NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI Security: City of Miami Police Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Yesterday, Tramaine Liptrot, 43, a police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) who has been relieved of duty, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $200,000. Liptrot entered his guilty plea in Miami before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom.

    According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, Liptrot, along with being an MPD Police Officer, was the owner and President of Liptrots Tax Services L.L.C (Liptrots Tax). With the assistance of an associate, Liptrot fraudulently obtained two PPP loans in the name of Liptrots Tax.

    On June 22, 2020, working with the associate, Liptrot caused the submission of a false and fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of Liptrots Tax, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax had an average monthly payroll of $36,700 for four employees, and a fraudulent IRS Form 944 in support thereof, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax paid its employees $440,397 during 2019. As a result of this fraudulent PPP application, Liptrots Tax obtained approximately $91,750 in PPP loan proceeds from an SBA approved PPP lender.

    On March 3, 2021, again working with the associate, Liptrot caused the submission of a false and fraudulent second-draw PPP loan application on behalf of Liptrots Tax, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax had an average monthly payroll of $43,369, and including as part of the application process, a fraudulent IRS Form 944, falsely claiming that Liptrots Tax paid $496,428 in wages and other compensation in 2020. As a result of this fraudulent second-draw PPP application, Liptrots Tax obtained approximately $108,422 in PPP loan proceeds from a different SBA approved PPP lender. 

    Liptrot is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., where he faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region, announced the guilty plea.

    FBI Miami’s Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the City of Miami Police Department’s Internal Affairs Section, and SBA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.

    In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred.  EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    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 23-cr-20155.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Three time convicted federal felon sentenced for wire fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Steven D. Blumhagen, 74, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve five years in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that between April 2016, and January 2020, Blumhagen defrauded three investors out of $400,000, by soliciting the victims to purchase interests in entities he claimed to own, manage, or control. Blumhagen told victims that their investments would enable those entities to finance legal marijuana operations, real estate developments, and an investment technology, and that they could expect significant returns on their investments. Instead of using the money as promised, Blumhagen used some or all of the money for personal expenses. He also used the investment of one victim to pay back previous victims. Part of the scheme involved a limited liability company allegedly owned by Blumhagen’s children, which they knew nothing about.

    As a result of the scheme, at least one victim experienced a substantial financial hardship, withdrawing funds from a retirement account, resulting in substantial penalties.

    Blumhagen has two prior federal convictions in the Western District of New York. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for bilking investors out of more than $10,000,000 related to his sale of shares in the golf course project Tee-to-Green, and was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $10,000,000 in restitution. In 2018, Blumhagen pleaded guilty to bank theft for his involvement in a bond scheme, which raised more than $1,400,000 from potential investors. Blumhagen was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay more than $1,200,000 in restitution. Blumhagen was on pre-trial release for the bank theft charge when he committed the wire fraud.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Charges Eastchester Man With Sexual Exploitation Of A Child And Receipt And Distribution Of Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of THOMAS JAMES PUCCINI, 28.  PUCCINI is charged with the sexual exploitation of three minors and with receiving and distributing child pornography.  PUCCINI was arrested today and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained.

    “Thomas James Puccini’s alleged crimes are every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Puccini, a football coach, held himself out as a trusted member of his school community, yet he was preying on our most innocent and vulnerable. The women and men of the Southern District will use every tool available to bring to justice those who exploit our children.”

    HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge James Manning said: “As alleged, the defendant violated parents’ and students’ trust through his vile acts against children. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, he worked closely with kids and teenagers nearly every day, all allegedly while hiding his shameful dark side of exploitation, and committing crimes against the same minors placed under his care. The abhorrent crimes of which he is accused have no place in our society, and I commend HSI New York’s Hudson Valley investigators, alongside our law enforcement partners, for placing the safety of vulnerable New Yorkers above all else.”

    Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said: “For months, our criminal investigators worked hard to build the strongest possible case against the defendant, and today’s federal charges are the product of these efforts. I extend my thanks to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton for his collaboration and partnership on this case. Our office will continue to assist S.D.N.Y. throughout all phases of Mr. Puccini’s prosecution.”

    As alleged in the Complaint filed on May 20, 2025 in White Plains federal court and statements made in court[1]:

    THOMAS JAMES PUCCINI worked as a football coach for a high school (“School-1”) in Westchester County. In July of 2024, PUCCINI became the interim athletic director for the school district in which the high school was located. 

    Victim-1:  In November 2021, Victim-1, who was 17 years old and a student at School-1, was contacted by a Snapchat account with the name “alex_fundi2.”  Victim-1 received a nude image of a female from “alex_fundi2” and believed that he was communicating with a female.  “She” told him that she knew him and went to School-1. Victim-1 sent “her” nude photos of himself, including photos showing his penis. After sending images for approximately a week or two, Victim-1 blocked the “alex_fundi2” account.  Then, Victim-1 received messages from a CashApp account (“CashTag-1”) directing Victim-1 to add “alex_fundi2” back. The messages stated, among other things, “I have your pics and vids,” and told Victim-1 to “add me or I send your pics.”  Victim-1 unblocked “alex_fundi2” and sent “alex_fundi2” sexually explicit images of Victim-1. 

    Victim-1 continued to send sexually explicit images to “alex_fundi2” until in or about 2023, when Victim-1 was a freshman in college. 

    The user of CashTag-1 provided CashApp with the name “Thomas Puccini,” PUCCINI’s date of birth, and PUCCINI’s address in Westchester. Records from Snapchat relating to the “alex_fundi2” account show that an IP address that returned to PUCCINI’s residence in Westchester County was used over 13,000 times to access the “alex_fundi2” account. Further, the “alex_fundi2” account is associated with an email that begins with “puccini01” and ends in “.edu.”

    Victim-2: Victim-2 and other middle-schoolers used School-1’s weight room to prepare for Junior Varsity football. PUCCINI supervised them in the weight room. Beginning when Victim-2 was 13 years old and in eighth grade, PUCCINI communicated with Victim-2 through Snapchat, using a Snapchat account with the user name, “tommytutts66,” and requested that Victim-2 take and send PUCCINI photos and videos of Victim-2’s penis.  PUCCINI also sent Victim-2 photos of his penis. PUCCINI specified exactly what he wanted Victim-2 to show him, and, based on his instructions, Victim-2, on numerous occasions, took and sent PUCCINI photos and videos showing various angles of Victim-2’s penis, showing Victim-2 masturbating, showing Victim-2 “finishing” (i.e., ejaculating) with the audio on, and showing Victim-2 laying with his semen on his chest. On numerous occasions, at PUCCINI’s request, PUCCINI and Victim-2 would “race” to see who could masturbate to ejaculation first. The winner would have to send a video or photo capturing the “finish.” 

    A search warrant executed at PUCCINI’s residence on November 1, 2024 resulted in the seizure of, among other things, PUCCINI’s desktop computer. The computer contained an iCloud backup with approximately 8000 messages to or from Victim-2 between January 2017 and December 2020.  In hundreds of these messages, PUCCINI referred to masturbating, to Victim-2’s penis, and/or requested that Victim-2 take and send him photos of his penis.

    Victim-3: Victim-3, who was 16 years old, and “alex_fundi2” communicated via Snapchat in 2023.  Victim-3 took and transmitted sexually explicit images to “alex_fundi2” in exchange for the promise of expensive gifts.  On January 10, 2023, at approximately 11:24 p.m., “alex_fundi2” told Victim-3, “If I send you for the jacket, I’m going to need you to send those 2 vids and then…. As many vids as I want and of anything that I want until Monday.”  At 11:25 p.m., Victim-3 responded, “monday” and “jesus” and “and as long as it doesn’t involve ass stuff.” Thereafter, Victim-3 transmitted numerous files to “alex_fundi2” containing sexually explicit images of Victim-3.

    Victim-4: Victim-4 and “alex_fundi2” communicated via Snapchat in 2023.  Victim-4 told “alex_fundi2” that he was 18 years old and “alex_fundi2” told Victim-4 that he was similarly aged.  “Alex_fundi2” asked Victim-4 for sexually explicit images of Victim-4 when he was 15 or 16.  On June 11, 2023, at approximately 1:50 p.m., Victim-4 transmitted a sexually explicit photo and a sexually explicit video of Victim-4 to “alex_fundi2.”  In both the photo and video, Victim-4 was 15. 

    In November 2024, PUCCINI was charged in Westchester County, New York with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree.

    On an occasion in February 2022, the “alex_fundi2” account engaged in a conversation with a user (“User-1”) on Snapchat and asked, “Can I give you a snapchat to add and you try to get pics/vids from the account?” User-1 told “alex_fundi2,” “Sure” and “I don’t mind being yo undercover bud.” Thereafter, “alex_fundi2” transmitted a Snapchat user name to User-1.  The Snapchat user name belonged to a student who had attended School-1 from 2015 to 2019.  PUCCINI’s desk top computer contained thousands of messages with that student from in or about August 2015 to September 2020. Many of the messages contained requests for sexually explicit images from the student.         

    PUCCINI changed the display name of the “alex_fundi2” account on multiple occasions and the various display names he used included, Young & Horny,” “Young NY Vers Bottom Horny,” “Zach,” “Alexandra Fundi,” “Alex Fundi,” “Horny Twink,” and “zach _parker0.”

    There may be more victims of this alleged conduct. If you have information to report or you had contact with the Snapchat accounts, “alex_fundi2,” “tommytuts66,” or any of the display names described above contact Homeland Security Investigations through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.  Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199.  Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

    *                *                *

    PUCCINI, 28, of Eastchester, New York is charged in Counts One, Two and Three with sexual exploitation of a minor. Counts One, Two and Three each carry a maximum sentence of thirty years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of fifteen years’ imprisonment. Count Four carries a maximum of twenty years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of five years. The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

    Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the Eastchester Police Department, the Rockland Police Department, the Lake Forest Police Department, and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. 

    The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.   

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Admits to Concealing 50% Ownership of $7B Defense Contracting Business to Evade Taxes

               WASHINGTON – Douglas Edelman, 73, a former defense contractor, pleaded guilty today to tax crimes related to a scheme to defraud the United States and evade taxes on income he earned from his contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense.

               The sentence was announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter with IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. 

               Edelman pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, seven counts of tax evasion, and two counts of making a false statement.  U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled a hearing on issues related to sentencing on Nov. 17, 2026. Trial on the remaining counts of the indictment will be in 2026.

