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Category: MIL-OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Scott Leads Effort to Increase Access to Capital, Create Investment Opportunities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is leading legislation to revitalize the businesses within our communities and open up our capital markets to all Americans. Senator Scott’s Empowering Main Street in America Act will boost avenues for capital formation that create jobs and generate economic growth.

    Senate Banking Committee members, including Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), joined Senator Scott on the legislation. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) is also a co-sponsor of the bill.

    “Our capital markets system is the envy of the world and has helped many Americans build wealth and save for their futures. But unfortunately for individuals in communities like the one I grew up in, investing in a local venture or raising capital to grow a business seems out of reach. We need to change that – and this comprehensive legislation will create economic opportunity and provide more Americans with the resources necessary to achieve financial security for their families and realize their version of the American Dream, while ensuring small business owners can access capital to grow and innovate,” said Senator Scott.

    At yesterday’s Punchbowl News event, Senator Scott highlighted how the legislation will improve access to capital for entrepreneurs across the country, tailor regulations for small and newly public companies looking to grow and expand their operations, and create new avenues for hardworking Americans to invest in their community.

    Click here to watch the full discussion.

    Senator Scott’s legislation, in part, is the result of feedback from his from his February 2024 roundtable with Black investors and business founders discussing ways to improve minority communities’ access to capital. Here’s what the roundtable participants had to say on the bill:

    “I thank Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) for his leadership in introducing the Empowering Main Street in America Act (EMSAA), which will significantly improve access to capital for all entrepreneurs and investors. I had the good fortune to participate in a roundtable that Senator Scott hosted in February with Black founders and investors, and I am very pleased to see many of the insights raised at that event reflected in the legislation. I launched RareBreed in response to the lack of access to capital for founders of color and founders outside the major investment hubs of Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston. Current rules price out many accredited investors, especially those of color, from participating in investment funds. This limits capital to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, and restricts capital invested in founders of color. We know this because research has shown that Black-led funds are four times as likely to invest in a Black-led company. The EMSAA will provide accredited investors of color more opportunities to participate in venture capital at lower minimums, helping to reduce risk, better diversify investments, and create wealth in communities of color. As someone who has spent my entire career in venture capital as an advocate for reducing barriers and expanding participation, I applaud this legislation and look forward to supporting its passage any way I can,” said McKeever “Mac” Conwell, Managing Partner, RareBreed Ventures.

    “Entrepreneurs don’t need to be in Silicon Valley or Wall Street to deserve access to capital. To truly foster innovation and growth, we must meet entrepreneurs where they are—whether in rural communities, urban centers, or underserved areas. The Empowering Main Street in America Act will help ensure entrepreneurs, regardless of location, have the financial resources they need to launch and grow their business, driving local economies and building stronger communities nationwide,” said Herbert Drayton III, Managing Partner, HI Mark Capital.

    “This legislative solution tears down barriers and fuels economic growth from the ground up. It’s about ensuring that every American has the opportunity to build a business, invest, and achieve financial security. The message from our roundtable was clear: strengthen our capital markets, foster entrepreneurship, make financial literacy a priority, and create pathways to prosperity for all,” said Ryan Frazier, Managing Partner and CEO, Frazier Global.

    For a section-by-section on the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez, Underwood Celebrate Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] –  U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) celebrated Senate passage of a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American boy who was murdered as a victim of a hate crime in Plainfield, Illinois, on October 14, 2023. The lawmakers introduced the resolution earlier this year.

    “My heart breaks for the family of Wadee Alfayoumi, the precious, innocent 6-year-old who lost his life in an unimaginably cruel way, just because of his Palestinian Muslim identity,” Duckworth said. “This barbaric, cold-blooded murder was a chilling act of hate against the Palestinian community in Illinois, and we must do everything in our power to denounce and stop more hatred and violence. I’m proud our resolution passed honoring Wadee’s life and legacy. May his memory live on and serve as a reminder that we must be united in our shared goal of ending—rather than perpetuating—the needless suffering of innocent human beings.”

    “Wadee Alfayoumi and his mother were violently attacked for no apparent reason other than their religion and their ethnicity. Targeting someone based on their ethnicity or religion is wrong, and targeting an innocent child based on those characteristics is pure hatred. Nearly a year after Wadee Alfayoumi’s young life was taken too soon, our nation continues to mourn with his family,” said Durbin. “By passing this resolution, the United States Senate is honoring and remembering Wadee’s life and condemning all forms of hate.”

    “Yesterday’s Passage of S.Res. 847, honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, was an incredibly important step for humanity, for the movement against hate and bigotry, and for this moment,” said Ramirez. “We are 12 days from October 7th and 19 days from the anniversary of Wadee’s murder – both dates marked by children torn from their mothers. While time has passed, we continue to see an escalation of violence in the Middle East, a rise in bigotry and dehumanizing rhetoric, and a rejection of our shared humanity. We must remember Wadee. And his memory must move Speaker Johnson and the House to take up the Concurrent Resolution and bring it to the Floor for a vote after the October Recess.”

    “Our community lost a beautiful light when Wadee Alfayoumi was taken from us. He brought so much sunshine and joy to his loved ones and classmates,” Underwood said. “The hatred that took him has no place in our community or in our country. I’m glad to see this resolution pass the Senate, and proud to have worked on it with Wadee’s family and community leaders to honor his life and his memory.”

    In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio Introduces Bill Requesting U.S. Sanctions on Fentanyl Precursors and Manufacturers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio: Family, Community, and Faith Are the Fiber of our Nation

    Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases

    Photo courtesy of the National Religious Broadcasters association. On September 19, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke to the National Religious Broadcasters association on the importance of faith-based messaging. “The most important thing the government can do is…

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    Rubio, Colleagues to Biden-Harris Officials: Individuals Tied to Cuban Regime Are Not Welcome

    Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases

    Under U.S. law, any individual who has been, or is affiliated with a Communist Party is deemed inadmissible for entry into our nation. However, under the Biden-Harris Administration’s mass immigration program, it’s been reported that individuals tied to the…

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    Rubio, Scott Introduce Bill to Punish Colleges That Allow Antisemitism

    Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases

    Since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, cases of antisemitic harassment have increased more than 500 percent at college campuses across the United States. Yet, many Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) have failed to prevent or stop antisemitism…

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    Rubio Applauds House Passage of USCIRF

    Sep 24, 2024 | Press Releases

    The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, is a bipartisan commission that monitors and reports on international religious freedom. The commission’s authorization is currently…

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    Rubio, Scott Support Florida Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration

    Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases

    Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, soon to be Hurricane Helene, is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane later this week. The storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, severe storm surge, flooding, and hazardous seas to Florida’s impacted areas….

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    ICYMI: Rubio, Clement Present Plan to Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses

    Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases

    Congress Can Protect Jews on College Campuses U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Paul Clement September 23, 2024 Wall Street Journal The ancient poison of antisemitism has infected American higher education…. Campus antisemitism isn’t restricted to…widely publicized…

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Highway Hotline Introduces New Highway Condition Terminology

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 25, 2024

    Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline has updated the terminology it uses to describe winter driving conditions. 

    The new terminology offers more clear and concise messaging that will help drivers make decisions about winter travel. The updated language is also more consistent with neighbouring provinces, which will make using the Hotline easier for people traveling across western Canada. 

    “The Highway Hotline is used millions of times throughout the year to help travelers plan ahead,” Highways Minister Lori Carr said. “These changes will help drivers make an informed decision while having better consistency with our neighbouring provinces and national standards.”

    The new primary conditions include:

    • Bare – Road appears black, means all wheels of a passenger vehicle are on a bare surface. 
    • Partly Covered – Road appears yellow, means two wheels of a passenger vehicle are on a snow or ice-covered surface. 
    • Covered – Road appears pink, means all wheels of the vehicle are on snow or ice. 
    • Travel Not Recommended – Road appears blue, means that visibility is less than 250 metres and could become impassable. 
    • Closed – Road appears red, means the highway is impassable. 

    The colour white was removed because it did not show up well on the digital maps. The maps will continue to indicate poor visibility using a dotted line.

    During winter driving season, road conditions are updated a minimum of four times daily or whenever there are known changes that affect drivers.

    The Highway Hotline has existed for more than 50 years. It provides information on highway conditions, road closures, construction zones, ferries and border crossings. As of February 2024, it now allows users to track the progress of plows involved in snow removal and ice treatment. This real-time information helps drivers make informed decisions to protect their safety. 

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bringing mobile lung screening to rural Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    Alberta’s government is committed to providing high-quality health care services for all Albertans, no matter where they live in the province. To ensure Albertans can get the care they need close to home, Alberta’s government and the Alberta Cancer Foundation are partnering with the not-for-profit 19 to Zero to support mobile lung health units that will bring screening services to underserved communities across the province.

    Investing in mobile services available in rural and remote communities will increase the likelihood of early detection and treatment, improving health outcomes and bridging gaps in the health care system. The mobile screening program will receive $1.5 million from Alberta’s government, which will be matched by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

    “We are committed to ensuring every Albertan has access to the health care services they need when and where they need them. These mobile units will help bridge existing gaps in the health care system and improve outcomes for Albertans in rural and remote areas.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    “Living outside of a big city shouldn’t mean less access to vital testing and screening services. Early detection is key to successful cancer treatment, and these specialized mobile clinics will bring essential diagnostics to thousands of Albertans in rural, Indigenous and underserved communities each year.”

    Wendy Beauchesne, CEO, Alberta Cancer Foundation

    The mobile lung health units will travel to and service underserved, high-priority communities across the province. Patients in these communities often experience lengthy travel times to reach their closest diagnostic centres, which can lead to delayed diagnoses and the suboptimal management of lung conditions.

    “19 to Zero is excited to be partnering to provide mobile health services for lung cancer and lung health testing. Many Albertans face health care access challenges, particularly in rural and remote areas, and this mobile unit will help improve equitable access across the province.”

    Theresa Tang, co-founder and CEO, 19 to Zero

    The mobile units include a converted medical sprinter van for pulmonary function testing (PFT) and a custom-built diagnostic imaging truck. The units will be designed and operated by Aceso Medical, and they will use mobile internet and Starlink to integrate with Connect Care, ensuring instant access to test results for radiologists and pulmonologists.

    The mobile lung health units will provide PFT and computed technology (CT) scans, which are critical diagnostic tools for identifying and managing lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Across Canada, these services are predominantly available in urban centres, leaving rural and remote communities without access close to home.

    Alberta’s government will work with health care partners and local leadership to help determine areas of need for mobile visits. A website will be developed where the location and schedule of the units will be available.

    The pulmonary function testing van is expected to be operational and on the road in spring 2025, with the CT truck following in late summer. Once operational, these mobile units will be able to complete more than 4,000 PFTs and up to 6,000 CT scans per year.

    Alberta’s government is committed to improving outcomes for Albertans diagnosed with cancer and will continue to engage in partnerships to leverage the growing life sciences sector.

    Quick facts

    • Alberta’s government is providing $1.5 million to support the mobile units. These funds will be matched by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
      • $1 million in 2024-25
      • $500,000 in 2025-26
    • PFTs are non-invasive tests that measure lung volume, lung capacity, rates of flow and gas exchange in patients. These tests help health care providers diagnose and develop treatment plans for various lung conditions.
    • Low-dose CT scans provide detailed images to identify small nodules and other abnormalities that might be missed by standard X-rays. They are vital tools in the early detection of lung cancer and other life-critical diseases.
    • Units will be staffed by qualified nurses, CT technicians and respiratory therapists.
    • The 41-foot mobile CT truck will be the first of its kind focused on lung health in Canada.
    • One in 13 Albertans will develop lung cancer in their lifetime and more than 1,500 lives are lost each year due to this disease.

    Related information

    • Cancer Care Alberta
    • Alberta Cancer Foundation
    • 19 to Zero

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds CBC’s Report on Corporate Accountability

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California

    September 24, 2024

    New report finds strong support among Fortune 500 companies for workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion despite ongoing attacks.

    WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) applauded the release of the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) corporate accountability report “What Good Looks Like”: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a first-of-its-kind report to hold Fortune 500 companies — across all sectors — accountable to their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments and racial equity investments post-George Floyd.

    “This report underscores the continued importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accountability practices across all sectors. I applaud the business leaders who upheld their commitment to inclusion despite attacks from right-wing extremists.” said Congresswoman Lee. “It is increasingly crucial that corporations have diverse representation in board rooms across the country. I look forward to continuing my work with my CBC colleagues and other stakeholders to ensure that our corporations and college campuses reflect the diversity of our country.”

    Research from institutions such as the Black Economic Alliance Foundation show that 78 percent of Americans agree that corporate America should reflect the racial diversity of the American population. Similarly, research from McKinsey & Company show that companies with racially diverse executive teams outperform their peers in profitability by 39 percent.

    The report comes nearly 10 months after the CBC issued its corporate accountability letter in December 2023 in response to the ongoing attacks on diversity initiatives in the private sector. The letter urged corporate America, particularly those in the Fortune 500 who made public pledges to diversity and racial equity post-George Floyd, to stand firm in their commitments, and to update congressional members on the progress of their commitments.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Sustainable Business – Kiwi businesses not taking enough action on social issues, say consumers

    Source: Sustainable Business Council

    New research from Kantar and the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) highlights an opportunity for New Zealand businesses to drive greater commitment and action on social responsibility, both internally with employees and for the benefit of the communities they operate in.
    The inaugural Better Futures Thrive Report aims to provide deeper insights off the back of a perceived gap in social sustainability action by business, identified in the long-running Better Futures Report. The new report reaffirms this, with only 22% of consumers saying they believe New Zealand businesses are taking significant actions to address community and social challenges.
    “Exploratory work we carried out last year reflected that the ‘S’ in ESG has lived in the shadows of the ‘E’, with more focus and resource historically put towards environmental issues than social ones,” explains Jay Crangle, Head of ESG at SBC.
    “This new Better Futures Thrive report has reinforced that New Zealanders are seeking stronger leadership from business. They want to see both employees thriving in their workplaces and businesses working harder to resolve the social issues facing our society.”
    The key findings of the report around consumer perception of business social responsibility fall into three spheres of influence.
    Employee perceptions of business
    New Zealand employers are generally seen as performing positively when it comes to fostering a culture where employees feel welcome and encouraged to bring their authentic selves to the workplace.
    However, 45% of New Zealanders say they have experienced discrimination at work or while looking for a job, based most commonly upon people’s country of origin, culture, age or gender.
    Employees see authenticity, social harm of a company’s products, and valuing staff as the highest priority challenges they’d like to see their employer tackle.
    Societal perceptions of business
    The research indicates Kiwi consumers are most concerned about business efforts to bring about a positive impact in society, primarily through their products and services and their community contributions.
    Kantar Qualitative Director Anne John-Francke says, “The priority challenge here is having a visible impact, as this makes the biggest difference to consumers and is seen as a weakness for major New Zealand businesses.”
    Issues around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are impacting consumer purchasing behaviour, with 22% claiming that DEI often or always impacts their purchase decisions, and 19% stating they are more likely to purchase from businesses that have inclusive marketing and advertising.
    Consumer perceptions of brands
    New Zealanders are generally more critical of brands’ impact on social outcomes – the research revealed that major Kiwi brands are seen as underperforming in a range of areas, most notably around engaging with social issues, addressing inequity, reflecting society and community outreach.
    “We can see from this underperformance generally, plus the fact that service industry brands with more regular and visible consumer interaction are rated so much higher on DEI delivery, that New Zealanders are looking to business for more visible engagement and meaningful action on social issues,” says Anne John-Francke.
    Margin of error ±5% points at the 95% confidence level. This research is based on the perspectives of 1,000 New Zealanders surveyed on social issues and responsibility.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee, Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell, Duckworth, and Booker Call for Expedited Review and Implementation of Biden Administration’s Proposed Strengthening of the Lead and Copper Rule

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), alongside  U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. The lawmakers’ bicameral letter underscores the importance of OMB completing its review ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk. Congresswomen Blunt Rochester, Tlaib and Dingell are co-founders and co-leads of the Get the Lead Out Caucus in the House.

    In the letter, the lawmakers outlined what’s at stake if the proposed LCRI is not finalized by October 16th: “…water systems and states will be required to start complying immediately with the deeply problematic LCRR. EPA concluded that temporary implementation of the LCRR rule from the prior administration will create bureaucratic complexity and confusion for regulated entities, waste scarce resources, result in widespread non-compliance and risk delaying or failing to realize the full benefits of the LCRI… In addition to the unnecessary potential confusion and complexity, the prior administration’s LCRR would put public health at risk by implementing inadequate policies that do not meaningfully address the lead contamination problems in communities across the country.”

    In addition to preventing water systems from being forced to comply with Trump Administration’s previously proposed LCRR, swiftly finalizing the Biden Administration’s proposed LCRI would help ensure full implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s provisions aimed at removing lead pipes and advancing environmental justice. The lawmakers wrote: “The commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA extends beyond the LCRI, but a timely final LCRI is necessary to stop the ongoing environmental health crises. The $15 billion in dedicated funding for lead pipe replacement and additional $11.7 billion in grants, loans and principal forgiveness made possible through Congress’s passage of Senator Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources, need the proposed LCRI to be finalized to ensure safe and expedient implementation.”

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) and is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, will help rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

    Along with Duckworth and Booker, the letter is co-signed in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

    Along with Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell and Lee, the letter is co-signed in the House by: Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Daniel Kildee (D-MI-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), John Sarbanes (D-MA-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-13), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), David J. Trone (D-MD-06), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) and Darren Soto (D-FL-09).

    After leading a dozen of their Senate colleagues in calling on EPA to strengthen and enforce the Lead and Copper Rule, Duckworth and Booker applauded the Biden Administration for heeding their request in November of last year. In February, Duckworth, Booker, Tlaib and Dingell urged the Biden Administration to strengthen the rule further by considering additional provisions that would improve and expedite the Biden Administration’s effort to remove all lead service lines from our nation.

    The letter is endorsed by: Natural Resources Defense Council, League of Conservation Voters, EarthJustice, Protect Kids From Lead Coalition, National Association of Water Companies, BlueGreen Alliance, Environmental Defense Fund, Unleaded Kids and National Center for Healthy Housing.

    To read the full letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Infrastructure Sector – Identifying New Zealand’s infrastructure needs – for today and tomorrow

    Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

    The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission has just released ‘ Paying it forward: Understanding our long-term infrastructure needs’ to share our emerging thinking on what will drive future infrastructure spending demands.
    “One of the roles of the Commission is to provide a long-term view on New Zealand’s infrastructure needs. This is a key part of our work on developing the National infrastructure Plan,” says Peter Nunns, Acting General Manager – Strategy, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.
    “Our work identifies eight drivers of future infrastructure investment, including population growth and demographic changes, decarbonising our economy, and building resilience to natural hazards.
    “While the future is uncertain, some pressures on our networks are easier to foresee than others. For instance, so long as we have good information on the size and condition of existing assets, we can forecast what we will need to spend to maintain and replace them.
    “Other future drivers, like population growth and demographic change, are harder to predict. Looking back, we estimate that population growth and population ageing accounted for over 60% of the growth in our public infrastructure networks from 1960 to 2019,” says Nunns.
    “Looking forward, we know that New Zealand’s demographic future will be different than its past, but it’s hard to be certain about how, where, and when we will see the impacts. Declining fertility rates mean overall population growth is expected to slow, and that it will be increasingly driven by migration, which is difficult to predict.
    “Our population is also ageing and diversifying. This affects not only how much we need to invest in infrastructure in the future, but what types of infrastructure we need to invest in. For instance, older people use hospital and medical facilities more, whereas schools and universities are used mainly by younger people. This has implications for what we’re thinking about building today and how we’re preparing for tomorrow,” says Nunns.
    “We also need to be realistic about how much money we have to invest. Over the last 20 years, we’ve opted to spend around 5.0% to 6.5% of our GDP on all types of infrastructure. To give a sense of scale for the year 2024, 5.8% of GDP, the average we’ve spent since 2003, is around $24 billion.
    “However, not all of this money is available to build new infrastructure. After accounting for what we need to spend replacing and renewing existing infrastructure that is reaching the end of its life, this leaves around $10 billion for new or improved infrastructure across all levels of government and the private sector. While this is a lot of money, given how extensive and valuable our networks are, it is not big enough to avoid thinking about trade-offs,” says Nunns.
    “So, we need to carefully consider how we will address our infrastructure challenges. The work we’re doing on this will feed into the National Infrastructure Plan and help us begin to spotlight the types of infrastructure investment that can help meet our needs and represent strong and credible investments in New Zealand’s future.”
    Background information
    The Commission’s approach to assessing long-term infrastructure needs considers trade-offs. Infrastructure is not free, so our approach to meeting needs must balance the benefit of investment against its costs. With this in mind, our approach to assessing needs is grounded in the following three themes:
    What is the current state of our networks?
    • Understanding needs requires first knowing what we have.
    • In 2022, New Zealand’s infrastructure was worth around $287 billion in total. This is equal to $55,800 of infrastructure per New Zealander.
    • Compared to the median OECD country, we have a typical amount of physical infrastructure per capita.
    • Our previous work has highlighted that we also spend a similar share of our gross domestic product (GDP) on network infrastructure as other high-income countries, but we are comparatively worse at delivering infrastructure outcomes for our spending.
    What are we willing to pay for infrastructure?
    • Over the last 20 years, the share of our GDP invested in all types of infrastructure has ranged from 5.0% to 6.5% of GDP, with an average of 5.8% across government and the private sector.
    • However, in the long run almost 60% of this spending will be needed just to renew or replace what we already have, rather than building new infrastructure.
    • To give a sense of scale for the year 2024, 5.8% of GDP, the average we’ve spent since 2003, is around $24 billion. This leaves around $10 billion for new or improved infrastructure. While this is a lot of money, given how extensive and valuable our networks are, it is not big enough to avoid thinking about trade-offs.
    Where and how should we invest in the future?
    • Based on our previous work, our legislation, and a review of international practices, we have identified eight factors that can cause the need for infrastructure investment to change over time, both in total and at a sector or regional level: renewing existing infrastructure; population growth and demographic change; economic development and changing standards; resilience to natural hazards; decarbonising our economy; technology change; construction price inflation; and shortage of existing infrastructure.
    • Previous work by the Commission has examined some of these drivers. This report summarises our existing evidence base in each area, and further explores the impact of population growth and demographic change on infrastructure.
    • From 1960 to 2019, population growth explains over 40% of the growth in our infrastructure networks, while population ageing explains about 24%.
    • Future demographic projections point to lower fertility and population growth rates. Future population growth is likely to be increasingly reliant on migration and will be more volatile as a result.
    • Our ageing population will likely have effects on the types of infrastructure that will be required in the future. For example, older New Zealanders are much more likely to use hospital services, while younger New Zealanders are much more likely to use education infrastructure.
    The National Infrastructure Plan: The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has been asked by the Government to develop a long-term National Infrastructure Plan. The final Plan will be delivered to the Government in December 2025. The Plan will build on the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy and set out what’s already planned to be spent on both looking after existing infrastructure and investment intentions over the next 10 years. The Plan will also begin to spotlight the projects that can help meet our needs and represent strong and credible investments in New Zealand’s futures.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ Economy: Flicker of light – Business NZ

    Source: BusinessNZ

    The BusinessNZ Economic Conditions Index, a measure of New Zealand’s major economic indicators, shows improvement from the previous quarter, with warmer business and consumer sentiment, reducing inflation, declining interest rates, small improvements in the health of the manufacturing and services sectors, and improved international prices for NZ dairy products among the positives.
    BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard says there are a number of indicators that suggest we are close to, or possibly past, the worst of the economic downturn.
    “However, improvements are largely forecast to be incremental at this stage,” Catherine Beard said.
    “Some sectors are still doing it tough. Construction activity is low, and the retail and hospitality sectors are trying to keep their heads above water as demand remains flat and households keep their wallets shut.
    “New Zealand still faces significant challenges at the national level, including rising Government debt, difficulties funding future health and superannuation investment, and regulatory policy challenges.
    “Economic growth is forecast to improve incrementally – but off a very low base – over the forecast period out to September 2026.”
    The BusinessNZ Economic Conditions Index sits at 8 for the September 2024 quarter, up 13 on the previous quarter and up 30 on a year ago. The index is a measure of New Zealand’s major economic indicators including GDP, export volumes, commodity prices, inflation, debt, and business and consumer confidence.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Michoud Continues Work on Evolved Stage of SLS Rocket for Future Artemis Missions

    Source: NASA

    Manufacturing equipment that will be used to build components for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for future Artemis missions is being installed at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.
    The novel tooling will be used to produce the SLS rocket’s advanced exploration upper stage, or EUS, in the factory’s new manufacturing area. The EUS will serve as the upper, or in-space, stage for all Block 1B and Block 2 SLS flights in both crew and cargo configurations.
    In tandem, NASA and Boeing, the SLS lead contractor for the core stage and exploration upper stage, are producing structural test articles and flight hardware structures for the upper stage at Michoud and the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Early manufacturing is already underway at Michoud while preparations for an engine-firing test series for the upper stage are in progress at nearby Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
    “The newly modified manufacturing space for the exploration upper stage signifies the start of production for the next evolution of SLS Moon rockets at Michoud,” said Hansel Gill, director at Michoud. “With Orion spacecraft manufacturing and SLS core stage assembly in flow at Michoud for the past several years, standing up a new production line and enhanced capability at Michoud for EUS is a significant achievement and a reason for anticipation and enthusiasm for Michoud and the SLS Program.”
    The advanced upper stage for SLS is planned to make its first flight with Artemis IV and replaces the single-engine Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) that serves as the in-space stage on the initial SLS Block 1 configuration of the rocket. With its larger liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant tanks feeding four L3 Harris Technologies- built RL10C-3 engines, the EUS generates nearly four times the thrust of the ICPS, providing unrivaled lift capability to the SLS Block 1B and Block 2 rockets and making a new generation of crewed lunar missions possible.
    This upgraded and more powerful rocket will increase the SLS rocket’s payload to the Moon by 40%, from 27 metric tons (59,525 lbs.) with Block 1 to 38 metric tons (83,776 lbs.) in the crew configuration.  Launching crewed missions along with other large payloads enables multiple large-scale objectives to be accomplished in a single mission.
    Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon. The rocket is part of NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. NASA’s SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program and Michoud.
    For more on SLS, visit: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/space-launch-system

    Jonathan DealMarshall Space Flight CenterHuntsville, Ala.256-544-0034

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Republicans Pick Up Unlikely Allies in Key House Races: Unions

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 25, 2024

    In case you missed it…The New York Times is out with a new article highlighting the ongoing shift of union support from belonging exclusively to Democrats to now treading into Republican territory. 

    In the article, Rep. Tom Kean is highlighted for his notable support from Building and Construction Trades Council who, “not only flipped sides to support Representative Tom Kean Jr. but helped keep the Democrat-aligned A.F.L.-C.I.O. on the sidelines.”  

    Read more here and below.

    Republicans Pick Up Unlikely Allies in Key House Races: Unions
    New York Times
    September 25, 2024

    The president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters praised one Republican congressman on national television. A major transportation union rated another among its most loyal supporters in Congress. And an influential building trades group said a third would help begin “restoring the sense of unity” the country had lost.

    […]

    In New York’s Hudson Valley, Representative Mike Lawler has collected tens of thousands of dollars more in union donations than his Democratic opponent. Further upstate, a 1,500-member electrical workers’ union that once opposed Representative Marc Molinaro is now working to re-elect him. And in New Jersey, the state’s Building and Construction Trades Council not only flipped sides to support Representative Tom Kean Jr. but helped keep the Democrat-aligned A.F.L.-C.I.O. on the sidelines.

    […]

    Last week, the 1.3-million-member Teamsters voted to stay neutral in the race for president, a blow to Democrats after years of support. Prominent Republicans, including former President Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, have begun to speak in more explicitly pro-worker terms, though many labor leaders say their policies do not match their rhetoric. And leaders of some of the nation’s oldest unions increasingly find themselves grappling with how to respond to members shifting rightward.

    […]

    And yet, even the idea of Republicans and Democrats fighting in a general election over who is more friendly to working people represents a change.

    […]

    Read more here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: TMT Acquisition Corp Announces Changes to Contribution to Trust Account and the Use of Funds in Trust Account to Pay Dissolution Expenses in Connection with Extension Amendment Proposal

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TMT Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: TMTCU, TMTC, and TMTCR) (the “Company”) announced today that if the proposal to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, which provides that the Company may elect to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) for a total of up to five (5) times, as follow: (i) two (2) times for an additional three (3) months each time from March 30, 2024 to September 30, 2024 (the “First Extension Period”); and subsequently (ii) three (3) times, for an additional one (1) month each time, from September 30, 2024 to December 30, 2024 (the “Second Extension Period”), if requested by the Sponsor (as defined herein) and upon two calendar days’ advance notice prior to the applicable deadline (such proposal, the “Extension Amendment Proposal”), is approved at the Company’s previously announced extraordinary general meeting, as subsequently postponed or adjourned (the “Meeting”), and the extension is implemented, its sponsor, 2TM Holding LP, or its sponsor’s designees will contribute to the Company as a loan $140,000 for each month during the additional one (1) month extensions in the Second Extension Period from September 30, 2024 to December 30, 2024 (“Contribution”), that is needed to complete an initial business combination. In addition, if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the funds held in the Trust Account shall not be used to pay dissolution expenses.

    Each Contribution will be deposited in the Company’s trust account on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. Any Contribution is conditioned upon the implementation of the Extension Amendment Proposal. No Contribution will occur if the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved. The amount of each Contribution will not bear interest to the sponsor as a loan and will be repayable by the Company to the sponsor or its designees upon consummation of the business combination. If the Company opts not to utilize any remaining portion of the extensions, then the Company will liquidate and dissolve promptly in accordance with its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the sponsor’s obligation to make additional contributions will terminate.

    The record date for determining the Company shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting remains the close of business on August 30, 2024 (the “Record Date”). Shareholders as of the Record Date can vote, even if they have subsequently sold their shares. Shareholders who have previously submitted their proxies or otherwise voted and who do not want to change their vote need not take any action. Shareholders who have not yet done so are encouraged to vote as soon as possible.

    If any shareholder has questions or needs assistance in connection with the Meeting, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor, LAUREL HILL ADVISORY GROUP, LLC, 2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201, Jericho, New York 11753, Tel (855) 414-2266, Fax (516) 933-3108, Email: info@laurelhill.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “seeks,” or other similar expressions. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Meeting and the proposed Contribution. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this press release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    On September 9, 2024, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THE COMPANY FILES WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto) and other documents filed with the SEC through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to the Company’s proxy solicitor at LAUREL HILL ADVISORY GROUP, LLC, 2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201, Jericho, New York 11753, Tel (855) 414-2266, Fax (516) 933-3108, Email: info@laurelhill.com.  

    Participants in the Solicitation

    The Company and its respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the Meeting. Additional information regarding the identity of these potential participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the definitive proxy statement. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above.

    Contact

    Dajiang Guo
    Email: dguo@tmtacquisitioncorp.com
    Tel.: 347-627-0058

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Qu’Appelle — Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP: two arrested after robbery

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024 at approximately 4:05 p.m., Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP received a report of a robbery at a business in Balcarres, SK.

    Investigation determined two adult females entered the business, assaulted an employee with a golf club and stole two bottles of liquor. The victim reported non-life-threatening injuries to police.

    The suspects fled in a vehicle.

    Officers immediately responded and located the vehicle travelling near Balcarres. They activated their emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop and turned into a field. Officers boxed the vehicle in, then arrested the females without further incident.

    One of them threatened a police officer while being transported to the detachment.

    As a result of continued investigation, 19-year-old Serenity Fink from Balcarres and 38-year-old Isabelle Starr from Fort Qu’Appelle are each charged with:

    • one count, robbery, Section 344(1)(b), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, flight from police, Section 320.17, Criminal Code.

    Fink is also charged with:

    • one count, operation of a conveyance while impaired, Section 320.14(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, operation while impaired over 80 mg, Section 320.14(1)(b), Criminal Code.

    Starr is also charged with one count, uttering threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code.

    They were remanded into custody to appear via video in Fort Qu’Appelle Provincial Court on September 26, 2024.

    Indian Head RCMP, White Butte RCMP and the File Hills Police Service assisted with this investigation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces First Closing of Ninepoint 2024 Short Duration Flow-Through Limited Partnership II

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint”) is pleased to announce that the Ninepoint 2024 Short Duration Flow-Through Limited Partnership II (the “Partnership”) has completed the first closing in connection with its offering of Class A and Class F limited partnership units (the “Units”) pursuant to a prospectus dated September 18, 2024. The Partnership issued 508,296 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $12,707,400. The Partnership will have a second closing in respect of the Units on or about October 17, 2024. The Units are being offered at a price per Unit of $25.00 with a minimum subscription of 100 Units ($2,500).

    The Partnership intends to provide liquidity to limited partners through a roll-over to the Ninepoint Resource Fund Class in the period between January 15, 2026 to February 28, 2026.

    Investment Objective of the Partnership
    The Partnership’s investment objective is to achieve capital appreciation and significant tax benefits for limited partners by investing in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares (as defined in the Prospectus) and other securities, if any, of Resource Issuers (as defined in the Prospectus).

    Attractive Tax-Reduction Benefits
    Flow-through partnerships are one of the most effective tax reduction strategies available to Canadians. Ninepoint anticipates that investors participating in the Partnership will be eligible to receive a tax deduction of approximately 100% of the amount invested.

    Resource Expertise
    The Partnership will be sub-advised by Sprott Asset Management LP (“Sprott”), one of Canada’s leading investment advisors in small and mid-cap resource companies. Over its long history of investing in the resource sector, Sprott has developed relationships with hundreds of companies. Its experienced team of portfolio managers is supported by a team of technical experts with extensive backgrounds in mining and geology.

    Portfolio manager Jason Mayer will manage the portfolio of the Partnership and will be supported by Sprott’s broader team of experienced resource investment professionals.

    Agents
    The offering is being made through a syndicate of agents led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. which includes CIBC World Markets Inc., TD Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Manulife Wealth Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., Ventum Financial Corp. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

    About Ninepoint Partners LP
    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent that they relate to the Partnership. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Partnership’s, Ninepoint’s and Sprott’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Partnership, Ninepoint and Sprott believe the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Partnership, nor Ninepoint or Sprott undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

    This offering is only made by prospectus. The Partnership’s prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from one of the dealers noted above. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Secures CDS Awards to Expand Cybersecurity, Health Facilities and Services in West Virginia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced eight Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for education and research programs, facility construction and renovations, and healthcare treatment resources in West Virginia.
    These awards, which were secured through CDS requests made by Ranking Member Capito in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), will be used to improve medical centers and treatment, bolster cybersecurity education, and expand the educational opportunities for future healthcare workers in West Virginia.
    “After partnering with organizations across our state and listening to their needs, I am excited to see these awards help West Virginia institutions meet critical goals to expand medical services offered by providers in our state in both scope and quantity. I am also particularly excited to see Marshall expanding its National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure, which I have championed,” Ranking Member Capito said. “These CDS awards will help deliver medical and educational outcomes in West Virginia and I am proud to have secured them. As Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to partner with local leaders to identify their most pressing needs and work to build up our medical and educational infrastructure.”
    Individual award details listed below:
    $15,000,000 HHS CDS award to Marshall University (Huntington, W.Va.) for cyber security training of critical infrastructure operators in West Virginia. This project will continue development of a critical infrastructure cyber security lab started in 2023 to research cyber-attacks and determine how to mitigate their effects. The project also will continue efforts to train critical infrastructure operators on the cyber-defense techniques that will allow them to maintain their systems, even in the face of cyber-attacks. This funding will allow the university to add additional categories of critical infrastructure to its laboratories, and to conduct research to determine how those categories are vulnerable, what attacks will be effective, and then subsequently what mitigation techniques can be developed to overcome them. Additionally, a curriculum will be developed to train operators on these attacks and mitigation techniques, so that they can recognize them and respond in a timely manner with an appropriate mitigation response.
    Ranking Member Capito has long been a supporter of this effort, using her role on the Appropriations Committee to drive resources to help Marshall grow their cyber security emphasis. In August, Senator Capito hosted U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly at Marshall University’s Institute for Cyber Security and the National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure.

    $12,600,000 HHS CDS award to West Virginia University (WVU) (Morgantown, W.Va.) for the expansion and renovation of existing WVU School of Dentistry clinical space and the consolidation of all postgraduate programs on the Health Sciences Center campus. The renovations and upgrades will transform dental education and practice to meet the oral health needs of West Virginians, provide excellence in training for new generations of dental professionals, enable the school to compete for and retain well-qualified faculty and students, and propel dental research to further support patient care, education, and outreach programming.
    $7,516,000 HHS CDS award to the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) Greenbrier Medical Center, Inc. (Ronceverte, W.Va.) to construct a state-of-the-art facility to house an employed multispecialty physician practice of CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. Currently, the employed physicians supporting the hospital are not located on the campus of the hospital. The current rented locations are neither modern nor accessible and were not constructed to meet the needs of patients and providers.  The new medical staff office building on the CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center campus will support improved access to multispecialty services for the hospital’s patients. It will also enhance the hospital’s ability to attract new physicians and retain the ones already recruited to the area.  The enhanced ease of access will ultimately improve the health of residents in the Greenbrier Valley Region. The project will allow CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center to expand its Family Medicine, Cardiology, Urology, Pulmonology, ENT, and General Surgery departments. It will also provide room for the addition of Neurology Services and a telemedicine hub as CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center becomes a full services community hospital.  

    $5,000,000 HHS CDS award to the Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center (Grantsville, W.Va.) to make the necessary improvements to the hospital building that offers the needed healthcare services for the community in order for those services to remain uninterrupted. This renovation project would provide new clinical, dietary, and laboratory space for patients. Also included in this phased project would be the remodel of the emergency department, ancillary therapies, and pharmacy. These renovations would enable Minnie Hamilton to provide the needed healthcare services to one of the most underserved regions of West Virginia. The current facility is over 60 years old and has exceeded its useful life. Completion of this project would ensure those healthcare services remain for the next 30-40 years.

    $5,000,000 HHS CDS award to Camden-on-Gauley Medical Center (Camden on Gauley, W.Va.) to construct a new building in Summersville, W.Va. that will contain the organization’s administrative offices, optical, x-ray, and physical therapy services. Camden Family Health plans to transition all administrative functions to this proposed building, along with the health center’s optical, physical therapy, and x-ray services. The construction of a new building and the transfer of services will provide increased access to patients, as the existing space that houses administrative services is in proximity to patients served.

    $3,000,000 HHS CDS award to Summers County (Hinton, W.Va.) to assist the Summers County Commission, in partnership with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. (ARH), in renovating and expanding the emergency department at Summers County ARH Hospital in Hinton, W.Va. Summers County ARH Hospital treated over 4,600 emergency cases in 2022; however, with 1,808 square feet of space, Summers County’s existing emergency department faces numerous challenges in accommodating emergency patients. The emergency department renovation project will be an asset for the entire Summers County community and a resource for the residents of all ages who need the medical services this modern facility will be designed to provide. 
    $1,000,000 HHS CDS award to Potomac Valley Hospital (PVH) of W.Va., Inc. (Keyser, W.Va.) to create a new six-bed observation unit that will enhance Emergency Department (ED) capacity and quality of care by reducing premature discharges and transfers, improving operational efficiency, and lowering costs. By renovating an outdated segment of the existing ED layout, PVH will create a new 1,675 square foot clinical space centered on six dedicated observation beds to take the pressure off of existing inpatient beds and boost the Hospital’s overall capacity.

    $300,000 HHS CDS award to Jefferson County Community Ministries, Inc. (Charles Town, W.Va.) for a homeless shelter that will supply a variety of essential services, including emergency housing, health and medical care, food and clothing, case management and life skills training, and other aid to vulnerable citizens, children, and families in Jefferson County. Currently, there is no homeless shelter or family shelter in Jefferson County region. Jefferson County Community Ministers (JCCM) is working to establish the first emergency shelter for the homeless and vulnerable in Jefferson County, which will include the first family emergency shelter in the Eastern Panhandle.
    $300,000 HHS CDS award to the Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission (Waverly, W.Va.) to replace the outdated Chiller/Air Conditioner at the White Oak Village section of the park to ensure the continued success of the Harmony Ridge Recover Center operation. The replacement and upgrade of the Chiller/Air Conditioning unit for the lodge plays a vital role in continuing treatment services offered by Harmony Ridge Recovery Center.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Clark County Landslide Risk To Be Studied Thanks to Federal Grant

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    09.25.24
    Clark County Landslide Risk To Be Studied Thanks to Federal Grant
    Geological Survey awarded $299,250 to survey portions of Clark County for landslide threats; Grant was made possible by the Cantwell-authored National Landslide Preparedness Act
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that the Washington Geological Survey had been awarded $299,250 to conduct a landslide inventory along State Route 14 in Clark County. The grants were awarded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cantwell-coauthored National Landslide Preparedness Act.
    Washington is one of the most landslide-prone states in the country, and landslides in the Columbia River Gorge have the potential to block or destroy State Route 14, which runs along the Columbia River and connects communities and businesses in central and eastern Washington to southwest Washington. Landslide inventories are conducted by state and federal agencies to gather data about where landslides have occurred in the past, which can then be used to understand which areas are most susceptible in the future. This knowledge allows planners to avoid activities that can trigger landslides and helps emergency services prepare and better respond to their occurrence.
    The National Landslide Preparedness Act, which directed the USGS to award grants such as the one announced today, was introduced in 2020 by Sen. Cantwell and Representative Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), and became law in 2021. The information collected under the Act helps communities plan for and respond to natural hazards, update the nation’s topographical maps, and inform public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
    Last week, the USGS released a new, highly detailed map which shows that nearly 44% of the country could experience landslide activity.  The map, which USGS creates regularly as a result of the 3D Elevation Program in the National Landslide Preparedness Act, shows that a significant area of Washington state is susceptible to landslide activity.  The new map expands the scope of assessment to include the entire country, using much higher resolution data than was previously available.
    In February, Sen. Cantwell joined U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in introducing a bill to reauthorize and expand the National Landslide Preparedness Act for 10 years, through Fiscal Year 2034.
    Fatal landslides in Washington and Alaska have highlighted the urgent need to better understand and prepare for landslide hazards. The 2014 landslide near Oso, Washington took the lives of 43 people and devastated a community in about two minutes, and a number of recent landslides in Southeast Alaska have killed 12 people – including in Ketchikan last month, in Wrangell in November 2023, and in Haines in December 2020, among others. Landslides kill 25 to 50 people and cause between $1.6 billion and $3.2 billion in damage in the U.S. annually, according to the U.S. Geological Service and National Research Council. These statistics are expected to worsen because of climate change.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito-Authored Language Leads to Additional Funding in Fight Against Opioids

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced $45,774,615 to West Virginia from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program. Since the creation of the SOR grant program in 2018, Ranking Member Capito has secured over $200 million for West Virginia to fight the opioid epidemic.
    “With help from the SOR grant program, West Virginia has made strides in the fight against opioids with education and by expanding the discussion around Substance Use Disorder and Medication Assisted Treatment,” Ranking Member Capito said. “Recent provisional data shows a historic drop in opioid deaths in West Virginia and the SOR grant program has been crucial in this achievement. As Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ve worked hard to ensure our state is eligible to receive resources necessary to combat this crisis, not just a population-based amount. This has included new solutions like the provision I authored to prioritize funds for states hardest hit by the crisis. However, this battle is not over and I will continue to fight to make sure our state has what it needs to finally overcome this crisis.”
    BACKGROUND:
    This funding amount could have been considerably less were it not for language authored by Ranking Member Capito that would ensure states most impacted by the opioid crisis would receive more funding for their efforts. Specifically, Ranking Member Capito raised this issue in 2017 during the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget request hearing when initial discussions began on how to effectively assist the hardest-hit states. Prior to this change, funds were distributed by population, which often put West Virginia at a disadvantage for necessary resources. Ranking Member Capito’s language set aside 15% for states with the highest mortality rates from opioid use. 
    West Virginia has used SOR grants for several purposes, including to:
    Improve coordination across prevention and treatment activities.
    Support the statewide behavioral health infrastructure such as through county coalitions.
    Increase awareness that addiction is a disease and reduce the stigma around medication assisted treatment (MAT) through a statewide media campaign.
    Sponsor treatment for individuals without insurance or insurance that does not cover substance use disorder (SUD).
    Expand access to MAT at all regional jails.
    Train over 1,000 professionals on effective MAT practices especially on pregnant and postpartum women, opioid overdose survivors, and hospital emergency departments.
    Broaden the curriculum at the three medical schools in the state.
    Establish Quick Response Teams (QRT).
    Provide after-hours transportation and expanded route access to cover more rural areas through the West Virginia Public Transit Authority to allow individuals to access treatment services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Schumer, Gillibrand Introduce Legislation to Manage & Preserve Plum Island

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced two coordinated pieces of legislation to create a long-term solution for management of Plum Island and to protect the island in perpetuity. Both bills are scheduled to be considered by Senate Committees this week and advance the goal of a long-term solution for management, conservation, and preservation of Plum Island.
    The Plum Island Preservation Study Act requires the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the national significance of Plum Island and the suitability of designating Plum Island as a unit of DOI. This legislation is set to be considered by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.
    The Plum Island Preservation Act would permanently protect Plum Island from development and convene stakeholders, including DOI, to create a management plan for the island. The legislation also requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to submit annual reports to Congress on the progress of this process. This legislation is set to be considered by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
    “I am committed to protecting Plum Island, and creating a management plan is a necessary step to securing its future. These pieces of legislation are important steps that will help establish a timeline and set clear objectives to preserve Plum’s environmental, ecological, and cultural heritage,” said Murphy.
    “Urgent action must safeguard Plum Island—a priceless national treasure that desperately needs and deserves permanent protection. These two bills combine to preserve this threatened pristine resource—an ecological gem home to flora and fauna as well as historically significant landmarks. Expected Senate steps forward this week on the Plum Island Preservation Act and the Plum Island Preservation Study Act are monumental strides to conserve and protect Plum Island for generations to come. Failure to act now endangers this irreplaceable natural gem,” said Blumenthal.
    “For years, I have been fighting tooth and nail to protect and preserve the national treasure that is Plum Island,” said Schumer. “Long Islanders should have input over this natural environment, not some outside ‘high bidder.’ This legislation would take a huge step forward in ensuring this natural wonder is permanently preserved for generations to come, a true win for Long Island, the environment, its rich history, and the communities and advocates who have fought so hard to preserve Plum Island.”
    “Plum Island holds significant importance in our nation’s animal research and biodefense, and as this critical mission reaches its conclusion, we must protect Plum Island’s unique ecological habitat, shared cultural heritage, and history of military operations. I have worked for years alongside my colleagues and local stakeholders to achieve this vision, and I am proud to cosponsor the Plum Island Preservation Act to ensure the long-term preservation of Plum Island and its responsible management,” said Gillibrand.
    Situated in Long Island Sound between Connecticut and New York, Plum Island is a federally-owned 840-acre island home to several endangered and vulnerable species. The island also houses the Fort Terry and Plum Island Lighthouses, two locations on the National Register of Historic Places. The Connecticut and New York delegations have been working extensively with DOI, GSA, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to solidify the future of Plum Island, and these pieces of legislation mark landmark progress in the fight to establish a long-term management plan and to permanently preserve the island.
    The full text of the Plum Island Preservation Act can be found HERE, and the full text of the Plum Island Preservation Study Act can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN L. JACKSON CALLS FOR REFORM AFTER BIPARTISAN SENATE REPORT ON SECRET SERVICE FAILURES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    Senate Releases Bipartisan Report on Secret Service Failures During Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump

    CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN L. JACKSON CALLS FOR REFORM AFTER BIPARTISAN SENATE REPORT ON SECRET SERVICE FAILURES

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Date: September 25, 2024

    Senate Releases Bipartisan Report on Secret Service Failures During Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, released a bipartisan interim report detailing significant security failures by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) during the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

    The report, led by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rand Paul (R-KY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ron Johnson (R-WI), highlights critical lapses in security planning, communications, and coordination that directly contributed to the incident. Key findings include a lack of a clear chain of command, poor coordination with state and local law enforcement, inadequate resources and equipment, and a failure to secure the site effectively.

    Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, stated, “The Secret Service’s failures that allowed an assassination attempt on former President Trump were shocking, unacceptable, and preventable. Our bipartisan interim report makes recommendations for needed reforms to address these serious failures and ensure the Secret Service has the tools and resources they need to prevent another disaster like this from happening.”

    Senator Rand Paul, Ranking Member, added, “Our initial findings clearly show a series of multiple failures of the U.S. Secret Service and an inexcusable dereliction of duty. Someone needs to be held accountable for these egregious failures.”

    In response to this report, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson stated:

    There is no place for violence in American politics.  That is why I joined with my colleagues in the House to unanimously approve additional funding for the U.S. Secret Service. But funding alone is not enough, the Secret Service needs significant reforms.  In addition to the multiple attempts and plots against the former President, we have seen a rise in threats against Supreme Court Justices and other elected officials and candidates for office. 

    Additionally, we must lower the temperature of American political discourse.  We said this after the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabbi Gifford, we said the same thing after the attempted assassination of Congressman Steve Scalise, and we said the same thing after the FIRST attempted assassination of former President Trump.  The stakes are too high for us to continue business as usual.  Not only are our lives on the line, but our republic is also on the line.  If we fall into government based on violence, threats, fear, and intimidation; we lose the last bastion of freedom, liberty, and justice in the world.

    America is the last best hope for a better world, we cannot allow political division and violence to destroy the dreams of our founder.”

    The report also includes recommendations to improve the Secret Service’s protective mission, emphasizing the need for better communication, enhanced coordination with other law enforcement agencies, and upgraded technology and resources.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken meets with Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets with Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Member States in New York City, New York, on September 25, 2024.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-with-qatari-prime-minister-and-minister-of-foreign-affairs-mohammed-bin-abdulrahman-al-thani-and-gcc-secretary-general-jasem-mohamed-al-budaiwi-at-a-meeting-with-the-foreig/

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
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    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

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    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Es9XgyvVHU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foster Legislation to Research Windstorms Passes Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, the bipartisan National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Max Miller (R-OH), passed out of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

    This legislation reauthorizes the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program through Fiscal Year 2029, providing critical funding for the program to continue its research into how to mitigate the injuries and property damage caused by windstorms. It also directs the program to develop and implement new standards to make housing and infrastructure more resilient, and to study the impacts of climate change on windstorms.

    “From a devastating EF-3 tornado striking Naperville and Woodridge in 2021 to a record number of tornadoes hitting northern Illinois in 2023, our community is no stranger to the threat of severe weather. The science is clear: These storms will continue to grow more frequent and powerful with the effects of climate change,” said Rep. Foster. “That’s why I’m proud to lead the effort in Congress to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, which will provide critical resources to continue the program’s research and ensure we are all safer the next time a windstorm strikes.”

    The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program is a research and implementation program that combines the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation. The last formal authorization bill for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program expired in 2017.

    A copy of the bill can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces the appointment of a senator

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, appointed Suze Youance as an independent senator to fill a vacancy in the Senate for Quebec.

    Ms. Youance is originally from Haiti and immigrated to Canada in 2006, making a name for herself in the fields of engineering, teaching, and research. She has worked for several engineering firms and has taught for many years at the École de technologie supérieure in Montréal. She is also a dedicated volunteer, a television personality, and the recipient of several awards, including the Casimir Gzowski gold medal from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.

    Ms. Youance was recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments and chosen using a merit-based process open to all Canadians. Introduced in 2016, this process ensures senators are independent, and are able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

    Quote

    “I congratulate Ms. Youance on her appointment to the Senate. Her experience will make her a strong voice for Quebec and for people across the country.”

    Quick Facts

    • The Senate is the Upper House in Canada’s parliamentary democracy.
    • Candidate submissions were reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which provided recommendations to the Prime Minister. The Board is guided in its work by public, transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based criteria to identify highly qualified candidates for the Senate.
    • With today’s announcement, there have been 88 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. All of them were recommended by the Board.
    • Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.
    • Once appointed by the Governor General, new senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial and territorial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.

    Biographical Note

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Aguilar Announces $676,348 for 11 Bridges in San Bernardino

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

    Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that he secured a $676,348 Bridge Planning Grant for the City of San Bernardino to rehabilitate 11 priority bridges with identified structural deficiencies to improve resident safety. This program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rep. Aguilar helped pass. 

    “The safety and structural soundness of our bridges are fundamental concerns for the welfare of San Bernardino residents,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “This $676,348 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration will address immediate issues with the integrity of our community’s bridges and infrastructure.” 

    “Making sure that the bridges and crossings along our key corridors are sound and safe is of vital importance,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran. “These Federal funds will allow us to plan for the rehabilitation of these bridges and ensure their safety now.”  

    The 11 bridges designated by the City of San Bernardino for rehabilitation through this grant funding are Santa Ana River (Waterman Avenue), East Twin Creek Channel (Baseline Road), Mill Street Overhead, Lytle Creek (Rialto Avenue), Lytle Creek East Branch (Inland Center Drive), Twin Warm Creek (Mill Street), Del Rosa Channel (Pumalo Street), Lytle Creek East Branch (4th Street), East Twin Creek Channel (21st Street), Twin Warm Creek (Rialto Avenue) and Twin Warm Creek Channel (Orange Show Road).

    The funding comes as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s $26.5 million investment in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project’s primary focus is planning activities for rehabilitation work to address structural deficiencies, ensuring the bridges meet current safety standards and reducing the likelihood of accidents or failures for all bridge users. 

    The project will address critical safety efficiency and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridges, ensuring the City’s economic continuity and growth. Enhancing these bridges will prevent major travel delays for residents and essential goods within San Bernardino.

    Rep. Aguilar serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Statement on Fix our Forests Act

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

    September 24, 2024

    “Today, I joined a bipartisan group of House Members to pass the Fix Our Forests Act. This legislation will help prevent devastating megafires like those that have blazed through large swathes of the American West in recent years.These wildfires threaten numerous communities across the country that are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. These disasters also damage our planet by releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gasses. We must balance our work to address pressing climate concerns and enforce key environmental protection laws with our effort to mitigate megafire risk and protect our communities. This bill helps us make progress toward that goal.

    “From implementing key climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act through my work on the Regional Leadership Council to advancing my proposed Combatting Global Deforestation Act to standing up for the health of Maryland’s public lands and waters, I will continue working on new solutions to address the climate crisis.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Acrisure Stadium to Become a Mission Ready Venue

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Acrisure Stadium to Become a Mission Ready Venue

    Acrisure Stadium to Become a Mission Ready Venue

    Serving as a Vital Location During Disasters and Part of the NFL and FEMA’s National Strategy to Make Venues Mission Capable During Disasters

    PENNSYLVANIA — Stadiums and venues provide a central and accessible location to help communities respond to extreme weather crises, providing safe storage and shelter in times of need. With these events becoming more frequent, severe, and expensive, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier today announced that Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers football, and a venue for touring concerts and events, will be among the first NFL venues to be designated as a Mission Ready Venue that can be used during response and recovery missions. Through Mission Ready Venues, a public-private partnership, Acrisure Stadium will increase its capabilities to better sustain public safety and be a source of support for the southwestern Pennsylvania community. The designation identifies the ways Acrisure Stadium could be used for response and recovery activities during declared emergencies or disasters.

    “We’re honored that Acrisure Stadium is among the first four NFL stadiums selected for Mission Ready Venue designation,” said James V. Sacco, Vice President of Stadium Operations & Management for Acrisure Stadium. Working collaboratively with the facility owner – the Sports and Exhibition Authority – this designation positions the stadium to partner seamlessly with local, state and federal government officials to serve the Pittsburgh community in a time of crisis or disaster. 

    During large-scale emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, or tornadoes, we’ve seen how large music, sports and entertainment venues can serve as a safe space for communities,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “This new strategy we’re launching with the NFL is a groundbreaking opportunity to help our partners use these venues for emergency response and recovery needs, while keeping communities safe and making them more resilient. While we are starting with the NFL, all venues across sports organizations and leagues can become assets to their communities, and I encourage them to join in this collaborative effort as we grapple with the impacts of the climate crisis.”

    “Stadiums are valuable community assets that are often used in times of disasters,” said NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier. “This designation reflects the role that many stadiums play, not only on Sundays, but especially in times of need. We are proud to work with FEMA and first responders at the local and state level to ensure disaster response agencies have the information and tools they need to help a community recover when disaster strikes.” 

    According to the NYU School of Professional Studies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, stadiums and arenas can improve the public health and well-being of their communities —including pandemic response during COVID-19. 

    “Identifying facilities in the community that can be used to support emergency management functions before a disaster or emergency occurs is critically important to ensuring an effective response and recovery,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield. “The private sector has always been a committed partner and their willingness to participate in programs like this strengthens planning efforts at the local, state and federal level.”

    Given the size, capabilities, and locations of large sports venues, these existing community assets can serve the public in a variety of ways including emergency shelters, staging areas, commodity distribution sites, evacuation pick up points, disaster recovery centers, mass vaccination and testing, temporary hospitals and more. FEMA and the NFL recognized this unique opportunity for collaboration and are enlisting the support of venue owners, operators, and the tenants of these facilities to work with government officials in the planning and preparation for emergency or disaster response and recovery efforts. To receive an official Mission Ready Venue designation, venues must undergo a comprehensive assessment to determine what capabilities the venue may be able to support in emergency and disaster response and recovery efforts. The designation highlights the following attributes of selected venues: 

    • Provide Safety and Security: Stadiums are usually centrally located, close to major roadways and transportation hubs, and critical services like hospitals. If used to respond to a disaster, the designation will save valuable time and resources and will further enhance coordination between the public and private sectors during disaster response and recovery. 
    • Provide Accessibility: Stadiums are also compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and can support persons with disabilities and others with access or functional needs. Additionally, 73% of NFL venues are accessible by mass transportation. This provides an avenue to promote equitable service to underserved populations to access potentially critical lifesaving/life sustaining services after an event. 
    • Strengthen Community Resilience: Stadiums and arenas are a focal point of communities and help strengthen social networks by enhancing connections between residents with home team pride. These Mission Ready Venues can boost morale amidst disaster. By providing a more robust and resilient environment, these venues can enhance social networks amongst survivors while providing ample opportunities to establish connections with the venue’s main tenants.
    • Ensure Unity of Effort: Coordination of stadium resources and services can support survivors and responders and help stabilize an incident quickly. Since stadiums are fixed locations, resources and services can be deployed quickly. This promotes the community’s physical and economic recovery.

    Mission Ready Venue designations are for five-year increments with a yearly check-in to ensure continued readiness of the venue. Redesignation will be necessary every five years and designation does not supersede any agreements with state, local or private sector entities.

    ###

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3

    erika.osullivan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barragán to Join Presidential Delegation led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Attend Inauguration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

    September 24, 2024

    Contact: Kevin McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)

    Kevin.McGuire@mail.house.gov

    Washington D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) released the following statement after the White House announced that she will be part of the official Presidential Delegation, led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, that will travel to Mexico City to attend the inauguration of Her Excellency Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. President-Elect Sheinbaum Pardo is the first woman elected to Mexico’s presidency.

    “It’s a true honor to join Dr. Biden and the Presidential Delegation to represent the United States at President-Elect Sheinbaum Pardo’s historic inauguration,” said Rep. Barragán.  “As our neighbor and trading partner, collaboration between our nations is critical to bolster trade, tackle the climate crisis, reduce delays at our ports of entry and address root causes of migration. Her Excellency’s inauguration and new administration will bring renewed partnership on critical issues that impact the lives of our people. I look forward to celebrating this historic achievement for Mexico with Dr. Biden and the Delegation, and working with President-elect Sheinbaum Pardo to build on over 200 years of strong bilateral relations.”

    Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of Her Excellency Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on October 1, 2024, in Mexico City, Mexico.

    Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, will lead the delegation.

    Members of the Presidential Delegation Include:

    • The Honorable Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
    • The Honorable Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    • The Honorable Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration
    • The Honorable Chris Murphy, United States Senator, Connecticut
    • The Honorable Nanette Barragán, United States Representative, California and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
    • The Honorable Regina Romero, Mayor of Tucson
    • The Honorable Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor of The White House
    • Mr. Carlos Elizondo, Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary

    # # #

    Congressmember Nanette Barragán represents California’s 44th District.  She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and works on environmental justice and healthcare issues.  She is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 3277, a bill to amend the Marine Debris Act to reauthorize the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 3277 would reauthorize the appropriation of $15 million annually through 2028 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate the Marine Debris Program. The program supports efforts to remove plastics, discarded fishing gear, and other harmful materials from the marine environment. Under current law, the program was authorized through 2023; in 2024, NOAA allocated $6 million for the program. The agency also received $30 million annually from 2022 through 2026 to operate the program from advance appropriations in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Those amounts were designated as an emergency requirement. 

    Based on historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that reauthorizing the Marine Debris Program would cost $60 million over the 2025-2029 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Will Rollins caught using actors as fake cops in ads: Video investigation

    Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    September 25, 2024

    Extreme liberal Will Rollins got caught using actors as fake police officers in his campaign ads, a shameless attempt to mask his soft-on-crime record. This latest deception follows a pattern of misinformation by Rollins, who was even reprimanded by a judge for “misleading” voters.

    “Will Rollins is so desperate to hide his soft-on-crime record letting criminals off easy, he’s resorted to hiring Hollywood actors to play dress-up. Riverside County voters deserve the truth, not a phony lying politician like Rollins.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

    In case you missed it…

    Revealed: House Candidate Will Rollins Uses Actors To Portray Cop and Judge in Campaign Ad in Latest Exaggeration of ‘Tough on Crime’ Chops
    Washington Free Beacon
    Collin Anderson

    Will Rollins, the Democratic challenger in a hotly contested Southern California congressional race, is leaning heavily on his prosecutorial record on the campaign trail. He is even using professional actors to play law enforcement officials in a campaign ad, the Washington Free Beacon found. The ad shows Rollins, a former prosecutor, hard at work in various law enforcement settings, chatting with a detective at a roadside crime scene, arguing before a judge in a courtroom, and conferring with officers in what appears to be a police workroom.

    Rollins is running on his record as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, where he claims he fought the Sinaloa cartel, MS-13, and ISIS. A series of recent Free Beacon reports found no evidence to back up many of his claims—and evidence that he exaggerated or embellished others.

    “Will Rollins, a counterterrorism prosecutor, took on ISIS terrorists and went after the Sinaloa cartel to stop illegal drugs from crossing our border,” a Rollins ad released in February states. It shows the candidate speaking in front of a judge and conversing with a cop.

    The spot is intended to showcase Rollins’s deep connection to law enforcement. But the cop and judge aren’t real—they’re C-list actors with long lists of cameos and credits, including on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and lesser-known flicks like the Chinese-produced teacher-student romance Ms. Swan, Show Me Love.

    The revelation is the latest example of how Rollins is using misrepresentation, showmanship, and exaggeration to burnish his law enforcement record as he seeks to unseat longtime GOP incumbent Ken Calvert, whom Rollins has attacked for “failing to respect law enforcement.”

    The judge shown in Rollins’s ad is the actor, dancer, and choreographer Jayson Wright. Following stints as a backup dancer for the likes of Pink and Justin Timberlake, Wright turned to acting. He played a “bar patron” in a 2022 episode of Grey’s Anatomy, sipping whiskey by himself as the camera panned to Ellen Pompeo. Wright made a brief, nonspeaking appearance as a detective in Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show, where he appeared emerging silently from his office in the background as main character Vince talked with two (also fake) cops.

    Wright did secure a speaking role in Ms. Swan, Show Me Love, an online “micro-series” produced by Chinese-owned video streaming app ReelShort that depicts a forbidden romance between a new teacher, Ms. Swan, and a student at a prestigious private high school.

    Wright plays a patron at a local bar where a scantily clad Ms. Swan works nights. When Ms. Swan delivers Wright’s character a beer and asks if there’s “anything else” she can get him, he responds, creepily, “It’s possible…”

    The cop Rollins huddles with in his ad, meanwhile, is Jeff Deglow, a 40-year-old Calgary, Alberta, native who moved to the United States as a college student “to pursue acting as a career.”

    Deglow got his start performing in a “Shakespearean show” in Arizona. He touts his “incredible handle on Shakespearean text,” though he has lamented that he “always seem[s] to play the Fools.”

    […]

    Campaigns do often use actors in their ads, but it’s typically to provide voiceover skills, or they’re used for just their hands. Rollins’s use of actors, showing their faces in specific roles, is unusual, even more so in that his ads don’t contain disclosures.

    Indeed, there appears to be no acknowledgment anywhere of the actors’ roles. Wright and Deglow have not disclosed their work in the Rollins ad publicly—despite showcasing much of their output online, as is customary for working actors. Wright did not respond to a request for comment, while Deglow confirmed his participation in the ad but declined to comment further. Rollins’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Mvar Media, the Democratic advertising firm that Rollins has paid more than $180,000 for “ad production” and other services since May 2023.

    Read more here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Tropical Storm Helene

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    During emergency events, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works with its federal, state, local, and non-governmental partners to support the needs of the people in the areas that may be impacted.

    In such circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remind the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones.

    At the request of FEMA or local and state authorities, ICE and CBP may help conduct search and rescue, air traffic de-confliction and public safety missions. ICE and CBP provide emergency assistance to individuals regardless of their immigration status. DHS officials do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any enforcement activities.

    DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of a natural disaster or emergency event is able to do so regardless of their immigration status.

    DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, ethnicity, disability or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

    For information about filing a complaint with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties about these matters, please visit our Make a Civil Rights Complaint page.

    MIL Security OSI –