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Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase Programme Completed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase Programme Completed 

    Siili Solutions Plc Stock Exchange Release 17 July 2025 at 19:00 EEST 

    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase Programme Completed 

    Siili Solutions Plc announced on 26 May 2025 that the Board of Directors had decided to launch a share repurchase programme. The purpose of the programme was to acquire the company’s own shares to cover obligations arising from long-term share-based incentive schemes. 

    Siili has today completed the aforementioned share repurchase programme. The repurchases commenced on 2 June 2025 and ended today, 17 July 2025. During the repurchase period, Siili acquired a total of 31,000 own shares, corresponding to approximately 0.38 percent of the company’s total shares. The average price per share was EUR 6.38, and the total purchase price amounted to approximately EUR 197 809. 

    Following the repurchases, Siili holds a total of 31,698 own shares, representing approximately 0.39 percent of the total number of shares in the company. 

    Further information: 
    Aleksi Kankainen, CFO 
    Email: aleksi.kankainen@siili.com 
    Phone: +358 40 534 2709 

    Distribution: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd 
    Key media 
    www.siili.com 

    Siili Solutions in brief 
    Siili Solutions Plc is a forerunner in AI-powered digital development. Siili is the go-to partner for clients seeking growth, efficiency and competitive advantage through digital transformation. Our main markets are Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Siili Solutions Plc’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange. Siili has grown profitably since its founding in 2005. www.siili.com/en 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Honourable Maria V. Carroccia’s Questionnaire

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Under the new judicial application process introduced by the Minister of Justice on October 20, 2016, any interested and qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for federal judicial appointment by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaires are then used by the Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada to review candidates and submit a list of “highly recommended” and “recommended” candidates for consideration by the Minister of Justice. Candidates are advised that parts of their questionnaire may be made available to the public, with their consent, should they be appointed to the bench. The information is published as it was submitted by the candidates at the time they applied, subject to editing where necessary for privacy reasons.

    Below are Parts 5, 6, 7, and 11 of the questionnaire completed by the Honourable Maria V. Carroccia.

    Questionnaire for Judicial Appointment

    PART 5 – LANGUAGE

    Please note that in addition to the answers to the questions set out below, you may be assessed as to your level of language proficiency.

    Without further training, are you able to read and understand court materials in:

    • English: Yes
    • French: No

    Without further training, are you able to discuss legal matters with your colleagues in: 

    • English: Yes
    • French: No

    Without further training, are you able to converse with counsel in court in: 

    • English: Yes
    • French: No

    Without further training, are you able to understand oral submission in court in: 

    • English: Yes
    • French: No

    If you have answered yes to all four questions above, for both English and French, please answer the additional two questions below:

    Without further training, are you able to write decisions in both French and English? *

    Without further training, are you able to conduct hearings in both French and English? *

    *Please note that the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs may conduct random verifications and assessments of candidates’ language proficiency as stated in their questionnaire.

    PART 6 – EDUCATION

    Name of Institutions, Years Attended, Degree/Diploma and Year Obtained:

    University of Windsor, 1980-1984 Bachelor of Arts, Honours, English Language and Literature

    University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, 1984-1987, Bachelor of Laws

    Continuing Education:

    n/a

    Honours and Awards:

    Special achievement, University of Windsor, Faculty of Law 1986-1987

    PART 7 – PROFESSIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

    Please include a chronology of work experience, starting with the most recent and showing employers’ names and dates of employment. For legal work, indicate areas of work or specialization with years and, if applicable, indicate if they have changed.

    Legal Work History:

    1995-present, self-employed as a Barrister and Solicitor practicing in Windsor, Ontario. Practice restricted to criminal defence;

    1990-1995 Gordner, Klein, Barristers and Solicitors, employed lawyer practicing criminal law;

    1989-1990 Gignac, Sutts Barristers and Solicitors, employed lawyer practicing criminal law.

    Non-Legal Work History:

    1980-1987 part-time Pharmacy Assistant, Patterson Big V Drug Store;

    1980-1986 part-time waitress, Caboto Club of Windsor.

    Other Professional Experience:

    List all bar associations, legal or judicial-related committees of which you are or have been a member and give the lilies and dates of any offices which you have held in such groups.

    Windsor Essex County Criminal Lawyers’ Association, President 20 1 2-present, past president from 1999-2001

    Windsor Justice on Target Leadership Team Committee 2010-2015

    Windsor Criminal Justice Modernization Committee, 2015-present

    Windsor Bail Committee, (Ontario Court of Justice) 2016-present

    Pro Bono Activities:

    n/a

    Teaching and Continuing Education:

    List all legal or judicial educational organizations and activities you have been involved with (e.g. teaching course at a Law Faculty, bar association, National Judicial Institute, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice, etc.)

    University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Sessional Instructor, Winter Term 2011 (taught course together with Michael Gordner)

    Occasional lecturer in various courses at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, most recently on Nov. 1 1, 2018 in a course taught by Justice Sharman Bondy: Law Ethics

    Community and Civic Activities:

    List all organizations of which you are a member and any offices held with dates.

    Member of the Board of Directors, Leone Residence for Women, 2008-present

    PART 11 – THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN CANADA’S LEGAL SYSTEM

    The Government of Canada seeks to appoint judges with a deep understanding of the judicial role in Canada. In order to provide a more complete basis for evaluation, candidates are asked to offer their insight into broader issues concerning the judiciary and Canada’s legal system. For each of the following questions, please provide answers of between 750 and 1000 words.

    1. What would you regard as your most significant contribution to the law and the pursuit of justice in Canada?

    I have been practicing criminal law for about 30 years. During most of that time, I have been a sole practitioner or worked in association with other lawyers. I do not work in a large firm. I view myself as a trial lawyer who “works in the trenches”. My contribution to the law is to represent my clients to the best of my ability, whether they are charged with minor offences or the most serious offences.

    Over the years, I have conducted countless trials in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court. I have represented many different people from all walks of life. Some of the trials involved minor charges, while others involved very serious charges where the consequences upon conviction were also serious. While the majority of my clients have lengthy criminal records, I have also represented first time offenders, police officers, lawyers, doctors, and other people who are unfamiliar with our criminal justice system.

    I have always tried my best to ensure that everyone I represented felt that they were treated respectfully and fairly, no matter what the outcome of their matter. As a sole practitioner, sometimes it’s hard to devote the time necessary to every client, but that’s exactly what you have to do. I have to remind myself that while I may have hundreds of files to deal with, for the individual client, their matter is the only one that matters.

    Having said that, I try to maintain a relationship with my clients that allows for communication. In many ways, I am the one who interprets the law for them and explains the criminal justice system to them. Some clients have unrealistic expectations about the outcome of their matter. I have to explain and advise them on their jeopardy, their legal rights, their best course of action. In doing that, I always maintain that I will be honest with my clients, even if the information I am providing to them is not what they want to hear.

    I also have several clients that I’ve represented for over 20 years. I have represented and continue to represent 3 generations of one family. These people trust me and rely on me. I deal with people who very often are at a low point in their lives, facing criminal charges.

    I am mindful of the fact that I stand between the individual and the criminal justice system. In doing so, I try to conduct myself with integrity and honesty and try to accomplish the best possible outcome for my client in the circumstances of their case.

    2. How has your experience provided you with insight into the variety and diversity of Canadians and their unique perspectives?

    Practicing criminal law exposes a lawyer to clients from all walks of life. In my work, it is not unusual for me to deal not only with the client, but with their spouses and families. Their needs are individual, but in many ways, there are similarities. I am mindful of an individual’s background and beliefs and try to be respectful of those. My community is multicultural and as a result, I deal with people from a variety of cultural, racial and religious backgrounds. I find that I can learn from my clients just as they learn from me.

    I try to accommodate their individual needs as much as is reasonably possible in the circumstances. For example, it is my practice to inquire as to whether or not my client identifies as aboriginal since that is a relevant factor to be taken into account at the bail stage or the sentencing stage in criminal matters.

    I must fearlessly advance my client’s case in accordance with his or her instructions while maintaining my obligations as an officer of the Court. I am always mindful of the fact that my client’s perspective is without doubt influenced by his or his background and as a result, I try to make myself aware of his or her background, and I try to ensure that my client has an understanding of the process, whether that involves a guilty plea and sentencing, or a trial.

    I believe it is important to have an understanding of the clients you are serving in order to better represent them.

    3. Describe the appropriate role of a judge in a constitutional democracy.

    All branches of government have a role to play within our democracy. Put simply, the role of a judge is to interpret the law. In the minds of most Canadians, a judge is the embodiment of the law. Therefore, I believe that judges must strive to be above reproach in both their personal and professional lives. They must be fair, open-minded and able to communicate effectively. A judge must be an impartial decision maker.

    It is important to remember that judges do not create the law in a constitutional democracy, they interpret the law and apply it appropriately within the confines of the Constitution Act. One of the most important roles of a judge is to determine whether a law is constitutional or whether actions by the state comply with the requirements of the Charter.

    4. Who is the audience for the decisions rendered by the court(s) to which you are applying?

    The audience for the decisions of the Superior Court of Justice is the average Canadian citizen.

