NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Joins Bipartisan Coalition to Introduce Legislation Supporting Central Valley Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Reps. Jared Golden (ME-02), Young Kim (CA-40), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) to introduce the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act. This bipartisan bill would help mitigate the cost burden on families with private insurance plans throughout pregnancy by designating prenatal, birth, and postpartum care as essential health benefits (EHBs) and eliminating cost-sharing from these services. The Senate companion bill was introduced by Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-AR), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

    “The cost of maternal care is already expensive, and too often, families with private insurance are hit with surprise medical bills they didn’t see coming,” said Congressman Valadao. “Building a family already comes with so much uncertainty, but designating maternal care as an essential health benefit and eliminating cost-sharing will give parents some peace of mind during one of life’s most important moments. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this practical, bipartisan solution that puts families first.”

    “Pregnancy and childbirth are a normal part of family life, so insurance companies should treat it like the routine care it is and cover the cost,” said Rep. Golden. “It shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars to give birth at the hospital, and other necessary maternity services shouldn’t be a luxury. This is simple, commonsense reform and will make it easier for Mainers to start and grow families on their own terms without a huge hospital bill.”

    “Americans shouldn’t have to choose between starting a family and being strapped in debt. Unfortunately, rising living costs on top of excessive hospital and health care fees after giving birth deter individuals from becoming parents,” said Rep. Kim. “We should do what we can to make life more affordable, which is why I’m proud to help lead the charge to cut childbirth cost-sharing fees and ensure women, babies and families receive the care they deserve without astronomical costs.”

    “When my daughter was born by emergency C-section nine weeks early, I wanted to focus all my attention on my recovery and her well-being for the six weeks she was in the NICU, not our medical bills,” said Rep. McClellan. “The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act will provide more pregnant and postpartum patients the peace of mind that they can access care without worrying about how to pay for it.”

    Supporting organizations include: American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, Americans United for Life, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Students for Life, LiveAction, Life Defenders, March for Life, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, March of Dimes, and National Partnership for Women & Families.

    The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would:

    • Designate prenatal, birth, and postpartum care as essential health benefits (EHBs) under private insurance plans.
    • Eliminate cost-sharing for all in-network childcare services, and out-of-network care when no in-network provider is available.
    • Mandate full coverage for ultrasounds, miscarriage care, delivery services, and postpartum care for up to a year after birth.
    • Provide mental health coverage for spouses and adoptive parents.

    Background:

    While Medicaid covers the full cost of childbirth for those enrolled, families with private insurance plans routinely face thousands in unexpected expenses—often as much as $3,000 to $10,000—due to high deductibles, coverage gaps, and confusing hospital pricing. By designating prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care as essential health benefits and eliminating cost-sharing for in-network services, this bill offers families greater financial predictability and reduces the medical debt that disproportionately impacts new parents.

    Read the full resolution here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCANDAL: Rep. Lori Trahan & Scandal Star Bellamy Young Take on Migraine Disorders Affecting 40+ Million Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, partnered with Bellamy Young, actress in ABC’s hit show “Scandal,” The Headache Alliance, and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy to announce their coordinated work to introduce the HEADACHE Act, the first standalone federal legislation addressing the epidemic of migraine and headache disorders. The legislation will expand research, improve access to care, and address systemic inequities affecting people living with headache disorders.
    “Headache disorders affect nearly 45 million people in the U.S., including more than 117,000 people in the district I represent,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Behind each of those numbers is a student falling behind in school, a parent fighting to stay employed, or a veteran enduring chronic, debilitating pain. I’m proud to lead the introduction of the HEADACHE Act, a much-needed step toward expanding care, advancing research, and raising awareness for this often-overlooked condition. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind simply because their pain is invisible.”
    “Migraine has shaped not only how I work, but how I move through this world, and I know I’m not alone. For too many, living with a headache disorder means being doubted, dismissed, and left out of the conversation. But those who suffer deserve better. The HEADACHE Act is about building the future we should’ve had all along: one with research, access to care, and understanding. I’m proud to raise my voice for a cause that touches so many millions of Americans,” said Bellamy Young, actress and migraine advocate.
    More than 40 million Americans are living with migraine and headache disorders, which are the leading cause of disability in the world and for women under 50 years old in the United States. Cluster headache, new daily persistent headache, post-traumatic headache, and other migraine disorders are disabling, stigmatized, and routinely overlooked in public health priorities and research funding.
    To raise awareness, The Headache Alliance and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy transformed the National Mall into a sea of purple, with a visual display representing the need for greater federal attention and public awareness for the tens of millions of Americans living with migraine and headache disorders. The installation will remain on the Mall for two weeks.
    “We are so thrilled and honored to bring our message to the National Mall,” said Annika Ehrlich, President of the Board of The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. “This represents two decades of planning and hard work to advance headache policy and advocacy.”
    “We are putting a face, name, and voice to the lived experience of migraine and headache disorders,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. “With the anticipated introduction of the HEADACHE Act and this historic Installation project, we are demanding to be seen, heard, and taken seriously.”
    The HEADACHE Act will be introduced in the coming weeks.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles Kurzman, Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Taliban fighters guard the former U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 5, 2025. AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

    The Trump administration on June 4, 2025, announced travel restrictions targeting 19 countries in Africa and Asia, including many of the world’s poorest nations. All travel is banned from 12 of these countries, with partial restrictions on travel from the rest.

    The presidential proclamation, entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” is aimed at “countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a full or partial suspension on the entry or admission of nationals from those countries.”

    In a video that accompanied the proclamation, President Donald Trump said: “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.”

    The latest travel ban reimposes restrictions on many of the countries that were included on travel bans in Trump’s first term, along with several new countries.

    But this travel ban, like the earlier ones, will not significantly improve national security and public safety in the United States. That’s because migrants account for a minuscule portion of violence in the U.S. And migrants from the latest travel ban countries account for an even smaller portion, according to data that I have collected. The suspect in Colorado, for example, is from Egypt, which is not on the travel ban list.

    As a scholar of political sociology, I don’t believe Trump’s latest travel ban is about national security. Rather, I’d argue, it’s primarily about using national security as an excuse to deny visas to nonwhite applicants.

    Terrorism and public safety

    In the past five years, the U.S. has witnessed more than 100,000 homicides. Political violence by militias and other ideological movements accounted for 354 fatalities, according to an initiative known as the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, which tracks armed conflict around the world. That’s less than 1% of the country’s homicide victims. And foreign terrorism accounted for less than 1% of this 1%, according to my data.

    The Trump administration says the U.S. cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems. That claim is false.

    The State Department and other government agencies do a thorough job of vetting visa applicants, even in countries where there is no U.S. embassy, according to an analysis by the CATO Institute.

    The U.S. government has sophisticated methods for identifying potential threats. They include detailed documentation requirements, interviews with consular officers and clearance by national security agencies. And it rejects more than 1 in 6 visa applications, with ever-increasing procedures for detecting fraud.

    Members of the Yemeni community and others wave American and Yemeni flags as they gather on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall to protest President Donald Trump’s first travel ban on Feb. 2, 2017, in New York.
    AP Photo/Kathy Willens

    The thoroughness of the visa review process is evident in the numbers.

    Authorized foreign-born residents of the U.S. are far less likely than U.S.-born residents to engage in criminal activity. And unauthorized migrants are even less likely to commit crimes. Communities with more migrants – authorized and unauthorized – have similar or slightly lower crime rates than communities with fewer migrants.

    If vetting were as deficient as Trump’s executive order claims, we would expect to see a significant number of terrorist plots from countries on the travel ban list. But we don’t.

    Of the 4 million U.S. residents from the 2017 travel ban countries, I have documented only four who were involved in violent extremism in the past five years.

    Two of them were arrested after plotting with undercover law enforcement agents. One was found to have lied on his asylum application. One was an Afghan man who killed three Pakistani Shiite Muslim immigrants in New Mexico in 2022.

    Such a handful of zealots with rifles or homemade explosives can be life-altering for victims and their families, but they do not represent a threat to U.S. national security.

    Degrading the concept of national security

    Trump has been trying for years to turn immigration into a national security issue.

    In his first major speech on national security in 2016, Trump focused on the “dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country.”

    His primary example was an act of terrorism by a man who was born in the U.S.

    The first Trump administration’s national security strategy, issued in December 2017, prioritized jihadist terrorist organizations that “radicalize isolated individuals” as “the most dangerous threat to the Nation” – not armies, not another 9/11, but isolated individuals.

    If the travel ban is not really going to improve national security or public safety, then what is it about?

    Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on May 15, 2017, in Seattle.
    AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    Linking immigration to national security seems to serve two long-standing Trump priorities. First is his effort to make American more white, in keeping with widespread bias among his supporters against nonwhite immigrants.

    Remember Trump’s insults to Mexicans and Muslims in his escalator speech announcing his presidential campaign in 2015. He has also expressed a preference for white immigrants from Norway in 2018 and South Africa in 2025.

    Trump has repeatedly associated himself with nationalists who view immigration by nonwhites as a danger to white supremacy.

    Second, invoking national security allows Trump to pursue this goal without the need for accountability, since Congress and the courts have traditionally deferred to the executive branch on national security issues.

    Trump also claims national security justifications for tariffs and other policies that he has declared national emergencies, in a bid to avoid criticism by the public and oversight by the other branches of government.

    But this oversight is necessary in a democratic system to ensure that immigration policy is based on facts.

    Charles Kurzman has received funding for research on terrorism from the National Institute of Justice and the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism – https://theconversation.com/trumps-justifications-for-the-latest-travel-ban-arent-supported-by-the-data-on-immigration-and-terrorism-255471

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Seconds to Spare: A Sailor’s Fight for Life in the Eye of the Storm

    Source: United States Navy

    Norfolk, Va. – The order to cancel evening flights came down at 8:15 p.m. on April 7, 2025, a reprieve from a rapidly approaching storm that promised to shroud USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in darkness and rain. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Hageman Insists BLM Listen to Cooperators as They Consider Amendments to the Rock Springs Resource Managment Plan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Hageman welcomed a Wednesday announcement confirming that cooperating agencies will have an opportunity to once again meet with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to discuss amendments to the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP).

    “The long-term economic harm of this RMP cannot be overstated.  The current Biden plan fundamentally conflicts with the decades-long work undertaken by the stakeholders as they developed a reasonable RMP that complies with FLPMA.  The previous administration, in its effort to elevate “conservation” over the statutory required multiple use policies, violated long-standing land use law.”  Hageman stated, “As BLMreturns to the drawing board, it is important that they protect our legacy industries and access for recreation.  FLPMA is clear in its mandate regarding what types of uses are allowed on these federal lands, and BLM need look no further than the law itself to carry out congressional intent.  I have every expectation that the current administration will fully engage with the local community and the cooperators and we will end up with a more robust RMP as a result.” 

    Congresswoman Hageman has engaged with the BLM since being elected and has urged them to select the alternative that protected our long history of multiple-use management, including energy production, mining, grazing and recreation.  Upon the BLM’s publication of the revised RMP in the fall of 2023, through which it chose the most restrictive alternative possible, Congresswoman Hageman has worked to block its implementation, including introducing a bill to do just that.  

    Background:  

    The Rock Springs RMP covers 3.6 million acres of BLM-administered surface estate and 3.7 million acres of mineral estate in portions of southwest Wyoming.  

    Of the four alternatives analyzed during the planning process, the BLM selected the most restrictive and least studied of them all.    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sorensen Stands Up for Illinois Families as Republicans Push to Slash SNAP in House Agriculture Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is preparing to defend access to food for working families, children, seniors, and veterans as the House Agriculture Committee meets to consider a Republican proposal to cut over $300 billion from critical programs. These cuts are expected to fall almost entirely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps more than 42 million Americans—including over 16 million children—afford groceries.

    “I won’t stand by while House Republicans try to balance the budget by taking food away from the people I represent,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “Cutting SNAP by $290 billion isn’t about fiscal responsibility—it’s a reckless attack on our neighbors who are struggling to keep up with rising food prices.”

    In Illinois’ 17th District, 64,000 families rely on SNAP to help make ends meet. Local grocers, farmers markets, and food producers also depend on SNAP purchases to stay afloat contributing to the local economy while feeding their communities. In 2023, SNAP supported over $3.9 billion in purchases from small grocers and nearly $70 million in purchases from farmers and farmers markets across the country.

    Congressman Sorensen will speak out against these proposed cuts during today’s Agriculture Committee meeting, urging his colleagues to protect SNAP and defend the health and well-being of everyday Americans.