               According to court documents and statements made in court, Edelman founded and owned 50% of Mina Corp. and Red Star Enterprises (Mina/Red Star), a defense contracting business that received more than $7 billion from contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide jet fuel in the United States’ post-9/11 military efforts in Afghanistan and the Middle East. 

               Working with others, Edelman engaged in a lengthy scheme to hide his Mina/Red Star profits to evade U.S. taxes, including by concealing his income in undisclosed foreign bank accounts, creating false documents and making false statements that one of his co-conspirators — a French citizen residing abroad and without U.S. tax obligations — founded and owned Mina/Red Star. 

               For example, when the company became profitable in 2005, Edelman began taking distributions which he deposited into Swiss bank accounts, primarily at Credit Suisse, in the name of other companies he owned. In 2008, Credit Suisse informed Edelman that he had to either close his accounts or disclose them to U.S. authorities. Rather than come into compliance with his tax and reporting obligations, Edelman closed his accounts and opened new ones at Bank Julius Baer in Singapore in the name of a nominee entity, the beneficiaries of which were purportedly Edelman’s daughters. He then directed the subject income he earned from Mina/Red Star to those bank accounts. 

               In 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs began investigating allegations of corruption in connection with Mina/Red Star’s contracts with the Department of Defense. As part of this inquiry, the subcommittee became interested in the identity of Mina/Red Star’s owners. At this time, Edelman had not filed U.S. tax returns to report the millions of dollars he had earned from Mina/Red Star and had not paid U.S. taxes on his income. 

               Rather than disclose his ownership, Edelman caused his attorneys to tell Congress a false story that a French co-conspirator who had no U.S. tax or reporting obligations founded and co-owed Mina/Red Star with another individual. To corroborate the false story, Edelman and a co-conspirator caused false and backdated paperwork to be created. 

               To continue the scheme, Edelman conveyed the false story about Mina/Red Star’s ownership to other arms of the U.S. government, including to the Department of Defense during contract negotiations in 2010 and 2011, to the IRS in a 2016 application to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, and to the Justice Department in a 2018 presentation. 

               In conjunction with his 2016 application to the IRS’s Voluntary Disclosure Program, Edelman filed false tax returns for several prior years that only reported income from gifts or purported consulting payments, continuing to conceal the millions he had earned from his company. On the returns, he also concealed profits he had earned from a separate business to provide internet service to members of the armed forces at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan. 

               Instead of paying the taxes that he knew he owed, Edelman used the money to fund his lifestyle and additional investments. He invested in a music television franchise in Eastern Europe, a land venture in Tulum, Mexico, and a farm in Kenya, and purchased property around Europe, including a home in Ibiza, Spain, and a townhouse in London.

               Edelman faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the 10 counts to which he has pleaded. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

               This case is being investigated by special agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, along with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the investigation. His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs of the United Kingdom also provided assistance, as did the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Guardia Civil of Spain assisted with the arrest. 

               This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Assistant Chief Sarah Ranney and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division.

    24cr239

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Student Pilot in Highway 76 Emergency Plane Landing Sentenced to 30 Months for Drug Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – Troy Othneil Smith, a student pilot whose drug trafficking activity was discovered when his plane was forced to make an emergency landing on State Route 76 in Oceanside last fall, was sentenced in federal court today to 30 months in prison.

    Smith pleaded guilty in January to two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute – one count in connection with the emergency landing that occurred around 1:39 a.m. on September 26, 2024 and his attempt to hide a package of cocaine from responding officers; and the other in connection with Smith’s mailing of cocaine through the United States Postal Service in 2023.

    In his plea agreement, Smith also admitted to relevant conduct discovered during the course of the investigation of at least two other occasions wherein Smith mailed cocaine through the U.S. Postal Service.

    “Aviation privileges come with immense responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “When those privileges are abused to facilitate drug trafficking, it undermines public safety and the trust placed in those who operate in our skies. We remain committed to working with our partners to detect, disrupt, and prosecute this kind of criminal activity wherever it occurs.”

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyndzie M. Carter and Joseph Orabona.

    DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 24-MJ-03788                                     

    Troy Othneil Smith                                         Age: 36                                   Oceanside, CA

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute– Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1)

    Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Drug Enforcement Administration

    United States Postal Inspectors

    San Diego Field Division Narcotics Task Force Team 6

    North County Narcotics Task Force

    Oceanside Police Department

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Doctor Who Falsely Diagnosed Patients Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment in Connection with $118M in Fraudulent Health Care Claims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A Texas rheumatologist was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating a health care fraud scheme involving over $118 million in false claims and the payment of over $28 million by insurers as a result of him falsely diagnosing patients with chronic illnesses to bill for tests and treatments that the patients did not need. Jorge Zamora-Quezada M.D., 68, of Mission, also falsified patient records to support the false diagnoses after receiving a federal grand jury subpoena. Following a 25-day trial, Zamora-Quezada was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. In addition to his prison term, Zamora-Quezada was ordered to forfeit $28,245,454, including 13 real estate properties, a jet, and a Maserati GranTurismo.

    According to the evidence presented at trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed his patients with rheumatoid arthritis and administered toxic medications in order to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The fraudulent diagnoses made the defendant’s patients believe that they had a life-long, incurable condition that required regular treatment at his offices. After falsely diagnosing his patients, Zamora-Quezada administered unnecessary treatments and ordered unnecessary testing on them, including a variety of injections, infusions, x-rays, MRIs, and other procedures—all with potentially harmful and even deadly side effects. To receive payment for these expensive services, Zamora-Quezada fabricated medical records and lied about the patients’ condition to insurers.

    “Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious lifestyle for two decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His depraved conduct represents a profound betrayal of trust toward vulnerable patients who depend on care and integrity from their doctors. Today’s sentence is not just a punishment—it’s a warning. Medical professionals who harm Americans for personal enrichment will be aggressively pursued and held accountable to protect our citizens and the public fisc.”

    “Through the false diagnoses and excessive false billing, Dr. Zamora-Quezada abused both patient trust and public resources,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “It is imperative to investigate and address this form of fraud — not only to protect vulnerable individuals from harm but to uphold the integrity of the federal health care system and safeguard the use of public funds.”

    “The FBI is dedicated to working with all of our partners to address health care fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “This case was not only a concern to us because of the financial loss — the physical and emotional harm suffered by the patients and their families was alarming and profound. We hope this significant sentence will help bring closure to the many victims in this case.”

    Evidence at trial established that Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed patients in order to defraud insurers and enrich himself. Other rheumatologists in the Rio Grande Valley testified at trial that they saw hundreds of patients previously diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by Zamora-Quezada who did not have the condition, prompting one physician to explain that for “most” it was “obvious that the patient did not have rheumatoid arthritis.” Zamora-Quezada’s false diagnoses and powerful medications caused debilitating side effects on his patients, including strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hair loss, liver damage, and pain so severe that basic tasks of everyday life, such as bathing, cooking, and driving, became difficult. As one patient testified, “Constantly being in bed and being unable to get up from bed alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn’t feel like my life had any meaning.” One mother described how she felt that her child served as a “lab rat,” and others described abandoning plans for college or feeling like they were “living a life in the body of an elderly person.”

    Former employees detailed how Zamora-Quezada imposed strict quotas for procedures, leading to a climate of fear. Zamora-Quezada referred to himself as the “eminencia” — or eminence, threw a paperweight at an employee who failed to generate enough unnecessary procedures, hired employees he could manipulate because they were on J-1 visas and their immigration status could be jeopardized if they lost their jobs, and fired those who challenged him. Testimony also revealed Zamora-Quezada’s obstruction of insurer audits by fabricating missing patient files, including by taking ultrasounds of employees and using those images as documentation in the patient records. Testimony at trial established that Zamora-Quezada told employees to “aparecer” the missing records — “to make them appear.” Former employees also recounted being sent to a dilapidated barn to attempt to retrieve records. There, files were saturated with feces and urine, rodents, and termites that infested not only the records but also the structure.

    Zamora-Quezada’s patient file storage facility

    Zamora-Quezada used proceeds from his crimes to fund a lavish lifestyle, replete with real estate properties across the country and in Mexico, a jet, and a Maserati.

    One of Zamora-Quezada’s luxury properties

    Zamora-Quezada’s jet

    FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG, and the Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

    Principal Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Assistant Chiefs Rebecca Yuan and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson handled asset forfeiture. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell initially handled the prosecution. The prosecution team thanks the Fraud Section’s Data Analytics Team, whose work initiated the investigation, Victim Witness Specialist Olga De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and the Texas Department of Insurance.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jury convicts home health agency owner in Medicare fraud and identity theft scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 64-year-old man has been convicted of all counts as charged for leading a Medicare fraud scheme involving the submission of falsified medical records, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  

    The jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Paul Njoku following a three-day trial. 

    Njoku owned and operated a home health care agency called Opnet Health Care Services Inc. doing business as P & P Health Care Services. Njoku was the owner and CEO. 

    The jury heard testimony from witnesses that Njoku, or others working at his direction, forged signatures of doctors and nurses. Specifically, Njoku and others cut out old signatures and taped them onto newly created doctors’ orders, nursing notes and nursing assessments. Medicare required home health agencies to maintain these documents to obtain payment for providing home health services. Njoku then submitted the falsified records in response to a request for records from Medicare. 

    The jury also heard about a registered nurse who had departed Opnet in 2017. Njoku continued using her signature on nursing notes and assessments in 2018 and 2019 without her knowledge or consent. 

    A witness also testified that Njoku bribed a doctor in exchange for approving home health services. 

    From 2015 to 2019, Opnet billed Medicare over $400,000 in claims for home health services and received over $360,000. Opnet did not maintain the required documentation for many of them and later falsified records to support the claims.

    During the trial, a representative testified that Medicare would not have paid these claims had Medicare known there was no documentation or that they were based on falsified records. 

    “It is absolutely paramount that Americans—both as patients and as taxpayers—have confidence in the integrity of medical providers that receive Medicare funds. Here, the defendant unrepentantly abused that trust by engaging in bribery and stealing from Medicare,” said Ganjei. “With today’s guilty verdict, the Southern District of Texas aims to restore some of that lost trust. I thank the jury for their time and attention to this important case.”

    The defense attempted to blame another person for the fraud. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

    U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett presided over the trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Njoku will face a maximum of 10 years for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, five years for two counts of false statements relating to health care matters as well as another two years for the identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The convictions also carry a possible $250,000 fine for each count.