    It is my view that a judge’s decision ought to make sense to an ordinary person, not just to lawyers, scholars and other judges. An individual should be able to understand the decision of a judge and the law upon which it is based even if he or she is not well-versed in the law. The law applies to all Canadian citizens, and judges should keep in mind that in order for the ordinary person to understand the judgment of a Court, they must be able to understand the interpretation of the law set out in that decision.

    It seems that more recently, Courts have been striving to simplify the language used in their decisions so that an ordinary person can understand them more easily. For instance, the Charter is written in simple language so that it can be easily understood.

    The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Regina v. Jordan garnered a lot of public attention. I believe that it was easily understood by the public because the Court established a simple formula to determine what constitutes unreasonable delay in the context of criminal trials. It is cases such as this one which make the law more easily understood by the public.

    5. Please describe the personal qualities, professional skills and abilities, and life experience that you believe will equip you for the role of a judge.

    I believe that I have an ability to deal with people from different walks of life. In my practice I have dealt with clients, other lawyers, judges, crowns, court staff and members of the public. I do this on a daily basis.

    I believe I have an understanding of both sides of the issues in criminal law despite the fact that I have spent my career defending people charged with criminal offences rather than prosecuting them.

    I have been the President of the Windsor Essex Criminal Lawyers’ Association for the last 6 years and as a result, I have participated in various committees which were made up of stakeholders in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court, including judges, crowns, police officers, court staff, lawyers, and corrections officials.

    This allowed me an opportunity to have input into the decision-making process in both levels of courts and to represent the interests of criminal lawyers on those issues.

    I am the mother of two children, and as such, I have developed an ability to balance my professional life with my personal life.

    6. Given the goal of ensuring that Canadians are able to look at the justices appointed to the bench and see their faces and life experiences reflected there, you may, if you choose, provide information about yourself that you feel would assist in this objective.

    I am the oldest child of immigrant parents from Italy. The first generation of my family born in Canada. My parents were not educated. They did not finish grade school, but they valued education for their children. Their first language was not English. My father was a construction worker; my mother was a homemaker. While I was growing up, I was often their intermediary when dealing with government agencies and English-speaking people.

    While they encouraged me to further my education, financially, they were not always able to assist, so I worked part time jobs as a student to pay for my education. They taught me the value of hard work. We have a close-knit and loving large family.

    As a female lawyer practicing criminal law, I was one of a very few when I started my practice in 1989, but I found guidance and mentors among the more established, mostly male criminal lawyers in Windsor. They answered my questions and gave me guidance when I needed it. I try to do that now with the new lawyers when I am asked to.

    I have represented people who have committed violent acts, people with mental illness and people who are substance abusers. A good criminal lawyer has to have the ability to see beyond the “case” and see the person that they are dealing with. In order to do so, you must have a willingness to listen to your client.

    I think it’s important that judges have that understanding of the people who appear before them.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Women’s Caucus Co-Chairs Kamlager-Dove and Ross Unveil Policy Agenda to Demand a Better Future for Women; Defend Women and Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Thursday, July 17, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), led by Policy Task Force Co-Chairs Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Deborah Ross (NC-02), released its Better Future policy agenda, focused on economic security, affordable and equitable health care, and the safety of all women and girls. 

    This agenda comes at a time when women and families are under constant attack from the Trump administration and Republicans. From gutting reproductive health care access and cutting Medicaid to slashing food assistance and taking away critical resources for survivors of domestic violence, the Trump Administration and Republicans have launched a full-scale assault on women.

    In the face of these relentless attacks from Trump and Republicans, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is not only dedicated to pushing back and defending women, but also paving a path for a better future for all women and girls.

    That’s why the Better Future policy agenda calls for clear priorities that will actually help women and families across three pillars:

    • Economic Security: Lowering costs, raising salaries, expanding paid leave, protecting Social Security, and investing in care work and women-owned businesses.
    • Health Care: Defending reproductive freedom, expanding access to health care including Medicaid and Medicare, and improving maternal health.
    • Rights & Safety: Ending gender-based violence, protecting voting rights, and confronting discrimination.

    As the Caucus continues to fight back against Trump and Republicans’ attacks on women and families, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is keenly focused on continuing to push for proactive policies that will help women and families achieve a better future.

    Read the full agenda here.

    Para leer la agenda en español, haga clic aquí.

    Democratic Women’s Caucus Executive Steering Committee Members support for the agenda:

    “At 96 women strong, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting every single day for the economic security, health, and safety of all women and girls,” said DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “Yes, in this moment we must defend women from Trump’s relentless attacks on our safety, rights, and equal opportunities. But we are also demanding a better future for women and will fight to build a good life for all women. We will never stop pushing for the policies that make life better for women and for all hardworking American families.”

    “As the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress continue to attack women and families, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is stepping up to demand a better future for women,” said DWC Policy Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37). “In the wake of record cuts to health care and food assistance, ongoing assaults on our reproductive freedoms, and the largest transfer of wealth in our nation’s history, we must defend our rights and livelihoods while striving for a brighter tomorrow for our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and beyond. American women can trust that the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting for them through the policies outlined in this agenda.”

    “At a time when the rights of women and families are under continuous assault by Donald Trump and his allies, the DWC Policy Agenda meets the moment,” said DWC Policy Task Force Co-Chair Deborah Ross (NC-02). “We are laying out clear steps to lower costs, expand health care, and protect women’s reproductive freedom in the face of Republicans’ extreme attempts to roll back our rights. As Co-Chair of the DWC Policy Task Force, I am proud to unveil this agenda and will keep working toward a future where women and girls have the freedom and opportunity to thrive.”

    “The Democratic Women’s Caucus is dedicated to building a future where every woman can live, work, and raise a family with dignity and security,” said DWC Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13). “Whether we are working to expand access to reproductive and maternal health care, lower costs for families, protect Social Security, or improve economic opportunity for women, I’m proud to lead these efforts with a coalition committed to putting women and families first.”

    “In West Michigan and across the country, women are calling for real solutions—not political stunts. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is answering that call with a bold, unflinching agenda that demands a better future by defending the rights, health, and safety of women and families,” said DWC Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03). “From the grocery store to the doctor’s office to the ballot box, women are feeling the weight of Trump and Republicans’ relentless attacks. We are fighting back with policies that lower costs, expand reproductive freedoms, protect care workers, and ensure every woman has the chance to thrive.”

    “I am proud to join my Democratic Women’s Caucus in demanding a better future for women and families. As the Trump administration continues to assault our rights, our health care, and our economic security, we are charting a new path forward. Our agenda is bold and focused on what women need: affordable health care, an economy that works for them, reproductive freedom, and safer communities,” said DWC Communications Task Force Co-Chair Shontel Brown (OH-11).

    “When women and families thrive, our communities thrive. But right now, our freedoms, our healthcare, and our economic security are under attack. I’m proud to serve in a leadership position on Democratic Women’s Caucus and to promote this policy agenda demanding a better future for women, children, and everyone across the country to have the freedom, rights and opportunities we all deserve,” said DWC Member Services Task Force Co-Chair Melanie Stansbury (NM-01).

    “Women and families deserve more—and we won’t wait for it to be handed to us, we are working for it now,” said DWC New Member Liaison LaMonica McIver (NJ-10). “The DWC’s agenda is a demand for a future built for women where costs come down, care is expanded, and everyone has an opportunity to thrive. We are standing together to create that future, and standing against the extremism of the Trump administration and Republicans who are trying to set back the clock.”

    “As a proud member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, I’m committed to demanding a future where the needs of military families, especially women and children, are prioritized.  That means improving access to safe, affordable, and high-quality child care and addressing the ongoing health care needs of our service members and their families, including their faster access to obstetric and gynecological care, and adequate medical staffing.  These priorities are not just policy, they are essential to the success, readiness, and well-being of the families who serve, support, and sustain our armed forces,” said DWC Servicewomen, Women Veterans, & Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).

    “Right now, women and families are under attack by Trump and Republicans in Congress — from our pregnancies to our paychecks — our autonomy is being eliminated. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is drawing a line in the sand: we demand an economy that works for women, health care that protects us, and communities where our rights and safety come first. This agenda represents our commitment to building a future where every woman and family can thrive with dignity and security,” said DWC Equality Caucus Liaison Julie Johnson (TX-32).

    “As a proud Executive Steering Committee member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, I’m fighting for women, for families, and for the future we all deserve,” said National Leaders & Advocacy Organizations Liaison Joyce Beatty (OH-03). “Donald Trump and extreme Republicans love to call themselves ‘pro-family’—but ripping away healthcare and food assistance from children and moms, and attacking women’s freedoms, is anything but. You can’t be ‘pro-family’ while pushing policies that hurt moms, kids, and caregivers. Our DWC Agenda delivers what real families need: affordable childcare and healthcare, economic opportunity, reproductive freedom, and safe communities. These are common-sense solutions—and exactly what the majority of Americans support. Because when women rise, America rises.”

    “I have always prioritized giving all women—including Latinas—the tools they need to thrive. But with President Trump’s dangerous policies targeting women and families, it’s more important than ever that we defend the progress we’ve made and find real solutions to support women”, said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison Andrea Salinas (OR-06). “As a Caucus, we demand an economy that works for women and families, better health care, safer communities, and fair pay. Upholding these rights will strengthen our communities for everyone, and I am ready to work alongside my colleagues to ensure that every woman can live without worry or fear.”

    “With Trump and Republicans’ leading a full-scale assault on our fundamental rights, this moment demands a better future for women everywhere,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “The Democratic Women’s Caucus’ policy agenda lays out how we will continue to fight to support and defend women and families – whether that be by building an inclusive care economy, protecting and expanding reproductive health care, ending gender-based violence, or making gender equality the law of the land. I am proud to work alongside my DWC colleagues as we push back against this hostile Administration and continue to build the more just America that women and families demand and deserve.”

    “Every woman deserves the freedom to care for a loved one without risking her job or paycheck,” said DWC Whip Sarah McBride (DE). “Paid family and medical leave isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for working families. As Trump tries to strip away our rights and economic security, the Democratic Women’s Caucus is fighting back with a clear, compassionate agenda that focuses on the needs of women and their families. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to demand the dignity, fairness, and care that every working family deserves.”

    “As a mom and a Member of Congress, I know the challenges women and families face every day—whether it’s finding housing you can afford, accessing healthcare no matter where you live, putting food on the table, or securing a good job and quality education for your kids. These are the kitchen table issues I fight for in Congress and back home in Hawaii,” said DWC Progressive Caucus Liaison Jill Tokuda (HI-02). “That’s why I’m proud to support the Democratic Women’s Caucus’ new policy agenda. It recognizes the essential role women play in building strong families, strong economies, and strong communities, and it defends our rights and the resources we need to thrive.”

    “Women and families deserve an economy that works for them—not one that works for billionaires. The instability and rising costs created by Donald Trump and Republicans have made it harder for women to care for their families and build a secure future. We are fighting for an economy that prioritizes financial security, dignity, and opportunity,” said DWC Chief Whip Nikema Williams (GA-05). “That means lowering everyday costs, ensuring fair taxes, and protecting the basic programs women rely on. It means addressing workplace inequities like wage gaps and the lack of paid leave. It means expanding access to affordable childcare and long-term care, improving conditions for domestic and care workers, and supporting women small business owners.”

    “As a member of DWC’s Executive Steering Committee, I stand united with our 96 members to demand a future where women and families are valued, protected, and empowered. We do not accept the recent attacks on healthcare and food assistance and remain focused on building towards an America that works for everyone, not just the few. Our fight is for fair wages, accessible healthcare, and affordable childcare and long-term care. A country where those who work their entire lives can retire with dignity, where parents feel safe to send their kids to school, and care workers feel valued. I’m proud to join my DWC family in this fight,” said DWC Senate Liaison Debbie Dingell (MI-06).

    “At a time when women’s rights and freedoms are under unprecedented attack, I am proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus to say loud and clear: we will not go back. Our agenda is a bold commitment to securing economic justice, protecting access to health care and reproductive freedom, and ensuring that every woman can live in safety and dignity regardless of her income or zip code. While Trump and MAGA Republicans work to rip away reproductive health care, gut women’s health research, and more, we are fighting back. And we won’t stop until every woman has the freedoms and resources to thrive,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28).

    “Since I was a kid, I’ve watched the women in my life fight every day to be seen, heard, and valued—for their work, their caregiving, their ideas, and their leadership. I’ve seen moms doing everything they can to provide for their families while being overwhelmed and under-supported. I’ve seen women on job sites doing the same work as men but paid less. Women have been clear about what they need: affordable childcare, access to health care, equal pay, and a cost of living that doesn’t force impossible choices. These aren’t new tasks, they’re long-overdue promises. That’s why I’m proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus to build a safer, more affordable, and equitable future for every woman and girl,” said DWC Whip Emily Randall (WA-06).

    “As an OBGYN who has spent my career caring for women, I’m horrified by how women’s health is under attack in every direction from President Trump and his Republican majority in Congress. With attacks on everything from access to reproductive health care, to contraception, to perpetuating our maternal health care crisis, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are rolling back women’s ability to get the basic, essential care they need. I am proud to stand with the Democratic Women’s Caucus as we not only fight to defend women’s health – but put forward our vision for how we will ensure every woman can get the care she needs to be healthy and thrive,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair and Liaison Kelly Morrison (MN-03).

    Advocate and ally support for the agenda:

    “Women – and especially women of color – are under attack,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families Action Fund. “Women working full-time, year-round are still paid just 83 cents for every dollar paid to men; millions of workers lack access to paid family and medical leave and other caregiving supports; Black women face a maternal mortality crisis; and people across the country confront threats of criminalization for seeking abortion and reproductive health care. But instead of working on solutions to improve women’s health and economic security, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have attacked diversity, equity and inclusion programs, gutted federal agencies charged with protecting women and people of color and passed a tax bill that will threaten the physical health and financial security of millions of people. The National Partnership for Women & Families Action Fund is thrilled to endorse an alternative and affirmative agenda from the Democratic Women’s Caucus that centers women and women of color and champions the policies needed to advance women’s economic security, health and safety.”

    “GIFFORDS is glad to see public safety as a top priority for the Democratic Women’s Caucus. Under the Trump Administration, women are being put at greater risk every day for gun violence. This dangerous administration has rearmed domestic abusers, made it easier for bad gun dealers to stay in business, and loosened restrictions on weapons like gun silencers and short-barreled rifles. Already, we know that abusive partner’s access to a firearm is a serious threat to victims of domestic violence, making it five times more likely that a woman will be killed. We must put a stop to this epidemic and I look forward to working with the DWC to advance their public safety agenda,” said Emma Brown, GIFFORDS Executive Director.

    “Gen Z needs our elected leaders to step up and fight for our futures. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is showing us how they plan to fight for us with their Policy Agenda, and Voters of Tomorrow is proud to endorse this platform. We look forward to working with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, their members, and our allies on and off Capitol Hill to advocate for an Agenda that protects and empowers women and girls amidst ongoing attacks on our freedoms,” Grace Friedman, Policy Director at Voters of Tomorrow.

    “As an organization focused on advancing public policies that address gender, racial, economic, and social justice, CLASP strongly endorses the Democratic Women’s Caucus Executive Action Agenda. To our collective detriment, our nation’s policies have neglected—and often ignored—the needs of women and their families. The Caucus’s agenda boldly promotes what women need to thrive in today’s unpredictable economy— child care, long-term care, paid leave, just wages, workplace protections, health care, retirement security, and more. CLASP supports this ambitious and necessary set of policies. The success of our nation and economy depends on it,” said Wendy Chun-Hoon, President and Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

    The agenda is endorsed by:

    • Planned Parenthood Federation of America
    • National Partnership for Women & Families
    • National Women’s Law Center
    • Family Values @ Work
    • The Black Maternal Health Federal Policy Collective
    • National Health Law Program
    • National Council of Jewish Women
    • Equal Rights Advocates
    • GIFFORDS
    • Reproductive Freedom for All
    • MomsRising
    • Sexual Violence Prevention Organization
    • Voters of Tomorrow
    • Center for Law and Social Policy
    • Sexual Violence Prevention Association
    • Justice in Aging
    • Paid Leave for All

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Castro Introduces Sunshine on Solar Lending Act to Provide Transparency and Lower Costs for Consumers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

    July 17, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL) introduced the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act, legislation that protects consumers from loopholes lenders use in solar financing arrangements, resulting in inflated costs, deceptive practices, and financial harm to families seeking to go solar.

    The introduction comes after reports of lenders in the residential solar financing industry hiding substantial “dealer fees” that increase the cost of credit to unsuspecting homeowners. Investigations in Texas revealed that solar lenders add 10 to 30 percent in these fees to the loan balance, without clearly informing consumers. 

    “As more folks consider going solar, a consistent and safe system is needed to eliminate deceptive practices,” said Congressman Castro. “The Sunshine on Solar Lending Act fills current gaps and protects those considering purchasing a solar system and signing a loan. This legislation will empower consumers and protect them from hidden charges that lead to financial harm.”  

    “Solar panels help consumers reduce their carbon footprints and save money on energy bills, but deceptive lending practices will inevitably lead to fewer Americans embracing this green technology,” Congresswoman Norton said. “Consumers deserve transparency in solar lending practices, and the reforms in the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act will help ensure that Americans interested in purchasing solar systems can do so without being taken advantage of by deceptive lending practices.”

    “Solar power is an important tool for energy independence, decreasing greenhouse gas pollution, and mitigating climate financial risk,” said Jessica Garcia, senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform. “Representative Castro’s bill is responsive to the need for more transparent and fair financial contracts for households seeking solar panels.”

    “As homeowners turn to solar panels and other home improvements to embrace potential energy savings, unscrupulous lending practices and shady sales tactics increasingly have hijacked their experience,” said Christine Hines, senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. “Rep. Castro’s timely legislation will expose hidden fees and finance charges in solar financing and ensure that ripped-off consumers are empowered to hold violators accountable.” 

    “Homeowners purchasing rooftop solar face fraudulent and abusive sales,” said Alys Cohen, director of Federal Housing Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center. “This bill will help families understand the solar deals they are getting and protect them from hidden fees and surprise costs. It will also ensure they have help when they face problems with their solar purchase.” 

    The Sunshine on Solar Lending Act: 

    1. Closes a loophole that allows lenders to hide substantial “dealer fees” in solar financing arrangements.
    2. Ensures that all costs including dealer fees are clearly disclosed to consumers before they commit to purchasing a solar system and signing a loan.
    3. Allows harmed consumers to seek justice in court by prohibiting forced arbitration clauses in solar finance contracts.
    4. Mandates clear, written disclosures including paper copies for in-person sales.
    5. Empowers consumers to make informed decisions by comparing loan-financed costs with cash prices.

    The bill is endorsed by the Americans for Financial Reform (AFR), the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA), and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) on behalf of its low-income clients. 

    The full text of the Sunshine on Solar Lending Act can be found here.

    Congressman Castro is committed to protecting consumers who purchase solar panels. San Antonio residents who are facing issues with the solar financing industry are encouraged to get in touch with his District Office by calling 210-348-8216.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Ruiz and Torres Condemn DHS for Blocking Congressional Oversight of Detention Centers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

    Congressional Lawmakers Demand End to Illegal Obstruction and Partisan Discrimination at DHS Facilities

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) and Norma J. Torres (CA-35) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem condemning DHS for unlawfully obstructing and delaying Members of Congress seeking to conduct oversight visits to immigration detention facilities operated by DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers highlighted repeated violations of federal law, specifically Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which clearly prohibits DHS from denying Members of Congress unimpeded access to detention facilities or making changes that alter what is observed during visits.

    “As Members of Congress, we visited the Adelanto ICE facility to ensure residents in our districts are not being subjected to inhumane conditions. The Department of Homeland Security’s sudden policy change requiring advance notice is unacceptable, unlawful, and clearly designed to block transparency and accountability,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight. We don’t need permission from DHS to lawfully do our jobs, and we won’t allow the Trump administration to keep moving the goalposts to avoid scrutiny.”

    “For weeks, my office has been emailing DHS to schedule a visit, only to be met with shifting policies and ever-changing excuses for why Democratic Members of Congress can’t enter facilities,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “DHS is not above the law. Denying access to Democratic Members while granting Republican Members a free pass is not only illegal—it’s a dangerous abuse of power. Congressional oversight isn’t optional; it’s a constitutional duty. If DHS continues to obstruct and discriminate, then Congress must respond—through investigations, funding restrictions, or whatever tools are necessary to restore accountability and uphold the rule of law.”

    The lawmakers are demanding written assurances by Friday, July 18, 2025, that DHS will:

    • Cease all unlawful restrictions and partisan discrimination;
    • Fully comply with federal law regarding congressional access to facilities; and
    • Provide equal and prompt access to all Members of Congress regardless of party affiliation.

    Full letter text

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former U.S. Department of Energy Official Agrees to Pay $59,000 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Andrew L. Horn, a former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE), has agreed to pay $59,000 to resolve allegations that he violated conflict-of-interest rules prior to his departure from the agency in 2021.  

    Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests or the financial interests of certain parties with whom they have ties outside the government, including any organization with whom they are negotiating prospective employment. The United States alleges that in January 2021, Horn worked personally and substantially on a particular matter affecting the financial interests of a private company with which he was simultaneously negotiating contract terms to serve as a paid senior advisor following his upcoming separation from federal service. As part of the settlement, Horn has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that his conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees.

    “The Office of Inspector General prioritizes the ethical conduct of executive branch officials and thoroughly investigates all allegations regarding potential misconduct with the thorough help of our colleagues at the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe F. Sessions of the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; DOE, Office of Inspector General; and Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Robbin O. Lee of the Civil Division.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Ukrainian Parliament approved the new composition of the government

    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

    Kyiv, July 17 /Xinhua/ — The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Thursday approved the composition of the country’s new government, headed by Yulia Svyrydenko, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

    Mikhail Fedorov has been appointed First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation.

    Alexey Sobolev headed the newly created united department – the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

    Parliamentarians appointed Taras Kachka, who previously held the post of Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of the country, as Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

    Svetlana Grinchuk has been appointed head of the Ministry of Energy. Before this appointment, she held the post of Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. At the same time, former Minister of Energy German Galushchenko has been appointed head of the Ministry of Justice.

    Y. Svyrydenko’s predecessor as Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, has become the head of the Ministry of Defense.

    Denis Ulyutin, who previously held the position of First Deputy Minister of Finance, has been appointed Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity.

    Several members of the previous cabinet of ministers were reassigned to their previous posts.

    On Wednesday, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Prime Minister D. Shmyhal from his post. In accordance with Ukrainian law, the dismissal of the head of government entailed the resignation of all members of the Cabinet. On Thursday, the parliament appointed Yulia Svyrydenko, who previously held the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, as the new Prime Minister. –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 USA: Homeland Security Task Force created in Houston

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Houston field office and FBI Houston announced the establishment of a regional Homeland Security Task Force July 17 to combat emerging threats from transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Texas.

    The task force was created as a regional component to the national Homeland Security Task Force established by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice pursuant to an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 29 to protect the American people from invasion by transnational criminals.

    The Houston HSTF’s objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Texas through a collaborative, whole-of-government approach. To accomplish this mission, the HSTF will conduct intelligence-driven, multijurisdictional investigations targeting drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, homicide, extortion, kidnapping, child exploitation and other transnational crimes. The Houston HSTF will work closely with state and local partners to identify, investigate and eliminate violent criminal organizations and associates operating in communities throughout Southeast Texas.

    “As transnational criminal organizations, foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels, foreign gangs and other bad actors continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it’s vital that we work together as a law enforcement community to find transformative ways to confront emerging threats,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “This is especially true in Southeast Texas, where we face a myriad of unique border-related challenges and threats from transnational criminal organizations. By establishing this permanently integrated multiagency task force with dedicated personnel from federal, state and local law enforcement working side-by-side with a common mission, we will be better postured to detect and respond to any type of threat we might face.”

    “Foreign terror organizations who profit off violence, drugs and human lives now face a united front unseen before in Houston,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “For the first time, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are focused on hunting down and eradicating transnational criminals within Houston communities. Federal, state and local police will coordinate with the U.S. Intelligence Community and overseas partners to efficiently eliminate newly designated terrorists wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods.”

    The HSTF will be headquartered in Houston and have a satellite office in Corpus Christi. The heads of HSI Houston and FBI Houston will co-lead the task force with input from a regional executive committee comprised of leaders from participating agencies. Task force personnel will include law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts and professional staff.

    Participating agencies will include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the IRS’ Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area director, U.S. attorneys from the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, and other federal, state and local partners.

    For more news and information on HSI Houston and the Houston Homeland Security Task Force follow us on X at @HSIHouston or at @FBIHouston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former U.S. Department of Energy Official Agrees to Pay $59,000 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Andrew L. Horn, a former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE), has agreed to pay $59,000 to resolve allegations that he violated conflict-of-interest rules prior to his departure from the agency in 2021.  

    Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests or the financial interests of certain parties with whom they have ties outside the government, including any organization with whom they are negotiating prospective employment. The United States alleges that in January 2021, Horn worked personally and substantially on a particular matter affecting the financial interests of a private company with which he was simultaneously negotiating contract terms to serve as a paid senior advisor following his upcoming separation from federal service. As part of the settlement, Horn has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that his conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees.

    “The Office of Inspector General prioritizes the ethical conduct of executive branch officials and thoroughly investigates all allegations regarding potential misconduct with the thorough help of our colleagues at the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe F. Sessions of the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; DOE, Office of Inspector General; and Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Robbin O. Lee of the Civil Division.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Department of Justice Requests Data on Criminal Illegal Aliens in California Jails

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Justice issued requests to sheriffs in multiple major California counties—including Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties—for lists of all inmates in their jails who are not citizens of the United States, their crimes of arrest or conviction, and their scheduled release dates.

    In recent years, the United States suffered an invasion of illegal aliens at an unprecedented scale.  Far too many of those illegal aliens have gone on to commit crimes on American soil, including rapes, murders, and other violent crimes.  Today’s data requests are designed to assist federal immigration authorities in prioritizing the removal of illegal aliens who committed crimes after illegally entering the United States.  Although every illegal alien by definition violates federal law, those who go on to commit crimes after doing so show that they pose a heightened risk to our Nation’s safety and security.

    “Removing criminal illegal aliens is this Administration’s highest priority,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I look forward to cooperating with California’s county sheriffs to accomplish our shared duty of keeping Californians and all Americans safe and secure.”

    The Department of Justice hopes that California sheriffs will voluntarily produce the requested information.  But if necessary, the Department will pursue all available means of obtaining the data, including through subpoenas or other compulsory process.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cheektowaga Man Charged with Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned and indictment charging Roland Andrew, 63, of Cheektowaga, NY, with receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Sasha Mascarenhas, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in May 2025, the legal guardian of a 16-year-old minor female victim alerted Cheektowaga Police that numerous naked videos of the victim were sent to Andrew on the victim’s iPad. A review of the videos confirmed that they were child sexual abuse material. On May 7, 2025, Cheektowaga Police executed a search warrant at Andrew’s residence, seizing several items, including two three cellular devices, a tablet and a laptop. A review of the iPad recovered a text conversation between the victim and a telephone number, later identified as Andrew. During this conversation, the victim sent several videos which constitute child sexual abuse material.

    The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.   

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting Money Laundering in Relation to a COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shamiese Wright, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting monetary laundering.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Wright received $15,625 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On April 19, 2021, co-defendant Kisha Sutton submitted a PPP loan application on Wright’s behalf, listing Wright as a self-employed individual who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. The application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, reflecting that Wright had earned $75,000 in 2020.

    As part of her guilty plea, Wright admitted that she was not self-employed, that she never earned $75,000 in any year, and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with her application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan.

    A PPP lender in Florida approved Wright’s loan application, and $15,625 in fraudulent loan proceeds were electronically deposited in Wright’s personal bank account in Charleston on or about May 7, 2021. As part of her guilty plea, Wright admitted that she transferred $3,000 to Sutton from the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds using a digital wallet application between May 7, and May 21, 2021. Wright further admitted that the transfers were compensation for facilitating the submission of Wright’s fraudulent loan as they had agreed, and that she staggered her payments to Sutton and provided misleading transfer descriptions for them to conceal and disguise the nature and the source of the money. Wright spent the remainder of the fraudulent loan proceeds on personal expenses.

    The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other eligible expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.

    Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. Wright also owes up to $18,736.73 in restitution.

    Wright and Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, are among several individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. Co-defendants William Powell and Damisha Brown each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Powell, 35, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2025 and Brown, 32, of Charleston, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025. Co-defendant Jasmine Spencer, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2025, to aiding and abetting bank fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2025.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).

    United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon and former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson have prosecuted the case.

    Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Convicts New Jersey Woman for Crimes Related to COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

    Source: US FBI

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After two days of trial, a federal jury convicted Kisha Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, of aiding and abetting bank fraud (Count one) and aiding and abetting laundering of monetary instruments (Count two).

    Evidence at trial proved that Sutton and co-defendant Shamiese Wright aided and abetted one another to obtain a fraudulent $15,625 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan on behalf of Wright, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Sutton received $3,000 in fraudulent PPP loan proceeds from Wright as part of their scheme.

    On April 19, 2021, Sutton submitted the PPP loan application on Wright’s behalf, listing Wright as a self-employed individual who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. The application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, reflecting that Wright had earned $75,000 in 2020. Evidence at trial showed that Wright was not self-employed, had never earned $75,000 in any year, had received unemployment benefits in 2020, and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with Wright’s application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan.

    A PPP lender in Florida approved Wright’s loan application, and $15,625 in fraudulent loan proceeds were electronically deposited in Wright’s personal bank account in Charleston on or about May 7, 2021. Wright transferred the $3,000 to Sutton from the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds using a digital wallet application between May 7, and May 21, 2021. Wright staggered her payments to Sutton and provided misleading transfer descriptions for them to conceal and disguise the nature and the source of the money.

    The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other eligible expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020.

    Sutton is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison. Sutton owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court.

    “The CARES Act offered emergency assistance to struggling small businesses that were impacted by the pandemic. The defendant chose to exploit that lifeline for personal enrichment,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is glad to have played a significant role teaming with our law enforcement partners to hold the defendant accountable.”

    Johnston commended the excellent investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU).

    Sutton and Wright and are among several individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. Wright, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2025, to aiding and abetting the laundering of monetary instruments and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2025. William Powell and Damisha Brown each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Powell, 35, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2025 and Brown, 32, of Charleston, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025. Jasmine Spencer, 32, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2025, to aiding and abetting bank fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2025.

    United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon and former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson have prosecuted the case.

    Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Department of Justice Requests Data on Criminal Illegal Aliens in California Jails

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Justice issued requests to sheriffs in multiple major California counties—including Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties—for lists of all inmates in their jails who are not citizens of the United States, their crimes of arrest or conviction, and their scheduled release dates.

    In recent years, the United States suffered an invasion of illegal aliens at an unprecedented scale.  Far too many of those illegal aliens have gone on to commit crimes on American soil, including rapes, murders, and other violent crimes.  Today’s data requests are designed to assist federal immigration authorities in prioritizing the removal of illegal aliens who committed crimes after illegally entering the United States.  Although every illegal alien by definition violates federal law, those who go on to commit crimes after doing so show that they pose a heightened risk to our Nation’s safety and security.

    “Removing criminal illegal aliens is this Administration’s highest priority,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I look forward to cooperating with California’s county sheriffs to accomplish our shared duty of keeping Californians and all Americans safe and secure.”

    The Department of Justice hopes that California sheriffs will voluntarily produce the requested information.  But if necessary, the Department will pursue all available means of obtaining the data, including through subpoenas or other compulsory process.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Police release CCTV image of suspect sought in second vandalism incident at Windrush Square

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Officers investigating vandalism to an exhibition at Windrush Square, Brixton have released an image of a man they need to trace.

    Police received a report that a display board had been vandalised at Windrush Square at 11:34hrs on Wednesday, 16 July.

    After carrying out initial enquiries, they are looking to identify a man seen on CCTV and are appealing to the public for information.

    The suspect was captured on CCTV entering Windrush Square at 09:53hrs. He is approximately 30 to 40 years old, of medium build and was carrying a walking aid or crutch. He was last seen walking northbound on Brixton Road past Morley’s department store.

    Officers are keeping an open mind as to the motivations at this time.

    They do not believe it to be linked to another incident of vandalism that happened on Thursday, 3 July.

    This involved a different suspect, a 24-year-old man who was arrested and has since been bailed while enquiries continue. Investigating officers do not believe this incident to be racially motivated.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing in the local area, said:

    “Both offences have understandably caused distress among the local community. We are liaising directly with the exhibition organisers to keep them updated on both our investigations.

    “There will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days and the public is encouraged to approach these officers directly with any concerns.

    “We would also ask for help in identifying the man caught on CCTV – if you have any information please come forward.”

    Please contact police on 101 quoting CAD 5870/16JUL25.

    To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Community Resilience Centre Announced for Denare Beach

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 17, 2025

    A Community Resilience Centre located in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, is now open to provide support to residents who experienced loss from the WOLF fire. 

    The centre will open today at the Denareplex, 1700 Wigwam Drive, and will run from noon to 9 p.m. It will open again on July 18, 2025 from 9 a.m. to noon. 

    “The establishment of a Resilience Centre for Denare Beach is an important step in helping the community start the recovery process,” Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz said. “We are appreciative of the support being provided by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Recovery Task Team and look forward to working with them to increase the resiliency of our community.”

    “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to partner with the community of Denare Beach to help quickly begin the recovery process,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “I thank the local community leaders and the Recovery Task Team who continue to collaborate and to start the recovery process together.”

    The Community Resilience Centre provides a safe and supportive space for residents and business owners to share their questions, describe their needs, provide information and updates, receive case management supports and receive services to help them through recovery and rebuilding efforts. Case management support and services will include financial support, navigation assistance, help with applications and individual counselling services. 

    Residents will be able to access program information from a wide variety of organizations and agencies, ranging from the Saskatchewan Provincial Disaster Assistance Program, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, the Ministry of Social Services, the Saskatchewan Health Authority Mental Health Services and the Canadian Red Cross.

    The Community Resilience Centre is expected to be open two-days per week for the following weeks. Residents can reach out to their leadership for further information. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: El Salvadorian National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Re-Entering the United States Following Prior Felony Conviction

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 33, a citizen and national of El Salvador, pled guilty to illegally re-entering the United States following a felony conviction for accessory after the fact, murder first degree.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty pleas with Acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), Baltimore Field Office.

    According to court filings, Sanchez-Montiel voluntarily entered the United States around October 18, 2006, near Hidalgo, Texas, but United States Border Patrol apprehended him.  Then the United States Border Patrol served Sanchez-Montiel with a Notice to Appear before the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review.  On February 12, 2007, an immigration judge issued a decision ordering Sanchez-Montiel’s removal.  Sanchez-Montiel failed to appear, so the hearing was held in absentia.

    Then on January 23, 2023, law enforcement arrested Sanchez-Montiel, charging him with Accessory After the Fact, Murder First Degree. Sanchez-Montiel pled guilty and received a sentence of five years in prison with all but 18 months suspended.

    On January 29, 2024, after he served his sentence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Sanchez-Montiel.  Then on February 9, Sanchez-Montiel was removed from the United States to El Salvador via airplane, but he voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection by an immigration officer on an unknown date. 

    ICE officers again encountered Sanchez-Montiel in Montgomery County, Maryland, on July 27, where they took him into custody. Sanchez-Montiel did not obtain consent at any time from the Attorney General of the United States, or from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, for readmission into the United States. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, at 10 a.m.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke Oki and Joel Crespo who are prosecuting the case.

    This case 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.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tangipahoa Parish Man Guilty of Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – LONNIE YANCY, III (“YANCY”), age 27 of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, plead guilty on July 10, 2025, to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act before United States District Judge Barry Ashe, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.

    YANCY pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); § 841(b)(1)(A); § 841(b)(1)(B); and 846.

    YANCY faces a minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

    According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least September 10, 2024, YANCY and seven other individuals conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the Tangipahoa Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tangipahoa Parish Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW ORLEANS, LA – RINGO MITCHELL JR. (“MITCHELL JR.”), age 36 of Tickfaw, Louisiana, was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment on July 3, 2025, by United States District Judge Barry Ashe after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.

    Specifically, MITCHELL JR. was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, illegal use of a communications facility, and possessing, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).

    According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least September 10, 2024, MITCHELL JR., and seven other individuals, conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the Tangipahoa Parish region of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The conspiracy was carried out through wire and electronic communications.

    One other person has pled guilty in this investigation.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Federal Firearm Offense

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

    Defendant accelerated moped at law enforcement before being arrested in possession of a loaded firearm

    BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

    Kyvon Ross, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 46 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2025, Ross pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

    On Oct. 3, 2024, Ross was approached by law enforcement after driving a moped at a high speed and without a rear license plate. Ross accelerated directly at one of the officers before losing control of the moped and falling to the ground. Ross was found in possession of a loaded Glock handgun with an obliterated serial number.  

    Ross is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2021 federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division, prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Essex County Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Firearms Offenses

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

    NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man pled guilty on July 15, 2025, to multiple firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Kaiyir Green, 22, of Newark, New Jersey, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court to a four-count indictment charging him with two counts of possession of a firearm and/or ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

    According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court:

    On March 1, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and observed Green attempting to enter the stolen vehicle.  When law enforcement approached, Green fled and led law enforcement on an extended foot chase.  Law enforcement eventually apprehended Green and they recovered from him a privately manufactured firearm (commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”) loaded with five rounds of ammunition.  After Green was arrested, he made several phone calls from a recorded line at the detention center in which he directed others to go to his home and remove “everything” including a “black bag.”  Law enforcement later observed an individual remove a black bag from Green’s home.  A search of that bag revealed a firearm that had been modified with a switch rendering the firearm fully automatic. The fully automatic firearm was also loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition in a large capacity magazine. Law enforcement also recovered a 50-round capacity drum magazine.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited law enforcement members with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and/or ammunition each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

    Green’s sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2025.

    The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark.

                                                                ###

    Defense counsel for Green: Claressa Lowe, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: PENSACOLA FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

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

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Donavon Idris Ellis, 26, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

    Court documents reflect that Ellis was federally convicted in 2021 of three counts of distribution of carfentanil. During a search warrant of Ellis’ residence in March 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized two firearms, boxes of bulk ammunition, and multiple magazines, including a large capacity drum magazine. Ellis admitted to officers that the two firearms would be in his house.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office is committed to supporting the work of our brave local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who keep our communities safe.  We will continue to aggressively prosecute all violations of our laws and hold offenders accountable.”

    Sentencing is currently set for October 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. Ellis faces up to 15 years in prison.

    The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ELEVENTH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS 30-YEAR CAREER OFFENDER SENTENCE

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

    PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – On July 15, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the 30-year prison sentence of Charles Edward Rowe, 43, of Pensacola, Florida. Rowe pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in October 2021. U.S. District Court Judge T.K. Wetherell, II, concluded that Rowe qualified for sentencing as a “Career Offender” based on prior violent and narcotics-related convictions and sentenced him to 30 years’ imprisonment. Rowe appealed.

    U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The Eleventh Circuit’s ruling this week not only affirms the significant sentence of a serious offender but also establishes that Florida’s drug trafficking statute is a qualifying statute for purposes of determining whether a defendant is a “Career Offender.”  My office will continue to work with our excellent local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to utilize the Career Offender provisions to aggressively pursue repeat criminals and see to it that they receive substantial sentences.”

    This prosecution arose in July 2021, after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Gun Crimes Unit and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at a Pensacola hotel as part of an ongoing investigation. Inside, they found Rowe in possession of distribution amounts of various controlled substances, including over two kilograms of pills containing methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana, as well as a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and a loaded Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol.

    Rowe challenged his “Career Offender” sentence on appeal, arguing that his prior Florida drug trafficking conviction did not qualify as a predicate controlled substance offense. The Eleventh Circuit disagreed and concluded that the conviction qualified because the Florida trafficking statute criminalized the conduct of possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute them and thus met the requirements of the Career Offender provision. The Eleventh Circuit also rejected Rowe’s challenge to his guilty plea. As a published opinion, the Court’s ruling is binding on all future cases brought in the Eleventh Circuit, which includes all federal district courts in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

    This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jordane New and Former Assistant United States Attorney Robert G. Davies represented the government during the appeal.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On The Way AI Interacts With Copyrights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Too Big to Prosecute?: Examining the AI Industry’s Mass Ingestion of Copyrighted Works for AI Training.” Today’s hearing examined the way AI interacts with intellectual property rights, particularly copyrights.

    Durbin asked Edward Lee, a Law Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, about Section 230 in relation to AI.

    “You’re suggesting this is the age of innovation—deep learning deserves special treatment. We’ve been through this argument in Congress before—Section 230—[which] is a good illustration of that. We decided this fledgling industry called the internet just may not have a future [and] we better be careful, so we exempted them from liability. Is that what you’re suggesting?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “not at all,” and continued to highlight the existing Supreme Court precedent on “fair use.” AI companies argue that training their models on copyrighted works does not constitute infringement because that activity falls under the doctrine of “fair use,” which allows limited use of copyrighted works without the permission of the author for purposes such as commentary, parody, teaching, research, and news reporting. Courts determine whether use of a work is fair use on a case-by-case basis. He continued to say there is a fair balance between protecting copyrighted works, authors, and innovation.

    “It looks to me like you’re shifting the burden to the author of the creative work when there’s an assertion of ‘fair use’ here. So, Meta or others can virtually steal this creative product of Mr. Baldacci [an author witness at the hearing] and others, and then he has the responsibility of proving there’s been an economic loss to him as a result?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded that the initial burden of “fair use” is on the defendant.

    “Why do we have AI? Why are we interested in AI? Clearly it is for a commercial purpose, is it not?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “entirely, for the AI companies.”

    “So, the companies are ultimately the winners in the approach you are taking. Assume we’re in the world of new innovation here and there is a use of someone else’s creative work—the burden is on them to prove they lost money because of that piracy… they can use Mr. Baldacci’s product and make money off of it,” said Durbin.

    Professor Lee responded that if using copyrighted works like Mr. Baldacci’s is considered “fair use,” the direct benefit would be to the AI companies. He continued to say that the United States has a priority in AI development and if we are in an arms race with China, winning the AI race is important.

    “And Mr. Baldacci should be prepared to pay the price for that?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “I would suggest that if it is so easy to generate copies of Mr. Baldacci novels, that should go in the complaint in these lawsuits… we should not throw out the window the established Supreme Court precedent on how to apply ‘fair use.’”

    Video of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    Durbin then asked Maxwell Pritt, a Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, who represents plaintiffs in Kadrey v. Meta Platforms. In this case, authors, including Richard Kadrey and Sarah Silverman, sued Meta, alleging copyright infringement related to the training of Meta’s LLaMA AI model using copyrighted books. Durbin asked Mr. Pritt about Meta’s use of pirated databases to obtain copyrighted works to train its GenAI model. 

    “Did Meta compensate any of the copyright owners for the use of their works?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Pritt responded, “No, but Meta did spend money on contributing its processing power to pirate from illicit websites and also to pay Amazon to host pirated data.”

    “How does the downloading and uploading of pirated copyrighted material impact the analysis of whether a copyright infringement could meet the mens rea requirement of willfulness necessary for criminal infringement?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Pritt responded, “As to willfulness in the civil copyright context, the documents Senator Hawley showed—I think the answer is clear the piracy committed by Meta was knowing and intentional.”

    Video of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On The Way AI Interacts With Copyrights

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    July 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Too Big to Prosecute?: Examining the AI Industry’s Mass Ingestion of Copyrighted Works for AI Training.” Today’s hearing examined the way AI interacts with intellectual property rights, particularly copyrights.

    Durbin asked Edward Lee, a Law Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, about Section 230 in relation to AI.

    “You’re suggesting this is the age of innovation—deep learning deserves special treatment. We’ve been through this argument in Congress before—Section 230—[which] is a good illustration of that. We decided this fledgling industry called the internet just may not have a future [and] we better be careful, so we exempted them from liability. Is that what you’re suggesting?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “not at all,” and continued to highlight the existing Supreme Court precedent on “fair use.” AI companies argue that training their models on copyrighted works does not constitute infringement because that activity falls under the doctrine of “fair use,” which allows limited use of copyrighted works without the permission of the author for purposes such as commentary, parody, teaching, research, and news reporting. Courts determine whether use of a work is fair use on a case-by-case basis. He continued to say there is a fair balance between protecting copyrighted works, authors, and innovation.

    “It looks to me like you’re shifting the burden to the author of the creative work when there’s an assertion of ‘fair use’ here. So, Meta or others can virtually steal this creative product of Mr. Baldacci [an author witness at the hearing] and others, and then he has the responsibility of proving there’s been an economic loss to him as a result?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded that the initial burden of “fair use” is on the defendant.

    “Why do we have AI? Why are we interested in AI? Clearly it is for a commercial purpose, is it not?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “entirely, for the AI companies.”

    “So, the companies are ultimately the winners in the approach you are taking. Assume we’re in the world of new innovation here and there is a use of someone else’s creative work—the burden is on them to prove they lost money because of that piracy… they can use Mr. Baldacci’s product and make money off of it,” said Durbin.

    Professor Lee responded that if using copyrighted works like Mr. Baldacci’s is considered “fair use,” the direct benefit would be to the AI companies. He continued to say that the United States has a priority in AI development and if we are in an arms race with China, winning the AI race is important.

    “And Mr. Baldacci should be prepared to pay the price for that?” Durbin asked.

    Professor Lee responded, “I would suggest that if it is so easy to generate copies of Mr. Baldacci novels, that should go in the complaint in these lawsuits… we should not throw out the window the established Supreme Court precedent on how to apply ‘fair use.’”

    Video of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    Durbin then asked Maxwell Pritt, a Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, who represents plaintiffs in Kadrey v. Meta Platforms. In this case, authors, including Richard Kadrey and Sarah Silverman, sued Meta, alleging copyright infringement related to the training of Meta’s LLaMA AI model using copyrighted books. Durbin asked Mr. Pritt about Meta’s use of pirated databases to obtain copyrighted works to train its GenAI model. 

    “Did Meta compensate any of the copyright owners for the use of their works?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Pritt responded, “No, but Meta did spend money on contributing its processing power to pirate from illicit websites and also to pay Amazon to host pirated data.”

    “How does the downloading and uploading of pirated copyrighted material impact the analysis of whether a copyright infringement could meet the mens rea requirement of willfulness necessary for criminal infringement?” Durbin asked.

    Mr. Pritt responded, “As to willfulness in the civil copyright context, the documents Senator Hawley showed—I think the answer is clear the piracy committed by Meta was knowing and intentional.”

    Video of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Audio of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here.

    Footage of Durbin’s second round of questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seven year legal battle sees illegal shisha cafe forced to pay back nearly £400k

    Source: City of Manchester

    A cafe under investigation since 2018 for numerous breaches of planning law has been ordered to pay back nearly £400,000 following a failed appeal. 

    In September of 2018, Manchester City Council’s planning team issued an enforcement notice against 360 Cafe, in Wilmslow Road, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 

    This was because the Council believed that the premises had illegally changed its use to operate as a shisha lounge, contrary to its original planning permission. The enforcement notice stated that changes to revert the business back to its original purpose had to be completed by December 1 of 2018. 

    Over the intervening two years, between July 2019 and October 2021 the Council attempted on numerous occasions to resolve the issues with the building’s Owners – Cameolord Limited – however, on two occasions the Council, working with officers from HMRC and GMP visited the premises to seize shisha pipes, tobacco and other smoking paraphernalia. 

    In spite of frequent attempts to resolve this issue the Council was forced to take legal action. Working alongside financial investigators at Salford Council, the result was Cameolord being found guilty in absentia at a hearing held at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on March 9, 2023, for failing to comply with the enforcement notice. However, an appeal was lodged against this conviction in September of 2023. 

    But at an appeal hearing the original conviction was upheld and a date was set for sentencing and confiscation hearings, these proceedings concluded on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. 

    Sitting at Manchester Crown Court, His Honour Judge Peter Horgan found the actions of the business to have been “persistent and brazen” as it had continued to access their regular rental payments over the course of the offence period, amounting to £321,433.62. 

    Taking into account the change in the value of money over the period of offending, he concluded that the overall benefit figure from the criminal activity was £383,316.40 and ordered a Confiscation Order in that amount under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. 

    The company was also ordered to pay a fine of £35,000 for the offences and prosecution costs of £23,500 were also awarded. The Defendant was given the maximum period of 3 months to pay these sums.  

    Previously, Mohammad Bashir, 68, of Upper Park Road, Manchester and a Director of the company Cameolord Ltd, pled guilty to an offence under the Town and Planning Act 1990 in March 2023, relating to his failure to resolve the breach; he was ordered to pay a £10,000 fine as well as £1,000 in costs and a £170 victims’ surcharge. 

    Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Nearly seven years after the Council first began proceedings against this business we can finally close the book on this long-running saga. 

    “What could have been a straightforward decision to obey the law and comply with the Council’s reasonable request to comply has now cost this business dearly, with hundreds of thousands of pounds being forfeit, as well as a hefty financial penalty for the director. 

    “Planning law is in place for very good reasons. It protects our community from illegal developments and ensures that businesses cannot chop and change based on a mere whim. I would like to place on record my thanks to our planning and legal team for their hard work and determination to see justice carried out.”  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Nine people sentenced for the murder of the Catholic priest from Mandalay

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    RVA

    Mandalay (Agenzia Fides) – Nine people accused of the murder of Catholic priest Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, who was killed on February 14, 2025, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court linked to the Ministry of Justice of the National Unity Government (NUG), the government in exile that leads the Burmese opposition. The 44-year-old priest, belonging to the Archdiocese of Mandalay, was killed by gunmen on the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in the Shwe Bo district, in the Sagaing region (see Fides, 15/2/2025).According to initial investigations, the killers were part of local armed groups linked to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), the Burmese resistance forces that control the so-called “liberated zones” that have been taken away from the control of the Burmese military junta. The PDF are subordinate to the National Unity Government (NUG) in exile, which includes numerous members of the Parliament overthrown by the military junta after the February 2021 coup.Local sources have confirmed to Fides that it was the People’s Defense Forces themselves who tracked down and arrested the attackers. “In a way, the PDF themselves tried to bring the armed men to justice, who, in the current situation of widespread instability, are out of control. However, the reasons for the murder are still unclear,” our sources note. “We know that Father Donald was a man of God, a parish priest dedicated to the people, a good and sincere person who was committed, above all, to the education of children left without school due to the civil war. He had done nothing wrong,” says Father John, a priest in Mandalay. The local Catholic community is moderately satisfied with this sentence, as justice was expected, although “there are still too many unanswered questions. The family would also like more clarity and full justice,” the priest emphasizes.The ruling by the informal court linked to the NUG was possible because in the Sagaing region, affected by clashes between the Burmese army and resistance forces, the state system has collapsed, giving way to the creation of a “parallel state” by the resistance. Although there is no fully defined legal framework, courts operate in the liberated areas with district judges who hold trials based on laws enacted or amended by the army in recent years and international human rights standards. Currently, in these areas, district judges also have the authority to impose the death penalty. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 17/7/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU agencies help shut down major hacktivist group

    Source: European Union 2

    NoName057(16) has professed support for the Russian Federation since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the start of the war, it has executed multiple DDoS attacks against critical infrastructure during high-level (political) events. The group has also exhibited anti-NATO and anti-U.S. sentiment. During a DDoS attack, a website or online service is flooded with traffic, overloading its capacity and thus making it unavailable. The hacktivist group has executed 14 attacks in Germany, some of them lasting multiple days and affecting around 230 organisations including arms factories, power suppliers and government organisations. Attacks were also executed across Europe during the European elections. In Sweden, authorities and bank websites were targeted, while in Switzerland multiple attacks were carried out during a video message given by the Ukrainian President to the Joint Parliament in June 2023, and during the Peace Summit for Ukraine in June 2024. Most recently, the Netherlands was targeted during the NATO Summit at the end of June.

    To execute their attacks, the group recruited supporters through a messaging service. It is estimated that the hackers were able to mobilise around 4000 users who supported their operations by downloading malware that made it possible for them to participate in the DDoS attacks. The group also built its own botnet using hundreds of servers around the world that increased the attack load, causing more damage.

    Coordination of the many international partners was crucial for the success of the operation. Through Eurojust, authorities were able to coordinate their findings and plan an action day to target the hacktivist group. The Agency ensured that multiple European Investigation Orders and Mutual Legal Assistance processes were executed. During the action day on 15 July, Eurojust coordinated any last-minute judicial requests that were needed during the operation.

    Europol facilitated the information exchange, supported the coordination of the operational activities and provided extended operational analytical support, as well as crypto tracing and forensic support during the lent of the investigation, and coordinated the prevention and awareness raising campaign, released to unidentified yet offenders via messaging apps and social media channels. During the action day, Europol set-up a Command Post at Europol’s headquarters and made available a Virtual Command post for online connection with the in-person Command.

    The investigation culminated in an action day on 15 July where actions targeting the group took place in eight countries. Authorities were able to disrupt of over 100 servers worldwide. Searches took place in Germany, Latvia, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland and France to gather evidence for the investigation. Additionally, authorities informed the group and 1100 supporters and 17 administrators about the measures taken and the criminal liability they bear for their actions. Seven international arrest warrants have been issued. Germany issued six warrants which are directed inter alia against suspects living in the Russian Federation. Two suspects are accused of being the main instigators responsible for the activities of NoName057(16). Photos and descriptions of some of the suspects can be found on the websites of Europol and Interpol.

    The following authorities were involved in the actions:

    • Czechia: District Prosecutor’s Office of Prague 5; Police, National Counterterrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime Agency (NCTEKK)
    • Estonia: Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
    • Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Centre; Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)
    • Finland: Prosecution District of Southern Finland; National Bureau of Investigation – Cybercrime Investigation Unit
    • France: Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office – National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime (JUNALCO) ; National Cyber Unit of the Gendarmerie nationale
    • Latvia: State Police of Latvia – International Cooperation Department & Cybercrime Enforcement Department
    • Lithuania: Prosecutor General’s Office of Lithuania; Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau
    • Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands and Police of the Netherlands
    • Spain: Investigative Central Court nr. 1 Audiencia Nacional; Audiencia Nacional Prosecutor´s Offices; National Police; Guardia Civil
    • Sweden: Polisen
    • Switzerland: Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; Federal Office of Police fedpol
    • United States: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Supreme Court Greenlights Mass Layoffs at ED, New Warren Report Reveals Impact of Trump Administration’s Attacks On Public Education

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    July 17, 2025
    11 national organizations warn of dangers from dismantling the Department of Education. 
    Warren: “If President Trump succeeds in completely eliminating the Department of Education, millions of students, teachers, and families will pay the price.”
    Text of Report (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released a new 23-page report, “Education At Risk: Frontline Impacts of Trump’s War on Students,” highlighting warnings from 11 major national education and civil rights organizations on the impact of the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED), slashing support to millions of American students, primary and secondary school teachers, administrators, parents, and student loan borrowers. Since the Trump Administration took office, President Trump, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and ED Secretary Linda McMahon have:
    Eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for ED programs that serve America’s students, families, and educators. 
    Fired nearly half of the department’s employees, severely limiting its ability to support public education around the country.
    Attempted to further dismantle ED by illegally transferring core ED functions to other agencies. 
    In April 2025, Senator Warren asked leading national organizations representing teachers, parents, students, student loan borrowers, and administrators to collect firsthand accounts of the impacts of the administration’s policies. 
    Key findings of Senator Warren’s report include:
    Cuts to the Office of Federal Student Aid staff and student loan programs will limit college attendance and delay borrower access to loans and debt relief.
    According to the American Council on Education, “delayed funding, especially in the instances of student financial aid, can result in the inability of students to enroll for classes and persist through to completion in a timely fashion, causing them to take on more student loan debt to complete their degrees.”

    Dismantling the Office of Civil Rights will impede ED’s ability to ensure that students receive an education free from discrimination.
    According to the National Parents Union, this “leaves 46.413 million students in 27 states and territories without dedicated civil rights investigators in regional offices.”

    Cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences threaten the collection and dissemination of critical federal data.
    ED collects data that helps students and parents get a comprehensive evaluation of the quality and financial cost of colleges and secondary schools. Without this data, the Institute for Higher Education Policy says, “Families would be left without the only reliable federal resource to help them make informed choices about one of the most significant financial and personal decisions of their lives.”

    Plans to transfer responsibilities to other agencies are wasteful and will increase the cost and complexity of performing essential department functions that America’s students and families rely on.
    For example, the National Center for Youth Law notes that President Trump’s proposal to move special education services into the Department of Health and Human Services risks “stripping away decades of hard-won progress for students with disabilities, returning to an outdated medical model that treats disabilities as pathologies to be contained rather than differences to be accommodated.”

    The report reveals that this damage will continue to worsen if the Department of Education is further defunded and dismantled, harming over 62 million students across the country. 
    The organizations that were cited in this report include the American Council on Education (ACE), National Parents Union (NPU), National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC), Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), and the Association for Institutional Research (AIR).
    Senator Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump’s attempts to abolish the Department of Education:
    On July 15, 2025, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging her to reverse the interest hike on student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance. 
    On July 14, 2025, Senator Warren joined a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, demanding that the Department of Education stop blocking nearly $7 billion in funds for K-12 schools, including for afterschool programs.
    On July 3, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in submitting an amicus brief for NAACP v. US, arguing to the United States District Court District of Maryland that President Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education violate separation of powers and lack constitutional authority.
    On June 10, 2025, Senator Warren met with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and delivered over 1,000 letters to McMahon that the senator had received from people in all 50 states who were worried about the Secretary’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
    On June 9, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in pushing the Acting Inspector General of Department of Education to open an investigation into new information obtained by her office, revealing that DOGE may have gained access to two FSA internal systems, in addition to sensitive borrower data.
    On May 20, 2025, Senator Warren and 27 other senators pushed for full funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid.
    On May 14, 2025, Senator Warren led a Senate forum entitled “Stealing the American Dream: How Trump and Republicans Are Raising Education Costs for Families,” highlighting the consequences of Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education and President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” for working- and middle-class students and borrowers.
    On May 13, 2025, Senator Warren agreed to meet with Education Secretary Linda McMahon and promised to bring questions and stories from Americans across the country to highlight how the Trump administration’s attacks on education are hurting American families.
    On May 6, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the consequences of President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education for American families in a Senate forum.
    On April 24, 2025, Senator Warren launched a new investigation into the harms of President Trump’s attacks on the Department of Education, seeking information on the impact of the Trump administration’s actions from the members of twelve leading organizations representing schools, parents, teachers, students, borrowers, and researchers.
    On April 10, 2025, following a request led by Senator Warren, the Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General agreed to open an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.
    On April 2, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Department of Government Efficiency’s proposed plan to replace the Department of Education’s federal student aid call centers with generative artificial intelligence chatbots.
    On April 2, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America.
    On March 27, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Acting Department of Education Inspector General René Rocque requesting they conduct an investigation of the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.
    On March 20, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders led a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to slash the capacity of Federal Student Aid to handle student aid complaints.
    On February 24, 2025, in a response to Senator Warren, Secretary McMahon gave her first public admission that she “wholeheartedly” agreed with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education.
    On February 11, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim sent Linda McMahon, Secretary-Designate for the U.S. Department of Education, a 12-page letter with 65 questions on McMahon’s policy views in advance of her nomination hearing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Introduces Pensions for All Act to Guarantee Retirement Security for Every American

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, July 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today introduced the Pensions for All Act, sweeping legislation that would provide comprehensive retirement coverage to the more than 56 million working-class Americans who currently have no retirement plan through their employer.  
    “We can no longer tolerate a rigged retirement system that allows the CEOs of large corporations to receive massive golden parachutes for themselves, while denying workers a pension after a lifetime of work,” Sanders said. “If we are serious about addressing the retirement crisis in America, corporations must be required to offer all of their workers a traditional pension plan that guarantees a monthly income in retirement. And if corporations refuse to offer a decent retirement plan, their workers must be allowed to receive the same type of pension that every member of Congress receives. If we can guarantee a defined benefit pension plan for members of Congress, we can and we must provide that same level of retirement security to every worker in America.” 
    In our country today, nearly half of older workers between the ages of 55 and 64 have no retirement savings at all and no idea how they will be able to retire with any shred of dignity or respect. 
    “If Congress can provide over $1 trillion in tax breaks for the top 1% and over $900 billion in tax breaks for large corporations, please do not tell me that we cannot afford to make sure that every worker in America can retire with the dignity and the respect they deserve,” Sanders continued.
    Today, more than 22.8% of seniors in the United States live in poverty — compared to just 5.1% in Denmark, 5.8% in France, 12.6% in Germany and 14.8% in Canada. Unacceptably, nearly 22% of seniors in America are trying to survive on less than $15,000 a year while half of our nation’s elderly population makes less than $30,000 a year. 
    The Pensions for All Act would reverse this trend by requiring corporations to either: 
    Provide a traditional pension plan for their workers that is at least equivalent to the plan provided to new members of Congress under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), or
    Pay into the federal retirement system at a level that ensures all of their workers receive the same amount of retirement benefits as Members of Congress.
    Importantly, this legislation would also offer reduced contribution requirements for self-employed workers and small businesses.  
    The bill builds on Sanders’ Social Security Expansion Act, which would increase Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and fully fund the program for the next 75 years by applying the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000. Together, these bills would finally ensure retirement security for all. 
    The legislation is endorsed by United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA); Alliance for Retired Americans; Just Solutions; Equal Rights Advocates; Popular Democracy in Action; and NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice.
    “Fifty years ago, nearly 50% of American workers had a pension. Today, less than 10% do, and nearly half of older workers have no retirement savings at all. That isn’t a flaw in the system—it’s the system working exactly as the wealthy designed it. We’ve gone from being a country that promised security and dignity in old age to being a country that forces people to work until they’re in the grave. After a lifetime of hard work, every American deserves the promise of a secure, dignified retirement—not a future filled with fear, uncertainty, and poverty. Pensions have long been the bedrock of retirement for working-class people, but corporate greed has eroded that foundation. The billionaire class gutted pensions in pursuit of profit, and Washington let it happen. CEOs walk away with golden parachutes while working people walk into retirement with nothing. Meanwhile, every Member of Congress has a guaranteed pension—for life. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for the people who build this country. The retirement crisis is real, and it’s time for Congress to act. Thank you to Senator Bernie Sanders—a leader who knows which side he’s on—for standing up for the working-class,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. 
    Read the bill text here. 
    Read a summary of the bill here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –