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Category: United States of America

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University

    Thurtell/Getty Images

    Australia’s lung cancer screening program launched on July 1, and marks real progress and opportunity.

    It aims to reduce the number of people dying from lung cancer by offering regular low-dose CT scans to people who smoke, and those who have quit. The aim is to detect and treat cancer early before it has spread.

    But the program’s design may further disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are disproportionately affected by lung cancer.

    So Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years risks entrenching health inequities rather than addressing them.

    Lung cancer is a particular burden

    Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are 2.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1.8 times likely to die from it, compared with non-Indigenous Australians.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age than non-Indigenous Australians.

    Understanding the broader context of lung cancer risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is crucial.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been paid in tobacco rations rather than wages up until the 1960s, excluded from economic and health systems, and targeted by tobacco industry marketing.

    Indigenous-led tobacco control and quit-smoking programs, such as the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, have made significant progress in reducing smoking rates. Indigenous communities are leading the resistance against tobacco industry harms.

    However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face major barriers to lung cancer screening. This is particularly in rural and remote areas where access to GPs, radiology services and culturally safe care is limited.

    Lung cancer screening should account for this

    Initially, the lung cancer screening program was designed with a lower screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – 50 years compared with 55 years for non-Indigenous Australians. This made sense in the face of the earlier and higher risk of lung cancer.

    However, the Medical Services Advisory Committee, the body responsible for assessing applications for public funding, removed this risk-based distinction. Now there’s a general age eligibility of 50-70 years.

    This is a shift from equity (fairness) to equality (sameness). In health, treating everyone equally deepens inequities.

    By contrast, many public health programs strive for equity and reflect the differing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For instance, heart health checks and many vaccines are offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a younger age.

    There are also possible consequences of lowering the screening age for non-Indigenous Australians from 55 (as originally intended) to 50. Cancer Australia’s report warned this would not provide a favourable balance of benefits and harms, nor would it be cost-effective.

    In this lower-risk population, this could increase the likelihood of detecting slow-growing lung nodules unlikely to cause harm. This can lead to unnecessary tests and procedures, anxiety, psychological distress, overtreatment and even harm.

    While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can also experience these potential harms, the higher risk of lung cancer earlier means the potential benefit from early detection outweighs these risks.

    Let’s call it for what it is – structural racism

    So current eligibility criteria expands the eligibility for lower risk groups. Yet it ignores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ higher risk and cumulative impacts of remoteness, limited access to health services and other health conditions.

    This decision significantly increases the number of people accessing the program. While this may appear equal on the surface, it risks a misallocation of limited health system resources, particularly in an already overstretched health system.

    That’s a clear example of structural racism – when policies that seem neutral actually uphold longstanding inequities, and reinforce disadvantages.

    This has parallels with concerns raised in the United States. Screening guidelines there have been criticised for failing to account for higher rates of lung cancer in African Americans.

    What should we do next?

    If we’re serious about a commitment to equity in cancer outcomes – as outlined in the Australian Cancer Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan – we must ensure screening policies do not inadvertently widen inequities.

    We must revisit who’s eligible for screening and how eligibility is determined. This may mean not only considering age and smoking history, but other factors such as a family history of cancer.

    It might also mean predicting lung cancer risk using models such as the PLCOm2012 risk prediction model. However, this particular model has not been validated in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which needs to be a priority.

    Instead, the Medical Services Advisory Committee has prioritised the same screening age for all – administrative simplicity over this more sensitive way of assessing risk.

    We must prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on screening waitlists and follow-up, and strengthen the cultural safety of services.

    We must ensure robust data collection and reporting to evaluate the screening program. Evaluation needs to assess if the program delivers equitable access and outcomes, as well as delivering on effectiveness, safety and cost.

    All these actions are essential to address the higher burden of lung cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and uphold equity and the right to health over administrative simplicity.

    This is the final article in our ‘Finding lung cancer’ series, which explores Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years. Read other articles in the series.

    More information about the program is available, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If you need support to quit smoking, see your doctor or call Quitline on 13 78 48.

    Lisa J. Whop has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Whop is the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group of Cancer Australia and has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.

    Alison Brown has been a co-investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia.

    Raglan Maddox has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Maddox has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.

    – ref. Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned – https://theconversation.com/australias-new-lung-cancer-screening-program-has-chosen-simplicity-over-equity-and-were-concerned-253614

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University

    Thurtell/Getty Images

    Australia’s lung cancer screening program launched on July 1, and marks real progress and opportunity.

    It aims to reduce the number of people dying from lung cancer by offering regular low-dose CT scans to people who smoke, and those who have quit. The aim is to detect and treat cancer early before it has spread.

    But the program’s design may further disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are disproportionately affected by lung cancer.

    So Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years risks entrenching health inequities rather than addressing them.

    Lung cancer is a particular burden

    Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are 2.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1.8 times likely to die from it, compared with non-Indigenous Australians.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age than non-Indigenous Australians.

    Understanding the broader context of lung cancer risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is crucial.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been paid in tobacco rations rather than wages up until the 1960s, excluded from economic and health systems, and targeted by tobacco industry marketing.

    Indigenous-led tobacco control and quit-smoking programs, such as the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, have made significant progress in reducing smoking rates. Indigenous communities are leading the resistance against tobacco industry harms.

    However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face major barriers to lung cancer screening. This is particularly in rural and remote areas where access to GPs, radiology services and culturally safe care is limited.

    Lung cancer screening should account for this

    Initially, the lung cancer screening program was designed with a lower screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – 50 years compared with 55 years for non-Indigenous Australians. This made sense in the face of the earlier and higher risk of lung cancer.

    However, the Medical Services Advisory Committee, the body responsible for assessing applications for public funding, removed this risk-based distinction. Now there’s a general age eligibility of 50-70 years.

    This is a shift from equity (fairness) to equality (sameness). In health, treating everyone equally deepens inequities.

    By contrast, many public health programs strive for equity and reflect the differing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For instance, heart health checks and many vaccines are offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a younger age.

    There are also possible consequences of lowering the screening age for non-Indigenous Australians from 55 (as originally intended) to 50. Cancer Australia’s report warned this would not provide a favourable balance of benefits and harms, nor would it be cost-effective.

    In this lower-risk population, this could increase the likelihood of detecting slow-growing lung nodules unlikely to cause harm. This can lead to unnecessary tests and procedures, anxiety, psychological distress, overtreatment and even harm.

    While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can also experience these potential harms, the higher risk of lung cancer earlier means the potential benefit from early detection outweighs these risks.

    Let’s call it for what it is – structural racism

    So current eligibility criteria expands the eligibility for lower risk groups. Yet it ignores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ higher risk and cumulative impacts of remoteness, limited access to health services and other health conditions.

    This decision significantly increases the number of people accessing the program. While this may appear equal on the surface, it risks a misallocation of limited health system resources, particularly in an already overstretched health system.

    That’s a clear example of structural racism – when policies that seem neutral actually uphold longstanding inequities, and reinforce disadvantages.

    This has parallels with concerns raised in the United States. Screening guidelines there have been criticised for failing to account for higher rates of lung cancer in African Americans.

    What should we do next?

    If we’re serious about a commitment to equity in cancer outcomes – as outlined in the Australian Cancer Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan – we must ensure screening policies do not inadvertently widen inequities.

    We must revisit who’s eligible for screening and how eligibility is determined. This may mean not only considering age and smoking history, but other factors such as a family history of cancer.

    It might also mean predicting lung cancer risk using models such as the PLCOm2012 risk prediction model. However, this particular model has not been validated in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which needs to be a priority.

    Instead, the Medical Services Advisory Committee has prioritised the same screening age for all – administrative simplicity over this more sensitive way of assessing risk.

    We must prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on screening waitlists and follow-up, and strengthen the cultural safety of services.

    We must ensure robust data collection and reporting to evaluate the screening program. Evaluation needs to assess if the program delivers equitable access and outcomes, as well as delivering on effectiveness, safety and cost.

    All these actions are essential to address the higher burden of lung cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and uphold equity and the right to health over administrative simplicity.

    This is the final article in our ‘Finding lung cancer’ series, which explores Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years. Read other articles in the series.

    More information about the program is available, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If you need support to quit smoking, see your doctor or call Quitline on 13 78 48.

    Lisa J. Whop has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Whop is the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group of Cancer Australia and has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.

    Alison Brown has been a co-investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia.

    Raglan Maddox has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Maddox has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.

