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Category: Middle East

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 26, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 26, 2025.

    ‘Do not eat’: what’s in those little desiccant sachets and how do they work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kamil Zuber, Senior Industry Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia towfiqu ahamed/Getty Images When you buy a new electronic appliance, shoes, medicines or even some food items, you often find a small paper sachet with the warning: “silica gel, do not eat”. What exactly

    ‘I’m dreading birthing in such a system’: what Indigenous women globally think of birth care and what they’d like to see instead
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nina Sivertsen, Associate Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University Pregnancy and having a baby can be a special time. And families want to feel safe and trust their maternity care. But when we reviewed the evidence, we found many Indigenous families globally face unfair

    Iran accuses US over ‘torpedoed diplomacy’ – passes bill to halt UN nuclear watchdog cooperation
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou, I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. At least 79 killed and 391 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza over the last 24 hours, including 33 killed

    Parenthood or podium? It’s time Australian athletes had the support to choose both
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasmine Titova, PhD Candidate, CQUniversity Australia When tennis legend Serena Williams retired in 2022, she stated: If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Many

    Papua New Guinea police blame overrun system for prison breakouts
    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Police in Papua New Guinea say the country’s overrun courts and prisons are behind mass breakouts from police custody. Chief Superintendent Clement Dala made the comment after 13 detainees escaped on Tuesday in Simbu Province, including eight who were facing murder charges. Dala said an auxiliary policeman who

    Stable public housing in the first year of life boosts children’s wellbeing years down the track – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimie Monk, Research Fellow, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Phil Walter/Getty Images New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market means low-income families face big constraints on their accommodation options. This involves often accepting housing that is insecure, cold, damp or in unsuitable neighbourhoods. But little is known about

    From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to

    Yes, Victoria’s efforts to wean households off gas have been dialled back. But it’s still real progress
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University MirageC/Getty On the question of gas, Victoria’s government faces pressure from many directions. The Bass Strait wells supplying Australia’s most gas-dependent state are running dry. Gas prices shot up in 2020 and have stayed high.

    From HAL 9000 to ME3AN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to

    Remote cave discovery shows ancient voyagers brought rice across 2,300km of Pacific Ocean
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hsiao-chun Hung, Senior Research Fellow, School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University Ritidian beach, Guam. Hsiao-chun Hung In a new study published today in Science Advances, my colleagues and I have uncovered the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific Islands – at an ancient

    500,000 Australians live with mental illness but don’t qualify for the NDIS. A damning new report says they need more support
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney stellalevi/Getty Half a million Australians are living with moderate to severe mental illness, but they don’t qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cannot access the support

    ‘I’m not going to give up’: how to help more disadvantaged young people go to uni and TAFE
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucas Walsh, Professor and Director of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Monash University Oliver Rossi/ Getty Images On Wednesday, Education Minister Jason Clare hailed an increase in the numbers of Australians starting a university degree. In 2024, there was a 3.7% increase in Australian

    New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Baird, Senior Lecturer , University of Tasmania PaeGAG/Shutterstock A new financial year starts on July 1. For Australia’s large companies, that means new rules on climate-related disclosures come into force. These requirements are the culmination of years of planning to ensure companies disclose climate-related risks and

    Whose story is being told — and why? 4 questions museum visitors should ask themselves this school holidays
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato The winter school holidays will mean families across Aotearoa New Zealand will be looking for indoor activities to entertain children. With millions of visitors each year, museums focused on the country’s history will inevitably play host to

    Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends? I am the director

    Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2. The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually

    Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition

    Election flows reveal nearly 90% of Greens preferenced Labor ahead of Coalition
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Minor party preference flows for the federal election have been released, with Labor winning Greens preferences by 88.2–11.8, while the Coalition won One Nation preferences by 74.5–24.5.

    Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kit Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pollination Ecology, University of Southern Queensland Kit Prendergast (@bee.babette_performer) After a devastating bushfire, efforts to help nature recover typically focus on vertebrates and plants. Yet extreme fires can threaten insects, too. After the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, I embarked on world-first research

    Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra It looks, at least for now, as though tensions in the Middle East are easing somewhat. It appears much less likely Iran will try to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows about a fifth of

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran ratifies plan to halt cooperation with IAEA

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

    The Iranian parliament on Wednesday approved the general outlines and details of a plan to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The bill was approved at an open session of the parliament in the Iranian capital Tehran, with 221 votes in favor and one abstention, reported the ICANA news agency affiliated with Iran’s legislative body.

    According to the report, the plan requires the Iranian administration to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

    The plan stipulates that, given the violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity by Israel and the United States through attacking the country’s peaceful nuclear facilities and jeopardizing its interests, the Iranian government is duty-bound to immediately suspend any kind of cooperation with the IAEA based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement until a number of preconditions are met.

    It lists the conditions as ensuring respect for Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the security of the country’s nuclear centers and scientists within the framework of the UN Charter and the complete recognition of Iran’s inherent rights under the NPT, especially the enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil.

    Elaborating on the plan, Seyed Mohammad Nabavian, an Iranian lawmaker, said it was not focused on Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT, as the country was committed to the treaty and had announced that its nuclear activities were all peaceful, ICANA reported.

    On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, inflicting casualties and heavy damage.

    On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran on Monday struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles.

    Following Iran’s attack, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel would begin around 0400 GMT Tuesday. Both sides later confirmed the start of the ceasefire. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese envoy calls for return to political settlement of Iran nuke issue

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

    Fu Cong (C, front), China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on Iranian nuclear issue at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for the return to the track of political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

    China is of the view that there is still hope for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue as diplomatic means have not been exhausted, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council.

    It is necessary for all parties to draw lessons from the crisis, restart dialogue on an equal footing and promote the return to the track of a political settlement, he said.

    First thing first is to stop the fighting, he said, adding that China has taken note of the current developments on the ground and looks forward to the realization of a genuine ceasefire.

    “The parties concerned should take practical measures to prevent the situation from escalating again. Meanwhile, the international community must make efforts to cool down the situation and promote dialogue and negotiation,” he said.

    To balance the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he called on Iran to continue to abide by its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and all other parties to fully respect Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a state party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    Noting that China supports all efforts to relaunch negotiations, he said the Security Council should play a constructive role in assisting parties in building trust, bridging differences and creating conditions conducive to the resumption of negotiations.

    Relevant countries should abandon the practice of threatening to activate “the snapback mechanism” for sanctions against Iran at every turn as this will only aggravate tensions and confrontations and even further jeopardize diplomatic efforts, he said.

    “A proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue has a direct bearing on the authority and effectiveness of the international non-proliferation regime and is crucial to peace and stability in the Middle East,” said Fu.

    “At present, the situation in the region is at a critical and crucial juncture. China calls on all parties to act with a higher sense of urgency and responsibility to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and resume negotiations at the earliest possible date,” he said.

    As a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the Iran nuclear deal, China will continue to maintain an objective and impartial position, strengthen communication and coordination with all parties, build synergy, and uphold fairness and justice, with a view to playing a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East and promoting a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, he added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Veasey On Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran to Boost His Political Standing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Congressman Veasey On Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran to Boost His Political Standing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Veasey released the following statement regarding Trump’s decision to unilaterally launch strikes against Iran without Congressional authorization:

    “The Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war. No president — not even Donald Trump — can unilaterally launch us into a conflict to boost his political standing.

    Let me clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is a hostile regime that threatens our allies, funds terrorism, and has consistently pursued nuclear capabilities in defiance of international norms. I have no illusions about that. Tehran must never obtain a nuclear weapon — and America must be prepared to act decisively to prevent that outcome.

    But launching a major military strike without Congressional authorization, without coordination with our allies, and without a clear endgame is not leadership — it’s chaos.

    President Trump’s hair trigger foreign policy has made America weaker, not stronger. He abandoned the JCPOA with no viable replacement, gutted our diplomatic and soft power tools like USAID and Radio Farda, and left our allies in the dark. Now, with one strike, he’s escalated tensions across the region, endangered U.S. troops, and risked dragging our nation into a broader conflict — all without a plan. We need a hard line against Iranian theocracy— but it must be smart, lawful, and backed by a coalition of allies.

    I pray for the safety of the US troops stationed abroad as we learn more about the details of this strike.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. ––Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement: 

    “For decades, Iran has been the largest state sponsor of terrorism, causing chaos in the Middle East, and putting Americans and our allies in danger. For them to obtain a nuclear weapon would make peace in the Middle East unachievable and make our country and our world an unsafe place. 

    Last night, America’s armed forces carried out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. I am relieved none of our brave American service men and women were hurt.

    Like most Michiganders, I believe the last thing our country needs is to be involved in another foreign war. Any further action must receive approval from Congress. I intend to use my power as a member of Congress to ensure that this president and this administration do not continue to abuse the system of checks and balances we have in this country. I am also demanding that the Trump administration give Congress a briefing and give us intelligence rationale for this attack and ongoing threats in the region.

    We also must focus on protecting American troops and civilians in the region, and work to evacuate Americans where needed. If any Michiganders are currently in Israel or the Middle East and need help getting home, please contact our district office, who has staff standing by ready to assist.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese defense minister meets with guests attending SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting

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

    Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday held individual meetings in east China’s Qingdao city with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

    They are attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ Meeting from Wednesday to Thursday.

    Unilateralism and protectionism are surging, while hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts severely undermine the international order, making these practices the biggest sources of chaos and harm, Dong said.

    He called for efforts to enhance coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the SCO, defend international fairness and justice, and uphold global strategic stability.

    The attendees commended China’s rotating SCO presidency for enhancing institutional mechanisms and cross-sector cooperation, while expressing strong readiness to consolidate and develop military cooperation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2025 Future Close-Up global youth exchange program gets underway

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

    Young delegates from 14 countries and regions, including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Australia and Brazil, pose for a group photo with organizers of the 2025 Future Close-Up at the youth exchange program’s launch ceremony on June 24. 

    On June 24, the 2025 Future Close-Up global youth exchange and visit program kicked off at the headquarters of Chinese Internet giant Tencent in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Themed Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao: Driving High-Quality Development in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), this year’s event brings together young delegates from 14 countries and regions including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Australia and Brazil to explore innovation across the region and China’s approach to regional cooperation, and gain a deeper understanding of the forces driving the country’s high-quality development.

    Future Close-Up was collaboratively launched in 2023 by China International Communications Group (CICG) Center for the Americas (CICG Center for Americas) and Tencent’s Marketing and Public Relations Department.

    From June 23 to 30, the participants will travel to Shenzhen, Dongguan, Hengqin and Guangzhou in Guangdong, as well as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, for exchange activities.

    Members of this year’s Future Close-Up are influential figures in their fields, including entrepreneurs, scientists, scholars and opinion leaders. This edition of the program will feature a forum on urban innovation and cultural exchange in the GBA, offering international youth a platform to deepen their understanding of the region’s innovation ecosystem and facilitating mutual learning between urban cultures.

    At the launch ceremony, Zhang Jun, General Manager of Tencent’s Marketing and Public Relations Department, said he believes the event can connect people from different regions and cultural backgrounds. “With this vision in mind, we launched the Future Close-Up program, which has brought together over 100 young people from 35 countries and regions over the past three years,” Zhang added.

    “Future Close-Up has always been about opening a window for young people around the world to a more meaningful understanding of China. At the same time, their participation helps us broaden our appreciation for the diversity of global cultures,” said Tao Xing, the Future Close-Up program representative from the CICG Center for Americas, at the ceremony.

    “This year, we have invited international youth to visit the vibrant GBA. We hope you will embrace the journey with open minds, observe with curiosity, reflect on what you encounter and gain a uniquely personal experience of China,” he continued.

    The young delegates also shared their excitement and expectations for their upcoming journey.

    Torry Ko, Senior Strategy Manager for the Asia-Pacific region at Australian tech company MOLOCO, said he was especially interested in learning how leading firms like Tencent are tapping into the strengths of the GBA to fuel their rapid growth. “China’s tech industry is at the forefront globally,” he said.

    “I first came to Shenzhen 16 years ago, when I was studying in China. It’s incredible to see how much the city has changed. I am looking forward to learning more about the innovation driving China’s ongoing reform and development,” Ko added.

    Iuliia Bautdinova, a finance and communications analyst at multinational aerospace corporation Airbus from Russia, said she was drawn to Future Close-Up after hearing strong recommendations from previous participants. “My expectation is to get to know how people live here and what they do when they work with the future,” Bautdinova said. She is eager to take a closer look at the GBA’s renowned electronics and information industry and its ongoing development.

    Hugo Fontanel from France is interested in China’s digital transformation. The omnichannel lead at British multinational pharmaceutical company ViiV Healthcare expects “to learn more about the economic development of China, especially in the tech industry.” He also looks forward to meeting more international youth who share a passion for cross-cultural exchange and adventure.

    After the launch ceremony, the delegates visited Tencent’s digital exhibition hall, where they delved into the company’s innovations in AI, cloud computing and smart city technologies through immersive experiences. They also toured Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd. to explore its research and development achievements in the medical device field.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Majority Witnesses from PSI Hearing Submit Hundreds of Studies, Thousands of Citations Documenting COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    Minority witness submits 19 pro-COVID-19 vaccine citations after official hearing record closed 

    WASHINGTON – On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the official record closed for the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ hearing entitled, “The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines.” Prior to its closure, the Majority’s witnesses submitted hundreds of documents — including peer-reviewed studies — and thousands of citations about COVID-19 vaccine adverse events to accompany their testimonies. These records provide substantial support for the witnesses’ claims regarding the serious health risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccines. 

    At the Subcommittee’s May 21, 2025 hearing, Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) released a Majority staff interim report and over 2,400 pages of records detailing the failure of Biden health officials to properly warn the public of the risks of myocarditis and related heart inflammation conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The hearing featured testimony from Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Jordan Vaughn, Dr. James Thorp, Dr. Joel Wallskog, and Mr. Aaron Siri, all of whom were invited by Chairman Johnson to speak about COVID-19 vaccine adverse events.

    “Any of you who have cited some study or some opinion back it up, and we’ll include it in the hearing record. We’ll have this hearing record [] stay open for 15 days. So, I’m really encouraging people, send me that science,” Chairman Johnson stated to all witnesses at the hearing.

    Later, Chairman Johnson told Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Minority’s witness at the hearing, “I’m begging you, please provide the studies, the citations that prove that the injection actually reduced severity of symptoms, prevented deaths. Give us those studies, so we can throw those into the hearing record and compare them to other studies[.]” Governor Green responded, “It will not be difficult, Senator, there’s so many.”

    In addition to the 33 pages Governor Green enclosed in his written statement for the hearing, Governor Green submitted 19 links to studies and articles to support his claims about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. The governor’s submission to the record was made one week after the hearing record officially closed.   

    Chairman Johnson allowed Governor Green’s late submission to be included in the official record so that the public can compare the evidence that the governor presented in support of the COVID-19 vaccines to the multitude of documentation indicating the clear health risks associated with the injections.

    Documents and citations that the Majority’s witnesses entered into the record can be viewed here. Governor Green’s submission to the record can be viewed here.

    A video showing Chairman Johnson asking witnesses for citations can be viewed here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES NAMES 50 GLOBAL FINALISTS IN 2025 MAYORS CHALLENGE Including Lower Hutt

    Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies

    Finalists from 33 countries will receive $50,000 and support to test breakthrough ideas for improving life in cities – In January 2026, 25 winning cities will receive $1 million each to bring their idea to life.

    New York, NY – (June 25, 2025) – Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the 50 finalists of its latest Mayors Challenge, a competition to spur local government innovation that improves lives in cities around the world. The sixth Challenge elevates municipalities that have proposed the boldest ideas to bolster essential municipal services.

    From Boise to Belfast, Ansan to Addis Ababa, Toronto to Taipei, the 50 finalists, selected from more than 630 applications, hail from 33 countries and represent over 80 million residents. Their ideas aim to increase public transit ridership, lower household energy costs, expand urban green space, speed service response, strengthen sanitation, improve youth safety, safeguard water supply, and more.

    Each finalist city will receive $50,000 to prototype their idea. They will also participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Ideas Camp in July to hone and test their concepts with feedback from experts and fellow peers. In January 2026, the 25 city halls with the most promising ideas will each be awarded $1 million and operational assistance to bring their proposals to life.

    “Local government is where people meet policy—and where government improves lives and builds trust,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “That’s why municipal innovation isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about solving hard problems under pressure, often with imperfect tools and finite resources. These Mayors Challenge finalists stand out because they’re not just thinking creatively—they’re designing solutions that reckon with the complexity of implementation and the urgency of their residents’ needs. Their proposals reflect a new standard for public sector achievement: ambitious, yes, but also grounded, disciplined, and ripe for real impact.”