    You can view and download a video of Congressman Sorensen’s message to Illinois families during the Agriculture Committee hearing here. 
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Sorensen Calls on Congress to Fund His Bipartisan Law to Create Jobs, Boost Local Economies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    Congressman Sorensen is Calling on Congress to Provide $50 Million to the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program Established by His Bipartisan ONSHORE Law

    Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging them to fund the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Grant Program at the Department of Commerce in the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bills with $50 million. The Critical Supply Chain Site Development Program provides grants to local communities for site readiness improvements, such as connecting sites to utilities, completing environmental reviews, and investing in workforce training.

    “Business in the Quad Cities and beyond are telling me they’re ready to break ground and hire new workers thanks to the passage of my bipartisan ONSHORE Act,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This law has the potential to unlock untapped economic development, but we need to make sure the resources are there to make these new projects a reality. I’m calling on Congress to ensure we fully fund the grant program under the law, so we can help uplift communities across Illinois’ 17th district.” 

    “The Quad Cities is primed for investment, but site readiness is impeding growth,” said Peter Tokar, President & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber. “Like the rest of the country, we are in need of new tools in the toolbox to meet our region’s full economic potential.” 

    “We applaud Congressman Sorensen and the bipartisan coalition that helped pass the Critical Supply Chain Site Development Program into law and the current bipartisan effort to deliver funding for this necessary tool,” said Ryan Sempf, Executive Director Government Affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.

    The program was established by Congressman Sorensen and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-01) bipartisan Opportunities for Non-developed Sites to Have Opportunities to be Rehabilitated for Economic Development (ONSHORE) Act. The law focuses on attracting new manufacturing jobs and businesses to communities like the Quad Cities by addressing the issue of unused sites and making them shovel-ready for development. Local leaders and businesses have said that preparing sites for development is one of the biggest obstacles to attracting manufacturing businesses to the area. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Sorensen Votes No on Republican Budget Plan Taking Food Away from the Hungry and Kicking People Off Health Insurance

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17)

    Congressman Sorensen Spoke Out Against the Republican Budget Plan Earlier This Week on the House Floor

    Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) voted no against Republican’s partisan big billionaire bailout that makes massive cuts to the SNAP food assistance program and Medicaid health insurance to pay for a huge tax break for billionaires. 

    “I voted no against a partisan Republican bill because I’m against taking food away from my hungry neighbors and striping them of their health insurance, all so the rich can get a big break on their taxes,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “I will continue to speak out against a bill that will blow a $5 trillion dollar hole in our national debt and go after the most vulnerable among us: our kids, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper Slams Trump Administration Policies Threatening Colorado Small Businesses, Public Lands, Rural Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper made stops in Denver, Estes Park, and Evans last week to call out Trump administration attacks on Colorado’s public lands, small businesses, and rural health care. 

    On Tuesday, Hickenlooper held a press conference with Colorado business owners at Four Noses Brewing Company to highlight how the Trump administration’s erratic tariff policies are harming local businesses. 

    “Tariffs cramp businesses and provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable and ends up meaning that people can’t make the investments in their business to grow,” said Hickenlooper. “…I think we are perilously close to sliding into a recession or maybe even worse, stagflation.” 

    Then on Wednesday, Hickenlooper joined Congressman Joe Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands – including Rocky Mountain National Park. 

    Watch the recap HickTok HERE

    “Our lands are under siege… But we fight, we’re beaten, we rise and fight again,” Hickenlooper said at the press conference. 

    He highlighted the damage caused by the DOGE layoffs at the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service, and warned that proposed budget cuts could hamstring wildland firefighting efforts. He also criticized the Trump administration proposals to sell our public lands and emphasized the importance of continued collective action to fight back. 

    Afterwards, Hickenlooper visited Sunrise Community Health at the Monfort Family Clinic in Evans to highlight the dangerous cuts to Medicaid proposed in the House-passed Republican budget. Cuts of more than $700 billion from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage would strip health care from 16 million Americans.

    Check out the event coverage below. 

    WATCH: CBS Denver: Hickenlooper Tours 4 Noses Brewing Company to Highlight Tariffs

    WATCH: ABC Denver 7: Senator Hickenlooper Highlights Tariffs at 4 Noses Brewery 

    WATCH: Fox 31 Denver: Hickenlooper Talks About Tariffs with Area Business Owners

    Colorado Public Radio: Hickenlooper Highlights Trump’s Erratic Trade War

    Colorado Newsline: Colorado businesses struggle amid uncertainty of fluctuating Trump tariffs (Company leaders tell Sen. Hickenlooper they seek stability)

    Colorado small businesses from various sectors have made changes to their operations and even lost customers as a result of uncertainty around Trump administration tariffs. 

    …Hickenlooper said people well versed in economics tell him that “tariffs have never worked” except in specific situations. He said all tariffs do is create “a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable” and prevents businesses from growing and maintaining supply chain relationships. 

    “All these tariffs, in one way or another, they’re not bringing manufacturing back to this country,” Hickenlooper said. “What they’re doing is putting an unbearable burden on small businesses like we see here.”

    Colorado Times Recorder: Hickenlooper Meets With Small Business Owners Who Face Tariff Uncertainty

    Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) met with small business owners from across Colorado today, all of whom emphasized that the uncertainty of federal tariff policy has caused market chaos.

    …“The fact that we have tariffs at a time when most of the people I know who really understand economics believe that tariffs have never worked except in very surgical situations in the past,” Hickenlooper said. “Tariffs [as they are being implemented] provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable and ends up with people being unable to make the investments they need to make for their business to grow. We’ve seen that over the past couple of months. We are perilously close to sliding into a recession or… even stagflation.” 

    Colorado Public Radio: Hickenlooper highlights the tariff pain inflicted on Colorado companies

    President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policy is whipsawing Colorado’s entrepreneurs.

    “Predictability matters,” Sen. John Hickenlooper said Tuesday during a press conference with business owners at 4 Noses Brewing Company in Denver. “Being able to count on your relationships with your supply chain, your wholesalers, your retailers, to build a business. Those are the essential characteristics and we’re losing that literally in the blink of an eye.”

    No corner of the state’s business ecosystem is untouched by President Trump’s on-again-off-again approach to levying tariffs. Hickenlooper was joined by representatives from a diverse set of Colorado companies, including a pet food manufacturer, a craft brewery, an environmental equipment manufacturer and a machine part manufacturer.

    Axios Denver: Colorado breweries fret about tariffs amid trade war

    …Driving the news: U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a former Wynkoop Brewing owner, is raising awareness about the tariffs’ potential to hike the price of ingredients, equipment and packaging.

    “Tariffs cramp businesses and provide a level of uncertainty that is almost untenable,” Hickenlooper said during a visit earlier this week to Denver’s 4 Noses Brewing, where he sipped a beer fresh from the canning line and listened to local business owners talk about how the tariffs are hurting their businesses.

    WATCH: MSNBC: Long lines, dirty bathrooms, overflowing trash – Trump cuts leave national parks in crisis

    WATCH: Denver 7: Hickenlooper hosts press conference in Estes Park

    Estes Park Trail Gazette: Sen. John Hickenlooper from Lake Estes: ‘Our lands are under siege’

    …With the Rocky Mountains serving as his backdrop, Hickenlooper encouraged backers to take to social media and create a groundswell of support for his bill aimed at establishing a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preventing the use of proceeds from public land sales, and to reduce the federal deficit, according to the bill. 

    “What we need to do is use social media like we’ve never used it before. We need to make sure our networks of people, tell their networks of people, what this really means, what this could do when you cripple an outdoor recreation economy that is actually paying for the maintenance, the preservation, and the access to these incredible public lands,” Hickenlooper said. 

    “Our lands are under siege, between what DOGE has done, the firings, if you add the people at the Forest Service, the National Parks, basically the Department of the Interior, all the different components that it takes to run our parks. That’s 6,000 people that have either been fired or pushed out of their jobs,” Hickenlooper said. 

    “We’re being attacked in every direction, especially in climate change. But we fight, we’re beaten, we rise and fight again.” 

    Colorado Newsline: Public lands advocates fear for Colorado’s national parks under Trump budget proposals

    After the 2013 Colorado floods devastated communities surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, locals worked tirelessly to get their businesses back up and running in time for the peak fall season. 

    The federal government shut down for about two weeks shortly after the flood, but U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who was governor at the time, said Colorado agreed to pay the salaries for every employee in Rocky Mountain National Park so the park could still be open to visitors.

    “That’s the way the state government, the federal government used to work together around public lands, and I think it’s worth revisiting that it was a team effort, that everyone was on the same page,” Hickenlooper said. “The businesses desperately needed that retail period to be open to maximize the largest influx of visitors’ to Estes Park, and we got it.”

    That spirit of cooperation is a far cry from the threatened cuts to National Park Service staff and funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, Hickenlooper and other public lands advocates said in Estes Park Wednesday. Hickenlooper and U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, called on Congress and Trump to reverse the cuts and maintain protections for the country’s public lands.

    …Hickenlooper said over 6,000 people who work to take care of national parks and national forests across different agencies have either been fired or left their jobs. 

    “We’re going to see more risk this summer and this spring from wildfires, from extreme weather,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re going to see more risks than we’ve seen before in all … aspects of the droughts we’ve had and the water we have to use, at a time when we’re dramatically diminishing the number of firefighters we’re going to have available to fight fires in the West.”

    Outside Magazine: John Hickenlooper: The Fight Over America’s Public Lands Has Become “All Out War”

    On Wednesday, May 28, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state congressman John Neguse near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The two lawmakers spoke about the ongoing fight to protect public lands and the federal agencies that oversee them.

    Greeley Tribune: Sen. Hickenlooper visits Sunrise Community Health to discuss Medicaid cuts 

    If lawmakers in the U.S. Senate vote to pass new Medicaid requirements recently approved by the House, Sunrise Community Health CEO Mitzi Moran estimates about a quarter of patients in the nonprofit health care system could lose coverage.

    “Seven thousand to 14,000 of our patients could fall off Medicaid as a result of these changes,” Moran told U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday. “That’s disastrous for them. While they could still come to us because we offer a sliding fee scale, what happens if they have a hospital visit or if they need to see a specialist?”

    Hickenlooper visited the Monfort Family Clinic in Evans on Wednesday to discuss the potential cuts with staff and local members of the health care community.

    …Though patients would still be able to utilize that sliding pay scale even without Medicaid, Hickenlooper and Moran expressed concerns about how these cuts would still jeopardize the clinic. If Sunrise receives less pay for the care it provides, Moran said it would need to become a very different organization to remain operational.

    …Current estimates from the Congressional Budget Office indicate the changes to Medicaid would result in 8.6 million Americans losing coverage, including more than 1 million in Colorado.

    “I can’t believe our House members pushed this budget,” Hickenlooper said.“There are four Republican House members from Colorado, and I know they’ve received calls about Medicaid. If all four of our guys voted together, they could’ve stopped it.”

    Hickenlooper believes his tour of the Monfort clinic and discussions about the bill’s impacts will help in his fight to stop the bill from being passed in the Senate. However, he is unsure whether it will be sufficient to convince enough senators to push back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Repeal the Gun Industry’s Legal Liability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) were joined today, during the first week of Gun Violence Awareness Month, by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) in leading a group of 81 members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits.

    Murphy, Blumenthal, Swalwell, Schiff, Evans, and Thompson announced the legislation today during a virtual press conference joined by leading gun violence prevention advocates: Kris Brown, president of Brady; Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action; and Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and vice president of GIFFORDS Law Center. Video of the press conference is available here.

    “There’s absolutely no reason why the gun industry should get special treatment when it comes to negligence. Their immunity from lawsuits effectively gives them a license to kill. It’s past time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and allow gun violence victims their day in court,” said Murphy.

    “PLCAA is the ultimate sweetheart deal – legal immunity afforded to basically no other industry for a product that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year,” said Blumenthal. “Despite the strength and perseverance of the Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and Highland Park families – and the tenacity of their legal teams – this is a problem that cannot be solved only through the courts. PLCAA must be repealed by Congress.”

    “No industry in American has a liability shield like gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers,” said Swalwell. “The NRA and their GOP stooges made sure that the gun industry has a unique immunity from accountability. This bill ends that ridiculous carve out. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will finally repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) once and for all, allowing victims of gun violence to bring civil suits against gun producers and sellers. The time has long since come for Congress to be clear – if you put the most dangerous weapons in the hands of the most dangerous people, you will be held accountable.”

    “More than a 100 Americans are killed by a gun every single day in America. And yet, Congress does nothing to hold the gun industry accountable when the negligence of gun makers and dealers is responsible for the tragic consequences their products have on our kids, our families, and our communities. As long as gun violence continues to take the lives of so many in California and across the nation, I will fight to repeal the liability shield that wrongly protects negligent gun industry actors from liability,” said Schiff.

    “Victims and survivors should be able to hold the gun industry accountable in court for negligent behavior. But right now, the gun industry is shielded from any liability when they disregard public safety. That’s wrong,” said Crow. “I’m introducing this bill so we can finally hold the gun industry responsible.”

    “As someone who’s advocated for this concept in Pennsylvania’s legislature and now in Congress, I’m proud to be a co-lead on this bill to restore this basic right of victims and survivors – a right that a heavy-handed federal government took away 20 years ago. So many American gun deaths could be avoided if we held companies accountable for things like illegal sales, defective guns and irresponsible marketing. State attorneys general were able to hold Big Tobacco accountable in the 1990s, and they should be able to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in the 21st century since thousands of lives depend on it. This legislation would be an important tool in the toolbox to protect our citizens from gun violence,” said Evans.

    “In the 20 years since PLCAA was passed, it’s become clear that negligent gun manufacturers and dealers have taken advantage of the law. Responsible manufacturers and dealers don’t need this legal protection – and irresponsible ones are hiding behind it. As a hunter, combat veteran and responsible gun owner, I’m proud to work with Senator Blumenthal and Representative Swalwell to introduce this sensible legislation,” said Thompson, Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

    When Congress passed PLCAA, its supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This legislation allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.

    In 2005, the National Rifle Association (NRA) identified PLCAA as their “number one” legislative priority, and the NRA celebrated the passage calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

    U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the bill.

    U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Gabe Amo (D-R.I.-01), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.-04), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.-01), Don Beyer (D-Va.-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio-11), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Danny Davis (D-Ill.-07), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.-04), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas-07), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.-04), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.-02), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.-02), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.-10), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.-03), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-05), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.-10), David Scott (D-Ga.-13), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii-02) also cosponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Allen Announces 2025 Fall Internship Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

    Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) announced his office is seeking applicants for the 2025 Fall Internship Program, to be offered in his Washington, D.C. office.

    This program is open to college students and young professionals interested in learning about the legislative process and assisting with the responsibilities of a congressional office. Interns will perform a range of tasks including constituent outreach, legislative writing, and more, with the possibility of earning school credit. Fall internships will be offered from August to December 2025, with specific dates to be discussed during the interview process. All applications must be submitted via Congressman Allen’s website by Monday, July 7th, 2025. 

    Upon the announcement, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

    “Working in a congressional office provides a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience into how our government operates and network with individuals from all walks of life. In our office, we employ a bottom-up approach to empower others to be the best they can be. Many of our past interns have used the skills gained during their internships to transition into a variety of successful career paths. My staff and I look forward to welcoming these talented young professionals in the coming months.”

    Those interested in a fall internship can apply on Congressman Allen’s website. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Algeria Country Analysis Brief

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Petroleum & Other Liquids

    Crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, diesel, propane, and other liquids including biofuels and natural gas liquids.

    Natural Gas

    Exploration and reserves, storage, imports and exports, production, prices, sales.

    Electricity

    Sales, revenue and prices, power plants, fuel use, stocks, generation, trade, demand & emissions.

    Coal

    Reserves, production, prices, employment and productivity, distribution, stocks, imports and exports.

    Total Energy

    Comprehensive data summaries, comparisons, analysis, and projections integrated across all energy sources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Issues Builder’s Remedy Legal Alert: Local Governments Must Comply with California Housing Law

    Source: US State of California

     Alert emphasizes the importance of lawful and consistent processing of Builder’s Remedy applications across California 

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a legal alert to help California local officials understand the importance of the consistent statewide interpretation and application of California’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) — including local governments’ responsibility to timely process Builder’s Remedy applications. In the alert, Attorney General Bonta analyzes two recent court cases involving the cities of La Cañada Flintridge and Goleta to explain these responsibilities and highlight that local governments’ faithful and expedient discharge of their duties is essential to resolving California’s housing shortage crisis and making housing more affordable for all Californians. 

     “California courts have been very clear about the interpretation of California housing law and the responsibility of local governments to follow the law and swiftly process Builder’s Remedy applications,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The legal alert today is intended to ensure local governments understand their responsibility to facilitate affordable housing: California expects nothing less and is committed to ensuring that all cities and counties are part of the solution — no exceptions.” 

    Background on Housing Element and the Builders Remedy

    Under the state’s Housing Element Law, every city and county in California must periodically update its housing element to meet its share of the regional and statewide housing needs. Among other things, a compliant housing element must include an assessment of housing needs, an inventory of resources and constraints relevant to meeting those needs, and a program to implement the policies, goals, and objectives of the housing element. 

    Under California’s HAA, failure to adopt a timely and compliant local housing plan triggers the so-called “Builder’s Remedy.” Under the HAA’s Builder’s Remedy provision, local governments subject to the Builder’s Remedy may not deny certain housing projects — in particular, those that include certain thresholds of low- or moderate-income units — for inconsistency with zoning or land use designation. While developers have submitted dozens of Builder’s Remedy applications in the past years, many noncompliant jurisdictions have been failing to process those applications in a timely fashion, leaving the state of California no choice but to step in. 

    In the legal alert today, Attorney General Bonta highlights the results of two cases that make clear local governments’ responsibility and legal duty to process builders remedy applications. 

    Cal. Housing Defense Fund v. City of La Cañada Flintridge 

    In 2023, Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) filed a request to intervene in Cal. Housing Defense Fund v. City of La Cañada Flintridge, in order to uphold California’s housing laws, and reverse the City of La Cañada Flintridge’s denial of a mixed-use affordable housing project after it failed to comply with Housing Element Law between October 15, 2021 and November 17, 2023 —  also the time period in which the project’s application was considered. The affordable housing project, pursuant to the Builder’s Remedy, would bring approximately 80 mixed-income residential dwelling units, 14 hotel units, and 7,791 square feet of office space to the community. 

    In 2024, the court held that La Cañada Flintridge did not have a housing element in substantial compliance with state law at the time a Builder’s Remedy application was submitted and ordered the City to process the application in accordance with the law. La Cañada Flintridge appealed this decision and was subsequently ordered to either post an appeal bond of $14 million or dismiss its appeal. La Cañada Flintridge dismissed its appeal. 

    The key takeaways in this case include: 

    • A Builder’s Remedy application vests at the time of submission of a SB 330 preliminary development application — a city cannot ‘backdate’ its housing element compliance date to an earlier date so as to avoid approving a Builder’s Remedy application.
    • The refusal to process a timely Builder’s Remedy application is a violation of the HAA.

    Shelby Family Partnership, L.P. v. City of Goleta

    In 2024, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in support of a proposed affordable housing project in Goleta — a city located in Santa Barbara County that is experiencing an acute housing shortage. A housing development project by the Shelby Family Partnership would have created 56 single-family homes, 13 of which would be affordable to lower-income households. In 2023, Goleta unlawfully refused to process an SB 330 preliminary application, seeking to add the aforementioned affordable homes, based on its theory that SB 330 applies only to “new” projects.

    On February 26, 2025, the superior court issued an order requiring Goleta to process the at-issue affordable housing project pursuant to state law, finding that:

    • SB 330 is not limited only to “new” development projects and does not prevent applicants from amending an existing project — including submitting an application under the Builder’s Remedy; and
    • Local governments cannot disapprove qualifying housing development projects, except in narrowly defined circumstances pursuant to the HAA. 

    The legal alert goes on to explain consequences for the failure to properly implement in the Builder’s Remedy, such as a referral to and intervention by the Attorney General and penalties under the HAA — including a minimum fine of $10,000 per unit of the proposed project. If a local government appeals a court order finding that the local government violated the HAA, the local government must post an appeal bond or dismiss its appeal. The appeal bond guarantees that a project remains financially viable if the city or county loses the appeal. In 2024, La Cañada Flintridge appealed the decision ordering it to process a lawful builder’s remedy application, and was ordered to either post an appeal bond of $14 million or dismiss its appeal. La Cañada Flintridge dismissed its appeal. These consequences emphasize the importance of the HAA and California’s intent to further promote housing development projects. 

    The full legal alert can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with VA Nominee on Preventing Veteran Suicide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Cheryl Mason, President Trump’s nominee to be Veterans’ Affairs Inspector General during her nomination hearing at the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. They discussed the role the Inspector General’s office will have in combatting veteran suicide.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Ms. Mason, thank you for being here. The Office of Inspector General recently put out a report highlighting reports within the fiduciary program such as failures with training protocol. Can you commit to working with me and my staff to developing solutions to make the program work better for our most vulnerable veterans?”
    MASON: “Thank you, Senator Tuberville. Absolutely, I can commit to do that. I think that’s extremely important.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. The Inspector General has put out several reports highlighting failures with the suicide crisis line. How would you work with Secretary Collins to ensure these recommendations are implemented to support veterans and reduce suicide?”
    MASON: “Thank you for the question, Senator Tuberville. As we discussed in your office, […] suicide is very personal to me. I’ve had two suicides in my family, both were veterans. So, I take that very seriously. And I’ve looked at the IG reports and I’ve looked at the other things the Department is doing. And there are several activities going on now currently as a senior advisor or EEO. I’m looking at some of the suicide actions that are being taken [to do prevention awareness] in our partnerships, and I would continue to advise to do that.
    If confirmed as IG, I would continue to look at those actions, to include the grants on mental health and suicide that the Department has, make sure there’s appropriate oversight into that as well as what the crisis line is doing, ensure that they are properly staffed and have the right support and resources they need to answer those calls because those calls do save lives.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. When confirmed, what will be your first thing that you want to do as the new IG?”
    MASON: “Thank you, Senator, for that question. I think, you know, the first thing I want to do is really get a good assessment of the office. I want to make sure that the accountability is extremely important, and the integrity of that office is extremely important. And I have no reason to think that they don’t operate that way now. But [the] IG has to operate that way as independent and impartial. And so, I want to make sure that they, one, are operating that way in everything they do, but [two,] they also have the adequate resources. And then find out what their current investigations are [and] see where they are in those investigations. But right behind that is follow-up on those open, unimplemented recommendations and figure out […] how we bring those to close with the Department and with this Committee.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. I yield my time.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Justice Advance American Energy Dominance, Prioritize Consumer Choice

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in introducing the Energy Choice Act of 2025. The Biden administration and many blue states took energy freedom away from consumers by restricting specific sources of energy—effectively targeting natural gas and fossil fuels. This legislation would bar states and local governments from taking away consumer choice and work toward advancing President Trump’s vision of unleashing American energy. 
    “For four years, Joe Biden and woke Democrats took a sledgehammer to American energy production,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We need to rein-in blue states who caved to the climate-cult and imposed ridiculous regulations that are deeply unpopular with hardworking Americans. Thankfully, President Trump is working around the clock to unleash America’s energy potential. I’m proud to join my colleagues to support President Trump, restore American energy dominance, and preserve consumer choice.”
    “I am an energy guy from an energy-rich state. I know how important freedom of energy production is – which is why I’m proud to introduce Energy Choice Act of 2025. President Trump has stated the need to unleash American energy, and this bill helps facilitate just that. We have too great an energy crisis in this country, and we don’t have the luxury of picking the winners and losers when it comes to energy production. Americans ought to have the right to choose what is best for their energy needs,”said Sen. Justice.
    American Exploration and Production Council, American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, Americans for Prosperity, Consumer Energy Alliance, Energy Marketers of America, GPA Midstream Association, GPSA Midstream Suppliers, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Oil and Energy Service Professionals, National Energy and Fuels Institute, National Propane Gas Association, Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors – National Association, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance have endorsed the bill.
    U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) is leading the effort in the House of Representatives.
    Read full text of the bill here. 
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Talks Recruiting, AI, and Quantum Computing with Top Army Officials at SASC Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with the Honorable Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the Army, and General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army, during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing. Sen. Tuberville spoke with the top Army officials about the quality of recruits in the Army, ways to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Quantum Computing in the military.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.
    ON RECRUITING REQUIREMENTS IN THE ARMY:
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Good morning, gentlemen. Congratulations on your recruiting.
    I know how hard that is in my former profession, getting the right people. General, are we keeping our qualifications, discipline, values, and physical requirements when we recruit these people?”
    GEORGE: “I think we definitely are, Senator, and one of the things that we have been having discussions [on] is how we’re raising our standards because of what, you know, what we’re having [come] in and doing that. So, we’ve had fewer at the Future Soldier Prep Course. We’re gonna keep that as an option. We do have times where we have some really brilliant soldiers out there that maybe need to spend a couple of weeks getting in a little bit better shape to join our formation. And that’s what that’s for, but [we are] really pleased with the path that we’re on.”
    TUBERVILLE: “As long as we’re putting them through that, and they can handle it—”
    GEORGE: “Yep.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Again, I’ve been through that before. A lot of people need to get in better shape.”
    ON AI IN THE ARMY:
    TUBERVILLE: “In Secretary Hegseth’s memo directing the Army Transformation Initiative, it states that the Army will begin enabling AI driven Command and Control by 2027. Secretary Driscoll, how will the Army be using Artificial Intelligence to help decision making?”
    DRISCOLL: “Senator, we think of the Army as kind of two discrete functions when General George and I talk about it. One is like a large enterprise business that moves people and things across the country and the world. The other is hopefully an incredibly lethal killing machine and war fighting machine. And so, I think AI and Generative AI will meaningfully impact both spaces. The first thing we’re working on is creating a data layer that basically allows for our people and our things and our sensors to all communicate in near real time. On the war fighting function, once you can have that occur, you can layer-in Generative AI for things like fires targeting, or air and missile defense—it’s incredibly valuable. I would estimate that we’ll start to see that at scale in kind of 12-18 months. On the Army and enterprise business side, we’re incredibly optimistic. We have 200 plus enterprise systems right now that are oftentimes siloed. Oftentimes we’ve had software created just for us that we have to maintain that is decades out of date, and we think Generative AI will be able to help us with all sorts of tasks in the coming months. I’m excited to announce, or just give credit to the recruiting team, [that] they’ve onboarded a very common CRM—customer relationship management—tool called Salesforce. Generative AI can be applied to a lot of the things that we do as we recruit soldiers and bring them into the Army.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. You know, right outside the gate at Redstone Arsenal—Secretary, have you been there yet?”
    DRISCOLL: “Would you mind repeating that?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Have you been to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville yet?”
    WICKER: “What state is that in?” 
    TUBERVILLE: “That’s in Alabama.”
    DRISCOLL: “I have.”
    ON QUANTUM COMPUTING: 
    TUBERVILLE: “Okay. If you haven’t, we need to get in there. And by the way, you’re making decisions and transforming our military. I’m good with that. You’re actually cutting some contracts and things in my state. If it helps [save taxpayer dollars], I’m all for it. And so, we’ll work with you as much as we can. 
    But right outside the gate at Redstone, a partnership between Davidson Technologies and D-Wave have completed the assembly of a quantum computer system that should be soon complete [with] its calibrations and readiness tests. Secretary, how can the Army leverage these new systems in successfully implementing its transformation and optimize the future the right way?”
    DRISCOLL: “Senator Slotkin and I were at a dinner a couple nights ago talking about quantum computing. And what quantum computing is going to be able to do to help our ability to process information as human beings is otherworldly. It [can be used for] something as simple as convoy routes for transportation all the way up to—you could probably start to plan out where should you put air and missile defense systems and how would they react in near real time to threats. And so, any sort of innovation like that we are completely supportive of.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. A lot of good things going on, especially with AI. I hope we all understand too that for AI and all the future big tech stuff, we’re gonna need energy, big time. China doubles our energy every three years that we have in this country. We’re way behind, and we can talk about all these technologies that we want. Unless we have energy, which is gonna be, should be, a national security threat, then we’re gonna have huge problems. If you agree with that, Secretary.”
    DRISCOLL: “Yes.”
    TUBERVILLE: “General?”
    GEORGE: “Yes, Senator. I do.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. I would hope we start talking about it a lot more. Make sure that, you know, with all these things we got coming down the pipe that we have the availability to number one, be able to build them and number two, have the energy to run all of our data centers and mega data centers in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Condemns Republicans’ Egregious Attack on Clean Air and Public Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Washington (June 5, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and co-chair of the Senate Climate Change Task Force, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans released the Environment and Public Works portion of their reconciliation bill text.
    “Time is revealing Senate Republicans’ willingness to abandon communities nationwide and put Oil Above All —above the law, above the economy, and above the health and wallets of working families. Their proposed cuts would eliminate the safeguards and funding needed to reduce harmful air pollution and environmental health risks. Their cuts would also destroy the $20 billion climate bank I secured in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was already at work creating jobs, lowering Americans’ energy costs, strengthening our energy independence, and combating the climate crisis. 
    “Republicans have no interest in bringing down costs or helping everyday Americans. Instead, they are picking winners and losers to deliver a big bonus to Big Oil and Gas. Republicans want to cut funding for clean energy, community resilience, and pollution reduction, all while giving polluters a golden ticket to skirt any meaningful reviews to get their projects permitted – rubberstamping dangerous polluting infrastructure.
    “These Republican cuts will ensure frontline and fenceline communities continue to bear the burden of disproportionate levels of pollution. Ripping away the tools needed to curb methane and reduce carbon and hazardous pollutants will only make Americans sicker while the rich get richer. We must say no to these dangerous cuts and stop this big billionaire sell-out once and for all.”
    Senator Markey secured numerous provisions in the historic Inflation Reduction Act, including the creation of a $27 billion national climate financing network based on his National Climate Bank Act with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06). He also secured historic environmental justice funding for air quality monitoring, environmental inequity mapping, and addressing extreme heat.
    Senator Markey has been a champion of vehicle emission standards that would be rolled back by the Senate reconciliation text, which would increase pollution and force drivers to pay more at the pump. He has also long championed a robust National Environmental Policy Act, which the Senate Republican bill undermines with an opt-in fee for project sponsors to pay to expedite their project’s environmental review and avoid judicial review – rubberstamping potentially harmful infrastructure.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey Hosts Listening Session on the Impacts of Republican Attacks on Digital Equity

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Senate Republicans recently voted to repeal an FCC rule increasing access to Wi-Fi hotspots for students and educators at home
    Washington (June 5, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, hosted a virtual listening session Wednesday to hear from digital equity advocates about the impacts of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut funding for digital equity programs in Massachusetts and across the country. From the administration’s termination of Digital Equity Act funding, to Republican efforts to block E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi hotspots for students and educators at home, these actions have had dire consequences for efforts to close the digital divide. More than 200 digital equity champions from across Massachusetts joined the Senator’s listening session to share their stories.
    “Trump’s decision to cancel funding for Digital Equity Act grants is reckless, short-sighted, and illegal,” said Senator Markey. “These grants were promises — real, actionable investments in real communities to bridge the very real gaps in internet access, digital skills, and opportunity. I appreciated listening to and learning from the many digital equity advocates in Massachusetts about the impact these cuts will have on their organizations and the populations they serve. I will carry their stories with me in our fight for a just digital future.”
    “Everyone deserves access to the internet. It’s essential for being able to participate in our economy and utilize the resources and services that so many of us rely on,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “It’s terrible that the Trump Administration is blocking our efforts to bring internet access to veterans, rural communities and individuals with disabilities across the state. They need to restore this funding.”
    “Massachusetts is committed to empowering our most vulnerable citizens with digital skills training, devices and other resources to thrive in our digital society,” said Michael Baldino, Director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. “As we work to achieving universal access to reliable broadband service, we are disappointed that the federal government has stripped critical funds that are necessary for us to implement our statewide digital equity plan.”
    “Through Ameelio’s work, correctional staff see how connection to the outside world betters everyone behind bars – the incarcerated people and their fellow officers alike,” said April Feng, CEO of Ameelio. “When people are connected to those who they love and those who love them, to the best parts of their lives, they have hope. And that hope will sustain them to serve their time meaningfully, go to school, find a job, build a home, and enable a future. Investing in digital equity behind the walls is not just a matter of improving conditions for incarcerated individuals — it is a public safety and economic imperative.”
    Senator Markey is the House author of the E-Rate program, which has invested nearly $62 billion to connect schools and libraries to the internet across the country. Massachusetts schools and libraries have received more than $895 million from the E-Rate program and another $97 million from the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a $7 billion program that Senator Markey created within the American Rescue Plan to provide devices and connectivity for students and educators at home.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Markey, Baldwin, Rep. Carter Announce Legislation to Protect Public TV Channels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF)
    Washington (June 5, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Representative Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, today announced the introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act, legislation that would undo rulemaking from the first Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that effectively limited the resources available for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels.
    Under the Communications Act, cable companies negotiate franchise agreements with local governments to provide cable services in a community. The Act caps franchise fees that a cable company pays to the local government at 5% of revenue. This revenue helps fund PEG stations, as well as other community services such as public libraries and emergency responders. In addition, cable companies historically paid up to 5% cap and provided additional, in-kind support to the community, such as free cable service to schools or access to building studios. In 2019, the FCC issued a new rule that counted those in-kind contributions towards the 5% cap, meaning cable companies could reduce their cash payments by claiming the value of those services. With fewer cash resources, local governments were forced to choose between investing in PEG programming or supporting other public services. The result has been less funding for PEG stations.
    “Millions of Americans rely on community television to keep up with the news that matters most to them, stay plugged into enriching, educational programming, and hold their local governments to account. But the Trump administration has forced communities across the country to pull the plug on public programming,” said Senator Markey. “At a time when news and media have become more consolidated than ever before, I am proud to partner with Senator Baldwin and Representative Carter to reintroduce the Protecting Community Television Act to uphold local access to public, education, and government channels for every household in our country.”
    “I’m proud to cosponsor this bill and stand with communities that depend on local media to stay informed, connected, and heard. PEG channels are lifelines for civic engagement and public education, especially in times of crisis, and they shouldn’t be collateral damage in a corporate accounting maneuver. This legislation restores the original promise Congress made: that local governments should have the tools they need to meet community needs without being forced to choose between vital services and local voices,” said Congressman Carter.
    The legislation is endorsed by Democratic Leader Schumer (D-N.Y), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Me.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
    The Protecting Community Television Act is endorsed by Alliance for Community Media, National Association of Counties, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National League of Cities, MassAccess, and Maine Community Media Association.
    “The Alliance for Community Media welcomes the re-introduction of the Protecting Community Television Act and want to thank Senator Markey and Representative Carter for their support for community access television. Passage of the Act will reduce fees that drain away monetary support for local community media channels across the country. At a time when we have fewer and fewer local journalists and reliable local information sources, cities and towns need community access television more than ever, and this bill will help sustain our operations,” said Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media.
    “Counties rely on public communications channels to disseminate local news and updates to residents in a timely manner,” said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties. “By preserving monetary support for public, educational and government channels through franchise fees, counties would ensure that essential local content remains accessible to residents. Counties thank Senators Ed Markey and Tammy Baldwin for introducing the Protecting Community Television Act and urge its swift passage”
    “The Protecting Community Television Act (PCTA) is elegant legislation that seeks to protect benefits consistent with the Cable Act and cable franchising principles since 1984.  In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order that undermines this ability by redefining the term “franchise fees” as used in the Cable Act and substituting its definition for that written by Congress in 1984. The Protecting Community Television Act remedies that altered meaning by protecting local public, educational and community access television so folks in communities across the country can continue to access relevant and timely local news that they rely on. Thanks to Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) for continuing to advocate for the PCTA, which reaffirms Congress’ original intent to protect the long-standing ability of local governments to manage public property and provide for local media through public, educational and governmental access channels (PEG Access) in cable franchise agreements,” said Mike Lynch, Legislative Director for National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker Hosts Virtual Town Hall with AJC Leaders to Discuss Rise of Antisemitism and Collaborative Solutions to Address Disturbing National Trend

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    NEWARK, N.J. – This afternoon, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a virtual discussion with American Jewish Committee (AJC) New Jersey board members to discuss the rise of antisemitism nationwide. Following the event, Senator Booker said:
    “We’re seeing a disturbing rise of antisemitism across our country. In less than a month, we’ve witnessed two horrifying violent antisemitic attacks, one that claimed the lives of two young staffers working at the Israeli embassy, including one American, as they were walking out of an event in Washington, D.C., and another that injured a dozen peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado. It’s moments like these when we must come together and reaffirm our commitment to eradicate hate and bigotry in all its forms. I’m humbled to have been joined by leaders of AJC New Jersey this afternoon to hear about their concerns, their vital work, and how we can continue to bolster our partnership to safeguard the wellbeing of Jewish people across New Jersey and our nation,” said Booker.
    Convening the meeting on the heels of the murder of two young staffers working at the Israeli embassy, including one American, as they were walking out of a Jewish event, the horrifying attack against peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado, and against the backdrop of an increasing trend of antisemitism nationwide, Senator Booker and AJC New Jersey leadership members spoke candidly about the challenges facing the Jewish community. AJC board members asked the Senator about federal initiatives and legislation to support state and local efforts to curb antisemitism and outlined the issues specifically affecting Jewish New Jerseyans.
    “We deeply appreciated Senator Booker once again spending time in dialogue with our American Jewish Committee’s New Jersey leadership. After recent days that saw the shocking murders of two young Jewish leaders at an AJC event in Washington, D.C., and the horrifying attack on peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, CO, Sen. Booker’s profound expressions of care, concern, and resolve were deeply appreciated,” said Rabbi David Levy, Regional Director AJC New Jersey.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Introduces Legislation to Secure America’s Satellite Systems

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Chair of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan Secure Space Act of 2025. The legislation aims to strengthen America’s national security by preventing foreign adversaries from accessing and compromising America’s satellite systems.
    U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is co-leading the bill with Fischer. Companion legislation – sponsored by House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) – passed the U.S. House on April 28, 2025.“Americans rely on crucial communications services provided by our satellite systems now more than ever. That’s why we must prevent foreign adversaries like Communist China and Russia from undermining our ability to utilize these services safely and reliably. My bill strengthens our communications infrastructure against these vulnerabilities to make Americans’ network access more secure,” said Fischer.
    “As satellite technology continues to advance, so do the threats to our national security. The Secure Space Act blocks satellite licenses for untrusted entities and protects our skies from foreign adversaries. This bill would help protect U.S. innovation and defend our communications networks from foreign entities that seek to hijack our future,” said Luján. Background: 
    The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity or its affiliates that produce or provide communications equipment or services deemed a national security risk. 
    It amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to extend this prohibition to both geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems and includes gateway stations within its scope. It applies to new licenses and authorizations issued after the bill’s enactment and requires the FCC to establish implementing regulations within one year.
    Click here to read text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein and Emergency Management Officials Provide Updates at the Start of Hurricane Season, Urge North Carolinians to Stay Safe

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein and Emergency Management Officials Provide Updates at the Start of Hurricane Season, Urge North Carolinians to Stay Safe

    Governor Stein and Emergency Management Officials Provide Updates at the Start of Hurricane Season, Urge North Carolinians to Stay Safe
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein, Director of Emergency Management Will Ray, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, First Sergeant Chris Knox of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and Colonel Patrick Henderson of the North Carolina Army National Guard held a briefing to provide updates and guidance at the start of hurricane season. Governor Stein urged North Carolinians to have a plan in place in case of emergency and shared resources to help people prepare and stay safe.

    “As our state braces for hurricane season, I encourage North Carolinians be aware of emergency management warnings and resources so that they have a plan to stay safe in case of an emergency,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Emergency Management continues to prepare amidst uncertainty on the federal level – we must stay the course and do everything in our power to keep North Carolinians safe no matter what happens in Washington, DC.”

    “Hurricane season has begun and there are steps to be taken to protect yourself, your family, and your property if a hurricane or tropical weather does strike,” said North Carolina Director of Emergency Management Will Ray. “Remember to put together an emergency kit, have multiple avenues from which you can receive emergency announcements, and take the steps needed to protect your home.”         

    The State Emergency Response Team has begun preparations for the 2025 hurricane season by reviewing lessons learned from previous storms as well as polices and procedures and exercising key processes to ensure all resources are available to local communities should a storm impact the state. The focus of the State Emergency Response Team is to support local emergency management and first responders, but it is imperative that all North Carolinians take the time to prepare their household for tropical weather. Preparedness builds resilience. 

    Last month Governor Stein published an op-ed about smart ways to reform FEMA in USA Today as North Carolina braces for hurricane season. The Governor outlines his recommendations to reform FEMA, including focusing on permanently rebuilding homes and businesses, implementing a common application for survivors to apply for aid, and moving away from reimbursement programs. There is much room for improvement in FEMA, but abolishing FEMA exacerbates the problem as we enter another hurricane season.

    Make sure your family is prepared before disaster strikes. Below are some things you can do immediately to get prepared: 

    • Put together an emergency kit, including non-perishable food and water (1 gallon per person per day) for 3 to 7 days, a battery-powered or hand crank radio or a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio with extra batteries, and prescriptions and over the counter medication.
    • Be aware of any unique needs for babies, elderly, or disabled members of your household, as well as pets.
    • Have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings such as the weather alert app on your phone, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio, or local TV news.
    • Build an emergency plan in case you and your family need to evacuate, including a plan for communication. Have printed copies of family members’ phone numbers, social media handles, email addresses, and important medical information in case mobile devices die. Plan where you will meet if you are separated from your family and have copies of important papers such as birth and adoption certificates, driver’s licenses, or military ID’s.
    • Take steps to protect your home by preparing a full list of personal items to help with insurance settlements or tax deductions.
    • Be sure you know how to shut off your utilities safely. Water, electricity and gas are key services that can also cause special problems during an emergency. Do NOT try to turn the gas back on yourself. Always call a trained expert.

    Get involved in your community’s preparedness activities: 

    • Learn about the emergency plans for your children’s schools, your workplace, and your neighborhood.
    • Participate in community preparedness exercises and drills.
    • Volunteer with a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills.
    • Contact the NC Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster for more ways to help.

    Click here to view the full Emergency Management briefing.

    Click here for more tips on how to be prepared for hurricane season. 

    ### 

    Jun 5, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dan Roark, Former Police Officer, Sentenced for Exploitation of a Child and Receipt of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 5, 2025, Dan Roark, 48, currently of Knoxville Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

    As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Roark agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with, one count of exploitation of a child in violation of 18 U.S.C.§ 2251(a); and one count of receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2).  Roark was sentenced to 300 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.  Roark will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release. 

    In early October 2023, Scott County Virginia Sheriff’s Department (SCVSD) received an anonymous tip that a juvenile female (JV) was sending child pornography through the internet to other potential internet users. A forensic examination of a cellphone belonging to JV’s mother revealed child pornography images of JV as well as text messages between JV’s mother and Roark while he was employed with the Knoxville Police Department. In the text message communications, Roark demanded that JV’s mother provide child pornography depicting JV. JV’s mother complied by sending child pornography images and videos depicting JV to Roark. 

    The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the SCVSD, 9th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office (9th JDAGO), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force. This investigation was led by Detective Daniel Ross of SCVSD, HSI Task Force Officer Cortney Dugger, and Investigator Chanel Finnell of the 9th JDAGO.

    Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources.”

                                                                                                                             ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six People Indicted for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme Totaling Over $34 Million

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Elaine A. Escoe, 40; Alfred L. Davis, 51; Gino J. Jourdan, 37; Cher L. Davis, 53; Latoya T. Clark, 39; and James G. McGhow, 69, have been indicted with conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $34 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

    According to allegations in the indictment, from May 2020 through November 2021, the defendants conspired to submit more than 90 false and fraudulent applications for funds under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). The applications allegedly contained materially false representations regarding employee counts, payroll expenses, and business revenues. In support of the applications, the defendants are alleged to have submitted falsified IRS tax documents and fabricated bank statements.

    The indictment alleges that the scheme resulted in the wrongful disbursement of approximately $29.1 million in PPP funds, $1.2 million in RRF funds, and $3.8 million in SVOG funds. After the funds were disbursed, the defendants allegedly directed payments to each other and to businesses they controlled, withdrew large sums in cash, and used blank, signed checks to conceal the origin and nature of the proceeds.

    Each of the six defendants is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each defendant also faces multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud charge and up to 10 years in prison on each money laundering charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, made the announcement.

    FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case.  HSI Miami assisted in the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Bailyn is prosecuting the case.  Legal Administrative Specialist Matthew Neff is helping with litigation technology.

    An indictment is a mere allegation.  A defendant is presumed innocent until found 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-80076-AMC.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Eureka Acquisition Corp Announces the Redemption Request Deadline as June 17, 2025 for the Upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting to be Held on June 20, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eureka Acquisition Corp (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EURK), a blank check company, today announced that June 17, 2025 is the deadline for delivery of redemption request from the Company’s shareholders for its upcoming extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual general meeting of shareholders (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”)

    The Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled to be held on June 20, 2025. Since June 19, 2025 is a federal holiday, June 17, 2025, two business days before the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting, is the deadline for delivery of redemption requests from the Company’s shareholders.

    There is no change to the location, the record date, or any of the other proposals to be acted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting.

    If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please contact:

    Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
    1 State Street 30th Floor
    New York, NY 10004-1561
    E-mail: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com

    The Company’s shareholders who have questions regarding the Extraordinary General Meeting, or would like to request documents may contact the Company’s proxy solicitor, Advantage Proxy, Inc., at (877) 870-8565, or banks and brokers can call (206) 870-8565, or by email at ksmith@advantageproxy.com.

    About Eureka Acquisition Corp

    Eureka Acquisition Corp is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    On June 3, 2025, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Company will amend and supplement the definitive proxy statement to provide information about the redemption request deadline. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THE COMPANY FILES WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto) and other documents filed with the SEC through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by contacting the Company’s proxy solicitor.

    Participants in the Solicitation

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

    Contact Information:
    Fen Zhang
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    Email: eric.zhang@hercules.global
    Tel: +86 135 0189 0555

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Concrete Pumping Holdings Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBCP) (the “Company” or “CPH”), a leading provider of concrete pumping and waste management services in the U.S. and U.K., reported financial results for the second quarter ended April 30, 2025.

    Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Summary vs. Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 (where applicable)

    • Revenue of $94.0 million compared to $107.1 million.
    • Gross profit of $36.2 million compared to $41.8 million.
    • Income from operations of $8.3 million compared to $12.1 million.
    • Net loss of $0.0 million compared to net income of $3.0 million.
    • Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $0.4 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.
    • Adjusted EBITDA1 of $22.5 million compared to $27.5 million, with Adjusted EBITDA margin1 of 23.9% compared to 25.7%
    • Amounts outstanding under debt agreements were $425.0 million with net debt1 of $387.2 million. Total available liquidity at quarter end was $352.5 million compared to $216.9 million one year ago.
    • Leverage ratio1 at quarter end of 3.7x.

    Management Commentary

    “In the second quarter, we continued to navigate a challenging construction environment, marked by persistent macroeconomic headwinds and regional weather disruptions,” said CPH CEO Bruce Young. “Despite these pressures, we delivered solid results by remaining focused on cost discipline, fleet optimization, and strategic pricing across our businesses.”

    “Our U.S. Concrete Waste Management segment once again delivered strong growth, highlighting both the appeal of our unique offering and the rising demand for sustainable jobsite solutions. Although our U.S. Concrete Pumping segment remains affected by weakness in commercial construction and, more recently, by emerging challenges in residential construction, the infrastructure market has remained resilient, helping to partially offset broader market pressures and support the segment’s performance.”

    “We remain committed to generating strong free cash flow, deleveraging the balance sheet, and pursuing disciplined, strategic M&A that complements our core capabilities and geographic footprint. These priorities position us well for long-term value creation. While the near-term demand backdrop remains challenged, we are confident that our leadership position, operational discipline, and breadth of service offerings will allow us to capitalize on the eventual recovery in commercial construction activities.”

    ______________
    1 Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt and leverage ratio are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a discussion of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this release and a reconciliation to their most comparable GAAP measures.

    Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results

    Revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $94.0 million compared to $107.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to a continued slowdown from deferrals in commercial construction work and emerging challenges in residential work, mostly due to high interest rates, uncertainty around extensions of U.S. tax policy and adverse weather events in the months of February and April. Further, while the Company has not been directly impacted by tariffs, the added uncertainty surrounding tariffs has contributed to the deferral of certain commercial construction projects.

    Gross profit in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $36.2 million compared to $41.8 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin declined 50 basis points to 38.5% compared to 39.0% in the prior year quarter.

    General and administrative expenses (“G&A”) in the second quarter declined 6% to $27.9 million compared to $29.7 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to lower labor costs of approximately $1.3 million and non-cash decreases in amortization expense of $0.8 million. As a percentage of revenue, G&A costs were 29.7% in the second quarter compared to 27.7% in the prior year quarter.

    Net loss in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $0.0 million compared to net income of $3.0 million in the prior year quarter. Net loss attributable to common shareholders in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $0.4 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.

    Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $22.5 million compared to $27.5 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 23.9% compared to 25.7% in the prior year quarter.

    Liquidity

    On April 30, 2025, the Company had debt outstanding of $425.0 million, net debt of $387.2 million and total available liquidity of $352.5 million.

    Segment Results

    U.S. Concrete Pumping. Revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $62.1 million compared to $74.6 million in the prior year quarter. The decline was driven by a continued slowdown from deferrals in commercial construction work and emerging challenges in residential work, mostly due to high interest rates, uncertainty around extensions of U.S. tax policy and adverse weather events in the months of February and April. Further, while the Company has not been directly impacted by tariffs, the added uncertainty surrounding tariffs has contributed to the deferral of certain commercial construction projects. Net loss in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $1.6 million compared to net income of $0.9 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $12.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to $17.5 million in the prior year quarter. These decreases were largely driven by the decrease in revenue, as discussed above.

    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services. Revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 7% to $18.1 million compared to $16.9 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was driven by organic growth and pricing improvements. Net income in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $1.2 million compared to net income of $1.1 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 increased 12% to $6.7 million compared to $5.9 million in the prior year quarter. Increases in both net income and adjusted EBITDA are mostly due to higher revenue and disciplined cost control.

    U.K. Operations. Revenue in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $13.8 million compared to $15.5 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact from foreign currency translation, revenue was down 13% year-over-year, due to lower volumes caused by a general slowdown in commercial construction work. Net income in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $0.4 million compared to $1.0 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to $4.1 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact from foreign currency translation, net income and adjusted EBITDA changes were primarily related to the decrease in revenue.

    Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook

    The Company now expects fiscal year 2025 revenue to range between $380.0 million to $390.0 million, Adjusted EBITDA to range between $95.0 million to $100.0 million, and free cash flow2 to be approximately $45.0 million. These expectations assume the construction market will not start to meaningfully recover until fiscal year 2026 and that the Company continues to strengthen its organizational infrastructure and invest in its fleet to position the business for growth in fiscal 2026.

    ________________
    2 Free cash flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less net maintenance capital expenditures and cash paid for interest.

    Share Repurchase Program

    In June 2025, the board of directors of the Company approved a $15.0 million increase to the Company’s share repurchase program. Including this increase, there have been a total of $50.0 million in authorizations since the inception of the share repurchase program in June 2022. All authorizations are set to expire on December 31, 2026.

    During the six months ended April 30, 2025, the Company repurchased 1,311,386 shares for a total of $7.8 million at an average share price of $5.97 per share. Including the new $15.0 million share repurchase authorization approved in June 2025, a total of $24.2 million would have been available for purchase under the Company’s repurchase program as of April 30, 2025.

    “Today’s additional $15.0 million share repurchase authorization reflects our commitment to driving shareholder value,” said Bruce Young. “Our disciplined approach to capital allocation, strong free cash flow and consistent operational execution have allowed us to support the growth of our businesses while delivering expected shareholder returns and creating long-term value.”

    Conference Call

    The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its second quarter 2025 results.

    Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
    Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3:00 p.m. Mountain Time)
    Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-407-9039
    International dial-in number: 1-201-689-8470
    Conference ID: 13752905

    Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group, Inc. at 1-949-574-3860.

    The conference call will be broadcast live and is available for replay here (https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1714111&tp_key=af0b6ebb93) as well as the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.concretepumpingholdings.com.

    A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day through June 12, 2025.

    Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
    International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
    Replay ID: 13752905

    About Concrete Pumping Holdings

    Concrete Pumping Holdings is the leading provider of concrete pumping services and concrete waste management services in the fragmented U.S. and U.K. markets, primarily operating under what we believe are the only established, national brands in both geographies – Brundage-Bone for concrete pumping in the U.S., Camfaud in the U.K., and Eco-Pan for waste management services in both the U.S. and U.K. The Company’s large fleet of specialized pumping equipment and trained operators position it to deliver concrete placement solutions that facilitate labor cost savings to customers, shorten concrete placement times, enhance worksite safety and improve construction quality. Highly complementary to its core concrete pumping service, Eco-Pan seeks to provide a full-service, cost-effective, regulatory-compliant solution to manage environmental issues caused by concrete washout. As of April 30, 2025, the Company provided concrete pumping services in the U.S. from a footprint of approximately 90 branch locations across 22 states, concrete pumping services in the U.K. from approximately 35 branch locations, and route-based concrete waste management services from 21 operating locations in the U.S. and one shared location in the U.K. For more information, please visit www.concretepumpingholdings.com or the Company’s brand websites at www.brundagebone.com, www.camfaud.co.uk, or www.eco-pan.com.

    Forward‐Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company’s actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance, including the Company’s fiscal year 2025 outlook. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside the Company’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the adverse impact of recent inflationary pressures, changes in foreign trade policies, restrictive monetary policies, global economic conditions and developments related to these conditions, such as fluctuations in fuel costs on our business; adverse and severe weather conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings, rulings or demand letters that may be instituted against or sent to the Company or its subsidiaries; the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the ability to identify and complete targeted acquisitions and to realize the expected benefits from completed acquisitions; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This press release presents Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt, free cash flow and leverage ratio, all of which are important financial measures for the Company but are not financial measures defined by GAAP.

    EBITDA is calculated by taking GAAP net income and adding back interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs net of interest income, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking EBITDA and adding back loss on debt extinguishment, stock-based compensation, changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities, other expense (income), net, goodwill and intangibles impairment and other adjustments. Other adjustments include non-recurring expenses, non-cash currency gains/losses and transaction expenses. Transaction expenses represent expenses for legal, accounting, and other professionals that were engaged in the completion of various acquisitions. Transaction expenses can be volatile as they are primarily driven by the size of a specific acquisition. As such, the Company excludes these amounts from Adjusted EBITDA for comparability across periods.

    The Company believes these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends related to our financial condition and results of operations, and as a supplemental tool for investors to use in evaluating our ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial measures with competitors who also present similar non-GAAP financial measures. In addition, these measures (1) are used in quarterly and annual financial reports and presentations prepared for management, our board of directors and investors, and (2) help management to determine incentive compensation. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated under GAAP. These non-GAAP measures exclude certain cash expenses that the Company is obligated to make. In addition, other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently or may not calculate it at all, which limits the usefulness of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as comparative measures. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue for the period presented. See below for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP.

    Net debt as a specified date is calculated as all amounts outstanding under debt agreements (currently this includes the Company’s term loan and revolving line of credit balances, excluding any offsets for capitalized deferred financing costs) measured in accordance with GAAP less cash. Cash is subtracted from the GAAP measure because it could be used to reduce the Company’s debt obligations. A limitation associated with using net debt is that it subtracts cash and therefore may imply that there is less Company debt than the most comparable GAAP measure indicates. CPH believes this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to management and investors in order to monitor the Company’s leverage and evaluate the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. See “Reconciliation of Net Debt” below for a reconciliation of Net Debt to amounts outstanding under debt agreements calculated in accordance with GAAP.

    The leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing four quarters. The Company believes its leverage ratio measures its ability to service its debt and its ability to make capital expenditures. Additionally, the leverage ratio is a standard measurement used by investors to gauge the creditworthiness of an institution.

    Free cash flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less net maintenance capital expenditures and cash paid for interest. This measure is not a substitute for cash flow from operations and does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, since certain non-discretionary expenditures, such as debt servicing payments, are not deducted from the measure. CPH believes this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to management and investors in order to monitor and evaluate the cash flow yield of the business.

    The financial statement tables that accompany this press release include a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and net debt to the applicable most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. However, the Company has not reconciled the forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA guidance range and free cash flow range included in this press release to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures because this cannot be done without unreasonable effort due to the lack of predictability regarding the various reconciling items such as provision for income tax expense and depreciation and amortization.

    Current and prospective investors should review the Company’s audited annual and unaudited interim financial statements, which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company’s business. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA, net debt and free cash flow differently and therefore these measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

    Contact:

    Company:
    Iain Humphries
    Chief Financial Officer
    1-303-289-7497    		 Investor Relations:
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    Cody Slach
    1-949-574-3860
    BBCP@gateway-grp.com  
       
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                 
        As of April 30,     As of October 31,  
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)   2025     2024  
    Current assets:                
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 37,788     $ 43,041  
    Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $881 and $916, respectively     48,378       56,441  
    Inventory     6,157       5,922  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     11,231       6,956  
    Total current assets     103,554       112,360  
                     
    Property, plant and equipment, net     412,967       415,726  
    Intangible assets, net     99,793       105,612  
    Goodwill     223,998       222,996  
    Right-of-use operating lease assets     24,757       26,179  
    Other non-current assets     11,437       12,578  
    Deferred financing costs     2,284       2,539  
    Total assets   $ 878,790     $ 897,990  
                     
    Current liabilities:                
    Revolving loan   $ –     $ 20  
    Operating lease obligations, current portion     4,860       4,817  
    Accounts payable     12,341       7,668  
    Accrued payroll and payroll expenses     11,757       14,303  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     27,069       28,673  
    Income taxes payable     1,861       850  
    Total current liabilities     57,888       56,331  
                     
    Long term debt, net of discount for deferred financing costs     417,346       373,260  
    Operating lease obligations, non-current     20,418       21,716  
    Deferred income taxes     84,402       86,647  
    Other liabilities, non-current     11,891       13,321  
    Total liabilities     591,945       551,275  
                     
                     
    Zero-dividend convertible perpetual preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 2,450,980 shares issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2025 and October 31, 2024     25,000       25,000  
                     
    Stockholders’ equity                
    Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 52,132,683 and 53,273,644 issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2025 and October 31, 2024, respectively     6       6  
    Additional paid-in capital     388,737       386,313  
    Treasury stock     (35,972 )     (25,881 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     3,089       (483 )
    Accumulated deficit     (94,015 )     (38,240 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     261,845       321,715  
                     
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 878,790     $ 897,990  
                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                 
        Three Months Ended April 30,     Six Months Ended April 30,  
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)   2025     2024     2025     2024  
                                     
    Revenue   $ 93,958     $ 107,062     $ 180,404     $ 204,773  
    Cost of operations     57,776       65,295       112,987       129,692  
    Gross profit     36,182       41,767       67,417       75,081  
    Gross margin     38.5 %     39.0 %     37.4 %     36.7 %
                                     
    General and administrative expenses     27,922       29,712       55,672       61,570  
    Income from operations     8,260       12,055       11,745       13,511  
                                     
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs     (8,554 )     (6,903 )     (14,769 )     (13,426 )
    Loss on extinguishment of debt     –       –       (1,392 )     –  
    Interest income     260       30       673       90  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     –       –       –       130  
    Other income (expense), net     28       44       62       84  
    Income (loss) before income taxes     (6 )     5,226       (3,681 )     389  
                                     
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (2 )     2,180       (1,038 )     1,169  
                                     
    Net income (loss)     (4 )     3,046       (2,643 )     (780 )
                                     
    Less preferred shares dividends     (426 )     (430 )     (865 )     (870 )
                                     
    Loss available to common shareholders   $ (430 )   $ 2,616     $ (3,508 )   $ (1,650 )
                                     
    Weighted average common shares outstanding                                
    Basic     52,699       53,430       52,875       53,501  
    Diluted     52,699       54,380       52,875       53,501  
                                     
    Net income per common share                                
    Basic   $ (0.01 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.07 )   $ (0.03 )
    Diluted   $ (0.01 )   $ 0.05     $ (0.07 )   $ (0.03 )
                                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
           
        For the Six Months Ended April 30,  
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)   2025     2024  
                     
    Net loss   $ (2,643 )   $ (780 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:                
    Non-cash operating lease expense     2,575       2,567  
    Foreign currency adjustments     (54 )     (451 )
    Depreciation     20,726       20,565  
    Deferred income taxes     (2,706 )     (590 )
    Amortization of deferred financing costs     896       890  
    Amortization of intangible assets     6,058       7,771  
    Stock-based compensation expense     905       1,273  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     –       (130 )
    Loss on extinguishment of debt     1,392       –  
    Net gain on the sale of property, plant and equipment     (188 )     (1,147 )
    Other operating activities     (46 )     65  
    Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Receivables     8,407       6,279  
    Inventory     (130 )     612  
    Other operating assets     (6,297 )     (2,420 )
    Accounts payable     4,296       (1,218 )
    Other operating liabilities     (2,424 )     (3,841 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities     30,767       29,445  
                     
    Cash flows from investing activities:                
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (19,491 )     (28,817 )
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment     3,232       5,236  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (16,259 )     (23,581 )
                     
    Cash flows from financing activities:                
    Proceeds on long term debt     425,000       –  
    Payments on long term debt     (375,000 )     –  
    Proceeds on revolving loan     124,474       167,611  
    Payments on revolving loan     (124,494 )     (170,138 )
    Dividends paid     (53,132 )        
    Payment of debt issuance costs     (8,153 )     –  
    Purchase of treasury stock     (8,508 )     (3,017 )
    Other financing activities     (136 )     1,409  
    Net cash used in financing activities     (19,949 )     (4,135 )
    Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash     188       366  
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     (5,253 )     2,095  
    Cash and cash equivalents:                
    Beginning of period     43,041       15,861  
    End of period   $ 37,788     $ 17,956  
                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Segment Revenue
                 
        Three Months Ended April 30,     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping     62,109     $ 74,617     $ (12,508 )     (16.8 )%
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services(1)     18,057       16,898       1,159       6.9 %
    U.K. Operations     13,792       15,547       (1,755 )     (11.3 )%
    Total revenue   $ 93,958     $ 107,062     $ (13,104 )     (12.2 )%
    (1) For the three months ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, intersegment revenue of $0.1 million is excluded.
        Six Months Ended April 30,     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping   $ 119,022     $ 141,300     $ (22,278 )     (15.8 )%
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services(1)     34,750       32,518       2,232       6.9 %
    U.K. Operations     26,632       30,955       (4,323 )     (14.0 )%
    Total revenue   $ 180,404     $ 204,773     $ (24,369 )     (11.9 )%
    (1) For the six months ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, intersegment revenue of $0.2 million isexcluded.
     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income (Loss)

    During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Company updated its methodology in which the Company allocates its corporate costs to better align with the manner in which the Company now allocates resources and measures performance. As a result, segment results for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

        Three Months Ended April 30, 2024     Six Months Ended April 30, 2024  
    (in thousands)   U.S. Concrete Pumping     U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services     U.S. Concrete Pumping     U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services  
    As Previously Reported                                
    Net income (loss)   $ (999 )   $ 3,001     $ (7,843 )   $ 5,406  
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     6,193       –       11,947       –  
    EBITDA     15,979       6,188       23,016       11,568  
    Stock-based compensation     737       –       1,273       –  
    Other expense (income), net     (7 )     –       (27 )     (7 )
    Other Adjustments     514       –       3,668       –  
    Adjusted EBITDA     17,223       6,188       27,930       11,561  
                                     
    Recast Adjustment                                
    Net income (loss)   $ 1,936     $ (1,936 )   $ 5,578     $ (5,578 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     (1,566 )     1,566       (3,323 )     3,323  
    EBITDA     370       (370 )     2,255       (2,255 )
    Stock-based compensation     (189 )     189       (350 )     350  
    Other expense (income), net     –       –       3       (3 )
    Other Adjustments     67       (67 )     (774 )     774  
    Adjusted EBITDA     248       (248 )     1,134       (1,134 )
                                     
    Current Report As Recast                                
    Net income (loss)   $ 937     $ 1,065     $ (2,265 )   $ (172 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     4,627       1,566       8,624       3,323  
    EBITDA     16,349       5,818       25,271       9,313  
    Stock-based compensation     548       189       923       350  
    Other expense (income), net     (7 )     –       (24 )     (10 )
    Other Adjustments     581       (67 )     2,894       774  
    Adjusted EBITDA     17,471       5,940       29,064       10,427  
                                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income (Loss) Continued
           
        Net Income (Loss)  
        Three Months Ended April 30     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping   $ (1,601 )   $ 937     $ (2,538 )     *  
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services     1,202       1,065       137       (12.9 )%
    U.K. Operations     395       1,044       (649 )     (62.2 )%
    Total   $ (4 )   $ 3,046     $ (3,050 )     (100.1 )%
    *Change is not meaningful                                
                                     
        Adjusted EBITDA  
        Three Months Ended April 30     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping   $ 12,663     $ 17,471     $ (4,808 )     (27.5 )%
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services     6,655       5,940       715       12.0 %
    U.K. Operations     3,179       4,137       (958 )     (23.2 )%
    Total   $ 22,497     $ 27,548     $ (5,051 )     (18.3 )%
        Net Income (Loss)  
        Six Months Ended April 30     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping   $ (4,681 )   $ (2,265 )   $ (2,416 )     (106.7 )%
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services     1,426       (172 )     1,598       *  
    U.K. Operations     612       1,527       (915 )     (59.9 )%
    Other     –       130       (130 )     *  
    Total   $ (2,643 )   $ (780 )   $ (1,863 )     (238.8 )%
    *Change is not meaningful                                
                                     
        Adjusted EBITDA  
        Six Months Ended April 30     Change  
    (in thousands, unless otherwise stated)   2025     2024     $     %  
    U.S. Concrete Pumping   $ 21,800     $ 29,064     $ (7,264 )     (25.0 )%
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services     11,701       10,427       1,274       12.2 %
    U.K. Operations     6,007       7,339       (1,332 )     (18.1 )%
    Total   $ 39,508     $ 46,830     $ (7,322 )     (15.6 )%
                                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Quarterly Financial Performance
                                         
    (dollars in millions)   Revenue     Net Income     Adjusted EBITDA1     Capital Expenditures2     Adjusted EBITDA less Capital Expenditures     Earnings (Loss) Per Diluted Share  
                                                     
    Q1 2024   $ 98     $ (4 )   $ 19     $ 17     $ 3     $ (0.08 )
    Q2 2024   $ 107     $ 3     $ 28     $ 7     $ 21     $ 0.05  
    Q3 2024   $ 110     $ 8     $ 32     $ 6     $ 26     $ 0.13  
    Q4 2024   $ 111     $ 9     $ 34     $ 2     $ 32     $ 0.16  
    Q1 2025   $ 86     $ (3 )   $ 17     $ 4     $ 13     $ (0.06 )
    Q2 2025   $ 94     $ –     $ 22     $ 12     $ 10     $ (0.01 )
                                                     
    1Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”). See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a discussion of the definition of this measure and reconciliation of such measure to its most comparable GAAP measure.
    2Information on M&A or growth investments included in net capital expenditures have been included for relevant quarters below:
    *Q1 2024 capex includes approximately $5 million growth investment.
    *Q2 2024 capex includes approximately $1 million M&A and $3 million growth investment.
    *Q3 2024 capex includes approximately $4 million growth investment.
    *Q4 2024 capex includes approximately $3 million growth investment.
    *Q1 2025 capex includes approximately $2 million growth investment.
    *Q2 2025 capex includes approximately $2 million growth investment.
     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income to Reported EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA
                 
        Three Months Ended April 30,     Six Months Ended April 30,  
    (dollars in thousands)   2025     2024     2025     2024  
    Consolidated                                
    Net income (loss)   $ (4 )   $ 3,046     $ (2,643 )   $ (780 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     8,294       6,873       14,096       13,336  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (2 )     2,180       (1,038 )     1,169  
    Depreciation and amortization     13,584       14,239       26,784       28,337  
    EBITDA     21,872       26,338       37,199       42,062  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     –       –       1,392       –  
    Stock based compensation     538       737       905       1,273  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     –       –       –       (130 )
    Other expense (income), net     (28 )     (44 )     (62 )     (84 )
    Other adjustments(1)     115       517       74       3,709  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 22,497     $ 27,548     $ 39,508     $ 46,830  
                                     
    U.S. Concrete Pumping                                
    Net income (loss)   $ (1,601 )   $ 937     $ (4,681 )   $ (2,265 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     5,211       4,627       8,522       8,624  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (482 )     515       (1,662 )     (1,588 )
    Depreciation and amortization     9,006       10,270       18,081       20,500  
    EBITDA     12,134       16,349       20,260       25,271  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     –       –       862       –  
    Stock based compensation     371       548       609       923  
    Other expense (income), net     (4 )     (7 )     (18 )     (24 )
    Other adjustments(1)     162       581       87       2,894  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 12,663     $ 17,471     $ 21,800     $ 29,064  
                                     
    U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services                                
    Net income (loss)   $ 1,202     $ 1,065     $ 1,426     $ (172 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net of interest income     2,369       1,566       4,141       3,323  
    Income tax expense     332       1,067       415       1,982  
    Depreciation and amortization     2,651       2,120       4,927       4,180  
    EBITDA     6,554       5,818       10,909       9,313  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     –       –       530       –  
    Stock based compensation     167       189       296       350  
    Other expense (income), net     (12 )     –       (14 )     (10 )
    Other adjustments     (54 )     (67 )     (20 )     774  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 6,655     $ 5,940     $ 11,701     $ 10,427  
                                     
    (1) Other adjustments include the adjustment for non-recurring expenses and non-cash currency gains/losses. For the six months ended April 30, 2024, other adjustments includes a $3.5 million non-recurring charge related to sales tax litigation.
     
        Three Months Ended April 30,     Six Months Ended April 30,  
    (dollars in thousands)   2025     2024     2025     2024  
    U.K. Operations                                
    Net income   $ 395     $ 1,044     $ 612     $ 1,527  
    Interest expense, net     714       680       1,433       1,389  
    Income tax expense     148       598       209       775  
    Depreciation and amortization     1,927       1,849       3,776       3,657  
    EBITDA     3,184       4,171       6,030       7,348  
    Other expense (income), net     (12 )     (37 )     (30 )     (50 )
    Other adjustments     7       3       7       41  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 3,179     $ 4,137     $ 6,007     $ 7,339  
                                     
    Other                                
    Net income   $ –     $ –     $ –     $ 130  
    EBITDA     –       –       –       130  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     –       –       –       (130 )
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ –     $ –     $ –     $ –  
                                     
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Debt
                                   
        April 30,     July 31,     October 31,     January 31,     April 30,  
    (in thousands)   2024     2024     2024     2025     2025  
    Senior Notes     375,000       375,000       375,000       425,000       425,000  
    Revolving loan draws outstanding     16,428       –       20       –       –  
    Less: Cash     (17,956 )     (26,333 )     (43,041 )     (85,132 )     (37,788 )
    Net debt   $ 373,472     $ 348,667     $ 331,979     $ 339,868     $ 387,212  
                                             
     
    Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Historical Adjusted EBITDA
                                           
    (dollars in thousands)   Q1 2024     Q2 2024     Q3 2024     Q4 2024     Q1 2025       Q2 2025  
    Consolidated                                                
    Net income (loss)   $ (3,826 )   $ 3,046     $ 7,560     $ 9,427     $ (2,639 )   $ (4 )
    Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs     6,463       6,873       6,261       5,976       5,802       8,294  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (1,011 )     2,180       3,081       3,854       (1,036 )     (2 )
    Depreciation and amortization     14,097       14,239       14,491       14,283       13,200       13,584  
    EBITDA     15,723       26,338       31,393       33,540       15,327       21,872  
    Transaction expenses     –       –       –       –       –       –  
    Loss on debt extinguishment     –       –       –       –       1,392       –  
    Stock based compensation     536       737       644       477       367       538  
    Change in fair value of warrant liabilities     (130 )     –       –       –       –       –  
    Other expense (income), net     (39 )     (44 )     (276 )     (47 )     (34 )     (28 )
    Other adjustments(1)     3,191       517       (123 )     (290 )     (41 )     115  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 19,281     $ 27,548     $ 31,638     $ 33,680     $ 17,011     $ 22,497  
                                                     
    (1) Other adjustments include the adjustment for non-recurring expenses and non-cash currency gains/losses. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, other adjustments includes a $3.5 million non-recurring charge related to sales tax litigation.
     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Department of State Press Briefing – June 5, 2025

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

    Department Press Briefing with Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott at the Department of State, on June 5, 2025.

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

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

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    X: https://x.com/StateDept
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    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/
    Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/StateDept
    Substack: https://statedept.substack.com

    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSTATEBPA/signup/32562

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX6VgPLuWOU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Participates in a Roundtable Discussion with the Fraternal Order of Police

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    The White House

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBWgUwMI2GM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Securing a Healthier Future for SUNY Downstate

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today received the Downstate Community Advisory Board proposal for the more than $1 billion State reinvestment in SUNY Downstate’s hospital. Following months of community input and engagement, the advisory board advanced a proposal that aims to stabilize and renovate the facility and deliver a modern hospital to Central Brooklyn.

    “Central Brooklyn deserves world-class health care, and with this historic $1 billion investment, we’re securing a brighter, healthier future for SUNY Downstate and the communities it serves,” Governor Hochul said. “This plan was shaped by the voices of those who know and rely on Downstate — community members, faculty and staff — and their input was critical to getting this right. I’m grateful to SUNY and the advisory board for their commitment to building a strong, sustainable future SUNY Downstate, and I look forward to thoroughly reviewing the proposed plan.”

    The proposal from the advisory board will:

    • Retain all current inpatient and outpatient services, including maternity and kidney transplant services
    • Convert all double occupancy rooms to private rooms with showers and add additional rooms, resulting in 225 operational beds (with the goal of increasing the current 165 average daily census)
    • Modernize and expand the emergency department to 45 stations
    • Establish/renovate dedicated inpatient specialty units for cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics
    • Build a new hospital annex, including a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center that expands services in oncology and cardiology
    • Address the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure issues that have resulted in repeated system failures
    • Improve leadership and operations to achieve greater operational sustainability

    SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “SUNY Downstate has long served as a cornerstone of care for Brooklynites – and as a result of Governor Hochul’s leadership and investment, it will continue to do so long into the future. Thank you to Governor Hochul, to the advisory board, and to every community member who contributed to this proposal that will ensure a strong and sustainable SUNY Downstate hospital for the communities we are proud to serve.”

    The advisory board’s task was to consider recommendations to establish a reasonable, scalable and fiscally responsible plan for the financial health, viability, and sustainability of SUNY Downstate within a range of available funds.

    The advisory board – consisting of healthcare and community leaders – worked throughout the past nearly six months to gather input and ideas directly from the community to inform the proposal. Over the course of their deliberations, the advisory board:

    • Held four public hearings (one more than statutorily required) on January 22, February 27, March 13, and April 28, with two in Community Board #9 and two in Community Board #17
    • Met with numerous community stakeholders including the SUNY Downstate Medical School Department Chairs, the Brooklyn for Downstate advocacy group (twice), the leadership at SUNY Downstate, and other regional healthcare providers
    • Carefully reviewed analysis of the community health needs (including the Brooklyn for Downstate data needs analysis and recommendations for the future of SUNY Downstate, the Community Health Needs Assessment 2022 prepared by the NYC Health & Hospitals, and the New York State Department of Health’s Study of Healthcare System Inequities and Perinatal Access in Brooklyn report), Downstate Hospital’s financials, and the condition of Downstate Hospital’s physical plant
    • Engaged a team of consultants to provide expert analysis, infrastructure assessment, financial modeling, architectural and engineering scenarios, and coordination, including ADENA Consulting Group, LLC, QPK Design, Ramboll, Ewing Cole, and Kaufman Hall. In addition, at stakeholders’ request, the advisory board engaged Deloitte to independently assess the reasonableness of the financial modeling and identify options to reduce the ongoing operating deficit.

    After gathering public and stakeholder input over many months, the approach now recommended by the advisory board was presented to the public as an option under consideration at the fourth public hearing on April 28. View materials from the public hearings here.

    Downstate’s hospital provides inpatient and outpatient health care services in Central Brooklyn and leads in research and scholarship to address health disparities in New York City and across the state.

    Last year, SUNY Downstate’s hospital faced a $100 million annual deficit and was at risk of being unable to operate without additional funding, while contending with a hospital facility in disrepair and vulnerable to major crises, including recent major infrastructure incidents.

    In response, Governor Hochul worked with the Legislature and SUNY to develop a plan to engage community leaders in developing a sustainable future for Downstate and provided a historic capital investment. The Governor championed $750 million in capital funding for SUNY Downstate’s hospital in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Enacted State Budgets, and directed SUNY to dedicate its anticipated $50 million annual capital allocations in each of the next seven years to bring the total investment to more than $1 billion.

    SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University President Dr. Wayne J. Riley said, “This plan represents an extraordinary investment in SUNY Downstate’s hospital and a bright future for our patients, our students, and our faculty and staff. I want to thank Governor Hochul, the Brooklyn legislative delegation, the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor King, the faculty and staff of SUNY Downstate, and the faith leaders, labor organizations, and other community stakeholders who have worked together to envision a strong and achievable future for SUNY Downstate.”

    SUNY Trustee and Chair of the Academic Medical Centers and Hospitals Committee Eric Corngold said, “SUNY is proud of the unique and important role SUNY Downstate plays in Central Brooklyn and New York State. We are committed to a strong and sustainable future for SUNY Downstate and grateful to Governor Hochul for a historic investment in SUNY Downstate’s hospital.”

    New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said, “Governor Hochul has shown a strong commitment to strengthening health care across New York—from expanding mental health services to supporting the nursing workforce and modernizing medical facilities. Investing in SUNY Downstate’s hospital is a critical step that will improve health outcomes and better serve the residents of Central Brooklyn.”

    SUNY Downstate Chair of the Department of Community and Family Health Dr. Enitza George, M.D., MBA, MSAI. said, “After six months of working with the DCAB members, I believe these recommendations truly reflect our commitment to listening to the community. We carefully considered what’s needed and balanced it with what’s possible given the current funding. I’m genuinely excited about what’s next—for Brooklyn as a whole and for Downstate in particular.”

    SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board Member Pastor Louis Hilton Straker Jr. said, “Reinvesting in Downstate will not only mean improved care, it will also mean a sense of safety and dignity for Central Brooklynites. Over the last year, we’ve seen how different voices and perspectives can enter a room and come together to deliver for our communities. Let Downstate serve as a sign of hope on what we can do when New Yorkers stand by each other and insist on solutions.”

    SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board Member Dr. Lesly Kernisant said, “In my decades of caring for Brooklyn patients, a simple fact is clear: modern facilities and comprehensive services lead to improved care. This investment in SUNY Downstate’s future–which includes vital support for maternal health care–marks an important moment in the collective effort to reduce health disparities and secure a better future for our community.”

    Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Securing this historic investment in SUNY Downstate is a major victory for Brooklyn—preserving critical services, modernizing the hospital, and reaffirming our commitment to equitable, high-quality care. By establishing the Community Advisory Board, we ensured that the voices of patients, workers, and the community were central to every discussion about Downstate’s future. I applaud Senator Myrie and all my Brooklyn colleagues whose tireless advocacy made this moment possible and who continue to lead the charge toward the full revitalization of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.”

    Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, “Securing $1 billion for Downstate is historic – I applaud Governor Hochul and the community leaders who helped shape this proposal. This is an important moment to be investing in our healthcare ecosystem, and Downstate’s modernization can serve as a model for vulnerable facilities across the state.”

    Assemblymember Brian Cunningham said, “As the representative for Central Brooklyn and SUNY Downstate, I have made it a priority to advocate to Governor Hochul and legislative leaders for the investments this hospital needs to serve our community and the city. Through this year’s budget process, we fought to secure critical funding for Downstate and for the healthcare infrastructure that so many New Yorkers rely on. With federal threats to Medicaid mounting, this new commitment from the state could not be more important. I commend the Governor for her leadership in protecting access to care and driving equity across the healthcare system.

    Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, “SUNY Downstate was founded 165 years ago, and served as a vital healthcare institution and safety-net hospital, helping over 300,000 Brooklynites annually, regardless of their ability to pay. In recent years, our borough’s only academic medical center kept trying to provide innovative, high-quality-care for all, while its 19th century infrastructure crumbled; putting the Downstate Hospital in serious peril; while leaving our most vulnerable constituents with next-to-nothing for healthcare. Gov. Hochul took decisive action, when other leaders swept this problem under the rug, and worked with the Brooklyn Delegation and our communities to deliver a one billion-dollar solution ensuring a bright future for SUNY Downstate and the Brooklynites who depend on it. Thank you to the Advisory Board for providing a blueprint to revitalize SUNY Downstate into a world-class, state-of-the-art health center that will truly save the lives of Brooklynites today and for decades to come.”

    New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis said, “I wholeheartedly applaud Governor Hochul for this historic and transformative $1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate Medical Center—a bold commitment that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and responsiveness to the urgent needs of Central Brooklyn residents. Knowing that this funding will restore full inpatient and outpatient care over 200 beds is a massive achievement in our fight to save this institution. As our community continues to advocate for a transformative and responsive investment, I am proud that our concerns were heard to bring modernized facilities and high-quality services to the working-class families of Central Brooklyn. Governor Hochul listened to the needs of our neighborhoods and I look forward to the strengthening of this essential institution.”

    New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse said, “This $1 billion investment and the restoration of 225 beds are crucial steps in ensuring Downstate stays open and continues to serve our community. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and unwavering commitment to preserving this essential healthcare institution in Central Brooklyn. By implementing the majority of the Downstate Community Advisory Board’s recommendations, we are listening to those who know best and ensuring a brighter, healthier future for all who rely on Downstate.”

    Bishop Orlando Findlayter said, “We’ve seen private hospitals across the city close or limit services in recent years, which has been a rising threat to the healthcare of New Yorkers in underserved communities. But thanks to leadership from the Governor and our local community, Downstate will ensure the long-term commitment of all existing inpatient and outpatient services, and will serve as a beacon of care and community.”

    Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, “The release of the Downstate Community Advisory proposal for the reinvestment of more than $1 billion is a victory for the entire Central Brooklyn community, including the constituents of my district who rely on SUNY Downstate Hospital. I’d like to thank all the people who have fought so hard to get us to this point. That includes advocates, SUNY leadership, lawmakers, union leaders, and members of the faith and medical communities. And, of course, we would not be at this critical juncture without the leadership of Gov. Kathy Hochul. The proposal, which follows months of community input, retains kidney transplant and maternity services – which are priorities for my community, as we battle high rates of diabetes and fight for better Black maternal health outcomes. I look forward to the modernization of the emergency department, infrastructure upgrades and many other improvements stemming from the proposal. We have collectively struck a decisive blow in the ongoing effort to combat health disparities in Brooklyn communities of color. The quality of one’s care should not be determined by zip code.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fellowship Allows NYS Artists to Partner with State Agencies

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new opportunity for New York State artists to partner with State agencies to develop innovative engagement for key state initiatives. Administered by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the State of the Arts Fellowship will bring artists and State government together to foster community connection, enhance public spaces, and amplify vital public service initiatives.

    “New York State artists inspire audiences worldwide with their artistry and innovation and are one of our most important resources,” Governor Hochul said. “By combining our renowned creative talent with our hard-working State agencies, we will discover new solutions to important state initiatives.”

    Guidelines for the program are available at arts.ny.gov/SOAfellow. The deadline is July 8, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Fellows will be announced by fall 2025.

    The State of the Arts Fellowship will embed selected artists within three State agencies for year-long residencies beginning in fall 2025. Artists from all disciplines — including visual, performance, literature, film, and interdisciplinary practices — are invited to apply for this unique opportunity.

    The inaugural placements are:

    • Office of General Services (OGS): revitalizing the Empire State Plaza through creative, community focused programming. (Albany)
    • Office of Mental Health (OMH): destigmatizing mental health issues and promoting access to OMH services. (at least one facility serving a rural upstate area and at least one in the NYC region)
    • Office of Victim Services (OVS): working with underserved populations to reduce barriers to access the Fair Access to Victim Compensation Act. (Brooklyn or Albany)

    Through a collaborative process, fellows will work closely with State agencies to address pressing issues and implement projects that leave a lasting impact on communities across New York. Fellows will be chosen by the host agency and NYSCA. Award amount per artist fellow is $60,000, inclusive of all project expenses.

    New York State Council on the Arts Director Erika Mallin said, “NYSCA has long recognized the essential role that artists play in our state: as changemakers and futurists, as bridge builders between communities, and as teachers and leaders. We are so proud to lead this important program that will bring artists and government together to benefit the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.”

    New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “OGS is proud to be among the state agencies selected to participate in the State of the Arts Fellowship hosted by NYSCA. Through this collaboration, OGS will be exploring placemaking strategies for the Empire State Plaza to deepen our connection with neighboring communities and enhance our public spaces to be more welcoming, vibrant, and reflective of the people we serve. This work will guide and inform future decision making across our entire portfolio. I would like to thank Governor Hochul and NYSCA for their dedication to finding new ways to engage with our state’s communities through this innovative program.”

    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “We are deeply thankful to be among the agencies chosen by the New York State Council on the Arts to host an artist fellowship. This collaborative work will provide a new and creative approach to de-stigmatizing mental health and demonstrating recovery is both possible and accessible. Portraying individuals in recovery will acknowledge the progress they’ve made and inspire others. This fellowship represents Governor Hochul’s innovative approach to using the arts to promote the important work our state agencies undertake to help and serve New Yorkers.”

    New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “Art has the power to transcend barriers and bring people together. We are thrilled to participate in the Artist Fellowship program, which will help us to better connect with victims and survivors of crime and improve access to the critical financial assistance available through OVS. I thank Governor Hochul and the Council on the Arts for their support and vision in creating this program.”

    About the New York State Council on the Arts
    The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture and creativity for all. For FY 2026, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov/SOAfellow, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

    MIL OSI USA News –