducing pollution, reducing costs, and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green and other retrofits to existing public community buildings and new construction in underserved communities, these investments will help ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible, and have a long service life, while also helping Canada achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

    Quotes

    “Transforming recreational spaces into green and accessible places is important if we are to support Canadians. Energy efficiency in the Prairies is essential to the economic development of communities. By improving parts of the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, our government is working to create a better quality of life through investments that will last for generations to come.”

    The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The natural environment has always been an important aspect of Métis culture. The Elizabeth Métis Settlement is proud to be part of Canada’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On behalf of our people and future generations, we thank you for your work and the steps you have taken to keep our beautiful country clean, hee hee.”

    Kathy Lepine, President, Elizabeth Métis Settlement

    Quick Facts

    The federal government is investing $249,999 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, and the Elizabeth Métis Settlement is providing $39,719.

    These improvements should allow annual fuel savings of around 47.30% for the facility and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 79.30 tonnes.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and helping to build resilience to climate change.

    The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for modernization, repair or improvement work that promotes the environment and accessibility.

    At least 10 percent of the funds are allocated to projects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which includes Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    The application period for the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program is now closed.

    On December 18, 2023, the federal government launched the Prairie Green Economy Framework, which highlights the need for a collaborative, regional approach to sustainability, focused on strengthening the coordination of federal programs and initiatives with significant investments. The Framework is the first step in a journey that will bring together many stakeholders. PrairiesCan, the federal department responsible for diversifying the economy in Canada’s Prairies, is providing $100 million over three years to support projects aligned with priority areas identified by Prairie stakeholders to create a stronger, more sustainable and inclusive economy for the Prairie provinces and Canada.

    Infrastructure Canada supports the Prairie Green Economy Framework to encourage greater collaboration on investment opportunities, leverage additional funding and attract new investment to the Prairies to better meet their needs.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal Ahmed Manager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Deloris Courtepatte Project ManagerElizabeth Métis Settlement587-986 0020courtepatteconsulting@gmail.com

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Media Advisory: Strathcona County Infrastructure Announcement

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    Media Advisory

    Strathcona County, Alberta, February 1, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities; His Worship Rod Frank, Mayor of Strathcona County; and Jackie Clayton, Mayor of Grande Prairie.

    Date: Friday, February 2, 2024

    Time: 10 a.m. (MST)

    Location: Bethel Transit Terminal 650 Bethel Drive Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 2N4

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Micaal AhmedManager, CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities343-598-3920micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsInfrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll Free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Strathcona County – Communications780-410-6565news.inquiries@strathcona.ca

    Philip CooperDirector, CommunicationsCity of Grande Prairie780-876-5805pcooper@cityofgp.com

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen Statement on Iran’s Attack on Israel

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement in response to Iran’s direct attack on Israel and the escalating violence across the region:

    “Iran’s attack on Israel is a dangerous, reckless escalation that risks innocent lives in Israel and across the region. Through its terrorist proxies, Iran continues to try to destabilize the region and preserve its own authoritarian agenda.

    “Thanks to U.S.-supported Israeli defense systems, Iran’s attack on civilian populations was rebuffed.

    “The current conflict is on the verge of spiraling into all-out war, with the people of Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and other innocent civilians bearing the consequences of escalation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Meets Employees at CF Industries and Essential Federal Credit Union

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    BATON ROUGE – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) visited CF Industries’ ammonia production facility in Donaldsonville, and later the Essential Federal Credit Union in Baton Rouge. During both visits, he learned how Louisianans are supporting small businesses and both the local and global economies.

    At CF’s Donaldsonville Complex, Cassidy learned about its capability of producing nearly 8 million tons of nitrogen products for agricultural and industrial use. CF uses the facility’s access to the Mississippi River and other modes of transportation to ship its products to major crop-producing states in the interior of America. They also utilize ocean-going vessels to Europe, South America, and Asia. 
    CF is also working to produce green ammonia and sequester carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as it produces its products. Thanks to their efforts, they will capture and sequester up to 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from its Donaldsonville Complex by 2025. This is in line with Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provided $5.1 billion to invest in carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology.
    “CF Industries and its employees have done more than anyone else in the world to make clean products,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Efforts like this help put the United States at a competitive advantage. We need to do more of this to create more jobs and make a competitive economy.”

    CF’s Donaldsonville Complex supports 566 permanent employees and 640 contractors, generates $16.8 million in annual state and parish sales taxes, and provided $430 million to local suppliers last year. Cassidy was welcomed there by Mr. Morris Johnson, General Manager for the facility.
    “At CF Industries, our mission is to provide clean energy to feed and fuel the world sustainably,” said Mr. Johnson. “To achieve this mission, we are investing in the decarbonization of our network with significant projects underway right here in Ascension Parish at our Donaldsonville Complex, located in the heart of this community we’ve called home for nearly 60 years. We thank Senator Cassidy for his visit to our site and his work on behalf of Donaldsonville and Louisiana through forward-leading competitiveness, energy and trade policies.”