    He was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

    The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Kathryn Olson are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Chief Executive Officer of Digital Asset Company Found Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Crypto-Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant Misappropriated Millions of Dollars of Investors’ Funds for His Own Use Including to Purchase Real Estate and Luxury Vehicles

    Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a federal jury convicted Braden John Karony on all counts of a three-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.  The charges arose from the defendant’s and his co-conspirators’ roles in defrauding investors in a decentralized finance digital asset called “SafeMoon,” issued by their company SafeMoon LLC.  As alleged, the defendant agreed with his co-conspirators to lie to SafeMoon investors about whether SafeMoon executives could access the liquidity pool and whether they were using the assets from the liquidity pool for their personal benefit.  As SafeMoon’s market capitalization grew to more than $8 billion, the defendant fraudulently diverted and misappropriated millions of dollars’ worth of  liquidity from the SafeMoon liquidity pool for their personal benefit.  The verdict followed a 12-day trial before United States District Judge Eric R. Komitee.  When sentenced, Karony faces up to 45 years in prison.  The jury also issued a verdict to forfeit one residential property and the proceeds from the sale of another residential property, amounting to approximately $2 million.

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York;   Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Darren B. McCormack, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) announced the verdict. 

    “As proven at trial, the SafeMoon digital asset was anything but safe and turned out to be pie in the sky for investors who were deliberately misled by Karony, a man who sought to get rich quick by stealing and diverting millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Karony used his scheme to purchase multiple homes, sports cars, custom trucks, and other luxury goods.  Today’s guilty verdict should serve as a warning to all would-be fraudsters that my Office will vigorously prosecute individuals like the defendant who victimize digital asset investors and undermine investor confidence in digital assets markets, thereby threatening the stability and growth of these emerging technologies.”

    Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its work on the case. 

    “Braden Karony, the CEO of SafeMoon, exploited his company’s digital portfolio with fictional success stories and stole millions of dollars in crypto-assets to finance luxury purchases,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “Along with his co-conspirators, Karony violated his clients’ trust and wallets while attempting to conceal his misconduct through discreet transactions.  May today’s conviction emphasize the FBI’s commitment to securing all markets and protecting the American people from individuals who abuse their position to satisfy personal greed.”

    “Braden Karony misled investors; intentionally diverted and misappropriated millions in cryptocurrency for his personal benefit; and lined the driveways of his million dollar homes with luxury cars.  While the name of his company is SafeMoon, there was nothing safe about this investment that was just a front for theft.  By following the money with complex cryptocurrency tracing, IRS-CI New York’s Cyber and J5 groups worked with our investigative partners to see that this conman is held accountable for his greedy acts,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.  “The Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5) is a global partnership that works together to gather information, share intelligence, and conduct coordinated operations against transnational financial crimes.  The J5 includes the Australian Taxation Office, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs from the U.K. and IRS-CI from the U.S.”

    “Steered by his selfish desires and insatiable greed, Braden John Karony treated millions of dollars in investors’ funds as his own personal bank account,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge McCormack.  “The defendant will soon be trading his sprawling real estate and luxury vehicles for a jail cell within the four walls of a federal penitentiary.  As reflected by today’s conviction, whether it involves fiat or crypto, HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force will relentlessly pursue individuals intent on exploiting investors and the American financial system for their own gain.”

    Background on SafeMoon

    As proven at trial, SafeMoon tokens were digital assets first issued in March 2021 by SafeMoon LLC on a public blockchain.  Through the operation of SafeMoon’s smart contract, every transaction in SafeMoon was automatically subject to a 10% tax, meaning, for example, that if a holder of SafeMoon transferred 10 SafeMoon to another user, 1 SafeMoon would automatically be retained from the transfer as a tax and the remaining 9 SafeMoon would be received by the other party.  As marketed to SafeMoon investors, the proceeds of SafeMoon’s 10% tax were split into two 5% tranches, the proceeds of which were supposed to benefit holders of SafeMoon in specific ways.  The first 5% tranche of the tax proceeds would be “reflected” back to, and distributed among, all SafeMoon holders in proportion to their current SafeMoon holdings and thereby increase the total quantity of SafeMoon held by every SafeMoon investor automatically.  The remaining 5% tranche of SafeMoon tax proceeds would be deposited into designated SafeMoon liquidity pools.  The larger the SafeMoon liquidity pool, the greater the liquidity in the market for SafeMoon.  In the months after its launch in March 2021, SafeMoon grew to have millions of holders and a market capitalization of more than $8 billion.

    The Defendants’ Fraudulent Scheme

    Karony and his co-conspirators misrepresented various material aspects of the SafeMoon offering to investors.  Such misrepresentations included that SafeMoon relied on “locked” liquidity pools that would automatically increase in size due to a 10% tax imposed on every SafeMoon transaction; that the “locked” SafeMoon liquidity pool prevented the defendants and other insiders at SafeMoon from being able to “rug pull”—a type of crypto fraud— SafeMoon investors by removing liquidity from the SafeMoon liquidity pool; that tokens in the liquidity pool would only be used for limited pre-defined business purposes, not personal enrichment; that the defendants would manually add token pairs to the SafeMoon liquidity pool when transactions of SafeMoon occurred on specific centralized exchanges; and that the developers were not and had not been holding and trading SafeMoon for their benefit.

    In reality, Karony and his co-conspirators retained access to the SafeMoon liquidity pools and used that access to intentionally divert and misappropriate millions of dollars’ worth of tokens for their personal benefit.  In addition, although they publicly denied that they personally held or traded SafeMoon, they repeatedly bought and sold SafeMoon, sometimes at the height of SafeMoon market price, which generated millions of dollars in profits.  Karony and his co-conspirators masked their movement of the fraudulent proceeds via numerous private un-hosted crypto wallet addresses, complex transaction routing, and pseudonymous centralized exchange accounts.  Karony acquired over $9 million in crypto assets from the scheme and used some of the proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate, including a $2.2 million home in Utah, additional homes in Utah and Kansas, a $277,000 Audi R8 sports car, another Audi R8, a Tesla, and custom Ford F-550 and Jeep Gladiator pickup trucks.

    Co-conspirator Thomas Smith previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Co-conspirator Kyle Nagy remains at large. 

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Dana Rehnquist, Sara K. Winik, and Jessica K. Weigel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Asher Martin-Rosenthal and Madison Bates. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Mantell is handling forfeiture matters.

    The Defendant:

    BRADEN JOHN KARONY
    29
    Provo, Utah

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-433 (EK)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Houston Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Illegal Distribution of Opioids and Tax Fraud

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A Texas man was sentenced on Monday to 19 years in prison for unlawfully conspiring to distribute millions of opioid pills and aiding the falsification of tax records. 

    According to court documents, Christopher Obaze, 64, of Houston, Texas, was the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Chrisco Pharmacy. Obaze and his co-conspirators operated Chrisco Pharmacy as an illegal “ghosting pharmacy,” purchasing pharmaceutical opioids and other commonly abused prescription drugs from wholesalers and then selling them in bulk to drug traffickers, without involving physicians, patients, or prescriptions. From January 2018 through October 2021, Obaze and his co-conspirators distributed at least 2,268,700 hydrocodone 10-325 mg and oxycodone 30 mg pills as part of the scheme. 

    The defendant and his pharmacy technician attempted to conceal their illegal activities by reporting no dispensing of the drugs to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy’s prescription monitoring program after July 2018, and by structuring cash deposits and submitting false documents to banks to maintain accounts to hold the proceeds of their unlawful distribution scheme. Obaze also aided and assisted in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent tax returns to the IRS by understating, among other things, the gross receipts of Chrisco Pharmacy. 

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division, and Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office made the announcement. 

    The DEA and IRS-CI investigated the case. 

    Trial Attorney Drew Pennebaker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. 

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: ReconAfrica Announces the Appointment of Mark Friesen as Managing Director, Investor Relations and Capital Markets, an Update on the Transaction with NAMCOR and Proposed Warrant Extension

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the “Company” or “ReconAfrica”) (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) (NSX: REC) announces an update to its investor relations contact, an update on the transaction with Namcor Exploration and Production (Pty) (“NAMCOR”) announced in the Company’s news release dated September 22, 2022 and that it intends to extend the expiry date of certain common share purchase warrants of the Company.

    UPDATE TO INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

    Mr. Grayson Andersen has left ReconAfrica to pursue new career opportunities. The Company, its Board of Directors and Management thank Grayson for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavours.

    Effective immediately, Mark Friesen has joined ReconAfrica as Managing Director, Investor Relations and Capital Markets and is based in Calgary. Mark has extensive energy finance and investor relations experience in the Canadian and U.S. markets. Mark’s prior corporate experience includes being the Director of Investor Relations with Kiwetinohk Energy Corp. and doing business development and corporate planning with Kiwetinohk, Murphy Oil Corporation and through his own consulting company. Mark began his career in equity research covering the energy sector at Bank of Montreal (BMO), FirstEnergy Capital Corp., TD Bank and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Mark holds a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation and received a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree in Finance from the University of Manitoba.

    Investors can continue to contact the Company by email at investors@reconafrica.com or by phone at +1-877-631-1160.

    UPDATE ON NAMCOR TRANSACTION

    The Company and NAMCOR have not yet completed the transaction pursuant to the definitive purchase and sale agreement announced September 22, 2022, but report that discussions are ongoing.

    PROPOSED WARRANT EXTENSION

    The Company intends to extend the expiry date of an aggregate 6,795,454 outstanding common share purchase warrants of the Company (the “July Warrants”) by 18 months to January 18, 2027 and an aggregate 1,071,500 outstanding common share purchase warrants of the Company (the “September Warrants” and collectively with the July Warrants, the “Warrants”) by 18 months to February 1, 2027 (collectively with the extension of July Warrants, the “Extension”).

    The July Warrants were issued pursuant to a public offering which closed on July 18, 2023 and are set to expire on July 18, 2025. The July Warrants were issued pursuant to a warrant indenture dated July 18, 2023 between the Company and Odyssey Trust Company. Each July Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of CAD $1.35 and all other terms of the July Warrants, including exercise price, will remain the same.

    A total of 295,227 outstanding compensation warrants issued as compensation to the underwriters for part of the financing in July 2023 cannot be extended and will expire on July 18, 2025.

    The September Warrants were issued pursuant to a non-brokered private placement which closed on September 1, 2023 and are set to expire on September 1, 2025. Each September Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of CAD $1.40 and all other terms of the September Warrants, including exercise price, will remain the same.

    220,000 of the July Warrants are held by parties who are considered to be “related parties” of the Company. The September Warrants are all held by parties who are considered to be “related parties” of the Company. Therefore, the amendment of Warrants constitutes a “related party transaction” as contemplated by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions, and TSXV Policy 5.9 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions. However, the exemptions from formal valuation and minority approval requirements provided for by these guidelines have been relied upon as the fair market value of the Warrants held by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company.

    The Extension remains subject to receipt of approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    About ReconAfrica

    ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the exploration of the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola, and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds rights to petroleum licences comprising over 13 million acres. The Company will be drilling its next well, Prospect I which is located onshore Namibia in Petroleum Exploration Licence 073 (“PEL 73”). This will be the Company’s largest exploration prospect drilled to date. In all aspects of its operations, ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat in line with international standards and implementing environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas.

    Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    For further information contact:

    Brian Reinsborough, President and Chief Executive Officer | Tel: +1-877-631-1160

    Mark Friesen, Investor Relations | Tel: +1-877-631-1160

    IR Inquiries Email: investors@reconafrica.com

    Media Inquiries Email: media@reconafrica.com

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Company’s commitment to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in all of its project areas. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “projected”, “estimated” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on ReconAfrica’s current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company’s actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s annual information form for the period ended December 31, 2024, available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Crucial House Vote Looms, Rural Hospital CEOs Make Final Plea to House GOP: Avoid Medicaid Cuts That Will Cost Lives and Burden Local Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    05.21.25
    As Crucial House Vote Looms, Rural Hospital CEOs Make Final Plea to House GOP: Avoid Medicaid Cuts That Will Cost Lives and Burden Local Communities
    NEW: 23 Republican WA state legislators join letter to full WA federal delegation, urging them to protect Medicaid
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, joined Washington state health care professionals to highlight statewide alarm and opposition to proposed Medicaid cuts.
    “The House Republicans are now trying to cobble together what I believe is a serious attack on Medicaid, and these will have impacts across our economy,” said Sen. Cantwell. “It undermines the program by shifting the burden to the states and making the entire healthcare system more expensive.”
    “If you cut Medicaid, and you cut people on Medicaid, they’re not going to stop having health care needs,” added Sen. Cantwell. “They’re just going to go to a more expensive, unfunded setting to get that care. Medicaid provides the critical financial support for the healthcare sector and for our economies to keep going every day.”
    Matt Kollman, CEO of Skyline Hospital in White Salmon, warned that the cuts would endanger the survival of rural hospitals, and ultimately the health of rural residents.
    “You don’t just have the opportunity, when you live in White Salmon, to drive a few blocks extra and go to the next hospital,” Kollman said. “You’re talking about a drive that in the best of conditions might be 60 or 90 minutes. That is a disruptive burden for many families, and it would lead to their delay, or possible just outright deferral of health care altogether. And to me, that’s not acceptable.”
    “I also know that it’s not acceptable to other members of our community,” added Kollman. “Recently, I was able to present Senator Cantwell and Representative Newhouse with a letter that was signed by many elected officials and community members, including Republicans, elected Republicans in my district and throughout the state, who are asking Congress to be very careful about what they do with Medicaid. To consider the consequences, to be very thoughtful, and to understand that you’re messing with something that is a very intimate and relied on part of people’s lives every day.”
    Also today, 23 Republican members of the Washington state legislature sent a letter to the entire Washington state federal Congressional delegation, urging the delegation to “protect Medicaid funding for Washington State.”
    This week, the Republican-led U.S. House Budget Committee held a rare weekend meeting late Sunday night as part of the effort to rush to the floor a reconciliation bill containing over $700 billion in cuts and significant changes to Medicaid, the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Then, early this morning, the House Rules Committee began a meeting at 1 a.m. – when most Americans were asleep – since GOP House leadership have indicated their intent to bring the reconciliation bill and its draconian cuts to the floor for a final vote as soon as later today.   
    Republican proposals include imposition of work requirements and new restrictions on who can receive long-term care support from Medicaid.
    Other participants at the virtual presser were
    •            Rashad Collins, CEO, Neighborcare Health (Community Health Center with over 20 Seattle-area clinics)
    •            Kym Clift, CEO, TriState Health (Clarkston, WA)
    •            Lynn Kimball, Executive Director at Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington
    •            Dr. Rachel Issaka, gastroenterologist and clinical researcher, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
    •            Jacquiline Blanco, RN, a Seattle-area perinatal obstetric nurse and Public Policy Committee member at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses
    Video of the event is available HERE and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening remarks is available HERE.
    Also today, Sen. Cantwell delivered a speech on the Senate floor, warning of the impacts to state economies and budgets if the Republican proposal becomes law. Video of her floor speech is available HERE and a transcript is available HERE.
    Medicaid, known as Apple Health in Washington state, covers over 1.9 million Washingtonians. On May 2, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that Medicaid cuts would have on Washington state’s highly-ranked long-term care system for seniors and people with disabilities. In February, she additionally released a snapshot report that demonstrated how cuts would harm health care access in Washington state, and followed up with a report in March that dove into impacts on the Puget Sound region.
    Highlights of those snapshot reports include:
    In Washington state, WA-04 (Central Washington) and WA-05 (Eastern Washington) have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid (Apple Health). In District 4, 70% of children are on Medicaid.
    In the Puget Sound, children in Seattle’s blue-collar strongholds would feel the deepest pain from Medicaid cuts. More than half of children in Burien, SeaTac, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Renton, and Rainier Valley depend on Medicaid.
    In an exclusive new survey of 68 WA nursing homes, 67 of 68 would cut services if Medicaid were cut by 5% or more, and 65% would consider closing.
    Over the past two months, Sen. Cantwell also took a tour around the state to hear from folks who would be directly impacted by cuts to Medicare. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Wenatchee warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Danny K. Davis Applauds Reintroduction of Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Legislation Continues a Legacy of Justice Reform and Community Investment Originating from Davis’ Landmark 2008 Law

    Legislation Continues a Legacy of Justice Reform and Community Investment Originating from Davis’ Landmark 2008 Law

         Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), original author of the Second Chance Act of 2008, proudly announced the reintroduction of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bipartisan, bicameral effort to bolster reentry services across the nation. Introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Davis and Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) and in the Senate by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), the legislation renews vital programs that support returning citizens with housing, career development, and behavioral health services.

         “Sixteen years ago, I introduced the Second Chance Act because I believed every person deserves an opportunity to reclaim their life, reunite with their family, and rebuild their future,” said Congressman Danny K. Davis. “Since then, over 442,000 individuals across America have benefited from these services, including thousands here in Chicago. Reentry is not a privilege. It is a right backed by resources, dignity, and support.”

         With more than 600,000 individuals returning home from prison each year, and many more transitioning from local jails, reentry has become a national priority for reducing recidivism and promoting public safety. The Second Chance Act of 2008, authored by Congressman Davis and signed into law by President George W. Bush, established the nation’s first coordinated federal effort to fund reentry programs. 

         In Chicago and across Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, Second Chance funding has supported a wide array of community organizations and justice-focused initiatives, including workforce training programs, mentoring services, transitional housing, and behavioral health treatment. These services are particularly critical for Black and Brown communities that have long borne the brunt of mass incarceration.

         “This bill is about investing in people and giving communities—like those I represent in  Chicagoland—the resources to reduce crime, restore families, and rewrite futures,” Davis added. “This is bipartisan work at its best—and it’s deeply rooted in both justice and compassion.”

         From 2009 to 2024, over 1,300 Second Chance grants were awarded across 49 states and territories, supporting 871 agencies nationwide. The reauthorization will strengthen evidence-based programs and expand services for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and mental health challenges.

                  The American Jail Association, American Parole and Probation Association, Correctional Leaders Association, Council of State Governments Justice Center, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National District Attorneys Association, National League of Cities, Prison Fellowship, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce support the legislation.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Brad Sherman welcomes the completion of Metro’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Project

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

    SHERMAN OAKS, CA – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) welcomed the completion of Metro’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Project. 

    “Providing rail service through the Sepulveda Pass is Metro’s most important infrastructure project and the best way to decrease traffic on the 405 freeway and in L.A. County,” said Congressman Sherman. 

    Congressman Sherman has been fighting for rail through the Sepulveda Pass since coming to Congress. In 1998, Sherman helped to secure federal funding to study how best to alleviate the extreme congestion through the Sepulveda Pass, inviting the then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation to stand at the top of what is now the Courtyard Marriott Hotel at the 101/405 interchange to see first-hand the critical need for alternative transit options. Congressman Sherman has testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee seeking federal funds for mass transit through the Sepulveda Pass, securing $10,000,000 for the project in the 2021 Surface Transportation Bill.

    Today’s report provides new details on the five remaining transit alignments (alternative #2 was withdrawn last year) under consideration by the Metro Board, including projections of their relative costs and timetables for construction.

    Congressman Sherman has pledged to fight for the significant additional federal funding this critical transportation project will require, regardless of which alternative is selected by the Metro Board.   

    For the next sixty days, Metro will be soliciting feedback from the community before selecting an alignment in early 2026. 

    The five alternatives under Metro’s consideration are as follows:

    Alternative 1: Automated Monorail – Entirely aerial along the 405.

    Preliminary Cost Estimate: $15.4 billion

    Preliminary Project Timetable: 12 years

    Forecasted Boardings: 64,798 boardings      

    Travel Time (from Van Nuys Metrolink to E Line): 28 min

    Alternative 3: Automated Monorail – Aerial along the 405 with an underground segment between Wilshire and Getty Center. 

    Preliminary Cost Estimate: $20.8 billion

    Preliminary Project Timetable: 14 years

    Forecasted Boardings: 86,013 boardings    

    Travel Time (from Van Nuys Metrolink to E Line): 32 min

    Alternative 4: Heavy Rail – Underground south of Ventura Blvd and aerial along Sepulveda Blvd in the San Fernando Valley.  

    Preliminary Cost Estimate: $20 billion

    Preliminary Project Timetable: 14 years

    Forecasted Boardings: 120,546 boardings  

    Travel Time (from Van Nuys Metrolink to E Line): 20 min

    Alternative 5: Heavy Rail – Underground along Sepulveda Boulevard with an aerial stretch along the Metrolink tracks in the San Fernando Valley. 

    Preliminary Cost Estimate: $24.2 billion

    Preliminary Project Timetable: 14 years

    Forecasted Boardings: 121,624 boardings

    Travel Time (from Van Nuys Metrolink to E Line): 19 min

    Alternative 6: Heavy Rail – Entirely underground along Van Nuys Blvd in the San Fernando Valley. 

    Preliminary Cost Estimate: $24.4 Billion

    Preliminary Project Timetable: 15 Years

    Forecasted Boardings: 107,096 boardings

    Travel Time (from Van Nuys Metrolink to E Line): 18 min

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “Hands off SNAP.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to Republican efforts to cut SNAP and deprive millions of families, especially women and children, of the food security they need.

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi highlighted how the Republican agenda puts the needs of the ultra-wealthy ahead of hungry children and working families across America.

    Watch Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks here.

    Read Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s full remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join our Democratic Leader and Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in highlighting stories of women and children who would be harmed by the House Republicans’ agenda.

    Republicans are slashing $300 billion, that’s ‘B,’ billion dollars from SNAP, in addition to cutting $700 billion from Medicaid. That’s $1 trillion in cruel cuts from our nation’s children in order to give tax cuts to billionaires.

    SNAP is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger initiative – and the devastating Republican cuts threaten children and families in California and across America who are scared and crying out for help.

    One single mother, Melissa from California, who lives in a district represented by one of our Republican colleagues shared that if not for SNAP, her family of three children would go every month with $0 for food. She attends school full-time and says that without SNAP, they would be forced to rely on food giveaways—or starve.

    Republicans shamelessly call this “reform.” But let’s be clear: it’s a sinful betrayal of the Gospel of Matthew: “When I was hungry, you fed me.”

    Democrats will never stop fighting to ensure no child is left behind. Hands off our Medicaid. Hands off our SNAP.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi on House Floor: “This is Robin Hood in Reverse”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to the Republicans’ bill that cuts Medicaid by $700 billion, which she condemned as a cruel attack on working families, vulnerable children and Americans with disabilities.

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi highlighted how the Republican Reverse Robin Hood plot would rip health care away from millions of Americans—including seniors, veterans and low-income families—just to finance tax breaks for billionaires and add trillions to the national debt while devastating communities across the country.

    Watch Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks here. 

    Read Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s full remarks below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to receive time from the distinguished Congresswoman from Washington state. She is a pediatrician. We have all learned a lot about how public policy has a direct impact on the good—the health and well-being—of the American people.

    And when I hear them talk about cutting over $700 billion in Medicaid and it’s just ‘waste, fraud and abuse’… this beautiful child is not waste, fraud and abuse. I will talk about a little child in my remarks who is not waste, fraud and abuse.

    This Special Order comes together to shine a bright light on the Republican plan to fund tax breaks for billionaires by making huge cuts to Medicaid. Now, that’s what it looks like. But the fact is, they will still—with their tax bill—be adding over nearly $4 trillion to the national debt to cover their tax break for the wealthiest people in our country.

    This is fiscal engineering to reduce the role of government in the lives of the American people—where it is most needed. Where it is most needed.

    This is Robin Hood in reverse. Taking resources from where it is most needed—the people who need it most—and giving it to those who need it least: the billionaires in America.

    This is shameful. And it is a fraud. And it’s a shame.

    Now, President Johnson reminded the American people when he signed Medicare and Medicaid. He traveled to Independence, Missouri, to be in the presence of President Truman—former President Truman—who had worked on this when he was President. But it came to fruition under President Johnson. And he went there, and he signed the bill in the presence of Harry Truman.

    And he said – the President reminded the American people of a shared tradition: ‘Never to be indifferent toward despair. Never to turn away from helplessness. Never to ignore or spurn those who suffer unattended in a land that is bursting with abundance.’

    Indeed, Medicare and Medicaid save lives as a pillar of health security and justice for tens of millions of Americans.

    People often think of Medicaid as health care for poor children. That would be justification enough—health care for poor children.

    But it also is a middle-income benefit for nursing home residents, and people needing it for long-term care services. They get that largely through Medicaid. And it’s also a benefit for people with disabilities.

    The Republicans’ devastating budget plan would push about 14 million Medicaid recipients off life-saving health care, and leave countless vulnerable families exposed to catastrophic medical bills.

    This is terrible. Because this is about health, and financial health, that is being devastated.

    Working families and children in low-income households would face ruinous consequences—as would rural hospitals, as the distinguished Congresswoman has mentioned, families seeking opioid addiction treatment for their loved ones and middle-class Americans with long-term care needs.

    Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert a statement from the California Medical Association into the record. This is what they have said—the California Medical Association President issued the following statement regarding House Republicans’ proposed care cuts in Medicaid:

    ‘The latest federal proposal to gut Medicaid is reckless. Physicians and hospitals will be pushed to the brink, forced to close their doors and unable to continue care for their patients.’

    Because you know, when this funding leaves those rural hospitals—not only do the Medicaid patients lose—but all of the patients in that area lose. That’s my objection here.

    Back to the statement:

    ‘These would be the largest Medicaid cuts in history and will leave veterans, seniors, the disabled, children and working families without health care coverage.’

    As the distinguished physician colleague has said, making emergency rooms the only point of care for millions of people. Communities will be devastated. Lives will be lost.

    This is the CMA: ‘Congress must reject these cuts and instead focus on strengthening the safety net that protects us all. Otherwise, at least 13.7 million people will lose health care coverage.’

    Republican attacks on health care impact real people—including little children.

    My guest at the President’s State of the Union address was Elena Hung, mother of Xiomara, a courageous little lobbyist—11 years old.

    She has complex medical needs—including chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease, and global developmental delays. She has a tracheostomy, uses a ventilator, is oxygen-dependent, and uses a feeding tube.

    Access to quality, affordable care ensured that Xiomara received the care she needed during extended hospitalization, and can now live at home with her family.

    Medicaid has helped Xiomara receive the therapies she needs to catch up with her developmental milestones—including physical therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy and speech therapy.

    But these very lifelines from Medicaid and more are what Republicans are working to destroy—to give a tax cut for billionaires.

    Democrats are standing strong against the Administration’s many attacks against family health care. This is just one of them.

    And with this Special Order—thank you, doctor, colleague—we are calling out Republicans to either vote to protect their constituents’ health care or vote to take it away.

    That’s the choice.

    In stark contrast to the President and Republicans in Congress, Democrats will always fight to lower health care costs. We are unified and ready to use every tool to stop this GOP scheme.

    And we will always work to strengthen pillars of health and financial security in America. That includes Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We will always fight for Medicaid.

    I just want to go back to that one thing: they’re still adding nearly $4 trillion to the national debt to give tax breaks to their wealthy billionaire friends.

    In the bill that they passed when Trump was president—oh, there, I said his name—and the Republicans were in power. When the Republicans passed that bill and the President signed it into law, 83% of the benefits went to the top 1%, adding $2 trillion to the national debt.

    They’re doubling down on that—getting to almost $4 trillion to the national debt—and saying, ‘We’ve got to give all this money to billionaires,’ and calling children ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ in our Medicaid system.

    It’s really sinful. It’s really sad.

    And it is something that I hope the Republicans will reject. And I hope their constituents will call them. Because these Medicaid people are in Republican districts.

    One of our colleagues in California has, out of all of our constituents, he has nearly 500,000 people on Medicaid—and yet he voted with the Republicans on this.

    Well, you can be sure he’ll be hearing from his constituents. Because people know.

    And I’ll close by saying—Lincoln said: ‘Public sentiment is everything. With it, you can accomplish almost anything. Without it, practically nothing.’

    But for public sentiment to prevail, people have to know.

    And we are making sure that your constituents know—and that they are informing you of their knowledge of what you are doing.

    Reverse Robin Hood. Republican Reverse Robin Hood.

    Thank you very much for the opportunity to share some thoughts about this—and for sharing the story of this beautiful little girl.

    Thank you. I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    Washington, D.C. – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly:

    “It is with profound sorrow that I mourn the passing of my colleague and dear friend, Congressman Gerry Connolly. For nearly four decades, Gerry has been a steadfast advocate for the people of Northern Virginia and a tireless champion for federal workers, good governance, and the values that define our democracy.

    “Gerry’s leadership was local, national and global. From his early days on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to his distinguished tenure in the House, Gerry’s career was marked by integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Even in the face of his own health challenges, Gerry continued to serve as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee with grace and resilience, embodying the very spirit of public service.

    “Globally, I saw firsthand the esteem in which he was held as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, where he played a pivotal role in the open dialogue between U.S. legislators and those who represent allied constituencies around the world.

    “Gerry Connolly was a respected Member of the House Democratic Caucus, and he will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his beloved wife, Smitty, and their daughter Caitlin. May it be a comfort to them and to all who had the privilege of working alongside him that Gerry’s contributions have left an indelible mark on our nation and that so many are praying for them at this sad time.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 21, 2025 1930 UTC Day 3 Severe Thunderstorm Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 211925

    Day 3 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0225 PM CDT Wed May 21 2025

    Valid 231200Z – 241200Z

    …THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS
    OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS…WESTERN TEXAS…AND THE EASTERN
    FLORIDA PENINSULA…

    …SUMMARY…
    A few strong to severe storms are possible across portions of the
    central Plains, western Texas, and across southeast Florida on
    Friday.

    …Synopsis…
    Upper ridging will persist over the central CONUS as a mid-level
    trough meanders along the East Coast and a second upper trough
    traverses the Interior West on Friday. Surface high pressure will
    dominate much of the central, northern, and eastern CONUS while a
    surface low develops over the central High Plains. Ahead of the
    surface low, adequate moisture return within a low-level warm-air
    advection regime will encourage thunderstorm development across
    portions of the central and southern Plains, with a few strong
    storms possible. Strong to potentially severe storms may also form
    over western TX as boundary layer mixing encourages the eastward
    advancement of the dryline, where low-level convergence will be
    maximized. A few strong storms may develop across eastern portions
    of the FL Peninsula ahead of a stalled frontal boundary.

