Category: United States of America

MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell, Colleagues Call For Investigations Into Deaths of Americans in Gaza

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
07.25.25
Cantwell, Colleagues Call For Investigations Into Deaths of Americans in Gaza
Lawmakers seeking accountability for the July 11 death of Saifulla Kamel Musallet, as well as updates into the deaths of 6 other Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 28 of her Democratic colleagues in the Senate in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi calling for an investigation into the death of Palestinian-American Saifullah Kamel Musallet in the West Bank earlier this month, as well as updates into the investigations of other deaths in Gaza, including 26-year-old Aysenur Ezgi Eygi from Washington state.
“The Netanyahu government has failed to hold anyone accountable for any of these seven killings of Americans and the United States government has failed in its responsibility to protect American citizens overseas and demand justice for their deaths. These failures have made it more likely that more Americans and other civilians will be killed in the West Bank by Israeli security forces or violent settlers who can act with impunity,” the senators wrote.
“Following the Trump Administration’s sudden revocation of all U.S. sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank, the first five months of 2025 have seen the highest rate of settler attacks in years and the killing of another American. We urge you to pursue a different approach.”
Saifullah Kamel Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian American from Florida, was visiting family near the West Bank town of Sinjil on July 11 when he was beaten to death by extremist Israeli settlers. He is the seventh American killed in the region since Jan. 1, 2022 – a list that also includes University of Washington student Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot and killed by Israeli military during a peaceful protest against illegal settlements in September.
Following Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s death, Sen. Cantwell sent a solo letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for a full and independent investigation.
“The killings of these Americans in the West Bank have been met by a lack of accountability from the Netanyahu government and a pattern of indifference by the U.S. government. These failures have contributed to an unacceptable culture of impunity when it comes to killing of civilians in the West Bank, including Americans,” the senators wrote yesterday. “It is long past time for the U.S. government to demand accountability in these killings of Americans.”
The letter was led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and is cosigned by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Chris Murphy (D-CN).
Full text of the letter is HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Rubio and Attorney General Bondi,
We write with grave concern regarding the brutal killing of a Palestinian-American, Saifullah Kamel Musallet, near the West Bank town of Sinjil, on July 11, 2025. The U.S. government must conduct a credible and independent investigation into his beating death and hold all perpetrators accountable. Protecting and supporting U.S. citizens abroad is one of the foremost responsibilities of the U.S. government. The Biden Administration failed to secure accountability for the killing of respected Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, or any of the other four American citizens – Omar Assad, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour, and Aysenur Ezgi Eygi – killed in the West Bank while they were in office.[1] Following the Trump Administration’s sudden revocation of all U.S. sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank, the first five months of 2025 have seen the highest rate of settler attacks in years and the killing of another American. We urge you to pursue a different approach.
Saifullah Kamal Musallet is the seventh American citizen killed in the West Bank since January 2022 — and the fifth in just the last nineteen months. The killings of these Americans in the West Bank have been met by a lack of accountability from the Netanyahu government and a pattern of indifference by the U.S. government. These failures have contributed to an unacceptable culture of impunity when it comes to killing of civilians in the West Bank, including Americans.
Saifullah Kamel Musallet, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Florida, was visiting family in the West Bank when he was beaten to death by extremist Israeli settlers during a settler attack on the town of Sinjil. Reports indicate that ambulances could not reach the injured for more than two hours because settlers were blocking the area and the Israeli military refused to allow ambulances to pass.[2] In April of this year, a 14-year-old boy from New Jersey, Amer Mohammad Saada Rabee, was also killed in the West Bank. Amer was reportedly shot at the entrance to Turmus Ayya and the Israeli army pronounced him dead after detaining him. Reports suggest that Amer was shot a total of 11 times and two other Americans were also shot in the incident.[3]
Last year, three other U.S. citizens were killed in the West Bank, including two teenagers. Tawfic Abdel Jabbar and Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour were both 17-year-old U.S. citizens visiting their families in the West Bank when they were shot and killed in separate incidents. In both cases they were shot in the head while they were traveling in vehicles.[4] The third U.S. citizen gunned down in the West Bank last year was Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old American citizen raised in Seattle who was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier from a distance of 200 meters.[5]
The Netanyahu government has failed to hold anyone accountable for any of these seven killings of Americans and the United States government has failed in its responsibility to protect American citizens overseas and demand justice for their deaths. These failures have made it more likely that more Americans and other civilians will be killed in the West Bank by Israeli security forces or violent settlers who can act with impunity.
It is long past time for the U.S. government to demand accountability in these killings of Americans. To that end, we urge you to immediately launch an independent investigation into the brutal killing of Saifullah Kamel Musallet, including the circumstances that blocked ambulances from reaching him. We also ask that you provide us with an update on the status of any investigations into the killings of the six other Americans who have been killed since January 2022, and provide us with a briefing on actions you are taking to ensure accountability for their deaths and to prevent future killings of Americans in the West Bank.
We respectfully ask for a response within two weeks.

[1] Lucas, Ryan. “DOJ Silent as Families of Americans Killed in West Bank, Gaza Demand It Investigate.” NPR, 10 Oct. 2024, www.npr.org/2024/10/10/nx-s1-5106059/west-bank-gaza-israel-justice-department/.
[2] Levine, Heidi, et al. “Palestinian American from Florida Killed in the West Bank, Family Says.” The Washington Post, 12 July 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/07/11/palestinian-american-west-bank-death-tampa/.
[3]Ott, Haley. “American Teen Fatally Shot in Israeli-Occupied West Bank as Netanyahu Visits Trump.” Cbsnews.com, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-west-bank-palestinian-american-amir-mohammed-rabee-killed/.
[4] Yahya Abou-Ghazala, and Alex Marquardt. “Families of Killed Palestinian-Americans Demand Answers of US, Israel.” CNN, 23 Feb. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/world/palestinian-americans-demand-answers-invs.
[5] Hubbard, Ben, and Gulsin Harman. “At Funeral in Turkey, Family Mourns American Activist Aysenur Eygi.” The New York Times, 14 Sept. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/09/14/world/middleeast/turkey-us-activist-killed-israel-west-bank.html.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Welcomes Oklahoma Student Leaders to Washington, D.C.

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

RELEASE: Senator Mullin Welcomes Oklahoma Student Leaders to Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) met with Oklahoma students participating in the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit hosted by the Close Up Foundation. The students shared their goals with Senator Mullin and discussed a variety of topics. Photos below.
“It is always a pleasure to welcome our great student leaders to the nation’s capital. They are the future of this country and I am encouraged by their enthusiasm and determination,” said Senator Mullin. “I am proud of all of our students in Oklahoma and it is an honor to be in Washington fighting for them every day. My colleagues and I are committed to leaving a better America for them and the generations that follow.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Laurel Lee and Congressman Pfluger Introduce Legislation to Cut LNG Bunkering Red Tape

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced the Cutting LNG Bunkering Red Tape Act, a bill that codifies a Trump-era Department of Energy (DOE) order clarifying that ship-to-ship transfers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) used as marine fuel—commonly known as LNG bunkering—are not considered exports under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act unless conducted in foreign waters. The bill is referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“The Biden Administration’s harmful energy policies have created unnecessary regulatory burdens that stall innovation and weaken American energy leadership,”said Rep. Lee. “Liquefied natural gas is a more efficient, cleaner, and cost-effective energy source. My bill ensures that LNG bunkering is not hindered by red tape, so that ports in Florida and across the nation can continue to expand, drive job creation, and compete globally.”

“LNG exports unequivocally benefit our economy, domestic prices, national security, and partners and allies around the world that want our product. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration spent four years imposing one regulation after another on these exports, stifling the energy industry,” said Rep. Pfluger. “This legislation permanently reverses one of these misguided policies to ensure American LNG can compete on the global stage by removing regulatory uncertainty and streamlining the use of it as a cleaner, more efficient fuel source for maritime transportation. I am proud to lead this legislation with my good friend from Florida, Representative Laurel Lee.”

Background:

During the Biden Administration, DOE issued an order treating certain domestic LNG ship-to-ship transfers as exports, subjecting them to extensive federal regulation and public interest review. In contrast, President Trump reversed this position, rightly determining that LNG bunkering within U.S. waters should not be treated as an export. Rep. Lee’s legislation would cement this clarification in federal law.

Florida is a major hub for marine transportation, including cruise ships and other vessels, increasingly turning to LNG as a clean and modern fuel source. JAX LNG, based in Jacksonville, has been a national leader in LNG bunkering, but has faced unnecessary regulatory hurdles due to shifting federal interpretations

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Tribal Support for Newhouse Legislation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Tribal Support for Newhouse Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act alongside Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to improve hiring and retention for tribal law enforcement officers in Central Washington and across the United States.

Here is what they are saying about the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act:

Jarred-Michael Erickson, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, said, “The Colville Tribes strongly supports the ‘Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act. The bill would implement long overdue reforms and remove administrative barriers to tribal law officers enforcing federal laws on their reservation lands. It will also assist the Colville Tribes and other tribes in recruiting and retaining officers, which is critical for rural tribes that have large land bases and not enough officers to adequately patrol.”

Jeremy Takala, Law & Order Committee Chairman, Yakama Nation Tribal Council, said, “Bolstering support for Tribal law enforcement recruitment and retention is crucial to addressing the many serious and systemic public safety issues in Indian Country. The issue is particularly pressing for the Yakama Nation and other tribes with large-land bases and a severe lack of resources to adequately patrol such a vast area. At Yakama we are facing an overwhelming confluence of public safety crises. We have experienced a surge in violent and property crimes, the highest rate of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/People in the region, and a terrifying rise in outside gang and cartel-related drug activity coming onto our lands, including the pervasive and deadly fentanyl epidemic. The recent coordinated, multi-agency drug trafficking interdiction “Operation Overdrive” that dismantled a large drug distribution network operating on the Yakama Reservation shows what is possible when all levels of government work together to make our communities safer. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will help give the Yakama Nation and other tribes the tools and funding necessary to protect our communities and people who live, work, and raise their families on our lands. The Yakama Nation appreciates Congressman Newhouse’s partnership with us and his continued work to address long-standing impediments to Tribal sovereignty and our public safety efforts.”

Dustin Klatush, Chairman, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, said, “The Chehalis Tribe strongly supports the bill. Our Tribe is fortunate in that we are able to pay our law enforcement officers competitive salaries but competitive retirement benefits are currently out of reach for Chehalis and most other tribes around the country. If enacted, this will allow Chehalis and other tribes to take care of the officers that patrol and keep our communities safe.”

Glen Nenema, Chairman, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, said, “Many tribal police departments are chronically understaffed and massively underfunded. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act would level the playing field for tribal police benefits, retirement, and pension, allowing tribes to improve retention and recruitment of officers on tribal lands. Ultimately, passage of the act would help improve overall safety in tribal communities. We are grateful to Congressman Newhouse, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and their colleagues for championing this act and hope the overwhelming tribal support will ensure its approval.”

Everett Ekdahl, Jr., Vice President, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, said, “As a tribal law enforcement officer and an elected tribal leader, I know firsthand how hard it is to recruit and retain law enforcement officers. This bill will make it so much easier to achieve that objective by ensuring tribal law enforcement officers have access to proper retirement benefits. This bill will make our community safer.”

Leonard Forsman, Chairman, Suquamish Tribe, said, “The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will provide tribal nations with the tools necessary to recruit and retain law enforcements officers. It shows Congress’s commitment to public safety on tribal lands and the fair treatment of tribal law enforcement officers. We are grateful for Senator Cantwell, Congressman Newhouse, and Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez for their leadership on this important issue.”

Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Chairman, Hopi Tribe, said, “The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act represents a crucial advancement in ensuring that tribal law enforcement agencies, such as Hopi Law Enforcement Services, have the support they need to protect those that live and work on the Hopi Reservation. The Hopi Tribe is grateful to Senator Cantwell, Congressman Newhouse, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and their colleagues for their leadership strengthening recruitment, retention, and public safety across tribal nations.”

Teri Gobin, Chair, Tulalip Tribes, said, “The Tulalip Tribes strongly and unequivocally support the Tribal Law Enforcement Parity Act. Our tribal law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and they deserve the same retirement and benefits as their federal counterparts. This legislation is about parity and public safety. We are losing dedicated, highly trained officers because we can’t offer competitive retirement benefits. Passing the Parity Act is critical to keeping our officers on the force and ensuring the safety and security of everyone—tribal and non-tribal—who lives, works, and visits our lands.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $414,482 HHS Grant to Virginia Tech for Cancer Research

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $414,482 grant. The funding supports cancer research. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Virginia Tech leads important health research initiatives that test treatments and immunotherapies for cancer.

“This HHS grant for more than $400,000 helps Virginia Tech pursue a project focused on treating cancer.”

BACKGROUND

The funds for this grant were made available through the HHS Exploratory/Developmental Grants program. This program encourages the development of new research activities in categorical program areas.

The Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance, launched in 2019, consists of talented cancer scientists who seek to introduce novel preventions, diagnostics and therapeutics for a variety of cancers.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Salvadoran serial criminal convicted of unlawful reentry after ICE Boston arrest

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

BOSTON — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation resulted in a federal conviction for an illegally present Salvadoran national who unlawfully reentered the United States after having previously been deported. Arsenio Valladares, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien July 7 at the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts.

“Not only did Arsenio Valladares display a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws; his presence in our community placed the safety of our residents in danger,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He has been convicted of several violent crimes and represents a threat to our neighbors. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from New England.”

ICE deported Valladares from the United States April 23, 2008. Sometime after his removal, Valladares illegally reentered the United States without permission.

Prior to his removal, Valladares was convicted of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, operating a vehicle under the influence, larceny and malicious destruction of property.

In November 2024, ICE Boston became aware of Valadares’ presence in the United States after being notified that his fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in Massachusetts. Officers with ICE Boston arrested him on immigration charges March 18.

Valladares faces to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing hearing, scheduled for later this month. Furthermore, Valladares is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SecAF visits Asia-Pacific to strengthen alliances, assess readiness

Source: United States Air Force

Headline: SecAF visits Asia-Pacific to strengthen alliances, assess readiness

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the 2025 Department-Level Exercise.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: Standing With the Moscow Community After the Kohberger Sentencing

Source: US State of Idaho

Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Standing With the Moscow Community After the Kohberger Sentencing

