NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Introduces Pesticide Injury Accountability Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act, legislation that would ensure that pesticide manufacturers can be held responsible for the harm caused by their toxic products. Specifically, this bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) to create a federal right of action for anyone who is harmed by a toxic pesticide.

    Despite growing peer-reviewed scientific evidence linking widely used pesticides to a host of health harms including cancers, birth defects, endocrine disruption, Parkinson’s disease, and infertility, a coordinated effort is being led by pesticide manufacturers in state legislatures and in Congress seeking legal immunity – a liability shield – for these big corporations.

    If these largely foreign-owned companies are successful, this liability shield would leave farmers, farmworkers, and other injured individuals without meaningful recourse for the harms caused by these toxic substances. 

    Chemical companies are seeking liability shields because they know the harm their products have already caused. Syngenta, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company ChemChina, reached a $187.5 million settlement in 2021 for paraquat-related Parkinson’s disease claims. Monsanto, now owned by Germany’s Bayer, has paid billions of dollars to settle lawsuits linking Roundup (glyphosate) to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

    “Rather than providing a liability shield so that foreign corporations are allowed to poison the American people, Congress should instead pass the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act to ensure that these chemical companies can be held accountable in federal court for the harm caused by their toxic products,” said Senator Booker.

    “CHD opposes any liability shield for any industry that has a direct impact on the health of the American people,” said Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense. “Granting blanket immunity to corporations who have a fiscal responsibility to their shareholders, and not a responsibility to consumer safety, is one of the most dangerous propositions imaginable. CHD sincerely thanks Senator Booker for his leadership in sponsoring this critical piece of legislation to protect the American people over corporations.”

    “No one can dispute that crop pesticides are poisons. They are designed to kill weeds, but they also kill non-target plants and there is sound evidence linking them to human health problems,” said Jim Goodman, president of the National Family Farm Coalition. “To date, Bayer alone has paid out over $11 billion in legal settlements for medical problems caused by their herbicide Roundup. To avoid paying for damages caused by their poisons, agri-chemical companies routinely lobby for federal and state laws that shield them from any liability for the damages they are responsible for. People sickened by their poisons go bankrupt paying for their medical care and sometimes ultimately die. The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025 will hold agri-chemical companies accountable for the irreparable harms they cause.”

    “Moms Across America strongly supports the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act, which reaffirms our 7th Amendment right to sue for harm or damage,” said Zen Honeycutt, Founding Executive Director, Moms Across America. “It is unconscionable that corporations are pushing our elected officials to manipulate laws so that they can avoid accountability for safety and protect their profits over the health and safety of Americans. We must protect the American people from harm – especially from products that are proven to cause infertility, cancer, liver disease and many other negative health effects.”

    “People exposed to and suffering from the health effects of toxic chemicals should not be denied their right to seek justice,” said Geoff Horsfield, Policy Director, Environmental Working Group. “We applaud Senator Booker for his efforts to protect the rights of farmers, rural communities, workers, children and families.”

    “Granting legal immunity to pesticide manufacturers would leave farmers and their families with no way to seek justice after suffering health or crop damage from these chemicals,” said Kelly Ryerson, Co-Founder, American Regeneration. “Farmers have a right to hold companies accountable and protect their livelihoods from devastating illness.” 

    Last month, Senator Booker led a group of 20 of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to oppose any efforts to limit existing state and local authority to regulate pesticides in the upcoming Farm Bill or any other legislation.  

    To see a full list of endorsing organizations, click here.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Statement on Senate Judiciary Republicans Attempt to Push Emil Bove Through Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:

    “Today, in their desperate attempt to push through a scandal-ridden nominee, my Republican colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee tried to silence Democrats raising legitimate concerns about Emil Bove.

    “By doing so, the Republican party has surrendered the Senate’s constitutional duty to advise and consent on nominees, in order to blindly execute Donald Trump’s agenda and place an undeserving Trump loyalist on the federal bench.

    “As hard as they try, my Republican colleagues can’t ignore the truth: Emil Bove is alarmingly unfit to serve a lifetime appointment to one of the highest courts in our country. They are too afraid to thoroughly examine his record and debate the merits of his nomination. This is a profound disappointment.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warnock Renews Effort to Address Bias in Housing Appraisals, Help Families Build Generational Wealth through Homeownership

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Warnock Renews Effort to Address Bias in Housing Appraisals, Help Families Build Generational Wealth through Homeownership

    Senator Reverend Warnock’s legislation would empower Georgians with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values
     For most Americans, the largest driver of wealth is their home. This makes it important to have accurate, unbiased home valuations
    Research from Brookings has found homes in Black neighborhoods are valued roughly 21% to 23% below what their valuations would be in non-Black neighborhoods
    In March, Senator Warnock introduced a comprehensive legislative package of housing bills to address the ongoing housing affordability and availability crisis in the United States
    ICYMI from The Atlanta Voice: Warnock leads Senatorial effort to even the playing field in home appraisals
    Senator Warnock: “This bill is an important next step in helping Georgia families and all Americans realize the full value of their homes, and it empowers them with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values”
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and five of his Senate colleagues introduced new legislation to address appraisal bias in the home buying and selling processes. Housing appraisals are supposed to provide an objective estimate of a home’s market value to ensure homebuyers pay a fair price and homeowners receive the full value of their home. Unfortunately, systemic bias in the appraisal process has disadvantaged families of color for far too long. To combat appraisal biases faced by many current and aspiring homeowners, Senator Warnock’s Appraisal Modernization Act empowers Georgians with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values. The legislation would:
    Increase transparency to support oversight and enforcement against bias by requiring the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to publish an online database of property-level appraisal and other home valuation data that lenders collect in connection with a mortgage application.
    Protect and empower consumers by codifying a consumer’s right to appeal a home valuation (also known as a Reconsideration of Value (ROV)) or request a second appraisal and directing the development of standardized policies to ensure consistent treatment of consumers who request an ROV or second appraisal.
    Together, these provisions will empower consumers to realize the full value of their homes. The urgency of this legislation was only further heightened when, last week, the Trump administration announced it was ending the federal task force dedicated to removing racial bias from the appraisal process. 
    “Home valuations are a critical part of the mortgage lending process and ensuring families can build generational wealth through homeownership,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “This bill is an important next step in helping Georgia families and all Americans realize the full value of their homes, and it empowers them with more data and tools to fight bias that would lower their homes’ values.”
    “I am very proud to continue the work I started as County Executive to make homeownership more equitable and accessible. As County Executive I signed a law that outlawed appraisal bias in Prince George’s County – and now it’s time we outlaw it across the nation. Home ownership should not be just a dream for the rich but an opportunity for all. Many Marylanders see home ownership as the surest way to build wealth, and they’re right. This legislation will increase transparency, protect consumers, and give Marylanders a true chance to thrive,” said Senator Alsobrooks.
    “Too many families of color suffer from systemic biases in the home appraisal process,” said Senator Booker. “One of the largest drivers of wealth for Americans is their home, and the color of your skin should not be a determinant of your home’s value. This bill is a critical step in ensuring more reliable appraisal methods, and empowering consumers to appeal potentially discriminatory valuations.”
    “For far too long, the American Dream of buying a home has been kept out of reach for families of color by a system that is fundamentally broken,” said Senator Kim. “Every family should be able to achieve that dream, and this bill will take common sense steps to make the changes needed to make those dreams come true.”
    Inconsistency in the appraisal market can disrupt the entire housing ecosystem by improperly inflating or deflating home values, while bias can perpetuate historic disinvestment in communities of color and contribute to the widening racial and ethnic wealth and homeownership gaps. That is why industry stakeholders and fair housing advocates have long supported increasing transparency in appraisal data and why most responsible lenders believe ROV is an important part of maintaining the integrity of the appraisal process. Several studies have also identified a clear relationship between lower valuations and Black neighborhoods and revealed overt references to race in appraisals. On average, today White families hold $1.3 million in wealth, compared to $211,000 for Black and $227,000 for Latino families. For most Americans, the largest driver of wealth is their home. This makes it important to have accurate, unbiased home valuations.
    “An appraisal has the power to determine the value of a consumer’s most important financial asset and can hold the key to determining whether the consumer is able to purchase a permanent home rather than rent, access credit on reasonable terms, and build wealth for generations to come,” said Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President of the National Fair Housing Alliance® (NFHA ). “NFHA commends Senator Warnock and his colleagues for a sensible bill designed to help consumers, appraisers, and lenders obtain the data necessary to ensure home valuations are fair and consistent.”
    “The Housing Policy Council (HPC) has long advocated for extending access to GSE data to all market participants, to enhance risk management models and practices across the housing finance ecosystem. Shared access to all government appraisal data would be a good first step to accomplish this worthy goal. HPC looks forward to working with Senator Warnock on this important policy objective,” said Ed DeMarco, President of the Housing Policy Council.
    “As President of NAMB, I will always support any legislation that ensures the fairness, protection, and privacy of homebuyers, and I applaud Senator Warnock for leading this effort. The reality is that we must be thorough in the quest to protect consumers, and we hope that your colleagues will consider this important bill as it navigates the legislative process,” said James Nabors II, President of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.
    “The Appraisal Modernization Actis a vital first step toward remedying the decades of discrimination that have been baked into the home valuation system. The public appraisal database will enable researchers to develop more reliable valuation methods that do not rely on old data tainted by unacceptable attitudes and practices. And strengthening the consumer’s right to appeal a defective valuation will help them to protect their home equity going forward,” said Andrew Pizor, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
    “For most homeowners, their home represents family, stability and their primary financial asset,” says Laura Arce, senior vice president, Economic Initiatives at UnidosUS. “The economic value of that home includes many factors, but the race or ethnicity of its owner should not be one of them. UnidosUS supports the Appraisal Modernization Actand applauds its sponsors, Senators Warnock, Alsobrooks, Blunt Rochester, Kim, Warren, and Booker. The home appraisal industry is overdue modernization, and this bill will bring needed transparency and a common sense right to appeal to the appraisal process. American families should not have to continue to leave equity behind.”
    As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees federal housing policies, Senator Warnock has worked to increase affordable housing and illuminate a path to homeownership, a cornerstone of the American Dream. As one of twelve brothers and sisters growing up in public housing in Savannah, Senator Warnock deeply understands the importance of having a place to call home and homeownership. In March 2025, Senator Warnock introduced a comprehensive legislative package of housing bills to address the ongoing housing affordability and availability crisis in the United States. In the past few years, Senator Warnock voted for government funding legislation that increased America’s housing supply, strengthened housing affordability, and addressed the homelessness crisis, including by: increasing the supply of affordable housing nationwide with funding to build 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units; extending funding for the Yes In My Backyard (“YIMBY”) grant program to support efforts to increase our nation’s housing supply and lower housing costs through state and local zoning changes; and delivering $275 million in new funding for Homeless Assistance Grants to help address homelessness in communities across the country and providing new resources to better connect people experiencing homelessness with health care services. Senator Warnock has also secured nearly $80 million in housing investments to provide affordable housing options for Georgians at all income levels and repair hazardous housing conditions in low-income housing units. 
    In addition to Senator Warnock, the Appraisal Modernization Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). 
    A fact sheet on the legislation can be found HERE.
    Bill text for the Appraisal Modernization Act can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warnock, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Child Care Workforce, Increase Access to Early Head Start Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Warnock, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Child Care Workforce, Increase Access to Early Head Start Programs

    The bipartisan HEADWAY Act would address staffing shortages in the child care workforce by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously

    Senator Reverend Warnock is one of two Head Start alum currently serving in the Senate

    Senator Warnock is also a founding member of the Head Start to Congress Caucus

    As of February 2023, nearly 20% of Early Head Start and Early Head Start staff positions remained vacant nationwide

    Senator Warnock: “I’m where I am today because of programs like Head Start”

    Senator Capito: “Workforce shortages in childcare centers, including in Head Start and Early Head Start, can be particularly challenging for families and communities because so many parents rely on consistent childcare to be able to work”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act). The legislation would address early child care workforce shortages by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously. As of February 2023, nearly 20% of Early Head Start and Early Head Start staff positions remained vacant nationwide.

    The HEADWAY Act would also help pave the way for greater hiring flexibility, attract more qualified candidates to the profession of early childhood education, and ensure that Early Head Start classrooms are fully staffed.

    “I’m where I am today because of programs like Head Start,” said Senator Warnock, who is one of two Head Start alums currently serving in the Senate.“Ensuring our nation’s children have access to quality childcare and excellent teachers is crucial, which is why I am so pleased to work across the aisle with Senator Capito on this effort. As the father of two young kids, I know how crucial education is during those formative years to their continued growth.”

    “Workforce shortages in childcare centers, including in Head Start and Early Head Start, can be particularly challenging for families and communities because so many parents rely on consistent childcare to be able to work. I am proud to help introduce the HEADWAY Act, which will add staff to Early Head Start classrooms, and give early-career childcare workers the skills, mentorship, and experience they need to thrive,” Senator Capito said.

    “The HEADWAY Act addresses two serious workforce challenges: it provides added flexibility for Early Head Start to hire and train those new to the early childhood workforce, and it enables the beginning of a career path in early childhood education for those who are interested in the field but still need training. The HEADWAY Act provides a career stepping stone, improves Early Head Start’s capacity to serve, and ensures we remain competitive and adaptable in an ever-changing workforce market,” said NHSA’s Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. “We applaud Senators Raphael Warnock – a proud Head Start alumnus – and Shelley Capito for their belief in the potential of our people to bring Head Start to new heights, and helping children and families in Early Head Start to flourish.”

    “We recognize Senators Warnock and Capito for their deep support of Early Head Start and the role the CDA plays in its success. The important thing to remember is that, ultimately, the bill will lead to more teachers with CDAs. We’re at a point where we recognize the need for flexibility to ensure classrooms are fully staffed, as the senators have advanced with their bill. We also believe those who earn a CDA should have that achievement recognized with salary increases.” – The Council for Professional Recognition.

    The HEADWAY Act will allow Head Start to fulfill its commitment to providing high-quality, early childhood education for children from vulnerable families, laying the foundation for their future success. The HEADWAY Act will support Early Head Start learning professionals and give program directors the flexibility they need to respond to employment trends, while still maintaining the high standards and professionalization of the field.

    As a Head Start alum, Senator Warnock has been a strong advocate for the program. Previously, in 2023, Senator Warnock returned to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia, to tour Early Head Start classrooms at the Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) for Savannah-Chatham County and hear from local early learning leaders about the workforce shortages impacting this critical early education program serving low-income families and their children.

    The bill text for the HEADWAY Act is HERE.

    A one-pager for the HEADWAY Act is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Warnock Highlights Consequences of Medical Debt Rule Reversal for Millions of Americans to ABC News Live Prime

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    ICYMI: Warnock Highlights Consequences of Medical Debt Rule Reversal for Millions of Americans to ABC News Live Prime

    Senator Reverend Warnock spoke to ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis about the Trump administration’s decision to reverse policy to keep medical debt off credit reports

    In January 2025, Senator Warnock successfully pressed the CFPB to ban credit lenders from including medical bills in credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in lending decisions

    On July 14, Senator Warnock led 29 colleagues in demanding answers from the CFPB on why the Trump Administration was actively working to add medical debt back onto credit reports

    Senator Reverend Warnock: “This is an issue that impacts millions of Americans”

    Senator Reverend Warnock joins ABC News Live Prime, watch HERE

    Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined ABC News Live Prime with host Linsey Davis to discuss the Trump administration’s decision to add medical debt back onto credit reports. The administration is working to vacate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) medical debt rule finalized in January 2025. The interview follows a Senator Warnock-led effort to demand the CFPB share relevant data and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.

    “This is an issue that impacts literally millions of Americans,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Medical debt is not a good predictor of whether or not people will pay [their debts]. There are a lot of mistakes as it turns out around medical billing.”

    “[Medical debt] drives peoples’ scores down, making it very, very difficult if not impossible to get a mortgage, to get a car loan, to start a small business. As your credit score goes down, of course, everything becomes more expensive. That seems to be a theme of the Trump administration. They’re making everything more expensive,” added Senator Warnock.

    Senator Warnock, a member of the Senate Finance Committee which oversees the federal tax code, continues to stand up in defense of Georgia consumers by holding the CFPB under President Trump accountable. In February, Senator Warnock questioned Trump administration CFPB nominees at a Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing. During the hearing, Senator Warnock asked the nominees if they agreed with President Trump on the CFPB being, ‘A very important thing to get rid of’ and if the agency would address the 266,560 outstanding complaints from Georgians in a timely manner.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Brad Sherman Condemns Settler Violence, Urges Arrests in Killing of U.S. Citizen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) released the following statement: 

    I am the Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, the Ranking Member of the Congress-Knesset Friendship Group, and a lifelong advocate for an ironclad U.S.-Israel relationship. It is in the spirit of that support that I wholeheartedly condemn the heinous recent terrorist murder by extremist Israeli settlers of Sayfollah Musallet, a young Palestinian American visiting family in the West Bank. Just today I discussed this with Israel’s Consul General Israel Bachar and will be expressing these views to Ambassador Yechiel Leiter tomorrow.

    Mr. Musallet was attacked on his family’s property in Area B of the West Bank, where no settlements may be constructed and no settlers should be present. All settlement outposts in Area B, particularly those associated with this incident, should be dismantled. Further fueling the outrage are reports that the assailants prevented ambulances from reaching Mr. Musallet for hours while there still may have been an opportunity to save his life. 

    I join U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in calling this crime what it is: a “criminal and terrorist act.”

    Terrorism, whether its targets be Israelis or Palestinians, is unacceptable and unjustifiable. Tolerance for terrorism anywhere and by any perpetrator is a grave threat to the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians alike. In addition, the U.S.-Israel relationship requires that the Government of Israel brings to justice anyone who commits such a heinous act against an American citizen. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard completes historic Quad Sail to strengthen Indo-Pacific maritime partnership

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    07/17/2025 06:36 PM EDT

    SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) arrived in Guam, July 3, after a landmark multinational sail with representatives aboard from the maritime forces from Australia, India, and Japan—collectively known as the Quad. As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, Quad nations are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region. We are committed to a region where all countries are free from coercion and strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.

    For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Leverage Commercial Weather Data Tools to Mitigate Extreme Weather Risks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04) so Colorado farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can better respond to extreme weather events. The legislation ensures that commercial weather data and tools – using satellites and other space-based technologies – are eligible for funding under the priority research areas for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), boosting investments to mitigate risks for farmers and foresters during extreme weather events. 

    As major weather events become more severe and more frequent, commercial tools like satellite technology can better detect weather to predict and monitor life-threatening conditions in real time, helping communities anticipate floods, monitor droughts, and detect wildfire risk earlier. However, these tools can be expensive and difficult to access, especially in rural areas.

    Pettersen’s legislation ensures that USDA research funding can support the adoption and development of these technologies so that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can use these advanced forecasting tools.

    “Rural Colorado is on the frontlines of severe weather events like wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters,” said Pettersen. “As we continue to see more natural disasters each year, it’s critical that we leverage the best available technology to keep people and property safe. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are better prepared for when the next disaster strikes.”

    “Michigan farmers work tirelessly to provide quality produce for our communities,” said Moolenaar. “Unfortunately, unforeseen severe weather can ruin an entire year of crops unless it is properly prepared for. The Space-Based Agricultural Data Act is a common-sense proposal which will give American farmers and ranchers the tools they need to mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather, so they can continue to grow and raise the food we rely on.”

    “The bill will help innovative small businesses like ours here in CO provide mission critical extreme weather forecasting to farmers and others across rural America,” Thomas Cavett, VP Government Affairs and Strategy, who works and resides in Colorado. “Tomorrow.io applauds Representatives Pettersen and Moolenaar for introducing it.”

    The legislation builds on the innovation already happening in Colorado. Tomorrow.io, a global weather intelligence company with a growing presence in Golden, CO, is deploying commercial weather satellites to improve forecasting capabilities and help communities make data-driven decisions before disaster strikes. These technologies can help local communities plan evacuations, protect crops and livestock, and ensure Coloradans are equipped for extreme weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Leverage Commercial Weather Data Tools to Mitigate Extreme Weather Risks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04) so Colorado farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can better respond to extreme weather events. The legislation ensures that commercial weather data and tools – using satellites and other space-based technologies – are eligible for funding under the priority research areas for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), boosting investments to mitigate risks for farmers and foresters during extreme weather events. 

    As major weather events become more severe and more frequent, commercial tools like satellite technology can better detect weather to predict and monitor life-threatening conditions in real time, helping communities anticipate floods, monitor droughts, and detect wildfire risk earlier. However, these tools can be expensive and difficult to access, especially in rural areas.

    Pettersen’s legislation ensures that USDA research funding can support the adoption and development of these technologies so that farmers, ranchers, and rural communities can use these advanced forecasting tools.

    “Rural Colorado is on the frontlines of severe weather events like wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters,” said Pettersen. “As we continue to see more natural disasters each year, it’s critical that we leverage the best available technology to keep people and property safe. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are better prepared for when the next disaster strikes.”

    “Michigan farmers work tirelessly to provide quality produce for our communities,” said Moolenaar. “Unfortunately, unforeseen severe weather can ruin an entire year of crops unless it is properly prepared for. The Space-Based Agricultural Data Act is a common-sense proposal which will give American farmers and ranchers the tools they need to mitigate the risks of unpredictable weather, so they can continue to grow and raise the food we rely on.”

    “The bill will help innovative small businesses like ours here in CO provide mission critical extreme weather forecasting to farmers and others across rural America,” Thomas Cavett, VP Government Affairs and Strategy, who works and resides in Colorado. “Tomorrow.io applauds Representatives Pettersen and Moolenaar for introducing it.”

    The legislation builds on the innovation already happening in Colorado. Tomorrow.io, a global weather intelligence company with a growing presence in Golden, CO, is deploying commercial weather satellites to improve forecasting capabilities and help communities make data-driven decisions before disaster strikes. These technologies can help local communities plan evacuations, protect crops and livestock, and ensure Coloradans are equipped for extreme weather.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida House Democrats Call for Closure and Demand More Access, Oversight in No Cages in the Everglades Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

    “Trump and Ron DeSantis have exploited legal ambiguity around this Everglades internment camp to avoid any scrutiny of abuses there,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Our bill would shut down this atrocity, strengthen oversight of detention facilities nationwide, and mandate public reporting on costs, conditions, and the treatment of detainees at this detention site, as well as report on any harms to the environment and nearby tribal lands. The public deserves the full truth about what’s happening in and around this facility and they deserve accountability for any laws broken.”

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Florida’s Congressional Democratic delegation introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act to defund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) lawless, inhumane immigration detention site within South Florida’s ecologically sensitive tribal lands, and to ensure more robust access, public data, and Congressional oversight there and in all similar facilities. It was introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), along with her fellow Florida Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Frederica Wilson, (FL-24) Lois Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-9), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23).

    “Trump and Ron DeSantis have exploited legal ambiguity around this Everglades internment camp to avoid any scrutiny of abuses there,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Our bill would shut down this atrocity, strengthen oversight of detention facilities nationwide, and mandate public reporting on costs, conditions, and the treatment of detainees at this detention site, as well as report on any harms to the environment and nearby tribal lands. The public deserves the full truth about what’s happening in and around this facility and  they deserve accountability for any laws broken.”

    “The reports coming out of Trump’s so-called ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ are deeply disturbing,” said Frankel. “Detained immigrants—many of whom have no criminal record—are being denied water, medicine, legal counsel, and other basic human rights. Turning our beloved Everglades—an environmentally protected area that provides drinking water to millions and is home to a treasured national park—into a prison camp is outrageous and un-American. This bill puts a stop to the madness. It bars ICE from using this dangerous and inappropriate facility, ensures Members of Congress have access to detention sites for proper oversight, and demands accountability through an Inspector General review. We need serious immigration reform, not cruel political stunts that waste taxpayer dollars and violate our values.”

    “The Everglades Detention Center is a danger to federal agents, the Florida National Guard, ICE detainees, and others, as it is built on a flood plain and can only withstand a Category 2 hurricane,” said Soto. “ On top of that, ICE detaines are held in inhumane, crowded, hot, and unsanitary conditions—32 to a cage, 83-degree temperatures, non-functioning toilets, and mosquito-infested conditions. This facility should be shut down immediately.”

    “I’m proud to be an original co-sponsor of the No Cages in the Everglades Act and to stand with those courageously exposing the inhumane conditions at this detention facility,” said Cherfilus-McCormick. “No one should be subjected to unsafe, degrading treatment, and we cannot meet these injustices with silence or symbolic gestures. We have a moral responsibility to act decisively. Every person in our custody deserves dignity, safety, and basic human rights.”

    “What’s happening in the Everglades is nothing short of a modern-day immigrant internment camp,” said Frost. “We will not sit back while the State of Florida and the Department of Homeland Security spend hundreds of millions of dollars and partner up to turn protected wetlands into a place of imaginable horror – a hell-on-Earth where hundreds of men are held in cages in tents under the scorching sun under the guide of public safety. This is not security. This is cruelty. This is not immigration policy. This is dehumanization.”

    The No Cages in the Everglades Act bill would: 

    • Prohibit DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from contracting with, funding, or operating any immigration detention facility located in or adjacent to the Everglades.
    • Prevent harm to sacred tribal lands, endangered wildlife, and the Everglades’ ecological balance — which are already under immense pressure. 
    • Explicitly affirm Members of Congress’ right to inspect any facility holding federal immigration detainees, whether it’s owned or operated by the federal government, a state, or a private contractor. This ensures accountability and compliance with federal law.
    • Require the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General to investigate and report on the conditions, costs, and impacts of this facility including its effect on detainees, the environment, and nearby tribal lands, so Congress and the public get the full truth about what’s happening and whether any laws have been broken. 

    This bill is also supported by:

    • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
    • Detention Watch Network
    • Church World Service (CWS)
    • National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

    Read the full text of the legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – Settlement of Canada dispute welcomed by DCANZ

    Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

    Dairy exporters will benefit from the settlement of New Zealand’s CPTPP quota dispute with Canada, as announced by the Government today.
    The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) welcomes the news and congratulates the Government for settling the long-running issue that has been costing New Zealand because of quotas that couldn’t be fully used. DCANZ also acknowledges the work of the previous Government in initiating the dispute process.
    The heart of the issue has been Canada limiting the use of the 16 small quotas that facilitate CPTPP dairy access by allocating the majority of import licenses to its own processors, which mostly don’t use them. This practice, along with quota licence hand-back-and-reallocation happening late in the quota year and no penalties for under-use, has limited other importers with a stronger interest in New Zealand products from using the agreed access. Other administrative processes have also added cost and slowed trade when it does occur.
    In 2023, a panel of trade law experts ruled that Canada’s approach did not comply with the CPTPP agreement requirements to administer the quotas in a manner that provides importers the opportunity to utilise the volumes fully.New Zealand was forced to trigger the mandatory negotiations allowed for under the CPTPP’s rules when Canada didn’t comply with this ruling. While not achieving the preferred immediate move to a simpler on-demand system so that quota licences only go to importers who want to use them, DCANZ agrees that adequate improvements have been made to settle the dispute.
    DCANZ Executive Director Kimberly Crewther says she looks forward to New Zealand exporters enjoying an easier time trading into the 16 CPTPP dairy tariff rate quotas from 1 January 2026.
    “The improved administrative provision that will result from this agreement will make the quotas commercially more usable and valuable for our exporters.
    “Under the agreement, Canada will bring forward the dates for return and reallocation of quota licences that the initial recipients will not use and introduce penalties for recipients who either do not use their allocation or transfer it on to importers who want to use it.
    “This has been a long time coming and we believe it will make a positive difference.
    “We will be watching implementation closely. Significantly, if those changes don’t work, there is also provision that quota allocation could move to our first preference of an on-demand system.”
    In the meantime, Crewther says DCANZ remains concerned that Canadian subsidised exports are continuing to harm New Zealand exporters’ interests in global markets for dairy protein products.
    “Canada needs to be held equally to account for this, via the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
    “Earlier this year, DCANZ joined United States and Australian dairy industry representatives in calling for government action to stop Canada from dumping artificially low-priced dairy protein exports on world markets.
    “Its milk pricing mechanisms are enabling their dairy processors to access milk proteins at below the cost of production and so distort its export of a range of products.
    “This practice is at odds with Canada’s international trade obligations and must be addressed as a matter of urgency under the WTO’s rules.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $93.2 million worth of drugs in St. Petersburg

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/17/2025 06:30 PM EDT

     

    07/17/2025 06:11 PM EDT

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute offloaded nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $93.2 million, in their homeport of St. Petersburg, Thursday, following a 59-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Ogles Urges Investigation Into Belmont University DEI Deception

    Source:

    Washington, DC—Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) sent a formal letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon demanding an immediate compliance review of Belmont University for its alleged rebranding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in defiance of federal law and Executive Order 14173, “Combating Radical Ideologies in Higher Education.”

    Despite public claims of compliance with President Trump’s directive to eliminate DEI programs, Belmont appears to have rebranded its DEI bureaucracy under a new label: “HUB”—Hope, Unity, and Belonging. Leaked video footage and whistleblower reports suggest this rebranding is an intentional effort to deceive federal authorities and continue promoting discriminatory programming under a new name.

    “Belmont University claims to be a Christian institution grounded in Biblical principles—but its administration is injecting anti-gospel DEI ideology into its curriculum,” said Congressman Ogles. “President Trump has rightly demanded that colleges and universities dismantle the DEI cartel or lose federal funding. Belmont officials, however, have been caught on camera bragging about their ‘clever’ scheme to rebrand DEI and continue pushing the same radical agenda under a new name.

    “I am demanding a full investigation into Belmont—and, if necessary, a cut to their federal funding. The preservation of faithful Christian education in Middle Tennessee is non-negotiable.”

    Read The Letter Here

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Supports Three Bills to Bolster American Leadership in Digital Assets, Ban Central Bank Digital Currency in United States

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for three pieces of legislation to bolster American leadership in the digital asset marketplace and to ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States.

    “The increasing adoption of digital assets and the use of blockchain technologies can grow our economy and provide American families with a new opportunity to grow wealth. However, under President Biden, digital assets were attacked, which crushed innovation and created uncertainty for businesses. We want digital asset innovation to happen in America and crypto jobs to be created in America – without ceding ground to foreign countries,” said Rep. Feenstra. “That’s why I voted for three bills to cement American leadership in the digital asset marketplace and to ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States. Under President Trump, we are protecting Americans’ financial security, investing in our economy, and making America the crypto capital of the world.”

    The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act establishes clear roles for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), provides consumer protections through greater transparency and accountability in the marketplace, and helps digital asset firms operate legally and with confidence in the United States.

    The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act provides clear rules of the road for the issuance of payment stablecoins, which are pegged to a stable currency like the U.S. dollar.

    The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act would ban the creation of a central bank digital currency in the United States.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barry Moore cosponsors bipartisan Bridge Investment and Modernization Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Barry Moore

    Washington D.C. – Congressman Barry Moore (AL-01) cosponsored the Bridge Investment and Modernization Act of 2025, introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members Representatives Shomari Figures (AL-02) and Mike Ezell (MS-04).

    This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Bridge Investment Program through 2031 and cuts government red tape that only allowed one large Bridge Investment Program grant per state. Reauthorizing this program will streamline federal funding, ensuring projects like the I-10 Bridge and Bayway Project get the necessary resources needed for completion.

    This legislation will deliver faster, more effective repairs and upgrades to bridges across the nation. The Bridge Investment and Modernization Act was also submitted into the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Portal by Reps. Figures and Ezell for consideration in the reauthorization package, which is expected to come to the floor later this year or early next year.

    “Alabama’s economy depends on strong roads and bridges to transport goods, support businesses, and connect our communities,” said Moore. “I’m proud to support this bill, which makes critical reauthorizations to move federal dollars where they’re needed most while cutting the bureaucratic red tape we see so often in Washington. This bill allows for continued investments in American infrastructure and specifically advances projects like the I-10 Bridge and Bayway Project in Mobile, making travel safer and easier for so many across the Gulf Coast. I will continue working with President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy to ensure we deliver on a new I-10 bridge.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Joins Gallego and Colleagues in Condemning Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    July 17, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and six of her colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). This decision effectively excuses NFCU from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members—primarily active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, Department of Defense employees and their families.
    “In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases – even when accounts showed sufficient funds,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought. “In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.”
    That order was rescinded on July 1, 2025.
    “As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable—or even willing—to fulfill its legal mandate,” the Senators continued. “At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.”
    The letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).
    The full letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:
    Dear Acting Director Vought,
    We write to express profound alarm over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), effectively excusing them from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members – primarily active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, and their families.1 This decision appears to prioritize financial institutions over the very servicemembers the Bureau is charged with protecting. The restitution funds intended to compensate harmed consumers are now at risk of being withheld. This reversal is particularly troubling given your Bureau’s pledge less than three months ago to prioritize protections for military consumers.
    In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases—even when accounts showed sufficient funds. In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Your recent two-page order terminating that consent order provides no detailed explanation or justification for this reversal.
    On April 16, 2025, under your leadership, the Bureau pledged to “focus its enforcement and supervision resources on pressing threats to consumers, particularly service members and their families and veterans.”3 And yet, your abrupt reversal of this consent order suggests your stated commitment to servicemembers is little more than lip service. The CFPB’s mission is to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and to hold lawbreaking companies accountable. Under your direction, it is doing neither. As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable—or even willing—to fulfill its legal mandate. At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.
    Accordingly, we respectfully request answers to the following questions no later than July 30, 2025:
    How much of the $80.6 million in restitution remains unpaid to affected consumers?
    What portion of the $15 million originally designated for the Victims Relief Fund was actually deposited? If any amount was withheld or returned, please explain.
    Were affected consumers notified that the consent order was terminated and that restitution obligations may be altered or withdrawn?
    Was the Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs consulted before the consent order was terminated? If not, why not?
    What was the full legal and factual basis for terminating the consent order?
    What communications or meetings occurred between the CFPB and Navy Federal Credit Union from January 1, 2025, to the present? Please include dates, topics, and participants.
    Who at the CFPB authorized the termination of the consent order, and what internal processes were followed to approve it? Please identify all senior staff, attorneys, and political appointees involved.
    Was any analysis conducted on the impact of this decision on affected consumers or on military households more broadly? If so, please provide a copy of that analysis.
    How does this action align with the CFPB’s publicly stated enforcement priorities, particularly your April 16, 2025, memo referencing protections for servicemembers and veterans?
    At a time when families are feeling the strain of higher costs and every dollar is hard-earned, the American people—especially our servicemembers, veterans, and military families—deserve more. They deserve a Bureau that has their backs, not one that shields institutions from accountability.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your prompt and thorough response.
    Sincerely,
    – 30 –

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — Remembering a destructive Mauna Loa eruption 75 years ago

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. 

    This photo was taken by a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring webcam just before 6:00 a.m. HST on July 9, during episode 28 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Mauna Loa looms in the background, illuminated by the morning sun. USGS photo.

    Mauna Loa erupted frequently prior to 1950. Consistent written records of Mauna Loa eruptions begin in 1843. Between then and 1950, there were 30 Mauna Loa eruptions which means that before 1950, Mauna Loa erupted on average every 3–4 years.

    Fast forward to 2025, and there have been only three eruptions of Mauna Loa in the past 75 years since 1950: 1975, 1984, and 2022. While the frequency of Mauna Loa eruptions has decreased in the past 75 years compared to the century before that, Mauna Loa remains an active volcano that will erupt again someday. 

    Eruptions of Mauna Loa generally start high in the summit region, above 12,000 feet (3,660 m) elevation. From there, eruptions can migrate into one of the two rift zones—the Northeast Rift Zone or the Southwest Rift Zone—or, less commonly, radial vents on the northwest flank. 

    During the spring of 1950, Mauna Loa inflation due to magma accumulating beneath the surface was evident on monitoring stations at the summit of Kīlauea. In May 1950, seismic activity in Mauna Loa increased, with the largest earthquake—a magnitude-6.4—occurring on May 29. On June 1, a swarm of earthquakes occurred, and at 9:25 p.m. HST the night sky was illuminated with red glow as a fissure system 2.5 miles (4 km) long opened high on the southwest flank of the summit region of Mauna Loa. 

    Activity at the initial fissure system only lasted a few hours, and lava flows stalled at about 9,000 ft (2,800 m) elevation. Soon after, two other sets of fissure vents opened lower on the Southwest Rift Zone, between 10,500–8,500 ft (3,200–2,590 m) and 8,200–7,810 ft (2,500–2,380 m) elevation. Lava fountains nearly 200 ft (60 m) high fed a system of complex braided lava flows that were moving nearly 5 miles (24 km) per hour down the steep west flanks of Mauna Loa. About three hours after these lower fissures opened, the first lava flow crossed Highway 11 and entered the ocean, destroying a gas station, post office, and several homes along the way. 

    Fourteen and a half hours after the eruption began, another lava flow crossed Highway 11; this second flow destroyed several homes and entered the ocean about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of the first flow. Activity at both of these lava flows and their ocean entries ceased within about a day. 

    Yet another set of fissure vents opened even lower on the volcano later the night of June 1, between 8,200–7,810 ft (2,500–2,380 m) elevation. A lava flow from this fissure entered the ocean by the afternoon of June 2, farther south than the two earlier flows. For the next three weeks, lava would drain from Mauna Loa volcano via this channelized lava flow into the ocean. 

    Before the eruption ended on June 23, Hoʻokena village was destroyed, including a post office, church, gas station, cemetery, and 5–6 homes. Structures of the Magoon Ranch, the Ohia Lodge, and several other vacation/fishing cottages were also destroyed. Lava flows crossed Highway 11 in three locations and one man, who had been looking after cattle on a ranch, was trapped between two lava flows for 28 hours before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Thirty-five homestead lots were later opened in Kona for people whose property had been covered by lava in 1950. 

    The 1950 eruption was the largest-volume eruption of the Southwest Rift Zone since written records began; lava flows moved quickly down steep slopes in the region to enter the ocean within hours of the eruption onset. Mauna Loa has been quiet since the Northeast Rift Zone eruption in 2022, but monitoring data indicates that magma is slowly accumulating within the volcano. As communities on the flanks of Mauna Loa continue to grow, Island of Hawaiʻi residents should not forget these past eruptions. While 75 years is long in the human time scale, it goes by like the blink of an eye for an active volcano. 

    Volcano Activity Updates

    Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

    Episode 28 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on July 9, with approximately 9 hours of fountaining from the north vent. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 28, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible. Current inflation data indicate that episode 29 is likely to start between July 17 and 18. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

    One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.0 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on July 15 at 6:14 p.m. HST.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

    Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Memphis Bank Robbers Convicted at Trial

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted three men today for their roles in a violent bank robbery conspiracy, involving five bank robberies and an attempted sixth, in which the robbers shot two people. The defendants were found guilty of four bank robberies and using firearms during some of those robberies. Four of their co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

    “The bank robberies committed by these seven defendants included gun-point threats, instilling fear and chaos in innocent victims going about their days,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions terrorized bank employees and customers alike. We are grateful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners for bringing these dangerous individuals to justice and helping make the Memphis community safer.”   

    “The hard work and determination of the FBI and its partners cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, “We are proud that our actions held these criminals accountable for their harm to the Memphis community.”

    Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendants, Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, all of Memphis, conspired to rob banks in and around Memphis. Four of the co-conspirators, Robert Haley, Travis Drain, Marquarius Trenell, and Monterrio Trenell, already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

    During the Aug. 11, 2023, robbery of a branch of Truist Bank, Hinds raised a gun and shook it back and forth at a bank customer to instill fear and deter her from notifying law enforcement. He then served as a getaway driver. Hinds also drove a getaway car during the Dec. 22, 2023, robbery of a branch of the Independent Bank where a co-defendant pointed a semi-automatic military-style rifle at bank employees.

    Courtney Trenell and Cribbs helped rob branches of the Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants planned to rob the banks, which are directly across the street from each other, at the same time to confuse law enforcement and evade capture. Cribbs entered the Bank of Bartlett with a trash bag and threatened bank employees into handing over money. Cribbs unknowingly took at least one dye pack, which exploded after the robbers fled, releasing red dye that stained the stolen cash. During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding one of the robbers in fleeing the area.

    At trial, an FBI special agent testified that the defendants spoke over conference calls before and after the robberies, which the government argued was to coordinate the crimes. An FBI analyst testified that DNA evidence from Courtney Trenell and Hinds was found inside their respective getaway vehicles.

    In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies. The sixth robbery attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a shoot-out between the co-defendants and an armed security guard where the robbers shot two victims. Co-defendants Haley and Drain coordinated the five robberies and one attempted robbery throughout the conspiracy, while Marquarius Trenell robbed the Truist Bank on Aug. 11, 2023, as well as the Bank of Bartlett with Monterrio Trenell, and others, on Oct. 20, 2023. 

    Defendants Travis Drain and Mario Patterson accost bank employees on Dec. 22, 2023, while Devin Hinds waits outside in a getaway car.

    Cribbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, and Courtney Trenell and Hinds are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Their co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty will face sentencing later this year. A federal district judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hinds faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his use of a firearm during a bank robbery; Courtney Trenell and Cribbs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the robberies.

    A grand jury indicted an eighth co-defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, for his role in the conspiracy, as well as the individual bank robberies and firearm crimes he committed. He faces trial later this year and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    The FBI and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner, Stephen Hall, and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Memphis Bank Robbers Convicted at Trial

    Source: US State of California

    A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted three men today for their roles in a violent bank robbery conspiracy, involving five bank robberies and an attempted sixth, in which the robbers shot two people. The defendants were found guilty of four bank robberies and using firearms during some of those robberies. Four of their co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

    “The bank robberies committed by these seven defendants included gun-point threats, instilling fear and chaos in innocent victims going about their days,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions terrorized bank employees and customers alike. We are grateful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners for bringing these dangerous individuals to justice and helping make the Memphis community safer.”   

    “The hard work and determination of the FBI and its partners cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, “We are proud that our actions held these criminals accountable for their harm to the Memphis community.”

    Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendants, Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, all of Memphis, conspired to rob banks in and around Memphis. Four of the co-conspirators, Robert Haley, Travis Drain, Marquarius Trenell, and Monterrio Trenell, already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

    During the Aug. 11, 2023, robbery of a branch of Truist Bank, Hinds raised a gun and shook it back and forth at a bank customer to instill fear and deter her from notifying law enforcement. He then served as a getaway driver. Hinds also drove a getaway car during the Dec. 22, 2023, robbery of a branch of the Independent Bank where a co-defendant pointed a semi-automatic military-style rifle at bank employees.

    Courtney Trenell and Cribbs helped rob branches of the Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants planned to rob the banks, which are directly across the street from each other, at the same time to confuse law enforcement and evade capture. Cribbs entered the Bank of Bartlett with a trash bag and threatened bank employees into handing over money. Cribbs unknowingly took at least one dye pack, which exploded after the robbers fled, releasing red dye that stained the stolen cash. During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding one of the robbers in fleeing the area.

    At trial, an FBI special agent testified that the defendants spoke over conference calls before and after the robberies, which the government argued was to coordinate the crimes. An FBI analyst testified that DNA evidence from Courtney Trenell and Hinds was found inside their respective getaway vehicles.

    In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies. The sixth robbery attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a shoot-out between the co-defendants and an armed security guard where the robbers shot two victims. Co-defendants Haley and Drain coordinated the five robberies and one attempted robbery throughout the conspiracy, while Marquarius Trenell robbed the Truist Bank on Aug. 11, 2023, as well as the Bank of Bartlett with Monterrio Trenell, and others, on Oct. 20, 2023. 

    Defendants Travis Drain and Mario Patterson accost bank employees on Dec. 22, 2023, while Devin Hinds waits outside in a getaway car.

    Cribbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, and Courtney Trenell and Hinds are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Their co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty will face sentencing later this year. A federal district judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hinds faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his use of a firearm during a bank robbery; Courtney Trenell and Cribbs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the robberies.

    A grand jury indicted an eighth co-defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, for his role in the conspiracy, as well as the individual bank robberies and firearm crimes he committed. He faces trial later this year and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    The FBI and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

    Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner, Stephen Hall, and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Department of Commerce Announces Grants for Tourism and Community Enhancement

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce will open the 2025 Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants aimed at enhancing tourism, community infrastructure, and historic preservation across the state. These grants, funded by the 69th Legislative Assembly, are designed to support various projects that will contribute to North Dakota’s visitor and resident experiences.

    The grant opportunities are as follows:

    Historic Opera House Restoration Grant: $250,000 to restore a historic opera house constructed prior to 1930 that once served as a community entertainment hub.

    Medora Transportation Improvement Grant: $1 million to support the development, building, and operation of a public transportation system in Medora, North Dakota.

    Community Hall Grant: $175,000 for improvements to a multi-function community hall in rural North Dakota communities.

    Historic Theater Restoration Matching Grant: $500,000 to support the improvement and restoration of a historic theater constructed prior to 1930 that is currently operational and offering public events.

    Historic Theater Improvement Grant: $250,000 to support the improvement and restoration of a historic theater constructed prior to 1930 that once served as a community entertainment hub.

    State Magazine Grant: $250,000 to current or previous publishers of an official state magazine that features stories and photos showcasing the best of North Dakota.

    All grants will be open from July 22 – Sept. 1, 2025.

    Eligible organizations must submit a concise application letter to Commerce, identifying the applicant, point of contact, amount requested, intended uses for the funds, current and/or future events, and desired outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. CDT Sept. 1, 2025, to McKenzie Clayburgh at clayburghmckenzie@nd.gov.

    For more information on the Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants, go to https://ndgov.link/TourismEnhancementGrants. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Follow the Bloom: North Dakota’s 2025 Sunflower Map is Here

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    North Dakota’s wide-open landscapes are about to come alive with color. Beginning late July and into August, thousands of acres of sunflower fields across the state will explode into vibrant golden blooms, creating a striking contrast against blue prairie skies.
     

    To help travelers capture the beauty of this iconic summer moment, North Dakota Tourism has launched the 2025 Sunflower Field Map, featuring more than 20 confirmed bloom locations. While chasing the blooms, visitors are encouraged to extend their stay and discover the charm of the local communities surrounding these breathtaking fields.
     

    “Our state’s sunflower fields are the gifts that keep on giving,” said Keagan Lautenschlager, a sunflower grower near Kenmare, North Dakota. “This partnership between North Dakota’s growers and North Dakota Tourism is stronger than ever, and we’re excited to welcome visitors to experience the vibrancy, beauty, and uniqueness of these fields. It’s not only about capturing a once-in-a-lifetime view; it’s also a meaningful way to support both tourism and agriculture in our communities.”

    Sunflowers are more than just a seasonal attraction—they’re a symbol of heritage. Ukrainian immigrants brought sunflower cultivation to North Dakota in the late 1800s, and today, these golden fields are a testament to both agricultural legacy and cultural pride in the state.

    Tips for the Perfect Sunflower Experience:
     

    • Respect the Fields: Enjoy the view from the roadside and avoid entering fields unless signage or the landowner has given permission. Be mindful of fields that may be undergoing spraying or maintenance.
       
    • Capture the Best Photos: Cloudy days are ideal for vivid close-up shots, while golden sun hours add a beautiful glow to wide-angle views.
       
    • Celebrate National Sunflower Day: Save the date for Saturday, August 2, 2025, also known as National Sunflower Day, and join the celebration by sharing your favorite shots using #BeNDLegendary or #NDFieldFinders.
       
    • Take the Flavor Home: Sunflowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re tasty, too! From allergy-friendly SunButter to local favorites like North Dakota sunflower pie, the seeds are a delicious way to enjoy the experience long after your visit.
       

    Be on the lookout for the North Dakota Sunflower Mailboxes, where visitors can enjoy complimentary edible sunflower seeds available at select field locations while supplies last. Mailboxes stocked with seeds will be placed on-site in areas including Walcott, Langdon, Sharon, Havana, and more starting in late July.
     

    For details on each participating field, including location, seed availability, and bloom updates, please visit the “Let the Amazing Sunflower Put a Smile on Your Face” page. For more sunflower recipes, videos and little-known facts, visit Brighten Your Day with the Amazing Sunflower. 
     

    The Sunflower Map is updated weekly with bloom status for the fields, allowing bloom-chasers to see the fields at their most beautiful. Whether you’re a professional photographer, or just looking for a legendary road trip backdrop, these fields are must-see stops during North Dakota’s sunniest season.
     

    For more on planning a legendary trip to North Dakota, visit NDtourism.com. 
     

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    Follow North Dakota Tourism on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelND, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northdakotalegendary/ or on X at http://x.com/NorthDakota and get tips on what to see and do all year long.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury finds Armed Career Offender Guilty of Illegally Possessing a Firearm

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Memphis, TN – A federal jury recently returned a guilty verdict in the case of an armed career offender accused of a firearm offense. Turante Nunn, 33, faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

    According to court documents, in January 2024, Memphis police observed an unoccupied stolen 2009 Pontiac G6 car with a broken rear window parked outside a BP gas station in Memphis. Officers secured the scene inside the BP gas station and reviewed the store surveillance video to see who got out of the stolen car.  Officers determined that Nunn was one of the individuals who exited the stolen car and went into the store.  The store surveillance video also showed Nunn discarding a gun on a shelf in the store when officers were entering the store.   Officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm caliber pistol on a shelf at the exact area where Nunn discarded the object.

    After a two-day trial, federal jurors found Nunn guilty of one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. In the second phase of the trial, jurors determined that Nunn was an Armed Career Criminal, as he had three prior felonies committed on occasions separate from one another.

    As a result of his felony convictions, Nunn will face a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment as an Armed Career Criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, and the Project Safe Neighborhood task force (PSN).

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

    Assistant United States Attorney Jermal Blanchard prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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    For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Convicted at Trial

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE – Petru-Razvan Bruma, 40 years old, a citizen of the United Kingdom and a California resident, was found guilty of possessing device-making equipment after a three-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.

    This case involved the defendant’s possession of shimmer devices and pinhole cameras installed on two local automatic teller machines.  These items were designed to capture the card numbers and personal identification numbers of bank customers. 

    “Bruma traveled into this District with devices made to steal personal bank information from unsuspecting ATM customers,” said Proctor.  “Thanks to excellent work by our team of investigators and prosecutors, he was charged and convicted for his conduct.  This should send a clear message: If you come to Northern Indiana to commit crimes, you will be held accountable.”

    Sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2025.  Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley Miller Lowery and Justin Sheridan.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pocatello Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    POCATELLO – Jack Edward Newsom, 43, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Newsom to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

    According to court records, Newsom was arrested on May 8, 2024, when police officers executed a search warrant on his home and a fifth-wheel trailer parked in a storage facility. The officers seized 48.9 grams of fentanyl powder and a half a pound of methamphetamine from the residence in addition to a pound of marijuana, half a pound of methamphetamine, 79.6 grams of fentanyl powder, and 237 fentanyl pills from the fifth-wheel trailer. The warrant was executed after a months-long investigation in which law enforcement bought three and a half pounds of methamphetamine from Newsom on five occasions between February and April 2024.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the BADGES Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a federally funded High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) partnership between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, the Pocatello Police Department, the Chubbuck Police Department, and the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office.

    This case was investigated though the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiatives, including the BADGES Task Force.

    The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Votes to Foster Digital Innovation and Advance Consumer Protections

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 17, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted in support of two bipartisan bills — the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act — marking a critical step forward in the regulation of digital assets, the protection of crypto users, and blockchain innovation. 

    “These bipartisan bills, while not perfect, add important and much-needed regulation and guardrails to the digital asset industry,” said Vasquez. “We need to continue working to develop clear, commonsense rules that protect consumers, promote innovation, and prevent fraud and money laundering. New Mexicans deserve transparency, accountability, and equal access to new financial tools.”

    The CLARITY Act establishes a regulatory framework for digital assets. Under the bill, more established digital assets would be treated like commodities and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while newer assets would be treated as securities and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This legislation would help prevent fraud, create a more stable market, and ensure all investors are playing by the same rules.

    The GENIUS Act establishes the rules of the road for stablecoins: digital assets backed by physical assets like the U.S. dollar which currently lack comprehensive federal regulations to protect consumers. By establishing the first ever guardrails for these assets – holding stablecoin issuers to strict requirements, and instituting strong protections against trafficking – this bill safeguards consumers and strengthens financial security.

    “We need to ensure our regulatory frameworks keep pace with innovation, and this is a step in the right direction,” said Vasquez. “I will continue to seek out ways to maximize consumer protections and ethics standards in the cryptocurrency industry.”

    Vasquez continues to fight for the economic security of all New Mexicans by holding Big Tech accountable and protecting consumers from digital exploitation.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Bonamici, Oregon Delegation Slam Trump Education Funding Cuts Harming Schools Across the State

    US Senate News:

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

    July 17, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led the Oregon Democratic delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—to demand the Trump Administration reverse its abrupt cutoff of more than $73 million in federal education funds for Oregon, harming afterschool programs, specialized literacy programs, educator training, and support for English language learners at schools.

    “Any withholding of these critical funds will negatively affect the State of Oregon’s efforts to increase academic outcomes for all our students, particularly our multilingual and migrant education students. It will undermine successful initiatives to recruit talented teachers and retain them in our schools, and it will undermine the ability for students to be taught in safe and secure environments. Additionally, withholding funds that support student learning through summer and after-school programs will undermine Oregon’s efforts to help all students thrive in their education,” wrote the lawmakers to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

    The Oregon delegation letter follows Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announcing the state joined a coalition of states to file a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s freezing of these federal education funds. The Administration this week also moved to fire 1,400 Education Department employees, impacting the agency’s ability to perform essential functions such as distributing financial aid and essential federal dollars.

    “Oregon’s school districts are dedicated and efficient stewards of federal dollars, leveraging funds from [these grant programs] to improve student outcomes and serve Oregon’s student population,” they continued. “For example, Neah-Kah-Nie School District in rural Tillamook County uses ESEA Title II, Part A dollars to fund literacy interventionists in their rural elementary schools so students struggling with reading, writing, and comprehension get targeted support. Without Title II dollars, Portland Public Schools, Oregon’s largest school district serving more than 44,000 students, will lose the ability to provide critical professional development and support for teachers working in low-income schools with challenging student needs.”

    The lawmakers stressed, “In addition, Hood River Valley School District uses a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant under ESEA Title IV to administer academic support in after-school programs at four Title I schools across this rural region. Similarly, Umatilla School District uses the funds for an after-school program that supports extended learning for roughly half of its K-12 students and provides an opportunity for the students to participate in robotics and a variety of STEAM-focused classes.”

    Merkley and Wyden also previously joined 30 Senate colleagues to demand OMB Director Vought and Secretary McMahon immediately release nearly $7 billion in frozen funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs nationwide.

    “We respectfully demand that you abide by the law and immediately release this previously appropriated funding. Oregon’s students are counting on you and so are we,” the lawmakers directed.

    Full text of the Oregon delegation’s letter can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Creates New Classification of Federal Employee to Help Serve the American People

    Source: US Whitehouse

    CREATING NEW NON-CAREER, POLICY-ORIENTED EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order creating a new classification of non-career federal workers, “Schedule G” employees, to better serve Americans’ needs by focusing on implementing Administration policies.

    • The Order amends Civil Service Rule VI to fill an existing gap in federal employee classifications by creating a new type of hire, Schedule G, for employees who engage in policy-making or policy-advocating work.
    • Schedule G positions will be non-career positions, meaning incumbents will generally be expected to leave when the President who appointed them leaves office. Schedule G will not apply to career positions or career employees.  
    • Schedule G employees will be hired to help faithfully implement the President’s policy agenda.

    ADDRESSING GAPS IN GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY: President Trump believes creating non-career Schedule G positions will enhance government efficiency and accountability and improve services provided to taxpayers by increasing the horsepower for agency implementation of Administration policy.

    • Congress has recognized that some Federal positions, due to their confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, should be exempt from the career-employee protections that make it difficult to remove corrupt or poor performing workers.
    • Existing types of employees, like Schedule C and Schedule Policy/Career, do not provide for non-career appointments to policy-making or policy-advocating roles, leaving a gap in Federal hiring categories.
    • Creating Schedule G fills this gap and facilitates appointments of non-career federal employees who will serve temporarily and implement the policy agenda prescribed by the American people through our elections. This will improve operations, particularly in agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, by streamlining appointments for key policy roles.

    REFORMING THE BUREAUCRACY: President Trump is delivering on his promise to dismantle the deep state and reclaim our government from Washington corruption.

    • In April, President Trump created a new Federal employee category, Schedule Policy/Career, to enhance accountability for career Federal employees in policy-related roles.
    • President Trump is reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies by ensuring Federal agencies prioritize the will of the American people over entrenched interests. 
    • The Administration has taken steps to review and eliminate unnecessary regulations, aligning with the goal of making our government more responsive and effective.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Grants Regulatory Relief from Burdensome EPA Restrictions to Promote American Security

    Source: US Whitehouse

    PROVIDING REGULATORY RELIEF: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed four proclamations, each granting two years of regulatory relief from stringent Biden-era regulations that impacted various sectors vital to national security.

    • The proclamations cover coal plants, taconite iron ore processing facilities, and certain chemical manufacturers that produce chemicals related to semiconductors, medical device sterilization, advanced manufacturing, and national defense systems.
    • These proclamations allow certain of these facilities to comply with the EPA standards that were in place before the Biden Administration rulemakings for two years.
    • The exemptions ensure that these facilities within these critical industries can continue to operate uninterrupted to support national security without incurring substantial costs to comply with, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements.

    REDUCING BURDENSOME RESTRICTIONS: President Trump recognizes that overly restrictive environmental regulations undermine America’s energy reliability, economic vitality, and national security.

    • Biden-era emissions standards impose costly and, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements on these industries essential to national interests.
    • The technologies necessary to comply with these Biden-era standards are further not commercially viable in many instances.
    • These sectors are critical to maintaining national security and economic stability. Shutdowns could compromise our grid and lead to electricity shortages and reliance on foreign energy, increase our reliance on foreign supply chains for semiconductors, reduce our ability to provide sterile medical equipment for public health and military readiness, and reduce the supply on steel that we need to support critical infrastructure.

    BALANCING ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS WITH AMERICAN PROSPERITY: President Trump has consistently prioritized a pragmatic approach, ensuring environmental policies support, rather than undermine, America’s economic strength and national security.

    • President Trump has sought to protect American industries while maintaining standards that allow Americans to have among the cleanest air and water in the world.
    • He directed the EPA to repeal the Obama-era Clean Power Plan during his first term, replacing it with the Affordable Clean Energy rule in 2019 that set achievable standards to preserve jobs while addressing emissions.
    • He paused the expansion of windmills, recognizing their detrimental environmental impact, particularly on wildlife, often outweighs their benefits.
    • He has championed an energy dominance strategy, boosting domestic oil and gas production to reduce reliance on foreign energy while maintaining practical environmental oversight.
    • His approach encourages industry to develop cost-effective solutions like improved emissions technologies rather than imposing unfeasible mandates that risk economic disruption.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cline Introduces Bipartisan Don’t Sell My DNA Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Ben Cline (R-VA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Don’t Sell My DNA Act, a bill aimed at strengthening consumer privacy by safeguarding genetic data obtained from individuals through relationships with biotech companies. 

    In recent years, more Americans have begun to utilize at-home DNA testing services for additional insight into their personal health and ancestry lineage, the need to safeguard this sensitive information has never been more vital. The Don’t Sell My DNA Act ensures that genetic data cannot be treated as just another corporate asset to be sold off when biotech or genetic testing companies undergo bankruptcy. 

    This bipartisan legislation serves as the House companion to S.1916, introduced in the Senate by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

    This legislation updates the current Bankruptcy Code to explicitly list genetic information in the definition of “personally identifiable information” and requires companies to provide written notice and obtain consumer consent before selling, leasing, or using their genetic data during bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, it mandates that any genetic data not part of an approved transaction between entities is to be permanently deleted by the trustee or debtor in possession of this critical data.

    “Bankruptcy should not lead to a fire sale of Americans’ most personal information,” Rep. Ben Cline said. “Your DNA is not just another line item that can just be sold without the knowledge of the consumer. It is private, sensitive data that belongs to you. This bill helps ensure that genetic information is not sold off to the highest bidder when a company files for bankruptcy.”

    “People looking for long-lost relatives likely didn’t expect that their genetic data could be sold to the highest bidder. There is rightful outrage about the 23andMe plans, and Congress must step in to safeguard Americans’ privacy,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “Our bipartisan Don’t Sell My DNA Act should race through both chambers and become law because it’s a straightforward way to protect our most sensitive data.”

    The Don’t Sell My DNA Act is in response to the recent bankruptcy filing of 23andMe. Under current law, the Bankruptcy Code protects certain forms of personal information from being sold, such as one’s Social Security number, but fails to include personal genetic information. This bill closes this glaring loophole and brings the bankruptcy code to the 21st century to protect this personal and vital information.

    Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in San Angelo to Help Businesses Impacted by July Storms and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of an SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Tom Green Countyto assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding beginning July 2.

    Beginning Friday, July 18, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Business Recovery Center in San Angelo to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    TOM GREEN COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    Angelo State University
    69 N. Chadbourne St.
    San Angelo, TX  76903

    Opens at 10 a.m., Friday, July 18
    Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    The following location is also open and continues to serve survivors:

    KERR COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    The YES Center at First Presbyterian Church
    823 North St.
    Kerrville, TX   78028

    Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

    “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face‑to‑face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    SBA representatives will also provide help to business owners and residents at disaster recovery centers when they are opened in the impacted area.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 4, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 6, 2026.

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    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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