    …Portions of the central and southern Plains…
    Multiple rounds of deep-moist convection are likely along a diffuse
    baroclinic boundary across the central Plains, driven primarily by a
    warm-air advection regime. Strong to severe storms are most likely
    during the afternoon and evening hours. By late afternoon,
    supercells may develop off of the higher terrain of northeastern
    Colorado as upslope flow and diurnal heating maximize lift amid 8-9
    C/km mid-level lapse rates and elongated hodographs. These storms
    may progress east-southeastward through the overnight hours,
    accompanied by some threat for large hail.

    …Portions of western Texas…
    As the dryline mixes eastward by afternoon peak heating, isolated
    but strong thunderstorms may develop atop a dry boundary layer,
    which may deepen to 700 mb. Given some hodograph elongation and over
    30 kts of effective bulk shear, some of these storms may develop
    into organized multicells. 9 C/km lapse rates characterizing the
    boundary layer will support severe gust potential with the stronger
    storms.

    …Portions of the eastern Florida Peninsula…
    Thunderstorms should develop ahead of a stalled front during the
    afternoon, where rich low-level moisture beneath modest mid-level
    lapse rates will contribute to over 2000 J/kg MLCAPE. With modestly
    elongated hodographs in place, multicells may form, accompanied by a
    sparse hail/wind threat.

    ..Squitieri.. 05/21/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS03 PTSDY3 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 3 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0730Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 21, 2025 2000 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 211947

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0247 PM CDT Wed May 21 2025

    Valid 212000Z – 221200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR PORTIONS OF
    THE OZARKS…

    …SUMMARY…
    Isolated strong to severe storms remain possible in the Upper Ohio
    Valley, parts of eastern North Carolina, North Florida, parts of the
    central Plains, and Deep South Texas. Additional, scattered strong
    to severe storms are possible in the Ozarks this evening.

    …20Z Update…
    Severe probabilities have been adjusted based on current
    observational/convective trends. A narrow zone in western
    Pennsylvania will remain favorable in the short term for a brief
    tornado prior to precipitation stabilizing the low levels and
    low-level winds veering. Scattered elevated convection is still
    expected across parts of the Ozarks later this evening. See the
    previous forecast for additional details.

    ..Wendt.. 05/21/2025

    .PREV DISCUSSION… /ISSUED 1131 AM CDT Wed May 21 2025/

    …Eastern North Carolina/southern Virginia…
    In the wake of early morning convection, air mass
    recovery/destabilization will occur today in vicinity of the
    eastward-transitioning surface wave and in vicinity of the roughly
    west/east-oriented surface boundary located near/south of the
    Virginia/North Carolina border. Drying westerly low-level
    trajectories will exist to the south of the front and behind the
    surface wave, with severe-storm favorable ingredients/potential
    development tending to focus across far northeast North Carolina
    where moderate buoyancy will be maximized with strong westerlies
    aloft (40+ kt effective shear). While severe storm
    coverage/likelihood may not be as high as previously thought, some
    potential for large hail, damaging wind gusts and possibly a tornado
    will still exist on an isolated basis.

    …Ozarks/Mid-South…
    While rich boundary-layer moisture will remain confined across south
    Texas and Louisiana, a strengthening low-level baroclinic zone will
    focus near the Kansas/Oklahoma border east-southeast into the
    Mid-South. Guidance is rather consistent in developing at least
    elevated convection to the cool side of this zone by evening. This
    will be coincident with an intensifying mid-level speed max.
    Forecast soundings depict potentially very strong mid to upper-level
    speed shear within the slightly north of west flow regime. Coupled
    with steep mid-level lapse rates, this setup could yield a few
    elevated supercells capable of large hail and perhaps locally
    damaging winds.

    …Central Plains…
    A mid-level vorticity lobe initially over Wyoming this morning will
    dig east-southeastward into the lower Missouri Valley by early
    evening amidst west-northwesterly flow aloft. Heating will result in
    very steep 0-3 km lapse rates by mid afternoon with several hundred
    J/kg SBCAPE. Elongated hodographs will support quick-moving cells
    capable of an isolated risk for severe wind gusts during the late
    afternoon through around sunset (roughly 20-01z).

    …Upper Ohio Valley including PA/OH/WV border region…
    A corridor of modest boundary-layer heating is expected ahead of the
    primary surface cyclone drifting across northern Ohio toward Lake
    Erie. Coupled with cooling mid-level temperatures, weak
    surface-based buoyancy is expected by midday into the afternoon.
    Deep-layer shear will not be strong given proximity to the mid-level
    trough, but should be adequate for weak/transient mid-level
    rotation. With numerous thunderstorms expected, small to marginally
    severe hail and isolated damaging winds are anticipated. A brief
    tornado or two is also possible with storms near the warm front,
    before convection weakens as it moves east-northeastward into
    less-buoyant surface conditions.

    …North Florida and southern Georgia…
    Along the southeastward-moving cold front, moderate buoyancy is
    expected ahead of the front. A veered low-level wind profile will
    limit effective bulk shear, but scattered thunderstorms could yield
    multicells and perhaps a transient supercell. Isolated damaging
    winds and marginally severe hail are possible with the stronger
    storms. For additional short-term details, see Mesoscale Discussion
    920.

    …Far southern Louisiana/far southern Mississippi…
    Sufficient residual elevated buoyancy in the immediate post-frontal
    environment may allow for some storms to produce hail to near severe
    levels, mostly over just the next few hours this afternoon and on a
    very isolated basis.

    …Deep South Texas…
    A very moist and unstable air mass (2000-4000 J/kg MLCAPE later
    today) exists across the region, aside from some higher cloud cover
    spreading into the region via a slowly approaching and weakening
    convective complex south of the international border. Additional
    convection will likely develop in adjacent Mexico over the higher
    terrain this afternoon, and some of these storms may spread east
    across the lower Rio Grande Valley this evening. Isolated large hail
    and severe-caliber wind gusts may accompany these storms.

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0100Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Wed May 21 22:37:01 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Wed May 21 22:50:05 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Louisiana Republicans urge swift consideration of Cameron Parish LNG project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Reps. Clay Higgins (R-La.) and Julia Letlow (R-La.) in sending a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) chairman Mark Christie in support of the Commonwealth liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Cameron Parish, La. 
    The lawmakers urged FERC to quickly consider the project at the commission’s June 2025 meeting. 
    “We write in support of the Commonwealth LNG project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, and urge swift consideration of Commonwealth’s application before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Specifically, we ask you to add this matter to the June 2025 docket so that this project can move forward as soon as possible,” the Louisiana Republicans began.
    “Commonwealth LNG’s terminal is an important project that will contribute to American energy dominance due to its capacity to process up to 9.5 million tonnes per year of LNG upon project completion. Furthermore, the Commonwealth project represents a direct investment of $4.5 billion in Louisiana, and construction of the terminal will generate 2,000 jobs during peak construction and maintain 200 jobs during regular operations,” they continued.
    “Current predictions estimate global LNG demand to increase 60% by 2040, and Commonwealth LNG will support global energy security by supplying American-produced LNG to meet that increasing demand. Meeting global energy demands will reduce global reliance on LNG produced by our adversaries. Upholding Commonwealth LNG’s authorization for the Cameron Parish project is crucial to broaden American presence in the global LNG market and ensure national security,” the lawmakers added.
    “For these reasons, we urge you to move forward as quickly as possible to uphold the project’s authorization during FERC’s June 2025 Commission Meeting,” they concluded. 
    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Durbin Demand Answers on Access to Care for Illinoisans After Prime Healthcare Reduces Services Following Acquisitions of Eight Hospitals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    May 20, 2025
    In their letter to Prime Healthcare, the Senators demand answers on the justification, process, & impact of Prime’s decision to cut pediatric, trauma, and maternal health care services in several newly-acquired hospitals
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), today sent a letter to the CEO of Prime Healthcare, Dr. Prem Reddy, about the company’s recent acquisition of eight Illinois hospitals that were formerly owned by Ascension.  Since acquiring these hospitals in March 2025, Prime has suspended or terminated pediatric, trauma, and maternal care services at some of the locations, creating even more barriers for Illinoisans to access health care.  These hospitals, now owned by Prime, a for-profit hospital system operating 51 hospitals across 14 states, provide health care to Illinoisans who rely on federal health programs, and several of these locations serve a population in which more than two-thirds of inpatients are covered by Medicaid or Medicare.
    Despite commitments by Prime to “not make any material reductions to, or material changes in, the mix or level of services offered at any Hospital… to meet community needs,” pediatric services have been terminated at St. John’s Medical Center in Joliet; there has been a withdrawal of the Level II trauma designation at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora; and the comprehensive obstetric and maternal care services at St. Mary’s in Kankakee has been terminated.
    “We sincerely urge your health system to immediately reconsider these decisions, as the consequences of these reductions hold the potential to strip patients of critical and specialized care, impose additional barriers to accessing care, and exacerbate the existing health care needs in the communities these hospitals serve,” the Senators wrote.
    Duckworth and Durbin continue their letter, emphasizing that when a hospital measures success by profit margins rather than its ability to provide care, patients and communities suffer.
    “Hospitals often measure their success by the patients they save and the ability to improve health in their surrounding neighborhoods.  However, as the grip of for-profit hospital systems tightens across our nation’s health care networks, profitability has risen as a primary indicator of success for hospital owners,” the lawmakers wrote.
    “When operations are centered around a hospital’s ability to generate as much profit as possible, it often comes at the expense of patients, staff, and the quality and safety of care.  As a result, hospital staffing levels diminish and costs for services increase, adding to the existing strain on hospitals to provide high standards of care,” the Senators continued their letter.
    As Duckworth and Durbin note, Prime has a history of prioritizing profit over patient care, resulting in two major settlements with the Department of Justice to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act relating to Medicare kickbacks and up-coding.
    The lawmakers closed their letter by expressing their concern that Illinoisans are losing access to quality health care.  Because of those concerns, the Senators requested additional information from Prime about operations at each of the hospitals, particularly around decisions to shut down pediatric, trauma, and maternal health care services.
    “Prime Healthcare has only operated these eight Illinois hospitals for two months, and there are already profound concerns about patients losing access to care.  Given the impact these decisions will have on Illinois patients, hospitals, and the health care workforce, we request answers to [our] questions by June 10, 2025,” the lawmakers wrote.
    The eight hospitals acquired by Prime Healthcare are Ascension Holy Family (Des Plaines), Ascension Mercy (Aurora), Ascension Resurrection (Chicago), Ascension Saint Francis (Evanston), Ascension Saint Joseph (Joliet), Ascension Saint Joseph (Elgin), Ascension Saint Mary (Kankakee), and Ascension Saint Mary and Saint Elizabeth (Chicago). 
    A copy of the letter is available here and below:
    May 20, 2025
    Dear Dr. Reddy:
    We write to express our concern regarding recent decisions that may limit access to essential health care services for patients across Illinois.  Earlier this year, your for-profit health system, Prime Healthcare, acquired several former Ascension hospitals in Illinois.  These hospitals provide health care to beneficiaries of federal health programs, with several Prime Healthcare hospitals serving a population in which more than two-thirds of inpatients have Medicare or Medicaid health coverage.
    In March 2025, Prime Healthcare completed the acquisition of Ascension Holy Family (Des Plaines), Ascension Mercy (Aurora), Ascension Resurrection (Chicago), Ascension Saint Francis (Evanston), Ascension Saint Joseph (Joliet), Ascension Saint Joseph (Elgin), Ascension Saint Mary (Kankakee), and Ascension Saint Mary and Saint Elizabeth (Chicago).  As part of Prime’s approval by the Illinois Health Facilities & Review Board for the change in ownership, Prime committed to, among other provisions, “not make any material reductions to, or material changes in, the mix or level of services offered at any Hospital … to meet community needs.”  Prime further stated, “No changes to the scope of services or the levels of care provided at the facility are currently anticipated to occur within 24 months.”  Unfortunately, the decisions that have followed since have led to the discontinuation of several critical health care services.
    We are particularly concerned about the suspension of pediatric services at St. John’s Medical Center in Joliet, the withdrawal of the Level II trauma designation at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, and the recent termination of comprehensive obstetric and maternal care services at St. Mary’s in Kankakee.  We sincerely urge your health system to immediately reconsider these decisions, as the consequences of these reductions hold the potential to strip patients of critical and specialized care, impose additional barriers to accessing care, and exacerbate the existing health care needs in the communities these hospitals serve.
    Hospitals often measure their success by the patients they save and the ability to improve health in their surrounding neighborhoods.  However, as the grip of for-profit hospital systems tightens across our nation’s health care networks, profitability has risen as a primary indicator of success for hospital owners.  When operations are centered around a hospital’s ability to generate as much profit as possible, it often comes at the expense of patients, staff, and the quality and safety of care.  As a result, hospital staffing levels diminish and costs for services increase, adding to the existing strain on hospitals to provide high standards of care.  Indeed, Prime Healthcare already has been the subject of several federal enforcement actions, including separate settlements in 2018 and 2021 totaling $100 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations for Medicare kickbacks and up-coding.
    Prime Healthcare has only operated these eight Illinois hospitals for two months, and there are already profound concerns about patients losing access to care.  Given the impact these decisions will have on Illinois patients, hospitals, and the health care workforce, we request answers to the following questions by June 10, 2025: 
    What considerations were taken prior to eliminating pediatric services at St. John’s Medical Center, as well as shrinking obstetric and maternal care services at St. Mary’s?
    For each hospital’s service line referenced above, what was the average daily census or patient count each week over the past year?
    How far back does the data, pertaining to average daily census or patient counts each week, that Prime has access to go?
    Prior to deciding to eliminate pediatric services, did Prime formally engage with neighboring hospitals or the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board about the adequacy of nearby capacity to serve these patient’s needs?  If so, please describe and share such documentation with the feedback provided by each entity.

    How does Prime Healthcare plan to compensate for the loss of these essential health services and ensure that these communities continue to have access to specialized treatment and maternal care?
    Following the revocation of Mercy Medical Center’s Level II trauma designation, how will the hospital’s emergency readiness be impacted?  How will the hospital address the need for trauma care within the community?
    What projections does Prime have for the impact on ambulance service times for patients now being diverted from Mercy to another hospital?  Have there been any efforts to engage with the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding the potential reversal of this revocation?  If so, please describe in detail.

    You previously made a commitment not to change “the scope of services or the levels of care…within 24 months.”  What circumstances have shifted since the acquisition to justify a different course of action? 
    How many health care providers and personnel have been or will be terminated as a result of these closures?  How will this impact patient wait times and their ability to continue their plan of care with a provider?
    How much does Prime Healthcare anticipate saving financially as a result of these recent closures? 
    Does Prime Healthcare have future plans to shut down or reduce additional health facilities or services in Illinois?  If so, please describe in detail.
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  We look forward to your prompt reply.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Cramer, Welch Renew Bipartisan Push to Help Families Experiencing Diaper Need

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    May 20, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Peter Welch (D-VT) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for low-income families to afford the diapers they need. The End Diaper Need Act of 2025 would help assist low-income families address diaper need by providing targeted funding for states, territories, diaper banks and other eligible entities who help provide diapers and diapering supplies at no cost to those in need. A companion version of this bill is being introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12).
    “No parent should have to choose between paying the bills and buying something as basic as diapers that are essential to the health and well-being of their children,” said Senator Duckworth. “After working for years to secure major funding that is supporting our nation’s diaper banks, I’m proud to have Senators Cramer and Welch on my side reintroducing this bipartisan bill so we can help end diaper need for all families.”
    “Diapers are a basic necessity for all babies and toddlers, but many families struggle to afford enough diapers for their children,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bipartisan bill will increase access to diapers for children in need and deliver a commonsense tax policy update to ensure families can use their health savings in a way that works for them.” 
    “At a time when Republicans are trying to cut services working families rely on, and in the midst of an affordability crisis, it is important parents have access to the essentials they need,” said Senator Welch. “That’s why I’m proud to support this commonsense, bipartisan bill.”
    Diapers are critical not only for those who wear them but also for the economic and emotional health of a family as a whole. However, in this country, 1 in 2 families has reported not having enough diapers. It’s estimated that infants require up to 12 diapers a day. At the same time, toddlers need up to 8 per day, costing $80 to $100 or more per month per baby. Despite the unsafe medical conditions that can occur from rationing diapers, such as skin infections, open sores, urinary tract infections and other conditions that may require medical attention, there is currently little to no federal assistance for purchasing diapers and diapering supplies.
    To address this problem, the bipartisan End Diaper Need Act of 2025 would:
    Appropriate $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026 to 2029 for the Social Services Block Grant Program, to be used to provide diapers and diapering supplies; and
    Make medically necessary diapers and diapering supplies qualified medical expenses so that families can purchase them using their HSAs or HRAs.
     A copy of the bill text can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.
    Along with Duckworth, Cramer and Welch, the legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AR).
    Along with DeLauro and Coleman, this legislation is co-sponsored in the House by U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04).
    “Families across the United States are struggling with the high cost of living. They are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to keep up with their expenses. Sadly, one in three families do not have enough diapers to keep their children clean and healthy,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “We cannot allow that to continue. If families do not have diapers, they cannot send their children to daycare. And if they cannot send their children to daycare, they cannot work. That is why I introduced the End Diaper Need Act with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Senators Duckworth and Cramer, to provide families with reliable access to clean diapers that help keep their children safe and comfortable. I am also proud to join them in expressing our gratitude to local diaper banks and distribution programs that help support children and families nationwide. I will always fight to ensure families have the resources they need to thrive.”
    “When families are forced to stretch their dollars by forgoing diapers it can put babies’ health at serious risk,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “This legislation will help struggling families afford diapers and diapering supplies for their little ones. It’s time we do more to support working families trying to make ends meet – this bill will help us do that.”
    The bipartisan End Diaper Need Act is endorsed by National Diaper Bank Network, Aeroflow, Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Welfare League of America, Coalition for Human Needs, First Focus for Children, HDI Wholesale, HIPPY US, JSL, Kimberly-Clark, MomsRising, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund and ZERO TO THREE.
    “Our more than 240 member diaper banks are keeping babies healthier and helping parents access child care,” said National Diaper Bank Network CEO Joanne Samuel Goldblum. “But our research shows that diaper need has become much more widespread in the years that we have been tracking it. Unmet diaper need is pervasive in all of our communities throughout the country. A public health issue of this scale cannot be solved without our government investing in the proven solution to end diaper need.”
    Duckworth also reintroduced the End Diaper Need Act in 2019, 2021 and 2023. She successfully secured $20 million in the final fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations package—and $10 million in the FY2022 appropriations package—dedicated to expanding diaper distribution programs. Duckworth also successfully secured provisions that mirrored her bipartisan End Diaper Need Act in the Democrat-passed American Rescue Plan that helped provide many low-income families with diapers and diapering supplies throughout the pandemic.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: We just want people to stop dying — Secretary Rubio on Ukraine

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

    “We just want people to stop dying. Every day this war goes on, people die, things are destroyed and lives are ruined, and we want it to stop.” —
    Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Ukraine

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0CDxl2RIm8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salinas, Bacon, Beyer, Gonzales Lead Bipartisan Resolution to Designate May as Mental Health Awareness Month

    Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Don Bacon (NE-02), Donald Beyer (VA-08), and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) – the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus – led 39 of their colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to designate May 2025 as National Mental Health Awareness Month.

    “Along with my fellow Co-Chairs in the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, I’m proud to introduce this resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Rep. Salinas. “At a time when 23% of American adults struggle with mental health challenges, it’s critically important that we work together to reduce the stigma, raise awareness, and expand access to quality, affordable care. Our Caucus is committed to finding commonsense solutions that will move us closer to that goal and put an end to America’s mental health crisis.”

    “As someone whose family has been impacted by mental health, I know we have a real need for increased access to care, improved infrastructure and reduced stigma surrounding mental illness,” said Rep. Bacon. “By recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, hopefully we can highlight the need to invest in mental health care and ensure access to treatment for those experiencing mental health crises.”

    “Mental health is an issue that touches most families. Tens of millions of Americans report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and suicide is one of the top causes of death in the U.S,” said Rep. Beyer. “Recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month has long helped to put a spotlight on this topic, to help people realize they are not alone, and to bring together those of us who seek solutions. I will continue working with colleagues in both parties to do all I can to improve mental health in this country.”  

    Along with Reps. Salinas, Bacon, Beyer, and Gonzales, the resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jim Costa (CA-21), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Pablo Hernández (PR-AL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

    The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations, in alphabetical order: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), American Counseling Association (ACA), American Psychological Association (APA), Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Young Invincibles.

    Since 1949, May has been observed as National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when advocates and activists across the country draw attention to the mental health issues that affect as many as one in four Americans. Today, more people die from suicide in the United States than from traffic accidents or homicides, and we lose at least 17 veterans to suicide daily.

    Unfortunately, because of the stigma associated with mental illness, many people do not seek the help they need for themselves or their loved ones. National Mental Health Awareness Month is a time when we work together to break through that stigma and to find real, bipartisan solutions for Americans to access the affordable, high-quality care they need. We express compassion for those who struggle with mental health issues, and we draw attention to the proven methods that can help change their lives for the better.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Trump is Right About What’s Happening in South Africa

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Donald J. Trump showed the world the shocking treatment of white farmers in South Africa — including with a video montage that highlighted the discrimination and violence targeted at the innocent minority victims.

    President Trump was exactly right.

    • “We left because of the attacks. You can’t stay on a farm as a white person in South Africa. You know you’ll be killed,” said one South African refugee.
    • New York Post: White South African couple say they’re victims of racial attacks — and can’t wait to be in Trump’s America
    • The Daily Mail: Why white South Africans are fleeing surging violence and ‘racist’ laws for new lives in America
    • BBC: ‘I didn’t come here for fun’ – Afrikaner defends refugee status in US
    • Breitbart: Trump Vindicated as South Africa Considers Bill to Redistribute Land on Racial Lines
    • BBC: South African president signs controversial land seizure law
      • The law is vague, stating that expropriation is allowed in circumstances where it is “just and equitable and in the public interest” to do so.
    • BBC: “Close to 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the US following Washington’s offer to resettle people from the country’s Afrikaner community, a business group has said.”
    • The New York Times: ‘Kill the Boer’ Song Fuels Backlash in South Africa and U.S.
      • “The political rally was winding down when the brash leader of a leftist South African party grabbed the microphone and began to stomp and chant. Thousands of supporters joined in, and when he reached the climax, they pointed their fingers in the air like guns. ‘Kill the Boer!’ Julius Malema chanted, referring to white farmers. The crowd in a stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday roared back in approval.”
    • The New York Times: Killing of White Farmer Becomes a Flash Point in South Africa
    • Sky News: ‘Anti-white racism’: Farmers being targeted in South Africa
    • news.com.au: South Africans trapped ‘like frogs in boiling water’ as racial violence escalates
    • The Independent: South Africa: Taking farms from whites is justified because ‘it’s not really their land’, says EFF spokesman
    • New York Sun: From Murdered White Farmers to ‘Racially Disfavored Landowners’: Why Trump and Musk Are Targeting South Africa
    • The Independent: Farmers in South Africa claim they are being targeted in ‘horrific’ attacks
    • news.com.au: South Africa farm attacks: Brutal crimes landowners face
    • The Daily Mail: There’s been a murder a week on farms in South Africa this year. Now a race-baiting Marxist who loves singing Kill the Boer is set to become Vice President
    • Fox News: South African political leader calls for violence against White citizens at rally: ‘Kill the Boer, the farmer’

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Pushes Amendment to GOP’s “Big Ugly Bill” to Prevent Higher Energy Costs for Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    May 21, 2025

    Rep. Levin Pushes Amendment to GOP’s “Big Ugly Bill” to Prevent Higher Energy Costs

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) filed an amendment to stop House Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill” from raising utility bills for Americans. The amendment would ensure provisions in the bill that eliminate programs and policies that help build out clean energy infrastructure and those that double down on costly fossil fuels cannot take effect unless the Energy Information Administration confirms that these policies will not increase monthly household energy costs.

    “This amendment is simple and reasonable. All it says is that if we’re going to pass legislation that affects energy prices, then we have a responsibility to ensure it doesn’t drive up costs for the people we represent,” said Rep. Levin. “If the policies in this bill are truly going to reduce costs, then this amendment simply adds a commonsense verification step to confirm it. Nothing more.”

    Independent analysis indicates the “Big Ugly Bill” would raise energy costs for American families by at least 7%, an average of more than $110 per year, per household. This increase comes at a time when nearly 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills. The “Big Ugly Bill” also contains provisions that raise fees on renewable energy while making it easier for fossil fuel developers to drill on public lands without public input. It weakens permitting protections, and it undercuts the economic foundation for one of the fastest-growing sectors in our economy—all while shifting costs back to American families.

    To watch Rep. Levin’s full testimony in the House Rules Committee, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Energy Department to Redirect $365 Million to Support Grid Resilience Efforts in Puerto Rico

    Source: US Department of Energy

    WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it will redirect $365 million in funding to address Puerto Rico’s grid resiliency and expand access of affordable, reliable, and secure power supply for the people of Puerto Rico. The funding, allocated through the Puerto Rico Resilience Fund (PR-ERF), will be deployed to support practical fixes and emergency activities that offer a faster, more impactful solution to the current crisis, benefiting critical facilities like hospitals and community centers.

    Today’s announcement follows U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s decision to issue two emergency orders for Puerto Rico just weeks after the most recent island-wide blackout, underscoring the urgency of deploying immediate solutions for the millions of people who depend on Puerto Rico’s fragile grid to power their homes and businesses.

    “With President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is focused on fortifying America’s electric grid and ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity across the country, and nowhere is this more needed than in Puerto Rico,” said Secretary Wright. “By redirecting these funds, we will ensure taxpayer dollars are used to strengthen access to affordable, reliable and secure power, benefiting more citizens as quickly as possible. This strategic shift allows us to address the root causes of the grid’s instability, strengthening the grid’s fragile infrastructure and delivering lasting relief for Puerto Rico.”

    “Puerto Rico is facing an energy emergency that requires we act now and deliver immediate solutions. Our communities, businesses, and healthcare facilities cannot afford to wait years, nor can we rely on piecemeal approaches with limited results. Rather than impacting a few customers, deploying these funds for urgent projects that improve the resiliency and reliability of our grid will have widespread, lasting benefits for all 3.2 million Americans in Puerto Rico,” said Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón. “Since day one, President Trump and Secretary Wright have made it a priority to ensure we implement comprehensive solutions to address Puerto Rico’s energy challenges. I look forward to continuing working with them on these efforts.”

    This $365 million funding was initially awarded by the Biden administration in December 2024 to support rooftop solar and battery storage installations slated to begin construction in 2026. Today, DOE is reprioritizing these awards and will redirect funding to support technologies that improve system flexibility and response, power flow and control, component strength, supply security, and safety. The redirection of these funds will expand access to reliable power for millions of people rather than thousands and generate a higher return on investment for taxpayers while advancing grid resiliency for Puerto Rico.   

    DOE is working in close coordination with Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, Energy Czar Josué A. Colón-Ortiz, Puerto Rico’s energy industry and key community leaders and stakeholders to ensure maximum effectiveness of DOE resiliency funds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Republican’s Late Night Devastating Budget Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL)

    Rep. Becca Balint Statement on Republican’s Late Night Devastating Budget Cuts

    Washington, May 18, 2025

    Washington, D.C– Tonight, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement after the passage of the Republican budget out of the House Budget Committee late this evening: 

    “In an economy already rigged against working people, Republicans are moving forward with sweeping cuts to the programs that millions of families afloat. Americans just want to be able to pay their rent, afford groceries and health care, get their kids a good education and build a better life. But this budget makes that so much further out of reach. 

    “Republicans have had hundreds of opportunities to stand up for Medicaid, food assistance and our public schools. But tonight, they are again deciding to turn their backs on working people to give tax cuts to their billionaire donors and help corporations rake in even more money. And to do that they are ripping away healthcare from nearly 14 million Americans. This means rural communities will have even less access to care, and our kids and veterans won’t get the medication they need. Their rushed budget will inflict pain on Americans in ways we are yet to even understand.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Miller Exposes Title IX Violations in Illinois

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon calling attention to a clear violation of Title IX that occurred at the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 in which the school district allowed a biological male to participate in a female-only athletic competition.

    In the letter, Congresswoman Miller expressed opposition saying that any school district  that permits biological males to compete in girls’ sports should have its federal funds reviewed immediately for revocation, citing violations of Title IX protections.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    “Girls across Illinois are being forced to compete on an unfair playing field, and it’s time to say enough. JB Pritzker’s radical trans agenda is destroying women’s sports and betraying an entire generation of young female athletes,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller. “Let me be clear: if you violate Title IX, you must be held accountable to the full extent of the law. I will not let our girls be pushed aside and silenced.”

    In April, Congresswoman Mary Miller previously sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon calling for an immediate investigation into the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the State of Illinois for actions that undermine fairness and safety in girls’ sports.

    Congresswoman Mary Miller introduced H.R. 2452, the Keep Our Girls Safe Act. This legislation would codify President Trump’s Executive Order 14201 and strip federal funding from any school that defies the commonsense protections for women and girls.

    Read more about the recent letter on Fox News.

    Congresswoman Miller currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Family Caucus and sits on the Committees on Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and House Administration.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vice Ranking Member Amo Demands Secretary Rubio Prevent Starving Children from Dying and Protect Rhode Island Jobs

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Secretary Marco Rubio confirms Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food produced by Rhode Island’s Edesia Nutrition is lifesaving aid and Vice Ranking Member Amo presses Secretary to do everything to keep starving children from dying.

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI), demanded Secretary of State Marco Rubio commit to fund the production, transportation, and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) aid to keep starving children from dying. Until recently, over 123,000 boxes of RUTF purchased for Sudan were sitting in Rhode Island’s Edesia Nutrition warehouse because of State Department inflicted delays. Another 185,000 boxes of RUTFs purchased by the U.S. Government still sit in Edesia warehouses undistributed.

    “Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food aid produced in Rhode Island has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Secretary Rubio promised over and over that he would not stop the distribution of lifesaving foreign aid, but today the truth came out,” said Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI). “Right now in Rhode Island, 185,000 boxes of therapeutic food bought and paid for by American taxpayers are sitting in a warehouse. All that’s standing between those boxes and the starving kids who need them is Secretary Rubio’s State Department. This is unacceptable, and I will call on Secretary Rubio every week until he keeps his word and distributes this live saving food aid.”

    Watch Vice Ranking Member Amo’s Questioning Here.

    BACKGROUND

    Edesia Nutrition is a Rhode Island-based nonprofit that produces ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for worldwide distribution to save the lives of millions of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. 

    On January 31, 2025 Amo asked Secretary Rubiofor information on the Trump administration’s unilateral foreign aid pause impact on the production and delivery of Rhode Island-made RUTFs. Amo called outSecretary Rubio for missing a deadline to provide clarity on foreign aid distribution on February 7.

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    MIL OSI USA News –