    – ref. Australia’s new lung cancer screening program has chosen simplicity over equity, and we’re concerned – https://theconversation.com/australias-new-lung-cancer-screening-program-has-chosen-simplicity-over-equity-and-were-concerned-253614

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy School Choice Legislation Heads to President Trump’s Desk as Part of One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill that included Cassidy’s Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). The bill is now headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
    “Parents should decide where their kids go to school. This bill helps them do that,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I am grateful to see President Trump sign the first federal school choice bill into law as a part of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.”
    “Passage of ECCA is a historic moment for educational freedom and parents’ ability to choose the best option for their children. Students deserve the opportunity to succeed in the setting which best meets their needs, and this investment will open new doors for millions of American families. It has been a privilege to work so diligently with Rep. Owens, Sen. Cassidy, and Sen. Scott to accomplish this historic legislation, and I look forward to continuing our work supporting American families as the Treasury Department implements this legislation,” said Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03).
    In January, Cassidy and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) led their colleagues in introducing ECCA to expand educational freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. ECCA will be the first federal school choice legislation to be signed into law in American history.
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tubberville (R-AL), Jim Justice (R-WV), James Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jon Husted (R-OH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Banks (R-IN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), John Boozman (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Releases Statement on SCOTUS Victory on Criminal Illegal Alien Deportations to South Sudan

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    These barbaric criminal illegal aliens will be in South Sudan by Independence Day

    WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security released the following statement on the United States Supreme Court Decision to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan.

    “These sickos will be in South Sudan by Independence Day,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “A win for the rule of law, safety and security of the American people. We thank our brave ICE law enforcement for their sacrifice to defend our freedoms.”

    Below are the individuals ICE is removing from American communities to South Sudan.

    Enrique Arias-Hierro, a Cuban national, was arrested by ICE on May 2, 2025. His criminal history includes convictions for homicide, armed robbery, false impersonation of official, kidnapping, robbery strong arm.

    On April 30, 2025, ICE arrested Cuban national, Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones. He has been convicted of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon, battery and larceny, cocaine possession and trafficking.

    Thongxay Nilakout, a citizen of Laos, was arrested by ICE on January 26, 2025. Nilakout is Convicted of first-degree murder and robbery; sentenced to life confinement.

    On May 12, 2025, ICE arrested Mexican national, Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez. He is Convicted of second-degree murder; sentenced to life confinement.

    Dian Peter Domach, a citizen of South Sudan, was arrested by ICE on May 8, 2024. Domach is convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm, of possession of burglar’s tools and possession of defaced firearm and driving under the influence.

    Kyaw Mya, a citizen of Burma was arrested by ICE on February 18, 2025. Mya is convicted of Lascivious Acts with a Child-Victim less than 12 years of age; sentenced to 10 years confinement, paroled after 4 years.

    Nyo Myint, a citizen of Burma was arrested by ICE on February 19, 2025. Myint is convicted of first-degree sexual assault involving a victim mentally and physically incapable of resisting; sentenced to 12 years confinement. Myint is also charged with aggravated assault-nonfamily strongarm.

    On May 3, 2025, ICE arrested Tuan Thanh Phan, a Vietnamese national. Phan is convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree assault; sentenced to 22 years confinement.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Introduces Critical Legislation to Fund Community Violence Intervention

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, legislation that would create a new Office of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and a new grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to award $5 billion in grants to community-based, nonprofit organizations and eligible units of local government to create or support evidence-based and prevention programs to interrupt cycles of violence. U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV-04) introduced companion legislation in the House. 
    Community violence should no longer be a problem for law enforcement to react to after it has occurred. We must invest in community-based violence intervention and prevention initiatives that stop this violence from happening in the first place. This legislation would provide resources to community outreach programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs, gun violence interventions strategies, and violence interruption and crisis management initiatives.
    “Too many people in New Jersey and across our country continue to lose loved ones to senseless gun violence,” said Senator Booker. “By investing federal dollars into programs and methods that work to prevent gun violence, we can do something about the violence plaguing our communities before it happens. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act will empower communities with the resources they need to reduce gun violence, save lives, and make our neighborhoods safer.” 
    Over the past decade, gun violence has risen sharply in communities across the United States, with a particularly devastating impact on predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. Between 2018 and 2021, the rate of firearm-related deaths increased by 100 percent for Black youth and by 50 percent for Hispanic youth. In 2021, Black children represented 46 percent of youth firearm deaths though they represent only 14 percent of the youth population in the U.S. In 2023, there were 46,278 gun deaths—the third-highest annual total on record, trailing only 2022 and 2021. Shootings, homicides, and group violence continue to pose a serious and disproportionate threat to too many communities across the country.
    This violence has enormous human, social, and economic costs. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Violence Prevention found that “one-in-three youth living in inner cities show a higher prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder than soldiers” in the U.S. military during wartime. Gun violence harms rural communities as well, which suffer from a 37 percent higher death rate due to gun violence than urban communities. Gun violence costs the country approximately $280 billion per year.
    The Break the Cycle of Violence Act is endorsed by Community Justice, Sandy Hook Promise, Giffords Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy, and Everytown for Gun Safety.
    “Over the last several years, cities across the country finally saw decreases in homicides and shootings, and that is only because of significant federal investment in community violence intervention (CVI) strategies,” Adzi Vokhiwa, Vice President of Policy at Community Justice, said. “However, Black and Brown communities continue to bear the brunt of gun violence. Without a doubt, more funding is needed to support CVI programs especially after the cancellation of many federal CVI grant awards earlier this year. If signed into law, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act would provide the largest federal investment in community-based and community-led efforts to end gun violence, expand workforce training for youth at the highest risk of violence, and help ensure the implementation of a public health approach to gun violence prevention. We thank Congressman Horsford and Senator Booker for recognizing the effectiveness and importance of CVI strategies and introducing this important legislation to save lives across the country.”
    “Gun violence manifests itself differently across U.S. communities, with children in many Black and Brown communities being disproportionally affected as well as children living in areas with high poverty rates,” Mark Barden, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, said. “Lives can and will be saved when local leaders are equipped with the tools, training, and resources to address the unique circumstances of violence in their regions. We applaud the reintroduction of the ‘Break the Cycle of Violence Act,’ and encourage Congress to pass this important bill to protect children throughout our country.” 
    “Seemingly never-ending cycles of gun violence crush families, hurt the economy, and suppress communities’ ability to thrive. In particular, Black and Latino Americans bear the brunt of America’s gun violence and gun crime epidemic. But we have strategies and programs that are proven to save lives—all they need is sufficient funding,” Emma Brown, Executive Director of the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, said. “Every lawmaker, Republicans and Democrats alike, should support Representative Horsford and Senator Booker’s Break the Cycle of Violence Act. This bill, which GIFFORDS is proud to have shaped, will not only fund essential programs, but also provide jobs to American youth that will allow them to thrive and break the cycle of violence.”
    “Communities most impacted by gun violence need real resources—and the Break the Cycle of Violence Act delivers,” Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action, said. “It invests in proven, lifesaving programs and puts support where it’s needed most: in the hands of grassroots leaders. We’re grateful to Rep. Horsford for reintroducing this critical bill.” 
    The Break the Cycle of Violence Act provisions include: 
    ·         $5 billion investment in anti-violence programs to create and support violence interruption and crisis management initiatives.
    ·         $1.5 billion investment in workforce training and job opportunities, including improved youth employment and training activities, paid work experience for school aged youth, and partnerships with community-based organizations to serve youth in high-crime and high-poverty areas.
    ·         An Office of Community Violence Intervention at HHS to implement evidence-based violence reduction initiatives.
    ·         A Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to ensure people with expertise in community violence intervention have a voice in CVI policies.
    ·         A National Community Violence Response Center to provide technical assistance for implementing community violence intervention and prevention programs.
    The Break the Cycle of Violence Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). 
    To read the full text of the bill, click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Markey Demand Trump Admin Explains Potential Weeding Out of Immigration Judges Based on Political Beliefs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    July 03, 2025
    Trump admin appears to be filtering out judges based on whether they will be supportive of the administration’s immigration agenda
    “The administration must ensure that its conversion decisions are based solely on judges’ performance, not their perceived loyalty to the Trump Administration’s immigration agenda or any other criteria.” 
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) wrote to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) with concerns that the Trump administration’s decision not to retain certain immigration judges may be for politically motivated reasons. 
    Immigration judges are “non-political members of the career civil service.” They are selected through a rigorous application process and typically serve for a 2-year probationary appointment. After that period, their performance is evaluated to decide if they will be converted to a permanent position. Typically, almost all probationary immigration judges are converted to permanent immigration judges; in recent years, immigration judges have had about a 94 percent conversion rate. 
    In President Trump’s first term, the administration adjusted the process to “clarify” that the Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General conduct “a performance review” of probationary judges and that the AG “retains discretion” over whether to convert them. Even still, qualified judges were almost uniformly converted to become permanent judges.   
    However, in April, a class of 16 judges reached the end of their probationary period, and EOIR decided not to convert 8 of them, half the class, even though their supervising judges had recommended them for conversion. The judges were provided no rationale for their dismissal. 
    Some observers have noticed a pattern: judges with backgrounds working in immigration enforcement were converted by the Trump Administration, while many of those who previously worked in other parts of government, nonprofits, or private practice were not. 
    “We are concerned that EOIR may be deciding whether to convert judges… using their prior employment as an indicator of whether they will be supportive of the Administration’s immigration agenda,” said the senators. 
    EOIR invests significant time and energy in vetting and training each individual immigration judge. The onboarding process includes multiple rounds of interviews, an extensive background check, weeks of training, and time observing experienced judges in court. The hiring process itself often takes several months or longer. 
    “Allowing IJs to reach the end of this process and then simply dismissing them with no apparent rationale wastes taxpayers’ investment in each judge,” wrote the senators. 
    The decision to not convert judges also worsens the backlog of roughly 4 million cases pending in immigration court. Replacing these judges will likely take months, and for each month that each judge’s seat is unfilled, roughly 50 more immigration cases go unresolved. 
    The senators asked EOIR to provide the following information by July 27, 2025, explain the decision to not convert half of a class of immigration judges that reached the end of its probationary period this year, its plan to replace those judges, and the expected impact of the non-conversion on immigration cases across the country. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 13th World Peace Forum held in Beijing

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

    More than 1,200 guests from 86 countries and regions have gathered in Beijing to exchange views on maintaining global peace and addressing conflicts at the ongoing 13th World Peace Forum (WPF).

    Themed “advancing global peace and prosperity: shared responsibility, benefit and achievement,” the forum, which runs from July 2 to 4, brings together leading strategists, senior policymakers and former political leaders.

    “In the face of serious and complex international developments and escalating regional conflicts, global peace and development face unprecedented challenges,” said Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University and chairman of the WPF, told the forum at the opening ceremony on Thursday.

    Li noted that amid a turbulent international landscape and rising geopolitical tensions, fostering unity and dialogue is more important than ever.

    Addressing the opening ceremony, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama emphasized that peace can be achieved not by using force, but through dialogue, and the forum bears great significance in this regard.

    Hatoyama said that it is essential for Japan to work closely with its East Asian neighbors, ASEAN, middle powers in Europe, and the Global South to strengthen its independence from the United States. He emphasized that enhancing trilateral collaboration among Japan, China and the Republic of Korea is particularly important.

    He called on Japan to reduce the potential for conflicts in the region by more clearly stating that it does not support Taiwan independence, and by restraining moves toward Taiwan independence, adding that the Taiwan issue is China’s internal matter.

    The forum comprises four plenary sessions and 18 panel discussions, where participants will share their perspectives on subjects including the international order and world peace, pan-securitization and the global security predicament, the role of the Global South in achieving world peace and prosperity, and major power coordination and conflict resolution.

    Beginning in 2012, Tsinghua University has been co-hosting the forum with the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. The forum aims to provide a platform of communication and exchange for strategists and think tanks worldwide.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US House passes Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill

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

    The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill with a vote of 218 to 214 on Thursday.

    Photo taken on July 3, 2025 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

    The bill will be sent to the president’s desk for signing by the deadline of July 4, which was set by Trump.

    Two Republican representatives, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, voted against the bill.

    The House passed an earlier draft of the bill in May and sent it to the Senate, but the draft was broadly revised there and narrowly passed senators’ vote with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie on Tuesday.

    The tax and spending bill includes tax cuts and funding boosts for military expenditure and border security. What’s contentious is that the bill is forecast to add 3.3 trillion U.S. dollars to the national debt currently at a high level while stripping millions of people of Medicaid and food stamps.

    This is Trump’s first major legislative achievement in his second term. Republican Congress members were widely divided on the bill, which passed the Senate and House voting only after the president and his Capitol Hill allies pressured those Republicans with different ideas to stand in line.

    When signing the legislation that will be sent to the president, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that with the passage of the bill, “we’d have to quite literally fix every area of public policy.”

    “Everything was an absolute disaster under the Biden-Harris, radical, woke, progressive Democrat regime, and we took the best effort that we could, in one big, beautiful bill, to fix as much of it as we could,” he added.

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the passage of the bill Thursday, commenting in a statement that “President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill delivers on the commonsense agenda that nearly 80 million Americans voted for — the largest middle-class tax cut in history, permanent border security, massive military funding, and restoring fiscal sanity.”

    “The pro-growth policies within this historic legislation are going to fuel an economic boom like we’ve never seen before. President Trump looks forward to signing the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law to officially usher in the Golden Age of America,” she added.

    She said that the bill-signing ceremony is planned in the White House at 5 p.m. Friday Eastern Time (2100 GMT), which happens to be the Independence Day holiday.

    The White House posted on its website that “Now, the largest middle-class tax cut in American history — and so much more — is on its way to President Trump’s desk.”

    “Again and again, Democrats tried to block historic tax relief, increased border security, higher wages, an expanded Child Tax Credit, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, savings accounts for newborns, and so much more — but again and again, President Trump and Republicans fought and won for the American people,” the post said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Putin tells Trump he won’t back down from goals in Ukraine

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

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would achieve its goals in the conflict with Ukraine, including the elimination of its root causes, in a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, according to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov.

    “Our president said that Russia will achieve its goals, namely to eliminate the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs, to the current harsh confrontation. And Russia will not give up on these goals,” Ushakov said.

    He said that Russia is ready for the third round of talks with Ukraine, adding that Putin and Trump did not discuss the specifics of what would be discussed during the possible negotiations.

    The Kremlin aide told the media that Putin and Trump discussed the current situation in Iran and the Middle East, and the situation in Syria over phone.

    On the Middle East issue, “Putin stressed the importance of resolving all disputes, disagreements and conflict situations exclusively with political and diplomatic means. The sides agreed to maintain contacts in this regard at the level of foreign ministries, the defense ministries and presidential aides,” he added.

    Putin and Trump confirmed their mutual interest in implementing a series of economic projects between Russia and the United States, including in energy and space, Ushakov said.

    “Within the framework of exchange of opinions on bilateral issues, both sides have confirmed their mutual interest in the realization of a series of promising economic projects, particularly in the spheres of energy and space research,” he said.

    Ushakov said the presidents agreed to continue their communication.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CWA Statement on Layoffs at Microsoft

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    (Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, Microsoft announced that they intend to lay off about 9,000 employees across the company, including from its Microsoft Gaming division, and to stop production on several games. The layoffs are expected to impact Communications Workers of America-represented employees at the company.

    “We are deeply disappointed in Microsoft’s decision to lay off thousands more workers, including union-represented CWA members, at a time when the company is prospering,” said Communications Workers of America President Claude Cummings Jr. “We will be bargaining with the company over these layoffs, and CWA District Vice Presidents Mike Davis and Derrick Osobase will remain directly involved in ensuring that our members are supported and treated with dignity throughout this process.”

    Workers in the video game industry have been under constant threat of layoffs, with Electronic Arts, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Unity Technologies, and countless others scaling back their workforces in recent months. These layoffs are often announced without warning, leaving workers who create the products responsible for the companies’ successes scrambling to survive while executives and investors reap the benefits of record-breaking profits.

    “Right now, we are living through a moment of profound corporate consolidation and disruption,” Cummings said. “In times like these, union organizing is not just a tool for protections in the workplace; it is essential to workers’ survival, and one of the strongest defenses we have against unchecked corporate power. This news will not slow the movement for a video game industry that works for those who make it what it is today. Our strength is in our unity.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks as prepared for delivery by Dr. Josh Cowen, Friend of Education Award winner, to the 104th Representative Assembly

    Source: US National Education Union

    Thank you President Pringle. Thanks to the Friend of Education Award Committee. And thanks most of all to you educators out there working hard for kids and families in public schools across the country. I want to give a special shout-out to the Michigan delegation for the work you do every day. I’m so honored and humbled to be standing up here to receive this award–and I share it with all of you.

    We all know tomorrow is Independence Day. Today I’m thinking about those famous words from Thomas Jefferson: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Each of us has probably seen that phrase a thousand times in our lives. But I want to use this opportunity to talk about what it means for me and what I think it means for all of us moving forward.

    When I first started the work that brought me up here, I thought I was talking about history. One bad idea–school voucher schemes–with roots in resistance to the Civil Rights Movement, and funded today by Betsy DeVos and other billionaires.

    But as we’ve seen, threats to public education, and to public investments in all of our futures–from health care, to jobs, to retirement security, and even basic, affordable costs of living–this is all very much breaking news. “Breaking” as in urgent. But also “breaking” as in a forceful, threatening undoing.

    Because that’s what’s at stake here. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. Not just the wealthy and the well-connected. All of us.

    You might know my name because I’ve been fighting Betsy DeVos’s school voucher schemes. But as we look ahead we have to remember that it’s not just one bad billionaire idea. It’s an entire political agenda. Folks from Michigan may remember that when Betsy DeVos was chairwoman of our state’s Republican Party, she once said that the problem with Michigan’s economy was that our workers are paid too much!

    I don’t need any lessons about how to fix American education–or American health care, American Social Security, or American democracy itself–from a billionaire who thinks the way to fix the American economy is to cut worker pay!

    You know, I get a lot of crap from the DeVos political machine, her lobbyists and Super PACs, the Heritage Foundation, and all the rest. They attack me for the work you’ve honored me with here today. And of course, one thing they say is “Josh, he’s too close to the teachers’ unions.”

    But I’m proud to be here. I am my own man. And I have my own strength. And I have my own dignity. And I say: I would rather stand shoulder to shoulder with Becky Pringle, Randi Weingarten, Sean Fain, Liz Shuler–and labor leaders, autoworkers, educators, journeymen and women, and middle class families all over the country–then crawl for even one short minute at the feet of right-wing billionaires.

    Listen. It’s going to get harder. We have a lot work to do. But as my governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has been saying “we can do hard things.”

    We sure as hell can. For me, that’s going to mean that I’m going to be running for Congress in Michigan’s 7th District. Against a first-term Republican who comes right out of that DeVos political machine. And we know not just the DeVoses but other Republicans are gearing up to make 2026 in Michigan the “education election” for their priorities like more standardized testing. Cuts to public school funding. And yes, school vouchers.

    I’m not going to let them. But I’m going to need some help in that work to defend public schools. And Medicaid, Social Security, jobs and so much more. Now, I know that I’m going to have to work hard to win any official endorsements from the Michigan folks and others, but for today I’m hoping you’ll visit my website and learn more about me and how we can stand together for students and families.

    My time on this stage is up but our work together is just beginning. And I want to wrap up by just going back to that Declaration of Independence–life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness–and to remind all of us that what’s at stake here really is democracy.

    We all talk about democracy in different ways, and none of us have to be as eloquent as Jefferson, or Abe Lincoln, or FDR or Dr. King. We just have to listen to families and go out and meet them where they are at the places that matter to them.

    For a single mom with a kid who’s struggling to read, maybe democracy is just having a public school that is a bit more responsive to her when she’s trying to get what she needs for her kiddo.

    For a 27 year-old guy with Type-I diabetes, maybe democracy is just having a health care plan that won’t throw him out in the cold because he has a pre-existing condition.

    Maybe for a retiree, democracy is just having someone there at the Social Security office to pick up the damn phone and talk to a real person if their check goes missing.

    For a working dad of 3 or 4 kids, who’s just lost his job, maybe democracy is just getting a little bit of economic assistance till he gets back on his feet. Or if he has a job, maybe democracy means being able to count on an income not just to survive and put food on the table–but to thrive and build out his family’s future.

    A democracy that works for everyone is an economy that works for everyone. And an economy that works for everyone is a democracy that works for everyone.

    Thank you all, God Bless you. And God Bless America–this weekend on her birthday, and every day ahead.

    -###- 

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social  

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA awards public school advocate and national expert on private education vouchers with its highest honor

    Source: US National Education Union

    PORTLAND, Ore.—The National Education Association today awarded Dr. Josh Cowen—distinguished author, professor, researcher, and national expert on private school vouchers—with its highest honor, the Friend of Education Award. Cowen received the award in front of nearly 7,000 educators gathered in Portland, Oregon, during the 2025 NEA Representative Assembly. 

    Cowen is at the forefront of the fight against school privatization and holding billionaire-run organizations accountable for the ineffective voucher policies they have promoted through lobbying efforts in multiple states and Congress. His book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers, lays out the dishonest, money-driven, and faux-researched lobby effort used to support voucher policies by monied interests. He also explains how vouchers have negatively impacted the overall educational outcomes in the United States. Across the country, voters continue to reject vouchers, most recently seen as voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska all rejected ballot measures related to school vouchers. 

    “Dr. Cowen is a leading voice in the work of advocating for our nation’s public schools and the well-being of our students. America’s educators are proud to bestow him with NEA’s highest honor, the Friend of Education award,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Through his research and in his advocacy, Dr. Cowen is tireless in his commitment to America’s public schools. He speaks truth to power, and at a time when anti-public education politicians push harmful voucher schemes and try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities, we need more voices like his.” 

    “I’m accepting this Friend of Education Award on behalf of all the public school educators, middle-class families, and everyone else out there who’s been standing up to right-wing billionaires like Betsy DeVos for years. My life’s work has been fighting for public schools and making sure every student gets the education they deserve. Now more than ever, we’re going to need the same commitment in the fight to defend our democracy. And when it comes to that fight, I’m just getting started.”  

    Cowen has been a leader in educational research, teacher mobility, teacher attrition, and interpreting educational outcomes. In 2016, he founded the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC), a think tank designed to partner with policymakers to improve educational outcomes for students and educators alike. He has also been a national director for the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH), which is based at Tulane University. 

    “Vouchers are the education equivalent of predatory lending. The right-wing markets vouchers specifically to families of color, to low-income families, as if there are a whole lot of high-quality private school providers that will take all of these children in mass amounts. We know that doesn’t happen. We know the schools that do accept them tend to be barely hanging on, tend to be subprime, as I call them, as the academic results show,” Cowen said in an interview with NEAToday. 

    The NEA Friend of Education Award is presented during NEA’s annual convention and recognizes a person or organization whose leadership has significantly contributed to improving American public education. Past recipients include activists Judith Heumann, Greta Thunberg, Dolly Parton, and Quinta Brunson. 

    # # # 

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social and https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social 

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Boozman Applaud Trump Administration Decision to Uphold 14(c) Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:     Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
    July 3, 2025

    Cotton, Boozman Applaud Trump Administration Decision to Uphold 14(c) Program 

    Washington, D.C. — Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after the Trump administration reversed Joe Biden’s attempt to overturn section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

    “We applaud the Trump administration’s decision to reverse Joe Biden’s disastrous attempt to end 14(c). All people, regardless of their abilities, should have the opportunity for dignified work. The 14(c) program and organizations like MARVA and Abilities Unlimited provide many individuals with disabilities with a sense of accomplishment and community, and provides their families and caretakers with much needed support. ”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Final Passage of Trump-Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ Bill is a Bad Deal for American People

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, following a vote of 218-214 in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement assailing passage of Republicans’ ‘big, ugly’ reconciliation budget bill: 

    “Republicans knew this bill is a bad deal for their constituents and passed it anyway.  This bill goes against the self-interest of average Americans in favor of the ultra-wealthy and corporations.  It slashes the safety net out from under hardworking families – taking away health care from millions — in order to give special interests bigger tax benefits.  Republicans structured the bill so the ultra-wealthy can cash out right away while the little guy and average taxpayers will get stuck paying the bill for years to come.

    “During this unprecedented time of chaos and dysfunction, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and miss the latest developments. But the negative impacts of this bill must cut through the noise. Americans must be informed about the consequences of this legislation and they deserve to hear plainly from their elected representatives about how this bill is going to impact their families.

    “Republicans are shifting a heavier financial burden onto families, communities, hospitals, and states.  Taking away people’s health coverage doesn’t mean they stop getting sick or can’t see a doctor.  Health costs for everyone will rise.  And it takes away over one trillion dollars in federal funding that states and localities rely on to provide vital services like schools, transit, nutrition assistance and aid to families in crisis.

    “This fiscally irresponsible giveaway to the wealthy and well-connected is a debt-busting disaster.  It will cost U.S. taxpayers trillions of dollars in interest payments and Republicans unilaterally approved a record breaking $5 trillion dollar debt limit increase.  But that’s just debt already incurred – this bill will add trillions of dollars in future debt when it’s all said and done, with little to no long-term benefit for middle- and working-class families. 

    “Whatever short-term economic benefits this bill may offer, it will do lasting destructive damage to U.S. finances and young Americans will be forced to pay for it long after Donald Trump is gone.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Makes Our National Parks Great Again

    Source: US Whitehouse

    PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order investing in our national treasures by increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting our national parks to improve services, access, and affordability for Americans.

    • The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to increase fees only for foreign visitors, while making national parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families.  
    • The Order increases national park access to American families by directing the National Park Service to ensure that U.S. residents receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems.

    MAKING OUR NATIONAL PARKS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: The increased fee revenue from foreign tourists will raise hundreds of millions for conservation projects that improve our national parks.

    • Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world that supports both conservation and affordable access for residents.
    • Increasing entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors will fuel investment in our national parks, reduce the maintenance backlog, construct critical infrastructure improvements, and support conservation projects that improve our majestic national parks.
    • Increasing fees for foreign visitors will also ensure fairness. American citizens fund national parks and public lands with their tax dollars, yet they are currently charged the same rate as foreign visitors who do not pay taxes, meaning that American citizens pay more to see their own national treasures than foreign visitors do. President Trump is ending this unfair situation and putting Americans first.
    • When President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog was $14.9 billion. Under the Biden Administration’s mismanagement, the maintenance backlog grew to over $22.9 billion. This Order will improve our national parks and reduce the maintenance backlog.

    HONORING OUR CONSERVATION LEGACY: Since the days of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, America has led the world in conservation policy. This Order builds on America’s conservative, conservationist history and reinvests in our natural treasures while putting Americans first.

    • During President Trump’s first term, he signed the Great American Outdoors Act—the single largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant conservation achievement since Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency.
    • This Order builds on President Trump’s legacy as a conservation President and fulfills his promise to put Americans first.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes Make America Beautiful Again Commission

    Source: US Whitehouse

    MAKING AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission to conserve America’s lands and waters, cut red tape, and drive conservation and economic growth.

    • The MABA Commission will be chaired by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and comprised of members of President Trump’s Administration.
    • Guided by our Nation’s rich history, the MABA Commission will work to expand access to recreation for outdoorsmen, hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, climbers, skiers, runners, and all Americans seeking to spend time in nature.
    • The MABA Commission is tasked with expanding access to public lands and waters for recreation and incentivizing voluntary conservation efforts.
    • Using gold-standard science, the MABA Commission will promote active forest management and responsible stewardship of our public lands, while reducing bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management and put our forests and rural communities at risk.

    EXPANDING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS: President Trump wants to preserve America’s natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation for future generations.

    • As the Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone National Park states, America’s public lands are “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Therefore, the MABA Commission will work to expand access to America’s natural wonders for the enjoyment of the American people.
    • The outdoor recreation economy creates $1.2 trillion in economic output and supports 5 million jobs.
    • The Biden Administration unnecessarily restricted outdoorsmen’s access to public lands and deprived them of the ability to responsibly hunt and fish in certain areas.
    • Years of mismanagement have unnecessarily reduced public access to and enjoyment of outdoor recreational areas

    CONSERVING AMERICAN TREASURES: The MABA Commission will build on the legacy of conservative conservationists like President Teddy Roosevelt and protect our Nation’s natural treasures.

    • During President Trump’s first term in office, his Administration recovered more endangered or threatened species than any other administration in its first term.
    • President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act during his first term—the largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant development in conservation policy since Teddy Roosevelt.
    • During President Trump’s first term, his Administration designated 1.3 million new acres of wilderness, added 1,645 miles of new trails to the National Recreational Trails System, and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres of land.
    • President Trump has worked to protect American industries while maintaining standards that allow Americans to have among the cleanest air and water in the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks

    Source: US Whitehouse

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Policy.  From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories.  It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America’s splendid national treasures.

    Sec. 2.  Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.  (a)  The Secretary of the Interior shall develop a strategy to increase revenue and improve the recreational experience at national parks by appropriately increasing entrance fees and recreation pass fees for nonresidents in areas of the National Park System that charge entrance fees or recreation pass fees as defined in 16 U.S.C. 6801.  Additionally, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate, shall take steps to increase the prices at which the America the Beautiful Pass — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass — and any site-specific agency or regional multi-entity passes are sold to nonresidents.

    (b)  The Secretary of the Interior shall use any increased fee revenue generated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to improve the infrastructure of, or otherwise enhance enjoyment of or access to, America’s Federal recreational areas, consistent with 16 U.S.C. 6807.

    (c)  The Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate, shall take steps to improve services and affordability for United States residents visiting national parks, as consistent with applicable law.

    (d)  The Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of State, shall work to encourage international tourism to America’s national parks and outdoor recreation areas, and especially wider utilization of America’s many such areas that may be underutilized.

    (e)  The Secretary of the Interior shall review the maintenance backlog within the National Park Service and take all appropriate action to fully implement the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund established in the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), invest in the infrastructure of national parks, and increase visitor capacity to allow more Americans to visit national parks.

    (f)  The Secretary of the Interior shall review all of the Department of the Interior‘s rules and policies related to public use of national parks and take actions consistent with applicable law to ensure that the National Park Service manages national parks consistent with the policy of this order.  The Secretary of the Interior shall review all of the Department’s recreational access rules and take steps to rescind any that unnecessarily restrict recreation in national parks.  In conducting this review, the Secretary of the Interior shall especially scrutinize all recreational access rules or other restrictions promulgated or enacted during the prior administration.  The Secretary of the Interior shall take appropriate actions to grant American residents preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules, consistent with applicable law.

    Sec. 3.  Revocation.  The Presidential Memorandum of January 12, 2017 (Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters), is hereby revoked.

    Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:  

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or 

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.  

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.  

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.  

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission

    Source: US Whitehouse

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

     Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States is blessed with vast beautiful landscapes, abundant natural resources, and a rich heritage of discovery by travelers and outdoorsmen.  America’s national parks, forests, waterways, and public lands have inspired generations and kindled our Nation’s spirit of exploration.  To ensure that the next generation of Americans inherits this same sense of duty and adventure, my Administration will prioritize conserving our great American national parks and outdoor recreation areas.

    Years of mismanagement, regulatory overreach, and neglect of routine maintenance require action.  Land-use restrictions have stripped hunters, fishers, hikers, and outdoorsmen of access to public lands that belong to them.  These bureaucratic restrictions have undermined outdoor traditions and threatened conservation funding.  The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service face more than $23 billion and $10.8 billion in deferred maintenance, respectively, leaving roads, trails, and historic landmarks in disrepair.  Despite these challenges, our Nation has proven that conservation and economic growth go hand in hand.  Since the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), the outdoor recreation economy has grown to $1.2 trillion in economic output, and, in 2023, comprised 3.1 percent of employees in the United States and supported 5 million jobs.

    Through both innovation and commonsense policies, America can preserve its natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.  It is the policy of my Administration to prioritize responsible conservation, restore our lands and waters, and protect our Nation’s outdoor heritage for the enjoyment of the American people.

    Sec. 2.  General Policies. All Federal land management agencies, as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6801(3), shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that their policies:

    (a)  promote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth;

    (b)  expand access to public lands and waters for recreation, hunting, and fishing;

    (c)  encourage responsible, voluntary conservation efforts;

    (d)  cut bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management; and

    (e)  recover America’s fish and wildlife populations through proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.

    Sec. 3.  Establishment and Composition of the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission. (a)  There is hereby established the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission (Commission), which shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Interior (Chair), with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy serving as Executive Director (Executive Director).

    (b)  In addition to the Chair and the Executive Director, the Commission shall include the following officials or their designees:

    (i)     the Secretary of Defense;

    (ii)    the Secretary of Agriculture;

    (iii)   the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

    (iv)    the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

    (v)     the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;

    (vi)    the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff;

    (vii)   the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;

    (viii)  the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality; and

    (ix)    other members of my Administration invited to participate, at the discretion of the Chair and the Executive Director.

    Sec. 4.  Conserving Our National Treasures. The Commission shall advise and assist the President regarding how best to responsibly conserve America’s national treasures and natural resources, including by:

    (a)  monitoring the implementation of this order and facilitating interagency coordination on conservation efforts;

    (b)  providing to the President actionable recommendations for improving conservation efforts;

    (c)  developing policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation, including policies involving coordination with State wildlife agencies;

    (d)  recommending to the President solutions to expand access to clean drinking water and restore aquatic ecosystems to improve water quality and availability; and

    (e)  developing policies to expand access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing.

    Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US 2 slope stabilization project between Stevens Pass and Leavenworth begins mid-July

    Source: Washington State News 2

    LEAVENWORTH – A project aimed to stabilize slopes alongside a stretch of US 2 in Chelan County will bring delays for travelers this summer.

    Beginning Monday, July 21, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will remove rocks from and place netting on unstable slopes at four locations adjacent to US 2 from Stevens Pass to just west of Leavenworth. These slopes have a history of active rockfall. 

    From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, travelers will encounter single-lane closures, and flagger-controlled traffic at the following locations on US 2:

    • Site 1, milepost 60 to 61, near the summit of Stevens Pass
    • Site 2, milepost 94, Tumwater Canyon, 5 miles west of Leavenworth
    • Site 3, milepost 96
    • Site 4, milepost 97 to 98

    Three-day closure of US 2 at Tumwater Canyon

    Rock removal at sites 3 and 4 will require a three-day closure of US 2 at Tumwater Canyon. During the closure, passenger vehicles will follow a 23-mile detour to Chumstick Highway that will add 33 minutes to the trip. Freight traffic must detour using US 97 Blewett Pass. The freight detour adds 151 miles, or two hours and 38 minutes to the drive.

    This closure is tentatively planned for late July and early August, depending on slope conditions and work progress. Once the final closure dates are confirmed, the information will be announced in a travel advisory and shared on the project webpage, mountain pass page, real time travel map, and @WSDOT_East on X/Twitter.

    The project is expected to finish in late September.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: We Have Only Just Begun

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    On July 1, after the longest vote-a-rama in Senate history, the Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by a vote of 51-50. Here is why I voted yes. 

    With President Biden in the White House and majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrats had every opportunity to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and increase taxes on “the rich.” They did not do so. Instead of returning to a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending and deficits, once the economy recovered, they incurred deficits averaging $1.9 trillion over four years. If that wasn’t bad enough, President Biden also left office with open borders and raging wars.  

    By passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we have avoided a $4 trillion automatic tax increase and a default on our debt. Due to the enormous messes Biden and congressional Democrats left us, we are also providing additional funding for border security and defense.   

    While the bill is a step forward, we have only just begun the difficult task of reducing spending, and there is still a long way to go. A rigorous effort will soon be announced to review every program and every line of the federal budget, looking for ways to reduce spending to a reasonable pre-pandemic level. I look forward to being fully involved in that effort to put America on a path to fiscal sustainability.

    As a follow up to my May 21 Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations’ hearing entitled, The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies: How Health Officials Downplayed and Hid Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Associated with the COVID-19 Vaccines, I asked witnesses to “send me the science” to back up their hearing testimony. 

    We kept the record open until June 5, during which time Majority’s witnesses submitted hundreds of documents — including peer-reviewed studies — and thousands of citations about COVID-19 vaccine adverse events to accompany their testimonies. These records provide substantial support for the witnesses’ claims regarding the serious health risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccines. 

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

    Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the Minority’s witness at the hearing, submitted 33 pages of testimony in his written statement for the hearing. He then submitted 19 links to studies and articles to support his claims about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines one week after the hearing record officially closed.   

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

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

    Governor Green’s submission to the record can be viewed here.

    Congratulations to Class 171 of the Joseph Project. These seven participants spent the week learning how to prepare for opportunities to put them on a successful path in the job market.

    We connect graduates with employers who are ready to hire and help with the job application and interview process. Once employment is secured, the Joseph Project provides transportation (free for one month) to participants to help establish good work habits. 

    While the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is the only service academy that does not require a congressional nomination, my staff stays abreast of the academic and service opportunities provided by this institution for young people in Wisconsin. 

    The other service academies — U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy — require a congressional nomination in addition to your application.

    Wisconsin students should be aware the deadline for nomination applications is September 19, 2025. Visit my website for more information. 

    The Senate passed a resolution I introduced designating July as National Sarcoma Awareness Month. The resolution raises awareness of sarcoma, a form of cancer, and honors the life of Hartford’s Melissa Locke and the many other Americans that this disease affects.

    I am pleased that my resolution passed the Senate in honor of Melissa Locke and the countless other Americans who have struggled with this life-threatening disease. I hope we can continue to increase awareness of this complex form of cancer that is diagnosed thousands of times each year.

    My staff is part of the Capitol Brew Crew softball team which plays against other Congressional offices. They are 4-2 overall and the last game of the season is against the team from the Office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin on July 17. Stay tuned!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Cruz Lead Group Of 18 Senators In Urging Secretary Rubio To Bring Home Americans Wrongfully Detained In Venezuela

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led a group of 18 senators in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue efforts to bring home Americans who are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela. In May, the State Department announced that Venezuela is currently unjustly jailing more Americans than any other country in the world. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho).

    “Today, at least eight Americans remain wrongfully detained in Venezuela, denied their freedom, separated from their loved ones, and unable to continue their lives. Their imprisonment is an ongoing injustice that necessitates immediate and decisive action by the U.S. government,” the senators wrote.

    The senators continued, “Nicolás Maduro continues to target, seize, and jail Americans without cause. It is essential that the U.S. government use all tools available to expeditiously secure the return of Americans detained and imprisoned unjustly in Venezuela.”

    The full text of the letter is below and available here.

    Secretary Rubio,

    We commend the Department of State for securing the January 31, 2025 release of six Americans who had been wrongfully detained in Venezuela, as well as the May 20 release of one additional wrongful detainee. Their return is a positive and important step. We write to express our continuing support for your efforts to bring all Americans home from Venezuela.

    Today, at least eight Americans remain wrongfully detained in Venezuela, denied their freedom, separated from their loved ones, and unable to continue their lives. Their imprisonment is an ongoing injustice that necessitates immediate and decisive action by the U.S. government.

    Nicolás Maduro continues to target, seize, and jail Americans without cause. It is essential that the U.S. government use all tools available to expeditiously secure the return of Americans detained and imprisoned unjustly in Venezuela.

    Each day that passes prolongs the suffering of Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela and their families. The American people are counting on the full weight of the U.S. government being brought to bear in regards to this issue.

    We stand ready to work with you to ensure that every American wrongfully detained in Venezuela is returned home without further delay.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Ivey Statement on Passing ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) released the following statement today after voting against H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act:”

    Today’s vote marks a cruel and calculated attack on America’s working families. By gutting core safety net programs, this bill hands out billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy—while telling everyone else to fend for themselves.

    Let’s be clear: neither Maryland nor any other state has the resources to plug the gaping holes this bill tears in our health care, food assistance, and basic support for families in need.

    This legislation makes our country less affordable, less healthy, and more unstable. It strips health care from millions, slashes food assistance, and deepens inequality—all under the guise of “fiscal responsibility.” This isn’t responsible governing. It’s a reckless betrayal of the people we were elected to serve.
                                                                                                     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaLota Delivers $5,000+ SALT Relief, Cuts Middle-Class Taxes, Protects Social Security, and Strengthens Long Island’s Economy

    Source: US Representative Nick LaLota (NY-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Nick LaLota (R–Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 1 – the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping legislative package that delivers the most significant tax relief for the middle class in a generation, includes historic investments in national security and workforce development, and provides direct financial relief to Long Island families.

    “It’s official—Congressional Republicans’ signature budget bill passed the House and is heading to President Trump’s desk,” said LaLota. “This bill quadruples the SALT cap for five years, boosts the Child Tax Credit, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, and delivers the biggest middle-class tax cut in decades. Just the SALT provision alone means that a Long Island family earning $250,000 and paying $18,000 in property taxes will get $5,000 more back when they file their 2025 taxes—real relief I fought tooth and nail to deliver.”

    A taxpayer can calculate his or her gain under the new SALT cap here.

    “This is a pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth bill. It avoids the $1,700 Biden tax hike that would have taken the equivalent of eight weeks of groceries from many households. Instead, it expands 529 education savings, creates newborn savings accounts, and protects Social Security and Medicare—while finally ending the provider tax scam that let states game Medicaid. Taxpayers deserve transparency, not gimmicks,” LaLota added.

    “Raising the SALT cap was the toughest legislative fight of my time in Congress. Some on the right called it a ‘blue state bailout.’ Many on the left dismissed it as welfare for the wealthy and refused to fix it—despite years of empty rhetoric. But despite opposition from 213 Members and 53 Senators, I didn’t blink. The SALT cap is now $40,000. That’s a hard-earned win for Long Island families,” said LaLota.

    Background

    What’s in the One Big, Beautiful Bill. The legislation delivers direct, measurable benefits to Suffolk County and middle-class families across the country. 

    State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Relief. Raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for five years for households earning under $500,000, indexed to inflation. For many Long Island families, this restores nearly all the tax relief lost in 2017.

    Direct Tax Relief for Working Families. Eliminates taxes on tips, overtime, and car loan interest—putting more money back into workers’ paychecks. Prevents the $1,700 tax hike previously projected under the Biden administration.

    Pro-Family Provisions. Increases the Child Tax Credit to $2,200, expands 529 accounts to cover apprenticeships and job training, and establishes childcare and newborn savings accounts.

    Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and PTET Fixes. Permanently raises the AMT exemption and phase-out thresholds to prevent surprise tax hikes for upper-middle-income families. Fixes the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) to help small businesses grow and reinvest locally.

    Deficit Reduction Without Touching Social Security or Medicare. Closes the Medicaid provider tax loophole that allowed states to inflate federal reimbursements—ending a long-running budget gimmick. Requires able-bodied adults to work, volunteer, or train to receive Medicaid benefits, promoting accountability while preserving care for those truly in need. All without touching a penny of Social Security or Medicare.

    Defense and Workforce Investment. $18.5 billion in warship procurement and $3.8 billion to expand the maritime industrial base—supporting local shipbuilding. Also includes:

    • $750 million for supplier development
    • $450 million for maritime workforce development grants
    • $250 million for Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

    Support for Long Island Agriculture

    • $3.3 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
    • $1.375 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program
    • $100 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants
    • Expanded crop insurance access for small and specialty growers

    Healthcare and Hospital Funding. Delays harmful Medicaid DSH cuts through 2029, preserving critical funding for hospitals like Stony Brook. Extends Medicare telehealth access and expands Medicaid flexibility for outpatient and behavioral health care.

    Border Security and Immigration Reform. Adds immigration judges and infrastructure to clear case backlogs. Enhances ICE capacity and legal resources to adjudicate up to 1 million removal cases annually.

    Critical Infrastructure and Safety Investments

    • $12.5 billion to modernize air traffic control and hire more controllers
    • $625 million to support law enforcement and emergency coordination for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

    For a comprehensive list of policies included in the bill, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen: “This is one of the worst betrayals of working families in favor of the ultra-wealthy in generations – and we won’t forget it.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    House Republicans Passed Their Extreme Bill, Slashing Medicaid and SNAP to Fund Tax Cuts for Billionaires
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after House Republicans passed the extreme tax spending bill that strips health care coverage and food assistance from millions of Americans in order to fund tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. 
    “This extreme and cruel bill will rip away health care coverage from more than 114,000 Nevadans, cut food assistance from families that need it most, and kill good-paying clean energy jobs in our state just so Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans can give billionaires more tax cuts,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m particularly appalled that this monstrosity of a bill will gut funding for rural hospitals across the nation, including in Nevada. This is one of the worst betrayals of working families in favor of the ultra-wealthy in generations — and we won’t forget it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Graham Statement On House Passage Of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today made this statement after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “We did it. Congratulations to President Trump, Vice President Vance, and their entire team for shepherding the One Big Beautiful Bill through the Senate and House so it can soon become the law of the land.

    “Speaker Johnson and his team also deserve tremendous credit for passing the Senate bill through the House. Senate Majority Leader Thune, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Crapo and Senator Barrasso did a fantastic job in shaping the Senate bill and securing its passage. As Senate Budget Committee Chairman, I was proud to have a leadership role in this process.

    “This bill achieves President Trump’s top domestic priorities:

    • Historic border security funding
    • Desperately needed new money for the military
    • Raising the debt ceiling to avoid default
    • Making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent avoiding a $4 trillion tax increase
    • Achieving the largest reduction in federal spending in history

    “The One Big Beautiful Bill will soon be law, and Americans will be far safer and more prosperous because of it.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: Idaho’s Fight to Protect Female Sports Reaches the Supreme Court

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Idaho’s Fight to Protect Female Sports Reaches the Supreme Court

    Dear Friends,
    Five years ago, Idaho made history by becoming the first state in the country to pass a law protecting women’s sports from biological males. This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear our case, Little v. Hecox, giving us the opportunity to defend that law before the nation’s highest court.
    After years of legal battles, we will finally have our day before the justices who will provide clarity on this fundamental issue impacting female athletes across America.
    When Idaho passed our law in 2020, we knew we would face legal challenges. The previous attorney general had warned legislators that the law faced uncertain legal ground. But I ran for this office because I thought Idaho needed a more aggressive attorney general who would not back away from the hard fights. We also knew that women and girls deserve an equal playing field where their hard work, dedication, and natural talent can shine. We understood that biological differences between men and women are real, measurable, and significant in athletic competition.
    The stakes couldn’t be higher. Across the country, female athletes are being forced to compete against biological males who possess inherent physical advantages. These young women have trained for years, sacrificed countless hours, and dreamed of scholarships and championships—only to watch those opportunities slip away because of policies that ignore basic biology.
    The Supreme Court’s decision to hear our case comes after we urged them to take action in a supplemental brief filed last week. We argued that critical constitutional questions remain unresolved, including whether biological sex should be defined objectively or subjectively in equal protection cases. We emphasized that 27 states have now enacted laws protecting women’s sports, and both the NCAA and federal government have announced policies excluding biological males from female competitions.
    The current legal confusion is harming everyone. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling places schools in an impossible position, creating conflicting requirements while female athletes continue to face unfair competition. This uncertainty serves no one and must end.
    Idaho’s leadership on this issue has helped build a national movement. What began as our lone stand has grown into a coalition of states committed to protecting equal opportunity for women and girls. The momentum is unmistakable, and the time for resolution has arrived.
    The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to resolve this nationwide confusion and protect the integrity of women’s sports across America. Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field, and I am confident the justices will recognize what we have always known: that true equality means preserving spaces where women can compete against other women.
    For too long, activists have worked to push women and girls out of their own sports. The Court must allow states to end this injustice and ensure that female athletes can showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve.
    I also want to thank Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, for her work sponsoring this legislation and fighting to protect female sports. 
    Best regards,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Find Mining Launches One-Stop AI Cloud Mining for Sustainable Digital Wealth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK,, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin returns to the $100,000 mark and global demand for clean energy and remote computing services continues to grow, Find Mining, a long-established cloud mining platform founded in 2018, announced that it has officially launched a new one-stop multi-currency AI cloud mining solution and supporting mobile applications, committed to providing global users with a smarter, low-threshold, and sustainable way to increase the value of digital assets.

    Driven by a new round of bull market, the demand for green computing power is rising

    According to the latest market information from CoinDesk, the price of Bitcoin continued to fluctuate around $100,000 in early July, and there were clear signs of institutional funds and mainstream ETF funds returning. At the same time, many places in the United States and Europe have approved the establishment of a new round of renewable energy data centers and mines, pushing the concept of “green mining” to become the focus of market attention again.

    Find Mining seized the market window and launched a multi-currency cloud mining solution based on AI computing power scheduling, providing a one-stop smart mining channel for ordinary users around the world.

     Breaking down traditional barriers: one-click excavation, global coverage

    Since its establishment in 2018, Find Mining has provided cloud mining services in more than 190 countries and regions around the world, attracting more than 9 million registered users. The core highlight of the new version is the introduction of the AI ​​intelligent allocation system. Registered users can automatically start mining BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DOGE and other multi-currency combinations without having to configure mining machines or select mining pools by themselves.

    “We have been committed to using technology to lower the threshold so that more people can fairly share the dividends brought by decentralized finance. AI intelligent computing power scheduling and new mobile products mean that users only need to register and select contracts to start mining with one click and receive daily income.” The head of global markets at Find Mining said in a press release.

    Four core highlights: AI + green energy + multi-currency + global support

    AI intelligent scheduling: Based on the real-time on-chain difficulty, currency price and handling fee fluctuations, it automatically optimizes the computing power allocation and improves the unit cost-benefit ratio.

    Green energy power supply: More than 70% of Find Mining’s current computing power is supported by wind power, hydropower and solar power data centers, contributing to the global carbon emission reduction goals.

    Flexible collection of multiple currencies: Supports settlement of mainstream currencies such as BTC, ETH, USDT, XRP, SOL, and users can freely switch to withdraw asset portfolios.

    Visual income management: Embedded real-time income dashboard, contract income is settled daily, and you can withdraw or reinvest at any time when the balance reaches US$100.

    Sign up and get $15, flexible and low investment threshold

    Find Mining offers a $15 computing power reward for new users upon registration, and a $0.60 reward for daily login and sign-in, lowering the trial threshold.

    Currently, it supports flexible mining contracts from 1 day to 60 days, with a minimum investment of only $15. The income is credited daily and calculated in real time based on the market exchange rate. All fees are open and transparent, without any additional management fees or hidden exchange fees.

    Compliance and safety are the foundation

    Faced with increasingly stringent regulation of cloud mining services in Europe, America and around the world, Find Mining continues to increase its investment in technology and compliance security:

    The platform has access to McAfee® network security protection and Cloudflare® anti-DDoS technology, while using cold wallet asset isolation, dedicated servers, and 7×24 hours global multilingual customer service to provide multiple guarantees for user funds and data security.

    Industry analysts pointed out that green energy, AI computing power scheduling and a highly transparent profit structure are the core elements for Find Mining to continue to gain the trust of the global market.

    About Find Mining

    Find Mining is headquartered in London. Since its establishment in 2018, it has focused on providing sustainable, secure and transparent remote cloud computing services to individuals and institutional users around the world, reducing the technical threshold and energy consumption costs of mining cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. At present, Find Mining has built distributed green energy data centers in North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, supporting flexible combination mining of multiple currencies such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, SOL, etc., helping users achieve long-term and stable digital wealth growth in the trend of decentralized finance.

    Learn more

    Visit the official website www.findmining.com

    or download the Find Mining App to start your low-threshold, safe and sustainable crypto asset passive income journey.

    Official email: info@findmining.com

    Disclaimer: This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment solicitation, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking carry risk, including potential loss of capital. Always conduct due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Find Mining Launches One-Stop AI Cloud Mining for Sustainable Digital Wealth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK,, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Bitcoin returns to the $100,000 mark and global demand for clean energy and remote computing services continues to grow, Find Mining, a long-established cloud mining platform founded in 2018, announced that it has officially launched a new one-stop multi-currency AI cloud mining solution and supporting mobile applications, committed to providing global users with a smarter, low-threshold, and sustainable way to increase the value of digital assets.

    Driven by a new round of bull market, the demand for green computing power is rising

    According to the latest market information from CoinDesk, the price of Bitcoin continued to fluctuate around $100,000 in early July, and there were clear signs of institutional funds and mainstream ETF funds returning. At the same time, many places in the United States and Europe have approved the establishment of a new round of renewable energy data centers and mines, pushing the concept of “green mining” to become the focus of market attention again.

    Find Mining seized the market window and launched a multi-currency cloud mining solution based on AI computing power scheduling, providing a one-stop smart mining channel for ordinary users around the world.

     Breaking down traditional barriers: one-click excavation, global coverage

    Since its establishment in 2018, Find Mining has provided cloud mining services in more than 190 countries and regions around the world, attracting more than 9 million registered users. The core highlight of the new version is the introduction of the AI ​​intelligent allocation system. Registered users can automatically start mining BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DOGE and other multi-currency combinations without having to configure mining machines or select mining pools by themselves.

    “We have been committed to using technology to lower the threshold so that more people can fairly share the dividends brought by decentralized finance. AI intelligent computing power scheduling and new mobile products mean that users only need to register and select contracts to start mining with one click and receive daily income.” The head of global markets at Find Mining said in a press release.

    Four core highlights: AI + green energy + multi-currency + global support

    AI intelligent scheduling: Based on the real-time on-chain difficulty, currency price and handling fee fluctuations, it automatically optimizes the computing power allocation and improves the unit cost-benefit ratio.

    Green energy power supply: More than 70% of Find Mining’s current computing power is supported by wind power, hydropower and solar power data centers, contributing to the global carbon emission reduction goals.

    Flexible collection of multiple currencies: Supports settlement of mainstream currencies such as BTC, ETH, USDT, XRP, SOL, and users can freely switch to withdraw asset portfolios.

    Visual income management: Embedded real-time income dashboard, contract income is settled daily, and you can withdraw or reinvest at any time when the balance reaches US$100.

    Sign up and get $15, flexible and low investment threshold

    Find Mining offers a $15 computing power reward for new users upon registration, and a $0.60 reward for daily login and sign-in, lowering the trial threshold.

    Currently, it supports flexible mining contracts from 1 day to 60 days, with a minimum investment of only $15. The income is credited daily and calculated in real time based on the market exchange rate. All fees are open and transparent, without any additional management fees or hidden exchange fees.

    Compliance and safety are the foundation

    Faced with increasingly stringent regulation of cloud mining services in Europe, America and around the world, Find Mining continues to increase its investment in technology and compliance security:

    The platform has access to McAfee® network security protection and Cloudflare® anti-DDoS technology, while using cold wallet asset isolation, dedicated servers, and 7×24 hours global multilingual customer service to provide multiple guarantees for user funds and data security.

    Industry analysts pointed out that green energy, AI computing power scheduling and a highly transparent profit structure are the core elements for Find Mining to continue to gain the trust of the global market.

    About Find Mining

    Find Mining is headquartered in London. Since its establishment in 2018, it has focused on providing sustainable, secure and transparent remote cloud computing services to individuals and institutional users around the world, reducing the technical threshold and energy consumption costs of mining cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. At present, Find Mining has built distributed green energy data centers in North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, supporting flexible combination mining of multiple currencies such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, XRP, SOL, etc., helping users achieve long-term and stable digital wealth growth in the trend of decentralized finance.

    Learn more

    Visit the official website www.findmining.com

    or download the Find Mining App to start your low-threshold, safe and sustainable crypto asset passive income journey.

    Official email: info@findmining.com

    Disclaimer: This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment solicitation, or a trading recommendation. Cryptocurrency mining and staking carry risk, including potential loss of capital. Always conduct due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW INFO: July 4th Cookouts Will Cost More Amid Trump Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    07.03.25
    NEW INFO: July 4th Cookouts Will Cost More Amid Trump Tariffs
    Domestic beer up 13%; popular propane grill up $30, ground beef and ice cream at their highest recorded prices ever
    EDMONDS, WA – President Trump’s unpredictable tariff policy and increasing economic uncertainty have driven up the cost of Independence Day cookout essentials, according to a new analysis by The Joint Economic Committee – Minority.
    Since Trump’s April 1 “Liberation Day” announcement, a six-pack of Miller Lite or Coors Light costs 13% more at Wal-Mart. The cost of the most popular propane grill on Amazon has risen $30. Ground beef and ice cream reached their highest prices since data first became available in the 1980s. All told, the total cost of a grocery store trip for a cookout increased by a 12.7% annualized rate since “Liberation Day.”
    “Enjoying July 4th is going to cost families more because of President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee. “These rising prices show that a tariffs-first policy puts consumers last.”
    For the past five months, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies.
    Sen. Cantwell has been the leading Senate voice against a tariffs-first trade policy.
    In April, Sen. Cantwell introduced the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025 to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, and reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs. Her bill has since picked up 12 additional cosponsors – an equal mix of Republicans and Democrats – and been endorsed by multiple major U.S. business organizations, including the National Retail Federation, which is the largest retail trade association in the world. House members also introduced a bipartisan companion bill.
    On April 16, Sen. Cantwell joined nine local business owners and leaders at the Port of Seattle to push back against the Trump administration’s chaotic tariffs-first trade policy. On May 29, she gathered stakeholders at the Port of Seattle again to respond to the chaos caused by President Donald Trump scrambling to keep his draconian tariffs in place amid court challenges.
    “American businesses need a rules-based trade system. That means American families would have the certainty, not chaos and not higher prices. We know this: That when you start trade wars, usually that means you end up closing markets,” Sen. Cantwell said in at the May 29 press conference.
    In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information about how those tariffs will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Statement Ahead of Trump Signing Disastrous Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    07.03.25
    Cantwell Statement Ahead of Trump Signing Disastrous Budget Bill
    EDMONDS, WA – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed a budget bill 218 to 214; President Donald Trump has indicated his intent to sign the bill into law tomorrow morning, on the Fourth of July. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement:
    “With the House green lighting President Trump’s goal of taking away health care access and food security for millions, many Americans are going to suffer, and many working families will see their costs go up. 
    “This law is the largest cut to Medicaid in history, which will raise costs for everyone’s health insurance.  Hospitals, local elected officials from both parties, and everyday Americans all begged Republicans to make changes, but they refused. They stuck to their cruel plan to kick 17 million Americans off of their health insurance and take SNAP benefits away from millions of families — all so that billionaires and corporations could get another tax cut.” 
    Sunday night, Sen. Cantwell delivered a speech on the Senate floor to highlight how various provisions included in the bill sell out the American people. That speech can be watched in full HERE; a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –