NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: Monroe Michigan Man Arrested for Calling-In Hoax Bomb Threat for a Flight at Detroit Metro Airport

    Source: US FBI

    DETROIT – A Monroe, Michigan, resident was arrested on a criminal complaint for calling Spirit Airlines and reporting a fake bomb threat for a flight departing from Detroit Metropolitan Airport yesterday, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.

    Charged was John Charles Robinson, 23.

    According to the affidavit, on June 5, 2025, at approximately 6:25 am, an individual later identified as Robinson, used a cellphone to call into Spirit Airlines and conveyed false information about a bomb threat to Flight 2145 departing from Detroit Metro bound for Los Angeles. During the call, Robinson stated in part, “I was calling about 2145… because I have information about that flight,” and “there’s gonna be someone who’s gonna try to blow up the airport,” and “there’s gonna be someone that’s gonna try to blow up that flight, 2145.”  After giving a description of an individual, he then stated: “they’re going to be carrying a bomb through the TSA,” and “they’re still threatening to do it, they’re still attempted to do it, they said it’s not going to be able to be detected.  Please don’t let that flight board.”  The flight was immediately canceled, and the flight’s passengers and crew were deplaned. Bomb sniffing dogs and FBI agents were deployed to sweep the airplane. No bomb or explosives were found.

    Agents soon learned that Robinson was booked on Flight 2145 but missed the flight and was told at the gate that he needed to rebook.  FBI agents subsequently arrested Robinson when he returned to the airport to depart on another flight bound for Los Angeles.

    U.S. Attorney Gorgon said, “No American wants to hear the words ‘bomb’ and ‘airplane’ in the same sentence. Making this kind of threat undermines our collective sense of security and wastes valuable law enforcement resources.”

    “Anyone who threatens to bomb an aircraft and endanger public safety will be swiftly investigated and brought to justice,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged bomb threat prompted a coordinated response by our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, in partnership with the Wayne County Airport Authority Police Department and the U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service, leading to the arrest of John Robinson as he attempted to board another flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We remain committed to protecting the public and confronting those who seek to spread fear in our communities.”

    Robinson appeared in federal court in Detroit this afternoon and was released on bond.  His next court appearance will be June 27 for a preliminary examination.

    The charges in a complaint are merely allegations. A defendant remains innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

    This case is being investigated by special agents from the FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hank Moon and Douglas Salzenstein are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DEMOCRATS DEMAND ACTION ON COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS, WARN THAT TRUMP’S ONE BIG UGLY BILL WILL DRIVE PRICES EVEN HIGHER

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

    “Grocery checkout lines and the fear of falling ill are still major sources of financial anxiety for families, yet the Republican response is to give the wealthiest Americans a tax break windfall and pay for it by taking affordable health care and food assistance from millions of people. It’s a cruel, deplorable and fiscally irresponsible response, and we heard that message loud and clear today in Pennsylvania,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Far from lowering costs, Trump’s chaotic economic policies are driving recessionary fears, and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ would steal health care from 16 million Americans and deny food assistance to millions more. The net effect makes life even harder for paycheck-to-paycheck workers.”

    Collegeville, PA – Today, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Co-Chairs, Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44), led a roundtable discussion with local leaders and stakeholders impacted by the Trump Tariffs and Republican threats to cut Medicaid and SNAP. Witnesses warned that the Republican ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ would only exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for Pennsylvania’s working families.

    Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) hosted the committee’s field hearing, and took testimony from community leaders who work directly helping people meet their basic needs to hear how the cost-of-living crisis would worsen with the Republican tax scam to slash Medicaid and food assistance while giving huge new tax breaks to billionaires.

    “At a time when families need stability, President Trump has thrown our economy into turmoil with reckless tariffs that continue to decimate retirement and college savings accounts,” said Dean. “Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are pushing their ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ which will kick more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians off their healthcare and rip away food assistance from 140,000 of our neighbors. We should be fighting to lower costs for working families — not spiking prices and financing another tax break for the wealthy.”

    “Republicans are not interested in making life more affordable for American families. Trump’s One, Big, Ugly bill will take away food and rental assistance, and life-saving health care from millions of Americans,” said Barragán. “House Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to deliver solutions that support hardworking Americans. Seniors, children, and veterans will bear the burden of higher costs of food, healthcare, and housing while Trump’s billionaire donors get richer.”

    “Grocery checkout lines and the fear of falling ill are still major sources of financial anxiety for families, yet the Republican response is to give the wealthiest Americans a tax break windfall and pay for it by taking affordable health care and food assistance from millions of people. It’s a cruel, deplorable and fiscally irresponsible response, and we heard that message loud and clear today in Pennsylvania,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Far from lowering costs, Trump’s chaotic economic policies are driving recessionary fears, and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ would steal health care from 16 million Americans and deny food assistance to millions more. The net effect makes life even harder for paycheck-to-paycheck workers.”

    “President Trump promised to lower the cost of living on Day One. He lied,” said Kelly. “Instead, Americans are paying the cost of his shortsighted trade war at the checkout counter while Republicans in Congress attack food assistance and healthcare. This is a recipe for a cost-of-living disaster, yet Republicans’ solution is to give more tax breaks to the well-off and well-connected. I, alongside my Democratic colleagues, will continue to travel across the country to hear directly from the American people and bring their concerns back to Washington with real solutions.”

    The Steering and Policy Committee has gone on the road to hear from the American people, convening a town hall in California and a hearing in Virginia exposing the extreme Republican agenda. The Steering and Policy Committee will continue to travel the nation in the months ahead to reach the American people where they live and hear from them directly.  

    The full video of today’s hearing can be found here. 

    ####

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Philadelphia and law enforcement partners execute worksite enforcement operation at Wyoming Valley Pallets Inc.

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Scranton and Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia, FBI Scranton, IRS-Criminal Investigations Scranton, the U.S. Marshals Service Scranton and other law enforcement partners executed a worksite enforcement operation at Wyoming Valley Pallets Inc. in Exeter on June 5. The operation resulted in the administrative arrests of three illegal aliens from Mexico: Miguel Bruno-Vasquez, Vicente Coyotecal Matias and Jesus Gallardo-Bautista. Additionally, Geoli Perez-Santana, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested. All were illegally working in the United States.

    “Today’s operation highlights the significant detriments of employing illegal workers, which undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts lawful businesses at a disadvantage,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend those who violate immigration laws and to protect the interests of both legal workers and employers who follow the law.”

    This investigation began on or about March 14, when HSI Scranton was notified by ERO of a positive employment hit confirmation on Gallardo, who had an outstanding arrest warrant for driving under the influence. All four individuals were transported to the Pike County Jail for processing after their arrests. This enforcement action is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative.

    Gallardo last entered the U.S. on June 16, 2007, with authorization to remain until Dec. 11, 2007; however, he remained beyond that date without authorization. Gallardo was ordered removed from the U.S. on May 8, 2013, in absentia. Gallardo was previously arrested by the Scranton Police Department on April 29, 2021, for driving under the influence and driving without a license. The case is still pending.

    Coyotecal was previously arrested at the U.S. border on March 1, 1999, and June 3, 1999, and given voluntary returns.

    Bruno-Vasquez has no previous encounters with ICE.

    Perez-Santana was previously arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol on Oct. 25, 2022, near Calexico, California, after illegally crossing the U.S. border from Mexico. Perez-Santana was served a notice to appear and released on his own recognizance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests Salvadoran gang member in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BROCKTON, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation apprehended a 24-year-old, illegally present Salvadoran national and documented member of the notorious MS-13 criminal gang. Officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston working with agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England and FBI Boston arrested William Alberto Villalobos-Melendez May 14 in Brockton.

    “William Alberto Villalobos-Melendez has been illegally residing in the United States for almost nine years,” said ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He is a validated member of a violent transnational street gang and poses a threat to our Massachusetts residents. ICE Boston will not tolerate any threat that a member of a nefarious gang poses to our neighbors. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting criminal alien threats to our New England communities.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Villalobos Oct. 11, 2016, after he illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas. USBP determined that Villalobos had entered the U.S. without admission or inspection by an immigration official. USBP issued Villalobos a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.

