Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Pentagon Nominees During SASC Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, President Trump’s nominee to be Admiral and Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to be General and Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) during their Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) nomination hearing. They discussed SOCOM’s military operations in Panama and Latin America to combat narco-terrorism and secure our southern border, along with the strategic need for having a military presence in Africa.

    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning.

    Thanks [to] both of you. Thanks for what you’ve done for our country over your careers—you and your family. What a sacrifice it’s been, but you’ve done an outstanding job.

    ON SOCOM EFFORTS TO COMBAT NARCO-TERRORISTS:

    “Admiral, I think [for] far too long, we’ve had our eyes on other things and not on our hemisphere—whether it’s illegal migrants, drugs, or both. So, what is [the] Special Operations community doing to assist the militaries and governments in our hemisphere like Panama to combat narco-terrorists?”

    BRADLEY: “Senator, in my current capacity, I’m not privy to all of the activities that SOCOM is engaged in, in the Southern Hemisphere. But in listening and watching General Fenton and his leadership over these last three years, I know that the partnerships that our teams have been engaging in and developing remain critical to being able to help them build capacity, to be able to defend themselves, but also to provide security locally, which, of course, helps to prevent and secure our Southern border as well.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, I’m sure you’re up on the point of the Darién Gap and the problems that’s caused over the years, and relationship with our Special Ops, down in that area—training people—that will probably be in your forte going forward. What’s your thoughts about cooperation activities with Latin America as [you’re] going into this job?”

    BRADLEY: “Yes, sir. I think as the counterterrorism fight informs us, it is far better to find the root of the problem well away from our borders than it is to have to defend them internal to the United States. And so, if confirmed, making it a priority to provide assistance to all of our combatant commanders as far forward as possible, and with those partnered forces to help them to be able to secure their own territory.”

    ON AMERICAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFRICA:

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, and we and we have problems all over the world. But if we don’t watch our back door, then we’re gonna [really have] problems within our country, which we already have. General, I think we need to be reinforcing our military presence in Africa. Unfortunately, under the previous administration, we seemed like we were doing just the opposite. Niger—you and I talked about this in a meeting in my office—the vacuum that was caused there. China, Russia, Iran, were all too happy to feel the things that we were doing there. What’s your assessment of our withdrawal from Airbase 201? And have we learned from these lessons? And your thoughts about maybe the future there?”

    ANDERSON: “Senator, I appreciate that question and there was a significant investment that went into that airbase. It was in a key area for us to be able to monitor the threat. So, the loss of that is one that we have to find creative ways to continue to get the indicators and warnings of what the terrorists are doing in that area. I think we also have to understand that there is some volatility across the continent. So how do we make smart investments with the partners that we can continue to sustain. I will say that the relationships that we built in Niger with the military over several decades are still there. There is—when the time is right—I believe there will be an opportunity, but that time will have to be determined. And if confirmed, I’ll look at what that is.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. After your confirmation, I guess, by telling committee and people even watching at home—why do we need to have [a] presence in Africa? What [are] your thoughts?”

    ANDERSON: “So, Africa is key to any strategy. It’s just on strategic terrain. It’s just the waterways that it forms between the Strait of Gibraltar all the way down to the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. It [has] critical minerals and resources that are on the continent that we need for the future economy. Both China and Russia see their strategies going through the continent, and they are going to engage there and so we can cede that ground or we can compete in that ground. And I think we have a very powerful tool to compete with. As Admiral Bradley mentioned, nobody brings more credibility to the counterterrorism fight than the U.S. As a matter of fact, when we rescued that hostage in Niger, the next morning [there was an] influential blogger that posted, ‘The Americans came like the lion in the night. They killed their enemies and rescued their own.’ No other nation on Earth could do that.And that is a powerful symbol across the continent and around the world of what our military and what the United States is capable of. And I do think that some level of engagement in Africa does matter. I’d agree it’s an economy of force, but a small investment goes a long way so that we don’t have a strategic surprise that then distracts the United States from focusing on the rising threats in the Pacific and other areas.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Thanks Mr. Chairman.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Zuni Man Charged in Unprovoked Stabbing That Left Victim Seriously Injured

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been charged in federal court for allegedly stabbing another man without provocation, causing serious injuries.

    According to court documents, on the night of June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 36, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, allegedly approached the victim while he was walking with a friend along a residential street in Zuni, New Mexico. Without provocation, Cheama stabbed the victim in the abdomen with a weapon described as either a circular metal pole or a knife, then walked away laughing. The victim sustained serious injuries as a result.

    Multiple witnesses placed Cheama at the scene and described him carrying a backpack and a baton-like object before and during the attack. The investigation revealed that Cheama had previously made statements suggesting he was looking for the victim.

    Cheama is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Cheama faces up to 10 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: ‘We knocked her out with some gummies:’ trafficker sent to prison for conspiring to smuggle toddler from Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has been ordered to prison for her role in an unaccompanied minor smuggling ring, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Vanessa Valadez pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2024, admitting she smuggled a child into the United States for financial gain.

    U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered her to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

    “Those that choose to engage in the human trafficking business are not good people. They aren’t motivated by altruism or sympathy. They are paid to traffic in human beings, and they treat people they smuggle as nothing more than cargo,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will not rest until all such smuggling rings—particularly those that deal in children—are completely eradicated.”

    “The sentencing of this individual underscores the serious consequences for those who exploit and endanger vulnerable populations, especially children,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “Drugging children to facilitate human smuggling is not only criminal it’s inhumane. HSI is committed to identifying and dismantling the criminal networks behind these horrific acts and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.”

    From August to September 2023, Valadez and other family members operated a child smuggling ring working to bring young illegal minors from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, into the United States. All the children were under the age of five. 

    On the night of Sept. 19, 2023, members of the smuggling ring retrieved a young girl from a stash house which the organization members operated. The co-conspirators smuggled the girl across the border and delivered her to Valadez in downtown Laredo. Co-conspirators then took the child further into the United States and delivered her to unknown people.

    Two days later, the ring attempted to transport another young girl. However, law enforcement intercepted them following a routine border inspection at the Juarez Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. To carry out their scheme, co-conspirators had sedated the girl with melatonin gummies and used an unlawfully obtained birth certificate to deceive authorities into believing the girl was a family member. 

    The investigation revealed the smuggling ring had attempted to similarly transport at least four girls into the United States, three of whom remain unidentified and their whereabouts are unknown. Members of the smuggling ring obtained birth certificates of U.S. citizen children to pose as a family unit at ports of entry to the United States. At times, organization members used melatonin gummies to sedate at least one child to ensure a successful smuggling attempt. 

    One text message uncovered in the investigation showed an image depicting an unconscious child and a caption, “La noquiamos con unas gomitas,” translated in English as “we knocked her out with some gummies.”

    Co-conspirators Ana Laura Bryand, 47, Dallas; her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20, Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43, and Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44, all of Laredo; and Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, 32, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty and have all already been sentenced to federal prison.

    ICE-HSI conducted the investigation with Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and assistance from Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: 11 Venezuelan Nationals and One Columbian National Indicted for Financial Fraud in the District of Utah

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today charging a dozen foreign nationals of bank fraud and engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025 at the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. Eleven Venezuelan nationals and one Colombian national are accused of committing financial fraud crimes after they allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud banks in Utah and elsewhere.

    According to court documents, between January 2023 and June 2023, the defendants were involved in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by opening accounts and presenting fraudulent cashier’s checks to be deposited to those accounts. In some instances, defendants deposited multiple counterfeit checks at different branches on the same day. Defendants then laundered the funds by check, cashier’s check, and cash withdrawal.

    Defendants are residents of Salt Lake County:

    1.    Gilberto Emiro Andrade-Romero, 36, of Venezuela
    2.    Felipe Enrique Linares-Lobo aka Carlos M. Hidalgo Noguera, 32, of Venezuela
    3.    Alexis Jose Calixto-Bracho, 25, of Venezuela
    4.    Daniel Jose Fuenmayor-leal, aka Enais Inciarte-Urdaneta, 34, of Venezuela
    5.    Yeritza Astrid Cuello-Plata, 40, of Venezuela
    6.    Federico Javier Gutierrez-Pirela, 36, of Venezuela
    7.    Hendry Ricardo Martinez-Concho, 42, of Venezuela
    8.    Cristina Paola Nava-Yoris, 24, of Venezuela
    9.    Patricia Del Carmen Orozco-Cuello, 37, of Colombia
    10.    Ismael Norberto Rodriguez-Moreno, 47, of Venezuela
    11.    Jorge Luis Urribarri-Vento, 32, of Venezuela
    12.    Rayner Jose Delgado-Quiroz, 24, of Venezuela

    Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.

    The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and a HSI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Brent L. Andrus and Carl D. Lesueur of the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.

    This is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

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

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Introduces African Diaspora Investment and Development Act (AIDA)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))

    Unlocking the development potential of diaspora communities and helping reduce reliance on foreign aid

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Rep. Jonathan J. Jackson (D-IL) introduced the African Diaspora Investment and Development Act (AIDA), groundbreaking legislation that harnesses the economic power of African and Caribbean diaspora communities to advance sustainable development, reduce remittance costs, and align U.S. foreign policy with grassroots investment. 

    Millions of Americans with heritage in Africa and the Caribbean send billions of dollars annually to support loved ones and communities in their countries of origin. Yet, they often face high transaction fees, limited investment tools, and few incentives to grow their impact. AIDA addresses these barriers head-on. 

    As highlighted in Realizing Africa’s Potential: A Journey to Prosperity by Professor Landry Signé, published by the Brookings Institution, the diaspora can be a powerful driver of development in their home countries—not just through remittances, but by fostering trade, investment, research, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge and technology. This dynamic strengthens U.S. interests by empowering African and Caribbean diaspora communities, who are an integral part of the American fabric, to spur economic growth and innovation both abroad and at home, reinforcing U.S. global partnerships and domestic prosperity. 

    The African Diaspora Investment and Development Act: 

    • Reduces the cost of remittances by promoting transparency, competition, and innovation in money transfers.
    • Creates tax incentives for diaspora investments that drive sustainable economic development in African and Caribbean countries.
    • Encourages financial inclusion through fintech and diaspora-owned money transfer platforms.
    • Supports diaspora-led investments with U.S. financial backing.
    • Advances U.S. development goals by strengthening diaspora engagement in entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and community development projects abroad. 

    “The African and Caribbean diasporas are economic engines that deserve recognition and support,” said Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “This bill creates smart incentives that empower families, foster sustainable development, and reflect our values in U.S. foreign policy. AIDA is about unlocking diaspora investment potential. By empowering these communities, we can reduce reliance on foreign aid and embrace a model based on investment, dignity, and shared prosperity.” 

    “This bill is timely and vital, especially at a time when US policy towards Africa and the Diaspora is shifting from aid to trade,” said Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL). “Remittances ($90 billion inflow to Africa in 2023) have surpassed both foreign assistance and direct investment in many countries in Africa and the Caribbean; a source for development and economic growth. AIDA strengthens the Diaspora contributions in GPD growth through investments and family support – food, housing, education, health care, etc.” 

    “Reducing remittance costs and eliminating taxes on remittances are critical measures that ensure every dollar sent goes further, directly benefiting health, education, small businesses, and local infrastructure,” said President of the Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group, Susan Edionwe. “These changes will empower organizations like ours, whose work relies heavily on diaspora contributions, to expand our impact and better serve the people of Nigeria and beyond.” 

    “The proposed AIDA bill is a fundamental recognition that as a nation of immigrants the USA holds the ultimate power of transformation in the contributions of its diaspora to the rest of the world,” said Founder and CEO of Hamstrings, Inc., Eric V. Guichard. “AIDA is about leveraging these diaspora resources for good. It is a paradigm shift in development finance whose time has come.” 

    “Remittances from family and friends in the U.S. to these regions primarily address basic necessities for recipients including housing, food, education, services, small business support and humanitarian assistance,” said Haiti Renewal Alliance. “A framework for partnerships with the U.S. DFC and diasporas via the AIDA Act to channel remittances for coordinated and robust investments with people on the ground in African and Caribbean countries, ushers the U.S. leading the next generation of successful global development for inclusive growth, peace, stability and opportunity, appreciating diaspora from Africa and Caribbean as key contributors.” 

    During a time when development assistance from the United States in Africa and in the Caribbean, is being drastically curtailed or even eliminated, African and Caribbean countries will need to increasingly rely on remittances coming from the Diaspora to meet basic needs and to get by,” said President of Constituency for Africa (CFA), Melvin Foote. “The proposed AIDA legislation if passed, would certainly be a huge step in the right direction.” 

    The legislation has received early praise from diaspora organizations, development experts, and financial inclusion advocates. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Secures Nearly $190 Million in Federal Investments for New Mexico in Committee-Passed Appropriations Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced funding secured for New Mexico communities through the Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill.

    From both appropriations bills, Senator Luján secured $189,820,000 for key local projects that will strengthen our national security, boost violence intervention programs, and equip law enforcement with the resources needed to keep New Mexico communities safe.  

    “Across New Mexico, these vital investments will deliver resources to enhance public safety in our communities and upgrade infrastructure at our military bases to boost our military’s readiness and safety,” said Senator Luján. “This funding will equip our brave law enforcement officers with the tools they need to protect New Mexicans, support programs aimed at reducing youth violence and violence in Tribal communities, and reinforce critical infrastructure at our military bases. I’m proud to have fought to secure these investments for our communities, and I’ll continue working to deliver the federal support our families and communities need and deserve.”

    The Committee process is the first step, and the appropriations bills will next be considered by the full U.S. Senate.

    Senator Luján Secured Nearly $190 Million for the Following Local Projects:

    Strengthening New Mexico’s Air Force Bases:

    • $90,000,000 for Cannon Air Force Base to construct a 192-bed dormitory. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $83,000,000 for Kirtland Air Force Base to construct a Space Rapid Capabilities Office. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $8,100,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Cannon Air Force Base, specifically for ADAL Security Forces Facility. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $2,000,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Kirtland Air Force Base, specifically for the design for the Wyoming Gate Project. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $700,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Holloman Air Force Base, specifically for the design for the Holloman High Speed Test Track. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.

    Boosting Public Safety Throughout New Mexico:

    • $1,069,000 for the City of Albuquerque’s Real Time Crime Center for the purchase of law enforcement technology.
    • $1,042,000 for Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new fleet of vehicles.
    • $1,031,000 for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Police to provide 5G technology in fleet vehicles. Secured by Senator Luján, Senator Heinrich, and Representative Stansbury in the House-companion bill.
    • $1,000,000 for UNM Office of the Medical Investigator DNA processing laboratory to allow for the purchase of equipment for DNA identification. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $500,000 for Bernalillo County public safety technology upgrades to address high rates of crime in the Albuquerque metro area. Secured by Senator Luján, Senator Heinrich, and Representative Vasquez in the House-companion bill.
    • $250,000 for the San Juan County Partnership’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to assist in mitigating individuals with substance use disorder or mental/behavioral health challenges from continuously interacting with law enforcement.

    Funding Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs:

    • $1,0350,000 for the City of Albuquerque’s expansion of school-based violence intervention program to assist at risk students by improving grades and reducing youth violence.
    • $93,000 for the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native women to address challenges in domestic violence and sexual violence in Tribal communities.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Latest CBO Analysis of Final Republican Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office Predicts Republican Bill Will Add $3.4 Trillion to National Debt

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published analysis that the final version of the Republican Budget Betrayal will add $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years:

    “The latest CBO analysis confirms what we’ve known all along: the Republican budget betrayal will deal a devastating blow to our nation’s fiscal future and harm New Mexico families.

    “This law will rip health care away from millions of Americans, take food off the tables of hungry children, and pile an additional $3.4 trillion to the national debt. To satisfy President Trump’s demands, Congressional Republicans rushed through a reckless plan that cuts critical lifelines for working families, all to hand out massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.

    “The facts are clear: Congressional Republicans turned a blind eye and pushed through legislation that hurts children, families, and seniors, and leaves the American people to foot the bill.”

    Senator Luján backed a series of amendments and motions to the Republican reconciliation bill aimed at protecting access to health care and nutrition programs and lowering costs for New Mexicans. Senate Republicans blocked these common-sense proposals from Senator Luján and Senate Democrats. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Update 15: Alberta wildfire update (July 22, 3 p.m.)

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI: First Busey Corporation Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEAWOOD, Kan., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) Announces 2025 Second Quarter Earnings.

    Net Income   Diluted EPS   Net Interest Margin1   ROAA1   ROATCE1
    $47.4 million   $0.52   3.49%   1.00%   11.24%
    $57.4 million (adj)2   $0.63 (adj)2   3.33% (adj)2   1.21% (adj)2   13.61% (adj)2
                     
    MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN & CEO
    This quarter’s bank merger and data conversion represents a significant milestone for our organization, as we officially welcome CrossFirst Bank customers to Busey Bank. We are proud to offer a premier, full-service banking experience for both consumer and commercial clients, with 78 locations spanning 10 states. Our comprehensive services also include a robust wealth management platform and cutting-edge payment technology solutions through FirsTech, Inc. This transformational partnership allows us to enhance Busey’s rich 157-year legacy of service excellence, further advancing our organization for the benefit of all our Pillars—associates, customers, communities, and shareholders.

    Van A. Dukeman
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

     

    FINANCIAL RESULTS

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Total interest income   $ 247,446     $ 166,815     $ 131,939     $ 414,261     $ 257,759  
    Total interest expense     94,263       63,084       49,407       157,347       99,373  
    Net interest income     153,183       103,731       82,532       256,914       158,386  
    Provision for credit losses1     5,700       45,593       1,908       51,293       6,268  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses1     147,483       58,138       80,624       205,621       152,118  
    Total noninterest income     44,863       21,223       33,703       66,086       68,616  
    Total noninterest expense1     127,833       112,030       75,906       239,863       147,353  
    Income (loss) before income taxes     64,513       (32,669 )     38,421       31,844       73,381  
    Income taxes     17,109       (2,679 )     11,064       14,430       19,799  
    Net income (loss)     47,404       (29,990 )     27,357       17,414       53,582  
    Dividends on preferred stock     155                   155        
    Net income (loss) available to common stockholders   $ 47,249     $ (29,990 )   $ 27,357     $ 17,259     $ 53,582  
                         
    Basic earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.53     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.48     $ 0.22     $ 0.95  
    Diluted earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.52     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.47     $ 0.22     $ 0.94  
    Effective income tax rate     26.52 %     8.20 %     28.80 %     45.31 %     26.98 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses; therefore, it is no longer included within total noninterest expense.

    Following the acquisition of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. (“CrossFirst”) and its subsidiary CrossFirst Bank, by First Busey Corporation, the holding company for Busey Bank, in the first quarter of 2025, CrossFirst Bank was merged with and into Busey Bank (the “Bank Merger”) on June 20, 2025. At the time of the Bank Merger, CrossFirst Bank banking centers became banking centers of Busey Bank. Throughout this document, we refer to First Busey Corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, as “Busey,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our.”

    Busey’s net income for the second quarter of 2025 was $47.4 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $30.0 million, or $0.44 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2025, and net income of $27.4 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024. Annualized return on average assets and annualized return on average tangible common equity2 were 1.00% and 11.24%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2025. The second quarter of 2025 represented the first full quarter in which the CrossFirst acquisition contributed to Busey’s financial results.

    Busey views certain non-operating items, including acquisition-related expenses, restructuring charges, and nonrecurring strategic events, as adjustments to net income reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). We also adjust for net securities gains and losses to align with industry and research analyst reporting. The objective of our presentation of adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings metrics is to allow investors and analysts to more clearly identify quarterly trends in core earnings performance. Non-operating pre-tax adjustments for acquisition and restructuring expenses2 in the second quarter of 2025 were $16.6 million, with an additional $4.0 million adjustment to the initial provision for unfunded commitments resulting from the adoption of a new Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) model. Further, net securities gains were $6.0 million, almost entirely related to unrealized gains on Busey’s approximately 3% equity ownership of a financial institution that was the target of an announced acquisition at a significant market premium. For more information and a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures (which are identified with the End Note labeled as 2) in tabular form, see “Non-GAAP Financial Information” beginning on page 13.

    Adjusted net income,2 which excludes the impact of non-GAAP adjustments, was $57.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $39.9 million, or $0.57 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2025 and $30.5 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024. Annualized adjusted return on average assets2 and annualized adjusted return on average tangible common equity2 were 1.21% and 13.61%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2025.

    Pre-Provision Net Revenue2

    Pre-provision net revenue2 was $64.2 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $28.7 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $40.7 million for the second quarter of 2024. Pre-provision net revenue to average assets2 was 1.35% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 0.78% for the first quarter of 2025, and 1.35% for the second quarter of 2024.

    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue2 was $80.8 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $54.7 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $42.6 million for the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted pre-provision net revenue to average assets2 was 1.70% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 1.50% for the first quarter of 2025 and 1.42% for the second quarter of 2024.

    Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin2

    Net interest income was $153.2 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $103.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $82.5 million in the second quarter of 2024.

    Net interest margin2 was 3.49% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.16% for the first quarter of 2025 and 3.03% for the second quarter of 2024. Excluding purchase accounting accretion, adjusted net interest margin2 was 3.33% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.08% in the first quarter of 2025 and 3.00% in the second quarter of 2024.

    Components of the 33 basis point increase in net interest margin2 during the second quarter of 2025, which includes a full quarter of assets assumed in the CrossFirst acquisition, were as follows:

    • Increased loan portfolio and held for sale loan yields contributed +54 basis points
    • Increased purchase accounting accretion contributed +8 basis points
    • Securities repositioning executed in March contributed +4 basis points
    • Decreased borrowing expense contributed +4 basis points, of which +2 basis points were related to the redemption of subordinated debt in June
    • Increased non-maturity deposit funding costs contributed -25 basis points
    • Decreased cash and securities portfolio yield contributed -12 basis points

    Based on our most recent Asset Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”) model, a +100 basis point parallel rate shock is expected to increase net interest income by 2.8% over the subsequent twelve-month period. Busey continues to evaluate and execute off-balance sheet hedging and balance sheet repositioning strategies as well as embedding rate protection in our asset originations to provide stabilization to net interest income in lower rate environments. Time deposit and savings specials have continued to stabilize the funding base, and we had excess earning cash during the second quarter of 2025. Brokered deposit balances were reduced by $368.6 million during the second quarter of 2025 and at June 30, 2025, the Bank had $353.6 million, or 2.2% of total deposits, of remaining brokered funding. Total deposit cost of funds increased, as expected, from 1.91% during the first quarter of 2025 to 2.21% during the second quarter of 2025. Deposit cost of funds increased due to a full quarter of the higher mix of acquired CrossFirst indexed/managed rate customer products and brokered deposits. Busey will continue to deploy excess cash to pay down non-core and non-relationship high cost funding, which we anticipate will compress the asset base in the short term while helping to reduce the Bank’s overall funding cost. We expect the deposit beta will lessen during the year and is expected to normalize in a range between 45% and 50% of the upper limit of the federal funds target range.

    Noninterest Income

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    NONINTEREST INCOME                  
    Wealth management fees $ 16,777   $ 17,364     $ 15,917     $ 34,141     $ 31,466  
    Payment technology solutions   4,956     5,073       5,915       10,029       11,624  
    Treasury management services   4,981     3,017       2,145       7,998       4,046  
    Card services and ATM fees   4,880     3,709       3,430       8,589       6,390  
    Other service charges on deposit accounts   1,513     1,533       2,321       3,046       4,669  
    Mortgage revenue   776     329       478       1,105       1,224  
    Income on bank owned life insurance   1,745     1,446       1,442       3,191       2,861  
    Realized net gains (losses) on the sale of mortgage servicing rights             277             7,742  
    Net securities gains (losses)   5,997     (15,768 )     (353 )     (9,771 )     (6,728 )
    Other noninterest income   3,238     4,520       2,131       7,758       5,322  
    Total noninterest income $ 44,863   $ 21,223     $ 33,703     $ 66,086     $ 68,616  
                                         

    Total noninterest income increased by 111.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 33.1% compared to the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to net securities gains and losses, as well as the benefit of a full quarter of income from the CrossFirst acquisition.

    Excluding the impact of net securities gains and losses and the gains on the sale of mortgage servicing rights, adjusted noninterest income2 increased by 5.1% to $38.9 million, or 20.2% of operating revenue2, during the second quarter of 2025, compared to $37.0 million, or 26.3% of operating revenue2, for the first quarter of 2025. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, adjusted noninterest income2 increased by 15.1% from $33.8 million, or 29.0% of operating revenue.2

    Our fee-based businesses continue to add revenue diversification. Wealth management fees, wealth management referral fees included in other noninterest income, and payment technology solutions contributed 56.4% of adjusted noninterest income2 for the second quarter of 2025.

    Noteworthy components of noninterest income are as follows:

    • Wealth management fees declined by 3.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The decrease in the second quarter of 2025 was primarily related to seasonal fees, with a decrease in farm management fees, partially offset by higher tax preparation fees. Compared to the second quarter of 2024 wealth management fees increased by 5.4%. Busey’s Wealth Management division ended the second quarter of 2025 with $14.10 billion in assets under care, compared to $13.68 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025 and $13.02 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2024. Our portfolio management team continues to focus on long-term returns and managing risk in the face of volatile markets and has outperformed its blended benchmark3 over the last three and five years.
    • Payment technology solutions includes income from electronic payments, merchant processing, and lockbox. Revenue in this category declined by 2.3% compared the first quarter of 2025 and declined by 16.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024, primarily due to decreases in income from electronic payments.
    • Treasury management services consist primarily of business analysis charges and wire transfer fees on commercial accounts. Income from treasury management services increased by 65.1% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 132.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024 due to the addition of CrossFirst commercial services.
    • Card services and ATM fees, which include both commercial and consumer accounts, increased by 31.6% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 42.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to addition of CrossFirst corporate card services.
    • Other service charges on deposit accounts declined by 1.3% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and declined by 34.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Declines are largely related to lower non-sufficient fund charges.
    • Other noninterest income decreased by 28.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to declines in gains on commercial loan sales, loss on sales of other real estate owned and a related reduction in income from the sold property, and decreases in venture capital investments. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, other noninterest income increased by 51.9%, primarily due to increases in venture capital investments, commercial loan servicing income, and other loan fee income.

    Operating Efficiency

      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE                  
    Salaries, wages, and employee benefits $ 78,360   $ 67,563   $ 43,478   $ 145,923   $ 85,568
    Data processing   14,021     9,575     7,100     23,596     13,650
    Net occupancy expense of premises   7,832     5,799     4,590     13,631     9,310
    Furniture and equipment expenses   2,409     1,744     1,695     4,153     3,508
    Professional fees   2,874     9,511     2,495     12,385     4,748
    Amortization of intangible assets   4,592     3,083     2,629     7,675     5,038
    Interchange expense   1,297     1,343     1,733     2,640     3,344
    FDIC insurance   2,424     2,167     1,460     4,591     2,860
    Other noninterest expense1   14,024     11,245     10,726     25,269     19,327
    Total noninterest expense1 $ 127,833   $ 112,030   $ 75,906   $ 239,863   $ 147,353

    ___________________________________________

    1. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses; therefore, it is no longer included within other noninterest expense or total noninterest expense.

    Total noninterest expense increased by 14.1% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and increased by 68.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Growth in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to nonrecurring acquisition expenses related to the CrossFirst acquisition, added costs for operating expenses for two banks during the majority of the second quarter, until the banks were merged on June 20, 2025, and increased expense associated with the larger organization and branch network. Annual pre-tax expense synergy estimates resulting from the CrossFirst acquisition remain on track at $25.0 million, and we expect 50% of the identified synergies to be realized in 2025 and 100% in 2026.

    Adjusted noninterest expense,2 which excludes acquisition and restructuring expenses and amortization of intangible assets, was $106.6 million in the second quarter of 2025, a 28.6% increase compared to $82.9 million in the first quarter of 2025 and a 50.1% increase compared to $71.1 million in the second quarter of 2024.

    Noteworthy components of noninterest expense are as follows:

    • Salaries, wages, and employee benefits expenses increased by $10.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2025, with acquisition and restructuring expenses declining by $4.3 million. In connection with the CrossFirst acquisition in March and the addition of 16 banking centers, Busey’s workforce expanded, which resulted in only one month of associated expenses during the first quarter of 2025 in contrast to a full quarter of associated expenses reflected in the Company’s results for the second quarter of 2025. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, salaries, wages, and employee benefits expenses increased by $34.9 million, of which $10.4 million was attributable to increases in acquisition and restructuring expenses. Including associates added in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition, Busey has added 430 FTEs over the past year.
    • Data processing expense increased by $4.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2025 and by $6.9 million compared to the second quarter of 2024, of which $1.7 million and $3.6 million, respectively, was attributable to increases in acquisition and restructuring expenses. Busey has continued to make investments in technology enhancements and has also experienced inflation-driven price increases.
    • Professional fees declined by $6.6 million compared to the first quarter of 2025, which was primarily driven by a $7.0 million decrease in acquisition and restructuring expenses. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, professional fees increased by $0.4 million, primarily due to increased audit and accounting fees and legal fees, partially offset by $0.1 million declines in acquisition and restructuring expenses.
    • Amortization of intangible assets increased by $1.5 million compared to the first quarter of 2025, and by $2.0 million compared to the second quarter of 2024. The CrossFirst acquisition added an estimated $81.8 million of finite-lived intangible assets with amortization of $2.4 million and $3.1 million during the second quarter of 2025 and the first six months of 2025, respectively. Busey uses an accelerated amortization methodology.
    • Other noninterest expense increased by $2.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2025, and increased by $3.3 million compared to the second quarter of 2024. Items contributing to the increases included marketing, business development, supplies, and onboarding costs as well as increases in acquisition and restructuring expenses of $0.2 million compared to the first quarter of 2025 and $0.5 million compared to the second quarter of 2024.

    Busey’s efficiency ratio2 was 63.9% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 77.1% for the first quarter of 2025 and 62.6% for the second quarter of 2024. Our adjusted efficiency2 ratio was 55.3% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 58.7% for the first quarter of 2025, and 60.9% for the second quarter of 2024.

    Busey’s annualized ratio of adjusted noninterest expense to average assets was 2.24% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 2.27% for the first quarter of 2025 and 2.36% for the second quarter of 2024. As our business grows, Busey remains focused on prudently managing our expense base and operating efficiency.

    BALANCE SHEET STRENGTH

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
               
      As of
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    ASSETS          
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 752,352     $ 1,200,292     $ 285,269  
    Debt securities available for sale   2,217,788       2,273,874       1,829,896  
    Debt securities held to maturity   802,965       815,402       851,261  
    Equity securities   16,171       10,828       9,618  
    Loans held for sale   10,497       7,270       11,286  
    Portfolio loans   13,808,619       13,868,357       7,998,912  
    Allowance for credit losses   (183,334 )     (195,210 )     (85,226 )
    Restricted bank stock   77,112       53,518       6,884  
    Premises and equipment, net   181,394       182,003       121,647  
    Right of use assets   38,065       40,594       11,137  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net   488,181       496,118       370,580  
    Other assets   708,930       711,206       560,152  
    Total assets $ 18,918,740     $ 19,464,252     $ 11,971,416  
               
    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Liabilities          
    Deposits:          
      Noninterest-bearing deposits $ 3,590,363     $ 3,693,070     $ 2,832,776  
      Interest-bearing checking, savings, and money market deposits   9,578,953       9,675,324       5,619,470  
      Time deposits   2,632,456       3,091,076       1,523,889  
    Total deposits   15,801,772       16,459,470       9,976,135  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   158,030       137,340       140,283  
    Short-term borrowings         11,209        
    Long-term debt   189,726       313,535       227,245  
    Junior subordinated debt owed to unconsolidated trusts   77,187       77,117       74,693  
    Lease liabilities   39,235       41,111       11,469  
    Other liabilities   240,244       244,864       207,781  
    Total liabilities   16,506,194       17,284,646       10,637,606  
               
    Stockholders’ equity          
    Retained earnings   273,799       249,484       261,820  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (155,311 )     (172,810 )     (220,326 )
    Other stockholders’ equity1   2,294,058       2,102,932       1,292,316  
    Total stockholders’ equity   2,412,546       2,179,606       1,333,810  
    Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity $ 18,918,740     $ 19,464,252     $ 11,971,416  

    ___________________________________________

    1. Net balance of preferred stock ($0.001 par value), common stock ($0.001 par value), additional paid-in capital, and treasury stock.
    AVERAGE BALANCES (unaudited)
                       
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    ASSETS                  
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 868,164   $ 861,021   $ 346,381   $ 864,613   $ 470,287
    Investment securities   3,083,284     2,782,435     2,737,313     2,933,690     2,822,228
    Loans held for sale   6,899     3,443     9,353     5,181     7,093
    Portfolio loans   13,840,190     9,838,337     8,010,636     11,850,318     7,804,976
    Interest-earning assets   17,700,356     13,363,594     11,000,785     15,543,955     11,003,344
    Total assets   19,068,086     14,831,298     12,089,692     16,961,396     12,056,950
                       
    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   3,542,617     3,036,127     2,816,293     3,290,770     2,762,439
    Interest-bearing deposits   12,450,529     9,142,781     7,251,582     10,805,793     7,290,844
    Total deposits   15,993,146     12,178,908     10,067,875     14,096,563     10,053,283
    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase   141,978     144,838     144,370     143,400     161,514
    Interest-bearing liabilities   12,985,015     9,627,841     7,725,832     11,315,702     7,778,744
    Total liabilities   16,783,504     12,896,222     10,757,877     14,850,601     10,753,180
    Stockholders’ equity – preferred   103,619     2,669         53,423    
    Stockholders’ equity – common   2,180,963     1,932,407     1,331,815     2,057,372     1,303,770
    Tangible common equity1   1,686,490     1,521,387     955,591     1,604,394     939,150

    ___________________________________________

    1. See Non-GAAP Financial Information for reconciliation.

    Busey’s financial strength is built on a long-term conservative operating approach. That focus has endured over time and will continue to guide us in the future.

    Total assets were $18.92 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared to $19.46 billion as of March 31, 2025, and $11.97 billion as of June 30, 2024. Average interest-earning assets were $17.70 billion for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $13.36 billion for the first quarter of 2025, and $11.00 billion for the second quarter of 2024.

    Portfolio Loans

    We remain steadfast in our conservative approach to underwriting and our disciplined approach to pricing. Loan demand has been tempered with borrowers hesitant to invest because of lingering macroeconomic uncertainty. At the same time, our commercial real estate portfolio continues to season, resulting in payoffs as properties are completed, stabilized, and refinanced to permanent markets or sold. We expect continued pressure from paydowns within our commercial real estate portfolio through the remainder of 2025. Portfolio loans totaled $13.81 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $13.87 billion at March 31, 2025, and $8.00 billion at June 30, 2024.

    Average portfolio loans were $13.84 billion for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $9.84 billion for the first quarter of 2025 and $8.01 billion for the second quarter of 2024.

    Asset Quality

    Asset quality continues to be strong. Busey Bank maintains a well-diversified loan portfolio and, as a matter of policy and practice, limits concentration exposure in any particular loan segment. Following the Bank Merger in June, we are operating as one bank, with a singular credit policy, concentration limits, and monitoring that will continue to align with Busey Bank’s pillars of credit quality.

    ASSET QUALITY (unaudited)
               
      As of
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Total assets $ 18,918,740     $ 19,464,252     $ 11,971,416  
    Portfolio loans   13,808,619       13,868,357       7,998,912  
    Loans 30 – 89 days past due   42,188       18,554       23,463  
    Non-performing loans:          
    Non-accrual loans   53,614       48,647       8,393  
    Loans 90+ days past due and still accruing   941       6,077       712  
    Non-performing loans   54,555       54,724       9,105  
    Other non-performing assets   3,596       4,757       90  
    Non-performing assets   58,151       59,481       9,195  
    Substandard (excludes 90+ days past due)   117,580       131,078       86,579  
    Classified assets $ 175,731     $ 190,559     $ 95,774  
               
    Allowance for credit losses $ 183,334     $ 195,210     $ 85,226  
               
    RATIOS          
    Non-performing loans to portfolio loans   0.40 %     0.39 %     0.11 %
    Non-performing assets to total assets   0.31 %     0.31 %     0.08 %
    Non-performing assets to portfolio loans and other non-performing assets   0.42 %     0.43 %     0.11 %
    Allowance for credit losses to portfolio loans   1.33 %     1.41 %     1.07 %
    Coverage ratio of the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans 3.36 x   3.57 x   9.36 x
    Classified assets to Bank Tier 1 capital1and reserves   7.70 %     8.40 %     6.40 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. Capital amounts for the second quarter of 2025 are not yet finalized and are subject to change.

    Loans 30-89 days past due increased by $23.6 million compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $18.7 million compared to June 30, 2024. Increases are primarily due to two commercial credits, one of which—representing approximately $12.5 million—was brought current after the end of the second quarter.

    Non-performing loans decreased by $0.2 million compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $45.5 million compared to June 30, 2024, with the increase compared to the prior year due to loans purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD” loans) assumed in the CrossFirst acquisition. Non-performing loans were 0.40% of portfolio loans as of June 30, 2025, a 1 basis point increase from March 31, 2025, and a 29 basis point increase from June 30, 2024.

    Non-performing assets decreased by $1.3 million compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $49.0 million compared to June 30, 2024, with the increase compared to the prior year due to the PCD loans assumed in the CrossFirst acquisition. Non-performing assets represented 0.31% of total assets as of both June 30, 2025, and March 31, 2025, which is a 23 basis point increase from June 30, 2024.

    Classified assets decreased by $14.8 million compared to March 31, 2025, and increased by $80.0 million compared to June 30, 2024, with the increase compared to the prior year due to the PCD loans assumed in the CrossFirst acquisition.

    The allowance for credit losses was $183.3 million as of June 30, 2025, representing 1.33% of total portfolio loans outstanding, and providing coverage of 3.36 times our non-performing loans balance.

    NET CHARGE-OFFS (RECOVERIES) AND PROVISION EXPENSE (RELEASE) (unaudited)
                       
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands) June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) $ 12,882   $ 31,429   $ 9,856     $ 44,311   $ 15,072  
                       
    Provision for loan losses1 $ 1,005   $ 42,452   $ 2,277     $ 43,457   $ 7,315  
    Provision for unfunded commitments2   4,695     3,141     (369 )     7,836     (1,047 )
    Provision for credit losses3 $ 5,700   $ 45,593   $ 1,908     $ 51,293   $ 6,268  

    ___________________________________________

    1. Amounts reported as provision for loan losses for periods ending prior to June 30, 2025, were previously reported as provision for credit losses. March 31, 2025, included $42.4 million to establish an initial allowance for credit losses for loans purchased without credit deterioration (“non-PCD” loans) following the close of the CrossFirst acquisition.
    2. June 30, 2025, included an additional $4.0 million adjustment to the initial provision for unfunded commitments resulting from the adoption of a new CECL model. March 31, 2025, included $3.1 million to establish an initial allowance for unfunded commitments following the close of the CrossFirst acquisition.
    3. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses.

    Net charge-offs decreased by $18.5 million when compared to the first quarter of 2025, and increased by $3.0 million when compared with the second quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs during the second quarter of 2025 primarily related to one legacy-Busey medical office credit. Net charge-offs during the first quarter of 2025 included $29.6 million related to PCD loans acquired from CrossFirst Bank, which were fully reserved at acquisition and did not require recording additional provision expense.

    The $1.0 million provision for loan losses recorded in the second quarter of 2025 included a release of the PCD provision of $11.8 million due to PCD loan payoffs/paydowns and non-PCD provision expense of $12.8 million to support charge-offs, to adjust for the loan portfolio mix, and as a response to economic factors.

    Deposits

    Total deposits were $15.80 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $16.46 billion at March 31, 2025, and $9.98 billion at June 30, 2024. Average deposits were $15.99 billion for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $12.18 billion for the first quarter of 2025 and $10.07 billion for the second quarter of 2024. The deliberate run-off of higher cost brokered deposits and listing service CD reductions accounted for $386.8 million of the quarter over quarter decrease as well as seasonal tax payments that put additional pressure on funding during the quarter.

    Core deposits2 accounted for 92.5% of total deposits as of June 30, 2025. The quality of our core deposit franchise is a critical value driver of our institution. We estimated that 33% of our deposits were uninsured and uncollateralized4 as of June 30, 2025, and we have sufficient on- and off-balance sheet liquidity to manage deposit fluctuations and the liquidity needs of our customers.

    We have executed various deposit campaigns to attract term funding and savings accounts at a lower rate than our marginal cost of funds. New certificate of deposit production in the second quarter of 2025 had a weighted average term of 8.0 months at a rate of 3.74%, which was 80 basis points below our average marginal wholesale equivalent-term funding cost during the quarter.

    Borrowings

    On June 1, 2025, Busey redeemed the entire $125.0 million outstanding principal amount of its 5.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2030 (the “Subordinated Notes”). The aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon up to, but excluding, June 1, 2025, was $128.3 million.

    Liquidity

    As of June 30, 2025, Busey’s available sources of on- and off-balance sheet liquidity5 totaled $7.95 billion. Furthermore, Busey’s balance sheet liquidity profile continues to be aided by the cash flows expected from Busey’s relatively short-duration securities portfolio. Those cash flows were approximately $123.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. Cash flows from maturing securities within our portfolio are expected to be approximately $181.0 million for the remainder of 2025, with a current book yield of 2.52%, and approximately $289.7 million for 2026, with a current book yield of 2.58%.

    Capital Strength

    The strength of our balance sheet is also reflected in our capital foundation. Although still impacted by the strategic deployment of capital for the CrossFirst acquisition, as well as by Busey’s active share repurchase program, our capital ratios remain strong, and as of June 30, 2025, our estimated regulatory capital ratios6 continued to provide a buffer of more than $870 million above levels required to be designated well-capitalized. Busey’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio is estimated6 to be 12.22% at June 30, 2025, compared to 12.00% at March 31, 2025, and 13.20% at June 30, 2024. Our Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets ratio is estimated6 to be 15.75% at June 30, 2025, compared to 14.88% at March 31, 2025, and 17.50% at June 30, 2024.

    Busey’s tangible common equity2 was $1.71 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $1.68 billion at March 31, 2025, and $963.2 million at June 30, 2024. Tangible common equity2 represented 9.27% of tangible assets at June 30, 2025, compared to 8.83% at March 31, 2025, and 8.30% at June 30, 2024.

    Busey’s tangible book value per common share2 was $19.18 at June 30, 2025, compared to $18.62 at March 31, 2025, and $16.97 at June 30, 2024, reflecting a 13.0% year-over-year increase.

    Dividends

    Busey’s strong capital levels, coupled with its earnings, have allowed the Company to provide a steady return to its stockholders through dividends. During the second quarter of 2025, Busey paid a dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock. Busey has consistently paid dividends to its common stockholders since the bank holding company was organized in 1980. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2025, Busey paid a dividend of $20.00 per share on its Series A Non-cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, which was issued in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition.

    Series B Preferred Stock Issuance

    On May 20, 2025, Busey issued an aggregate of 8,600,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Busey’s 8.25% Fixed-Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of Series B Preferred Stock (equivalent to $25 per Depositary Share). Additional information about the Depositary Shares and Series B Preferred Stock issuance can be found in Busey’s 8-K filed with the SEC on May 20, 2025, and the related exhibits thereto.

    Share Repurchases

    During the second quarter of 2025, Busey’s board of directors authorized the purchase of up to 2,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock under Busey’s stock repurchase plan. Busey purchased 1,012,000 shares of its common stock under the plan during the second quarter of 2025 at a weighted average price of $21.40 per share for a total of $21.7 million. As of June 30, 2025, Busey had 2,687,275 shares remaining available for repurchase under the plan.

    SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS INVESTOR PRESENTATION

    For additional information on Busey’s financial condition and operating results, please refer to our Q2 2025 Earnings Investor Presentation furnished via Form 8‑K on July 22, 2025, in connection with this earnings release.

    CORPORATE PROFILE

    As of June 30, 2025, First Busey Corporation (Nasdaq: BUSE) was a $18.92 billion financial holding company headquartered in Leawood, Kansas.

    Busey Bank, a wholly-owned bank subsidiary of First Busey Corporation headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, had total assets of $18.87 billion as of June 30, 2025. Busey Bank currently has 78 banking centers, with 21 in Central Illinois markets, 17 in suburban Chicago markets, 20 in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, four in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, three in the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area, three in Southwest Florida, one in Indianapolis, two in Oklahoma City, one in Tulsa, one in Wichita, one in Denver, one in Colorado Springs, one in Phoenix, one in Tucson, and one in New Mexico. More information about Busey Bank can be found at busey.com.

    Through Busey’s Wealth Management division, the Company provides a full range of asset management, investment, brokerage, fiduciary, philanthropic advisory, tax preparation, and farm management services to individuals, businesses, and foundations. Assets under care totaled $14.10 billion as of June 30, 2025. More information about Busey’s Wealth Management services can be found at busey.com/wealth-management.

    Busey Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FirsTech, specializes in the evolving financial technology needs of small and medium-sized businesses, highly regulated enterprise industries, and financial institutions. FirsTech provides comprehensive and innovative payment technology solutions, including online, mobile, and voice-recognition bill payments; money and data movement; merchant services; direct debit services; lockbox remittance processing for payments made by mail; and walk-in payments at retail agents. Additionally, FirsTech simplifies client workflows through integrations enabling support with billing, reconciliation, bill reminders, and treasury services. More information about FirsTech can be found at firstechpayments.com.

    For the fourth consecutive year, Busey was named among Forbes’ 2025’s America’s Best Banks. In 2025, Forbes also recognized Busey as a Best-in-State Bank, based on rankings of customer service, quality of financial advice, fee structures, ease of digital services, accessing help at branch locations and the degree of trust inspired. Busey was also named among the 2024 Best Banks to Work For by American Banker and the 2024 Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pensions and Investments. We are honored to be consistently recognized as an outstanding financial services organization with an engaged culture of integrity and commitment to community development.

    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    This earnings release contains certain financial information determined by methods other than GAAP. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, together with the related GAAP measures, in analysis of Busey’s performance and in making business decisions, as well as for comparison to Busey’s peers. Busey believes the adjusted measures are useful for investors and management to understand the effects of certain non-core and non-recurring items and provide additional perspective on Busey’s performance over time.

    The following tables present reconciliations between these non-GAAP measures and what management believes to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

    These non-GAAP disclosures have inherent limitations and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating results reported in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Tax effected numbers included in these non-GAAP disclosures are based on estimated statutory rates, estimated federal income tax rates, or effective tax rates, as noted with the tables below.