Dear Friends,
This week, Bryan Kohberger received four consecutive life sentences for the November 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Under Idaho law, these fixed sentences mean Kohberger will never be eligible for parole and will die in prison. With this sentencing, a painful chapter closes in one of the darkest moments in our state’s history.
Four young lives full of promise were stolen from us far too soon—from their families, classmates, friends, and all of us who came to know their names and stories. Their loss is immeasurable, and their absence is felt every day.
There is no sentence that can bring true justice for this kind of evil. Nothing can undo the heartache or fill the empty chairs at family tables. But this outcome ensures that Bryan Kohberger will never harm another innocent life.
For more than two years, my office worked side by side with Latah County prosecutors. While Prosecutor Thompson retained full authority over the case, including all plea negotiations, my Criminal Division provided crucial support by handling the complex legal challenges that could have derailed the entire prosecution.
Criminal Division Chief Jeff Nye led my team alongside Deputy Attorneys General Ingrid Batey and Madison Gourley. Together, they fought off more than a dozen motions challenging the death penalty. They defended law enforcement’s use of investigative genetic genealogy—the first time this technique had been used in Idaho. When defense lawyers tried to throw out the entire case, my team protected the grand jury indictment.
Each challenge they defeated kept this case moving forward. The genetic genealogy work that first identified Kohberger became crucial evidence. Their successful defense of this investigative tool will help Idaho law enforcement solve future cases.
Most importantly, their focus on key legal briefing and arguments gave Latah County prosecutors the ability to concentrate on discovery and prepare for trial. Kohberger will spend the rest of his life behind bars at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, where he belongs.
I know that no matter the outcome this week, no words, legal ruling, or sentence from a judge can heal what these families have endured. My sincere wish is that they have not carried this burden alone and that Idaho never forget the names and memories of Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan.
Please continue to keep these families in your prayers—not just today, but in the days and years to come. Their grief does not end with a sentence, and neither should our care for them.
As Attorney General, I’ll never stop fighting to protect Idaho families. I stand with our prosecutors, law enforcement community, and our citizens to ensure justice is done.
Best regards,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: Standing With the Moscow Community After the Kohberger Sentencing

Source: US State of Idaho

Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Standing With the Moscow Community After the Kohberger Sentencing

Dear Friends,
This week, Bryan Kohberger received four consecutive life sentences for the November 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Under Idaho law, these fixed sentences mean Kohberger will never be eligible for parole and will die in prison. With this sentencing, a painful chapter closes in one of the darkest moments in our state’s history.
Four young lives full of promise were stolen from us far too soon—from their families, classmates, friends, and all of us who came to know their names and stories. Their loss is immeasurable, and their absence is felt every day.
There is no sentence that can bring true justice for this kind of evil. Nothing can undo the heartache or fill the empty chairs at family tables. But this outcome ensures that Bryan Kohberger will never harm another innocent life.
For more than two years, my office worked side by side with Latah County prosecutors. While Prosecutor Thompson retained full authority over the case, including all plea negotiations, my Criminal Division provided crucial support by handling the complex legal challenges that could have derailed the entire prosecution.
Criminal Division Chief Jeff Nye led my team alongside Deputy Attorneys General Ingrid Batey and Madison Gourley. Together, they fought off more than a dozen motions challenging the death penalty. They defended law enforcement’s use of investigative genetic genealogy—the first time this technique had been used in Idaho. When defense lawyers tried to throw out the entire case, my team protected the grand jury indictment.
Each challenge they defeated kept this case moving forward. The genetic genealogy work that first identified Kohberger became crucial evidence. Their successful defense of this investigative tool will help Idaho law enforcement solve future cases.
Most importantly, their focus on key legal briefing and arguments gave Latah County prosecutors the ability to concentrate on discovery and prepare for trial. Kohberger will spend the rest of his life behind bars at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, where he belongs.
I know that no matter the outcome this week, no words, legal ruling, or sentence from a judge can heal what these families have endured. My sincere wish is that they have not carried this burden alone and that Idaho never forget the names and memories of Madison, Kaylee, Xana, and Ethan.
Please continue to keep these families in your prayers—not just today, but in the days and years to come. Their grief does not end with a sentence, and neither should our care for them.
As Attorney General, I’ll never stop fighting to protect Idaho families. I stand with our prosecutors, law enforcement community, and our citizens to ensure justice is done.
Best regards,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: SecAF visits Asia-Pacific to strengthen alliances, assess readiness

Source: United States Spaceforce

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the 2025 Department-Level Exercise.

MIL Security OSI –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Protects American Innovation from the CCP

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

WASHINGTON – During a U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) touted her report that uncovered loopholes and a lack of consistent due diligence standards are exposing hundreds of millions of dollars in sensitive American intellectual property to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Ernst emphasized the need for Congress to pass her INNOVATE Act to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and safeguard intellectual property from Chinese espionage to ensure America continues to be the world’s leader in developing cutting-edge technology.

Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Fellow Emily Bruyère agreed with Chair Ernst that reforming the due diligence process in the SBIR and STTR programs is an essential step to ensuring that companies receiving federal funding do not have concerning malign foreign ties.
Bruyère emphasized the need to clawback award dollars if a small business exposes taxpayer-funded intellectual property to a foreign adversary.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump Promised to End Child Sexual Mutilation — and He Delivered
Source: US Whitehouse
During his campaign, President Donald J. Trump repeatedly pledged to end the irreversible chemical and surgical mutilation of our children: “We are not going to allow child sexual mutilation.”

For years, politicians have promised to end the barbaric, pseudoscientific practice — but President Trump is the only one who has actually delivered.

This week, Yale New Haven Health and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center announced they are ending their so-called “gender-affirming care services.” They join a growing list of health systems across the country following President Trump’s executive action.
- Phoenix Children’s Hospital stopped providing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to minors.
- Stanford Medicine ended sex-change surgeries for minors.
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles closed its “Center for Transyouth Health and Development and Gender-Affirming Care.”
- Denver Health suspended sex change surgeries for patients under 19.
- UCHealth ended so-called “gender-affirming services” for patients under 19.
- Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago stopped sex-change surgeries for patients under 19.
- UChicago suspended so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors.
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital stopped sex-change surgeries for minors.
- Rush Medical Center halted gender-affirming care for new patients under 18.
- In New York City, Mount Sinai and New York-Presbyterian both curbed so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors.
- In Pennsylvania, Penn State Health, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System all stopped so-called “gender-affirming care” for patients under 19.
- The Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health halted so-called “gender-affirming care” for new patients under 19.
- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters suspended hormone therapy and puberty blockers for gender-affirming care in children under 19.
- Seattle Children’s Hospital stopped providing so-called “gender-affirming surgery” to patients under 19.
- In Washington, D.C., Children’s National Hospital “paused” prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, while Northwest Washington Hospital did the same.
- Kaiser Permanente paused sex-change surgeries for patients under 19 across all its hospitals and surgical centers.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: SecAF visits Asia-Pacific to strengthen alliances, assess readiness

Source: United States Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the 2025 Department-Level Exercise.

MIL Security OSI –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Pillen Promotes Commitment to Nebraska Highways
Source: US State of Nebraska

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“Our state depends on safe, well-built roads and highways,” said Gov. Pillen. “These projects are critical to every family, producer, and trucker in this great state. We’re keeping our promises and delivering for Nebraskans by staying focused on the road ahead.

The July rollout is another step forward in keeping the promise to streamline the delivery of much-needed transportation projects across Nebraska.

The announcement included the expedited completion of the US-275 Expressway, a critical transportation and resource corridor between greater Northeast Nebraska, Norfolk, and Omaha. In November, Governor Pillen directed NDOT to condense the timeline to complete the expressway from Norfolk to West Point. The expediated completion of the corridor was made possible through a legislative initiative in 2023 championed by Governor Pillen to authorize the use of bonds to speed up critical infrastructure projects.

The projects that complete the US-275 corridor are outlined in the NDOT fiscal year (FY) 2026 Surface Transportation Program Book. The construction program specifies how NDOT plans to preserve, modernize and improve the safety of the state transportation system.

The 2026 Program is valued at $722 million and lists state projects in each of NDOT’s geographical districts projected for construction within the next six years. In addition to the benefits of bonding, the Program also includes multiple projects leveraging alternative delivery. This is the second year NDOT has leveraged early contractor involvement to deliver projects through collaborative methods for the benefit of the taxpayer.

Examples of the 92 new projects (contracts) include:
- Complete the US-275 Expressway corridor between Norfolk and Omaha
- Progress on the Expressway system connecting Minatare to US 385 along US Highway 26 (US-26) and Nebraska Link 62A (L-62A)
- Expand and improve Interstate 680 (I-680) Pacific to Dodge Street in the Omaha metro
- Improve more than 40 miles of Interstate from Lincoln to west of Kimball
- Install Cable Median Guardrail on the Interstate between Giltner and Hampton exits in Hamilton County
Governor Pillen encourages communities to reach out to NDOT through the Nebraska Infrastructure Hub at https://dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/nebraska-infrastructure-hub/ to learn about opportunities to move transportation projects forward through federal discretionary funding.

MIL OSI USA News –
July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Civil Rights Division Moves to Dismiss Court-Ordered Agreement Regarding Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center

Source: United States Attorneys General

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that it has moved to dismiss a 2015 Court-Ordered Settlement Agreement regarding the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center (the Center) in Greenwood, Mississippi because the Center has achieved sustained substantial compliance with all areas of the Settlement Agreement.

The Center implemented reforms to ensure that children are not subjected to undue restraint use; children who feel suicidal or need to talk to mental health are connected to a mental health provider within hours; children are not punished with isolation and instead receive programs and activities that include cooking and robotics classes; sleeping rooms are clean and have appropriate beds. Additionally, the Center implemented an outstanding compliance review system and staff misconduct is taken seriously and handled professionally.

“All children deserve to be protected from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank the Center’s leadership and staff for their commitment over the years to ensuring safety for these children and for the community of Leflore County.”

“The counties and municipalities that this center serves can now move forward, knowing that when they make use of this facility to hold juveniles, that they can do so with the knowledge that these youths are held safely in a constitutionally compliant manner,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi.

MIL Security OSI –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Civil Rights Division Moves to Dismiss Court-Ordered Agreement Regarding Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center

Source: United States Attorneys General

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that it has moved to dismiss a 2015 Court-Ordered Settlement Agreement regarding the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center (the Center) in Greenwood, Mississippi because the Center has achieved sustained substantial compliance with all areas of the Settlement Agreement.

The Center implemented reforms to ensure that children are not subjected to undue restraint use; children who feel suicidal or need to talk to mental health are connected to a mental health provider within hours; children are not punished with isolation and instead receive programs and activities that include cooking and robotics classes; sleeping rooms are clean and have appropriate beds. Additionally, the Center implemented an outstanding compliance review system and staff misconduct is taken seriously and handled professionally.

“All children deserve to be protected from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank the Center’s leadership and staff for their commitment over the years to ensuring safety for these children and for the community of Leflore County.”

“The counties and municipalities that this center serves can now move forward, knowing that when they make use of this facility to hold juveniles, that they can do so with the knowledge that these youths are held safely in a constitutionally compliant manner,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi.

MIL Security OSI –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Whitehouse, Heinrich, Colleagues to Reintroduce Bill to Make Homeownership More Accessible for First-Time Buyers

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

Bicameral First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act would help make homeownership a reality for young Americans amidst skyrocketing housing costs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and 10 Democratic Senators in reintroducing the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, legislation that aims to support middle-class Americans purchasing their first home. The Senators’ legislation would establish a refundable tax credit worth up to 10% of a home’s purchase price—up to a maximum of $15,000—for first-time homebuyers.
“Everyone should have a fair chance to experience the joy of buying their first home–it’s a pillar of the American Dream. But skyrocketing housing prices have pushed that dream out of reach for folks in red and blue states alike,” said Senator Welch. “Our legislation will provide a financial boost to first-time homeowners to give more hardworking Americans a fair shot at buying their first home.”
“Owning a home is at the core of the American dream, but too many young families have been priced out of homeownership in recent years because of the housing supply crunch. And Trump’s chaotic tariff regime has increased homebuilding costs, forcing developers to pause construction on much-needed new units,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Our tax credit for first-time homebuyers would help make the American dream a reality for more of the young Americans left behind in Trump’s billionaire-first economy.”
“Buying your first home is more than just owning property: It’s a source of pride, stability, and hope for the future. Unfortunately, buying a home is out of reach for many families right now. We’re changing that with my First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to reintroduce this bill to ease the financial burden on aspiring homeowners and give every working family an equal opportunity to realize the American dream of owning a home.”
In 2022, the median sale price for a home in the U.S. was 5.6 times higher than the median income, a higher ratio than during the years immediately before the 2007 mortgage crisis, and the highest disparity on record. An NBC News analysis earlier this month found that the cost of building a single-family home could soon rise by more than $4,000 thanks to President Trump’s tariff agenda, which is expected to increase the costs of many of the materials used to build houses.
In Vermont, which faces a housing shortage and has the fourth-highest rate of homelessness in the country, an estimated 7,000 new homes will need to be built each year for the next 25 years to help alleviate the crisis. Nationwide, the shortage of affordable housing opportunities costs the American economy an estimated $2 trillion each year. High housing costs reduce disposable income and economic mobility, stifling economic opportunities for those who can no longer afford housing in their communities.
Housing unaffordability is especially harmful to younger Americans, who are struggling to reach the same milestones their parents did at their age. In 2024, the typical age of a first-time homebuyer reached a record high of 38, up from 29 in 1981. And first-time homebuyers, as a percentage of all homebuyers nationwide, fell from 38% to 24% over that same period, the lowest percentage ever recorded.
Under the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, taxpayers would have the option of receiving the credit at the time of purchase by working with their mortgage issuer. Alternatively, taxpayers could elect to treat the purchase of their home as occurring in the prior taxable year to receive the credit before tax season if they are unable to qualify for the credit at point of sale.
The credit phases out for those making above 150% of area median income and for those buying a house with a purchase price above 110% of the area median purchase price. Additionally, the credit is limited to home purchases financed through federally backed mortgages.
The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) led the reintroduction of the legislation in the House of Representatives.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Cooperative Credit Union Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing, Rhode Island Association of REALTORS, RIHousing, Housing Network of Rhode Island, HousingWorksRI, Rhode Island Builders Association, Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association, Santa Clara County REALTORS, Santa Cruz County REALTORS, and Monterey County REALTORS.
Read and download the full text of the bill.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bipartisan Colleagues Demand Answers about Grok’s Blatant Antisemitic Language on X

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
Bipartisan letter comes after xAI’s chatbot promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, praised Hitler on X/Twitter
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, joined 15 of his Senate colleagues to demand answers from Elon Musk’s xAI about its chatbot “Grok’s” recent antisemitic posts.
“xAI’s failure to take reasonable measures to mitigate against its AI models from engaging in hate speech is reckless, unacceptable, and antisemitic,” wrote the senators. “It is one thing to protect free speech and create an environment that fosters open dialogue; it is another to promote virulent anti-Jewish rhetoric.”
On July 8, the AI chatbot Grok posted multiple antisemitic social media posts, ranging from praising Hitler to referring to itself as “MechaHitler”. xAI launched Grok 4 without any documentation of their safety testing, breaking industry best practices followed by other major AI labs including OpenAI and Anthropic.
The senators called on xAI to address its pre-deployment development and review process.
Hickenlooper previously proposed a “Trust, but Verify” framework for federal AI regulation. Hickenlooper’s proposal focuses on three policy areas: 1) AI transparency and user literacy, 2) consumer data protection, and 3) international coalition building. He also proposed the development of standards for third-party auditors who would be able to audit and certify AI companies’ compliance with federal regulations.
Hickenlooper also previously called on the CEOs of X and Meta to respond to violent and explicit AI images generated online as well as urged the Department of Labor to prepare American workers to integrate with artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Full text of the letter available HERE and below.
Dear Mr. Musk,
We write concerning the recent antisemitic statements produced by Grok, xAI’s chatbot. The statements this chatbot made on X promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, referenced antisemitic stereotypes, praised Hitler, and even endorsed violence against Jews. xAI’s failure to take reasonable measures to mitigate against its AI models from engaging in hate speech is reckless, unacceptable, and antisemitic.
On July 4, you announced on X that Grok had been “improved” significantly. However, in the following days, the chatbot created several antisemitic threads, including repeating a trope commonly used by neo-Nazis to dehumanize Jews over 100 times in the span of an hour. Unfortunately, this most recent event represents a pattern of antisemitism from this chatbot. In May, Grok made another antisemitic comment, stating that it was skeptical that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. The minimization of the deaths and number of victims of the Holocaust is a blatant instance of Holocaust denial, as defined by the Department of State. However, xAI issued a statement blaming the comment on an “unauthorized modification.” Other antisemitic comments were similarly dismissed as unauthorized modifications.
These examples of xAI’s model repeating and promoting antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories demonstrates that there are clear and significant gaps in xAI’s pre-deployment development and review process. Deploying an LLM that is blatantly antisemitic, while marketing it as “truth-seeking” represents a serious threat to the promotion of antisemitic conspiracy theories and violent antisemitic rhetoric. Even more so, deploying this LLM across platforms like X and Tesla without engaging in reasonable measures to mitigate against antisemitic hate speech will result in the explicit promotion of antisemitism across multiple platforms. It is one thing to protect free speech and create an environment that fosters open dialogue; it is another to promote virulent anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Therefore, we respectfully request written responses to the following questions related to the incidents described above and about xAI’s pre-deployment testing and evaluation procedures by August 8, 2025:
1. What processes, if any, does xAI follow to mitigate against risks of its LLMs promoting hate speech like antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes?
What steps, if any, does xAI take to ensure antisemitic content is not included or limited in training sets for its AI models?
Does xAI consider and limit any type of bias in the training sets used for its AI models?
2. What testing and evaluation processes related to safety and risk are completed before updates to Grok are deployed publicly?
Are any of those procedures or tests related to evaluating the risk of the model promoting antisemitism?
Are any of those procedures or tests related to evaluating the risk of the model promoting violence against Jews?
Are there certain versions of the model that xAI plans to release for which antisemitic comments will be seen as a feature rather than a bug – for example, a “conspiracy” version of Grok?
3. Was a different process followed than the process described in response to Question 2 when Grok was updated on May 14, 2025 and the model subsequently engaged in Holocaust denial?
In xAI’s statement claiming that the comment was related to an “unauthorized modification” to Grok, xAI stated it would put in place additional checks and measures to ensure Grok’s prompts cannot be modified without review. What checks and measures did xAI enact?
4. Was a different process followed than the process described in response to Question 2 when Grok was updated and released on July 4, 2025?
5. In both the pre-deployment evaluation processes followed before the updates released to Grok on May 14 and on July 4, were there any signs that the model could potentially exhibit antisemitism before the updates were deployed, and if so, why was the update still released?
xAI’s inability to take basic steps to minimize the promotion of antisemitism by xAI’s products is unacceptable. We encourage xAI to recognize the important part it can play in combatting antisemitism.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Poland signs defense loan agreement with US

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

WARSAW, July 25 (Xinhua) — Poland on Friday signed an agreement with the United States to receive a $4 billion loan guarantee from Washington to speed up the modernization of the Polish armed forces.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the republic is ready to effectively use these funds to strengthen its defence and security.

The loan guarantee will help finance both current and future arms purchase agreements with the United States, the Polish Defense Ministry said. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Florida Democrats Send Letter Pushing State to Join Lawsuit on Frozen Education Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida House Democrats sent a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier urging them to join the 25 states that have filed the lawsuit State of California v. McMahon, challenging the Trump Administration and the Department of Education’s illegal freeze of more than $5.5 billion in Congressionally-approved education funding. On June 30, the Department of Education notified states that it was holding over $6 billion in grants that were due to be disbursed on July 1. The Department claims to be holding the funds for a “review” geared toward “ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities.” While the Department recently released a small portion of the frozen funds, it is still withholding over $5.5 billion nationally, including $325 million from Florida schools for teacher training, academic support for students, professional development programs, and more.

“For Florida, this freeze is not theoretical—it’s real money being held hostage, with tangible harm to our school districts, working families, and children,” the Members wrote. “Programs are being delayed or dismantled. School districts have had to freeze hiring and may soon have to start laying off staff. Local leaders are left in limbo. While other states are taking action, Florida is conspicuously absent.”

Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake for Florida, Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier have yet to join the lawsuit.

“Florida’s children should not pay the price for adult politics,” the Members continued. “The Trump Administration’s action is a clear violation of the Impoundment Control Act, which prohibits the executive branch from withholding Congressionally-appropriated funds. It also threatens the Constitutional balance of powers and undermines public trust.”

“We implore you to put Florida’s interests first by joining State of California v. McMahon and demanding the release of the federal education dollars our communities were promised.”

For the full text of the letter, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Barragán, Salinas, Padilla, Gallego Introduce Mental Health for Latinos Act
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2025

CONTACT: Jin Choi

Barragán, Salinas, Padilla, Gallego Introduce Mental Health for Latinos Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation observes Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44) and Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-02), along with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), introduced the Mental Health for Latinos Act, legislation to improve mental health outcomes among Latino and Hispanic communities.

Barriers to mental health care within Latino communities cause far too many individuals to suffer in silence. Only 47.4 percent of Hispanic adults ages 18 or older with any mental illness received services in 2023. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate among male Hispanic adults (ages 20 to 64) increased by 35.7 percent, and the rate among women specifically increased by 40.6 percent. Even those who can access services rarely receive the effective, culturally competent care they need.

“This legislation is a first step to breaking down the unique barriers that prevent our Latino communities from receiving the help they need. Mental health is a challenge that many Americans bear silently — but they shouldn’t have to,” said Representative Barragán. “Ensuring that our communities in need receive specialized resources and outreach will help break down cultural stigmas and language barriers that prevent Americans from accessing mental health care that is essential to their overall health and well-being.”

“As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus and a proud Latina, I know how crucial it is to end the stigma around mental health care and improve outcomes and access to care among Latino communities,” said Representative Salinas. “I’ve been on the other end of a phone call with someone who is having a mental health crisis. I see how important it is for people not only to have access to mental health care, but also to be able to get the culturally competent care that meets them where they are.”

“No one should suffer in silence,” said Senator Padilla. “We need to break down the barriers that keep Latinos from getting the mental health care they need, when stigma and language access can make it even harder to ask for help. The Mental Health for Latinos Act would improve mental health outcomes by reducing stigma in the Latino community and encouraging people to reach out for help. As we tackle the rise in mental health challenges, it’s critical that we acknowledge the distinct needs of our diverse communities and develop solutions that meet people where they are.”

“Too many Latinos, especially men, shy away from seeking help because they’re afraid of being judged, and that only makes the problem worse. This issue is personal to me. This bill would help break the stigma around mental health and make it easier to get care from people who actually understand our community. I want everyone to know that they’re not alone and that getting help is not a weakness,” said Senator Gallego.

Informed and culturally competent resources, education materials, and outreach programs are vital to addressing the mental health crisis. The Mental Health for Latinos Act recognizes the unique mental health challenges of the Latino community, aiming to reduce cultural stigma and rectify health care disparities that prevent people from receiving lifesaving mental health services. As our nation confronts a worsening mental health crisis, this critical legislation reinforces the message that there is zero shame in asking for help and that seeking support is a sign of strength.

Specifically, the bill would:
- Require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop and implement an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health among the Latino and Hispanic populations that:
- Meets diverse cultural and language needs and is developmentally and age-appropriate,
- Increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses,
- Provides information on evidence-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate adapted interventions and treatments,
- Ensures full participation of community members, and
- Uses a comprehensive public health approach to promoting behavioral health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and physical health.
- Require SAMHSA to report annually to Congress on the extent to which the strategy improved behavioral and mental health outcomes among these populations.
The Mental Health for Latinos Act is endorsed by organizations including American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness, UnidosUS, American Mental Health Counselors Association, Inseparable, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), Global Alliance for Behavioral Health & Social Justice, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), American Group Psychotherapy Association, Epilepsy Foundation of America, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN), and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF).

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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MIL OSI USA News –
July 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to North Dakota Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Adverse Weather

Source: United States Small Business Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in North Dakota of the deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by adverse weather conditions occurring in the counties listed below.

The disaster declarations cover the counties listed below:

Declaration Number	Primary Counties	Neighboring Counties	Incident Type	Incident Date	Deadline
20941	Burke, Mercer and Oliver	Burleigh, Divide, Dunn, McLean, Morton, Mountrail, Renville, Stark, Ward and Williams.	Drought, Heat, and Winds	July 30–Oct. 6, 2024	8/25/25
20942	Cavalier, Pembina, Ransom and Sargent	Barnes, Cass, Dickey, LaMoure, Ramsey, Richland, Towner and Walsh in North Dakota, Kittson and Marshall in Minnesota, Brown, Marshall and Roberts in South Dakota.	Excessive Rain and Flooding	April 1–Oct. 1, 2024	8/25/25
20943	Sioux	Adams, Emmons, Grant and Morton in North Dakota, Campbell, Corson and Perkins in South Dakota.	Wildfire and High Winds	Sept. 12–Oct. 2, 2024	8/25/25

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

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

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

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

Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Aug. 25.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

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

MIL OSI USA News –

July 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to Montana Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Adverse Weather