    On June 12, 2019, a DOJ immigration judge issued ordered Villalobos removed from the United States to El Salvador.

    The State Police of Middleboro, Massachusetts, charged Villalobos with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and using an electronic device while driving March 13, 2025.

    Officers with ICE ERO Boston and agents with ICE HSI New England and FBI Boston arrested Villalobos May 14, 2025, and took him into ICE custody. Villalobos will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

    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 New England communities on X at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA joins federal suit to prevent Trump administration’s efforts to distribute thousands of machine gun devices

    Source: Washington State News

    Seattle – Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) over its plans to distribute thousands of machinegun conversion devices to communities across the United States.

    ATF’s action involves forced reset triggers, which allow even novice shooters to achieve the firepower of a military machinegun. Although ATF previously classified these as machineguns, the agency — under directive from the administration — signed a settlement agreement that promises to stop enforcing federal law against forced reset triggers and to redistribute thousands of them that ATF had previously seized. The multistate litigation seeks to prevent that imminent redistribution, because forced reset triggers are illegal to possess under federal law.

    “Communities are less safe with these mass-shooting devices in circulation,” Brown said. “Essentially deregulating them is another example of this administration being driven by extreme ideology rather than commonsense.”

    In recent years, machinegun conversion devices like forced reset triggers, which dramatically increase a firearm’s rate of fire, have been frequently used in violent crimes and mass shootings, worsening the gun violence epidemic in the United States. Firearms equipped with machinegun conversion devices are able to exceed the rate of fire of many military machine guns, firing up to 20 bullets in one second. ATF has noted a significant rise in the use of these devices, leading to increasing incidents of machine-gun fire – up 1,400% from 2019 through 2021.

    Since at least 1975, ATF has classified devices that operate similarly to forced reset triggers as machineguns prohibited by federal law. These devices replace the standard trigger on a semiautomatic firearm to allow the shooter to maintain continuous fire with one trigger pull, similar to the operation of fully automatic weapons. Despite the prohibition, in recent years, ATF estimates that at least 100,000 such triggers have been distributed across the country. ATF’s records also establish that machinegun conversion devices, including forced reset triggers, are showing up more often at crime scenes.

    Multiple lawsuits seeking either to enforce or challenge the prohibition on forced reset triggers were filed during the Biden Administration. A federal judge in New York agreed that they are banned under federal law. A federal judge in Texas disagreed and held that they do not qualify as machineguns under federal law, but that ruling was on appeal.

    On May 16, the Trump administration announced that it has now settled these lawsuits—and done so in a way that eviscerates the federal prohibition on forced reset triggers. ATF has agreed to abandon its enforcement actions and appeals; promised to stop enforcing the federal ban against the devices, even against individuals and sellers who were not parties to any of these lawsuits; and pledged to redistribute forced reset triggers that it previously seized.

    Today’s lawsuit seeks to prevent the redistribution because they are prohibited by U.S. law, which prohibits anyone from owning machineguns, including devices that convert firearms into automatic weapons. The lawsuit explains that the federal government cannot violate U.S. law, even when it tries to bury those violations in a settlement agreement.

    The coalition will seek a preliminary injunction to halt the administration from distributing these devices in ways that directly harm plaintiff states in contravention of federal law.

    The lawsuit explains that the redistribution of machinegun conversion devices will permanently threaten public safety nationwide. And as the lawsuit highlights, ATF has even admitted that returning forced reset triggers in states that prohibit them would “aid and abet” violations of state laws. The attorneys general seek to prevent those harms from occurring.

    Attorney General Brown is joining New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Colorado, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    The complaint is available here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

    Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Sues Coffee House for Refusal to Serve Jewish Customers

    Source: US State of California

    Note: View complaint here.

    The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC, the owners of the Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants discriminated against Jewish customers, in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation.

    “It is illegal, intolerable, and reprehensible for any American business open to the public to refuse to serve Jewish customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through our vigorous enforcement of Title II of the Civil Rights Act and other laws prohibiting race and religious discrimination, the Justice Department is committed to combatting anti-Semitism and discrimination and protecting the civil rights of all Americans.”

    The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that defendants discriminated against Jewish customers through policies and practices that denied them the full and equal enjoyment of the Jerusalem Coffee House’s services, accommodations, and privileges. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that on two separate occasions, Harara ordered Jewish customers — identified because they were wearing baseball caps with Stars of David on them — to leave the coffee house. During one incident, an employee told a Jewish customer who was trying to make a purchase, “You’re the guy with the hat. You’re the Jew. You’re the Zionist.  We don’t want you in our coffee shop. Get out.” During another incident, Harara accused another Jewish customer who was with his five-year-old son of wearing a “Jewish star,” being a “Zionist,” and supporting “genocide.” Harara repeatedly demanded that the customer and his son leave and falsely accused them of “trespassing” to the Oakland police. Neither customer stated anything about their political views to Harara or any other employees while at the coffee house.

    The lawsuit also alleges that, on the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the Jerusalem Coffee House announced two new drinks: “Iced In Tea Fada,” an apparent reference to “intifada,” and “Sweet Sinwar,” an apparent reference to Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas who orchestrated the attacks on Israel. The lawsuit further alleges that the coffee house’s exterior side wall displays inverted red triangles, a symbol of violence against Jews that has been spraypainted on Jewish homes and synagogues in anti-Semitic attacks.

    Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.

    More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Augustine Business Owner Indicted For Attempting To Produce Child Sexual Abuse Materials

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Jack Dymond Leach (43, St. Augustine) with one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse materials, two counts of receipt of child sexual abuse materials, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse materials. If convicted of the attempted production offense, Leach faces a minimum of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. For each receipt and possession offense, Leach faces a minimum of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison.  

    According to court documents, Leach engaged in conversations on an online chat platform during which he paid money to receive child sex abuse images. An investigation into the account resulted in Leach being identified. Federal search warrants were executed at Leach’s home and business in St. Augustine where law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices reveled child sexual abuse material.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. 

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.

    It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alien from Wuhan, China, Charged with Making False Statements and Smuggling Biological Materials into the U.S. for Her Work at a University of Michigan Laboratory

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT –  Chengxuan HAN, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with smuggling goods into the United States and false statements, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.

    Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, Acting Director of Field Operations John Nowak, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit field office.

    According to the complaint, Han is a citizen of the PRC who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, PRC. In 2024 and 2025, Han sent four packages to the United States from the PRC containing concealed biological material. These packages were addressed to individuals associated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan. On June 8, 2025, Han arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a J1 visa. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted an inspection of Han, during which Han made false statements about the packages and the biological materials she had previously shipped to the United States. CBP officers also found that the content of Han’s electronic device had been deleted three days prior to her arrival in the United States. At the conclusion of the border inspection, Han was interviewed by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During this interview, Han admitted to sending the packages, admitted that the packages contained biological material related to round worms, and admitted to making false statements to the CBP officers during her inspection.

    Han will be appearing this afternoon in federal court in Detroit.

    A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.

    United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory—is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security. The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.”   

    “The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,” said CBP Acting Director of Field Operations John Nowak. “We will not tolerate the smuggling of regulated biological materials through our ports of entry, and this interdiction is another recent example of our commitment—along with that of our law enforcement partners—to preventing potentially dangerous goods from harming the American people.”

    “ICE HSI is proud to work with our partners at the FBI and CBP to keep Americans and Michiganders safe from biological threats,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case should serve as a reminder that multiple law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to provide for our shared national security from malicious foreign actors.”

    The FBI, CBP and ICE HSI are investigating this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat Offender Who Fired Automatic Weapon into St. Paul Neighborhood Sentenced to 82 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – After pleading guilty to illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, Jermaine Marquize Williams, 35, of Saint Paul, was sentenced to a total of 82 months’ imprisonment—77 months’ imprisonment on the criminal case and an additional 6 months’ imprisonment consecutive for violating the terms of his federal supervised release, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joesph H. Thompson.

    “While the people of St. Paul were sleeping in their homes, Williams took an automatic firearm and shot it into the neighborhood,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.  “This conduct was extraordinarily dangerous, utterly brazen, and well-deserving of federal time.”