    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)

    Pre-Provision Net Revenue and Related Measures
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Net interest income (GAAP)   $ 153,183     $ 103,731     $ 82,532     $ 256,914     $ 158,386  
    Total noninterest income (GAAP)     44,863       21,223       33,703       66,086       68,616  
    Net security (gains) losses (GAAP)     (5,997 )     15,768       353       9,771       6,728  
    Total noninterest expense (GAAP)1     (127,833 )     (112,030 )     (75,906 )     (239,863 )     (147,353 )
    Pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP) [a]   64,216       28,692       40,682       92,908       86,377  
    Acquisition and restructuring expenses, excluding initial provision expenses     16,600       26,026       2,212       42,626       2,620  
    Realized net (gains) losses on the sale of mortgage service rights                 (277 )           (7,742 )
    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue (Non-GAAP) [b] $ 80,816     $ 54,718     $ 42,617     $ 135,534     $ 81,255  
                         
    Average total assets [c] $ 19,068,086     $ 14,831,298     $ 12,089,692     $ 16,961,396     $ 12,056,950  
                         
    Pre-provision net revenue to average total assets (Non-GAAP)2 [a÷c]   1.35 %     0.78 %     1.35 %     1.10 %     1.44 %
    Adjusted pre-provision net revenue to average total assets (Non-GAAP)2 [b÷c]   1.70 %     1.50 %     1.42 %     1.61 %     1.36 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses; therefore, it is no longer included within total noninterest expense.
    2. Annualized measure.
    Adjusted Net Income, Average Tangible Common Equity, and Related Ratios
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Net income (loss) (GAAP) [a] $ 47,404     $ (29,990 )   $ 27,357     $ 17,414     $ 53,582  
    Day 2 provision for credit losses1           45,572             45,572        
    Adjustment of initial provision for unfunded commitments due to adoption of new model1     4,030                   4,030        
    Other acquisition expenses     16,600       26,026       2,212       42,626       2,497  
    Restructuring expenses                             123  
    Net securities (gains) losses     (5,997 )     15,768       353       9,771       6,728  
    Realized net (gains) losses on the sale of mortgage servicing rights                 (277 )           (7,742 )
    Related tax (benefit) expense2     (4,971 )     (22,069 )     (572 )     (27,040 )     (402 )
    Non-recurring deferred tax adjustment3     328       4,591       1,446       4,919       1,446  
    Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)4 [b]   57,394       39,898       30,519       97,292       56,232  
    Preferred dividends [c]   155                   155        
    Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (Non-GAAP) [d] $ 57,239     $ 39,898     $ 30,519     $ 97,137     $ 56,232  
                         
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (GAAP) [e]   90,883,711       68,517,647       57,853,231       80,251,577       57,129,865  
    Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (GAAP) [(a-c)÷e] $ 0.52     $ (0.44 )   $ 0.47     $ 0.22     $ 0.94  
                         
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (Non-GAAP)5 [f]   90,883,711       69,502,717       57,853,231       80,251,577       57,129,865  
    Adjusted diluted earnings per common share (Non-GAAP)5,6 [d÷f] $ 0.63     $ 0.57     $ 0.53     $ 1.21     $ 0.98  
                         
    Average total assets [g] $ 19,068,086     $ 14,831,298     $ 12,089,692     $ 16,961,396     $ 12,056,950  
    Return on average assets (Non-GAAP)6 [a÷g]   1.00 %   (0.82)%     0.91 %     0.21 %     0.89 %
    Adjusted return on average assets (Non-GAAP)4,6 [b÷g]   1.21 %     1.09 %     1.02 %     1.16 %     0.94 %
                         
    Average common equity   $ 2,180,963     $ 1,932,407     $ 1,331,815     $ 2,057,372     $ 1,303,770  
    Average goodwill and other intangible assets, net     (494,473 )     (411,020 )     (376,224 )     (452,978 )     (364,620 )
    Average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) [h] $ 1,686,490     $ 1,521,387     $ 955,591     $ 1,604,394     $ 939,150  
                         
    Return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)6 [(a-c)÷h]   11.24 %   (7.99)%     11.51 %     2.17 %     11.47 %
    Adjusted return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)4,6 [d÷h]   13.61 %     10.64 %     12.85 %     12.21 %     12.04 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. The Day 2 provision represents the initial provision for credit losses recorded in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition to establish an allowance on non-PCD loans and unfunded commitments and is reflected within the provision for credit losses line on the Statement of Income.
    2. Tax benefits were calculated for the year-to-date periods using tax rates of 26.51% and 25.03% for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Tax benefits for the quarterly periods were calculated as the year-to-date tax amounts less the tax reported for previous quarters during the year.
    3. A deferred valuation tax adjustment in 2025 was recorded in connection with the CrossFirst acquisition and the expansion of Busey’s footprint into new states. Additionally, 2025 includes a write-off of deferred tax assets related to non-deductible acquisition-related expenses. A deferred tax valuation adjustment in 2024 resulted from a change to Busey’s Illinois apportionment rate due to recently enacted regulations. Deferred tax adjustments are reflected within the income taxes line on the Statement of Income.
    4. Beginning in 2025, Busey revised its calculation of adjusted net income for all periods presented to include, as applicable, adjustments for net securities gains and losses, realized net gains and losses on the sale of mortgage servicing rights, and one-time deferred tax valuation adjustments. In 2024, these adjusting items were presented as further adjustments to adjusted net income.
    5. Dilution includes shares that would have been dilutive if there had been net income during the period.
    6. Annualized measure.
    Tax-Equivalent Net Interest Income, Adjusted Net Interest Income, Net Interest Margin, and Adjusted Net Interest Margin
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Net interest income (GAAP)   $ 153,183     $ 103,731     $ 82,532     $ 256,914     $ 158,386  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment1     791       537       402       1,328       851  
    Tax-equivalent net interest income (Non-GAAP) [a]   153,974       104,268       82,934       258,242       159,237  
    Purchase accounting accretion related to business combinations     (7,119 )     (2,728 )     (812 )     (9,847 )     (1,016 )
    Adjusted net interest income (Non-GAAP) [b] $ 146,855     $ 101,540     $ 82,122     $ 248,395     $ 158,221  
                         
    Average interest-earning assets (Non-GAAP) [c] $ 17,700,356     $ 13,363,594     $ 11,000,785     $ 15,543,955     $ 11,003,344  
                         
    Net interest margin (Non-GAAP)2 [a÷c]   3.49 %     3.16 %     3.03 %     3.35 %     2.91 %
    Adjusted net interest margin (Non-GAAP)2 [b÷c]   3.33 %     3.08 %     3.00 %     3.22 %     2.89 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. Tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of 21%, applied to non-taxable interest income on investments and loans.
    2. Annualized measure.
    Adjusted Noninterest Income, Revenue Measures, Adjusted Noninterest Expense, Efficiency Ratios, and Adjusted Noninterest Expense to Average Assets
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Net interest income (GAAP) [a] $ 153,183     $ 103,731     $ 82,532     $ 256,914     $ 158,386  
    Tax-equivalent adjustment1     791       537       402       1,328       851  
    Tax-equivalent net interest income (Non-GAAP) [b]   153,974       104,268       82,934       258,242       159,237  
                         
    Total noninterest income (GAAP)     44,863       21,223       33,703       66,086       68,616  
    Net security (gains) losses     (5,997 )     15,768       353       9,771       6,728  
    Noninterest income excluding net securities gains and losses (Non-GAAP) [c]   38,866       36,991       34,056       75,857       75,344  
    Realized net (gains) losses on the sale of mortgage service rights                 (277 )           (7,742 )
    Adjusted noninterest income (Non-GAAP) [d] $ 38,866     $ 36,991     $ 33,779     $ 75,857     $ 67,602  
                         
    Tax-equivalent revenue (Non-GAAP) [e = b+c] $ 192,840     $ 141,259     $ 116,990     $ 334,099     $ 234,581  
    Adjusted tax-equivalent revenue (Non-GAAP) [f = b+d]   192,840       141,259       116,713       334,099       226,839  
    Operating revenue (Non-GAAP) [g = a+d]   192,049       140,722       116,311       332,771       225,988  
                         
    Adjusted noninterest income to operating revenue (Non-GAAP) [d÷g]   20.24 %     26.29 %     29.04 %     22.80 %     29.91 %
                         
    Total noninterest expense (GAAP)2   $ 127,833     $ 112,030     $ 75,906     $ 239,863     $ 147,353  
    Amortization of intangible assets     (4,592 )     (3,083 )     (2,629 )     (7,675 )     (5,038 )
    Noninterest expense excluding amortization of intangible assets (Non-GAAP)2 [h]   123,241       108,947       73,277       232,188       142,315  
    Acquisition and restructuring expenses, excluding initial provision expenses     (16,600 )     (26,026 )     (2,212 )     (42,626 )     (2,620 )
    Adjusted noninterest expense (Non-GAAP)2 [i] $ 106,641     $ 82,921     $ 71,065     $ 189,562     $ 139,695  
                         
    Efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP)2 [h÷e]   63.91 %     77.13 %     62.64 %     69.50 %     60.67 %
    Adjusted efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP)2 [i÷f]   55.30 %     58.70 %     60.89 %     56.74 %     61.58 %
                         
    Average total assets [j] $ 19,068,086     $ 14,831,298     $ 12,089,692     $ 16,961,396     $ 12,056,950  
    Adjusted noninterest expense to average assets (Non-GAAP)2,3 [i÷j]   2.24 %     2.27 %     2.36 %     2.25 %     2.33 %

    ___________________________________________

    1. Tax-equivalent adjustments were calculated using an estimated federal income tax rate of 21%, applied to non-taxable interest income on investments and loans.
    2. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025, Busey revised its presentation, for all periods presented, to reclassify the provision for unfunded commitments so that it is now included within the provision for credit losses; therefore, it is no longer included within total noninterest expense. This change affects all measures and ratios derived from total noninterest expense.
    3. Annualized measure.
    Tangible Assets, Tangible Common Equity, and Related Measures and Ratio
                 
        As of
    (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Total assets (GAAP)   $ 18,918,740     $ 19,464,252     $ 11,971,416  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     (488,181 )     (496,118 )     (370,580 )
    Tangible assets (Non-GAAP)1 [a] $ 18,430,559     $ 18,968,134     $ 11,600,836  
                 
    Total stockholders’ equity (GAAP)   $ 2,412,546     $ 2,179,606     $ 1,333,810  
    Preferred stock and additional paid in capital on preferred stock     (215,197 )     (7,750 )      
    Common equity [b]   2,197,349       2,171,856       1,333,810  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     (488,181 )     (496,118 )     (370,580 )
    Tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)1 [c] $ 1,709,168     $ 1,675,738     $ 963,230  
                 
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (Non-GAAP)1 [c÷a]   9.27 %     8.83 %     8.30 %
                 
    Ending number of common shares outstanding (GAAP) [d]   89,104,678       90,008,178       56,746,937  
    Book value per common share (Non-GAAP) [b÷d] $ 24.66     $ 24.13     $ 23.50  
    Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP) [c÷d] $ 19.18     $ 18.62     $ 16.97  

    ___________________________________________

    1. Beginning in 2025, Busey revised its calculation of tangible assets and tangible common equity for all periods presented to exclude any tax adjustment.
    Core Deposits and Related Ratio
                 
        As of
    (dollars in thousands)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Total deposits (GAAP) [a] $ 15,801,772     $ 16,459,470     $ 9,976,135  
    Brokered deposits, excluding brokered time deposits of $250,000 or more     (353,614 )     (722,224 )     (43,089 )
    Time deposits of $250,000 or more     (827,762 )     (867,035 )     (314,461 )
    Core deposits (Non-GAAP) [b] $ 14,620,396     $ 14,870,211     $ 9,618,585  
                 
    Core deposits to total deposits (Non-GAAP) [b÷a]   92.52 %     90.34 %     96.42 %
                             

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Busey’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Busey’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “position,” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and Busey undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

    A number of factors, many of which are beyond Busey’s ability to control or predict, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: (1) the strength of the local, state, national, and international economies and financial markets (including effects of inflationary pressures, the threat or implementation of tariffs, trade wars, and changes to immigration policy); (2) changes in, and the interpretation and prioritization of, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and governmental policies (including those concerning Busey’s general business); (3) the economic impact of any future terrorist threats or attacks, widespread disease or pandemics, or other adverse external events that could cause economic deterioration or instability in credit markets (including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East); (4) unexpected results of acquisitions, including the acquisition of CrossFirst, which may include the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions and the possibility that the transaction and integration costs may be greater than anticipated; (5) the imposition of tariffs or other governmental policies impacting the value of products produced by Busey’s commercial borrowers; (6) new or revised accounting policies and practices as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory banking agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (7) changes in interest rates and prepayment rates of Busey’s assets (including the impact of sustained elevated interest rates); (8) increased competition in the financial services sector (including from non-bank competitors such as credit unions and fintech companies) and the inability to attract new customers; (9) technological changes implemented by us and other parties, including our third-party vendors, which may have unforeseen consequences to us and our customers, including the development and implementation of tools incorporating artificial intelligence; (10) the loss of key executives or associates, talent shortages, and employee turnover; (11) unexpected outcomes and costs of existing or new litigation, investigations, or other legal proceedings, inquiries, and regulatory actions involving Busey (including with respect to Busey’s Illinois franchise taxes); (12) fluctuations in the value of securities held in Busey’s securities portfolio, including as a result of changes in interest rates; (13) credit risk and risk from concentrations (by type of borrower, geographic area, collateral, and industry), within Busey’s loan portfolio and large loans to certain borrowers (including commercial real estate loans); (14) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; (15) the level of non-performing assets on Busey’s balance sheets; (16) interruptions involving information technology and communications systems or third-party servicers; (17) breaches or failures of information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents; (18) the economic impact on Busey and its customers of climate change, natural disasters, and exceptional weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and droughts; (19) the ability to successfully manage liquidity risk, which may increase dependence on non-core funding sources such as brokered deposits, and may negatively impact Busey’s cost of funds; (20) the ability to maintain an adequate level of allowance for credit losses on loans; (21) the effectiveness of Busey’s risk management framework; and (22) the ability of Busey to manage the risks associated with the foregoing. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

    Additional information concerning Busey and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect Busey’s financial results, is included in Busey’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    END NOTES

    1 Annualized measure.
    2 Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), see “Non-GAAP Financial Information.”
    3 The blended benchmark consists of 60% MSCI All Country World Index and 40% Bloomberg Intermediate US Government/Credit Total Return Index.
    4 Estimated uninsured and uncollateralized deposits consist of account balances in excess of the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit, less intercompany accounts, fully collateralized accounts (including preferred deposits), and pass-through accounts where clients have deposit insurance at the correspondent financial institution.
    5 On- and off-balance sheet liquidity is comprised of cash and cash equivalents, debt securities excluding those pledged as collateral, brokered deposits, and Busey’s borrowing capacity through its revolving credit facility, the FHLB, the Federal Reserve Bank, and federal funds purchased lines.
    6 Capital amounts and ratios for the second quarter of 2025 are not yet finalized and are subject to change.
       

    INVESTOR CONTACT: Scott A. Phillips, Interim Chief Financial Officer | 239-689-7167

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Weatherford Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Second quarter revenue of $1,204 million increased 1% sequentially
    • Second quarter operating income of $237 million increased 67% sequentially
    • Second quarter net income of $136 million increased 79% sequentially; net income margin of 11.3%
    • Second quarter adjusted EBITDA* of $254 million was flat sequentially; adjusted EBITDA margin* of 21.1% decreased 11 basis points sequentially
    • Second quarter cash provided by operating activities of $128 million and adjusted free cash flow* of $79 million
    • Repurchased $27 million of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2030 in the second quarter of 2025
    • Shareholder return of $52 million for the quarter, which included dividend payments of $18 million and share repurchases of $34 million
    • Board approved quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on September 4, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 6, 2025
    • Signed an agreement with Amazon Web Services to migrate and modernize our digital platforms, including the Modern Edge Platform and Unified Data Model, enhancing operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making. The collaboration also boosts Weatherford’s Software Launchpad, offering scalable, cloud-based solutions while ensuring data control and integration flexibility

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    HOUSTON, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) announced today its results for the second quarter of 2025.

    Revenues for the second quarter of 2025 were $1,204 million, an increase of 1% sequentially and a decrease of 14% year-over-year. Operating income in the second quarter of 2025 was $237 million, an increase of 67% sequentially and a decrease of 10% year-over-year. Net income in the second quarter of 2025 was $136 million, with a 11.3% margin, an increase of 79%, or 493 basis points, sequentially, and an increase of 9%, or 240 basis points, year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA* was $254 million, with a 21.1% margin, flat, or a decrease of 11 basis points, sequentially, and a decrease of 30%, or 488 basis points, year-over-year. Basic income per share in the second quarter of 2025 was $1.87, an increase of 81% sequentially and an increase of 10% year-over-year. Diluted income per share in the second quarter of 2025 was $1.87, an increase of 81% sequentially and an increase of 13% year-over-year.

    Second quarter 2025 cash flows provided by operating activities were $128 million, a decrease of 10% sequentially and a decrease of 15% year-over-year. Adjusted free cash flow* was $79 million, an increase of 20% sequentially and a decrease of 18% year-over-year. Capital expenditures were $54 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of 30% sequentially and a decrease of 13% year-over-year.

    Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our core operating markets continued to exhibit activity slowdown during the quarter, driven by geopolitical events, supply-demand imbalance concerns, and trade uncertainties. Despite these structural headwinds, the One Weatherford team delivered second-quarter results in line with expectations, reflecting disciplined execution and operational efficiency in a distinctly softer market. The sequential performance demonstrates strong fundamentals and the resilience of our operating model. Revenues increased and adjusted EBITDA was flat despite the previously announced divestiture of certain businesses in Argentina. Adjusted Free Cash Flow also increased, even as receivables continued to build in Latin America due to lack of payments in Mexico. This performance underscores the strength of the new Weatherford operating paradigm and marks a positive departure from past responses to prior market cycle inflections.

    Looking ahead, activity levels in both North America and international markets continue to show signs of sluggishness, and expectations for a broader sector recovery have shifted further to the right. While we anticipate a relatively flat trajectory on revenues for the immediate future, we remain focused on driving adjusted free cash flow conversion through portfolio optimization, structural cost efficiencies, optimization of working capital, and CAPEX efficiency.”

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Operational & Commercial Highlights

    • An International Oil Company (IOC) awarded Weatherford a three-year contract to provide Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) services for a deepwater development project in Mexico.
    • Aramco awarded Weatherford a one-year contract extension to provide MPD services for its onshore and offshore wells.
    • Weatherford, with Superior Energy Services, secured a three-year contract to supply conventional completions (Upper and Lower) equipment to Petrobras for pre-salt and post-salt fields offshore Brazil.
    • Cairn Oil & Gas granted Weatherford a Letter of Award to provide Completions, Liner Hanger, Whipstock systems and services, and MPD services for High Temperature – Ultra High Temperature (HT-UHT) drilling and rigless project in Barmer, India.
    • bp UK awarded Weatherford a one-year contract to provide Cementation Products, Completions, Drilling Services, Intervention Services & Drilling Tools (ISDT), and a one-year contract to provide Liner Hanger systems for the Northern Endurance Partnership CO2 Storage Project in offshore UK.
    • Beach Energy Limited awarded Weatherford contracts to provide Cementation Products, Cement Heads, Liner Hangers, and Tubular Running Services (TRS) for a campaign in offshore Australia.
    • Origin Energy awarded Weatherford a five-year contract to re-supply PCP systems in onshore Australia.
    • OMV awarded Weatherford a three-year contract to supply Completions and Reservoir Monitoring equipment in Tunisia.
    • Shell awarded Weatherford a three-year contract to provide ISDT offshore in the Gulf of America.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a three-year contract to provide thru-tubing Well Services in offshore Malaysia.
    • Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) awarded Weatherford a contract for the supply of XpressTM XT Liner Hanger systems for deep drilling operations in Kuwait.
    • A National Oil Company in the Middle East awarded a two-year contract to provide thru-tubing and safety valve systems in the United Arab Emirates.
    • A major operator in Canada awarded Weatherford a two-year contract to provide Artificial Lift services in onshore Canada.
    • Weatherford, in strategic partnership with Constellation, secured a three-year contract to deliver TRS, integrating the automated Vero™ technology into their rig for Petrobras in offshore Brazil.

    Technology Highlights

    • Drilling & Evaluation (“DRE”)
      • In Kuwait, Weatherford successfully deployed combined Magnus™ and Victus™ solutions for a pilot project for KOC. This approach enabled the use of a smaller wellhead, eliminated one casing string, and allowed effective drilling and cementing through stacked reservoirs, potentially unlocking new completion designs and enhancing recovery.
      • In Qatar, Weatherford successfully completed the first Modus™ job using MPD techniques that significantly improved operational efficiency and well safety. The Modus system enabled the operator to reach the targeted total depth while saving substantial rig time and costs compared to conventional methods.
      • In Norway, Weatherford successfully completed three open hole logging jobs for an international operator using coiled tubing for deployment. This approach enabled effective logging in a highly deviated well, overcoming the limitations of conventional wireline conveyance.
    • Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)
      • In the Gulf of America, Weatherford successfully integrated multiple TRS technologies for bp. This integration enhanced operational speed, cost-effectiveness, and well integrity while improving quality, efficiency, and safety by reducing personnel requirements and eliminating manual intervention.
      • In the United Kingdom, Weatherford successfully implemented StringGuardTM for Shell. The solution is designed to provide protection against potential dropped string events, with the aim of maintaining operational focus and incident free delivery.
    • Production and Intervention (“PRI”)
      • Weatherford’s Rotaflex® Artificial Lift technology has witnessed continued global adoption, with recent installations in France, Australia, and Oman. These projects have addressed a variety of operational challenges, including the replacement of Electric Submersible Pumps and conventional pumping units, enhancement of production efficiency, support for Coal Bed Methane initiatives, and restoration of output in complex wells, underscoring the versatility and effectiveness of the Rotaflex technology.
      • In Norway, Weatherford completed a successful field trial of TITAN RS technology for Equinor, following the acquisition of Ardyne. The trial delivered a full casing cut and recovery solution for the plug and abandonment market, reinforcing Weatherford’s leadership in advanced well abandonment.
      • In Saudi Arabia, Weatherford installed the first Rod Lift system in the Jafurah field. The unit was successfully commissioned, validating Weatherford’s Rod Lift technology as a viable artificial lift solution for this unconventional gas field.

    Shareholder Return

    During the second quarter of 2025, Weatherford paid dividends of $18 million and repurchased shares for approximately $34 million, resulting in a total shareholder return of $52 million. In the first half of the year, Weatherford paid dividends of $36 million and repurchased shares for approximately $87 million, resulting in a total shareholder return of $123 million.

    On July 17, 2025, our Board declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company’s ordinary shares, payable on September 4, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 6, 2025.

    Results by Reportable Segment

    Drilling and Evaluation (“DRE”)
      

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $          335     $              350     $          427     (4)   %   (22)    %
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $            69     $                 74     $          130     (7)   %   (47)    %
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     20.6 %     21.1 %     30.4 %            (55) bps         (985) bps

    Second quarter 2025 DRE revenue of $335 million decreased by $15 million, or 4% sequentially, primarily from lower Wireline activity in North America and Latin America partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia and Latin America. Year-over-year DRE revenue decreased by $92 million, or 22%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies, especially in Latin America, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/ Russia, North America and Middle East/North Africa/Asia.

    Second quarter 2025 DRE segment adjusted EBITDA of $69 million decreased by $5 million, or 7% sequentially, primarily from lower Wireline activity, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity. Year-over-year DRE segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $61 million, or 47%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies, especially in Latin America.

    Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)  

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $          456     $              441     $          504     3 %   (10)   %
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $          118     $              128     $          145     (8) %   (19)   %
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     25.9 %     29.0 %     28.8 %         (315) bps          (289) bps

    Second quarter 2025 WCC revenue of $456 million increased by $15 million, or 3% sequentially, primarily from higher Liner Hangers and Cementation Products activity partly offset by lower Completions activity especially in Latin America.  Year-over-year WCC revenues decreased by $48 million, or 10%, primarily from lower activity in Latin America, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia and North America partly offset by higher Liner Hangers activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia.

    Second quarter 2025 WCC segment adjusted EBITDA of $118 million decreased by $10 million, or 8% sequentially, primarily from lower Completions activity partly offset by higher Liner Hangers activity and Cementation Products activity and fall through. Year-over-year WCC segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $27 million, or 19%, primarily from lower activity in Latin America, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia and North America partly offset by higher Liner Hangers and TRS fall through in Middle East/North Africa/Asia.

    Production and Intervention (“PRI”)  

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $          327         $              334     $          369     (2)  %   (11)   %
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $            63         $                 62     $            85     2 %   (26)   %
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     19.3 %     18.6 %     23.0 %             70  bps          (377) bps

    Second quarter 2025 PRI revenue of $327 million  decreased by $7 million, or 2% sequentially, primarily from lower Pressure Pumping activity in Latin America pursuant to the sale of the Argentina Pressure Pumping business partly offset by higher Artificial Lift and Sub-sea Intervention activity. Year-over-year PRI revenue decreased by $42 million, or 11%, as lower activity across all geographies was partly offset by higher Sub-sea intervention activity in Latin America.

    Second quarter 2025 PRI segment adjusted EBITDA of $63 million increased by $1 million, or 2% sequentially, primarily from  higher Sub-sea Intervention activity and fall through partly offset by lower Pressure Pumping activity in Latin America pursuant to the sale of the Argentina Pressure Pumping business. Year-over-year PRI segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $22 million, or 26%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies, partly offset by higher Sub-sea intervention activity and fall through in Latin America.

    Revenue by Geography 

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      Seq.   YoY
    North America   $             241   $                  250   $             252   (4) %   (4) %
                         
    International   $             963   $                  943   $          1,153   2 %   (16) %
       Latin America                     195                        241                    353   (19) %   (45) %
       Middle East/North Africa/Asia                    524                        503                    542   4 %   (3) %
       Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia                    244                        199                    258   23 %   (5) %
    Total Revenue   $          1,204   $               1,193   $          1,405   1 %   (14) %


    North America

    Second quarter 2025 North America revenue of $241 million decreased by $9 million, or 4% sequentially, primarily from lower Wireline activity in Canada Land, partly offset by higher Cementation Products and Liner Hangers activity. Year-over-year, North America decreased by $11 million, or 4% , primarily from lower activity across all the segments, partly offset by higher activity in US Offshore.

    International

    Second quarter 2025 international revenue of $963 million increased by $20 million, or 2% sequentially and decreased by $190 million, or 16% year-over-year.

    Second quarter 2025 Latin America revenue of $195 million decreased by $46 million, or 19% sequentially, primarily from lower activity in Argentina pursuant to the sale of the Argentina Pressure Pumping business, partly offset by higher Sub-sea intervention activity. Year-over-year, Latin America revenue decreased by $158 million, or 45%, primarily from lower activity in Mexico and Argentina, partly offset by higher Sub-sea intervention activity.

    Second quarter 2025 Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue of $524 million increased by $21 million, or 4% sequentially, primarily from higher Liner Hangers and Cementation Products activity partly offset by lower Drilling Services. Year-over-year, the Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue decreased by $18 million, or 3%, primarily from lower activity in the DRE and PRI segments partly offset by higher Liner Hangers activity.

    Second quarter 2025 Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue of $244 million increased by $45 million, or 23% sequentially, primarily from higher activity across all the segments. Year-over-year, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue decreased by $14 million, or 5%, primarily from lower activity across all the segments especially WCC, partly offset by higher Drilling Services and Pressure Pumping.

    About Weatherford
    Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 17,300 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 310 operating locations. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

    Conference Call Details

    Weatherford will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, to discuss the Company’s results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. The conference call will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time).

    Listeners are encouraged to download the accompanying presentation slides which will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Listeners can participate in the conference call via a live webcast at https://www.weatherford.com/investor-relations/investor-news-and-events/events/ or by dialing +1 877-328-5344 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-902-6762 (outside of the U.S.) and asking for the Weatherford conference call. Participants should log in or dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

    A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until August 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, please dial +1 877-344-7529 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-317-0088 (outside of the U.S.) and reference conference number 1312926. A replay and transcript of the earnings call will also be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Contacts
    For Investors:
    Luke Lemoine
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
    +1 713-836-7777
    investor.relations@weatherford.com

    For Media:
    Kelley Hughes
    Senior Director, Communications & Employee Engagement
    media@weatherford.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains projections and forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, the Company’s adjusted EBITDA*, adjusted EBITDA margin*, adjusted free cash flow*, shareholder return program, forecasts or expectations regarding business outlook, prospects for its operations, capital expenditures, expectations regarding future financial results, and are also generally identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “budget,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “guidance,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs of Weatherford’s management and are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are only estimates and may differ materially from actual future events or results, based on factors including but not limited to: global political, economic and market conditions, political disturbances, war or other global conflicts, terrorist attacks, changes in global trade policies, tariffs and sanctions, weak local economic conditions and international currency fluctuations; general global economic repercussions related to U.S. and global inflationary pressures and potential recessionary concerns; various effects from conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia Ukraine conflicts, including, but not limited to, nationalization of assets, extended business interruptions, sanctions, treaties and regulations (including changes in the regulatory environment) imposed by various countries, associated operational and logistical challenges, and impacts to the overall global energy supply; cybersecurity issues; our ability to comply with, and respond to, climate change, environmental, social and governance and other sustainability initiatives and future legislative and regulatory measures both globally and in specific geographic regions; the potential for a resurgence of a pandemic in a given geographic area and related disruptions; the price and price volatility of, and demand for, oil and natural gas; the macroeconomic outlook for the oil and gas industry; our ability to generate cash flow from operations to fund our operations; our ability to effectively and timely adapt our technology portfolio, products and services to remain competitive, and to address and participate in changes to the market demands, including for the transition to alternate sources of energy such as geothermal, carbon capture and responsible abandonment, including our digitalization efforts, increases in the prices and lead times, and the lack of availability of our procured products and services, including due to macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions such as tariffs and changes in trade policies, our ability to timely collect from customers; our ability to effectively execute our capital allocation framework; our ability to return capital to shareholders, including those related to the timing and amounts (including any plans or commitments in respect thereof) of any dividends and share repurchases; and the realization of additional cost savings and operational efficiencies.

    These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Weatherford’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly.

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Revenues:                    
    DRE Revenues   $              335     $                 350     $              427     $            685     $            849  
    WCC Revenues                    456                          441                      504                     897                    962  
    PRI Revenues                    327                          334                      369                     661                    717  
    All Other                       86                            68                      105                     154                    235  
    Total Revenues                 1,204                      1,193                   1,405                 2,397                 2,763  
                         
    Operating Income:                    
    DRE Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]   $                69     $                    74     $              130     $            143     $            260  
    WCC Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]                    118                          128                      145                     246                    265  
    PRI Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]                       63                            62                        85                     125                    158  
    All Other[2]                       19                              4                        23                       23                       50  
    Corporate[2]                     (15 )                        (15 )                    (18 )                   (30 )                   (32 )
    Depreciation and Amortization                     (64 )                        (62 )                    (86 )                 (126 )                (171 )
    Share-based Compensation                       (9 )                          (7 )                    (12 )                   (16 )                   (25 )
    Gain on Sale of Business                       70                            —                        —                       70                       —  
    Restructuring Charges                     (11 )                        (29 )                       (5 )                   (40 )                     (8 )
    Other (Charges) Credits                       (3 )                        (13 )                        2                     (16 )                     —  
    Operating Income                    237                          142                      264                     379                    497  
                         
    Other Expense:                    
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $14, $11,
    $17, $25 and $31
                        (21 )                        (26 )                    (24 )                   (47 )                   (53 )
    Loss on Blue Chip Swap Securities                       (1 )                          —                      (10 )                     (1 )                   (10 )
    Other Expense, Net                     (24 )                        (20 )                    (20 )                   (44 )                 (42 )
    Income Before Income Taxes                    191                            96                      210                     287                    392  
    Income Tax Provision                     (46 )                        (10 )                    (73 )                   (56 )                (132 )
    Net Income                    145                            86                      137                     231                    260  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests                         9                            10                        12                       19                       23  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $              136     $                    76     $              125     $            212     $            237  
                         
    Basic Income Per Share   $             1.87     $                1.04     $             1.71     $           2.91     $           3.25  
    Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                   72.2                         73.1                     73.2                    72.7                   73.1  
                         
    Diluted Income Per Share   $             1.87     $                1.03     $             1.66     $           2.90     $           3.16  
    Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                   72.4                         73.4                     75.3       72.9       75.0  
    [1] Segment adjusted EBITDA is our primary measure of segment profitability under U.S. GAAP ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” and represents segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, restructuring charges and other adjustments. Research and development expenses are included in segment adjusted EBITDA.
    [2] All Other includes results from non-core business activities (including integrated services and projects), and Corporate includes overhead support and centrally managed or shared facilities costs. All Other and Corporate do not individually meet the criteria for segment reporting.
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited)
           
    ($ in Millions) June 30, 2025   December 31, 2024
    Assets:      
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $                              943   $                                 916
    Restricted Cash                                     60                                         59
    Accounts Receivable, Net                               1,177                                    1,261
    Inventories, Net                                  881                                       880
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net                               1,136                                    1,061
    Intangibles, Net                                  305                                       325
           
    Liabilities:      
    Accounts Payable                                  685                                       792
    Accrued Salaries and Benefits                                  252                                       302
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt                                     26                                         17
    Long-term Debt                               1,565                                    1,617
           
    Shareholders’ Equity:      
    Total Shareholders’ Equity                               1,519                                    1,283
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Cash Flows Information (Unaudited)
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Cash Flows From Operating Activities:                    
    Net Income   $             145     $                    86     $             137     $             231     $             260  
    Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
    Provided By Operating Activities:
                       
    Depreciation and Amortization                      64                             62                        86                      126                      171  
    Foreign Exchange Losses                      17                             13                          8                        30                        23  
    Loss on Blue Chip Swap Securities                        1                             —                        10                          1                        10  
    Gain on Disposition of Assets                      (3 )                           (1 )                    (25 )                      (4 )                    (32 )
    Gain on Sale of Business                    (70 )                           —                        —                      (70 )                      —   
    Deferred Income Tax Provision (Benefit)                      (5 )                             7                        13                          2                        27  
    Share-Based Compensation                        9                               7                        12                        16                        25  
    Changes in Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Accounts
    Payable and Accrued Salaries and Benefits
                       (22 )                         (17 )                    (22 )                    (39 )                  (174 )
    Other Changes, Net                      (8 )                         (15 )                    (69 )                    (23 )                    (29 )
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities                    128                          142                      150                      270                      281  
                         
    Cash Flows From Investing Activities:                    
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment                    (54 )                         (77 )                    (62 )                  (131 )                  (121 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets                        5                               1                          8                          6                        18  
    Proceeds from Sale of Businesses                      97                             —                        —                        97                        —   
    Purchases of Blue Chip Swap Securities                    (83 )                           —                      (50 )                    (83 )                    (50 )
    Proceeds from Sales of Blue Chip Swap Securities                      82                             —                        40                        82                        40  
    Business Acquisitions, Net of Cash Acquired                      —                             —                        —                        —                       (36 )
    Proceeds from Sale of Investments                      —                             —                        —                        —                         41  
    Other Investing Activities                      (4 )                           (3 )                        3                        (7 )                      (7 )
    Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities                      43                           (79 )                    (61 )                    (36 )                  (115 )
                         
    Cash Flows From Financing Activities:                    
    Repayments of Long-term Debt                    (34 )                         (39 )                    (87 )                    (73 )                  (259 )
       Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests                      (8 )                           —                        (9 )                      (8 )                      (9 )
    Tax Remittance on Equity Awards                      —                           (20 )                      (1 )                    (20 )                      (9 )
    Share Repurchases                    (34 )                         (53 )                      —                      (87 )                      —   
    Dividends Paid                    (18 )                         (18 )                      —                      (36 )                      —   
    Other Financing Activities                      (3 )                           (3 )                      (5 )                      (6 )                    (12 )
    Net Cash Used In Financing Activities   $              (97 )   $                (133 )   $           (102 )   $           (230 )   $           (289 )
    Weatherford International plc
    Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined (Unaudited)

    We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford’s management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures (as defined under the SEC’s Regulation G and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K) may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods and comparisons with peer companies. The non-GAAP amounts shown in the following tables should not be considered as substitutes for results reported in accordance with GAAP but should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA* – Adjusted EBITDA* is a non-GAAP measure and represents consolidated income before interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, and excludes, among other items, restructuring charges, share-based compensation expense, as well as other charges and credits. Management believes adjusted EBITDA* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA margin* – Adjusted EBITDA margin* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing consolidated adjusted EBITDA* by consolidated revenues. Management believes adjusted EBITDA margin* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA margin* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income margin and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted Free Cash Flow* – Adjusted Free Cash Flow* is a non-GAAP measure and represents cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures plus proceeds from the disposition of assets. Management believes adjusted free cash flow* is useful to understand our performance at generating cash and demonstrates our discipline around the use of cash. Adjusted free cash flow* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for cash flows provided by operating activities and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Net Debt* – Net Debt* is a non-GAAP measure that is calculated taking short and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Management believes the net debt* is useful to assess the level of debt in excess of cash and cash and equivalents as we monitor our ability to repay and service our debt. Net debt* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for overall debt and total cash and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s results prepared in accordance with GAAP.​

    Net Leverage* – Net Leverage* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing by taking net debt* divided by adjusted EBITDA* for the trailing 12 months. Management believes the net leverage* is useful to understand our ability to repay and service our debt. Net leverage* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for the individual components of above defined net debt* divided by consolidated net income attributable to Weatherford and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    *Non-GAAP – as defined above and reconciled to the GAAP measures in the section titled GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled (Unaudited)
     
                         
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Margin in Percentages)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
      June 30,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
    Revenues   $         1,204     $          1,193     $         1,405     $      2,397     $      2,763  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $            136     $                76     $            125     $         212     $         237  
    Net Income Margin     11.3 %     6.4 %     8.9 %     8.8 %     8.6 %
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $            254     $              253     $            365     $         507     $         701  
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin*     21.1 %     21.2 %     26.0 %     21.2 %     25.4 %
                         
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $            136     $                76     $            125     $         212     $         237  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests                       9                        10                       12                    19                    23  
    Income Tax Provision                     46                        10                       73                    56                 132  
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $14, $11,
    $17, $25 and $31
                        21                        26                       24                    47                    53  
    Loss on Blue Chip Swap Securities                       1                        —                       10                      1                    10  
    Other Expense, Net                     24                        20                       20                    44                    42  
    Operating Income                  237                      142                    264                 379                 497  
    Depreciation and Amortization                     64                        62                       86                 126                 171  
    Other Charges (Credits)[1]                       3                        13                       (2 )                  16                    —  
    Gain on Sale of Business                   (70 )                      —                       —                  (70 )                  —  
    Restructuring Charges                     11                        29                         5                    40                      8  
    Share-Based Compensation                       9                          7                       12                    16                    25  
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $            254     $              253     $            365     $         507     $         701  
                         
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities   $            128     $              142     $            150     $         270     $         281  
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and
    Equipment
                      (54 )                    (77 )                   (62 )             (131 )             (121 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets                       5                          1                         8                      6                    18  
    Adjusted Free Cash Flow*   $              79     $                66     $              96     $         145     $         178  
    [1] Other Charges (Credits) in the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 primarily includes fees to third-party financial institutions related to collections of certain receivables from our largest customer in Mexico and other miscellaneous charges and credits.

    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled Continued (Unaudited)
     
                   
         
    ($ in Millions)   June 30,
    2025
      March 31,
    2025
      June 30,
    2024
     
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $                   26   $                    22   $                   20  
    Long-term Debt                    1,565                    1,583                    1,628  
    Total Debt   $              1,591   $              1,605   $              1,648  
                   
    Cash and Cash Equivalents   $                 943   $                 873   $                 862  
    Restricted Cash                          60                          57                          58  
    Total Cash   $              1,003   $                 930   $                 920  
                   
    Components of Net Debt              
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $                   26   $                    22   $                   20  
    Long-term Debt                    1,565                    1,583                    1,628  
    Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents                       943                        873                       862  
    Less: Restricted Cash                          60                          57                          58  
    Net Debt*   $                 588   $                 675   $                 728  
                   
    Net Income for trailing 12 months   $                 481   $                 470   $                 500  
    Adjusted EBITDA* for trailing 12 months   $              1,188   $              1,299   $              1,327  
                   
    Net Leverage* (Net Debt*/Adjusted EBITDA*)                      0.49 x                     0.52 x                    0.55 x


    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Bank Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) reported:

                                 
      For the quarter(1)   For the six months ended(1)
      2Q25   1Q25   2Q24   2025   2024
    Net income ($000’s) $ 34,022     $ 24,231     $ 26,135     $ 58,253     $ 57,526  
    Earnings per share – diluted $ 0.88     $ 0.63     $ 0.68     $ 1.51     $ 1.50  
    Return on average assets   1.38 %     0.99 %     1.06 %     1.19 %     1.17 %
    Return on average tangible assets(2)   1.49 %     1.09 %     1.17 %     1.29 %     1.28 %
    Return on average equity   10.15 %     7.42 %     8.46 %     8.80 %     9.37 %
    Return on average tangible common equity(2)   14.18 %     10.64 %     12.44 %     12.44 %     13.77 %

                                                          

    (1 )   Ratios are annualized.
    (2 )   See non-GAAP reconciliations below.
           

    In announcing these results, Chief Executive Officer Tim Laney shared, “We delivered quarterly earnings of $0.88 of earnings per diluted share and a return on average tangible common equity of 14.18%. Year-over-year fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenues grew by 19.9% highlighted by a strong net interest margin of 3.95%. We remain diligent in monitoring our loan book and maintaining a disciplined approach to extending credit, which resulted in just 5 basis points of annualized net charge-offs during the quarter.”

    Mr. Laney added, “Our solid results continue to generate meaningful capital growth with a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 14.2%. Our excess capital position provides us with optionality to act on a variety of growth opportunities. We are pleased with the recent launch of 2UniFi, an innovative financial ecosystem that we believe can change the way business owners and operators access the U.S. banking system. 2UniFi is built to empower business entrepreneurs with banking and business tools that save time, reduce stress, and help them grow their business.”

    Second Quarter 2025 Results
    (All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2025, except as noted)

    Net income increased $9.8 million, or 40.4%, to $34.0 million or $0.88 per diluted share, compared to $24.2 million or $0.63 per diluted share. Fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenue increased $1.5 million, or 14.3% annualized, to $43.5 million. The return on average tangible assets increased 40 basis points to 1.49%, and the return on average tangible common equity increased 3.54% to 14.18%. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenue increased $7.2 million or 19.9%.

    Net Interest Income
    Fully taxable equivalent net interest income increased $0.7 million to $89.3 million due to one additional day during the second quarter. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin widened two basis points to 3.95%, driven by a three basis point increase in earning asset yields, partially offset by an increase in the cost of funds.

    Loans
    Loans totaled $7.5 billion at June 30, 2025, compared to $7.6 billion. We generated quarterly loan fundings of $322.7 million, led by commercial loan fundings of $219.6 million. The second quarter’s weighted average rate on new loans at the time of origination was 7.4%, compared to a weighted average yield of 6.5% on our loan portfolio.

    Asset Quality and Provision for Credit Losses
    The Company recorded no provision expense for credit losses, compared to $10.2 million in the previous quarter. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 0.05% of average total loans, compared to 0.80%. Non-performing loans totaled 0.45% of total loans at June 30, 2025, consistent with the previous quarter, and non-performing assets decreased one basis point to 0.45% of total loans and OREO at June 30, 2025. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans increased one basis point to 1.19% at June 30, 2025.

    Deposits
    Average total deposits decreased $58.8 million to $8.2 billion during the second quarter 2025, and average transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits) decreased $85.3 million to $7.1 billion. The loan to deposit ratio totaled 90.5% at June 30, 2025, compared to 90.8%. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits was 87.0% at June 30, 2025, compared to 87.4%.

    Non-Interest Income
    Non-interest income increased $1.7 million, or 11.0%, to $17.1 million during the second quarter. Income from partnership investments increased $0.6 million, bank card fees increased $0.5 million, SBA loan gains on sale increased $0.2 million, and the sales of two previously consolidated banking center properties drove a $1.3 million gain. Mortgage banking income decreased $0.8 million.

    Non-Interest Expense
    Non-interest expense totaled $62.9 million, compared to $62.0 million in the first quarter, which benefited from the $1.9 million payroll tax credits realized in the first quarter. Excluding the impact from the first quarter’s payroll tax credits, non-interest expense decreased $1.0 million due to our disciplined expense management. The second quarter’s non-interest expense includes $0.3 million of non-recurring restructuring charges as a result of expense reduction actions executed during the quarter. The fully taxable equivalent efficiency ratio improved 42 basis points to 57.3%, excluding other intangible assets amortization.

    Income tax expense totaled $7.5 million, compared to $5.6 million in the previous quarter, as a result of higher pre-tax income in the second quarter. The effective tax rate was 18.1%, compared to 18.8% in the first quarter.

    Capital
    Capital ratios continue to be well in excess of federal bank regulatory agency “well capitalized” thresholds. The tier 1 leverage ratio totaled 11.18%, and the common equity tier 1 capital ratio totaled 14.17% at June 30, 2025. Shareholders’ equity increased $23.2 million to $1.4 billion at June 30, 2025, primarily driven by $22.5 million of growth in retained earnings from net income after covering the quarter’s dividend, and a $4.1 million improvement in accumulated other comprehensive loss due to changes in the interest rate environment.

    Common book value per share increased $0.65 to $35.55 at June 30, 2025. Tangible common book value per share increased $0.70 to $26.64 driven by the quarter’s earnings after covering the quarterly dividend, and a $0.11 improvement in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

    Year-Over-Year Review
    (All comparisons refer to the first six months of 2024, except as noted)

    Net income increased $0.7 million to $58.3 million or $1.51 per diluted share, compared to $57.5 million or $1.50 per diluted share. Fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenue increased $8.6 million to $85.4 million. The return on average tangible assets increased one basis point to 1.29%, and the return on average tangible common equity was 12.44%, compared to 13.77%.

    Fully taxable equivalent net interest income increased $6.9 million to $177.9 million. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin widened 17 basis points to 3.94%, driven by a 21 basis point decrease in the cost of funds, partially offset by a three basis point decrease in earning asset yields.

    Loans outstanding totaled $7.5 billion as of June 30, 2025, compared to $7.7 billion. New loan fundings over the trailing twelve months totaled $1.4 billion, led by commercial fundings of $928.3 million.

    The Company recorded $10.2 million of provision expense for credit losses, compared to $2.8 million in the same period prior year. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 0.43% of average total loans, compared to 0.11% net charge-offs in the same period prior year. Non-performing loans totaled 0.45% of total loans at June 30, 2025, compared to 0.34% in the prior year. Non-performing assets totaled 0.45% of total loans and OREO at June 30, 2025, compared to 0.36% in the prior year. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans totaled 1.19% at June 30, 2025, compared to 1.25% at June 30, 2024.

    Average deposits totaled $8.2 billion, compared to $8.3 billion in the same period prior year, and average transaction deposits totaled $7.2 billion, compared to $7.3 billion in the same period prior year. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits was 87.0% at June 30, 2025, compared to 87.8%.

    Non-interest income increased $0.7 million to $32.4 million primarily due to a $0.7 million increase in the gains on sales of previously consolidated banking center properties and a $0.4 million increase in trust income.

    Non-interest expense decreased $1.0 million to $124.9 million as a result of disciplined expense management and payroll tax credits realized during the first quarter 2025.

    Income tax expense totaled $13.1 million, consistent with the same period prior year. The effective tax rate was 18.4%, compared to 18.6% in the same period prior year.

    Conference Call
    Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 400-0505 using the participant passcode of 9935135 and asking for the NBHC Q2 2025 Earnings Call. The earnings release and a link to the replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area.

    About National Bank Holdings Corporation
    National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise, delivering high quality client service and committed to stakeholder results. Through its bank subsidiaries, NBH Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole Trust, National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of over 85 banking centers, serving individual consumers, small, medium and large businesses, and government and non-profit entities. Its banking centers are located in its core footprint of Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho. Its comprehensive residential mortgage banking group primarily serves the bank’s core footprint. Its trust and wealth management business is operated in its core footprint under the Bank of Jackson Hole Trust charter. NBH Bank operates under a single state charter through the following brand names as divisions of NBH Bank: in Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado and Community Banks Mortgage; in Kansas and Missouri, Bank Midwest and Bank Midwest Mortgage; in Texas, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho, Hillcrest Bank and Hillcrest Bank Mortgage; and in Wyoming, Bank of Jackson Hole and Bank of Jackson Hole Mortgage. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

    For more information visit: cobnks.com, bankmw.com, hillcrestbank.com, bankofjacksonhole.com, or nbhbank.com, or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

    About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    Certain of the financial measures and ratios we present, including “tangible assets,” “return on average tangible assets,” “tangible common equity,” “return on average tangible common equity,” “tangible common book value per share,” “tangible common equity to tangible assets,” “non-interest expense excluding other intangible assets amortization,” “efficiency ratio excluding other intangible assets amortization,” “net income excluding the impact of other intangible assets amortization expense, after tax,” “pre-provision net revenue” and “fully taxable equivalent” metrics, are supplemental measures that are not required by, or are not presented in accordance with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We refer to these financial measures and ratios as “non-GAAP financial measures.” We consider the use of select non-GAAP financial measures and ratios to be useful for financial and operational decision making and useful in evaluating period-to-period comparisons. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain expenditures or assets that we believe are not indicative of our primary business operating results or by presenting certain metrics on a fully taxable equivalent basis. We believe that management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, analyzing and comparing past, present and future periods.

    These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and you should not rely on non-GAAP financial measures alone as measures of our performance. The non-GAAP financial measures we present may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by our peers or other companies. We compensate for these differences by providing the equivalent GAAP measures whenever we present the non-GAAP financial measures and by including a reconciliation of the impact of the components adjusted for in the non-GAAP financial measure so that both measures and the individual components may be considered when analyzing our performance. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements do not discuss historical facts but instead relate to expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “predict,” “seek,” “potential,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “intend,” “goal,” “focus,” “maintains,” “future,” “ultimately,” “likely,” “ensure,” “strategy,” “objective,” and similar words or phrases. These statements are only predictions and involve estimates, known and unknown risks, assumptions and uncertainties. We have based these statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, business strategy and growth prospects. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: business and economic conditions along with external events both generally and in the financial services industry; susceptibility to credit risk and fluctuations in the value of real estate and other collateral securing a significant portion of our loan portfolio, including with regards to real estate acquired through foreclosure, and the accuracy of appraisals related to such real estate; the allowance for credit losses and fair value adjustments may be insufficient to absorb losses in our loan portfolio; our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet the requirements of deposit withdrawals and other business needs; changes impacting monetary supply and the businesses of our clients and counterparties, including levels of market interest rates, inflation, currency values, monetary and fiscal policies, and the volatility of trading markets; changes in the fair value of our investment securities and the ability of companies in which we invest to commercialize their technology or product concepts; the loss of certain executive officers and key personnel; any service interruptions, cyber incidents or other breaches relating to our technology systems, security systems or infrastructure or those of our third-party providers; the occurrence of fraud or other financial crimes within our business; competition from other financial institutions and financial services providers and the effects of disintermediation within the banking business including consolidation within the industry; changes to federal government lending programs like the Small Business Administration’s Preferred Lender Program and the Federal Housing Administration’s insurance programs, including the impact of a government shutdown of such programs; impairment of our mortgage servicing rights, disruption in the secondary market for mortgage loans, declines in real estate values, or being required to repurchase mortgage loans or reimburse investors; developments in technology, such as artificial intelligence, the success of our digital growth strategy, and our ability to incorporate innovative technologies in our business and provide products and services that satisfy our clients’ expectations for convenience and security; our ability to execute our organic growth and acquisition strategies; the accuracy of projected operating results for assets and businesses we acquire as well as our ability to drive organic loan growth to replace loans in our existing portfolio with comparable loans as loans are paid down; changes to federal, state and local laws and regulations along with executive orders applicable to our business, including tax laws; our ability to comply with and manage costs related to extensive government regulation and supervision, including current and future regulations affecting bank holding companies and depository institutions; the application of any increased assessment rates imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”); claims or legal action brought against us by third parties or government agencies; and other factors, risks, trends and uncertainties described elsewhere in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

    Contacts:
    Analysts/Institutional Investors:
    Emily Gooden, Chief Accounting Officer and Investor Relations Director, (720) 554-6640, ir@nationalbankholdings.com
    Nicole Van Denabeele, Chief Financial Officer, (720) 529-3370, ir@nationalbankholdings.com

    Media:
    Jody Soper, Chief Marketing Officer, (303) 784-5925, Jody.Soper@nbhbank.com

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    FINANCIAL SUMMARY
    Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                           
      For the three months ended   For the six months ended
      June 30,   March 31,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30, 
      2025   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Total interest and dividend income $ 131,220     $ 129,963     $ 132,447     $ 261,183     $ 264,179  
    Total interest expense   43,811       43,272       48,873       87,083       96,575  
    Net interest income   87,409       86,691       83,574       174,100       167,604  
    Taxable equivalent adjustment   1,912       1,910       1,711       3,822       3,403  
    Net interest income FTE(1)   89,321       88,601       85,285       177,922       171,007  
    Provision expense for credit losses         10,200       2,776       10,200       2,776  
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses FTE(1)   89,321       78,401       82,509       167,722       168,231  
    Non-interest income:                                      
    Service charges   4,127       4,118       4,295       8,245       8,686  
    Bank card fees   4,732       4,194       4,882       8,926       9,460  
    Mortgage banking income   2,547       3,315       3,296       5,862       5,951  
    Other non-interest income   5,660       3,749       1,556       9,409       7,626  
    Total non-interest income   17,066       15,376       14,029       32,442       31,723  
    Non-interest expense:                                      
    Salaries and benefits   37,746       34,362       36,933       72,108       73,453  
    Occupancy and equipment   9,436       10,837       10,120       20,273       20,061  
    Professional fees   1,680       1,423       1,706       3,103       3,352  
    Data processing   4,452       4,401       4,117       8,853       8,183  
    Other non-interest expense   7,670       9,017       8,222       16,687       16,875  
    Other intangible assets amortization   1,947       1,977       1,977       3,924       3,985  
    Total non-interest expense   62,931       62,017       63,075       124,948       125,909  
                                           
    Income before income taxes FTE(1)   43,456       31,760       33,463       75,216       74,045  
    Taxable equivalent adjustment   1,912       1,910       1,711       3,822       3,403  
    Income before income taxes   41,544       29,850       31,752       71,394       70,642  
    Income tax expense   7,522       5,619       5,617       13,141       13,116  
    Net income $ 34,022     $ 24,231     $ 26,135     $ 58,253     $ 57,526  
    Earnings per share – basic $ 0.89     $ 0.63     $ 0.68     $ 1.52     $ 1.51  
    Earnings per share – diluted   0.88       0.63       0.68       1.51       1.50  
    Common stock dividend   0.30       0.29       0.28       0.59       0.55  

                                                          

         
    (1 )   Net interest income is presented on a GAAP basis and fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis, as the Company believes this non-GAAP measure is the preferred industry measurement for this item. The FTE adjustment is for the tax benefit on certain tax exempt loans using the federal tax rate of 21% for each period presented.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

                           
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   June 30, 2024
    ASSETS                      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 296,483     $ 246,298     $ 127,848     $ 144,993  
    Investment securities available-for-sale   631,947       634,376       527,547       691,076  
    Investment securities held-to-maturity   717,232       706,912       533,108       554,686  
    Non-marketable securities   81,124       76,203       76,462       72,987  
    Loans   7,486,918       7,646,296       7,751,143       7,722,153  
    Allowance for credit losses   (88,893 )     (90,192 )     (94,455 )     (96,457 )
    Loans, net   7,398,025       7,556,104       7,656,688       7,625,696  
    Loans held for sale   20,784       11,885       24,495       18,787  
    Other real estate owned   291       615       662       1,526  
    Premises and equipment, net   209,414       204,567       196,773       177,456  
    Goodwill   306,043       306,043       306,043       306,043  
    Intangible assets, net   52,496       54,489       58,432       62,356  
    Other assets   284,890       301,378       299,635       315,245  
    Total assets $ 9,998,729     $ 10,098,870     $ 9,807,693     $ 9,970,851  
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                      
    Liabilities:                      
    Non-interest bearing demand deposits $ 2,168,574     $ 2,215,313     $ 2,213,685     $ 2,229,432  
    Interest bearing demand deposits   1,240,698       1,337,905       1,411,860       1,420,942  
    Savings and money market   3,785,951       3,812,312       3,592,312       3,703,810  
    Total transaction deposits   7,195,223       7,365,530       7,217,857       7,354,184  
    Time deposits   1,074,261       1,058,677       1,020,036       1,022,741  
    Total deposits   8,269,484       8,424,207       8,237,893       8,376,925  
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase   18,513       20,749       18,895       19,465  
    Long-term debt   54,385       54,588       54,511       54,356  
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   185,000       80,000       50,000       35,000  
    Other liabilities   118,851       190,018       141,319       237,461  
    Total liabilities   8,646,233       8,769,562       8,502,618       8,723,207  
    Shareholders’ equity:                      
    Common stock   515       515       515       515  
    Additional paid in capital   1,167,719       1,168,433       1,167,431       1,161,804  
    Retained earnings   544,428       521,939       508,864       469,630  
    Treasury stock   (304,254 )     (301,531 )     (301,694 )     (303,880 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax   (55,912 )     (60,048 )     (70,041 )     (80,425 )
    Total shareholders’ equity   1,352,496       1,329,308       1,305,075       1,247,644  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 9,998,729     $ 10,098,870     $ 9,807,693     $ 9,970,851  
    SHARE DATA                      
    Average basic shares outstanding   38,075,896       38,068,455       38,327,964       38,210,869  
    Average diluted shares outstanding   38,151,810       38,229,869       38,565,164       38,372,777  
    Ending shares outstanding   38,045,622       38,094,105       38,054,482       37,899,453  
    Common book value per share $ 35.55     $ 34.90     $ 34.29     $ 32.92  
    Tangible common book value per share(1)(non-GAAP)   26.64       25.94       25.28       23.74  
    CAPITAL RATIOS                      
    Average equity to average assets   13.62 %     13.35 %     13.10 %     12.57 %
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1)   10.49 %     10.13 %     10.16 %     9.35 %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio   11.18 %     10.89 %     10.69 %     10.20 %
    Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   14.17 %     13.61 %     13.20 %     12.41 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   14.17 %     13.61 %     13.20 %     12.41 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio   16.07 %     15.49 %     15.11 %     14.32 %

                                                          

    (1 )   Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. See non-GAAP reconciliations below.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Loan Portfolio
    (Dollars in thousands)

    Period End Loan Balances by Type

                                   
              June 30, 2025       June 30, 2025
              vs. March 31, 2025       vs. June 30, 2024
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   % Change   June 30, 2024   % Change
    Originated:                              
    Commercial:                              
    Commercial and industrial $ 1,829,984     $ 1,871,301       (2.2 )%   $ 1,906,095       (4.0 )%
    Municipal and non-profit   1,125,330       1,116,724       0.8 %     1,063,706       5.8 %
    Owner-occupied commercial real estate   1,051,964       1,026,692       2.5 %     921,122       14.2 %
    Food and agribusiness   213,254       251,120       (15.1 )%     248,401       (14.1 )%
    Total commercial   4,220,532       4,265,837       (1.1 )%     4,139,324       2.0 %
    Commercial real estate non-owner occupied   1,118,730       1,136,176       (1.5 )%     1,116,424       0.2 %
    Residential real estate   915,213       915,139       0.0 %     923,313       (0.9 )%
    Consumer   12,050       11,955       0.8 %     14,385       (16.2 )%
    Total originated   6,266,525       6,329,107       (1.0 )%     6,193,446       1.2 %
                                   
    Acquired:                              
    Commercial:                              
    Commercial and industrial   100,545       105,493       (4.7 )%     124,104       (19.0 )%
    Municipal and non-profit   265       271       (2.2 )%     288       (8.0 )%
    Owner-occupied commercial real estate   188,745       198,339       (4.8 )%     232,890       (19.0 )%
    Food and agribusiness   31,693       33,831       (6.3 )%     48,061       (34.1 )%
    Total commercial   321,248       337,934       (4.9 )%     405,343       (20.7 )%
    Commercial real estate non-owner occupied   601,890       659,680       (8.8 )%     752,040       (20.0 )%
    Residential real estate   296,795       318,510       (6.8 )%     369,003       (19.6 )%
    Consumer   460       1,065       (56.8 )%     2,321       (80.2 )%
    Total acquired   1,220,393       1,317,189       (7.3 )%     1,528,707       (20.2 )%
    Total loans $ 7,486,918     $ 7,646,296       (2.1 )%   $ 7,722,153       (3.0 )%

    Loan Fundings(1)

                                           
      Second quarter   First quarter   Fourth quarter   Third quarter   Second quarter
      2025   2025   2024   2024   2024
    Commercial:                                      
    Commercial and industrial $ 133,402     $ 108,594     $ 146,600     $ 93,711     $ 241,910  
    Municipal and non-profit   34,393       12,506       49,175       35,677       28,785  
    Owner occupied commercial real estate   47,233       37,762       117,850       70,517       102,615  
    Food and agribusiness   4,576       1,338       15,796       19,205       11,040  
    Total commercial   219,604       160,200       329,421       219,110       384,350  
    Commercial real estate non-owner occupied   56,770       65,254       119,132       91,809       83,184  
    Residential real estate   44,470       29,300       30,750       47,322       36,124  
    Consumer   1,823       970       726       1,010       1,547  
    Total $ 322,667     $ 255,724     $ 480,029     $ 359,251     $ 505,205  

                                                          

    (1 )   Loan fundings are defined as closed end funded loans and net fundings under revolving lines of credit. Net fundings under revolving lines of credit were $15,490, $21,752, $64,375, $16,302 and $19,281 for the periods noted in the table above, respectively.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Summary of Net Interest Margin
    (Dollars in thousands)

                                                               
      For the three months ended   For the three months ended   For the three months ended
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
      Average           Average   Average           Average   Average           Average
      balance   Interest   rate   balance   Interest   rate   balance   Interest   rate
    Interest earning assets:                                                          
    Originated loans FTE(1)(2) $ 6,289,154     $ 102,399       6.53 %   $ 6,335,931     $ 102,221       6.54 %   $ 6,074,199     $ 101,794       6.74 %
    Acquired loans   1,262,933       19,397       6.16 %     1,351,726       19,547       5.86 %     1,541,576       23,464       6.12 %
    Loans held for sale   21,115       354       6.72 %     19,756       349       7.16 %     16,862       318       7.59 %
    Investment securities available-for-sale   701,920       4,661       2.66 %     716,938       4,617       2.58 %     802,830       5,101       2.54 %
    Investment securities held-to-maturity   713,178       5,173       2.90 %     635,961       4,120       2.59 %     564,818       2,419       1.71 %
    Other securities   30,560       466       6.10 %     31,386       480       6.12 %     25,093       377       6.01 %
    Interest earning deposits   57,634       682       4.75 %     48,206       539       4.53 %     92,388       685       2.98 %
    Total interest earning assets FTE(2) $ 9,076,494     $ 133,132       5.88 %   $ 9,139,904     $ 131,873       5.85 %   $ 9,117,766     $ 134,158       5.92 %
    Cash and due from banks $ 79,131                   $ 77,237                   $ 100,165                
    Other assets   807,802                     794,374                     771,475                
    Allowance for credit losses   (90,292 )                   (95,492 )                   (97,741 )              
    Total assets $ 9,873,135                   $ 9,916,023                   $ 9,891,665                
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                                          
    Interest bearing demand, savings and money market deposits $ 4,986,119     $ 32,758       2.64 %   $ 5,027,052     $ 32,511       2.62 %   $ 5,109,924     $ 39,681       3.12 %
    Time deposits   1,062,481       9,087       3.43 %     1,035,983       8,756       3.43 %     1,015,371       8,536       3.38 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   93,676       1,170       5.01 %     107,151       1,105       4.18 %     9,505       133       5.63 %
    Other borrowings(3)   41,300       278       2.70 %     50,277       382       3.08 %     17,449       5       0.12 %
    Long-term debt   54,574       518       3.81 %     54,539       518       3.85 %     54,307       518       3.84 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities $ 6,238,150     $ 43,811       2.82 %   $ 6,275,002     $ 43,272       2.80 %   $ 6,206,556     $ 48,873       3.17 %
    Demand deposits $ 2,152,899                   $ 2,197,300                   $ 2,254,454                
    Other liabilities   137,319                     119,806                     187,499                
    Total liabilities   8,528,368                     8,592,108                     8,648,509                
    Shareholders’ equity   1,344,767                     1,323,915                     1,243,156                
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 9,873,135                   $ 9,916,023                   $ 9,891,665                
    Net interest income FTE(2)       $ 89,321                 $ 88,601                 $ 85,285        
    Interest rate spread FTE(2)                 3.06 %                   3.05 %                   2.75 %
    Net interest earning assets $ 2,838,344                   $ 2,864,902                   $ 2,911,210                
    Net interest margin FTE(2)                 3.95 %                   3.93 %                   3.76 %
    Average transaction deposits $ 7,139,018                   $ 7,224,352                   $ 7,364,378                
    Average total deposits   8,201,499                     8,260,335                     8,379,749                
    Ratio of average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities   145.50 %                   145.66 %                   146.91 %              

                                                          

    (1 )   Originated loans are net of deferred loan fees, less costs, which are included in interest income over the life of the loan.
    (2 )   Presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the statutory tax rate of 21%. The tax equivalent adjustments included above are $1,912, $1,910 and $1,711 for the three months ended June 30, 2025, March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively.
    (3 )   Other borrowings includes securities sold under agreements to repurchase and cash collateral received from counterparties in connection with derivative swap agreements.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Summary of Net Interest Margin
    (Dollars in thousands)

                                       
      For the six months ended June 30, 2025   For the six months ended June 30, 2024
      Average           Average   Average           Average
      balance   Interest   rate   balance   Interest   rate
    Interest earning assets:                                  
    Originated loans FTE(1)(2) $ 6,312,413     $ 204,620       6.54 %   $ 6,060,524     $ 202,708       6.73 %
    Acquired loans   1,307,084       38,944       6.01 %     1,576,548       47,753       6.09 %
    Loans held for sale   20,439       703       6.94 %     14,440       543       7.56 %
    Investment securities available-for-sale   709,387       9,278       2.62 %     776,999       9,204       2.37 %
    Investment securities held-to-maturity   674,783       9,293       2.75 %     571,989       4,933       1.72 %
    Other securities   30,971       946       6.11 %     30,065       993       6.61 %
    Interest earning deposits   52,946       1,221       4.65 %     91,983       1,448       3.17 %
    Total interest earning assets FTE(2) $ 9,108,023     $ 265,005       5.87 %   $ 9,122,548     $ 267,582       5.90 %
    Cash and due from banks $ 78,189                 $ 101,374              
    Other assets   801,127                   763,853              
    Allowance for credit losses   (92,878 )                 (97,812 )            
    Total assets $ 9,894,461                 $ 9,889,963              
    Interest bearing liabilities:                                  
    Interest bearing demand, savings and money market deposits $ 5,006,472     $ 65,269       2.63 %   $ 5,028,868     $ 76,094       3.04 %
    Time deposits   1,049,305       17,843       3.43 %     1,002,706       16,120       3.23 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   100,376       2,275       4.57 %     118,871       3,314       5.61 %
    Other borrowings(3)   45,764       660       2.91 %     18,189       11       0.12 %
    Long-term debt   54,557       1,036       3.83 %     54,268       1,036       3.84 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities $ 6,256,474     $ 87,083       2.81 %   $ 6,222,902     $ 96,575       3.12 %
    Demand deposits $ 2,174,977                 $ 2,267,725              
    Other liabilities   128,611                   164,617              
    Total liabilities   8,560,062                   8,655,244              
    Shareholders’ equity   1,334,399                   1,234,719              
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 9,894,461                 $ 9,889,963              
    Net interest income FTE(2)       $ 177,922               $ 171,007      
    Interest rate spread FTE(2)                 3.06 %                   2.78 %
    Net interest earning assets $ 2,851,549                 $ 2,899,646              
    Net interest margin FTE(2)                 3.94 %                   3.77 %
    Average transaction deposits $ 7,181,449                 $ 7,296,593              
    Average total deposits   8,230,754                   8,299,299              
    Ratio of average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities   145.58 %                 146.60 %            

                                                          

    (1 )   Originated loans are net of deferred loan fees, less costs, which are included in interest income over the life of the loan.
    (2 )   Presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the statutory tax rate of 21%. The tax equivalent adjustments included above are $3,822 and $3,403 for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively.
    (3 )   Other borrowings includes securities sold under agreements to repurchase and cash collateral received from counterparties in connection with derivative swap agreements.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Allowance for Credit Losses and Asset Quality
    (Dollars in thousands)

    Allowance for Credit Losses Analysis

                     
      As of and for the three months ended
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
    Beginning allowance for credit losses $ 90,192     $ 94,455     $ 97,607  
    Charge-offs   (1,158 )     (15,251 )     (4,605 )
    Recoveries   170       138       499  
    Provision (release) expense for credit losses   (311 )     10,850       2,956  
    Ending allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) $ 88,893     $ 90,192     $ 96,457  
    Ratio of annualized net charge-offs to average total loans during the period   0.05 %     0.80 %     0.22 %
    Ratio of ACL to total loans outstanding at period end   1.19 %     1.18 %     1.25 %
    Ratio of ACL to total non-performing loans at period end   266.66 %     260.52 %     370.18 %
    Total loans $ 7,486,918     $ 7,646,296     $ 7,722,153  
    Average total loans during the period   7,530,783       7,660,974       7,582,506  
    Total non-performing loans   33,336       34,620       26,057  

    Past Due and Non-accrual Loans

                     
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
    Loans 30-89 days past due and still accruing interest $ 13,923     $ 17,003     $ 27,159  
    Loans 90 days past due and still accruing interest   7,315       1,012       3,498  
    Non-accrual loans   33,336       34,620       26,057  
    Total past due and non-accrual loans $ 54,574     $ 52,635     $ 56,714  
    Total 90 days past due and still accruing interest and non-accrual loans to total loans   0.54 %     0.47 %     0.38 %

    Asset Quality Data

                     
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   June 30, 2024
    Non-performing loans $ 33,336     $ 34,620     $ 26,057  
    OREO   291       615       1,526  
    Total non-performing assets $ 33,627     $ 35,235     $ 27,583  
    Total non-performing loans to total loans   0.45 %     0.45 %     0.34 %
    Total non-performing assets to total loans and OREO   0.45 %     0.46 %     0.36 %

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Key Metrics(1)

                                 
      As of and for the three months ended   As of and for the six months ended
      June 30,   March 31,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30, 
      2025   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Return on average assets   1.38 %     0.99 %     1.06 %     1.19 %     1.17 %
    Return on average tangible assets(2)   1.49 %     1.09 %     1.17 %     1.29 %     1.28 %
    Return on average equity   10.15 %     7.42 %     8.46 %     8.80 %     9.37 %
    Return on average tangible common equity(2)   14.18 %     10.64 %     12.44 %     12.44 %     13.77 %
    Loan to deposit ratio (end of period)   90.54 %     90.77 %     92.18 %     90.54 %     92.18 %
    Non-interest bearing deposits to total deposits (end of period)   26.22 %     26.30 %     26.61 %     26.22 %     26.61 %
    Net interest margin(3)   3.86 %     3.85 %     3.69 %     3.85 %     3.69 %
    Net interest margin FTE(2)(3)   3.95 %     3.93 %     3.76 %     3.94 %     3.77 %
    Interest rate spread FTE(2)(4)   3.06 %     3.05 %     2.75 %     3.06 %     2.78 %
    Yield on earning assets(5)   5.80 %     5.77 %     5.84 %     5.78 %     5.82 %
    Yield on earning assets FTE(2)(5)   5.88 %     5.85 %     5.92 %     5.87 %     5.90 %
    Cost of funds   2.09 %     2.07 %     2.32 %     2.08 %     2.29 %
    Cost of deposits   2.05 %     2.03 %     2.31 %     2.04 %     2.23 %
    Non-interest income to total revenue FTE(6)   16.04 %     14.79 %     14.13 %     15.42 %     15.65 %
    Efficiency ratio   60.24 %     60.76 %     64.62 %     60.50 %     63.17 %
    Efficiency ratio excluding other intangible assets amortization FTE(2)   57.32 %     57.74 %     61.52 %     57.53 %     60.14 %
    Pre-provision net revenue $ 41,544     $ 40,050     $ 34,528     $ 81,594     $ 73,418  
    Pre-provision net revenue FTE(2)   43,456       41,960       36,239       85,416       76,821  
                                 
    Total Loans Asset Quality Data(7)(8)                            
    Non-performing loans to total loans   0.45 %     0.45 %     0.34 %     0.45 %     0.34 %
    Non-performing assets to total loans and OREO   0.45 %     0.46 %     0.36 %     0.45 %     0.36 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans   1.19 %     1.18 %     1.25 %     1.19 %     1.25 %
    Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans   266.66 %     260.52 %     370.18 %     266.66 %     370.18 %
    Net charge-offs to average loans   0.05 %     0.80 %     0.22 %     0.43 %     0.11 %

                                                          

    (1 )   Ratios are annualized.
    (2 )   Ratio represents non-GAAP financial measure. See non-GAAP reconciliations below.
    (3 )   Net interest margin represents net interest income, including accretion income on interest earning assets, as a percentage of average interest earning assets.
    (4 )   Interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest earning assets, including FTE income, and the weighted average cost of interest bearing liabilities. Ratio represents a non-GAAP financial measure.
    (5 )   Interest earning assets include assets that earn interest/accretion or dividends. Any market value adjustments on investment securities or loans are excluded from interest earning assets.
    (6 )   Non-interest income to total revenue represents non-interest income divided by the sum of net interest income FTE and non-interest income. Ratio represents a non-GAAP financial measure.
    (7 )   Non-performing loans consist of non-accruing loans and modified loans on non-accrual.
    (8 )   Total loans are net of unearned discounts and fees.

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

    Tangible Common Book Value Ratios

                           
      June 30, 2025   March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   June 30, 2024
    Total shareholders’ equity $ 1,352,496     $ 1,329,308     $ 1,305,075     $ 1,247,644  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net   (352,854 )     (354,800 )     (356,777 )     (360,732 )
    Add: deferred tax liability related to goodwill   13,741       13,638       13,535       12,871  
    Tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $ 1,013,383     $ 988,146     $ 961,833     $ 899,783  
                           
    Total assets $ 9,998,729     $ 10,098,870     $ 9,807,693     $ 9,970,851  
    Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net   (352,854 )     (354,800 )     (356,777 )     (360,732 )
    Add: deferred tax liability related to goodwill   13,741       13,638       13,535       12,871  
    Tangible assets (non-GAAP) $ 9,659,616     $ 9,757,708     $ 9,464,451     $ 9,622,990  
                           
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets calculations:                      
    Total shareholders’ equity to total assets   13.53 %     13.16 %     13.31 %     12.51 %
    Less: impact of goodwill and other intangible assets, net   (3.04 )%     (3.03 )%     (3.15 )%     (3.16 )%
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)   10.49 %     10.13 %     10.16 %     9.35 %
                           
    Tangible common book value per share calculations:                      
    Tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $ 1,013,383     $ 988,146     $ 961,833     $ 899,783  
    Divided by: ending shares outstanding   38,045,622       38,094,105       38,054,482       37,899,453  
    Tangible common book value per share (non-GAAP) $ 26.64     $ 25.94     $ 25.28     $ 23.74  

    NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
    Return on Average Tangible Assets and Return on Average Tangible Equity

                                 
      As of and for the three months ended   As of and for the six months ended
      June 30,   March 31,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30, 
      2025   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Net income $ 34,022     $ 24,231     $ 26,135     $ 58,253     $ 57,526  
    Add: impact of other intangible assets amortization expense, after tax   1,492       1,516       1,516       3,006       3,055  
    Net income excluding the impact of other intangible assets amortization expense, after tax (non-GAAP) $ 35,514     $ 25,747     $ 27,651     $ 61,259     $ 60,581  
                                 
    Average assets $ 9,873,135     $ 9,916,023     $ 9,891,665     $ 9,894,461     $ 9,889,963  
    Less: average goodwill and other intangible assets, net of deferred tax liability related to goodwill   (340,330 )     (342,425 )     (349,030 )     (341,320 )     (350,040 )
    Average tangible assets (non-GAAP) $ 9,532,805     $ 9,573,598     $ 9,542,635     $ 9,553,141     $ 9,539,923  
                                 
    Average shareholders’ equity $ 1,344,767     $ 1,323,915     $ 1,243,156     $ 1,334,399     $ 1,234,719  
    Less: average goodwill and other intangible assets, net of deferred tax liability related to goodwill   (340,330 )     (342,425 )     (349,030 )     (341,320 )     (350,040 )
    Average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $ 1,004,437     $ 981,490     $ 894,126     $ 993,079     $ 884,679  
                                 
    Return on average assets   1.38 %     0.99 %     1.06 %     1.19 %     1.17 %
    Return on average tangible assets (non-GAAP)   1.49 %     1.09 %     1.17 %     1.29 %     1.28 %
    Return on average equity   10.15 %     7.42 %     8.46 %     8.80 %     9.37 %
    Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP)   14.18 %     10.64 %     12.44 %     12.44 %     13.77 %

    Fully Taxable Equivalent Yield on Earning Assets and Net Interest Margin

                                 
      As of and for the three months ended   As of and for the six months ended
      June 30,   March 31,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30, 
      2025   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Interest income $ 131,220     $ 129,963     $ 132,447     $ 261,183     $ 264,179  
    Add: impact of taxable equivalent adjustment   1,912       1,910       1,711       3,822       3,403  
    Interest income FTE (non-GAAP) $ 133,132     $ 131,873     $ 134,158     $ 265,005     $ 267,582  
                                 
    Net interest income $ 87,409     $ 86,691     $ 83,574     $ 174,100     $ 167,604  
    Add: impact of taxable equivalent adjustment   1,912       1,910       1,711       3,822       3,403  
    Net interest income FTE (non-GAAP) $ 89,321     $ 88,601     $ 85,285     $ 177,922     $ 171,007  
                                 
    Average earning assets $ 9,076,494     $ 9,139,904     $ 9,117,766     $ 9,108,023     $ 9,122,548  
    Yield on earning assets   5.80 %     5.77 %     5.84 %     5.78 %     5.82 %
    Yield on earning assets FTE (non-GAAP)   5.88 %     5.85 %     5.92 %     5.87 %     5.90 %
    Net interest margin   3.86 %     3.85 %     3.69 %     3.85 %     3.69 %
    Net interest margin FTE (non-GAAP)   3.95 %     3.93 %     3.76 %     3.94 %     3.77 %

    Efficiency Ratio and Pre-Provision Net Revenue

                                 
      As of and for the three months ended   As of and for the six months ended
      June 30,   March 31,    June 30,    June 30,   June 30, 
      2025   2025   2024   2025   2024
    Net interest income $ 87,409     $ 86,691     $ 83,574     $ 174,100     $ 167,604  
    Add: impact of taxable equivalent adjustment   1,912       1,910       1,711       3,822       3,403  
    Net interest income FTE (non-GAAP) $ 89,321     $ 88,601     $ 85,285     $ 177,922     $ 171,007  
                                 
    Non-interest income $ 17,066     $ 15,376     $ 14,029     $ 32,442     $ 31,723  
                                 
    Non-interest expense $ 62,931     $ 62,017     $ 63,075     $ 124,948     $ 125,909  
    Less: other intangible assets amortization   (1,947 )     (1,977 )     (1,977 )     (3,924 )     (3,985 )
    Non-interest expense excluding other intangible assets amortization (non-GAAP) $ 60,984     $ 60,040     $ 61,098     $ 121,024     $ 121,924  
                                 
    Efficiency ratio   60.24 %     60.76 %     64.62 %     60.50 %     63.17 %
    Efficiency ratio excluding other intangible assets amortization FTE (non-GAAP)   57.32 %     57.74 %     61.52 %     57.53 %     60.14 %
    Pre-provision net revenue (non-GAAP) $ 41,544     $ 40,050     $ 34,528     $ 81,594     $ 73,418  
    Pre-provision net revenue, FTE (non-GAAP)   43,456       41,960       36,239       85,416       76,821  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA awards more than $2M in grants to memorialize Veterans

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Skip to content

    WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced seven grants to educational and research institutions totaling $2,195,992 to memorialize Veterans interred in VA national cemeteries as part of the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program initiative.

    The grants announced today will support the creation of documentaries, lesson plans, instructional aids and other educational materials regarding the lives and accomplishments of Veterans.

    VA established VLP in 2016 to memorialize Veterans through educational outreach and to connect students, educators, and citizens with VA national cemeteries. The program has so far awarded dozens of grants and engaged with more than 15,000 students. Veteran biographies, images and other content are also preserved on VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial site, where individual web pages commemorate the lives and service of more than 10 million U.S. Veterans interred in U.S. and overseas cemeteries.

    “We are grateful for our collaborations with schools and non-profit organizations across the country to help preserve Veterans’ legacies,” said Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters. “These grants will help ensure future generations continue to learn about the remarkable men and women interred in VA national cemeteries.”

    The grantees announced today were selected following a rigorous review process. They include:

    • National History Day, Inc., $361,721
      National History Day will identify fifty teachers who live within 90 miles of a VA or VA-funded cemetery to each select two Veterans who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. These teachers will then guide students to research and write biographical profiles for publication on the Veterans Legacy Memorial.  Student projects will conclude with visits to each Veteran’s grave site, where they will give eulogies based on what they learned about their lives. The program estimates that the 50 teachers selected for this program will reach more than 62,000 students in ten years.
    • Loyola Marymount University, $350,000
      The LMU Digital Veterans Legacy Project is an educational initiative designed to honor U.S. Veterans interred in national cemeteries through collaborative research and digital storytelling. Partnering with local schools, community organizations, ROTC programs, and national cemeteries, the project integrates veterans’ narratives into K-12 and university curricula. Building on the success of previous NCA grants, DVLP has engaged 524 students and produced 291 Veteran biographies. For 2025-2026, the project will train five Teacher Ambassadors to develop and implement three curriculum-aligned lesson plans each, and lead students in researching local veterans and creating digital media projects. LMU will take a community-based participatory methods approach to identifying Veterans by asking educators and community members to select those who have significant connections to their local communities. This project promotes civic engagement, honors Veterans’ legacies, enriches student learning, and will continue to create additional veteran-related learning resources for students and educators.
    • Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation, $341,881
      The proposed project represents a continuation and expansion of a project that curates the life histories of Veterans who served in the U.S. military in the late 1940s and 1950s who subsequently participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Building on initial work in 2024-2025 which featured World War II Veterans in Georgia, this proposal focuses on Vietnam-era Veterans in the Southeast. KSU will develop an immersive portfolio of educational and community outreach tools emphasizing community connection, including storyboards and supporting materials uploaded to the Veterans Legacy Memorial, a traveling Vietnam-era museum exhibit, a self-guided walking tour of a NCA cemetery, and community events that promote connection between students, community members, and Veterans. This project will preserve the stories of Veterans who contributed to our nation’s history in an extraordinary manner and promote student and community engagement with state and federal cemeteries in the Southeast. The project focuses on life histories of Veterans and interviews with next-of-kin. Kennesaw will do case identification, recruitment, and data collection, resulting in 967 cases reviewed, 341 cases confirmed to likely meet eligibility criteria, 25 next-of-kin identified and contacted, and eight interviews performed so far. The interviews are the subject of a traveling museum exhibit to be created by KSU Museums, Archives, and Rare Books, which will be created in summer 2025. Presentations based on this project have been accepted at two conferences.
    • U.S. Korea Global Strategy Foundation, $324,999
      This project will increase knowledge and awareness of the “Forgotten War” by creating ten new secondary social studies instructional modules, guiding student research that can be uploaded into VLM and delivering professional development to secondary teachers. Distributed nationally and internationally, the modules focus on the significance and purpose of national cemeteries and the experiences and sacrifices of Korean War Veterans. The project includes instructional modules that guide student research to locate biographical information for Korean War Veterans buried in local national cemeteries.
    • Research Foundation of the City University of New York, $280,000
      This project will develop a professional development seminar for 17 K-12 educators drawn from the greater New York metropolitan area. Participants will familiarize themselves with historical resources and other research materials to produce educational materials which relate to the stories of the Veterans interred in Cypress Hills National Cemetery. Students will generate biographies of Veterans interred at the cemetery that will be published to the Veterans Legacy Memorial. Participants will also be given a guided tour of Cypress Hills National Cemetery where they will become acquainted with the history of the cemetery, visit the important monuments located there, and familiarize themselves with the stories of the individuals interred there.
    • University of Central Florida, $274,439
      The UCF project will extend the memorialization of Veterans interred in National Cemeteries in Florida, with a focus on Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. UCF will partner with the Brevard County Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island, Florida and the Museum of Military History in Kissimmee, Florida to identify families of Veterans interested in providing oral history interviews. Educational materials will be created that are derived from these interviews. UCF will work with six Veterans Legacy-experienced educators to create lesson plans for 150 to 200 students during the 2025-2026 school year. UCF will also work with their partners to identify the families/comrades of 12-15 Veterans buried in Cape Canaveral National Cemetery or other Florida national cemeteries. They will digitize family photos, personal letters, commendations and medals, and other records to create source packets. UCF will also create mini podcasts of interviews with Veterans’ families. The video bios, podcasts, and other deliverables will be used in classroom teaching and in educational traveling cemetery tours. Photos and other information compiled will be added to VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial.
    • West Virginia Humanities Council, Inc., $262,952 This project expands upon the geographical and academic impact of prior Veterans Legacy Grants Program awards, which have produced 30 Veteran biographies in a prior year grant and are creating 26 new Veteran biographies in the current grant. Students at Grafton High in Taylor County, University High in Monongalia County, and — for the first time — Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Logan County will conduct original primary source research into the lives of West Virginia Veterans and create short biographies to be published on the Veterans Legacy Memorial. Commemorative events will be held near Memorial Day to showcase student work. This project will expand upon prior projects and will compile data on 71 World War II Veterans to incorporate into a digital exhibit.

    VA operates 156 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and monument sites in 45 states and

    Puerto Rico. More than five million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA cemeteries. For information about VA burial benefits, visit one of VA’s National Cemetery locations in-person, visit online at VA burial benefits and memorial items, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. To plan ahead for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Ambassador pays courtesy visit to Guatemalan Minister of Education

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    British Ambassador pays courtesy visit to Guatemalan Minister of Education

    Ambassador Juliana Correa and Minister Anabella Giracca met to explore ways to further deepen UK-Guatemala educational ties.

    The meeting highlighted the potential of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)—the world’s largest fund dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries, with the UK as its leading donor. Discussions focused on leveraging this platform to support Guatemala’s education priorities. 

    Key areas of potential collaboration included enhancing early English language learning and expanding Guatemalan participation in the UK’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme at the postgraduate level. 

    Ambassador Correa also expressed the UK’s interest in supporting national initiatives such as the “Scholarships for Our Future” programme, recognizing its transformative impact on the lives of Guatemalan youth. 

    In closing, the Ambassador commended Minister Giracca’s efforts to expand educational access, improve learning outcomes, and promote equity and inclusion across the country’s education system.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Ambassador pays courtesy visit to Guatemalan Minister of Education

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    British Ambassador pays courtesy visit to Guatemalan Minister of Education

    Ambassador Juliana Correa and Minister Anabella Giracca met to explore ways to further deepen UK-Guatemala educational ties.

    The meeting highlighted the potential of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE)—the world’s largest fund dedicated to transforming education in lower-income countries, with the UK as its leading donor. Discussions focused on leveraging this platform to support Guatemala’s education priorities. 

    Key areas of potential collaboration included enhancing early English language learning and expanding Guatemalan participation in the UK’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme at the postgraduate level. 

    Ambassador Correa also expressed the UK’s interest in supporting national initiatives such as the “Scholarships for Our Future” programme, recognizing its transformative impact on the lives of Guatemalan youth. 

    In closing, the Ambassador commended Minister Giracca’s efforts to expand educational access, improve learning outcomes, and promote equity and inclusion across the country’s education system.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US deploys nuclear weapons in UK for first time since 2008 – media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) — Several U.S. nuclear bombs have been delivered to a British air base, marking the first deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons on British soil since 2008, local media reported Tuesday.

    As reported by the UK Defence Journal on July 20, the US-run Royal Air Force Lakenheath air base in Suffolk, East Anglia, received B61-12 thermonuclear bombs. These are free-fall nuclear bombs weighing about 320 kg, designed to be dropped from aircraft.

    The bombs were allegedly delivered from the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center in New Mexico using a C-17 military transport aircraft. The aircraft was flying with its transponders on, making it easy for foreign governments and air traffic monitors to track its movements.

    As the Times newspaper clarified, citing military experts, the nature of the American transport plane’s flight indicated a “one-way delivery,” which indicates a permanent placement of weapons, rather than a routine movement.

    Neither the US Department of Defense nor the UK Defense Ministry commented on the incident.

    Ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague in June, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the purchase of at least 12 new F-35A fighter jets from the US for a total of almost £1 billion (about $1.35 billion). –0–

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

    Source: US FBI

    Defendant is known member of the Norteno gang, a Mexican American gang in Northern California, as well as the Bloods gang and the RideZilla prison gang

    BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trafficking and conspiring to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Marcos Haro, 40, of Sacramento, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 14 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2025, Marcos Haro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting; and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; aiding and abetting.  In April 2023, Marcos Haro was indicted along with his brother Noel Haro.

    Noel Haro is a member and influential leader of the “Border Brothers” gang – a large-scale international gang known to be involved in drug, weapon and human trafficking in Southern Arizona with a presence in Nogales, Mexico and the Arizona prison system. Noel Haro is currently serving a life sentence following convictions in Arizona for drug distribution, conspiracy and money laundering. Noel Haro was previously serving his sentence at a facility in Arizona but was transferred to serve his sentence in Massachusetts upon being deemed a security concern due to his alleged influence over other inmates and repeated introduction of cell phones and narcotics into Arizona facilities.

    Beginning in or about April 2019, and investigation began into Noel Haro’s attempts to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics to Massachusetts. Investigators monitoring Noel Haro’s inmate calls learned that he was soliciting friends and family members to transport narcotics from Arizona to Massachusetts on his behalf. In April 2022, recorded inmate calls indicated that Noel Haro worked with his brother, Marcos Haro, to arrange drug deals outside of prison.

    In June 2022, Marcos Haro agreed to supply a cooperating witness with samples of multiple narcotics, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. Marcos Haro later mailed the narcotics concealed in a purple teddy bear inside a postal package. On July 13, 2022, the package was retrieved and found to contain powdered fentanyl, five counterfeit fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and approximately 3 grams of heroin. On July 25, 2022, during a recorded inmate call, Noel Haro and Marcos Haro discussed selling one pound of methamphetamine to the same individual. On July 27, 2022, investigators retrieved the package sent from Marcos Haro which contained approximately 446.6 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine. On Aug. 10, 2022, Noel Haro directed Marcos Haro to arrange the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine to the same individual. Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, investigators retrieved two packages sent from Marcos Haro, which contained approximately 892.3 grams of 86% pure methamphetamine and approximately 1,320.2 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine.

    In October 2022, Marcos and Noel Haro made arrangements to sell an individual 2,000 fentanyl pills. On Nov. 17, 2022, Marcos sent the individual a photograph of a United States Postal Service shipping box, label and receipt. On Nov. 20, 2022, investigators retrieved the package sent by Marcos Haro, which contained approximately 2,000 blue pills, which tested positive for approximately 215.3 grams of fentanyl.

    On April 2, 2023, Marcos Haro was arrested in Sacramento, Calif. following a motor vehicle stop. A 9mm handgun with eight live rounds in the magazine and approximately 2.9 grams of suspected fentanyl that field tested positive for the presence of opiates, were found during a subsequent search of the vehicle. Marcos Haro has a lengthy criminal history that includes 10 prior convictions, including a 2016 conviction for possession of a controlled substance while armed and illegal possession of an assault weapon with a large capacity magazine, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Marcos Haro is a known member of the Norteno gang which is a Mexican American gang located in Northern California, as well as the Bloods gang and the RideZilla prison gang.

    On July 10, 2025, Noel Haro was sentenced to 188 months in prison.

    This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
        
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Department of Correction’s Commissioner Shawn Jenkins made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sacramento Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea E. Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. 

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force

    DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Argentina’s formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the world’s leading fishing nations and exporters, Argentina’s commitment underscores this Agreement’s importance for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting responsible practices for people’s livelihoods and food security. This milestone brings us closer to the shared goal of curbing harmful fisheries subsidies worldwide: we are only five ratifications away from the Agreement entering into force.”
    Ambassador Lunazzi said: “Today, with the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the Argentine Republic is taking an important step. This firm commitment to fairer and freer trade not only strengthens our economy, but also protects the marine resources in the South Atlantic, preserving them for future generations. We look forward to the rapid entry into force of this Agreement, which reflects the collaborative spirit of WTO members and their commitment to the founding principles of the Organization.”
    Formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required for the Agreement to enter into force — representing 111 members. The list of the 106 WTO members which have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the WTO is available here.
    At the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted by consensus the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
    Ministers also recognized the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments that have formally accepted the Agreement to implement the new obligations.
    The Fish Fund launched a Call for Proposals on 6 June, inviting developing economies and LDCs that have ratified the Agreement to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the Agreement. The WTO Fish Fund portal can be found here.
    WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues. The objective is to find consensus on additional provisions to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.
    Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Argentina accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, five remaining for entry into force

    DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I warmly welcome Argentina’s formal acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. As one of the world’s leading fishing nations and exporters, Argentina’s commitment underscores this Agreement’s importance for protecting marine ecosystems and promoting responsible practices for people’s livelihoods and food security. This milestone brings us closer to the shared goal of curbing harmful fisheries subsidies worldwide: we are only five ratifications away from the Agreement entering into force.”
    Ambassador Lunazzi said: “Today, with the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the Argentine Republic is taking an important step. This firm commitment to fairer and freer trade not only strengthens our economy, but also protects the marine resources in the South Atlantic, preserving them for future generations. We look forward to the rapid entry into force of this Agreement, which reflects the collaborative spirit of WTO members and their commitment to the founding principles of the Organization.”
    Formal acceptances from two-thirds of WTO members are required for the Agreement to enter into force — representing 111 members. The list of the 106 WTO members which have deposited their instruments of acceptance with the WTO is available here.
    At the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) held in Geneva in June 2022, ministers adopted by consensus the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, setting new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.
    Ministers also recognized the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries by establishing a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to help governments that have formally accepted the Agreement to implement the new obligations.
    The Fish Fund launched a Call for Proposals on 6 June, inviting developing economies and LDCs that have ratified the Agreement to submit requests for project grants aimed at helping them implement the Agreement. The WTO Fish Fund portal can be found here.
    WTO members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiating on remaining fisheries subsidies issues. The objective is to find consensus on additional provisions to further strengthen the disciplines on fisheries subsidies.
    Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: EU/China: Joint NGO letter ahead of EU-China Summit

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Dear President Costa,

    Dear President von der Leyen,

    We write to urge you to prioritize human rights in the forthcoming European Union (EU)-China Summit to be held in China on July 24-25. At the recent G7 meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “new China shock,” and urged that G7 members respond with greater cooperation, resilience and alternative approaches. We believe similar ambition should apply to the approach of the EU and its member states regarding the deepening human rights crisis in China, and that new initiatives be publicly articulated at the forthcoming Summit to build on and go beyond existing commitments set out in the March 2019 EU-China Strategic Outlook.

    We appreciate the EU’s longtime support to independent civil society and human rights defenders across China, and welcome public remarks, such as strong statements at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, identifying particular cases of concern. We thank the EU for condemning the arbitrary detention of human rights legal activists Xu Yan and Yu Wensheng, who were detained en route to meeting with EU officials. In September 2022, then-High Representative and Vice President Josep Borrell helpfully echoed the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) concern that Chinese government policies in the Uyghur region “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.” We acknowledge the recent – the fortieth – round of the EU-China human rights dialogue.

    Yet these EU and member states’ initiatives have not deterred Chinese authorities’ wholesale assault on human rights since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012. He and other officials are confident in their impunity for widespread arbitrary detention, forced assimilation, forced labour and torture in China; and transnational repression, including in Europe. Chinese authorities not only refuse to comply with the vast majority of their international human rights obligations, they also seek to rewrite global human rights norms and weaken key international institutions.

    We urge the EU and its member states to confront this human rights crisis—which increasingly affects not only people across China but also people worldwide—with the same determination to identify and commit to alternative approaches as it is now setting out on security and trade issues.

    In that spirit, our organizations urge you to use the Summit to ensure justice for victims and survivors of Beijing’s violations and abuses by publicly:

    1. Condemning the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity, and the impunity that sustains them, echoing the findings and recommendations of UN bodies, including the August 2022 OHCHR report on Xinjiang, the 2023 reviews of China by the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the 2024 Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and UN Special Procedures. The EU should reiterate that crimes against humanity are subject to universal jurisdiction, and that those responsible can and should be held criminally responsible and face justice, including in EU member states. The 18 June 2025 announcement by Argentina’s highest criminal court to hear a case brought by Uyghurs alleging Chinese authorities have committed genocide and crimes against humanity should lend confidence and momentum to similar initiatives across EU member states, and to a push for accountability through UN mechanisms. Doing so is consistent with High Representative Kaja Kallas’ March 2025 remarks broadly supporting international law and the need for perpetrators to be “brought to justice.”
    2. Calling for the immediate and unconditional releases of human rights defenders who have been detained for their work, naming individuals explicitly, including EU citizen Gui Minhai, Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti and others identified in the most recent EU statement at the UN Human Rights Council: Gulshan Abbas, Anya Sengdra, Ekpar Asat, Chadrel Rinpoche, Rahile Dawut, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Dong Yuyu, Drugdra, Gao Zhen, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Ji Xiaolong, Li Yanhe, Lobsang Gephel, Lobsang, Khedrub, Lu Siwei, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongmin, Ruan Xiaohuan, Semkyi Dolma, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Wang Bingzhang, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xie Yang, Xu Na, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Hengjun, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, Pastor Zhang Chunlei and Zhang Zhan.
    3. Emphasizing the commitments made at the G7 to ending transnational repression (TNR), including abuses undertaken by the Chinese government, both across EU member states and elsewhere. Those commitments can be demonstrated through investigations and prosecutions, while also supporting and protecting individuals and communities who may be or have already been targeted by TNR. These human rights abuses include intimidation, surveillance, threats or acts of physical violence, threats against family members and digital repression, in particular sexual harassment or degrading language targeting women.
    4. Reiterating that the EU and its member states are ready to use all tools at their disposal to hold Chinese government officials accountable for human rights violations, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, such as in the context of the selection of the next Dalai Lama.
    5. Stressing that the EU expects the Chinese government to comply with its freely-undertaken human rights obligations under international law, and calling for the urgent repeal of laws and criminal provisions incompatible with those obligations, including but not limited to the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” “subversion” and “inciting subversion of state power,” and the criminal procedure of “residential surveillance at a designated location,” in line with recommendations by UN human rights bodies.

    After 50 years of EU-China relations, the EU should take stock of deepening Chinese government repression inside and outside the country, and express solidarity with people across China who seek to exercise, uphold and defend human rights. The EU’s recent decision to cancel an economic and trade dialogue with the Chinese government over serious differences suggests a willingness to pressure Beijing in new and different ways. Grave and worsening human rights violations by Chinese authorities should motivate new strategies. Without those, people across China—and in Europe—are increasingly at risk.

    Amnesty International

    Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Chinese Human Rights Defenders

    Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation Front Line Defenders

    Hong Kong Watch Human Rights in China Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Without Frontiers International Campaign for Tibet

    International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

    International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) International Service for Human Rights

    The Rights Practice

    World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

    World Uyghur Congress

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 22nd, 2025 Heinrich, Bennet, Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation to Expand and Improve Access to Clean Water for Tribal Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

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

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), introduced the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act to dramatically expand access to clean water for Tribal families by investing in water infrastructure. This bill would increase funding through the Indian Health Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Bureau of Reclamation to support water infrastructure projects in Tribal communities and help provide clean water to Native American households that currently lack access.

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

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

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

    Lack of access to clean drinking water is a significant barrier for many Native American communities. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Native American households are 19 times more likely than white households to lack indoor plumbing.

    The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act will:

    • Authorize the USDA to make grants and loans for technical and financial assistance, as well as for construction;
    • Increase funding authorizations for USDA’s Rural Development Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program by $100 million per year for five years, provide $30 million per year specifically for technical assistance, and ensure that Native communities are treated equitably and appropriately when considered for grants and loans;
    • Increase funding authorizations for existing programs of the Indian Health Service for water and sanitation facilities construction over a five-year period, including for community facilities ($2.5 billion), technical assistance ($150 million), and operation and maintenance assistance ($500 million); and
    • Authorize $90 million over five years for the Bureau of Reclamation’s existing Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program.

    “Water is a sacred resource given to us to protect. It is of the utmost importance that Tribes have access to clean water not only for personal consumption and economic development but also for cultural purposes. Many tribes in the Southwest rely on access to clean water to carry on our culture and traditions. We thank U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Michael Bennet for reintroducing the Tribal Access to Clean Water Act,” said Myron Armijo, Santa Ana Pueblo Governor.

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

    “Some of the starkest examples of the public health impacts from not having clean, running water in the home are right in our backyards,” said Anne Castle, co-founder of the initiative on Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities. “Higher incidence of respiratory disease, gastrointestinal infections, diabetes, and cancer are all linked to ‘water poverty’ – the lack of access to secure and healthy household water – which is particularly acute for Native American households. With targeted resources and Federal agency coordination, we have the ability to solve this longstanding inequity in Indian country.”

    “For far too long, many indigenous Americans – American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians – have gone without access to a clean and safe drinking water supply,” said John Echohawk, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Native American Rights Fund and member of the Pawnee Nation. “These are not isolated or regional deficiencies, but rather a nationwide disparity in access to a basic ingredient of life. This bill will help to address gaps in current support for Tribal drinking water access and help to fulfill the Federal government’s treaty and trust responsibility to Native American Tribes.”

    “Every American is entitled to access to clean drinking water,” said Ken Norton, Chairman of the National Tribal Water Council. “But this undeniable truth simply does not hold for far too many Tribal households. It is well past time to bring the necessary resources to bear that will allow all Tribal families to enjoy the same basic services most Americans take for granted.”

    “Water is a basic human right and this bill fulfills the government’s trust obligation to Tribes and Indigenous communities to ensure all Native populations have access to clean drinking water,” said Garrit Voggesser, Senior Director of Tribal Partnerships and Policy, National Wildlife Federation. “For far too long more than half of the country’s Indigenous peoples haven’t had access to clean drinking water. Water must be accessible to not only support public health, but also meet historical, cultural, ecological, and rights-based needs.”

    Heinrich initially introduced this legislation with Bennet in 2021. He also successfully fought to include funding to improve Tribal access to clean water in the Infrastructure Law. The law included $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction program to address needs for tribal sanitation facilities and services, $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to support legacy rural water supply projects, which will benefit Tribes, and increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Funds.

    In addition to Heinrich, Bennet, and Hickenlooper, this bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

    The text of the bill is available here.

    A summary of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 22nd, 2025 Heinrich Announces Committee Passage of Over $205 Million for New Mexico’s Military Installations and Significant Wins for Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Investments Heinrich championed include childcare assistance, improved telehealth & rural health services, & expanded homelessness prevention programs

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. With Committee passage of this bill, Heinrich secured support for over $205 million for New Mexico’s military installations and significant wins for New Mexico’s veterans, including over $32 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for five local projects.

    “For our nation’s veterans and military families, this bill keeps our promise: that when they come home, they will receive the recognition, education, housing, and health care that they have earned through their service. It also strengthens New Mexico’s role as a leader in national security and bolsters our local economies,” said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This bill will also ensure that our service members are best equipped with state-of-the-art technology and resources to defend freedom at home and abroad. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to doing everything I can to support the heroic Americans who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.”

    Heinrich is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the former Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

    New Mexico Military Construction

    Heinrich secured Committee support of investments in seven New Mexico projects.

    Heinrich successfully included funds for the following projects:

    • $90,000,000 for the construction of a 192-bed dormitory for airmen at Cannon Air Force Base.
    • $83,000,000 for the construction of a new Space Rapid Capabilities Office Headquarters on Kirtland Air Force Base.
    • $18,250,000 to construct a new Explosive Operations Building at Kirtland Air Force Base, which is essential for the safe and efficient handling, inspection, and storage of munitions in alignment with Air Force operational requirements.
    • $3,200,000 to construct a Child Development Center (CDC) on Kirtland Air Force Base that supports the growing childcare needs of Kirtland Air Force Base personnel.

    Heinrich also secured language addressing the ongoing energy infrastructure needs at White Sands Missile Range, ensuring troop readiness and training is prioritized.

    Heinrich and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) also successfully included funding for the following projects:

    • $8,100,000 to renovate and construct a training facility for Security Forces at Cannon Air Force Base. This will help support the continued growth of this Security Force unit.
    • $2,000,000 to restore and improve antiterrorism technology at the Wyoming Gateat Kirtland Air Force Base.
    • $700,000 to finish the design of a new High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base.

    Support for Veterans

    Heinrich secured Committee support for key veteran programs.

    Suicide Prevention

    Heinrich successfully secured $18,866,195,000 for mental health treatment, including $697,760,000 for suicide prevention outreach. Heinrich also secured language encouraging the VA to use predictive modeling and analytics for veteran suicide prevention in the Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET) program. This innovative solution would identify veterans with evidence-based risk factors for suicidal ideation in order to get help to veterans before a potential mental health crisis.

    In 2020, Heinrich voted in favor of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-171), which supported and authorized the REACH VET program.

    Rural Health

    Heinrich successfully secured $342,455,000 for the VA’s Office of Rural Health and its Rural Health Initiative to continue supporting veterans with services like transportation to appointments for highly rural veterans, utilization of innovative transportation service technologies, and outreach to highly rural veterans.

    An estimated 2.7 million rural and highly rural veterans are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Many rural veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are at an advanced age, with approximately 54 percent aged 65 or older. With the aging veteran population growing increasingly medically complex and more likely to be diagnosed with chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease, each requiring more frequent, ongoing, and costly care, these funds would help close the gap and get highly rural veterans the care they need.

    Telehealth Services

    Heinrich successfully secured $6,356,035,000 to sustain and increase telehealth capacity and expand the reach of VA medical providers to veterans in highly rural areas through the use of in-home telehealth and remote patient monitoring services. The bill also supports the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) rulemaking to eliminate copays for all virtual medical appointments of any type and especially for primary and preventative care appointments.

    Preventing Veteran Homelessness

    Heinrich successfully secured $3,459,121,000 to prevent veteran homelessness, including $702,821,000 to bolster the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, which would meet the needs of veterans including help with the rising costs of household goods; $670,900,000 for case management and administration of Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers; $323,100,000 for the Grant and Per Diem Program, which would support transitional housing and assist veterans in achieving housing stability; and, $139,843,000 for Veterans Justice Outreach and Legal Services for Veterans grants to award community-based organizations with funds to assist veterans with legal issues like accessing benefits, navigating family law, and securing safe and stable housing.

    Veterans Affairs Service Purchasing (VASP) Program

    Heinrich successfully secured report language directing the VA to explain why it abruptly ended the Veterans Affairs Service Purchasing program, a critical program that would keep veterans who were unable to pay their mortgage in their homes. At least 130 New Mexico veterans could be impacted by this administration’s shortsighted decision to end the Veterans Affairs Service Purchasing program without loss mitigation policies.

    Access to Medications for Substance Use Disorder

    Heinrich successfully secured $709,573,000 for the Opioid Prevention and Treatment programs at the VA, including $454,086,000 for treatment programs and $254,487,000 to continue implementation of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act. Heinrich voted in favor of this bill’s authorizing legislation, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, in 2016 (P.L. 114-198).

    Veteran Family Resource Program

    Heinrich successfully secured language to require a status report on the Veteran Family Resource Program rollout, including authorities and funding needed to ensure a successful, continued rollout that reduces rates of child abuse and neglect among families with veterans. Services would include interventions like case management assistance to address evidence-based risk factors like housing and food insecurity in veteran families.

    Childcare Assistance

    Heinrich successfully secured an additional $3,000,000 in the VA’s overall budget to support the expansion of childcare centers at VA medical facilities through a pilot program. Heinrich originally voted in favor of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-163) while Congressman for New Mexico’s 1stCongressional district. This bill led to the VA’s initial childcare pilot program to assess feasibility and advisability of providing childcare services to veterans receiving mental health and intensive health care services.

    As a result, in 2016, the VA launched a childcare pilot program to implement three (3) free, drop-in childcare service centers across three locations in the states of New York and Washington. Survey data indicate nearly a third of veterans are interested in childcare services and approximately 10 percent have had to cancel or reschedule medical appointments due to lack of childcare.

    Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities

    Heinrich successfully secured $171,000,000 in construction funds for state extended care facilities. In New Mexico, there is only one VA long-term care facility, despite demand for additional capacity and facilities. These facilities are particularly important to ensure aging and disabled veterans receive the appropriate level of care.

    Medical and Prosthetics Research

    Heinrich successfully secured $943,000,000 to fund medical, rehabilitative, and health services research and support basic and clinical studies that advance knowledge leading to improvements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disabilities. Medical and prosthetic research at the Department of Veterans Affairs includes the fields of prosthetics, orthotics, adaptive equipment for vehicles, sensory aids, and related areas.

    VA Court of Appeals

    Heinrich successful secured language requiring the VA to improve transparency surrounding the large back log of cases at the VA Court of Appeals. According to last year’s Annual Report, there is a backlog of 200,805 cases.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Amid ‘Horror Show in Gaza’, Humanitarian System Denied Space to Deliver, Multilateral Problem-Solving Needed More than Ever, Secretary-General Tells Security Council

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council on multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes, in New York today:

    I want to thank Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan for convening today’s open debate.  The topic of today’s debate shines a light on the clear connection between international peace and multilateralism.

    Eighty years ago, the United Nations was founded with a primary purpose — to safeguard humanity from the scourge of war.  The architects of the United Nations Charter recognized that the peaceful resolution of disputes is the lifeline when geopolitical tensions escalate, when unresolved disputes fuel the flames of conflict and when States lose trust in each other.

    The Charter lays out a number of important tools to forge peace.  Article 2.3 of the UN Charter is clear:  “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.”

    Chapter VI of the Charter is equally clear on the specific responsibilities of this Council to help ensure the pacific settlement of disputes “by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice”.  Action 16 of the Pact of the Future calls on Member States to recommit to all the mechanisms of preventive diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

    I commend Pakistan for utilizing its presidency to put forward a resolution urging all Member States to make full use of these tools in our collective pursuit of global peace.  This is needed now more than ever.

    Around the world, we see an utter disregard for — if not outright violations of — international law — including international human rights law, international refugee law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter itself, without any accountability.

    These failures to uphold international obligations are coming at a time of widening geopolitical divides and conflicts.  And the cost is staggering — measured in human lives, shattered communities, and lost futures.

    We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza — with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.  Malnourishment is soaring.  Starvation is knocking on every door.

    And now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles.  That system is being denied the conditions to function.  Denied the space to deliver.  Denied the safety to save lives.  With Israeli military operations intensifying and new displacement orders issued in Deir al-Balah, devastation is being layered upon devastation.

    I am appalled that UN premises have been struck — among them facilities of the UN Office for Project Services and the World Health Organization (WHO), including WHO’s main warehouse.  This is despite all parties having been informed of the locations of these UN facilities.  These premises are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law — without exception.

    From Gaza to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar, and many other parts of the world, conflict is raging, international law is being trampled, and hunger and displacement are at record levels.  And terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime remain persistent scourges pushing security further out of reach.

    Diplomacy may not have always succeeded in preventing conflicts, violence and instability.  But it still holds the power to stop them.  Peace is a choice.  And the world expects the UN Security Council to help countries make this choice.  This Council is at the centre of the global architecture for peace and security.  Its creation reflected a central truth.

    Competition between States is a geopolitical reality.  But cooperation — anchored in shared interests and the greater good — is the sustainable pathway to peace.  Too often, we see divisions, entrenched positions and escalatory discourse blocking solutions and the effectiveness of the Council.

    But we have also seen some inspiring examples of finding common ground and forging solutions to global problems.

    For example, today marks three years since the signing of the Black Sea Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation — efforts that show what we can achieve through mediation and the good offices of the United Nations, even during the most challenging moments.

    And we’ve seen many other recent examples.

    From the Sevilla Conference on Financing for Development, to the Oceans Conference in Nice, to the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and the Cybercrime Treaty, to the Pact for the Future adopted last year.

    The Pact, in particular, demonstrates a clear re-commitment by the world to strengthen the United Nations collective security system.  Drawing from the New Agenda for Peace, it prioritizes preventive diplomacy and mediation — all areas where this Council can play a vital role.

    As we look to the theme of today’s debate, I see three areas where we can live up to the Pact’s call to renew our commitment to — and the world’s faith in — the multilateral problem-solving architecture.

    First — this Council’s members, in particular its permanent members, must continue working to overcome divisions.  The majority of situations on the Security Council’s agenda are complex and resist quick fixes.

    But even in the darkest days of the cold war, the collective dialogue and decision-making in this Council underpinned a common and effective system of global security.  One that successfully deployed a range of peacekeeping missions.  One that opened the door for vital humanitarian aid to flow to people in need.  And one that helped prevent a third World War.

    I urge you to summon this same spirit by keeping channels open, continuing to listen in good faith, and working to overcome differences and building consensus.

    We must also work to ensure that this Council reflects the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago.  This Council should be made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities.  And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient and accountable.  I urge you to continue building consensus to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.

    Second — this Council must continue strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional partners.  The landmark adoption of Security Council resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions is a good example of how we can join efforts with regional organizations to support more effective responses.

    I also commend this Council’s steps to strengthen and rebuild regional security frameworks to encourage dialogue and advance the peaceful settlement of disputes.

    And third — Member States must honour their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

    The Pact for the Future calls on all Member States to live up to their commitments in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of States.

    All grounded in international law, and a commitment to prioritizing prevention of conflict and the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.  The Pact also recognized the critical contribution of the International Court of Justice, which celebrates its eightieth anniversary next year.

    As we mark the eightieth anniversary of our Organization and the Charter that gave it life and shape, we need to renew our commitment to the multilateral spirit of peace through diplomacy.  I look forward to working with you in this important effort, to achieve the international peace and security the people of the world need and deserve.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Suspension of the EU-El Salvador Agreement in the light of massive human rights violations – E-002650/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002650/2025/rev.1
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Per Clausen (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left)

    Human rights and the rule of law are being breached almost constantly in El Salvador, and the government barely tolerates any criticism or opposition[1]. There is also President Bukele’s reprehensible cooperation with Donald Trump in imprisoning people who have been deported from the US in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison.

    This appears to be a clear breach of the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America on the other[2] (‘the Agreement’), Article 1 of which clearly states that ‘respect for human rights […] and […] the rule of law […] underpins the internal and international policies of both Parties and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement’. The EU therefore absolutely must take action.

    With the above in mind, would the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy please answer the following questions:

    • 1.What did El Salvador do the last time the EU formally raised the human rights situation with the country’s authorities?
    • 2.Do the many violations of human rights and the rule of law being committed in El Salvador constitute a breach of the relevant parts of the Agreement, including Articles 1 and 2?
    • 3.When will a recommendation be made that the Member States should assess whether essential parts of the Agreement have been breached to such an extent that action should be taken under Article 355 of the Agreement, including whether it should be suspended?

    Submitted: 1.7.2025

    • [1] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/05/el-salvador-gobierno-profundiza-patron-autoritario-frente-al-descontento-social/
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:22012A1215(01)
    Last updated: 22 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: OZ Studio, a Global Firm with Texas Roots, Showcases Ethical AI Governance Model at the United Nations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, AUSTRIA , July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OZ Studio, a global technology firm with offices in Austin, Texas; Geneva, Switzerland; and Monterrey, Mexico, presented a groundbreaking model for municipal governance and ethical artificial intelligence at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. The presentation marks a significant milestone for the company, which, after 22 years of serving multinational corporations, has pivoted its focus since 2020 toward empowering governments, entrepreneurs, and small businesses with integrated digital platforms.

    Osuna attends sessions at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime that focus on data security and sovereignty.

    The firm, represented by its CEO Daniel Osuna, who also serves on the UN’s AI Council ethics committee, detailed its successful public-private partnerships in the municipalities of Escobedo and Santiago, Mexico. These collaborations showcase a new standard for applying AI ethically at the local government level, a core mission of OZ Studio’s government services division.

    For over two decades, OZ Studio built a reputation for providing high-level services to large multinational companies. However, recognizing a critical gap in the market, the company strategically shifted its focus in 2020. The new mission: to channel its extensive expertise into creating comprehensive digital ecosystems for those who form the backbone of local economies—small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the public institutions that serve them.

    This new direction is embodied by two of its flagship platforms: LINK360 and the OZZY AI system. LINK360 is a digital empowerment platform that provides local businesses with e-commerce tools and AI-powered marketing, ensuring economic value and data sovereignty remain within the community. OZZY AI is an open-source framework trained for municipal processes, designed with ethical principles like transparency, algorithmic fairness, and cultural adaptation at its core.

    The results of this approach are transformative. Under the leadership of Mayor Andrés Mijes, the city of Escobedo has become a 100% digitized municipality, a remarkable achievement that has streamlined public services and eliminated bureaucratic red tape. In Santiago, Mayor David de la Peña is leveraging the LINK360 program to foster a vibrant local entrepreneurial scene.

    The international community has taken notice. Following the conclusion of the UN activities on Monday, July 22, OZ Studio (https://www.oz.studio) has entered into strategic alliances to explore pilot programs with several nations, including: Spain, Egypt, Georgia, Austria, and Australia. This global interest validates OZ Studio’s model as a scalable solution for governments worldwide seeking to innovate responsibly.

    From its strategic locations in Austin, Geneva, and Monterrey, OZ Studio is now positioned to lead the charge in ethical AI for public service. The company’s evolution from a corporate service provider to a champion for local development demonstrates a powerful vision: leveraging top-tier technology to build self-sustaining, equitable, and prosperous communities from the ground up.

    Presenting the OZZI AI framework and the Public Private Partnership for ethical AI

    About OZ Studio

    At OZ Studio, we are your premier destination for transformative digital solutions, anchored in over two decades of innovation and expertise. We are proud to say that we’ve evolved from pioneering basic email marketing to mastering complex digital strategies and immersive creative experiences. Our comprehensive suite of services spans from state-of-the-art website development to advanced SEO strategies, engaging interactive videos, and cutting-edge AI tools. As true digital architects, we empower our clients by merging top-tier technology with unmatched creative prowess, ensuring every digital interaction is compelling and results-oriented. We revolutionized the traditional digital service model through our productized Creative-as-a-Service (CaaS), which guarantees transparency, efficiency, and scalability. Our subscription-based approach simplifies access to a holistic digital strategy, incorporating a full spectrum of expertly managed creative and technical services. Partner with us at OZ Studio, and let us help elevate your brand to new heights, optimizing every touchpoint in your digital journey for growth and transformation. 

    Press inquiries

    OZ Studio
    https://oz.studio
    Daniel Osuna
    oz@oz.studio
    +12123811969
    5900 Balcones Drive
    Austin, TX 78731

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Zinke, Sheehy, Moore, Banks Introduce Legislation to Implement Fees on Foreign Tourists to Rebuild National Parks

    Source:

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Western Montana Congressman and former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke (MT-01), with Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Representative Riley Moore (WV-02), and Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the bicameral Protecting America’s Treasures by Raising Inflow from Overseas Tourists in Parks Act (PATRIOT Parks Act), which would authorize a surcharge for most foreign tourists visiting national parks. If implemented, the bill would ensure foreign visitors contribute their fair share to the upkeep and preservation of America’s most treasured places. 

    “National Parks are Americas best idea and maintaining that legacy for future generations means making smart investments in the management of the parks,” said Zinke. “Americans already pay for parks in our tax dollars as well as at the gates. It’s unfair to American taxpayers to foot the bill for millions of foreign visitors. Almost every other country charges foreign visitors more, it’s common sense. President Trump and Secretary Burgum did the right thing directing the National Park Service implement a foreign visitor fee. This legislation will codify the policy and ensure Americans are put First in our own parks.”

    “From the New River Gorge in my home state to Shenandoah, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, and the Grand Canyon – God blessed our nation with a tremendous natural heritage. We owe it to future generations to ensure these natural marvels are protected, said Moore. “Unfortunately, the National Park System currently faces a backlog of more than $23 billion in deferred maintenance, including more than $200 million on properties across the Mountain State. Our commonsense legislation keeps entry fees static for Americans while charging more for foreigners visiting our National Parks. This will allow us to finally start tackling this extensive maintenance backlog.”

    “Our national parks drive Montana’s tourism economy by bringing in visitors from all over the world and define our way life by offering an experience you can only find in America,” said Sheehy. “Implementing a foreign visitor fee is an America First, commonsense way to secure affordable access for American families, improve our national parks for all visitors, and better manage our treasured public lands. It’s not too much for Americans to ask that their government puts them first, and that’s why I’m proud to support the PATRIOT Parks Act so more American families can enjoy our national parks for generations to come.”

    The National Park Service has $23 billion deferred maintenance infrastructure backlog. NPS relies on appropriated funds from tax dollars, Great American Outdoors Act funds from energy leasing, and entrance fees to address infrastructure needs. Every park will benefit from this program regardless of if they collect fees or not. By law, under the current formula for entrance fees, 80% of the fees collected at a park stay in the park where they are collected. The remaining 20% of entrance fees collected is distributed to non-fee collecting parks to improve infrastructure and visitor experience. The foreign visitors surcharge will use the same formula ensuring all parks benefit from this funding. 

    According to a report by Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a surcharge of just $40 per foreign visitor would raise $528 million for our park system.

    “People travel from around the world to experience America’s national parks, and now they can help conserve them too,” said PERC CEO Brian Yablonski. “A surcharge on international visitors is a common practice globally and offers a smart, reliable way to fund better trails, cleaner campgrounds, modernized water systems, and desperately needed restoration work in our parks. We appreciate Rep. Zinke’s support for strengthening America’s national parks.” 

    Virtually all other countries do this already. Foreign tourists visiting the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador pay a $200 surcharge, South Africa charges as much as 500% more for foreign visitors, many European Union nations charge non-EU citizens surcharges at museums and cultural sites. 

    The foreign visitor would only apply to National Parks units that already collect entrance fees. If a park does not currently collect an entrance fee, the surcharge will not apply. Canadian citizens visiting Glacier National Park would be exempt from the surcharge in recognition of our joint stewardship of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Fee-collecting monuments in Washington, D.C., are also exempted.

    The bill codifies an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to implement a foreign visitor surcharge to support public lands and rural communities.

    Read the full bill text here.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Peace is a choice’: UN chief urges diplomacy as wars spread from Gaza to Ukraine

    Source: United Nations 2

    This is the only sustainable path to global security, he told ministers at a high-level open debate of the Security Council on Tuesday.

    The Secretary-General emphasised that the UN Charter’s tools – negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and more – remain a lifeline when tensions escalate, grievances fester and states lose trust in each other.

    These tools are needed now more than ever, he stressed, as conflicts rage and international law is violated with impunity.

    The cost is staggering – measured in human lives, shattered communities and lost futures. We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza – with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.”

    The risk of starvation looms and aid operations are being denied the space and safety to function. UN premises, such as the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s main warehouse, have been hit despite parties being notified of their locations.

    “These premises are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law – without exception,” Mr. Guterres reiterated.

    Peace is a choice – make it

    From Gaza to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar, “conflict is raging, international law is being trampled, and hunger and displacement are at record levels,” he continued, adding that terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime also remain “persistent scourges” pushing security further out of reach.

    Peace is a choice. And the world expects the Security Council to help countries make this choice.

    Mr. Guterres pointed to the UN Charter’s bedrock obligation in Article 2.3 that “all Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means”, and to Chapter VI, which empowers the Security Council to support “negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.”

    Action 16 of last year’s Pact for the Future urges states to recommit to preventive diplomacy, he said, commending Pakistan – the Council President for July – for tabling a resolution encouraging fuller use of those tools, which was adopted unanimously at the meeting.

    UN Photo/Manuel Elías

    Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the Security Council high-level open debate.

    P5 must overcome divisions

    Security Council members – “in particular its permanent members” – must overcome divisions, the Secretary-General said, reminding them that even during the Cold War, Council dialogue underpinned peacekeeping missions and humanitarian access, and helped prevent a third world war.

    He urged members to keep channels open, build consensus and make the body “more representative” of today’s geopolitical realities with more inclusive, transparent and accountable working methods.

    Mr. Guterres also urged deeper cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

    Mediation can work even amid war, he said, noting the third anniversary of the Black Sea Initiative and a related memorandum with Russia that enabled grain movements during the conflict in Ukraine.

    Renew commitment to multilateralism

    States must honour their obligations under the Charter; international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, Mr. Guterres said.

    As we mark the 80th anniversary of our Organization and the Charter that gave it life and shape, we need to renew our commitment to the multilateral spirit of peace through diplomacy,” he said.

    I look forward to working with you to achieve the international peace and security the people of the world need and deserve.

    Security Council open debate

    A signature event of the Pakistani presidency, Tuesday’s open debate was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

    The session aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for pacific dispute settlement, examine best practices and explore new strategies for tackling protracted conflicts.

    It also sought to enhance cooperation with regional organizations, boost capacity-building and resource mobilisation, and align future efforts with the conflict-prevention vision outlined in the Pact for the Future.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Laredo man sentenced to 63 months for smuggling over 100 illegal aliens in locked trailer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.

    U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter. 

    “Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”

    On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.

    Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.

    Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Secures Nearly $17 Million in Federal Investments for New Mexico in Committee-Passed Appropriations Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced funding secured for New Mexico communities through the Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill.

    From both appropriations bills, Senator Luján secured $16,820,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for key local projects that will strengthen our national security, boost violence intervention programs, and equip law enforcement with the resources needed to keep New Mexico communities safe.  

    “Across New Mexico, these vital investments will deliver resources to enhance public safety in our communities and upgrade infrastructure at our military bases to boost our military’s readiness and safety,” said Senator Luján. “This funding will equip our brave law enforcement officers with the tools they need to protect New Mexicans, support programs aimed at reducing youth violence and violence in Tribal communities, and reinforce critical infrastructure at our military bases. I’m proud to have fought to secure these investments for our communities, and I’ll continue working to deliver the federal support our families and communities need and deserve.”

    The Committee process is the first step, and the appropriations bills will next be considered by the full U.S. Senate.

    Senator Luján Secured Nearly $17 Million for the Following Local Projects:

    Strengthening New Mexico’s Air Force Bases:

    • $8,100,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Cannon Air Force Base, specifically for ADAL Security Forces Facility. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $2,000,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Kirtland Air Force Base, specifically for the design for the Wyoming Gate Project. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $700,000 for infrastructure upgrades at Holloman Air Force Base, specifically for the design for the Holloman High Speed Test Track. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.

    Boosting Public Safety Throughout New Mexico:

    • $1,069,000 for the City of Albuquerque’s Real Time Crime Center for the purchase of law enforcement technology.
    • $1,042,000 for Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new fleet of vehicles.
    • $1,031,000 for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Police to provide 5G technology in fleet vehicles. Secured by Senator Luján, Senator Heinrich, and Representative Stansbury in the House-companion bill.
    • $1,000,000 for UNM Office of the Medical Investigator DNA processing laboratory to allow for the purchase of equipment for DNA identification. Secured by Senator Luján and Senator Heinrich.
    • $500,000 for Bernalillo Country public safety technology upgrades to address high rates of crime in the Albuquerque metro area. Secured by Senator Luján, Senator Heinrich, and Representative Vasquez in the House-companion bill.
    • $250,000 for the San Juan County Partnership’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to assist in mitigating individuals with substance use disorder or mental/behavioral health challenges from continuously interacting with law enforcement.

    Funding Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs:

    • $1,0350,000 for the City of Albuquerque’s expansion of school-based violence intervention program to assist at risk students by improving grades and reducing youth violence.
    • $93,000 for the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native women to address challenges in domestic violence and sexual violence in Tribal communities.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Supercharging Clean Energy Will Repair Humankind’s Relationship with Climate, Fuel Economic Growth, Secretary-General Says, Noting $2 Trillion Invested in 2024

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ address on climate action “A Moment of Opportunity:  Supercharging the Clean Energy Age”, in New York today:

    The headlines are dominated by a world in trouble.  By conflict and climate chaos.  By rising human suffering.  By growing geopolitical divides.  But amidst the turmoil, another story is being written.  And its implications will be profound.

    Throughout history, energy has shaped the destiny of humankind — from mastering fire to harnessing steam to splitting the atom.  Now, we are on the cusp of a new era.  Fossil fuels are running out of road.  The sun is rising on a clean energy age.

    Just follow the money.  Two trillion dollars went into clean energy last year — that’s $800 billion more than fossil fuels and up almost 70 per cent in 10 years.  And new data released today from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that solar — not so long ago four times the cost of fossil fuels — is now 41 per cent cheaper.  Offshore wind — 53 per cent. And over 90 per cent of new renewables worldwide produced electricity for less than the cheapest new fossil fuel alternative.

    This is not just a shift in power.  This is a shift in possibility.  Yes, in repairing our relationship with the climate.  Already, the carbon emissions saved by solar and wind globally are almost equivalent to what the whole European Union produces in a year.

    But this transformation is fundamentally about energy security and people’s security.  It’s about smart economics.  Decent jobs, public health, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.  And delivering clean and affordable energy to everyone, everywhere.

    Today, we are releasing a special report with the support of UN agencies and partners — the International Energy Agency, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Renewable Energy Agency, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.

    The report shows how far we have come in the decade since the Paris Agreement sparked a clean energy revolution.  And it highlights the vast benefits — and actions needed — to accelerate a just transition globally.

    Renewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity.  And that’s just the beginning.  Last year, almost all the new power capacity built came from renewables.  And every continent on Earth added more renewables capacity than fossil fuels.  The clean energy future is no longer a promise.  It’s a fact.  No government.  No industry. No special interest can stop it.

    Of course, the fossil fuel lobby of some fossil fuel companies will try — and we know the lengths to which they will go. But I have never been more confident that they will fail — because we have passed the point of no return.

    For three powerful reasons.  First, market economics.  For decades, emissions and economic growth rose together.  No more.  In many advanced economies, emissions have peaked, but growth continues.

    In 2023 alone, clean energy sectors drove 10 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) growth.  In India, 5 per cent.  The United States, 6 per cent.  China — a leader in the energy transition — 20 per cent.  And in the European Union, nearly 33 per cent.  And clean energy sector jobs now outnumber fossil fuel jobs — employing almost 35 million people worldwide.

    Even Texas — the heart of the American fossil fuel industry — now leads the United States in renewables.  Why?  Because it makes economic sense.

    And yet fossil fuels still enjoy a 9-to-1 advantage in consumption subsidies globally — a clear market distortion.  Add to that the unaccounted costs of climate damages on people and planet — and the distortion is even greater.

    Countries that cling to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies — they are sabotaging them.  Driving up costs.  Undermining competitiveness.  Locking in stranded assets.  And missing the greatest economic opportunity of the twenty-first century.

    Second — renewables are here to stay because they are the foundation of energy security and sovereignty. Let’s be clear:  The greatest threat to energy security today is in fossil fuels.  They leave economies and people at the mercy of price shocks, supply disruptions and geopolitical turmoil.  Just look at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  A war in Europe led to a global energy crisis.  Oil and gas prices soared.  Electricity and food bills followed.  In 2022 average households around the world saw energy costs jump 20 per cent.

    Modern and competitive economies need stable, affordable energy. Renewables offer both.  There are no price spikes for sunlight.  No embargoes on wind.  Renewables can put power — literally and figuratively — in the hands of people and governments.  And almost every nation has enough sun, wind, or water to become energy self-sufficient.  Renewables mean real energy security.  Real energy sovereignty.  And real freedom from fossil-fuel volatility.

    The third and final reason why there is no going back on renewables: Easy access.  You can’t build a coal plant in someone’s backyard.  But you can deliver solar panels to the most remote village on Earth.  Solar and wind can be deployed faster, cheaper and more flexibly than fossil fuels ever could.  And while nuclear will be part of the global energy mix, it can never fill the access gaps.

    All of this is a game changer for the hundreds of millions of people still living without electricity — most of them in Africa, a continent bursting with renewable potential. By 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs — entirely from renewables.

    We are already seeing small-scale and off-grid renewable technologies lighting homes, and powering schools and businesses in remote areas.  And in places like Pakistan for example, people power is fuelling a solar surge — consumers are driving the clean energy boom.

    The energy transition is unstoppable.  But the transition is not yet fast enough or fair enough.  OECD countries and China account for 80 per cent of renewable power capacity installed worldwide.  Brazil and India make up nearly 10 per cent.  Africa — just 1.5 per cent.

    Meanwhile, the climate crisis is laying waste to lives and livelihoods.  Climate disasters in small island States have wiped out over 100 per cent of GDP.  In the United States, they are pushing insurance premiums through the roof.

    And the 1.5-degree limit is in unprecedented peril.  To keep it within reach, we must drastically speed up the reduction of emissions — and the reach of the clean energy transition.  With manufacturing capacity racing, prices plummeting, and COP30 [Thirtieth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] fast approaching…  This is our moment of opportunity.  We must seize it.  We can do so by taking action in six opportunity areas.

    First — by using new national climate plans to go all-out on the energy transition.  Too often, governments send mixed messages:  Bold renewable targets on one day.  New fossil fuel subsidies and expansions the next.

    The next national climate plans, or NDCs, are due in a matter of months.  They must bring clarity and certainty.  Group of Twenty (G20) countries must lead. They produce 80 per cent of global emissions.  The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must apply but every country must do more.  Ahead of COP30 in Brazil this November, they must submit new plans.

    I invite leaders to present their new NDCs at an event I will host in September, during General Assembly High-level week.   These must: cover all emissions, across the entire economy; align with the 1.5-degree limit; integrate energy, climate and sustainable development priorities into one coherent vision; and deliver on global promises to double energy efficiency and triple renewables capacity by 2030, and to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.  These plans must be backed by long-term road maps for a just transition to net-zero energy systems — in line with global net-zero by 2050.

    And they must be underpinned by policies that show that the clean energy future is not just inevitable — but investable.  Policies that create clear regulations and a pipeline of projects.  That enhance public-private partnerships — unlocking capital and innovation.  That put a meaningful price on carbon.  And that end subsidies and international public finance for fossil fuels — as promised.

    Second, this is our moment of opportunity to build the energy systems of the twenty-first century.  The technology is moving ahead.  In just 15 years, the cost of battery storage systems for electricity grids has dropped over 90 per cent.

    But here’s the problem.  Investments in the right infrastructure are not keeping up.  For every dollar invested in renewable power, just 60 cents go to grids and storage.  That ratio should be one-to-one.

    We are building renewable power — but not connecting it fast enough.  There’s three times more renewable energy waiting to be plugged into grids than was added last year.  And fossil fuels still dominate the global total energy mix.

    We must act now and invest in the backbone of a clean energy future:  In modern, flexible and digital grids — including regional integration.  In a massive scale-up of energy storage.  In charging networks — to power the electric vehicle revolution.

    On the other hand, we need energy efficiency but also electrification — across buildings, transport and industry. This is how we unlock the full promise of renewables — and build energy systems that are clean, secure and fit for the future.

    Third, this is our moment of opportunity to meet the world’s surging energy demand sustainably.  More people are plugging in.  More cities are heating up — with soaring demand for cooling.  And more technologies — from AI to digital finance — are devouring electricity.  Governments must aim to meet all new electricity demand with renewables.

    AI can boost efficiency, innovation and resilience in energy systems.  And we must take profit in it.  But it is also energy hungry.  A typical AI data centre eats up as much electricity as 100,000 homes.  The largest ones will soon use 20 times that.  By 2030, data centres could consume as much electricity as all of Japan does today.

    This is not sustainable — unless we make it so.  And the technology sector must be out front.  Today I call on every major tech firm to power all data centres with 100 per cent renewables by 2030.

    And — along with other industries — they must use water sustainably in cooling systems.  The future is being built in the cloud.  It must be powered by the sun, the wind and the promise of a better world.

    Fourth, this is the moment of opportunity for a just energy transition. The clean energy that we must deliver must also deliver equity, dignity and opportunity for all.

    That means governments leading a just transition.  With support, education and training — for fossil fuel workers, young people, women, Indigenous Peoples and others — so that they can thrive in the new energy economy.  With stronger social protection — so no one is left behind.  And with international cooperation to help low-income countries that are highly-dependent on fossil fuels and struggling to make the shift.

    But justice doesn’t stop here.  The critical minerals that power the clean energy revolution are often found in countries that have long been exploited.  And today, we see history repeating.  Communities mistreated.  Rights trampled.  Environments trashed.  Nations stuck at the bottom of value chains — while others reap rewards.  And extractive models digging deeper holes of inequality and harm.  This must end.

    Developing countries can play a major role in diversifying sources of supply. The UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals has shown the way forward — with a path grounded in human rights, justice and equity.

    Today, I call on governments, businesses and civil society to work with us to deliver its recommendations.  Let’s build a future that is not only green — but just.  Not only fast — but fair.  Not only transformative — but inclusive.

    Fifth, we have a moment of opportunity to use trade and investment to supercharge the energy transition.  Clean energy needs more than ambition.  It needs access — to technologies, materials and manufacturing.

    But these are concentrated in just a few countries.  And global trade is fragmenting.

    Trade policy must support climate policy.  Countries committed to the new energy era must come together to ensure that trade and investment drive it forward.  By building diverse, secure and resilient supply chains.  By cutting tariffs on clean energy goods.  By unlocking investment and trade — including through South-South cooperation. And by modernizing outdated investment treaties — starting with Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions.

    Today, fossil fuel interests are weaponizing these provisions to delay the transition, particularly in several developing countries.  Reform is urgent.  The race for the new must not be a race for the few.  It must be a relay — shared, inclusive and resilient.  Let’s make trade a tool for transformation.

    Sixth and finally, this is our moment of opportunity to unleash the full force of finance — driving investment to markets with massive potential.  Despite soaring demand and vast renewables potential — developing countries are being locked out of the energy transition.

    Africa is home to 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources.  But it received just 2 per cent of global clean energy investment last year.  Zoom out, and the picture is just as stark.

    In the last decade, only 1 in every 5 clean energy dollars went to emerging and developing countries outside China.  To keep the 1.5-degree limit alive — and deliver universal energy access – annual clean energy investment in those countries must rise more than fivefold by 2030.

    That demands bold national policies.  And concrete international action to:  Reform the global financial architecture.  Drastically increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks — making them bigger, bolder and better able to leverage massive amounts of private finance at reasonable costs.  And take effective action on debt relief — and scale up proven tools like debt for climate swaps.

    Today, developing countries pay outlandish sums for both debt and equity financing — in part because of outdated risk models, bias and broken assumptions that boost the cost of capital.  Credit ratings agencies and investors must modernize.

    We need a new approach to risk that reflects:  the promise of clean energy; the rising cost of climate chaos; and the danger of stranded fossil fuel assets.  I urge parties to unite to solve the complex challenges facing some developing countries in the energy transition — such as early retirement of coal plants.

    The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing.  We are in the dawn of a new energy era.  An era where cheap, clean, abundant energy powers a world rich in economic opportunity.  Where nations have the security of energy autonomy.  And the gift of power is a gift for all.

    That world is within reach.  But it won’t happen on its own.  Not fast enough.  Not fair enough.  It is up to us.  We have the tools to power the future for humanity.  Let’s make the most of them.  This is our moment of opportunity.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid GOP Assault on Healthcare, Pressley, Duckworth, DeGette, Schakowsky, Frost, Colleagues Unveil EACH Act, Keep Up Fight for Reproductive Justice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Lawmakers File EACH Act to End Hyde Amendment, Lift Unjust Abortion Coverage Restrictions on Medicaid, Other Government Sponsored Plans

    Follows Passage of Big, Ugly Bill that Guts Medicaid, Defunds Planned Parenthood, Further Restricts Healthcare

    Bill Text (PDF) | Floor Speech (YouTube)

    WASHINGTON – Today, as Republicans continue their assault on healthcare, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), led their colleagues in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act, bold legislation to guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance. The lawmakers’ bill follows the enactment of Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill, which will gut Medicaid, defund Planned Parenthood health centers, and push essential reproductive care further out of reach for millions of people.

    The EACH Act ends the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and lifts unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans. The bill affirms the fundamental right to abortion care and helps ensure everyone can get the reproductive healthcare they need, regardless of income, insurance, or zip code.

    Rep. Pressley unveiled the bill in a floor speech last night. Full video of that speech is available here.

    “Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. With Trump and Republicans advancing a cruel, coordinated assault on our bodily autonomy—gutting Medicaid, defunding Planned Parenthood, and decimating access to care—we must use every tool available to protect and expand reproductive healthcare,” said Congresswoman Pressley, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “The EACH Act would help us do just that. By repealing the racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment, which has denied necessary care for vulnerable communities for nearly half a century, our bill would help ensure everyone in America can get the reproductive healthcare they need, regardless of income, insurance, or zip code. I’m grateful to Senator Duckworth and our colleagues for their partnership on this critical priority.”

    “Ever since Trump’s far-right Supreme Court majority struck down Roe, Republicans have made it their mission to strip away a woman’s right to reproductive health care—a right they have no place to stand in the way of,” said Senator Duckworth. “As Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal kicks millions off their health care, we must act to help strengthen access to abortion coverage for low-income Americans, servicemembers and millions more—no matter their zip code. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation alongside my colleagues so we can do just that.”

    “For nearly 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has been Republicans’ go-to tool for chipping away at abortion rights, denying coverage to the most vulnerable communities,” said Rep. DeGette, Co-Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “Now, they’re doubling down with the Big Bad Bill, blocking Medicaid patients from accessing any kind of care, not only abortion care, but also birth control and cancer screenings, at Planned Parenthood. The EACH Act is how we fight back, guaranteeing access to abortion care—no matter your income, your insurance, or your ZIP code”

    “The Hyde Amendment is a racist, discriminatory policy designed to put reproductive and economic freedom out of reach for women of color and low-income women who need an abortion. By restricting Medicaid coverage of abortion, the Hyde Amendment robs those working to make ends meet of the freedom to control their lives and decisions about what is best for their families,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Keeping the Hyde Amendment in place is yet another way for Trump and the extremists in the GOP to limit peoples’ reproductive freedom. Every person should have the freedom to make their own reproductive health care decisions regardless of their income, race, where they work, what zip code they live in, or how they get their insurance. That is why our bill, the EACH Act, will finally repeal the harmful Hyde Amendment. Abortion is health care and health care is a human right.”

    “Women should be able to get the abortion care they need no matter where they live or how much money they have. But for decades, the Hyde Amendment and similar abortion restrictions have blocked low-income women from getting the health care they need and wrongfully divided abortion care from health care for no other reason than Republican politicians’ extreme anti-choice views,” said Senator Murray. “The EACH Act would get rid of the Hyde Amendment and related abortion coverage bans that endanger the health and lives of women who rely on Medicaid or other government-sponsored health coverage. I will always fight to end Hyde and other unjust policies that allow politicians to interfere with women’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures.”

    “As Republicans gut Medicaid, defund Planned Parenthoods nationwide, and continue their onslaught of attacks on our bodily autonomy, the Hyde Amendment and other federal coverage restrictions are discriminatory barriers that continue to prevent access to safe and legal abortion care,” said Senator Hirono. “Everyone deserves access to reproductive health care. By ending the Hyde Amendment and expanding coverage for abortion services, the EACH Act would help guarantee abortion access for all, protecting our reproductive rights and our ability to make decisions about our own bodies.”

    “Everyone should have the freedom to control their own lives and bodies, no matter their income, race, or zip code,” said Nourbese Flint, President of All* Above All. “For too long, restrictions like the Hyde Amendment have robbed people working to make ends meet of their ability to make personal decisions about their health, families, and futures. In a time of escalating attacks on reproductive freedom – and efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, shut down clinics, and restrict care – the EACH act sets a powerful standard and helps to end racist and classist health care restrictions. We are proud to support this visionary bill to expand abortion access and ensure coverage for all.”

    Trump and Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill, which passed Congress earlier this year, will dismantle access to reproductive health care in every state. It will defund Planned Parenthood, block Medicaid reimbursements to health centers, and slash care for millions of people. It would also gut Medicaid, ripping coverage from at least 10 million Americans and cutting off access to essential maternity care, birth control, cancer screenings, and more.

    Text of the EACH Act is available here.

    Joining the lawmakers in introducing the EACH Act are Representatives Alma Adams, Pete Aguilar, Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Jake Auchincloss, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Wesley Bell, Ami Bera, Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Janelle Bynum, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Ed Case, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Gil Cisneros, Katherine Clark, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver II, Steve Cohen, J. Luis Correa, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Sharice Davids, Danny K. Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Suzan DelBene, Chris Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Shomari Figures, Lizzie Fletcher, Bill Foster, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Jesús “Chuy” García, Jared Golden, Dan Goldman, Maggie Goodlander, Josh Gottheimer, Al Green, Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes, Steven Horsford, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Glenn Ivey, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, William R. Keating, Robin Kelly, Tim Kennedy, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Greg Landsman, Rick Larsen, John B. Larson, George Latimer, Susie Lee, Summer L. Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Seth Magaziner, John Mannion, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, Jim McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Rob Menendez, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Joseph Morelle, Kelly Morrison, Jared Moskowitz, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone Jr., Jimmy Panetta, Chris Pappas, Nancy Pelosi, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Jamie Raskin, Luz Rivas, Deborah Ross, Raul Ruiz, Patrick Ryan, Andrea Salinas, Linda T. Sánchez, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Bradley Scott Schneider, Hillary Scholten, Kim Schrier, David Scott, Brad Sherman, Mikie Sherrill, Lateefah Simon, Adam Smith, Eric Sorensen, Darren Soto, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Suhas Subramanyam, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Sykes, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, Derek T. Tran, Lauren Underwood, Juan Vargas, Gabe Vasquez, Marc Veasey, Nydia M. Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, George Whitesides, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson, along with Senators Klobuchar, Warren, Padilla, Merkley, Blumenthal, Rosen, Shaheen, Schiff, Heinrich, Gillibrand, Coons, Cantwell, Van Hollen, Blunt Rochester, Sanders, Gallego, Booker, Smith, Baldwin, Wyden, Welch, Markey, Murphy, Kim, Whitehouse, Fetterman, Cortez Masto, Kelly, and Lujan.

    The EACH Act is endorsed by the following organizations: All* Above All, National Women’s Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for American Progress, Guttmacher Institute, Power to Decide, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Brigid Alliance, National Network of Abortion Funds, Midwest Access Coalition, Equality California, Silver State Equality, OutCenter Southwest Michigan, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, National Abortion Federation, Cobalt, Health Not Prisons Collective, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, Families USA, UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Center for Biological Diversity, Reproductive Freedom for All, CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Justice and Joy National Collaborative, End Rape On Campus, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Council of Jewish Women, Silver State Hope Fund of Nevada, Above!, The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), National Council of Jewish Women, American Humanist Association, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Chicago Abortion Fund, Ibis Reproductive Health, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, American Atheists, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Advocates for Youth, Courage California, ProgressNow New Mexico, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, EMAA Project, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), Keystone Progress Education Fund, Wyoming Right To Choose, Safe Abortions For Everyone Maine, REPRO Rising Virginia, National Abortion Federation, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), National Partnership for Women & Families, Catholics for Choice, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), Families USA, American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, Women’s Foundation of Florida, People Power United, Equality California, Abortion Forward, Black Women’s Health Imperative, SiX Action, Population Institute, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Pregnancy Justice, Just Solutions, UltraViolet Action, National Women’s Political Caucus, Equal Rights Advocates, Feminist Majority Foundation, Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Interfaith Alliance, and Community Catalyst.

    Last month, in the wake of the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Congresswoman Pressley spent the week convening leaders and impacted families, renewing her calls for comprehensive legislation to protect abortion care, and uplifting the experiences of people impacted by cruel abortion bans and denials of essential medical care.

    Congresswoman Pressley has been outspoken in demanding justice for Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old pregnant mother who was declared brain dead in February and was forced to remain on life support due to Georgia’s abortion ban. Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned floor speech in which she underscored that Adriana’s case is far too common in the unjust history of denying Black women their dignity, humanity, and right to bodily autonomy – and that GOP abortion bans such as Georgia’s deepen this pain and bar critical healthcare freedom. Last week, Rep. Pressley issued a statement after Adriana’s infant son Chance was delivered via emergency Cesarean section and Adriana was taken off life support.

    Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has fought persistently to protect fundamental reproductive and sexual healthcare rights. 

    • On the first anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Rep. Pressley introduced the Abortion Justice Act, sweeping, intersectional legislation to address access to abortion care and put forth a comprehensive vision of a just America where abortion care is readily available—without stigma, shame or systemic barriers—for all who seek it, regardless of zip code, immigration status, income, or background.
    • Rep. Pressley is a lead co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), bicameral federal legislation to guarantee equal access to abortion care, everywhere. 
    • Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of the EACH Act, bold legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment and help guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance.
    • Shortly before the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Rep. Pressley led a group of her Black women colleagues in writing to President Biden urging him to declare a public health emergency amid the unprecedented threats to abortion rights nationwide. 
    • Rep. Pressley condemned the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade., and implored the Senate to protect abortion rights and slammed the white supremacist roots of anti-abortion efforts.
    • In October 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on Josseli Barnica, who died on Sept. 3, 2021 after being denied emergency abortion care in Texas as she suffered a miscarriage.
    • In September 2024, in a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Hearing, Rep. Pressley highlighted the harmful and deadly impact of abortion bans in America to date, and outlined in detail the shameful circumstances under which Amber Nicole Thurman died after being denied necessary abortion care in Georgia.
    • In June 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Idaho v. United States; Moyle v. United States – the case about whether emergency abortion care is included under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). 
    • In May 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on a Louisiana bill that would classify medication abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances. 
    • In April 2024, at a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley played “Fact or Fiction” with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf to emphasize the safety and efficacy of medication abortion drug mifepristone.
    • In August 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit Court decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA.
    • In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation to help people with disabilities—who face discrimination and extra barriers when seeking care—get better access to reproductive healthcare and the informed care they need to control their own reproductive lives.
    • In July 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of over-the-counter birth control.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley applauded the FDA Advisory Committee’s unanimous, 17-0 vote to recommend the approval of the first-ever application for over-the-counter birth control. She and Senator Murray also held a press conference applauding the decision and urging the FDA to approval over-the-counter birth control without delay.
    • In May 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Ami Bera, MD (CA-06) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), reintroduced their bicameral Affordability is Access Act to ensure that once the FDA determines an over-the-counter birth control option to be safe, insurers fully cover over-the-counter birth control without any fees or out-of-pocket costs.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Texas court ruling on mifepristone, and discussed the Texas case in a recent floor speech in which she affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care and access to mifepristone as essential. She later joined Governor Maura Healey, Senator Elizabth Warren (D-MA), and local leaders in announcing action to protect Mifepristone in Massachusetts.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Reps. Schakowsky, Lee, DeGette, Torres and Strickland, reintroduced the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act harmful and discriminatory Helms Amendment and expand abortion access globally.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley and Senator Hirono led their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff. 
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley delivered a speech in which she discussed the pending court case in Texas, which aims to restrict access to medication abortion across the entire nation. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley affirmed medication abortion as routine medical care, and accessibility to the abortion pill mifepristone as essential.
    • In September 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court’s inaction on SB-8, Texas’ restrictive abortion law. Later that month, she participated in a House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the threat posed by abortion bans and underscored the urgency of the Senate passing the Women’s Health Protection Act. 
    • In April 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (CA-13), Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), led a group of 131 Democratic members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Act, which would repeal the Hyde Amendment and ensure that all people, regardless of income, insurance or zip code, can make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without interference from politicians. She re-Introduced the legislation In January 2023.
    • Rep. Pressley has led calls in Congress for the FDA to remove medically unnecessary restrictions on the medication abortion drug mifepristone, and applauded the FDA’s action in January 2023 to allow retail pharmacies to dispense abortion medication pills.
    • As Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus’s Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, Congresswoman Pressley has led the fight to repeal the Hyde Amendments from annual Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills and in July 2020 published a Medium post on the importance of doing so. She applauded the removal of the Hyde Amendment in President Biden’s FY2022 budget.
    • In May 2020, she led more than 155 Members of Congress in calling on House Democratic leadership to ensure that any future COVID-19 relief packages rejected Republican efforts to use the public health crisis to diminish abortion access.
    • In August 2021, Rep. Pressley, Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette and Barbara Lee led more than 70 of their House Democratic colleagues in introducing a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion care. 
    • In January 2023, Rep. Pressley introduced a resolution to condemn all forms of political violence in the U.S., regardless of its target or intent. That same day, she delivered a powerful speech on the House floor slamming Republicans’ harmful, misleading anti-abortion resolution.
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley hosted U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester for a convening on their work to address the Black maternal health crisis and the criminalization of abortion care in states across the nation following the harmful U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health
    • In May 2019, she led more than 100 colleagues in introducing H.Con.Res.40, a resolution reaffirming the House of Representative’s support for Roe v. Wade.
    • In June 2019, Rep. Pressley introduced H.R. 3296, the Affordability is Access Act, to make oral contraception available without a prescription. 
    • In September 2016, as a member of the Boston City Council, Pressley championed a resolution calling on Congress and President Obama to repeal the Hyde Amendment and reinstate insurance coverage for abortion services.

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    MIL OSI USA News