    Later, Cassidy visited the Essential Federal Credit Union, which was chartered in 1972 by a group of Dow Chemical employees and now has more than 46,000 members and $378 million in assets. Cassidy met with Essential’s employees, and also with executives from other local credit unions who discussed how they’re serving their members. He discussed his efforts to preserve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, make flood insurance rates affordable, and invest in high-speed broadband and water and sewer projects for Louisiana’s rural communities.
    “Our credit unions always know how their communities are doing, since people go to them to finance a house or a small business,” said Dr. Cassidy. “By making flood insurance affordable and investing in rural broadband, we can help more families buy a home or grow their business, which makes our credit unions stronger.”

    Cassidy participated in a roundtable with credit union directors from across Louisiana. He was welcomed by Mr. Anthony Ware, II, Director of Legislative Advocacy for the Louisiana Credit Union Association, of which the Essential Federal Credit Union is a member.
    “Thank you, Senator Cassidy, for taking the time to meet with the Louisiana Credit Union Association powered by Luminate, and visiting Essential Federal Credit Union today,” said Mr. Ware. “We truly appreciate you taking the time to hear from credit unions on the issues that are important to us and vital to helping Louisiana residents. We value your continued support of credit unions as we serve our members and strengthen our communities.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Adams Celebrates Congressional Award Recipients

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    CHARLOTTE – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) celebrated three recipients of the Congressional Award at her district office yesterday. The Congressional Award, established in 1979, recognizes high achievement in four categories, including physical fitness, community service, personal development, and expedition/exploration. 

    The three recipients of the award, high school students from Rep. Adams’ district, completed 100 hours of community service, 50 hours of personal development, 50 hours of physical fitness, and a 2-day exploration trip within a 7-month period. They are: 

    · Robert Lyda, Gold Award 

    · Ally Kryzalka, Gold Award 

    · Grace Maddox, Silver and Bronze Award 

    “It is an honor to celebrate students like Robert, Ally, and Grace, who demonstrate exceptional leadership and civic-mindedness and who show us all that the future is bright,” said Rep. Adams. “I look forward to what they accomplish for themselves, their families, their community, and our country.” 

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    Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Joins Sen. Rubio To Meet With Cedar Key Residents Impacted By Hurricane Helene

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    GAINESVILLE, FL — Congresswoman Kat Cammack and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) met with Cedar Key residents and homeowners who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Florida lawmakers met with members of the aquaculture industry to discuss the impact multiple hurricanes have had on the industry. 

    Senator Rubio and Representative Cammack meet with the Cedar Key community and Florida Chief Financial Officer Patronis.

    Congresswoman Cammack talks with Senator Rubio and state and local leaders before the tour begins.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sarbanes Statement on Iran’s Attack on Israel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Sarbanes (3rd District of Maryland)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03) released the following statement today regarding Iran’s recent attack on Israel:

    “I am grateful that Israel’s defenses succeeded in thwarting yesterday’s missile attack by Iran. This reinforces the critical importance of ongoing U.S. support for Israel’s security apparatus as well as careful coordination among Israel’s allies. I join President Biden and Vice President Harris in expressing solidarity with the Israeli people and commend the Administration for its continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflict in the region, avert civilian casualties and reestablish a framework for achieving peace and stability.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Escalating Violence in Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

    October 02, 2024

    Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding escalating violence in the Middle East:

    “I’m praying for the innocent civilians in harm’s way in Tel Aviv, and across Israel. I’m grateful that it appears relatively few were harmed by last night’s attack. The defense of innocent life must be the primary goal of U.S. foreign policy. 

    “We must ensure Israel has the defensive weapons it needs to defend its people from attacks from Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Defensive systems undoubtedly saved countless lives last night.  At the same time, to further supply the reckless Netanyahu government, which has shown little interest in de-escalation, with offensive weapons risks a large-scale regional war which the United States could quickly be drawn into. 

    “The American people don’t want to be drawn into a regional war in the Middle East. It’s time for the United States to show its leadership and demand an end to escalation of this conflict. For the sake of the lives of millions of people caught in the crossfire I implore President Biden to take action to prevent further escalation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: One year of war without rules leaves Gaza shattered News Oct 02, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    NEW YORK/JERUSALEM, October 2, 2024 — One year into the escalation of war in Gaza, the medical and humanitarian situation is catastrophic, said Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Israel’s all-out war and punishing siege have destroyed Gaza’s already fragile health system, repeatedly displaced people who have been forced into smaller and smaller areas, and choked off access to desperately needed food, water, and medicines. 

    On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched a horrific attack inside Israel, leaving 1,200 people dead and taking 251 people as hostages. In response, the Israeli military launched an assault on Gaza that has so far killed more than 41,500 people, wounded 96,000, and displaced approximately 1.9 million people. Violence has since surged in the West Bank, in Lebanon, and across the region. 

    Widespread destruction in Gaza following Israel bombardments on October 9, 2023.
    Palestine 2023 © MSF

    “This has been a year of unrelenting horror and violence against civilians, with no end in sight,” said Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA. “As this conflict spreads across the region, we repeat our urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This is the only way to stop the spiraling violence and bring lifesaving care to people who are struggling to survive.” 

    Medical needs of Palestinians in Gaza

    Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from war wounds, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and mental trauma while living in overcrowded and inhumane conditions. MSF medical staff have treated patients on a daily basis with wounds caused by bombings. People have extensive burns, crushed bones, and amputated limbs—all of which require intensive and long-term care that is not possible under current conditions. Since the escalation of war last October, MSF teams have treated more than 27,500 patients for violence-related injuries, with more than 80 percent of the wounds linked to shelling. 

    Our teams have been forced to perform surgeries without anesthesia, witness children die on hospital floors due to a lack of resources, and even treat their own colleagues and family members. Meanwhile, the health care system in Gaza has been systematically dismantled by Israeli forces.

    Dr. Amber Alayyan, MSF medical program manager

    “Israeli bombardments of densely populated areas have repeatedly caused injuries on a massive scale,” said Dr. Amber Alayyan, MSF medical program manager. “Our teams have been forced to perform surgeries without anesthesia, witness children die on hospital floors due to a lack of resources, and even treat their own colleagues and family members. Meanwhile, the health care system in Gaza has been systematically dismantled by Israeli forces.”

    Well before October 7, MSF was already treating people in Gaza suffering from the effects of Israel’s 17-year occupation, blockade, and recurrent attacks. Teams have cared for patients with life-altering physical injuries, severe burns, and mental health conditions.

    Attacks on health care leave few medical options

    As medical needs are growing exponentially, people’s options for care are shrinking. Israeli forces have committed widespread and systematic attacks on Gaza’s health care system and other vital civilian infrastructure. The health care system is now on the edge of collapse. Today, only 17 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional. Warring parties have conducted hostilities near medical facilities, endangering patients, caretakers, and medical staff. Six MSF colleagues have been killed. From October 2023, staff and patients from MSF have had to leave 14 different health structures, due to serious incidents and ongoing fighting. Each time a medical facility is evacuated, thousands of people lose access to lifesaving medical care. This will have consequences on people’s health, not just in the immediate term, but in the weeks and months to come.

    Destruction at Nasser Hospital following Israeli forces’ siege of the facility earlier this year. Palestine 2024 © Ben Milpas/MSF

    The lack of access to health care is compounded by the lack of humanitarian and medical supplies in Gaza. Israeli authorities have routinely imposed unclear, unpredictable criteria for authorizing the entry of supplies. Once supplies cross into the Gaza Strip, they often do not make it to their destination, due to an absence of safe and accessible roads, ongoing fighting, and looting of food and basic items. The first step in addressing this is for Israel to open vital land borders to ensure massive humanitarian and medical aid can reach those in need. The blockade on Gaza must end.  

    Displaced Palestinian children fill buckets from water during an MSF water distribution in Rafah’s Al Shaboura neighborhood. Water has been extremely scarce in Gaza since the start of the war due to Israel’s tightening of its blockade and restrictions.
    Palestine 2024 © MSF

    The US has a responsibility to ensure its support is not used to harm civilians 

    “For one year, Israel’s allies have continued to provide their military support to Israel, as children are killed en masse, tanks fire on deconflicted shelters, and fighter jets bomb so-called humanitarian zones,” said Chris Lockyear, MSF’s secretary general. “This has been accompanied by a consistent public narrative dehumanizing people in Gaza and failing to distinguish between military targets and civilian lives. The only way to stop the killing is with an immediate and sustained ceasefire.”

    Israel and Hamas, supported by their respective allies, have failed time and time again to implement a sustained ceasefire in Gaza. While the US led efforts in June to secure passage of a ceasefire resolution by the UN Security Council, it has vetoed previous resolutions brought by other Council members and continues to provide arms to Israel. Israel must immediately stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza and urgently facilitate the delivery of aid to alleviate suffering inside the Strip—and its allies must demand they do so. Under international norms and laws, civilians must be protected from violence and have the right to access humanitarian assistance, especially medical care. 

    As a leading ally of Israel, the US has a particular responsibility to ensure that its support is not used to kill and maim civilians, attack hospitals and health workers, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

    Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA

    “The US remains the leading provider of military and financial support to Israel, fueling the destruction of Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis,” Benoît said. “As a leading ally of Israel, the US has a particular responsibility to ensure that its support is not used to kill and maim civilians, attack hospitals and health workers, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza.”

    In Gaza, MSF is currently running medical activities in two hospitals, Al-Aqsa and Nasser Hospitals, eight health care facilities, and two field hospitals in Deir al-Balah. Field hospitals cannot replace the health care system that Israel has dismantled in Gaza. Since the beginning of the war, MSF teams have offered surgical support, wound care, physiotherapy, maternity and pediatric care, primary health care, vaccination, mental health services, and water distribution. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Press Release: Bill Signed: S.  1549

    Source: The White House

    On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the President signed into law:

    S. 1549, the “Congressional Budget Office Data Access Act,” which allows the Congressional Budget Office to obtain records of individuals from Federal agencies without prior written consent of the individual.

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    MIL OSI USA News –