    According to court documents, in August of 2024, Williams fired off multiple rounds from a fully automatic firearm in a densely populated Saint Paul neighborhood, outside a bar just before midnight.  Video surveillance depicted Williams firing the machine gun out the driver’s side door of his vehicle before fleeing from the scene in his vehicle.  Police recovered multiple discharged casings from the shooting.  Williams has a prior 2019 federal conviction for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, for which he received 65 months’ imprisonment.  Williams had only been on federal supervised release for six months at the time he committed this crime.

    Williams was sentenced in U.S. District Court on May 28, 2025, before Judge Paul A. Magnuson.

    This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the St. Paul Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two South Florida Men Charged with Mail Theft, Thanks to Public

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Two South Florida men are charged with mail theft after surveillance video released to the public resulted in their identification.

    According to the charging complaint and indictment, on April 26, Wilfredo Rivero, 31, was seen on surveillance forcibly opening a cluster of mailboxes at an apartment complex in Sunrise, Florida. Once the mailboxes were opened, Rivero examined and removed pieces of mail. Two days later, on April 28, Rivero returned to the apartment complex with Fernando Bernabe Rodriguez, 28. Rivero and Rodriguez were seen on surveillance prying open another cluster of mailboxes and removing mail.

    On May 9, CBS News Miami ran a news story about the mail theft at the apartment complex and aired the April 28 surveillance video to assist the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) in identifying, then unknown, Rivero and Rodriguez. As a result of the news story, the USPIS national hotline received several tips regarding the identity of Rivero and Rodriguez.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida and acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS made the announcement.

    USPIS investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the public. The Sunrise Police Department and Hialeah Police Department provided support as well.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60134.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Britain Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSHUA GLAESER, 37, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing and sharing child sex abuse material.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2022, a Connecticut State Police detective investigating child exploitation offenses identified an IP address at Glaeser’s New Britain residence that was being used in the distribution of child sex abuse material.  In 2012, Glaeser was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, execution suspended after two years, followed by 10 years of probation, which Glaeser was currently serving.

    On December 9, 2022, HSI special agents executed a court authorized search warrant at Glaeser’s residence and seized his Chromebook, tablet, smartphone, and storage cards.  Analysis of the seized items revealed more 3,000 images and videos of child pornography, including images depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.  The investigation also revealed that Glaeser used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to distribute child pornography to other users.

    Glaeser has been detained since December 9, 2022.  On September 26, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

    This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Connecticut State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.

    This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: District Man Pleads Guilty to February 2025 Armed Carjacking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Parren Hawkins, 33, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to carjacking and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with a carjacking that occurred on February 2, 2025. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith.

                According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 2:47 a.m. on February 2, 2025, police officers responded to the 300 block of 15th Street, NE, where they found the victim. The victim reported that Hawkins approached him while he was in his vehicle, pointed a handgun at him, and ordered him out. The victim complied. Hawkins then demanded money, taking the victim’s wallet and cell phone before entering the victim’s vehicle and fleeing northbound on the 400 block of 15th Street, NE. The victim flagged down a passerby and called 911.

                While police were interviewing the victim, Prince George’s County Police observed the stolen vehicle in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Officers pursued the vehicle until Hawkins ultimately crashed into a curb at the intersection of Bonini Road, SE, and Barnaby Road, SE, in Washington, D.C. Hawkins, the sole occupant, fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by police. Officers recovered a handgun from Hawkins’s pocket, along with the victim’s wallet and phone.

                Hawkins is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2025, before the Honorable Judge Robert Salerno.

                The Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaniqua Butler is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Sues Coffee House for Refusal to Serve Jewish Customers

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Note: View complaint here.

    The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC, the owners of the Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants discriminated against Jewish customers, in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation.

    “It is illegal, intolerable, and reprehensible for any American business open to the public to refuse to serve Jewish customers,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through our vigorous enforcement of Title II of the Civil Rights Act and other laws prohibiting race and religious discrimination, the Justice Department is committed to combatting anti-Semitism and discrimination and protecting the civil rights of all Americans.”

    The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that defendants discriminated against Jewish customers through policies and practices that denied them the full and equal enjoyment of the Jerusalem Coffee House’s services, accommodations, and privileges. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that on two separate occasions, Harara ordered Jewish customers — identified because they were wearing baseball caps with Stars of David on them — to leave the coffee house. During one incident, an employee told a Jewish customer who was trying to make a purchase, “You’re the guy with the hat. You’re the Jew. You’re the Zionist.  We don’t want you in our coffee shop. Get out.” During another incident, Harara accused another Jewish customer who was with his five-year-old son of wearing a “Jewish star,” being a “Zionist,” and supporting “genocide.” Harara repeatedly demanded that the customer and his son leave and falsely accused them of “trespassing” to the Oakland police. Neither customer stated anything about their political views to Harara or any other employees while at the coffee house.

    The lawsuit also alleges that, on the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the Jerusalem Coffee House announced two new drinks: “Iced In Tea Fada,” an apparent reference to “intifada,” and “Sweet Sinwar,” an apparent reference to Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas who orchestrated the attacks on Israel. The lawsuit further alleges that the coffee house’s exterior side wall displays inverted red triangles, a symbol of violence against Jews that has been spraypainted on Jewish homes and synagogues in anti-Semitic attacks.

    Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.

    More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Unprecedented Attacks on Veterans and Rising National Security Concerns, Congressmen Chris Deluzio, Pat Ryan, Ted and Lieu Lead 18 Democratic Members of Congress to Launch Veterans Caucus

    Source: US Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Ted Lieu (CA-36) led 18 House Democratic colleagues in launching the first-ever Democratic Veterans Caucus. 

    Chaired by Congressman Ryan, an Army veteran; Congressman Ted Lieu, an Air Force veteran; and Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran, the Democratic Veterans Caucus is composed of members from across the country. The caucus’ formation comes amidst unprecedented security breaches at the Department of Defense, threats to veterans’ health care, and growing national security threats across the globe. 

    Uniting these voices is especially important and timely given the reconciliation fight. President Trump, aided by House Republicans, is trying to push through massive cuts to both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 10% of all veterans rely on Medicaid for health care, and there are 1.2 million veterans living in households – alongside seniors and children – who utilize SNAP benefits. 

    “I love this country, and I am proud to join with my fellow veterans and Democrats in the U.S. House. The Democratic Veterans Caucus is a powerful space to do that,” said Congressman Deluzio. “My fellow veterans and I in Congress are ready to go to the mat for America’s veterans and servicemembers and our country’s national security. We swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and America needs us now more than ever.” 

    “I refuse to let our draft-dodging President lecture us about what it means to be a Patriot while he cuts veterans’ health care, insults Gold Star families, and installs an incompetent loyalist who is dangerously politicizing the Department of Defense. It’s our duty, as those who have borne the battle, to fight for our fellow veterans and for the country we love so dearly,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Our loyalty is to no man. It is to the Constitution we swore an oath to protect and defend. Our mission is to deliver for our men and women in uniform and every freedom-loving American.” 

    “Our veterans deserve our gratitude. That is why it is despicable that the Trump Administration is leaving veterans behind,” said Congressman Ted Lieu. “From harmful DOGE cuts at the VA to attempts at rolling back benefits for veterans exposed to toxins, our nation’s heroes are experiencing unprecedented attacks on their care. We’re standing up this Caucus to fight for our veterans and uphold the oath we all took to defend the constitution. I am grateful to work with Reps. Deluzio and Ryan and all the Members in our Caucus to uplift veteran and service member voices.” 

    “Veterans served this country with honor and sacrifice. They kept their promises to defend our freedom, and now it’s our duty to keep our promises to them,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I am disgusted by the Trump Administration’s decision to cut their health care and food assistance to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal not just of our veterans, but of the values this nation stands for. This caucus was formed to unite those of us who have worn the uniform and to fight back against these attacks. I will continue to stand in the breach to protect the care and services our veterans have earned.” 

    “America is the land of the free because we are home to generations of brave veterans. We have a sacred obligation to fight for these patriots in the face of the Trump Administration’s cruel and senseless cuts to critical healthcare and lifesaving services,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), who served as an intelligence officer for more than a decade in the Navy Reserve. “Veterans from New Hampshire and across the country deserve fighters in the United States Congress, and that is what this caucus is all about.” 

    “As an Army Ranger and paratrooper, I learned the ethos of servant leadership. True leaders jump out of the plane first, and always eat last. But that’s not the leadership we’re seeing from President Trump. Instead, we’re seeing Republicans cut veterans benefits and take away health care and food assistance in order to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax break. It’s wrong for working families and our servicemembers. As a veteran and now a Democratic Member of Congress, I’m fighting back,” said Congressman Crow. 

    “Veterans need a united front to protect the benefits that they have earned,” said Rep. Panetta.  “At a time when we have an Administration that is cutting benefits, this caucus brings together Members who have served in uniform to ensure that the federal government upholds its commitment to defending the rights, benefits, and dignity of our fellow veterans. Fortunately, we know how to fight those who threaten our values and veterans’ services because we are committed to serving those who served our country.” 

    “Our veterans have given so much to our country, and for this Administration to cut and dismantle programs that benefit them and their families is simply disgraceful,” said Congressman Conaway. “While my Republican colleagues stand by and watch, this caucus serves as a coalition of former service members ready to push back. Every member of this caucus knows what it means to serve, and we will use our voices to ensure that promises made to veterans are promises kept.” 

    “When I joined the U.S. Army, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. As a member of Congress, I am honored to represent the 72,000 veterans in the Seventh District. Sadly, we have a Commander-in-Chief whose incompetence and chaos put American lives at risk and hurts our veterans,” said Vindman. “That’s why my Democratic colleagues who’ve worn the uniform and I are standing together and speaking out. We have a duty to defend the values and people that make America the greatest country in the world — and to ensure that no one, not even the President, gets away with undermining them.” 

    “I joined the Army Reserves when I was 18 because I felt it was my duty to give back to the country that gave me and my family so much. My parents fled communist Vietnam in search of freedom and democracy, and because America welcomed them, our family could not only survive but thrive. I am proud to join my fellow Veterans in the House Democratic caucus to stand up for all Veterans at a time when they are seeing their benefits cut, their expertise ignored, and their federal jobs terminated,” said Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45). “I was proud that the first bill I introduced as a Member of Congress was the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, to protect the livelihoods of Veterans who have served our country honorably and who continue to do so through civilian service. Our veterans have always had our backs, the Democratic Veterans Caucus will always step up to have theirs.” 

    “As a Marine, I will not stand by while Donald Trump insults our veterans and dismantles the services and benefits they rightfully earned,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal. “We have a responsibility to care for the heroes who defended our rights and freedoms. This Administration has abandoned this sacred duty through reckless actions, like rolling back the PACT Act and allowing DOGE to attack the VA. It’s heartless, cruel, and un-American. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to launch the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    “President Trump is not a veteran but that hasn’t stopped him from creating chaos and uncertainty in the lives of those who are. From threatening veterans’ health care to pushing reckless cuts to the benefits they’ve earned, the Trump administration has treated our community like collateral damage in a partisan agenda,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan. “As a veteran, a Member of Congress, and a proud advocate for those who’ve worn the uniform, I believe we have a sacred obligation to protect and honor our veterans—not undermine their health, dignity, or security. The launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus couldn’t come at a more urgent moment. We are stepping up and stepping in to ensure veterans receive the care, respect, and support they’ve rightfully earned.” 

    “In the Marines, we were taught that you can fail a run and come back the next day—but if you lie, you’re out. Veterans, and all Americans, deserve leaders who tell the truth, and who respect service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Yet Donald Trump and his Republican allies lie every day about their commitment to the military and the veteran community. Democratic veterans in Congress aren’t afraid to call out the hypocrisy—and fight to make sure no one who served this country is left behind. I’m proud to be part of this new caucus and I’m looking forward to getting started.” 

    “As a combat veteran with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam and as a Purple Heart recipient, I know our nation’s responsibility to our men and women in uniform,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “Make no mistake: by firing over 80,000 VA staff, many of them veterans, this Administration isn’t just hurting us and our families — they are making every American worse off. Proud to join the Democratic Veterans Caucus as a founding member to continue our fight to protect those who have served our nation.” 

    “As a Navy veteran, I’m appalled by the President’s assault on veterans and their families,” said Congressman Gil Cisneros. “I’ve seen firsthand the detrimental effects of this administration on our veteran community. From cutting health care and veteran benefits to disparaging the honor of those who have served, the attacks from the President are un-American and vile. I stand firmly with my colleagues in the Democratic Veterans Caucus and know we will fight to protect the honor of veterans, their health care, mental health care, and their families.” 

    “I am proud to represent one of the largest veterans’ populations in the country,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03). “As a veteran of the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, I look forward to continuing my work protecting America’s veterans, especially their health care, with the launch of the Democratic Veterans Caucus.” 

    Members of the Democratic Veterans Caucus Include: 

    1. Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA) – Marine Corps Reserve 
    2. Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA) – Navy 
    3. Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ) – Air Force 
    4. Rep. Jason Crow (CO) – Army 
    5. Rep. Don Davis (NC) – Air Force 
    6. Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA) – Navy 
    7. Rep. Jared Golden (ME) – Marine Corps 
    8. Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH) – Navy Reserve
    9. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA) – Air Force 
    10. Rep. Ted Lieu (CA) – Air Force 
    11. Rep. Seth Moulton (MA) – Marine Corps 
    12. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) – Navy Reserve 
    13. Rep. Pat Ryan (NY) – Army 
    14. Rep. Bobby Scott (VA) – Army 
    15. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ) – Navy
    16. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA) – Army 
    17. Rep. Derek Tran (CA) – Army 
    18. Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA) – Army 

    Congressman Deluzio is a U.S. Navy veteran, deployed to Iraq and at sea, and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sinead McEneaney, Senior Lecturer in History, The Open University

    Violence has erupted on the streets of cities across southern California over the weekend, as protesters clashed with agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency detaining people they suspected to be illegal immigrants. The US president, Donald Trump, took the unusual decision on Saturday to deploy 2,000 troops from California’s national guard, despite not being requested to by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.

    Newsom has threatened to sue Trump over what he has called “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act”. Other California officials have also denounced the move, with Senator Adam Schiff calling it a “dangerous precedent for unilateral misuse of the guard across the country”.

    Raids by ICE agents have increased significantly since mid-May when the Trump administration threatened to fire senior ICE officials if they did not deliver on higher arrest quotas. Several high-profile wrongful arrests of US citizens have further inflamed tensions.

    Protests have escalated in California, a Democratic stronghold and a “sanctuary state” where local law enforcement does not cooperate with ICE to detain illegal immigrants.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    At around 24,000 troops, California’s national guard is the largest in the United States. Each state has its own national guard unit, a reserve force under the control of the governor which can be called upon in times of crisis – often to help out during natural disasters or other emergencies. For example, in January, Newsom activated several thousand troops to aid relief work during the devastating fires that threatened Los Angeles.

    In 1992, the then president, George H.W. Bush, backed the call of the then governor of California, Pete Wilson, call to deploy national guard members to quell the South Central LA riots.

    Now troops are back on the streets of LA. But this time not at the behest of the governor. Trump’s unilateral decision to take federal control over the national guard pits the president against the state of California – and importantly, against a state that has constantly resisted his anti-immigrant agenda. Newsom is seen by many as a possible contender for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2028 presidential election.

    Historical precedents

    Is there a precedent for this? Yes and no. The Insurrection Act (passed in 1807, but revised several times) authorises the president to call on the national guard in times of crisis or war to supplement state and local forces. This has been codified in title 10 of the US Code, which details the laws of the land.

    In 1871, the law was revised to specifically allow for the national guard to be used in the protection of civil rights for black Americans. Legal experts have long called for reform of the Insurrection Act, arguing that the language is too vague and open to misuse.

    In the past, former US presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson all invoked different sections of the Act to protect civil rights, particularly against segregationist states. While the act implies consent between governor and president, it does not require it.

    Two examples stand out. On June 11 1963, John F. Kennedy issued executive order 11111 mobilising the national guard to protect desegregation of the University of Alabama, against the wishes of Alabama governor George Wallace.

    Wallace’s determination to block the registration of two black students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, produced a produced a sensational media moment when Wallace physically blocked the entrance of the university. Local law enforcement stood by the governor. With the state of Alabama in defiance of federal law, Kennedy saw no alternative but to deploy the guard.

    Less than two years later, in March 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson again deployed the guard in Alabama, bypassing Governor Wallace. In February, a state trooper in the town of Marion killed a young voters-rights activist, Jimmie Lee Jackson.

    This shooting, along with several violent attacks by the local police on voter registration activists in Selma, inspired a series of marches in support of the 1965 voting rights bill. On the eve of the march from Selma to Montgomery, tensions between local police and civil rights protesters were at a high.

    Civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr, lead a march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, March 1965, to support the right to safe voter registration.
    Wikimedia Commons

    In response, Johnson bypassed Wallace and called in the national guard to ensure, as he put it, the rights of Americans “to walk peaceably and safely without injury or loss of life from Selma to Montgomery”.

    Before last Saturday, this was the last time a president circumvented the authority of the state governor in deploying the guard. But even in this instance, there was an implied request from Wallace, who explicitly requested federal aid in the absence of state resources.

    The subtext here is that Wallace did not want to be seen to call up the national guard himself, so he forced Johnson to make that decision, allowing him to claim that the president was trampling on state sovereignty.

    Insurrection Act

    This is not the current situation in California. The LAPD is the third largest police force in the US, with over just under 9,000 sworn officers. While its ranks have shrunk in recent years, it has been responding to the recent protests and unrest. There is no reason to think that Newsom would hesitate to call in the national guard if warranted.

    In reality, Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act to protect ICE agents. Indeed, the national guard has a complicated history of responding to civil unrest. The current situation is in stark contrast with the past, and faces serious questions of legitimacy.

    It is difficult not to see this as the latest move by the Trump administration to subjugate California. In early January Trump threatened to withhold federal aid to rebuild after the wildfires. In past months he threatened to withdraw all of the state’s federal funding to punish it for its stance on campus protests and the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

    Unlike his predecessors, Trump has not mobilised the national guard to protect civil rights against a hostile police force. Instead, he appears to be using this as leverage to undermine a political opponent he views as blocking his agenda. Circumventing gubernatorial powers over the national guard in this way has no precedent and heralds the next stage in an extended conflict between the president and the state of California.

    Sinead McEneaney does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Trump’s use of the national guard against LA protesters defies all precedents – https://theconversation.com/trumps-use-of-the-national-guard-against-la-protesters-defies-all-precedents-258486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Blackburn Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan American Music Tourism Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn cheered the Senate passage of their bipartisan American Music Tourism Act, which would support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors. The bill now awaits passage from the House of Representatives before being signed into law by the President. 

    “Colorado’s vibrant music scene attracts artists and fans from around the world,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan bill will help our local music venues thrive and expand.”

    “The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” said Blackburn. “Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world can continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come. The Senate’s passage of the American Music Tourism Act gets us closer to that by promoting and supporting the fast-growing music tourism industry.”

    Music tourism is projected to bring in over $11.3 billion in revenue nationwide by 2032. The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year and benefits from international interest in music tourism.

    Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would:

    • Require the Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors.
    • Require a report to Congress on the findings and achievements of the Assistant Secretary’s efforts to promote travel and tourism.

    This legislation is supported by the Colorado Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver Arts & Venues, the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, the National Independent Venues Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Chamber Players, Youth on Record, Underground Music Showcase, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Swallow Hill Music, and eTown Music.

    Full text available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Secure Energy Grid, Boost National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Jim Risch introduced the bipartisan Energy Threat Analysis Program Act to help modernize and better protect the U.S. energy grid from cybersecurity threats.

    “Our national security depends on a resilient and secure energy grid,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to address our vulnerabilities and modernize our grid to protect our energy future.”

    “Increased risk of cyberattacks requires more diligent information sharing to effectively monitor and mitigate threats to America’s energy sector,” said Risch. “Idaho is already leading the way in combatting cyber threats through the Idaho National Lab. My Energy Threat Analysis Program Act will support these efforts and better protect the U.S. from future cyberattacks.”

    The legislation directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy threat analysis program and create an Energy Threat Analysis Center (ETAC) to coordinate information sharing on threat assessments and mitigation measures between the DOE, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the intelligence community, and the private sector.

    Full text of the legislation available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belt and Road Initiative Provides Opportunities to Boost Global Economic Growth, Promote Shared Prosperity – Chinese Ambassador to Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, June 9 (Xinhua) — The Belt and Road Initiative offers opportunities to boost global economic growth and promote common prosperity, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in an article titled “High-Quality Joint Construction of the Belt and Road Brings More Development Opportunities to the World,” published recently in the Russian newspaper Trud.

    “The joint construction of the Belt and Road is an important initiative put forward by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping, who views the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind from a strategic height. It provides important opportunities for driving global economic growth and promoting global common prosperity,” the publication said.

    As the Chinese diplomat noted, for 12 years, the Belt and Road Initiative has consistently adhered to the “principles of joint discussion, joint construction and joint use, constantly expanding the scope and areas of cooperation, and raising its level.” He emphasized that within the framework of the initiative, a global partnership network has been created, including more than 150 countries, thousands of projects are being implemented – both large infrastructure projects and small ones that are effective in terms of improving the well-being of the people. “This truly promotes ‘hard connectivity’ in the field of infrastructure, ‘soft connectivity’ in the field of rules and standards, as well as ‘cordial connectivity’ in people-to-people exchanges between countries,” the article states.

    Zhang Hanhui cited data showing that in the first quarter of 2025, the share of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative in China’s foreign trade turnover reached 51.1 percent. In April, construction of key facilities of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway began, and in May, Colombia officially joined the large family of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, which, according to the ambassador, once again demonstrated “the attractiveness, influence and inspiring power of this initiative.”

    The article emphasizes that the world is currently entering a new turbulent and volatile period, accompanied by a revival of anti-globalist sentiments and protectionism. “The United States openly violates the rules of the World Trade Organization, goes against the basic laws of economics and market principles, acts contrary to common sense, shifts internal problems to external partners and seeks to benefit at the expense of the entire world. They brazenly unleash tariff and trade wars, which seriously damage the multilateral trading system and the existing economic order, harming the interests of the international community, especially the countries of the Global South,” the publication says.

    At the same time, as the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation noted, China, raising high the “banner” of mutual benefit and common gain, joint development and opposition to hegemony, relying on a solid foundation, high stability and powerful development potential of a super-large economy, unites like-minded people advocating for justice and equality in international trade, and firmly responds to the “mirror duties” of the United States.

    “The high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road has always adhered to the principle of openness in cooperation and mutual benefit through cooperation. China has been steadily expanding openness, removing barriers, increasing market access, promoting the construction of Silk Road e-commerce pilot cooperation zones, and concluding free trade and investment protection agreements with more and more countries,” Zhang Hanhui explained, stressing that the initiative has become a key force in safeguarding multilateralism and free trade.

    Speaking about the development of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, which are increasingly becoming an important engine of global economic growth every day, the ambassador noted that China insists on stimulating industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovations and accelerating the formation of productive forces of new quality. In an effort to eliminate the digital divide, China will promote the formation of an open, fair, impartial and non-discriminatory global environment for innovative development, so that together with the countries of the Global South, we can board the “high-speed train” of the digital economy and green development, the author of the article assured.

    As Zhang Hanhui pointed out, China welcomes Russia’s continued participation as a supporter and important cooperation partner in the Belt and Road Initiative. “We highly appreciate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s three-time participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and his repeated important statements in support of the initiative,” he added.

    In May of this year, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia, a number of new important agreements were reached on the development of Chinese-Russian relations. In a joint statement, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to linking the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as promoting the coordinated development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Eurasian Partnership.

    “The Chinese side will take advantage of the implementation of the agreements reached by the heads of state to deepen China-Russia cooperation and coordination, and continuously expand the space for mutually beneficial development at a higher level and with greater sustainability and vitality, which will open up new opportunities for global prosperity and make new contributions to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” Zhang Hanhui assured, adding that the joint construction of the Belt and Road stands on the right side of history, is in line with the logic of the era’s progress, and follows the true path of human development. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces the Governor’s Residence Will Be Open for Public Tours on Saturday as Part of Connecticut Open House Day

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Governor’s Residence will be open to the public for tours on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., as part of the annual Connecticut Open House Day festivities.

    Located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford, the Governor’s Residence is used as a site for many official functions of Connecticut’s governor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built in 1909 and has hosted every governor since Governor Raymond E. Baldwin, who moved into the home in September 1945.

    Neither tickets nor reservations are needed to participate in the tours, and there is no admittance fee. Visitors will be able to tour the first floor of the house, as well as the outdoor garden near the pool. Artwork will be on display that is on loan from the New Britain Museum of Art and the Wadsworth Museum, as well as pieces from the Lamont family’s personal collection. Floral arrangements have been provided by the West Hartford Garden Club and the Garden Club of Hartford. Additionally, ice cream from the Ice Cream Depot, located on Main Street in Stafford Springs, will be served on the patio.

    Volunteer docents will be on site to answer any questions. The Governor’s Residence is ADA accessible. There is no parking on the grounds, and all visitors are encouraged to park on Belknap Road, directly across the street from the Governor’s Residence. For security reasons, items such as bags, briefcases, and packages will be subject to inspection.

    Visitors will be able to purchase the annual Governor’s Residence holiday ornaments that have been created over the years to celebrate the holidays. Money raised from those purchases benefits the nonprofit Governor’s Residence Conservancy.

    Connecticut Open House Day is an annual celebration organized by the Connecticut Office of Tourism showcasing destinations and experiences the state has to offer. More than 170 attractions across the state are participating, including museums, arts and cultural venues, historical sites, farms, and restaurants, and many of them are offering visitors free or discounted admission or other types of special offers for the day.

    To view the list of more than 170 attractions that are participating in Connecticut Open House Day, visit CTvisit.com.

    For more information on the history of the Governor’s Residence, click here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Leads Federal Push to Support Increased Pay, Workplace Protections, and Opportunities for Incarcerated Firefighters

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, during a press conference hosted at the Los Angeles City Stentorians, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) announced the introduction of the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act. Rep. Kamlager-Dove was joined by Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), who represents a district that was heavily impacted by the Eaton Fire, and advocates from the Forestry Fire Recruitment Program, Vera Institute of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, and the entertainment industry.

    The FIRE Act is a response to the involvement of over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters in combating the devastating wildfires in southern California at the beginning of 2025, despite making $5-$10 dollars per day. This legislation supports incarcerated firefighters by establishing fair labor standards, providing occupational protections, and expanding opportunities for both current and formerly incarcerated individuals in firefighting.

    “Earlier this year, over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters quite literally saved our city. Yet, they were only compensated $5 to $10 per day for their heroic efforts—and despite demonstrating their commitment to serving our community, will face barriers to employment and service when returning to society,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I’m proud to introduce the FIRE Act, which honors the dignity and service of our incarcerated firefighters by establishing fair labor standards, providing career training opportunities, and creating a clear pathway to expungement for those who have already demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation. The American dream is about second chances—and the FIRE Act offers exactly that.”

    “In my district, the Eaton Fire scorched 14,000 acres, destroyed 9,500 structures, displaced 20,000 residents, and claimed 18 lives. The devastation was heartbreaking, but if not for the heroic efforts of our firefighters, it could have been even worse. And the reality is that hundreds of these firefighters were face-to-face with these fires using nothing but hand tools, while earning just a few dollars per day, just because they are incarcerated,” said Congresswoman Chu. “I’m proud to join Rep. Kamlager-Dove in introducing the FIRE Act legislation that ensures incarcerated firefighters can continue serving our communities with dignity by receiving fair wages, labor and safety protections, and a pathway to full-time firefighting careers upon re-entry.”

    “The FIRE Act is a necessary step toward fairness and inclusion in the fire service,” said Robert Hawkins, President of The Los Angeles City Stentorians. “We’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication of incarcerated firefighters protecting our communities. This legislation honors their service and promotes the equity our profession stands for.”

    “Thank you to Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for recognizing the contributions of incarcerated individuals who are serving our communities as wildland firefighters,” said Royal Ramey, Co-Founder and CEO of The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. “She has stood by us ever since she was a State Senator, and the FIre Act ensures that our government cares for these individuals while they are incarcerated and expands the career opportunities available to them when they return home.”

    “As a former incarcerated firefighter, I know firsthand the risks these workers take, the challenges they face upon release, and the care they have for the communities they protect.” said Andony Corleto, program associate for Vera California at the Vera Institute of Justice. “It’s time to honor these heroes with fair wages, safety on the job, and the chance to keep protecting California upon their release.”

    “The FIRE Act will help incarcerated firefighters carry out their emergency responsive work and pursue meaningful and rewarding careers upon release. It is far past time for the nation to recognize and support the safety, labor, and re-entry needs of incarcerated people who risk it all to protect our communities,” said Summer Lacey, criminal justice director at the ACLU of Southern California.

    To support both currently and formerly incarcerated firefighters, the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act would: 

    • Expand occupational safety coverage to incarcerated firefighters in state and federal correctional facilities.
    • Require annual safety reports from all relevant facilities.
    • Recognize incarcerated firefighters as employees entitled to wage protections.
    • Provide $20 million annually for states to adopt safety and wage protections and enforce compliance.
    • Fund job training, placement, and mentoring programs to help formerly incarcerated firefighters secure long-term employment.
    • Establish a pathway for expungement for incarcerated firefighters upon successful completion of probation and reentry.

    The FIRE Act was cosponsored by Reps. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Judy Chu (CA-28), John Garamendi (CA-08), Eleanor Holmes-Nortion (DC-AL), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Cleo Fields (LA-06).

    This legislation is endorsed by the ACLU, National Urban League, Prison Policy Initiative, Brennan Center for Justice, Reentry Working Group, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Center for Employment Opportunities, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Amity Foundation, Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

    Bill text is available here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Video Recap of Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s Tour of Community Clinic At Risk of Closing Due to Republican Medicaid Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

    On Friday, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined St. John’s Community Health President & CEO Jim Mangia for a tour of St. John’s Avalon Health and Access Center to highlight the devastating ripple effects of Republican-led Medicaid cuts on Los Angeles communities.

    California’s 37th District ranks fourth highest in the nation for Medicaid enrollment, with over 400,000 residents relying on Medicaid. Located in CA-37, this clinic offers a comprehensive ecosystem of care for low-income patients, providing services that extend beyond healthcare, including a counseling center, food bank, laundry facilities, and a computer lab—all of which are at risk due to the Medicaid cuts included in the budget reconciliation package passed by House Republicans.

    Check out a video recapping Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s visit here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Statement on Brutal Arrest of SEIU-USWW President

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove released the statement below following the brutal arrest of SEIU-USWW President Huerta at the Roybal Federal Building:

    “I’m outraged by DHS’ violent arrest of SEIU-USWW President David Huerta at the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles.

    “Huerta was tased and brutalized for attempting to visit his union members—asylum applicants going through the immigration process legally who have been unjustly, indefinitely detained and are being held in inhumane conditions.

    “These actions, including today’s ICE raids in LA, are not about targeting criminals. They’re about terrorizing immigrant communities—and I won’t stand for it.

    I’m demanding answers from DHS. They will not deny this Member of Congress the right to her Constitutionally-mandated oversight duties.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Statement on ICE Raids in Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) shared the following statement to social media as ICE raids unfolded across Los Angeles, including in California’s 37th District, on Friday:

    “I am closely monitoring the ICE raids that are currently happening across Los Angeles, including at a Korean American-owned store in my district. LA has long been a safe haven for immigrants. Trump claims he’s targeting criminals, but he’s really just tearing families apart and destabilizing entire communities.

    “If you are a constituent of the 37th District and your family member has been detained, please reach out to my office and we can help locate your family member and provide you with a list of government-approved attorneys.

    “In these disturbing times, it’s important for you to know your rights and how to protect yourself. For more information, head to my website.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Expand Access to Palliative Care, Hospice Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, joined her colleagues in introducing a pair of bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative and hospice care. The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act and Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would put critical care for Wisconsinites’ aging and sick loved ones within reach for more families. Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing patients’ suffering and improving their quality of life.

    “Having served as my grandmother’s primary caretaker as she got old, this issue is deeply personal for me and countless Wisconsinites who have had similar experience caring for a loved one,” said Senator Baldwin. “I know the challenges both patients and caregivers face, and we need to better support both of them. I am proud to work with Democrats and Republicans to expand and improve palliative care for American families because everyone deserves to know that if they need it, compassionate and affordable care is within reach.”

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act would better allow families to access that critical service as early as possible by establishing a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. Currently, patients on Medicare can only access palliative care through hospice. This legislation would provide comprehensive palliative care services much earlier in the course of illness, improving quality of life for the patient and their family and often also improving outcomes.

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act would carve out payment for transfusion services within the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing for separate billing to Medicare for transfusions. Patients needing this care would be able to continue to receive it outside of the hospice bundle, while still receiving full hospice benefits. Currently, many patients needing transfusions to maintain quality of life (due to conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma) often wait much longer to opt into hospice because they can lose access to transfusion care when they do so, given that such care currently is paid for out of a capped hospice benefit amount. Hospices are allowed to cover transfusions, but it is very costly, so few patients can afford to do so on a regular basis when in hospice care.  

    Medical research shows that palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, reduced hospital expenditures and lengths of stay, and longer patient survival time.

    “The reintroduction of the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is a meaningful step toward ensuring patients and families can receive high-quality care when and where they need it. Building on the success of the Medicare Care Choices Model, we believe a concurrent care approach within hospice should be developed for national dissemination,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home. “We also appreciate Senator Rosen’s leadership on the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act, which addresses a key access challenge. The Alliance is proud to support these efforts to expand person-centered, community-based care.”

    “The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) has long championed a Medicare payment model designed to close the gaps in care for individuals with serious illness, as well as their families and caregivers. This model aims to support palliative care teams of all sizes, structures, and regions in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Kristina Newport, MD FAAHPM, HMDC, AAHPM Chief Medical Officer. “We are proud to endorse the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act, which proposes testing a community-based palliative care model. We commend Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer—co-chairs of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus—for their leadership in introducing this vital legislation and their dedication to expanding access to palliative care. This effort will help align treatments with patients’ unique goals and preferences, enabling more care to be delivered in the settings where patients live.”

    “We commend Sens. Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for the introduction of the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Belinda R. Avalos, MD, president of the American Society of Hematology. “This bill will support critical access to transfusions for patients with blood cancers in hospice and will make great strides in guaranteeing comprehensive palliative care.” 

    “The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies applauds Senators Rosen, Barrasso, and Baldwin for reintroducing the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act,” said Debra BenAvram, FASAE, CAE, AAB CEO. “The Association is committed to advancing patients’ access to safe blood transfusions throughout the continuum of care, and this bill addresses an important barrier for patients receiving care under the Medicare hospice benefit.”

    “Blood transfusions are a proven palliative measure that can significantly enhance the quality of life for many patients,” said Kate Fry, CEO of America’s Blood Centers. “This legislation bridges a gap in care, ensuring patients can receive transfusions while also benefiting from the holistic support provided under the Medicare hospice benefit. It’s a compassionate step forward in patient-centered care that recognizes the complex needs of those navigating serious illnesses.”

    Senator Baldwin has championed efforts to expand access to palliative care and grow our palliative care and hospice workforce. Senator Baldwin previously introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) to help build the palliative care workforce through enhanced training, improved education and increased funding for palliative care research.

    The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act is led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Deb Fischer (R-NE).

    The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act is also led by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and co-sponsored by Senator Barrasso (R-WY).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Celebrates Committee Passage of Legislation to Counter Adversary Nuclear Energy Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, celebrated the committee’s passage of his International Nuclear Energy Act.

    The bill aims to support the U.S. domestic energy industry’s leadership and offset China and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development. Senator Risch’s legislation now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.

    “Nuclear energy is America’s creation. We cannot allow authoritarian aggressors like China and Russia to take our place as the world’s nuclear energy supplier,” said Risch. “My International Nuclear Energy Act will ensure the U.S. is at the forefront of nuclear leadership, and I urge the Senate to take up this important legislation.”

    The International Nuclear Energy Act aligns with key provisions in four executive orders signed by President Trump to promote American nuclear energy. It is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

    Senator Risch has long advocated for domestic nuclear energy production and the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies. In a recent Washington Times editorial, Senator Risch underscored the critical role of nuclear energy in powering America’s current and future energy needs.

    Idaho is home to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which is the flagship laboratory for civil nuclear research and the first place in the world to generate electricity with a nuclear reactor. INL is driving significant progress in new nuclear research by collaborating with industry to demonstrate advanced technologies like small modular reactors, microreactors, and safer, more efficient nuclear fuels. These efforts, made possible through public-private partnerships at INL, will contribute to the nation’s energy independence and strengthen U.S. leadership in civil nuclear energy around the world. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons celebrates passage of five bills out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) celebrated the passage of five of his bills focused on strengthening U.S. national security and international engagement out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a markup session Thursday. Senator Coons is a member of the committee.

    “From opposing hostage diplomacy to expanding our access to global sources of critical minerals, these bipartisan bills will strengthen our alliances, keep Americans safe, and advance our standing in the world,” said Senator Coons. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support, and to Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen for their leadership in holding last week’s markup. All five of these bills are commonsense pieces of legislation that protect our citizens and better position our nation for the future, and I hope the full Senate will swiftly take up and pass these bills.”

    The following bills written by Senator Coons passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week:

    • Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025: The DISRUPT Act was introduced alongside Senator David McCormick (R-Pa.) to address “adversary alignment,” the growing cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have intensified their cooperation, threatening global stability through increased technology and arms transfers, joint operations, and combined efforts to evade sanctions and export controls. The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to counter these threats and prepare for simultaneous challenges across regions, and requires the executive branch to craft a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon.
    • Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act: The COUNTER Act, introduced with Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), would combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) attempts to strengthen its global reach by building and expanding military bases in strategically important locations. The PRC has intensified its efforts to establish an overseas network of military bases, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army to project and expand military power. The bill would mitigate this threat by requiring an intelligence assessment of these activities and a strategy from the State Department and Department of Defense. It would also create an interagency task force to implement the strategy and identify proactive measures to counteract both current and future Chinese attempts to add military bases in strategic locations.
    • Countering Wrongful Detention Act: Originally introduced last year alongside Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) to combat “hostage diplomacy,” the legislation would create new tools for the U.S. government to deter states from wrongfully detaining Americans abroad and support wrongful detainees upon their return home. The bill would create a U.S. State Department designation called the “State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention” to hold foreign governments accountable for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad. It aims to refine existing U.S. government responses to wrongful detentions, enhance awareness of travel advisories for Americans in high-risk countries, and establish an advisory council on wrongful detention consisting of survivors, family members, and experts to provide policy recommendations to the executive branch. Seven of the 10 provisions contained in the Countering Wrongful Detention Act were passed into law as part of the FY 2025 NDAA.
    • Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act: The Finding ORE act, introduced with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) would strengthen U.S. critical mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Critical minerals are essential to producing technologies in the defense, semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors—industries that will shape America’s economic future and global standing. This bill aims to utilize the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) expertise in mapping critical mineral reserves while giving U.S. companies an advantage in responsibly developing mineral resources globally.
    • International Nuclear Energy Act: Introduced alongside Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), this bill aims to strengthen the U.S. nuclear industry and offset China’s and Russia’s influence on international nuclear energy development. The bill would create an office to coordinate nuclear export strategies and financing, promoting regulatory harmonization and standardization, and enhancing safeguards and security. The act also would form programs to promote international collaboration and hold cabinet-level biennial summits. Senator Coons is a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jimmy Gomez Demands Answers From DHS Sec. Noem After Being Illegally Denied Entry To ICE Facility In Los Angeles

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

    LOS ANGELES – Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) is demanding immediate accountability from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after he and Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46), Luz Rivas (CA-29), and Norma Torres (CA-35) were unlawfully denied entry to the ICE detention facility inside the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles on June 7.

    “What happened on June 7 was a flagrant, unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. This is not a gray area. This is black letter law—and your department broke it,” wrote Rep. Gomez in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

    Gomez reminded DHS of federal law, which explicitly prohibits the Department from denying Members of Congress access to any DHS detention facility, without requiring prior notice. He also raised urgent concerns about reports that asylum seekers and families are being held in basement holding cells for up to 24 hours without food, water, or sunlight.

    “These conditions are not only inhumane—they are morally bankrupt and legally indefensible. …Detaining human beings under these conditions has no place in this country—and I will not stand for it. I expect an immediate response,” said Rep. Gomez.

    Rep. Gomez outlined three immediate demands from DHS and ICE:

    • Full and unimpeded access to the Roybal facility for Members of Congress, including walkthroughs and interviews with detainees.
    • A written explanation of who authorized the illegal denial of entry and why.
    • Full compliance with oversight laws at all DHS facilities nationwide.

    You can read the full letter HERE.

    Rep. Gomez’s district includes downtown LA and the Roybal Federal Building where the detentions occurred. As the son of immigrants, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has been a strong advocate for immigrant families. Rep. Gomez filed an amicus brief earlier this year urging the court to uphold the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship. He’s a proud supporter of the Dream and Promise Act of 2025, which would provide a clear path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. He has called on the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt efforts to misuse confidential taxpayer data for immigration enforcement. He is also leading the effort to reinstate the Citizenship and Assimilation (C&A) Grant Program, which supports organizations that help legal residents become U.S. citizens.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks at the Crypto Task Force Roundtable on Decentralized Finance

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Thank you and good afternoon.[1] It is a great pleasure to be with you today. Let me begin by thanking Commissioner Peirce and the Crypto Task Force for their organizing today’s event, and Commissioner Crenshaw and Commissioner Uyeda for their participation.  Of course, I very much thank the roundtable panelists and our moderator, Troy Parades, for their voluntary contribution of time and talent to our endeavor.

    Today’s roundtable is titled “DeFi and the American Spirit.” This is an apt title because the American values of economic liberty, private property rights, and innovation are in the DNA of the DeFi, or Decentralized Finance, movement.

    Blockchains, of course, are a very creative and potentially revolutionary innovation that have us rethinking evidence of ownership and transfer of intellectual and economic property rights.  They are shared databases that enable ownership of a type of digital property called crypto assets without reliance on an intermediary or central party. Instead, these peer-to-peer networks incorporate an economic mechanism to encourage participants to validate and maintain the database in accordance with the network’s rules. These are free market systems where users pay demand-based fees to network participants to have their transactions included within a so-called “block” of data with finite storage capacity.

    The prior U.S. government administration discouraged Americans from participating in these market-based systems by asserting through lawsuits, speeches, regulation, and threatened regulatory action that participants and staking-as-a-service providers may be engaged in securities transactions. I am grateful to the Division of Corporation Finance staff for clarifying its view that voluntary participation in a proof-of-work or proof-of-stake network as a “miner,” “validator,” or “staking-as-a-service” provider is not within the scope of the federal securities laws.[2]  As happy as I am over that step, it is not a duly promulgated rule with the force of law, so we cannot stop there.  The Securities and Exchange Commission must adopt a regulation based on the authority that Congress has given us.

    Another core feature of blockchain technology is the ability for individuals to have self-custody of crypto assets in a personal digital wallet. The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value that should not disappear when one logs onto the internet. I am in favor of affording greater flexibility to market participants to self-custody crypto assets, especially where intermediation imposes unnecessary transaction costs or restricts the ability to engage in staking and other on-chain activities.

    The prior President’s administration undermined innovation in self-custodial digital wallets and other on-chain technologies by asserting through regulatory actions that the developers of such software may be conducting brokerage activity. Engineers should not be subject to the federal securities laws solely for publishing this type of software code. As one court put it, it would be irrational to hold the developer of a self-driving car liable – here, quoting from the court’s decision – “for a third-party’s use of the car to commit a traffic violation or to rob a bank. In those circumstances, one would not sue the car company for facilitating the wrongdoing; they would sue the individual who committed the wrong.”[3]

    Many entrepreneurs are developing software applications that are designed to function without administration by any operator. The idea of self-executing software code that is accessible to everyone, but controlled by no one, and that enables private, peer-to-peer transactions may sound like science fiction. But, blockchain technology makes possible an entirely new class of software that can perform these functions without an intermediary. I do not believe that we should allow century-old regulatory frameworks to stifle innovation with technologies that could upend and most importantly improve and advance our current, traditional intermediated model.  We should not automatically fear the future.

    These on-chain self-executing software systems have proven to be resilient in the face of crises. While centralized platforms waivered and failed under recent stresses, many on-chain systems continued to operate as designed pursuant to open-source code.[4]

    Most current securities rules and regulations are premised upon the regulation of issuers and intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, advisers, exchanges, and clearing agencies. The drafters of these rules and regulations likely did not contemplate that self-executing software code might displace such issuers and intermediaries. I have asked the Commission staff to explore whether further guidance or rulemaking may be helpful for enabling registrants to transact with these software systems in compliance with applicable law.

    I also am excited about the use of on-chain software systems by issuers and intermediaries to eliminate economic frictions, increase capital efficiency, enable new types of financial products, and enhance liquidity. Current securities regulations already contemplate the use of new technologies by issuers and intermediaries, but I have asked the staff to consider whether amendments to the Commission’s rules and regulations would be better suited to provide needed accommodation for issuers and intermediaries who seek to administer on-chain financial systems.

    While the Commission and its staff work to propose fit-for-purpose rules of the road for on-chain financial markets, I have directed the staff to consider a conditional exemptive relief framework or “innovation exemption” that would expeditiously allow registrants and non-registrants to bring on-chain products and services to market. An innovation exemption could help fulfill President Trump’s vision to make America the “crypto capital of the planet”[5] by encouraging developers, entrepreneurs, and other firms that are willing to comply with to certain conditions to innovate with on-chain technologies in the United States.

    Thank you for your attention. I look forward to the discussions to follow.

    [1]    These remarks reflect my individual views as Chairman of the Commission and do not necessarily reflect the views of the full Commission or my fellow Commissioners.

    [3]    Risley v. Universal Navigation Inc., 690 F. Supp. 3d 195, 217 (S.D.N.Y. 2023), aff’d in part, vacated in part, remanded, No. 23-1340-CV, 2025 WL 615185 (2d Cir. Feb. 26, 2025) (internal citations omitted).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Oklahoma Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits and Residents Affected by May Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Oklahoma small businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding occurring May 19. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Kevin Stitt on June 4.

    The declaration covers the Oklahoma counties of Atoka, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, McIntosh, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.

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

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

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

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

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

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.81% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

    Beginning Tuesday, June 10, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

    The DLOC hours of operations are listed below.

    PITTSBURG COUNTY

    Disaster Loan Outreach Center

    Pittsburg Public School

    Old Gymnasium

    200 West Grand St.

    Pittsburg, OK  74560

    Opens at 12 p.m., Tuesday, June 10

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

    Closes at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 2

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is Aug. 5, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 6, 2026.

    ###

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Relief to Kansas Private Nonprofits Affected by Adverse Weather

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Kansas affected by the severe winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires occurring March 14-19.

    The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Barton, Chautauqua, Edwards, Elk, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Gray, Greeley, Hodgeman, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Wallace and Woodson.

    Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature impacted by physical damages or financial losses directly related to the disaster are eligible to apply for both business physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.

    EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the 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.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    Interest rates are as low 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA will set loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.

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

    The deadline to return physical damage applications is July 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 23, 2026.

    ###

    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 –