Category: KB

MIL-OSI USA: Gosar Introduces Legislation to Sue Big Pharma for Vaccine Injuries

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Washington, D.C.  — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 9828, the End the Vaccine Carveout Act, a bill that would strip vaccine manufacturers of their unjust liability shields. This carveout has resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in profits for Big Pharma while leaving tens of thousands of people without the ability to seek legal justice and compensation for injuries caused by vaccines.

“Although federal bureaucrats and Big Pharma insist that vaccines are safe, there is an unfortunate lack of science regarding the safety of vaccines.  For example, a review of 12,000 scientific papers by the Institute of Medicine published in 2012 found that 98% of injuries studied were either caused by or may have been caused by a vaccine. Another government study found that while vaccines caused injuries in 10 percent of cases, only one percent get reported, meaning those injured by vaccines are vastly undercounted.

Furthermore, according to the Center for Disease Control’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, nearly 20,000 Americans were reported as having been killed to date by a COVID-19 vaccine, equating to one death for every 14,000 people vaccinated, much higher than the one in a million deaths that is normally cited for dangerous vaccines.

Government bureaucrats and scientists responsible for approving vaccines are in bed with Big Pharma, often owning pharmaceutical stocks, serving as consultants and receiving lucrative contracts from pharmaceutical companies that pressure them to produce favorable results which is in direct violation of federal law.

Worse, many scientists and researchers in government agencies develop patents for vaccines that are approved by the very agencies they work for, creating a conflict of interest and raising serious questions about the impartiality of their decisions.

Under current law, it is nearly impossible to hold vaccine manufacturers liable for injuries caused by vaccines due to a 1986 law that unfairly created a special immunity carveout for Big Pharma, making it very difficult for vaccine-injured victims to win in a court of law.

My legislation strips away current immunity provisions unfairly shielding Big Pharma from the harms caused by their products and allows those injured by vaccines to pursue a civil lawsuit in state or federal court. Big Pharma doesn’t deserve a get-out-of-jail-free card for injuries caused by their harmful vaccines,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Children’s Health Defense Founder and Chairman of the Board on Leave Robert F. Kennedy Jr, said: “The four American vaccine makers are criminal enterprises that have paid tens of billions in criminal penalties over the past decade. By freeing them from liability for negligence, the 1986 statute removed any incentive for these companies to make safe products. If we want safe and effective vaccines, we need to end the liability shield.”

Children’s Health Defense President Mary Holland added: “Thank you to Congressman Gosar for introducing this historic and urgently needed legislation. For over 35 years, parents of children injured and killed by government-recommended vaccines have been left with no meaningful redress — only a complex, sham compensation program that pits grieving families against the government, while Big Pharma enjoys no liability. During that same time, chronic health conditions in children – autism, ADHD, severe allergies, asthma – have skyrocketed. This legislation will help to end Big Pharma’s reign over government. The corrupt public-private partnership of the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act has suppressed science, stacked the deck against families, subverted the democratic marketplace of checks and balances, and removed citizens’ rights to a trial by jury. Americans deserve better.”

Background:

In 1986, Congress passed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NVCIA), which shields vaccine manufacturers from the harm caused by their products, making it almost impossible for a person injured by a vaccine to win in court. The plaintiff must prove that the vaccine manufacturer deliberately “[withheld] information relating to the safety or efficacy of the vaccine,” engaged in “criminal or illegal activity relating to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines,” or “by clear and convincing evidence… failed to exercise due care.” Satisfying these requirements is practically an impossibility.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are tasked with approving vaccines. Sadly, there exists a massive conflict of interest, since the scientists who work at these agencies license the patents to vaccine manufacturers and, in so doing, earn up to $150,000 in royalties. Furthermore, voting members on the boards that advise the CDC and the NIH owned stocks in vaccine manufacturers, engaged in contract work for vaccine manufacturers, and received grants from vaccine manufacturers.

Current cosponsors (30):

Representatives Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Josh Brecheen, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Mike Collins, Eli Crane, Warren Davidson, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Harriet Hageman, Andy Harris, Clay Higgins, Ronny Jackson, Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace, Thomas Massie, Mary E. Miller, Cory Mills, Barry Moore, Troy E. Nehls, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Bill Posey, Chip Roy, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, Randy K. Weber Sr.

Outside Group Support:

American Family Project, Children’s Health Defense, React19

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General remarks at High-level Ministerial Meeting in Support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) [as delivered]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

I thank the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Sweden for co-chairing this gathering and for their continued leadership in the support for UNRWA. I also thank all of you here today for your solidarity with Palestine Refugees.

When we met one year ago, I spoke about putting ourselves in the shoes of Palestinians in Gaza. Of imagining what life must be like.

I ended my remarks one year ago by saying “This is the most dramatic humanitarian problem associated with the riskiest explosive potential.”

This was just days before the horrors of October 7th.

Now, almost one year since that day, the situation for Palestinians in Gaza is beyond imagination.

It has been said that “The United Nations was not created to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell.”

Unfortunately, neither the United Nations nor anyone else that might have the power to do it was able to save the people of Gaza from hell.

We have failed the people of Gaza.

They are in a living hell that somehow gets even worse by the day.

Over 41,000 people have been reported killed and more than 90,000 wounded, many with life-changing and lifelong injuries. The majority are women and children.

Two million Palestinians are now crammed into a space the size of the Shanghai International Airport. Existing – not living, but existing – among lakes of sewage, piles of rubbish and mountains of rubble.

The only certainty they have is that tomorrow will be worse.

Yet if there is any outpost of hope in this hellscape, it is UNRWA.

Even though UNRWA – as we all know – has not been spared.

On the human level – 222 UNRWA colleagues have been killed, many together with entire families, several in the line of duty. This is the highest death toll in UN history.

I ask you – all of you – to think for a moment in the different entities that you preside [over], or to which you belong, what would be the impact if 222 members would have been killed and even after that having to go with their duties to save the people of Palestine.

UNRWA personnel have been attacked repeatedly while going about their work. Women and men are displaced, shot at, and subjected to violent protests, detained by Israeli security forces, reporting mistreatment and torture.

UNRWA has not been spared on the operational level – the humanitarian response in Gaza is being strangled.

Protection and deconfliction mechanisms for humanitarian aid deliveries have failed. Attempts to evict UNRWA from its headquarters in East Jerusalem continue.

And UNRWA has not been spared on the political level. This includes systematic disinformation campaigns that discredit the agency’s lifelong work.

Meanwhile draft legislation in the Israeli parliament seeks to label the Agency a terrorist organization and to make any activity by UNRWA on Israeli territory illegal.

In the face of the catastrophic conditions, UNRWA perseveres.

This is a tribute to the resilience of the women and men of UNRWA, and a tribute to your support.

Excellencies,

I have full confidence in UNRWA’s continued commitment to upholding the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and humanity and to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review by Catherine Colonna.

Member States are showing that same confidence.

Virtually all donors have reversed their funding suspensions. 123 countries have signed up to the declaration on shared commitments to UNRWA.

This underscores the consensus that UNRWA’s role across the occupied West Bank and the region is vital.

Friends,

There is no alternative to UNRWA.

Now is the time to work on all fronts to intensify support for the agency’s vital mission.

Support with funding that is sufficient, predictable and flexible.

Of course, we all know that UNRWA is not a sustainable long-term solution to the plight of Palestine Refugees. It was never meant to be.

That is why we keep pressing for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages and a long-term political solution ending the occupation and leading to 2 states living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital.

But until that moment, UNRWA remains indispensable.

I urge your full support.

Help us to save UNRWA as it works to save and serve Palestine refugees.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.

“Democrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Let’s tackle the climate crisis. Let’s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let’s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.”

“Too many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.”

“Over the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes—and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.). “Yet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It’s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.”

“Republicans’ dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Migration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it’s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.”

“Climate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Stricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.”

“It’s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). “From combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.”

Specifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that:
- addresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;
- ensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and
- affirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.
Over the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.

The resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07).

It is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y México negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War.

“This resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants’ lives take precedence over politics,” said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. “The vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone’s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.”

“We need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that’s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,” said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. “This new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that — from arms sales to climate policy and beyond — our government doesn’t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.”

“For too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes — including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,” said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the years about ‘root causes’ of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,” said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “This groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate ‘root causes’ including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we’re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.”

“Rather than ‘blaming the victims’—immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,” Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “Forced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.”

“To design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question – why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. “A human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.”

Background:

The resolution text can be found here.

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security, Immigration

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK is working with partners around the world to prevent global health threats like AMR: UK statement at the UN General Assembly

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Statement by the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance

Location:

United Nations, New York

Delivered on:

26 September 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The world faces tremendous challenges, so many of which are connected. Connected challenges require of course connected solutions.

And the new UK government is determined to renew relationships with allies, especially in the Global South, and to modernise our approach to development, rooted in a spirit of genuine partnership.

We cannot hope to achieve any of our development goals without being able to prevent global health threats like AMR which, unless we act, will take almost 40 million lives by 2050.

That is what we learnt from COVID, and we’re determined to play our role in addressing the lessons of the last pandemic.

Central to that will be tackling the injustice of inequitable access.

New UK-funded data shows that 92 million lives – mainly of course in Global South countries – will be lost by 2050 due to a lack of access to both health care and to antibiotics.

This is intolerable and it must not continue.

This ambitious Political Declaration shows that we can achieve so much when we work together

Updates to this page

Published 26 September 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh to provide boost in funding to combat poverty and inequality

Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

Councillors have today agreed to invest £100,000 towards the Regenerative Futures Fund (RFF), a new multi-million-pound initiative to make Edinburgh a fairer place to live.

Acting on the Capital’s pledge to take all the actions necessary to eradicate poverty in Edinburgh, the Council’s support will help kickstart an ambitious £5m to £10m fundraising plan. With every £1 contributed by the Council, the Regenerative Futures Fund expects to leverage £5 to £10 from other sources of funding, significantly boosting the support available for community projects across the Capital.

The money will be used to support between 10 to 15 community organisations over the next decade, providing them with stable, long-term funding of up to £100,000 per year to create sustainable solutions that will address the root causes of poverty and inequality in Edinburgh.

It also builds on commitments made by the Council in February as part of its budget-setting exercise to prioritise poverty fighting projects, including £500,000 towards child poverty reduction, £100,000 for a Youth and Community Welfare Transition Fund, £25,000 to support the Big Hoose project which helps families experiencing hardship with household items, alongside close to £3m towards the city’s homelessness spend.

Council Leader Cammy Day said:

I’m delighted that we’ve had support from Councillors to make this investment into the future fairness of our city.

Back in 2020 Edinburgh became the first UK city to set a target date to end poverty and we remain committed to doing everything we can. We know that this is not an easy task but we must be ambitious and drive the change that is so greatly needed.

The creation of the RFF not only directly responds to our poverty fighting goals, it answers the calls we heard loud and clear from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission: we need a city-wide partnership fund to help us end poverty together.

Today’s decision is a promise to work hand-in-hand with those who understand poverty firsthand, ensuring that their voices help us towards Edinburgh’s solutions.

Leah Black, Head of Regenerative Futures Fund, Foundation Scotland said:

This is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and sustainable Edinburgh.

The Regenerative Futures Fund is driven by the principle of shifting decision-making power to those most impacted by poverty, allowing communities to lead initiatives based on their own experiences and insights.

We’ve spent close to two years designing a scheme co-created by a diverse range of people including those with lived experience of poverty and I’m excited to see how it will empower our communities to effect real change in the lives of those living in poverty.

An annual progress report on the program will be provided to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in Autumn 2025.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New public space celebrates Leicester’s diverse communities

Source: City of Leicester

A NEW and improved public space that celebrates Leicester’s diverse communities has been officially opened by the Lord Mayor.

New commemorative paving has been unveiled at the Sculptural Gateway on Belgrave Circle. The Sculptural Gateway is a striking piece of artwork by Anuradha Patel, that was installed last year to celebrate the arrival of Ugandan Asians to Leicester in 1972.

The granite paving is designed to complement the sculpture by celebrating the journeys made by many different communities to Leicester. Engraved into it are the names of people who have contributed towards the project.

A booklet marking the anniversary has been published to accompany the launch of the new space. Sculptural Gateway: A Community Collaboration Celebrating 50 Years of Ugandan Asian Migration to Leicester is available for free from Belgrave Library and Visit Leicester.

Community participation was a key element of the artwork’s development. Throughout the project, Leicester Museums and Galleries held several arts engagement events, gathering information and detail from people’s migratory stories. They also connected with people through last year’s Rebuilding Lives exhibition, which heard the stories of people fleeing Uganda and seeking refuge in Leicester, exploring the impact they and their families have had on all aspects of the modern city of Leicester.

To mark the official opening of the space, people were invited to write messages about their journeys to Leicester on parcel tags. Midlands-based artist Anuradha Patel, who created the sculpture, talked about her inspiration, while Jaffer Kapasi, a local businessman and Honorary Consul General of Uganda, spoke about experiences of migration.

Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Bhupen Dave, was born and educated in Uganda before coming to the UK in 1972 with his parents. He said: “I’m delighted to be opening this new public space. As well as providing a gateway to the Golden Mile, it celebrates the tremendous positive impact that has been made on our city by all of the diverse communities that have travelled here, and now call Leicester home.

“This is a space that has been designed by and for Leicester communities. It’s a powerful message of unity and shows that we are proud of our culturally diverse city.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Latest Storm Ciaran and Storm Babet flood reports published 26 September 2024 Latest Storm Ciaran and Storm Babet flood reports published for Newport, East Cowes and Ryde

Source: Aisle of Wight

Official reports examining the severe flooding that affected Newport, East Cowes and Ryde last autumn are now available to read online.

Roads, homes and businesses were submerged on the Island as a result of Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran in October and November 2023.

At least 317 properties experienced flooding during unprecedented rainfall.

In response, the Isle of Wight Council commissioned a series of independent investigations to better understand the causes and any factors that may have influenced the severity of the flooding.

The in-depth studies, known as ‘Section 19 flood investigation reports’, involved collecting information from those directly affected by the flooding, as well as private bodies with flood management responsibilities.

Three reports have been published today (Wednesday) on the council’s website.

A further Section 19 report for Brading and an addendum for Binstead will be published next month with a report for Cowes to follow later in 2024.

The council will now consider all the recommendations, taking into account how many can be delivered and in what timescales given the resource and cost implications.

Some actions will require the council to work closely with key stakeholders and landowners, including Island Roads, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.

Developing a Community Flood Plan and investigating opportunities for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to manage storm water are among eight recommendations proposed for Newport.

At least 56 properties suffered internal flooding in the county town with Gunville being one of the worst affected areas.

In addition to improved flood maps and enhanced monitoring, the report recommends carrying out an investigation into the condition and capacity of the culvert under Arthur Moody Close and watercourse at Ash Lane.

Seven recommendations have been put forward for East Cowes including establishing a flood action group and developing a Community Flood Plan.

Other priorities include replacing or improving the existing tidal outfall and carrying out feasibility studies in providing extra surface water drainage capacity and increasing the capacity of the watercourse at Church Path.

Improved gully and highway drainage maintenance is also being recommended.

The latest Monktonmead report is an addendum to a previous Section 19 report published following flooding in 2021.

At least 107 properties were flooded during Storm Babet — estimated to have been a one in 144 and and one in 190 year event.

The report considers the incident response as well as the actions undertaken following the 2021 and 2023 floods and makes a number of recommendations around property flood resilience, surface water drainage, surface water management and community flood preparedness.

It also notes the detailed review currently being undertaken by the Environment Agency into the causes of the flooding last October and the operation of the Monktonmead Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Councillor Karen Lucioni, Cabinet member for community protection, said: “It was essential that we took action to properly look into the causes and impacts of the flooding that occurred last year. Many residents were adversely affected and much distress and damage to properties resulted.

“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this work as their input has proved invaluable as we now look to take forward potential options to take preventative steps and to mitigate the risk of similar flooding occurring in the future.

“I would also like to thank residents for their patience while these reports have been prepared.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Introduces Sweeping Court Reforms to Restore Public Trust as Supreme Court Faces Legitimacy Crisis
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
September 26, 2024

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced the introduction of new legislation to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency to improve public trust in America’s courts, and modernize the courts to ensure greater access to justice for more Americans.

In the wake of recent rulings upending decades of precedent and evidence of unethical behavior, Wyden’s Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act would modernize the courts by expanding the Supreme Court to 15 justices over three presidential terms, prevent political inaction from bottling up nominations to the Supreme Court, and restore appropriate deference to the legislative branch by requiring a supermajority to overturn acts of Congress, among other modernizing provisions to improve access to justice.

The bill would also implement much-needed reforms to bring more accountability to the Supreme Court recusal process and improve transparency around potential financial conflicts and other unethical behavior.

“The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust,” Wyden said. “More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.”

The bill modernizes the federal judiciary by:

Expanding the Supreme Court to 15 justices.

Establishing a new supermajority threshold to overturn acts of Congress on a constitutional basis at both the Supreme Court and Circuit Court level.

Requiring that relief granted by lower courts in cases seeking to invalidate an act of Congress expire upon the issuing date of an opinion by the Supreme Court.

Establishing a new process for Supreme Court nominations that are not reported out of committee within 180 calendar days to be automatically placed on the Senate calendar.

Expanding the number of circuit courts to 15 and returning to the practice of assigning one Supreme Court justice to oversee each circuit.

Expanding the number of circuits by splitting the Ninth Circuit and establishing a new Southwestern Circuit.

Expanding the number of Circuit Court and District Court judgeships to improve access to justice.

The bill increases transparency to improve public trust by:

Requiring all justices to consider recusal motions and make their written opinions publically available. Any justice would be recused from a case upon the affirmative vote of the justices.

Requiring the public disclosure of how each justice voted for any case within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Requiring the IRS to initiate an audit of each justice’s income tax return (and any amended return) as quickly as practicable after it is filed. Within 90 days of filing, the IRS would be required to publicly release the returns and provide an update on the status of the audit. Every 180 days thereafter, the IRS must update the public on the status of the audit. It will also release the ultimate findings of the audit.

Requiring those nominated to the Court to include their most recent three years of tax returns in their publicly-available financial disclosure filings. In the case that a nominee does not disclose the tax returns within 15 days after nomination, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts would be instructed to obtain the tax returns from the Secretary of the Treasury and make them public. The Secretary of the Treasury is instructed to redact certain personal identity information.

A one-pager summarizing the bill is here.

A section-by-section of the legislative text is here.

The legislative text is here.

In July, as part of his ongoing efforts to reform and restore fairness to our country’s judicial system, Wyden introduced legislation to restore much-needed checks on Donald Trump’s radical right-wing Supreme Court by providing Congress with new authority to overturn judicial decisions that clearly undermine the congressional intent of laws following the Loper Bright decision. He also also introduced legislation to bring an end to the controversial practice of “judge shopping,” in which plaintiffs cherry-pick judges they know will hand down favorable rulings, leading to sweeping rulings that wield undue power over millions of Americans.
MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Backs Legislation to Establish Program Supporting Students’ Basic Needs

US Senate News:

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

September 26, 2024

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is cosponsoring legislation that would help ensure college students in Oregon and nationwide can meet their basic needs while pursuing their education.

The Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act aims to combat the basic needs crisis by allocating funding to help students access nutritious food, safe and secure housing, mental and physical health care, high-quality and affordable child care, technology, transportation, personal hygiene, and other necessities. The bill also directs the federal government to streamline data sharing across agencies to help qualifying students access aid.

“Way too often, young people are forced to make the impossible choice of affording their basic needs or pursuing their educational dreams,” Wyden said. “No student should ever have to question if they’ll have a roof over their heads, food to eat, and the ability to go to the doctor when they need to. This legislation is a big step towards addressing that struggle by providing grant money and resources so they can stay in school and have what they need to thrive.”

A 2024 Government Accountability Office report found that in 2020, nearly 3.8 million college students faced food insecurity, and almost 60 percent of those likely eligible were not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The introduction comes as House Republicans push to cut funding for essential health and education programs. Among the targeted areas is the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program, a crucial part of the BASIC Act. This legislation is designed to provide students with the support they need, ensuring their basic needs are met while pursuing higher education. Without this critical funding, many students could face additional barriers to completing their degrees and achieving economic mobility.

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., are leading the bill in the Senate. Along with Wyden, the BASIC Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Representative Norma J. Torres, D-Calif., led the introduction of the BASIC Act in the House.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Council on Education, California Community Colleges, Communities for Our Colleges, Complete College America, the Community Food Bank of San Benito County, Excelencia in Education, Food for People, Generation Hope, Hunger Free America Inc., Institute of Higher Education Policy, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Michelson Center for Public Policy, National College Attainment Network, New America, Higher Education Policy Program, Nourish California, Ohio Association of Foodbanks, One Family, SchoolHouse Connection, Swipe Out Hunger, Today’s Students Coalition, the California State University, University of California, University of California Student Association, and Waukegan to College.

The text of the bill is here.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: PASSED: Senators Reverend Warnock, Hyde-Smith Pass Annual Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Gold Star Families and Remembering Fallen Servicemembers

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

PASSED: Senators Reverend Warnock, Hyde-Smith Pass Annual Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Gold Star Families and Remembering Fallen Servicemembers

Bipartisan Gold Star Families Remembrance Week resolution sets September 22-28 to honor families of the fallen
This is the fourth year the Senators have collaborated on this resolution to honor the contributions and sacrifices of the families of America’s fallen servicemembers
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I am proud to have once again worked with Senator Hyde-Smith to recognize Gold Star Families Remembrance Week and honor the families of the servicemembers who sacrificed everything to keep our country safe. As the proud son of a veteran, I’ll always be a champion for our servicemembers, veterans and Gold Star families”
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution led by Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) to establish September 22-28, 2024, as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. The resolution calls for a dedicated week of national recognition and tribute to honor the profound sacrifices made by the families of U.S. military servicemembers who have given their lives in service to our country. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has long supported this legislation. This is the fourth year the Senators have collaborated on this resolution to honor the contributions and sacrifices of the families of America’s fallen servicemembers
“Our nation is forever indebted to the brave servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms. And their families, who also sacrificed immensely, deserve our nation’s recognition and steadfast support,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I am proud to have once again worked with Senator Hyde-Smith to recognize Gold Star Families Remembrance Week and honor the families of the servicemembers who sacrificed everything to keep our country safe. As the proud son of a veteran, I’ll always be a champion for our servicemembers, veterans and Gold Star families.”
“Gold Star families embody patriotism at its greatest depths, having endured the loss of a loved one in service to our country. Their pain is a solemn reminder of the price of freedom,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “It is our duty as Americans to honor their bravery and the unparalleled sacrifices made for our nation, and I am proud to have worked with Senator Warnock to pass this bipartisan resolution.”
“The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) appreciates Senators Hyde-Smith and Warnock for introducing the 2024 Gold Star Families Resolution to designate a full week to honor all of our nation’s Gold Star families,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. “Memorial Day exists to honor the fallen, but Gold Star Families Remembrance Week provides the opportunity to honor surviving military families themselves for their service and sacrifice for our nation.”
The Gold Star Families Remembrance Week resolution recognizes the loss and sacrifices of families in support of fallen members of the Armed Forces, as well as veterans. It encourages Americans to perform acts of community service and good will to honor these families. Commemoration of Gold Star Families Remembrance Week serves as a prelude to Gold Star Mother’s Day, which has been observed by presidential proclamation since 1936 on the last Sunday of September. Until the passage of Hyde-Smith’s 2018 resolution, there was no formal recognition on a national level of the sacrifices made by families of the fallen.
Read a copy of the resolution HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), co-founder of the Global Migration Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.

“Democrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Let’s tackle the climate crisis. Let’s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let’s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.”

“Too many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.”

“Over the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes—and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.). “Yet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It’s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.”

“Republicans’ dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Migration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it’s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.”

“Climate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Stricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.”

“It’s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). “From combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.”

Specifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that:
- addresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;
- ensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and
- affirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.
Over the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.

The resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07).

It is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y México negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War.

“This resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants’ lives take precedence over politics,” saidJuliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. “The vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone’s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.”