    The 630 ideas submitted to the Mayors Challenge reflect some of the greatest public service challenges facing cities today—as well as the creativity that animates local governments across the globe. A third of U.S. and Canada applicants, for example, devised solutions addressing housing and shelter. Nearly half of the applicants from Africa proposed upgrades to waste collection and management. One out of five applicants from the Asia-Pacific region focused on cleaner water, air, and infrastructure, and 22 percent of European applicants sought ways to reduce poverty or enhance social inclusion.

    The 50 finalist ideas were selected for their originality, potential for impact, and credible vision for delivery. Artificial intelligence was featured in the plans of a number of finalists, including South Bend, Indiana, which envisioned a cutting-edge 311 system that anticipates complaints for non-emergency issues, such as potholes, allowing officials to address problems before a resident report. More analog innovations also rose to the top: In Yonkers, New York, city officials proposed a powerful new hyper-local civic brigade to help older neighbors age happily and healthfully in place.

    The 50 finalist cities are:

    • Abha, Saudi Arabia
    • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    • Ansan, South Korea
    • As-Salt, Jordan
    • Barcelona, Spain
    • Beaverton, U.S
    • Beira, Mozambique
    • Belfast, United Kingdom
    • Benin City, Nigeria
    • Boise, U.S.
    • Boston, U.S.
    • Budapest, Hungary
    • Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
    • Cape Town, South Africa
    • Cartagena, Colombia
    • Cauayan, Philippines
    • Choma, Zambia
    • Cuenca, Ecuador
    • Detroit, U.S.
    • Fez, Morocco
    • Fukuoka, Japan
    • Ghaziabad, India
    • Ghent, Belgium
    • Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, India
    • Helsinki, Finland
    • Honolulu, U.S.
    • Kanifing, Gambia
    • Kyiv, Ukraine
    • Lafayette, U.S.
    • Lower Hutt, New Zealand
    • Maceió, Brazil
    • Marseille, France
    • Medellín, Colombia
    • Mexico City, Mexico
    • Naga, Philippines
    • Ndola, Zambia
    • Netanya, Israel
    • Nouakchott, Mauritania
    • Pasig, Philippines
    • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • San Francisco, U.S.
    • Seattle, U.S.
    • Seoul, South Korea
    • Sialkot, Pakistan
    • South Bend, U.S.
    • Surabaya, Indonesia
    • Taipei, Taiwan
    • Toronto, Canada
    • Turku, Finland
    • Yonkers, U.S.

    In this round of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, more funding will be distributed and more cities will be assisted than in the previous five Challenges which each selected between five to 15 winners. 

    “Local government and mayors’ offices are the beating heart of innovation and change in our urban environments,” said Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, Founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute and 2025 Mayors Challenge advisory committee member. “It has been an honour to join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ advisory committee for the organization’s sixth Mayors Challenge, an initiative dedicated to empowering and supporting city makers around the world. I look forward to working with these 50 finalists as they advance in this extraordinary competition—strengthening their ideas which each represent the inventiveness citizens everywhere should expect from their governments—and the future of what municipal delivery has the power and potential to be.”

    “For more than a decade, Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided unprecedented support to drive local government innovation in cities across the country and around the world,” said Admiral Michael G. Mullen, President & CEO of MGM Consulting and 2025 Mayors Challenge advisory committee member. “The organization’s sixth Mayors Challenge will invest in the future of urban delivery from the ground floor of communities—and I am thrilled to join its advisory committee and work with these finalist cities on accelerating their ideas – from safeguarding water supply to carving out community spaces to integrating AI to improve student routes, and more.”

    The new Mayors Challenge builds on more than 10 years of work led by Bloomberg Philanthropies to discover, nurture, and drive innovation in cities. The awards to date across five previous rounds of competition have provided 38 winning cities with funding and technical assistance to realize their ideas for addressing civic issues. By supporting the replication of the most successful winning ideas, Bloomberg Philanthropies has expanded the impact of the Mayors Challenge to 337 other cities globally, reaching over 100 million residents around the world.

    “Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided invaluable support for cities to develop and implement innovative solutions that improve the lives of residents in ways they can feel,” said Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, Michigan. “Detroit is honored to be among the 50 municipalities selected from over 630 applications for the organization’s Mayors Challenge. As a finalist, we will work with renowned experts and peers to advance our proposal to create a powerful, single entry that connects currently scattered information – such as inspection dates, taxes, and utilities – on all 400,000 Detroit properties to revolutionize how owners can access this vital information, as well as how our city plans and provides its most essential services.”

    “Seoul is honored to be selected as one of the 50 finalists for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge competition,” said Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul, South Korea. “As a finalist, we will further our proposal to launch powerful educational campaigns and new support systems that will protect youth safety and prevent online child exploitation through the development of an AI-based mobile app that detects risks and alerts parents – while working alongside other cities to set a new standard for the future of urban policy.”

    “City halls deliver the most fundamental public services—from reliable public transport to affordable housing, clean water, sustainable environments, emergency response, and more,” said Mayor Gergely Karácsony of Budapest, Hungary. “Recognizing their potential and reach, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge rewards and equips those with the most inventive ideas to lead transformations of the essential programs their communities rely on. We are honored that Budapest is one of the 50 finalists selected to further our idea to build a city-run food processing plant that can turn surplus fruits and vegetables from local markets into nutritious meals for schools and senior homes.”

    “It is an honor to be selected as a finalist for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge,” said Mayor Sunita Dayal of Ghaziabad, India. “As we pursue our idea to improve our environment alongside bolstering our workforce – converting organic waste into white rooftop paint and compost to cool homes, green parks, and lower emissions while providing new job opportunities – we have a unique opportunity to incubate innovation that will move our communities forward.” 

    “Thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies for seeing our vision to improve the quality of life for seniors across our city,” said Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers, New York. “We are honored to be among 50 finalists selected for the prestigious global Mayors Challenge competition. As a finalist, we will look to create a fully sustainable model for community engagement – marshaling public and private partners as well as residents and students – coupled with innovative technology and tools to enable many more to age safely and gracefully in place.” 

    With the expansion of the Bloomberg Cities Idea Exchange, future Mayors Challenge-winning ideas and other locally led solutions supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies will have new potential to scale—serving as models and catalysts for how governments solve problems across the globe. 

    To learn more about the 50 finalist proposals, visit mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org

    About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
    Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org,

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says US to hold talks with Iran next week

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

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will hold talks with Iran next week.

    “We’re going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement,” Trump said during a press conference in The Hague following the NATO summit.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel is going “very good.”

    “I think it’s (going) very good. Israel came back yesterday,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague, referring to his Tuesday warning to Israel to halt airstrikes on Iran.

    On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, inflicting casualties and heavy damage.

    On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran on Monday attacked the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles.

    Following Iran’s attack, Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel would begin around 0400 GMT on Tuesday. Both sides later confirmed the start of the ceasefire.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Iran accuses US over ‘torpedoed diplomacy’ – passes bill to halt UN nuclear watchdog cooperation

    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem

    Kia ora koutou,

    I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground.

    At least 79 killed and 391 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza over the last 24 hours, including 33 killed and 267 injured while seeking aid at the US-Israel “humanitarian” centres.

    *

    Three killed and 7 injured by settler pogrom on the town of Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah; setting fire to houses and cars, and protected by soldiers. Israeli forces shot and killed 15-year-old Rayan Houshia west of Jenin as they retreated from resistance fighters, after using a civilian home as military barracks; also invading several towns across the West Bank, firing teargas into al-Fawar refugee camp south of Hebron, sound-bombs near the Jenin Grand Mosque in the north, and arresting several Palestinians.

    Al Quds/Jerusalem’s old city faced low visitor numbers even after restrictions were lifted by the Israeli occupation. Jerusalem Governate reported 623 homes and facilities demolished by Israel since October 2023.

    *

    Palestinian political prisoner Amar Yasser Al-Amour was released after 2.5 years without charge or trial in Israeli prisons. Thousands remain detained illegally in this way. Another freed prisoner Fares Bassam Hanani mourned his mother who passed away while he was imprisoned. Mohammad al-Ghushi, also freed, was taken to hospital to have his kidney removed due to torture and medical neglect he faced in Israeli prisons.