“We need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that’s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,” said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. “This new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that — from arms sales to climate policy and beyond — our government doesn’t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.”

“For too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes — including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,” said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the years about ‘root causes’ of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,” said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “This groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate ‘root causes’ including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we’re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.”

“Rather than ‘blaming the victims’—immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,” Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “Forced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.”

“To design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question – why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. “A human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.”

Background:

The resolution text can be found here.

###

Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren Criticizes Banking Regulators’ Inaction on NYCB’s “Systemic Failings” and Threats to Banking and Financial Stability

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
September 26, 2024
Questions Heads of OCC, Federal Reserve on “Dereliction of Duty” Amid Pattern of Oversight Failures
“Given the ongoing threats from regional bank failures, I am deeply troubled by your …failure to answer our previous questions—and your inability or unwillingness to rein in unruly banks …If the OCC has indeed identified ‘systemic failings’ at NYCB, the agency must impose stronger controls on the bank.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent letters to Michael Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed), with renewed concern that the OCC and the Fed could allow New York Community Bank (NYCB) to escape regulatory oversight despite identifying “systemic failings” in the bank’s operation and management. She also calls for the OCC to consider implementing an Individual Minimum Capital Ratio (IMCR) given NYCB’s history and the risks it poses to the U.S. financial system.
“Allowing NYCB to evade penalties under these circumstances would be a dereliction of duty and would represent a failure by the OCC and the Fed to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system,” wrote Senator Warren.
The OCC’s record of failure with NYCB is now over three years old. The current threats to NYCB’s viability reflect a pattern of oversight failures by the OCC, which rubber-stamped two risky mergers with Flagstar Bank and Signature Bank in a six month period. Following those mergers, NYCB teetered near failure as the OCC neglected to address the risks associated with the bank’s rapid growth until it was too late.
“The OCC, as NYCB’s regulator, is tasked with overseeing NYCB’s risk management and yet did not raise flags related to NYCB’s internal struggles,” Senator Warren wrote. “On the brink of failure, NYCB accepted a capital infusion from private equity firms spearheaded by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who tapped fellow Trump-era financial regulator Joseph Otting as NYCB’s new CEO.”
Steven Mnuchin and Joseph Otting worked together for years, at OneWest bank, where they ran an operation that was deemed a “foreclosure machine,” which repossessed the homes of tens of thousands of American families between 2009 and 2015 and intensified the economic pain of the Great Recession. Under Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Otting’s leadership, OneWest employed illegal tactics like “robo-signing”—falsifying key documents—to kick more than 36,000 families out of their homes. When they took the helm ofNYCB, the Fed and OCC were required to review Mr. Otting’s and Mr. Mnuchin’s character and fitness, which would have included their behavior at OneWest.
The OCC and the Fed failures to appropriately supervise NYCB are becoming more clear with the new reports of “systemic failings” at the bank.
“Given the ongoing threats from regional bank failures, I am deeply troubled by your … inability or unwillingness to rein in unruly banks,” wrote Senator Warren. “If the OCC has indeed identified ‘systemic failings’ at NYCB, the agency must impose stronger controls on the bank.”
Senator Warren is calling on the OCC to use its existing authority under Title 12, which allows the OCC to establish a higher minimum capital requirement for banks under its jurisdiction that present heightened risks to the financial system, by considering an Individual Minimum Capital Ratio for NYCB.
Senator Warren has led the fight to hold banking regulators accountable to establishing and enforcing guardrails around the banking industry and preventing harmful bank mergers to protect the financial system, economy, and consumers:
In April 2024, Senators Warren and Blumenthal probed the OCC for its regulatory failures amid NYCB’s financial spiral.
In March 2024, a year after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Senator Warren sent a letter to three key banking regulators: Michael Barr, Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve, Martin Gruenberg, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Acting Comptroller Hsu, seeking an update on their progress in delivering on their public commitments to strengthen regulatory standards for banks with assets of $100 billion or more.
In February 2024, Senator Warren led 12 lawmakers urging the OCC and the Federal Reserve to block Capital One’s plan to acquire Discover Financial Services. Their letter also expressed concerns with the OCC’s proposed policy statement regarding merger approvals as essentially codifying a permissive approach.
In December 2023, Senator Warren led 6 senators in a letter to Acting Comptroller Hsu, calling on OCC to allow states to move forward with their efforts to protect consumers from harmful bank practices. The senators criticized the OCC for overstepping its preemption authority under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which it used to block tough, state-level consumer protections.
In August 2023, chairing a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Senator Warren highlighted the need for regulators to implement the strongest version of bank merger review guidelines in order to ensure stability in the financial system.
In June 2023, Senator Warren sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, Federal Deposit Investment Corporation Chairman Gruenberg, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Hsu, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging regulators to promote greater competition in the banking sector by toughening their stances on bank mergers and strengthening bank merger review guidelines.
In May 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Senator Warren questioned Acting Comptroller Hsu on his decision to approve JPMorgan Chase’s purchase of First Republic Bank after its collapse. This merger allowed a large, poorly supervised bank to be swallowed by America’s largest bank, making it $200 billion larger than it was before.
In May 2023, Senator Warren sent a letter to Acting Comptroller Hsu and FDIC Chair Gruenberg, questioning the terms of the sale of First Republic Bank to JP Morgan Chase and the rationale behind the OCC and FDIC’s approval of the deal.
In December 2022, Senators Warren and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) sent letters to three key banking regulators: the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and the OCC, raising concerns about the ties between the banking industry and crypto firms following FTX’s bankruptcy. The senators asked each regulator how they assessed the banking system’s exposure to crypto risks.
In December 2022, Senator Warren and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) sent a letter to the heads of all U.S. banking regulators, including Acting Comptroller Hsu, calling on them to improve banking access for immigrant communities and communities of color.
In August 2022, Senators Warren, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Whitehouse, and Sanders sent a letter to the OCC, calling on it to rescind the previously issued cryptocurrency guidance and replace it with more comprehensive guidance, in coordination with other prudential regulators.
In September 2021, Senator Warren and Representative Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Bank Merger Review Modernization Act, which would restrict harmful consolidation in the banking industry and protect consumers and the financial system from “Too Big to Fail” institutions, like those that caused the 2008 financial crisis.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Introduces Bill to Give Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs $50,000 Tax Break

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to provide tax relief to entrepreneurs looking to start a small business and reduce barriers for startups. The Tax Relief for New Businesses Act would increase the startup tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000 and allow businesses to write off more expenses to compensate for the increasing cost of starting a business. Currently, small business owners can only deduct up to $5,000 in startup costs in the first year, yet a recent survey found that they spend an average of $40,000 to get their businesses off the ground.
“On Main Streets across Wisconsin, small businesses are creating jobs and contributing to our local economies. For too many entrepreneurs, starting a business can be out of reach and it’s our job to break down the barriers in their way so more Americans can pursue their dreams,” said Senator Baldwin. “This legislation is a commonsense step that will unlock opportunities for Wisconsin’s next generation of small businesses and help ensure they have the capacity to grow, innovate, and shape the future of the Badger state.”
“If the US Senate passes this legislation it would help provide capital to reinvest in small business staff and get them to a stable, profitable bottom line much quicker. This would encourage existing and expanding businesses to invest and grow by improving cash flow in the early years of starting and growing the businesses. As a small business owner I strongly endorse this effort,” said TJ Semanchin, owner of Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua, WI.
“The Tax Relief for New Businesses Act is a game changer for entrepreneurs, offering substantial financial relief when it’s needed most,” said Scott Resnick, Wisconsin startup advocate. “By significantly increasing the deduction and allowing more flexibility for growing startups, this policy reduces the financial burden of launching a business and paves the way for greater innovation and job creation across the Wisconsin economy.”
“TitletownTech supports policy that reduces early-stage financial pressure on entrepreneurs and increases likelihood of startup success,” said Jill Enos, Managing Partner of Titletown Tech in Green Bay.
“Starting a business is a vote of confidence in the future,” said Richard Trent, Executive Director of Main Street Alliance. “Men and women all across the country start businesses that help our communities thrive. Small businesses are connected to their communities, sponsoring little league teams, providing employment and creating a robust culture and economy. But one of the most difficult parts of starting a business is having the capital to do so. A lack of generational wealth, unfair lending practices and discrimination make this difficult for too many. The Tax Relief for New Businesses Act is a huge step in the right direction to level the playing field and jump start Main Streets all across America.”
“Repeated research has demonstrated that new businesses – ‘startups’ – are a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, and opportunity expansion,” said John Dearie, President of Center for American Entrepreneurship. “But launching a new business costs money. And because startup costs are incurred long before the first dollar of revenue, those costs can be a major obstacle to new business formation. That’s why the Tax Relief for New Businesses Act is so important. The Act would increase the tax deduction of startup costs from $5,000 to $50,000, expand the types of expenses eligible for the deduction, and stretch the phase-out threshold of the credit from $50,000 to $150,000, allowing entrepreneurs to write-off more of the costs required to launch their business once they become profitable. The legislation is powerfully pro-entrepreneurship, pro-growth, and pro-job creation. CAE thanks Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) for their leadership and looks forward to working with them to ensure swift passage of the legislation.”
This legislation is also led by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and endorsed by the Main Street Alliance and Center for American Entrepreneurship.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Honors Joe Brennan at Former Member of Congress Memorial Service

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
Published: September 26, 2024

Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.
Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ commemoration of Governor Brennan.
Washington, D.C. – At a Memorial Service last week in the U.S. Capitol, Senator Susan Collins commemorated the public service of former members of Congress who died this past year, including Joe Brennan, who served as Maine’s Governor, as a House of Representatives Member, and as a State Attorney General.
“Joe always thought his accomplishments and victories – and there were many – were not the accomplishments of an individual, but rather the accomplishments of his family and neighbors from his beloved Munjoy Hill in Portland where he was raised,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “This connection to his roots accounts for two of Joe’s most admirable traits – his loyalty to his friends and his support for the underdog. It explains his tireless effort to make the American dream a reality for even the most disadvantaged family.”
After the ceremony, Senator Collins met with Governor Brennan’s wife, Connie, and other members of his family and friends.
Senator Collins also honored her former colleagues, Senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Dianne Feinstein of California, and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, during her remarks at the event.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Statement on Insurance Coverage of IVF For Federal Employees

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced expanded coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility services through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program—a move that Kaine pushed for:
“If the federal government wants to continue to retain and attract the best civil servants, it must provide employees with comprehensive coverage of IVF and other assisted reproductive technology services. At a time when reproductive freedom is under threat, I’m glad that OMB heeded our calls and announced all federal employees, regardless of where they live, can access coverage for these services. I will continue working to pass my bipartisan Reproductive Freedom for All Act to restore the protections under Roe and safeguard Americans’ freedom to make their own health care decisions without government interference.”
Kaine is a cosponsor of the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act to require insurance providers in the FEHB program to provide coverage of IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services. The FEHB program is the largest employer-run health insurance program in the U.S. covering more than 8 million federal employees, retirees, and their dependents.
Kaine has long championed efforts to protect reproductive freedom and IVF. In June and earlier this month, Kaine voted to pass his legislation to protect and expand access to IVF, including for federal employees, but it was blocked by Senate Republicans. In March, Kaine invited Norfolk-born Elizabeth Carr, the first person born in the United States via IVF, to join him as his guest at the State of the Union. Kaine held two roundtables in Norfolk and Arlington to discuss the need to protect IVF. After the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Kaine worked across the aisle to introduce the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, a bipartisan bill to protect access to abortion and contraception.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Underscores Need to Pass His Bipartisan Child Care Legislation Following Century Foundation Report

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reiterated the need to pass his bipartisan legislation to address the child care crisis following a new report released by The Century Foundation. The report found that child care costs in Virginia have increased by 11% since 2019, while child care employment levels fell by 18 percent from 2019 to 2023. In Virginia, the average cost for an infant in a center is $16,397 per year, and the annual cost for two children in a center is 73% more than the average rent payment and 24% more than the average mortgage payment.
“This report underscores what I hear around Virginia—that child care is unaffordable for many families, and that providers are struggling to retain staff and keep their doors open. This crisis isn’t going to go away on its own, and it’s negatively impacting our economy as many parents aren’t able to enter the workforce. Congress must act to make it easier for parents to access quality, affordable care for their kids. This is an issue that transcends parties and state lines, and I will keep working with my colleagues to garner support for my bipartisan legislation with Senator Britt,” said Kaine.
The full report can be found here.
Kaine has long been pushing to expand access to child care. In July 2024, he introduced the bipartisan Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act—two pieces of legislation to make child care more affordable and accessible. Last fall, he introduced the Child Care Stabilization Act to expand vital child care funding to help providers keep their doors open. He has also introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act to expand access to child care, raise wages for providers, and lower costs for families by ensuring no family pays more than 7% of their income on child care. He has introduced bipartisan legislation to develop, administer, and evaluate early childhood education apprenticeships.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Hagerty Applaud Senate Passage of Legislation to Honor Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) applauded Senate passage of their Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 91), a bill to honor 60 World War II-era diplomats from the United States and around the world who risked their careers and, in many instances, their lives to save others during the Holocaust. The Hagerty-Kaine legislation would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal collectively to these diplomats who took heroic actions to save Jews fleeing Nazi Germany, including issuing passports and travel visas and setting up safehouses and getaways to hide Jews from Nazi authorities. A version of this legislation led by Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) passed the House of Representatives on June 11, 2024.
“These courageous diplomats from nations across the world took initiative and serious risks to save Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. The Congressional Gold Medal is a small overdue gesture to honor righteous deeds in the most difficult times,” said Kaine. “As living memory of the Holocaust fades with the passing of 80 years, it will soon be up to us to remember humanity’s capacity for evil alongside our capacity for empathy and courage. Senator Hagerty and I aren’t Jewish, but we led this legislation because the duty of remembrance isn’t on the Jewish community alone; it is on all of us.”
“As U.S. Senator and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I applaud Senate passage of this bipartisan legislation to posthumously honor U.S. and foreign diplomats who risked their lives and careers to assist Jews who were fleeing Nazi tyranny during the Holocaust,” said Hagerty. “During a time of unimaginable darkness in the world, these diplomats went above their official obligations and beyond the call of duty to save the lives of so many. Current and future generations of diplomats—and everyone else who hears their stories—can look to these men and women of courage and be inspired by their lives of heroism and sacrifice.”

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Graham Introduces Religious Education Week Resolution

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced a resolution designating October 6 – 12, 2024, as “Religious Education Week” to celebrate and emphasize the importance of religious education and the schools and organizations engaged in religious instruction.
“South Carolina’s children are our greatest resource and future leaders,” said Graham. “I am proud to introduce this resolution to emphasize the importance of continued religious education and the organizations who provide it.”
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Alabama), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Todd Young (R-Indiana).
This resolution is also supported by Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, Coalition for Jewish Values, Foundation for American Christian Education, School Time Bible Ministries, Association of Christian Schools International, Agudath Israel of America, and Catholic Education Partners Inc.
The full text of the resolution is HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner and Kaine Statement on Congressional Passage of Legislation to Keep the Government Funded Temporarily

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
Published: September 25 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Senate approved a temporary funding bill to prevent a government shutdown on October 1. This bill – passed earlier today by the U.S. House of Representatives – will keep the government open through December 20 by extending Fiscal Year 2024 spending levels.
“Nobody hurts more than Virginia when Congress fails to do its job of keeping the government open. With just a few days until the government funding deadline, we are glad Congress did the right thing and passed a stopgap bill that will renew funding until December 20. While we should not rely on continuing resolutions to govern, we are glad to know that this bill will help avoid a painful government shutdown. We look forward to working with our colleagues these next three months on long-term funding legislation, and we remain committed to ensuring that any final package includes dedicated dollars for specific projects in communities all throughout Virginia.”

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), co-founder of the Global Migration Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.

“Democrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Let’s tackle the climate crisis. Let’s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let’s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.”

“Too many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). “We must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.”

“Over the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes—and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.). “Yet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It’s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.”

“Republicans’ dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Migration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it’s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.”

“Climate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. “Stricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.”

“It’s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). “From combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.”

Specifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that:
- addresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;
- ensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and
- affirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.
Over the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.

The resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07).

It is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y México negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War.

“This resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants’ lives take precedence over politics,” saidJuliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. “The vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone’s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.”

“We need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that’s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,” said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. “This new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that — from arms sales to climate policy and beyond — our government doesn’t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.”

“For too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes — including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,” said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the years about ‘root causes’ of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,” said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. “This groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate ‘root causes’ including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we’re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.”

“Rather than ‘blaming the victims’—immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,” Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. “Forced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.”

“To design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question – why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. “A human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.”

Background:

The resolution text can be found here.

###

Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

MIL OSI USA News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: As Las Vegas Breaks Own Record for Most 100-Degree Days, Rosen Bill to Ensure Extreme Heat Qualifies As A Major Disaster Passes in Committee

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
As Of Wednesday, Las Vegas Broke Its Own Record For Having The Most 100-Degree Days in a Year
Senator Rosen Introduced This Bill In July During A Record-Breaking Heat Wave
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that her Extreme Heat Emergency Act passed in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill would explicitly allow extreme heat and other extreme temperatures to qualify as a major disaster under the Stafford Act, which recognizes fires, floods, explosions, and natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes as disasters eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration from the President. This would help communities like Las Vegas and Reno, two of the fastest warming cities in the United States, access resources and funding to address the damages and losses they’re experiencing as a result of extreme heat waves.
This legislation comes in the wake of record-breaking temperatures in Nevada that have caused concerns for the health and well-being of families. As of Wednesday, Las Vegas broke its record for having the most 100-degree days in a year since 1947. This summer, Senator Rosen visited a Clark County cooling station activated in East Las Vegas, highlighting the need for federal resources to increase resilience against extreme heat.
“This year, Nevadans have been experiencing record-breaking temperatures that are putting our communities at risk,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’ve been pushing to pass my bill to ensure extreme heat can qualify for a Major Disaster Declaration, and make funding and critical resources available for communities in Nevada. I’m proud to see it pass in committee, and I’ll keep working to ensure it becomes law.”
Senator Rosen has been leading the fight to ensure that Nevadans have access to federal resources to stay safe during natural disasters. After last year’s winter storms, Senator Rosen urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency to assist impacted Nevada farmers and ranchers and successfully pushed President Biden to provide more resources and heed Governor Joe Lombardo’s call to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for Nevada. Senator Rosen has also called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide federal assistance to address extreme heat in Nevada.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: We curated a podcast playlist for you: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vinita Srivastava, Senior Editor, Culture + Society / Host + Exec. Producer, Don’t Call Me Resilient

On Sept. 30, Canada will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Formerly known as Orange Shirt Day, the now federal statutory day honours generations of Indigenous survivors, families and communities impacted by Canada’s residential school system and remembers the children who never returned home. It’s also a good time to honour the “Truth” in Truth and Reconciliation and check in on Canada’s progress on the 94 Calls to Action that came out of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

Here at Don’t Call Me Resilient, we’ve curated a playlist of episodes for you that explore the historical and current issues of Indigenous communities. Through the voices of experts, the playlist features discussions related to Indigenous history, justice, rights and resistance. In each episode, Indigenous scholars and experts present their research and ideas to help explain the issues. They dive deep into conversations about the importance of preserving and protecting Indigenous land, life and identity.

As a collection, these episodes invite listeners to engage in a process of learning and unlearning; to acknowledge the tragic legacies of residential schools in Canada and to move beyond a single day of remembrance. Individually, the conversations are thoughtful and informative explorations of Indigenous scholarship, living history and the future of reconciliation in Canada.

Indigenous Land Defenders

In this episode, two Indigenous land defenders from different nations as well as generations: Ellen Gabriel, a human rights activist and artist well known for her role during the 1990 Oka crisis, and Anne Spice, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, discuss the importance and urgency of defending land. They explain why they work to protect the land against invasive development and why their work is necessary for everyone’s survival. Also, check out Gabriel’s forthcoming book with Sean Carleton: When the Pine Needles Fall.
(first aired: March, 2021)

How stories about alternate worlds can help us imagine a better future

Stories are a powerful tool to resist oppressive situations. They give writers from marginalized communities a way to imagine alternate realities, and to critique the one we live in. In this episode, Vinita speaks to two storytellers who offer up wonderous “otherworlds” for Indigenous and Black people. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds is an L.A-based screenwriter and the producer of Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black. Daniel Heath Justice is professor in Indigenous literature at the University of British Columbia and author of Why Indigenous Literatures Matter.

Stolen Identities: What does it mean to be Indigenous?

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of high-profile figures accused of falsely claiming Indigenous identity, of being “Pretendians.” These cases have become big news stories, but they have big real-life consequences, too. Misidentifying as Indigenous can have financial and social consequences, with the misdirection of funds, jobs or grants meant for Indigenous peoples. Vinita delves into it all with two researchers who look at identity and belonging in Indigenous communities: Veldon Coburn and Celeste Pedri-Spade from McGill University.
(first aired: October, 2021)

Why pollution is as much about colonialism as chemicals

The state of our environment keeps getting scarier and scarier: and we have yet to find a way forward. Two Indigenous scholars who run labs to address the climate crisis say bringing an Indigenous understanding to environmental justice could help us get unstuck. A big part of that is seeing pollution through a new lens — one that acknowledges it is as much about racism and colonialism as it is toxic chemicals. Vinita talks to Michelle Murphy at the University of Toronto, and Max Liboiron, author of Pollution is Colonialism, and associate professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
(first aired: November, 2021)

Making our food fairer

Over 17 per cent of households in Canada are food insecure. For racialized Canadians, that number is higher — two to three times the national average. In this episode, Vinita asks what is happening with our food systems, and what we can do to make them fairer with two women who have been tackling this issue for years. Melana Roberts is Chair of Food Secure Canada and one of the leaders behind Canada’s first Black food sovereignty plan. Also joining the conversation is Tabitha Robin Martens, assistant professor at UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Martens researches Indigenous food sovereignty and works with Cree communities to bolster traditional land uses.
(first aired: November, 2021)

Unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children were found in Kamloops a year ago: What’s happened since?

In this episode, we take a look at what has happened since the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children were found in Kamloops, B.C. in May 2021. Vinita speaks to Veldon Coburn, associate professor and faculty chair of the Indigenous Relations Initiative at McGill University about what happened, the widespread grief and outcry and the immediate political response, but also, how none of that lasted despite communities continuing to find bodies. Joining Vinita on the episode is Haley Lewis, then-Don’t Call Me Resilient producer and culture and society editor for The Conversation Canada. Lewis is mixed Kanyen’keha:ká from Tyendinaga and led our coverage of the findings.
(first aired: May, 2022)

Diamond mines are not a girl’s best friend

Since diamond mining started in Canada in 1998, Canada has become the third-largest producer of diamonds in the world. In 2019, the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls linked resource extraction to spikes in violence against women. In this episode, we hear from two women who talk about how diamond mines in the Northwest Territories have negatively impacted and perpetuated gender violence, particularly among Indigenous women. Vinita chats with Rebecca Hall, assistant professor of global development studies at Queen’s University and the author of Refracted Economies: Diamond Mining and Social Reproduction in the North, and Della Green, former victim services co-ordinator, at the Native Women’s Association of the Northwest Territories.
(first aired: June, 2022)

Has the meaning behind the Canadian flag changed?

After weeks of the so-called Freedom Convoy in 2022, many of us took a hard look at the symbolism of the Canadian flag and the attempt to associate it with white supremacy. Some felt a new fear or anger at what they feel the flag represents. But other communities say they have always felt this way about the Canadian flag. Both our guests on this episode have studied multiculturalism, citizenship and belonging. Daniel McNeil looks at history and culture and the complexities of global Black communities. He is a professor and Queen’s National Scholar Chair in Black Studies at Queen’s University. Lucy El-Sherif is an assistant professor of global peace and social justice at McMaster University. They help us unpack the meaning and symbolism of the Canadian flag.
(first aired: June, 2022)

How to decolonize journalism

For decades, Canadian media have covered Indigenous communities with a heavy reliance on stereotypes — casting Indigenous Peoples as victims or warriors. This deep-seated bias in the news can have unsettling consequences for both how a community perceives itself as well as how others perceive them. Award-winning Anishinaabe journalist and former CBC reporter Duncan McCue is trying to change that both in the classroom and in the newsroom. He joins Vinita to talk about what Canadian media could be doing better.
(first aired: November, 2022)

About the Queen, the Crown’s crimes and how to talk about the unmourned

When the Queen died, there was a tremendous outpouring of love and grief for her and the monarchy she represented. But not everyone wanted to take a moment of silence — and there are a lot of reasons why. For example, the head of the Assembly of First Nations, RoseAnne Archibald told CTV News that the Royal Family should apologize for the failures of the Crown… “particularly for the destructiveness of colonization on First Nations people.” To explore these ideas further, we reached out to two scholars, Veldon Coburn, associate professor and faculty chair of the Indigenous Relations Initiative at McGill University and Cheryl Thompson, an associate professor of media and culture at Toronto Metropolitan University. Both say that the Queen’s death could be a uniting moment of dissent for people from current and former colonies.
(first aired: September, 2022)

The Vatican just renounced a 500-year-old doctrine that justified colonial land theft… Now what?

In 2023, the Vatican repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, a 500-year-old decree used to justify settler colonialism. In this episode, political and Indigenous studies scholar Veldon Coburn explains why the Vatican’s repudiation of the Doctrine is a huge symbolic victory. We also examine what this repudiation may mean for members of Indigenous Nations, what prompted this renouncement, and what still needs to happen.
(first aired: April, 2023)

Digging into the colonial roots of gardening

In this episode, we explore how the practice of gardening is deeply tied to colonialism that affects what we plant and also, who gets to garden. But there is also a growing understanding that centuries-old Indigenous land-based knowledge and practices can foster a more resilient landscape. We speak to community activist Carolynne Crawley — a woman with Mi’kmaw, Black and Irish ancestry who leads workshops and walks that integrate Indigenous teachings into practice — and Jacqueline L. Scott — a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education whose research focuses on the wilderness and making it a welcoming space for Black people. We discuss a new way forward, discussing practical gardening tips with an eye to Indigenous knowledge.
(first aired: May, 2023)

Botanical classification; 227 figures of plant anatomical segments with descriptive text.
CC BY

Why preserving Indigenous languages is so critical to culture

This episode tackles why the revitalization of Indigenous languages is so critical. Guest host Veldon Coburn speaks with Frank Deer, professor of education at the University of Manitoba, to tackle the issue of disappearing Indigenous languages. They delve into how language reflects philosophies that guide political, cultural and ecological relationships — and discuss what more needs to be done to revitalize them.
(first aired: June, 2023)

Inside the search for the unmarked graves of children lost to Indian Residential Schools

In this episode, we take you inside the ongoing quest to document the children who died in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools system. Vinita speaks to Terri Cardinal, associate vice president of Indigenous initiatives and engagement at MacEwan University, about the search she led to uncover the unmarked graves of those who perished at the Blue Quills Residential School in Alberta. It’s deeply personal and emotional work for Cardinal, whose own father is a survivor of the school. Cardinal talks about what she found, how she felt, and what she hopes will come of it. She says the number of unmarked graves across the country is much higher than many of us could have imagined. And she says it’s important to keep shining a light on the rising numbers, especially with so many Canadians in denial about what really happened at these schools.
(first aired: September, 2023)

Students at Blue Quills Residential School.
Provincial Archives of Alberta, CC BY

How journalists tell Buffy Sainte-Marie’s story matters – explained by a ‘60s Scoop survivor

Musician Buffy Sainte-Marie in 1970.
CMA/wikicommons, CC BY

Lori Campbell, a ‘60s Scoop survivor and associate vice president of Indigenous engagement at the University of Regina, challenges the CBC’s motives in releasing an investigation that questioned the Indigenous roots of legendary singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie in this episode. Campbell asks: was the story in service of truth and reconciliation or a sensationalist headline? She also highlights the turmoil the story is causing, especially among Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan, home to the Piapot Nation that embraced Sainte-Marie.
(first aired: November, 2023)

Colonialists used starvation as a tool of oppression

Plains Cree Chief Mistahimaskwa resisted signing a treaty with the ‘Crown,’ until starvation of his people propelled him to sign Treaty 6.
(Library and Archives Canada), CC BY

Vinita speaks to two famine scholars about the use of starvation as a tool in the colonizer’s playbook through two historic examples — the attempted decimation of Indigenous populations in the Plains, North America and the 1943 famine in Bengal, India. Our guests James Daschuk from the University of Regina and Janam Mukherjee at Toronto Metropolitan University discuss how colonial forces inflicted famine upon Indigenous populations to control them, their land, and their resources.
(first aired: March, 2024)

From stereotypes to sovereignty: How Indigenous media makers assert narrative control

Reservation Dogs: Sarah Podemski and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.
Shane Brown/FX

Indigenous media in North America have rapidly expanded over the last 30 years, with Indigenous media makers gaining greater control of their own narratives, including the ability to subvert colonial representations. Karrmen Crey, who is Stó:lō from Cheam First Nation, is an associate professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, and the author of “Producing Sovereignty: The Rise of Indigenous Media in Canada.” In this special episode, recorded on-site with an audience in Vancouver at Iron Dog books, Crey speaks with Vinita about the ways Indigenous creators are using humour along with a sharp critique of pop culture to show just how different the world looks when decision-making power over how stories get told shifts and Indigenous media makers take control.
(first aired: April, 2024)

– ref. We curated a podcast playlist for you: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – https://theconversation.com/we-curated-a-podcast-playlist-for-you-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-239669

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Happy Valley-Goose Bay — Update: RCMP NL releases photos of Da Shed robbery suspect in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

RCMP NL’s Labrador District General Investigation Section (GIS) is releasing images of a suspect involved in a recent robbery at Da Shed Pub that occurred on September 2, 2024.

Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on September 2, a masked man wearing goggles entered the bar with a firearm, pointed it at an employee and demanded money. The suspect departed prior to police arrival with a quantity of cash.

RCMP Labrador District GIS is continuing to investigate this crime and is seeking assistance from the public in identifying the suspect.

Anyone having information about this crime or the identity of the person pictured is asked to call Labrador District GIS at 709-896-1263. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit http://www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

Background:

Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP investigates armed robbery at Da Shed Pub | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Mark Cuban Foundation and Northeastern University Bring Free AI Bootcamp to Miami Teens

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MIAMI, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Northeastern University in Miami. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing September 30.

The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with Northeastern University is bringing the only artificial intelligence (AI) camp of its kind, free of charge, to high school students in Miami. With a custom and highly relevant curriculum focused on teaching students about the latest developments in the world of AI and Generative AI, the camp will provide the tools to make these technologies work for them and promises to educate, inspire and fuel the next generation of AI professionals.

The program aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications to future careers. Students can select from six tracks: healthcare, arts and entertainment, business and entrepreneurship, computer science, sports science, or education and career readiness. Driven by the belief that fostering interest in AI at a young age is crucial for preparing the next generation for their future, the AI Bootcamps are introductory and accessible to students in 9-12 grade with an interest in technology. Students do not need any familiarity with computer science or programming to attend.

This free AI Bootcamp is hosted for underserved high school students with a transparent focus on recruiting girls, students of color, first generation college students, and those from low to moderate income households. The AI Bootcamp Program provides students with lunch and a snack, transportation assistance, and technology equipment during bootcamp.

“As AI continues to become an undeniable force in all of our lives, it’s crucial that we open the door to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to explore it,” said Mark Cuban, founder. “While technology expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for schools or jobs in the future. Thanks to our work with Northeastern University, the bootcamp will offer an avenue to explore this fascinating field of technology to any student, no matter their means.”

This year’s bootcamp will take place at the Miami campus on November 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Northeastern University is one of 30+ host companies selected to host camps across the US.

“We are excited to partner with the Mark Cuban Foundation and host its AI Bootcamp on our campus later this Fall,” said Maria Alonso, Regional Dean and CEO of Northeastern University Miami Campus. “Ensuring our community’s youth can learn more about artificial intelligence and its applications will establish a strong foundation to ensure they are ready and competitive as they continue their education and, eventually, enter the global workforce of the future.”

The September 30 deadline is quickly approaching. Do not miss your chance—submit your application now, as spaces are limited. Apply for the bootcamp at: markcubanai.org.

Watch Mark Cuban’s message about Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI bootcamps and access the full media kit here.

To learn more, visit markcubanai.org.

Media Contact:
Bishop.wash@markcubanai.org

This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program’s media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.

About Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp Initiative
The Mark Cuban Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit led by entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban. The AI Bootcamps Program at MCF seeks to inspire young people with emerging technology so that they can create more equitable futures for themselves and their communities. Over 3 consecutive Saturdays underserved 9^th -12^th grade students learn what AI is and isn’t, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, the ethical implications of AI systems, and much more. Learn more about the no-cost AI Bootcamp program at markcubanai.org.

About Northeastern University
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a global research university with an R1 Carnegie classification, and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Northeastern’s global university system includes 13 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. Students study, conduct research, and work on co-op in 149 countries and on all continents. The university has 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 industry partners worldwide.

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Sussex — Police warn of counterfeit money circulating in community; One arrested
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Police have arrested an 18-year-old man from Sussex, N.B., in connection with an investigation into the use of counterfeit money in the Sussex area.

The Sussex RCMP has recently received several reports from many local businesses that counterfeit Canadian $100 bills have been used to purchase goods and services. The bills all have the same serial number: LGQ03229158.

On September 12, 2024, police arrested an 18-year-old man from Sussex in connection with this investigation. However, counterfeit bills are still circulating in the community. The 18-year-old man was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Saint John Provincial Court on December 11, 2024.

Many of the bills have identifiable markings indicating they are fake:
- Some are of poor quality
- Different material is used
- Different sizes and shapes
- Several of the bills have five black, double bars on both sides of the bill.
It is an offence to recirculate a counterfeit bill. If you come into contact with what you believe is counterfeit currency, report it to police. For more information on detecting counterfeit bills, visit the following links:

Anyone with information that could help the investigation into counterfeit bills in the Sussex area is asked to contact the Sussex RCMP at 506-726-5222. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.crimenb.ca.

Investigation is ongoing.

MIL Security OSI –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Walz Announces $6 Million Child Care Expansion

Source: US State of Minnesota

Governor Tim Walz today announced over $6 million in new grants to expand access to child care for working families throughout Minnesota. The new grants follow record funding announced in May, and are expected to create thousands of new child care slots.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Havelock — 28-year-old man dies following single-vehicle crash

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

A 28-year-old man from Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B., has died following a single-vehicle crash in Havelock, N.B.

On September 25, 2024, at approximately 7:51 p.m., members of the Caledonia RCMP responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer on Highway 2 in Havelock.

The crash is believed to have occurred when the tractor-trailer, travelling Eastbound, left the roadway, crashed into trees, and caught fire. The 28-year-old man and sole occupant of the tractor-trailer died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

Members of Ambulance New Brunswick and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure also attended the scene. RCMP Collision Reconstructionist and a member of the New Brunswick Coroner’s Office are assisting with the ongoing investigation. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the man’s exact cause of death.

The investigation is ongoing.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $6.9 Million For Upgrades To Cummings Park, West Beach, and Rockwell Park

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

September 26, 2024

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday announced the National Park Service awarded the state of Connecticut a total of $6.9 million in federal grants to renovate recreation facilities and advance land conservation efforts. The grants are funded through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) and will provide $5 million for improvements to Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and $1.9 million for Rockwell Park in Bristol.
“Public parks and beaches provide an important benefit to our communities because they’re places where everyone can have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with their neighbors. This $6.9 million in federal funding will help upgrade Cummings Park and West Beach in Stamford, and Rockwell Park in Bristol, to ensure more families have the opportunity to take advantage of our state’s beaches, hiking trails, and green spaces,” said Murphy.
“This $6.9 million in federal funding will modernize and upgrade facilities at two of Connecticut’s beautiful, beloved parks – Cummings Park and West Beach, and Rockwell Park. Ensuring that Connecticut residents have access to top notch outdoor spaces is vital to their health and well-being. I will continue to fight for investments in Connecticut’s treasures and expanded access to outdoor recreation,” said Blumenthal.
The ORLP program provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities. These investments enable urban?communities to?create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Mullin, Lankford Urge EPA to Rescind Costly Waste Management Rule Hurting Oklahoma Businesses

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

Mullin, Lankford Urge EPA to Rescind Costly Waste Management Rule Hurting Oklahoma Businesses

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works’ Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee, was joined by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to express concern over a proposed rule regarding waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. The EPA’s proposed rule would further tighten Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards for existing WTE facilities while simultaneously removing compliance exceptions, leading to dramatic and unnecessary increases in compliance costs across Oklahoma without significant benefit. The lawmakers urged the EPA to reexamine its proposal prior to issuing a final rule to ensure that new standards are set consistent with actual data provided.
“Municipal waste combustors, waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities, are a vital waste management technology that communities and businesses in Oklahoma use to divert waste from landfills, recycle metal, and generate renewable energy. Communities and businesses in Oklahoma, and across the country have invested billions of dollars to ensure these facilities are meeting the already stringent environmental standards set by your agency and by states,” write the lawmakers.
“The EPA should be mindful of the fact that imposing standards that WTE facilities will never meet is well beyond EPA’s statutory authority,” the lawmakers continue.
The full letter can be found here.
Background:
The proposed rule refers to the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Large Municipal Waste Combustors, Voluntary Remand Response and 5 Year Review (89 FR 4243), which includes a re-evaluation of the MACT floor determinations issued on January 23rd, 2024.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990 established the MACT standards to ensure that all facilities in an industry sector meet the same standards as the top 12 percent of performing facilities. The EPA set these attainable standards, known as ‘MACT floors’, for WTE facilities twice, in 1995 and 2006.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet Introduce Legislation to Support Communities Affected by Gold King Mine Disaster

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet introduced the Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act to help communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona that were affected by the Gold King Mine disaster of 2015 to fully recover.
“Local farmers, homeowners, and outdoor rec outfitters were left high and dry after the Gold King Mine spill in 2015,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill will make sure they get the compensation they need to finally recover and move forward.”
“The effects of the Gold King Mine disaster were felt far beyond the banks of the Animas River. The blowout hurt families, farmers, and outdoor recreation companies in Durango and throughout southwest Colorado who depend on the river for their livelihoods,” said Bennet. “Almost a decade later, too many Coloradans still feel its effects. Our legislation is a necessary step to help Coloradans finally recover certain remaining costs and damages incurred from the spill and make Southwest Colorado communities whole again.”
On August 5, 2015, the Gold King Mine spill released 3 million gallons of polluted mining wastewater into the Animas and San Juan rivers, affecting waterways in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, the Southern Ute reservation, and the Navajo Nation.
Though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was able to partially compensate some claims, its ability to meet the needs of affected businesses, farmers, and homeowners is constrained by existing laws. This legislation would provide EPA with the necessary authority and funding to compensate certain outstanding claims from the spill.
“The Gold King Mine Compensation Act clears the procedural hurdles that kept businesses that suffered economic losses due to the spill nearly 10 years ago from being made whole,” said Matt Salka, Chair, La Plata County Board of County Commissioners. “We are grateful that the impact felt by those businesses has not been forgotten and that a remedy is possible through this much-appreciated legislation.”
“The work that Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and their teams have done on the Gold King Mine Bill is restoring my faith in government. After all these years to see the promise of our government concerning the Gold King Mine incident and its ensuing economic damage was not forgotten, is refreshing. The wheels of government turn slowly. We at Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours are thankful that Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and their teams are keeping them turning,” said Alex Mickel, President, Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours.
The La Plata County Board of County Commissioners also shared a letter in support of this legislation.
Immediately after the Gold King Mine disaster, then-Governor Hickenlooper declared the affected area a disaster zone. Then, in 2016 he sent a letter to the EPA urging the Gold King mine and other legacy mines in San Juan County on the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List which established the initial funding for the clean-up.
The text of the bill is available HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025