    *

    The unexpected ceasefire between Israel, America, and Iran appears to be holding for now. Iranian officials say the US “torpedoed diplomacy” and have passed a bill to halt cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA.

    Cole Martin is an independent New Zealand photojournalist based in the Middle East and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market Valued at USD 33.45 Billion in 2024, Set to Grow at 4.59% CAGR Through 2032 | AnalystView Market Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, USA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Electronic Health Records (EHR) market was valued at USD 33,451.20 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.59% from 2025 to 2032. This growth is driven by the global shift toward digital healthcare infrastructure, government mandates for record standardization, and the rising demand for efficient patient data management across hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory care centers. EHR systems are digital versions of a patient’s paper chart, offering real-time, patient-centered records that make information instantly and securely available to authorized users. They are critical for improving coordination between care providers, minimizing medical errors, and enhancing overall clinical outcomes.

    Government initiatives worldwide are playing a key role in promoting EHR adoption. Programs such as the U.S. HITECH Act, the EU’s digital health transformation goals, and India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission are pushing healthcare providers toward digitization. At the same time, the rise of value-based care, telehealth, and mobile health applications has increased the need for interoperable and cloud-based EHR systems. The market is witnessing significant technological advancements, including integration with AI, predictive analytics, and mobile platforms, which enable better clinical decision-making and patient engagement. However, challenges such as high implementation costs, data privacy concerns, and interoperability issues between different systems remain key hurdles, particularly in emerging markets.

    North America dominates the global EHR market, backed by strong digital infrastructure and initiatives like the U.S. HITECH Act, which allocated over $35 billion to promote EHR adoption. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region, fueled by rising healthcare investments—India’s health budget rose 13% in 2023—and national digitization drives like China’s “Healthy China 2030.” Supportive policies, growing urbanization, and expanding patient volumes are accelerating EHR integration across the region, attracting global players and investors alike.

    Unlock in-depth insights and forecasts – Get your FREE sample report of the EHR market today: https://analystviewmarketinsights.com/request_sample/AV4020

    Key Players- Detailed Competitive Insights

    • Cerner Corporation
    • GE Healthcare
    • Veradigm LLC
    • Epic Systems Corporation
    • eClinicalWorks
    • Greenway Health, LLC
    • NextGen Healthcare, Inc.
    • Medical Information Technology, Inc.
    • CPSI
    • AdvancedMD, Inc.
    • Allscripts Healthcare Solutions
    • MEDHOST
    • Athenahealth
    • McKesson Corporation
    • Siemens Healthineers
    • Oracle Corporation

    Market Dynamics

    Drivers

    1. Government Mandates and Incentives: Many countries are accelerating Electronic Health Records (EHR) adoption through targeted policies. In the U.S., CMS’s Promoting Interoperability Program ties Medicare reimbursements to EHR usage. Germany’s Hospital Future Act allocated €4.3 billion for digital upgrades, while Australia’s My Health Record achieved over 90% population coverage. India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to create a unified health ID system, promoting seamless data exchange. These initiatives are driving global healthcare digitalization and fostering integrated patient care systems.
    2. Rising Demand for Streamlined Healthcare Delivery: For example, Mayo Clinic uses integrated EHRs to reduce duplication, streamline workflows, and access real-time patient data—cutting documentation time and improving care coordination across departments and specialties. 
    3. Growth in Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: The global shift toward telemedicine post-COVID-19 has increased the need for centralized digital records that can be accessed remotely. This trend is pushing both public and private healthcare providers to invest in cloud-based and interoperable EHR systems.
    4. Data-Driven Decision Making in Healthcare: As data becomes a core asset in personalized medicine and value-based care models, EHRs serve as critical repositories of patient history, lab reports, medications, and imaging data.

    Challenges

    • High Implementation and Maintenance Costs: The cost of deploying EHR software, training staff, and maintaining IT infrastructure can be prohibitive for small healthcare facilities, especially in developing nations.
    • Interoperability and Data Security Concerns: Although EHRs are designed to improve information sharing, achieving true interoperability across different systems remains a challenge. Moreover, the sensitive nature of health data makes security and compliance with data protection regulations (like HIPAA and GDPR) a critical issue.

    Opportunities

    • Integration with AI and analytics in EHRs enables predictive insights—such as Mount Sinai Hospital using AI models within EHRs to identify sepsis risk early, improving response time and patient outcomes. This innovation is driving demand for intelligent, data-driven systems.
    • Mobile and Cloud-Based EHRs: The adoption of mobile health apps and cloud platforms enables real-time access to health data, especially beneficial in rural and underserved regions.

    Regional Insights

    North America

    North America holds 42.50% of the global EHR market, driven by the U.S.’s early adoption and digital health funding. Epic Systems powers major hospital networks like Kaiser Permanente, while Canada’s Infoway initiative accelerates EHR integration, ensuring secure, interoperable data across provinces.

    Europe

    Europe is a mature yet fragmented market for EHRs. Countries like Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands are progressing well in EHR integration, while others lag due to privacy concerns and inconsistent digital policies. The EU’s push toward unified health records under the European Health Data Space initiative could streamline EHR adoption across member states.

    Asia-Pacific

    The Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Rapid urbanization, increased healthcare spending, and the digitalization efforts in countries like India, China, and Australia are major contributors. Government-backed programs such as India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and China’s Smart Healthcare initiative are significantly driving EHR deployment.

    Latin America & Middle East

    Both regions are gradually embracing EHR systems. Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have initiated digital health reforms. However, budget constraints and a lack of infrastructure remain key barriers. International partnerships and private investments are expected to unlock growth potential in these markets.

    TABLE OF CONTENT

    1. Electronic Health Records Market Overview
    1.1. Study Scope
    1.2. Market Estimation Years
    2. Executive Summary
    2.1. Market Snippet
    2.1.1. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet By Product
    2.1.2. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet By Type
    2.1.3. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet By Business Model
    2.1.4. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet By Application
    2.1.5. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet By End Use
    2.1.6. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet by Country
    2.1.7. Electronic Health Records Market Snippet by Region
    2.2. Competitive Insights
    3. Electronic Health Records Key Market Trends
    3.1. Electronic Health Records Market Drivers
    3.1.1. Impact Analysis of Market Drivers
    3.2. Electronic Health Records Market Restraints
    3.2.1. Impact Analysis of Market Restraints
    3.3. Electronic Health Records Market Opportunities
    3.4. Electronic Health Records Market Future Trends
    4. Electronic Health Records Industry Study
    4.1. PEST Analysis
    4.2. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    4.3. Growth Prospect Mapping
    4.4. Regulatory Framework Analysis
    5. Electronic Health Records Market: Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions
    5.1. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
    5.2. Impact of Russia-Ukraine War
    5.3. Impact of Middle East Conflicts
    6. Electronic Health Records Market Landscape
    6.1. Electronic Health Records Market Share Analysis, 2024
    6.2. Breakdown Data, by Key Manufacturer
    6.2.1. Established Players’ Analysis
    6.2.2. Emerging Players’ Analysis
    7. Electronic Health Records Market – By Product
    7.1. Overview
    7.1.1. Segment Share Analysis, By Product, 2024 & 2032 (%)
    7.1.2. On-premises
    7.1.3. Web & Cloud-Based EHR
    8. Electronic Health Records Market – By Type
    8.1. Overview
    8.1.1. Segment Share Analysis, By Type, 2024 & 2032 (%)
    8.1.2. Acute
    8.1.3. Outpatient
    8.1.4. Post Acute
    9. Electronic Health Records Market – By Business Model
    9.1. Overview
    9.1.1. Segment Share Analysis, By Business Model, 2024 & 2032 (%)
    9.1.2. Licensed Software
    9.1.3. Technology Resale
    9.1.4. Subscriptions
    9.1.5. Professional Services
    9.1.6. Others
    10. Electronic Health Records Market – By Application
    10.1. Overview
    10.1.1. Segment Share Analysis, By Application, 2024 & 2032 (%)
    10.1.2. Cardiology
    10.1.3. Neurology
    10.1.4. Radiology ………

    Reasons to Invest in the EHR Market

    1. Essential Role in Modern Healthcare Systems
      EHRs are no longer optional but a fundamental part of modern healthcare. As hospitals strive to improve patient care, safety, and efficiency, EHRs serve as a backbone for digital health ecosystems.
    2. Regulatory Push and Compliance Standards
      Investment in compliant EHR systems helps healthcare providers align with stringent data protection laws while avoiding penalties and securing patient trust.
    3. Increasing Healthcare Expenditure
      Globally, healthcare budgets are expanding. A significant portion is being directed toward digital infrastructure, making EHR vendors prime beneficiaries of government and institutional funding.
    4. Rising Adoption of Cloud and AI Technologies
      EHR vendors integrating cloud capabilities and AI features offer enhanced scalability, analytics, and patient engagement. These smart EHRs are more future-proof and attractive to investors.
    5. Long-Term Cost Benefits for Healthcare Providers
      Despite initial costs, EHR systems lead to long-term savings by reducing administrative workload, avoiding duplication of tests, and minimizing errors.

    Future Outlook

    The Electronic Health Records (EHR) market is poised for a tech-driven evolution, with AI integration, cloud-based platforms, and interoperability leading the way. By 2032, real-time data exchange, as seen in the U.K.’s NHS Federated Data Platform and India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, will become standard.

    Growing cybersecurity investments and patient-centric innovations are redefining EHR functionality. With global healthcare systems embracing value-based care, the market is set for intelligent, adaptive, and patient-connected growth worldwide.

    Discover the Full Study : https://analystviewmarketinsights.com/reports/report-highlight-electronic-health-records-market

    Explore More Research Titles in the Healthcare Category by AnalystView Market Insights:

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden statement on bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today released the following statement regarding the United States’ bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday and Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the Middle East today:

    “Iran is governed by a regime that is hostile to the United States and allied with others that seek the destruction of America. They sponsor terrorist organizations that have killed American troops and citizens and are a source of chaos and bloodshed in the region. The IAEA determined the regime had been dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. Based on what I know so far, I believe the president was right to launch limited strikes to deter that outcome.

    “It is important now that the country learns what information helped inform the president’s decision and the timing of these strikes, and that we learn more about whether we were successful in destroying Iran’s nuclear program. I look forward to Congress receiving a full briefing. But what matters most now is what happens next: Just today, Iran launched missiles at American bases in Iraq and Qatar. The top priority for the president and his administration, as well as for Congress, must be to use every tool at our disposal to defend Americans and deter further escalation by Tehran.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville Joins Colleagues in Press Conference on the Golden Dome

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    “We send billions of dollars overseas, and it’s past time that we make an investment in our national security.”

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) for a press conference to speak on the importance of developing the Golden Dome for America’s national security. He emphasized the need to invest in securing our airspace and ensure the U.S. is constantly on the cutting edge of defense technology. Sen. Tuberville also highlighted the capabilities of Redstone Arsenal and various defense companies in Huntsville, Alabama, as major leaders in the future development of the Golden Dome.

    Sens. Tuberville and Sullivan were joined by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT). Representative Mark Messmer (R-IN-08) also joined the press conference. 

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

    Vision and leadership. We couldn’t do that— this project—without President Trump. I don’t think anybody else you put in this situation would even have the tenacity to step up and do something like this. But, you know, the world has been amazed at the effectiveness of the Iron Dome [in Israel].


    They’ve been able to shoot down 90% of incoming threats. Think about that—90%—incredible. President Trump is exactly right. There is no reason why we shouldn’t have the same technology right here at home. This is a dangerous world, and it’s getting more dangerous every day. People made fun of President Reagan with his Star Wars program. And it was amazing. They laughed at him. They said it wouldn’t work. But he understood the growing danger that the American people really didn’t know. But now we’re all finding out. No other president since has been bold enough […] to step up and say, ‘we’ve got to have something to protect this country,’ and     thank God for President Trump.


    Now that the president is forcing our NATO partners to start paying their own share, we can focus on our own defense, and it’s about time. We need to do that. We can’t count on anybody else. It’s gonna have to be us, and the American taxpayers, and our military.


    We send billions of dollars overseas, and it’s past time that we make an investment in our national security. Thanks to President Trump, peace through strength is back. You know, the Senate is proposing nearly $2    5 billion dollars in a reconciliation package as a down payment to begin construction on this massive project, $25 billion. That’s just as I said—a down payment.


    That’s why getting the President’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed is critical for national security. Countries like Iran are openly chanting ‘Death to America,’ and we have to be able to protect ourselves. You know, there’s no better place to help design this and build and operate than in my home     state—Redstone Arsenal [in] Huntsville, Alabama.


    And let me tell you something. It is probably the best kept secret in this country. […    ] For more than 80 years, Redstone Arsenal has been leading the way in space, cybersecurity, and national defense. Huntsville’s talent, facilities, and resources are second to none all over the world. According to Forbes, Huntsville has the most engineers per capita in the world. That’s why you see more and more agencies expanding their footprint in Huntsville and the surrounding area—including: Missile Defense Agency, NASA, FBI, Missile and Space Intelligence Center, Defense Intelligence Agency, [and] the Army’s Material Command. Huntsville is also home to more than 500 defense contractors: Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance. We will be big in building a lot of this Golden Dome. Huntsville helped put the first person on the moon. What a better place to help begin the origination of Golden Dome than Huntsville, Alabama. 

    So, thanks to President Trump, American dominance and deterrence his back. The Big Beautiful Bill is a down payment on the Golden Dome. It will help make sure America remains the strongest, most secure nation in the world. The Golden Dome Act will advance our security even further with critical investment in emerging technologies, many of which will be developed in my home state of Alabama. Thank you very much.”

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact check: Claims swirling on California gas prices

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jun 25, 2025

    What you need to know: There are many disingenuous claims swirling about California gas prices “set to soar” – the truth is that gas prices won’t come anywhere close to increasing by 65 cents, as many would have you believe.  

    SACRAMENTO – California gas prices are 20 cents lower than one month ago and 17 cents lower than one year ago – despite a swirl of misinformation drawing attention to current prices.

    According to a 2024 report, thanks to major improvements in fuel efficiency, California drivers rank 45th in the nation for gasoline consumption and 21st in spending on gasoline per capita. Trump’s tariffs and policies impacting the price of crude oil stand to swing gas prices far more than any state policy. 

    Driven by misinformation pushed by Republican lawmakers and the oil industry, there remains a lot of speculation about California gas prices. Here are the facts.

    CLAIM: California gas prices will go up by 65 cents or higher on July 1. 

    FALSE. There are two separate changes to fuel prices expected on or around July 1 – a legislatively mandated and voter-approved gas tax increase of 1.6 cents and updated fuel standards that could, according to experts, translate to 5 to 8 cents. 

    • Gas tax: California’s gasoline tax will increase by 1.6 cents per gallon, starting July 1, as required by law. This annual inflation increase was enacted by the Legislature in 2017 to help pay for road repairs – and overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018 when they rejected a repeal attempt. 
    • Fuel standard: Additionally, changes to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) – which is not a tax – have been requested to go into effect on July 1. Experts at UC Davis estimate this program, first established by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, could add between 5 and 8 cents per gallon – well below one extreme projection that showed 65 cents. In the long term, LCFS is estimated to reduce fuel costs for Californians per mile by 42% – translating to savings of over $20 billion in gasoline costs every year by 2045. Studies also show that LCFS credit prices have no correlation with gasoline prices.

    CLAIM: Gas prices could top $8 a gallon by next year.  

    FALSE. That number – widely reported in the media – comes from an unscientific analysis whose author has close ties with the oil industry and has been on the payroll of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The author fails to provide evidence to support his main claim and only relies on vague references to models with no details on what those models are based on. Other experts, such as these Stanford economists, say gas price increases based on recent refinery announcements are likely to be negligible. 

    Correcting the record

    Republican lawmakers in Congress recently echoed false claims about California gas prices in a letter. Here’s what they got wrong. (View full-size here.)

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced $135 million is available for wildfire prevention grants – protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire at the same time as President Trump adds new strain to firefighting resources. SACRAMENTO – As President…

    Jun 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of California Jobs First, the state is awarding $15 million through the Regional Investment Initiative to support California Native American tribal partners in creating jobs and developing high-paying and fulfilling careers….

    Jun 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: The First Partner launched her annual Book Club today, which features great kids’ reads curated by librarians across California, as well as investments to support library community programming. SACRAMENTO – California First Partner Jennifer…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member McCollum Statement on Unconstitutional Bombing of Iranian Nuclear Sites

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

    SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after President Trump’s unauthorized bombing of three Iranian Nuclear sites: 

    “I am shocked that President Trump made the decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran without authorization from Congress. I believe the President’s action to be unconstitutional because Iran did not pose an immediate or direct threat to the United States. The President publicly stated that there was a two-week window for diplomacy. It appears the President had no intention of honoring that public timeline. This decision by President Trump has now put U.S. forces in the region at grave risk of retaliation by Iran and its proxies. At the very least, the President owes an immediate explanation to the American people for why he has taken direct military action against Iran absent Congressional authorization.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vice Ranking Member Amo Statement on Stopping Trump from Marching America into War

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Amo declares Presidents do not get a blank check to engage in endless foreign conflicts.

    “Our Constitution says that only Congress has the authority to declare war. Presidents do not get a blank check to engage in endless foreign conflicts. Urgent, sustained diplomacy is needed to achieve our strategic goals of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and securing peace in the region.

    Unfortunately, President Trump has accelerated the entry of America into another disastrous war — by his own description — in the Middle East. His unilateral strikes against Iran, escalatory rhetoric, and erratic promises put American troops at risk and civilians in grave danger. Trump acted without a clear plan and has offered shifting rationales, objectives, and assessments of the outcomes of his decisions. 

    I’m joining a bipartisan coalition in the House seeking to enforce the War Powers Act, to reassert Congressional authority, uphold the Constitution, and stop Trump from marching America into another war based on falsehoods and unverifiable claims. Anything less endangers the lives of our brave, selfless troops and Americans across the world.”

    Vice Ranking Member Amo is a Co-Sponsor on H.Con.Res.40 and H.Con.Res.38.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vice Ranking Member Amo Statement on Stopping Trump from Marching America into War

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Amo declares Presidents do not get a blank check to engage in endless foreign conflicts.

    “Our Constitution says that only Congress has the authority to declare war. Presidents do not get a blank check to engage in endless foreign conflicts. Urgent, sustained diplomacy is needed to achieve our strategic goals of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and securing peace in the region.

    Unfortunately, President Trump has accelerated the entry of America into another disastrous war — by his own description — in the Middle East. His unilateral strikes against Iran, escalatory rhetoric, and erratic promises put American troops at risk and civilians in grave danger. Trump acted without a clear plan and has offered shifting rationales, objectives, and assessments of the outcomes of his decisions. 

    I’m joining a bipartisan coalition in the House seeking to enforce the War Powers Act, to reassert Congressional authority, uphold the Constitution, and stop Trump from marching America into another war based on falsehoods and unverifiable claims. Anything less endangers the lives of our brave, selfless troops and Americans across the world.”

    Vice Ranking Member Amo is a Co-Sponsor on H.Con.Res.40 and H.Con.Res.38.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell On U.S. Hard and Soft Power at Senate Appropriations Hearing w/ OMB Director Vought

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, participated in today’s full committee hearing where he questioned Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought about spending on defense and foreign assistance: 

    “I’ll start by associating myself with the comments Chair Collins made about the importance of American soft power:

    “Interestingly enough, over my years in the Senate, the biggest supporters of soft power I have run into have been the military – generals – who are fully aware of how much more costly it is to have a war than to prevent one. And it’s at a very low cost to our country, built some pretty good relationships, particularly in countries in the Middle East that certainly wouldn’t be described as democratic.

    “Reforming the way we invest in peace and stability is certainly worthwhile. And there’s plenty of absolute nonsense masquerading as American aid that shouldn’t receive another bit of taxpayer funding.

    “But the Administration’s attempt to root it out has been unnecessarily chaotic. In critical corners of the globe, instead of creating efficiencies, you’ve created vacuums for adversaries like China to fill.

    “Responsible investments in soft power prevent conflict, preserve American influence, and save countless lives at the same time for pennies on the dollar.

    “So if we’re concerned about spending and we should be, it’s important to remember what wars cost. At the height of world war II, 37% of our GDP was spent on defense. In Korea, 13%. In Vietnam 9%. The Reagan buildup, only 6%. Obviously peace through strength means more than just saying it. It means actually demonstrating it.

    “So, that’s just a fact: that soft power at very little expense goes a long way.

    “And tellingly, some of the folks who talk most open about the importance of soft power, as I just indicated, are the military as they know exactly what I’ve already said about the cost of already having one.

    “I welcomed the President’s intention to restore American hard power. His repeated commitments to strengthen the military signaled that he understood this, like President Reagan, that peace through strength really has to be more than a slogan.

    “Likewise, his authorization of this weekend’s strikes, over the objections of isolationists who downplay the threat of a nuclear Iran, was another indication in the right direction.

    “But the Administration’s approach to funding the Department of Defense calls into question the ability to keep those campaign promises:

    “A continuing resolution that forces the Department to meet today’s requirements with yesterday’s dollars…

    “A base budget request that fails to keep pace with inflation, let alone with the “pacing threat” of China…

    “And a reconciliation lump-sum crowded with priorities that require stable, annual appropriations.

    “Our colleague, Chairman Wicker, and his House counterpart had hoped that reconciliation would be a one-time injection on top of a growing base budget, not a shell-game to avoid making the sort of annual investments we begged your Democratic predecessors to make.

    “I share this concern: we need sustained annual growth to meet the growing threats facing our country. 

    “At your confirmation hearing earlier this year, you said “we have to use taxpayer dollars wisely.”

    “I couldn’t agree more. I want to get the most out of every dollar the Department of Defense requires to keep America safe and advance our global interests.

    “But providing for the common defense is our most fundamental obligation.

    “Dividing funding for major existing bipartisan priorities between base budget and reconciliation isn’t just counterintuitive – it’s actually counterproductive.

    “And asking Congress to fund a budget that defines our strategy, rather than using strategy to define the budget, is dangerous.

    “So help me understand a few things:

    “Why haven’t we received the Administration’s analysis of the future year impacts of major reconciliation in investments like Golden Dome?

    “How do you propose to pay for them without significant increases to future base budgets?

    “Why has the Administration taken programs with broad and longstanding bipartisan support, like the Virginia-class submarines, and put them in a partisan reconciliation bill?

    “Finally, do you even believe we need sustained growth above inflation in our defense budget?

    “Or should we expect annual cuts from this Administration like we got from the Biden Administration?”

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell On U.S. Hard and Soft Power at Senate Appropriations Hearing w/ OMB Director Vought

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, participated in today’s full committee hearing where he questioned Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russell Vought about spending on defense and foreign assistance: 

    “I’ll start by associating myself with the comments Chair Collins made about the importance of American soft power:

    “Interestingly enough, over my years in the Senate, the biggest supporters of soft power I have run into have been the military – generals – who are fully aware of how much more costly it is to have a war than to prevent one. And it’s at a very low cost to our country, built some pretty good relationships, particularly in countries in the Middle East that certainly wouldn’t be described as democratic.

    “Reforming the way we invest in peace and stability is certainly worthwhile. And there’s plenty of absolute nonsense masquerading as American aid that shouldn’t receive another bit of taxpayer funding.

    “But the Administration’s attempt to root it out has been unnecessarily chaotic. In critical corners of the globe, instead of creating efficiencies, you’ve created vacuums for adversaries like China to fill.

    “Responsible investments in soft power prevent conflict, preserve American influence, and save countless lives at the same time for pennies on the dollar.

    “So if we’re concerned about spending and we should be, it’s important to remember what wars cost. At the height of world war II, 37% of our GDP was spent on defense. In Korea, 13%. In Vietnam 9%. The Reagan buildup, only 6%. Obviously peace through strength means more than just saying it. It means actually demonstrating it.

    “So, that’s just a fact: that soft power at very little expense goes a long way.

    “And tellingly, some of the folks who talk most open about the importance of soft power, as I just indicated, are the military as they know exactly what I’ve already said about the cost of already having one.

    “I welcomed the President’s intention to restore American hard power. His repeated commitments to strengthen the military signaled that he understood this, like President Reagan, that peace through strength really has to be more than a slogan.

    “Likewise, his authorization of this weekend’s strikes, over the objections of isolationists who downplay the threat of a nuclear Iran, was another indication in the right direction.

    “But the Administration’s approach to funding the Department of Defense calls into question the ability to keep those campaign promises:

    “A continuing resolution that forces the Department to meet today’s requirements with yesterday’s dollars…

    “A base budget request that fails to keep pace with inflation, let alone with the “pacing threat” of China…

    “And a reconciliation lump-sum crowded with priorities that require stable, annual appropriations.

    “Our colleague, Chairman Wicker, and his House counterpart had hoped that reconciliation would be a one-time injection on top of a growing base budget, not a shell-game to avoid making the sort of annual investments we begged your Democratic predecessors to make.

    “I share this concern: we need sustained annual growth to meet the growing threats facing our country. 

    “At your confirmation hearing earlier this year, you said “we have to use taxpayer dollars wisely.”

    “I couldn’t agree more. I want to get the most out of every dollar the Department of Defense requires to keep America safe and advance our global interests.

    “But providing for the common defense is our most fundamental obligation.

    “Dividing funding for major existing bipartisan priorities between base budget and reconciliation isn’t just counterintuitive – it’s actually counterproductive.

    “And asking Congress to fund a budget that defines our strategy, rather than using strategy to define the budget, is dangerous.

    “So help me understand a few things:

    “Why haven’t we received the Administration’s analysis of the future year impacts of major reconciliation in investments like Golden Dome?

    “How do you propose to pay for them without significant increases to future base budgets?

    “Why has the Administration taken programs with broad and longstanding bipartisan support, like the Virginia-class submarines, and put them in a partisan reconciliation bill?

    “Finally, do you even believe we need sustained growth above inflation in our defense budget?

    “Or should we expect annual cuts from this Administration like we got from the Biden Administration?”

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warren Raises Concerns On Risks of Endless War Against Iran, Presses Commander Nominee for Answers on Military Preparations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    June 25, 2025
    Warren: “Donald Trump is once again playing red light, green light. This time, war with Iran.” 
    Warren: “Only Congress can declare war, and the Senate must vote immediately to prevent another endless war.”
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) expressed her concerns to Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II, nominee for Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), regarding President Trump’s dragging the United States into a war with Iran without Congressional approval. 
    On June 21, President Trump ordered strikes against three nuclear facilities in Iran, warning that there were “many targets left to strike” and threatening “tragedy” if Iran did not surrender immediately. Prior to the strikes, the U.S. intelligence community was in agreement that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States and that Iran was not close to building a nuclear weapon. The president is claiming the war is “over,” but the ceasefire continues to change every few hours. 
    Senator Warren questioned Vice Admiral Cooper on if President Trump has communicated any plans for American troops in Iran, pressing for an answer on whether plans for troop deployment are being made and if the U.S. is preparing for a protracted war. Vice Admiral Cooper refused to provide specific answers but confirmed that the military is always prepared for various contingencies.
    President Trump and his administration initially stated that the goal was to end Iran’s nuclear program, not regime change, and declared victory while providing no evidence to support that claim. On Sunday, the president reversed course, posting, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be regime change?” 
    “Our service members who volunteer to give so much have a right to know that the President of the United States values their lives and sends them into harm’s way only when we clearly have a plan to understand how this protects the United States of America,” said Senator Warren. 
    “I’m very concerned about the president’s on-again, off-again explanations of why this bombing has taken place and that he’s doing it with no constitutional authority,” continued Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren also criticized reports that the current Trump administration is considering dismantling all institutions that mitigate and reduce civilian harm. Vice Admiral Cooper committed to prioritizing preventing civilian harm, saying failing to do so “risks degrading our credibility and trust and puts troops at risk,” and if confirmed, “I’ll continue to take an organization that has moved, I believe, from compliance to having civilian harm risk mitigation as part of our culture.” 
    Senator Warren reaffirmed that only Congress can declare war and called on her colleagues in the Senate to vote against another endless war.
    Transcript: Hearings to examine the nominations of Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II, USN, to be admiral and Commander, United States Central Command, and Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich, USAF, to be general and Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, both of the Department of DefenseSenate Armed Services CommitteeJune 24, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations to both of you on your nominations. So, it seems like Donald Trump is once again playing red light, green light. This time, war with Iran. 
    Three nights ago, he bombed three sites and warned of, quote, “many targets left to strike” and threatened, quote, “tragedy,” if Iran did not immediately capitulate. Last night, he declared the war is over. But now the ceasefire seems to be changing every few hours, and no one seems to know if it will hold. Now, no one wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon, but experts in intelligence have told us time and time again, Iran’s nuclear program cannot be bombed out of existence. 
    So, the question is, what is President Trump’s plan? Another endless war in the Middle East? 
    Vice Admiral Cooper, you are currently the Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command. You are nominated to be commander, but you’re already there. You don’t decide policy. Obviously, you carry out the president’s orders. So today, I just want to ask you, if you have any clarity from President Trump, the commander in chief who chose this war, on what comes next. 
    So, Vice Admiral Cooper, has President Trump communicated to you whether or not he could contemplate American troops fighting in Iran?
    Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II: Senator, as we sit here today, as has been well described, a very dynamic time, literally right now, as we’re sitting here. The military’s number one priority is the safety and security of our men and women in the Middle East. That remains our priority. As I look to the future with the prospect of confirmation, my obligation, and in fact, my duty, would be to provide the Secretary of Defense and the President a range of options to deal with policies that he would lead.
    Senator Warren: So, are you working on plans to deploy troops if the president orders it? 
    Vice Admiral Cooper: Senator, as you well know, we are working on plans every single day. I think this forum isn’t the appropriate forum to talk about specific plans on force posture or what we’re doing today. Certainly could capture that in a classified environment that, I understand, is later this afternoon.
    Senator Warren: So, I’m just trying to get whether or not there are plans. I’m not asking for what the plans are in particular, but I take it from what you’re saying the president has not ruled out American boots on the ground in Iran?
    Vice Admiral Cooper: Senator, I think from a military perspective, it’s critically important today that we provide the maximum latitude and decision space to the Secretary of Defense and the president to decide on key plans and directions, and we’ll be standing by to execute those as is our duty to do.
    Senator Warren: So, on Saturday, President Trump and his administration claimed that the goal was to end Iran’s nuclear program, not regime change, and declared complete victory with no evidence to support that. And then on Sunday, the president reversed course, posting, quote, that, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be regime change?” And yesterday, he congratulated everyone on a ceasefire and said, quote, “God bless Iran.” 
    Vice Admiral Cooper, has President Trump communicated to you how long he intends this war could go on if the ceasefire breaks? 
    Vice Admiral Cooper: Senator, our role, from a military perspective, is to remain ready for a wide range of contingencies and protect our people, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. 
    Senator Warren: So that means you’re preparing for a protracted war. Is that right?
    Vice Admiral Cooper: I think it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific action, but we’re prepared for a wide range of contingencies, which is what would be expected.
    Senator Warren: Well, I’m just asking about your preparations. I’m not asking what actions you will take. Our service members who volunteer to give so much have a right to know that the President of the United States values their lives and sends them into harm’s way only when we clearly have a plan to understand how this protects the United States of America. I’m very concerned about the president’s on-again, off-again explanations of why this bombing has taken place and that he’s doing it with no constitutional authority. Only Congress can declare war, and the Senate must vote immediately to prevent another endless war. 
    So, I want to raise one more question, and that is reports that the Trump administration now wants to dismantle reforms developed under the first Trump administration to prevent civilian harm. Killing civilians is not only wrong, it threatens national security. General Stanley McChrystal called it insurgent math, meaning that for every civilian you kill, you create 10 new enemies. 
    Vice Admiral Cooper, why is it important to U.S. national security to prevent civilian harm?
    Vice Admiral Cooper: Well, Senator, first, thank you for your advocacy and passion on this issue. I share your same passion. I think it’s a national security issue. It risks degrading our credibility and trust and puts troops at risk. And if confirmed, I’ll continue to do what I do today, which is take an organization that has moved, I believe, from compliance to having civilian harm risk mitigation as part of our culture. It’s important.
    Senator Warren: I appreciate that. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Southland Momentum Grows: Environment Southland Considers Action on Illegal Israeli Settlements after Invercargill Declines – PSNAA

    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) Invercargill

    Environment Southland agreed today (Wednesday 25th) to commission a staff report considering a procurement policy change to exclude companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

    The step follows a request by local residents and members of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa. It places Environment Southland on a growing list of local councils responding to New Zealand’s co-sponsorship of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which declared the settlements a “flagrant violation under international law” and a “major obstacle” to peace.

    “New Zealand helped write this in 2016,” said the speakers. “We can’t promote it abroad and ignore it at home. This is a strong first step to ensure ratepayer money doesn’t fund human rights abuses.”

    The decision comes just a day after Invercargill City Council narrowly rejected the same change — a 6–6 vote decided by Nobby Clark — despite staff advice to the contrary. Speakers say Invercargill’s position is out of step with national policy and public demand. “Councils are simply being asked to align with what NZ agreed to years ago. This isn’t about ranking suffering, it’s about acting where there’s black and white legal clarity and political mandate.”

    In July 2024, the International Court of Justice confirmed Israel’s 57-year occupation breaches international law on apartheid and racial segregation. Countries including New Zealand voted that states “ensure they do not render aid or assistance” to it.

    The group also expressed concern that unlike at Dunedin’s recent vote, where councilors heard from supporting voices including local Palestinians and Israelis during the public forum, today saw those refused by the chair.

    “This is a narrow step – excluding companies listed by the highest authority on human rights, the UNHRC” said the group, “Since the current Israeli government came to power, the building of settlements and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has rocketed. International law protects all of us.”

    Other councils — including Christchurch City, Nelson City, and Environment Canterbury — have already taken action, and a formal vote on adopting the policy is expected following the staff report. PSNA says the window is still open: “Southland still has an opportunity to lead — and to stand on the right side of history.”

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) Invercargill

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Statement on U.S. Strike on Nuclear Facilities in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after the United States carried out a strike on nuclear facilities in Iran:

    “The U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan yesterday was essential to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

    “Every American president since Jimmy Carter, regardless of party, as well as multiple generations of both Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress, articulated the bipartisan policy that allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons was unacceptable. They made it clear that the United States would take whatever action necessary to prevent that outcome and counter the dire threat a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to the world, the Middle East, and directly to America and Israel.

    “In the past few weeks, the International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for continuing its nuclear weapons program. Iranian leaders sent a clear message that they were ignoring our longstanding policy. Israel believed that Iran was on the verge of achieving its goal and struck Iranian nuclear sites. Yesterday, the United States did the same, bombing Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. That was in keeping with our stated position against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

    “I am relieved that our service members were able to conduct this limited, one-time operation safely, and I thank them for their courage. These strikes were designed to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, but neither the U.S., nor Israel, nor any other nation wants to go to war with the Iranian people, or Iran itself. We don’t know what the coming days will hold, but we must do everything possible to protect U.S. and allied forces from Iranian retaliation.

    “Sadly, the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran became this dire because the Trump Administration chose to back out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018. Yesterday’s operation helped counter that threat, but America must continue working to close Iran’s path to nuclear weapons permanently.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Opening Remarks During Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Bill. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:
     

    Click here to watch a full video of his remarks.

    “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. In his speech on election night in 2024, President Trump promised to, and I quote, ‘make America safer and stronger than it has ever been before.’ I wonder if the American people feel safer and stronger now [that] the Administration has purged a third of the staff of [the] Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as was discussed by the Ranking Member, including almost all of the senior leadership. DOGE also cut roughly a third of the staff at FEMA. My remarks will be redundant, I presume they will get more redundant because these are the concerns that the American people have. Does that make America feel more secure, as floodwaters rise, wildfires blaze, and storms rage through their community?

    “I well remember when Superstorm Sandy hit the northeast, 58 million people were at risk. We had a vote on the Floor of the House of Representatives, only I think 49 – it may have been 50 – Republicans voted for Sandy relief out of some 200 members of Republicans there were in the House. Do Americans sleep better at night knowing that Trump has fired numerous top generals and intelligence officials at the behest of Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist with close ties to neo-Nazi organizations? I certainly don’t. I doubt Americans do either.

    “This bill will make us even less secure and safe. It underfunds our cyber security efforts to stop our adversary hackers from stealing Americans’ data, spreading misinformation, and infiltrating our critical systems and infrastructure. How interesting it is that most experts said that one of the responses Iran could have to our attack would have been cybersecurity attacks, and yet we are making that less secure. This legislation also fails to address the $8 billion shortfall, which has been already referenced to by the Chair and the Ranking Member, in FEMA’s disaster relief fund. Sort of like Superstorm Sandy. You’re on your own.

    “Crucially, it leaves our people vulnerable to violent extremism. I’ve also been [a] proud friend of Israel and the Jewish community. Jews in America and around the world have feared for their safety and the vile spike in antisemitism following the October 7 terror attacks. That is especially true these past few weeks since the murder of two Israeli embassy staffers just blocks away from our Capitol, as well as the vicious antisemitic attacks in Boulder, Colorado. Jewish leaders across the country have been calling on this Congress to provide at least $500 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant program, which helps synagogues and Jewish communities and other people of faith and organizations protect themselves and their people. While I’m pleased the manager’s amendments provided another $30 million for this program – and I want to thank the Chairman, Mr. Amodei, I want to thank you for adding $30 million back to that. I think it is a very good step to take, but the bill falls $170 million short of the request, and the danger rises and the money has been going down. But I do thank you for the increase that you did do. 

    “These groups need this funding now more than ever, especially considering those security grants were paused earlier this year as part of the Administration’s funding freeze at FEMA. Fighting antisemitism, stopping terrorists, upholding our cybersecurity and responding to disasters are not partisan issues, but this is a partisan bill. I hope at the end of this process I can support it, but if it is not significantly changed and the security enhanced, I will not be able to. And I yield back the balance of my time.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jim Costa Statement on the Escalating Conflict in the Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:   
    “Americans don’t want to see Iran with nuclear capabilities, nor have the United States get more involved in another war in the Middle East. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been working with my colleagues on bipartisan solutions to safeguard American interests at home and abroad.  
    This week, Congress will be briefed by the administration. While I believe Iran should not have nuclear capabilities, we deserve clear answers about the scope of these strikes, such as the intelligence, the long-term impacts, and what we believe are possible responses by Iran. With conflicts intensifying around the world, we should be working together on a bipartisan strategy that puts American security and global stability first.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Doggett’s Statement on Trump’s Unconstitutional Action in Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) released the following statement:

    “Donald Trump once again shows that he is a man of his last word. With his unconstitutional action entangling us in conflict, he has made American families less safe. While bombing Iran’s nuclear sites may slow nuclear development, it intensifies anti-American hatred and calls for deadly retaliation, encourages more Iranians to rally around their repressive regime, and increases Iranian eagerness to go nuclear as protection from future attacks. The fall of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad was the beginning, not the end of chaos in Iraq that led to 4,000 American deaths and cost $2 trillion. The same could happen here.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republican Failure to Follow Their Own Words Endangers Our Democracy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Once outraged by President Obama’s proposed attacks on Syria, the GOP is largely silent on Trump’s unconstitutional military action in Iran.

    Contact:Alexis Torres

    Washington, D.C.—Following the Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of a classified Iran-Israel briefing to House lawmakers, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) released the following statement about the President launching an unconstitutional military strike on Iran:

    “It has only been a dozen years since nearly 100 Republican colleagues demanded that President Obama seek Congressional approval for his proposed attack against Syria. Today, it appears most have ignored their own warning about the constitutional duty to consult and receive approval from Congress before engaging in an act of war.

    “President Obama heeded their words. President Trump ignored them, abusing power and showing only contempt for the Congress and the Constitution.

    “Many of those signers are still in the House, including the current Republican chairs of the House Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee, former House Foreign Affairs Chair and four current Republican Senators.

    “With the evidence coming forth that Trump misled the world on his claims of a ‘spectacular success,’ all that’s been obliterated is the credibility of Republicans who are displaying contradictions as big as Trump’s. Our democracy is endangered more and more by the contradictions of both Trump and his enablers.”

    The Republican letter to President Obama read in part:

    “We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force [in Syria]. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

    “While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military [in Syria] when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”

    Background:

    In 2013, President Obama was prepared to launch U.S. military strikes against Syria. Concerned members of Congress—Republican and Democrat—penned a warning that such an attack without prior Congressional authorization would be unconstitutional. Thereafter, President Obama chose to hold off on engaging in an act of war. The strikes never happened.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quigley Statement on Trump’s Unilateral Actions in the Middle East

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

    “Donald Trump was elected to end wars, not start new ones. Now, he has involved our nation in a conflict the vast majority of Americans do not wish to be part of. Worse, he is putting our servicemembers in the region in grave danger and increasing the likelihood of an attack on U.S. soil.

    “Iran is one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism in the world, and I believe preventing them from developing a nuclear weapon is critical to global security. The way to accomplish this goal is through diplomacy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –