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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine & Colleagues Press Rubio for Answers on Impact of Foreign Assistance Cuts in the Western Hemisphere

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, led his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressing him for answers on the Trump Administration’s cuts to U.S. foreign assistance programs and its harmful impact on U.S. national security, including the abrupt curtailment of efforts to mitigate narcotics trafficking, migration, and cartel violence in the Western Hemisphere. The letter comes after Secretary Rubio made his first trip as Secretary of State to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
    “We welcomed your decision to visit key Latin American countries from February 1-6, 2025 – Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic – for your first trip as Secretary of State,” wrote the senators. “All five countries are also home to important U.S. foreign assistance programs and USAID missions that manage much of this funding.”
    “These programs are fundamental to advancing the exact national security priorities you highlighted as the trip’s themes: bolstering regional cooperation, preventing large-scale irregular migration, curtailing cartel activity, countering China and deepening economic partnerships. However, all five countries continue to be subject to a blanket freeze, including on critical national security assistance programming and the suspension of USAID activities on January 24,” they continued.
    The senators then provided several examples of how U.S. foreign assistance in Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the DR has helped counter migration and drug trafficking, strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, and boost economic growth in the region. They also emphasized the critical role of U.S. foreign assistance in countering China, which has made significant investments in the region over the past decade in an effort to exert influence and control.  
    The senators continued, “During your confirmation hearing, you affirmed that our foreign policy should make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. This freeze in foreign assistance runs contrary to your stated goals and only helps the U.S’s  adversaries. We urge you to closely consider the disruption caused to U.S. security interests by the blanket freezing of these programs, and by the efforts of Elon Musk and the Trump Administration to destroy USAID.”
    “Now that you have returned from your historic trip, we urge you to reflect on the role of U.S. foreign assistance in solidifying our partnerships and advancing our national security interests in Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, as well as throughout the world, and quickly reverse this short-sighted and damaging freeze,” the senators concluded.
    In addition to Kaine, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Rubio:
    We welcomed your decision to visit key Latin American countries from February 1-6, 2025 – Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic – for your first trip as Secretary of State. This decision reflects our mutual understanding of the critical role of our Western Hemisphere partnerships in U.S. national security.
    All five countries are also home to important U.S. foreign assistance programs and USAID missions that manage much of this funding. These programs are fundamental to advancing the exact national security priorities you highlighted as the trip’s themes: bolstering regional cooperation, preventing large-scale irregular migration, curtailing cartel activity, countering China and deepening economic partnerships. However, all five countries continue to be subject to a blanket freeze, including on critical national security assistance programming and the suspension of USAID activities on January 24.
    During your stop in El Salvador, you visited the Aeroman aeronautics plant and used this location as a venue for disparaging the work of USAID and its employees. Although you touted Aeroman as an example of private sector innovation, you may be interested to learn that Aeroman itself is a longstanding beneficiary of USAID’s Bridges to Employment program.
    Other examples include:
    Migrant return programs supported by USAID have helped El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras receive and process nearly 150,000 returned migrants. Prior to January 24, USAID fostered the sustainable reintegration of these migrants into their communities, significantly reducing repeat migration. At a time in which the Trump administration is pushing these countries to accept more and more deportees, these programs are no longer active. 
    In Panama, U.S. foreign assistance has supported projects to enhance border security and boost Panama’s ability to counter narcotrafficking routes and networks. The Darien Gap, on Panama’s southern border with Colombia, is the only land route for migrants traveling north from South America. These programs are no longer active.
    In El Salvador, Congress has appropriated funds for programs to address the security, economic, and social drivers of irregular migration and to strengthen democratic institutions. With poverty around 30 percent over the last five years and with an economy highly dependent on remittances, mass deportations to El Salvador as well as political instability risk an explosion of gang violence. These programs are no longer active.
    In Costa Rica, U.S. foreign assistance has supported Costa Rican law enforcement efforts to dramatically reduce the influence of drug cartels and mitigate other destabilizing security threats – to include helping the country house migrants who would otherwise travel north to the U.S. border. U.S. economic assistance programming has also fostered a ripe investment climate for U.S. firms, including a major Intel computer chip factory that is essential to efforts to counter China’s chipmaking capacity. These programs are no longer active.
    In Guatemala, U.S. foreign assistance has promoted democratic resilience and political stability, including the provision of cost-effective development assistance to support job creation and fostering opportunities for foreign direct investment. This has played a major role in stemming migration and creating economic incentives for migrants and Guatemalans to stay in Guatemala rather than traveling north to the U.S. border. As a result of active U.S. partnership, Guatemala remains one of 12 countries to recognize Taiwan, despite significant pressure from China. These programs are no longer active.
    In the Dominican Republic, U.S. assistance has supported health programs that have limited the spread of infectious diseases – in a country geographically very close to the United States – and has served to mitigate migrant outflows. These programs are no longer active.
    As must have been clear during your trip, U.S. national security interests in every location you visited have been directly advanced by the thoughtful execution of U.S. foreign assistance programming.
    Throughout your Congressional career you were a forceful advocate for curtailing Chinese influence globally and advancing the interests of the American people. You spoke eloquently about the essential role of foreign assistance in advancing U.S. interests. You have also rightly asserted that although foreign assistance represents less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget, it is a major force multiplier that keeps our adversaries at bay. During your confirmation hearing, you affirmed that our foreign policy should make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. This freeze in foreign assistance runs contrary to your stated goals and only helps the U.S’s  adversaries. We urge you to closely consider the disruption caused to U.S. security interests by the blanket freezing of these programs, and by the efforts of Elon Musk and the Trump Administration to destroy USAID.
    What is further clear is that Elon Musk – who maintains deep financial connections to China and engages in secret meetings with Russian officials – does not share your priorities or those of the United States. China and Russia are already moving rapidly to exploit the weaknesses created by the Trump Administration’s global retreat.
    The United States is best able to project power around the world when we are comfortable in our own hemisphere. We are safer and more prosperous when our neighbors are safer and more prosperous. Now that you have returned from your historic trip, we urge you to reflect on the role of U.S. foreign assistance in solidifying our partnerships and advancing our national security interests in Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic, as well as throughout the world, and quickly reverse this short-sighted and damaging freeze.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: President Donald J. Trump Secures Release of Another American Held Hostage

    Source: The White House

    An American citizen held hostage in Belarus has been released thanks to the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and his administration — the second American released from captivity abroad in the past 24 hours and the eleventh since President Trump took office.

    The remarkable success in freeing American citizens comes as the United States displays a renewed strength under President Trump. In the words of Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, President Trump “has made bringing Americans home a top priority and people respond to that.”

    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “President Trump’s strong leadership has led to the release of an American unjustly detained in Belarus and two political prisoners … We remain committed to the release of other U.S. citizens in Belarus and elsewhere.”
    • Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “It speaks to President Trump’s dealmaking ability … It’s a remarkable victory on the heels of Marc Fogel returning to America last night.”
    • Special Envoy Adam Boehler: “It’s happening now because the President of the United States has made it a top priority — and he leads through strength.”
    • Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Chris Smith: “A huge win — and a response to President Trump’s Peace through Strength agenda … We’re going to keep working until we get all Americans out.”
    • U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald: “It is a big day for Team America, for the President, for the Secretary of State…”

    Promises made, promises kept.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Taiwan authorities lack sincerity in restoring cross-Strait tourism: Mainland spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday criticized Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for using procedural excuses to delay the restoration of cross-Strait tourism.
    The DPP authorities have stood as the main obstacle to resuming cross-Strait tourism, not the lack of communication between tourism organizations, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.
    Tourism operators in Fujian Province and Shanghai Municipality had submitted applications to visit the island, hoping to do market research for the resumption of Taiwan tours for Fujian and Shanghai residents.
    The DPP authorities claimed that affairs related to Taiwan-bound mainland tourism, including the tours in question, should be discussed first between the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and the mainland-based Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits.
    Zhu said the mainland does not oppose the two aforementioned organizations discussing arrangements for cross-Strait tourism after its resumption.
    “If Taiwan claims it is ready to welcome mainland tourists, it should allow tourism inspection groups to visit immediately rather than making excuses to stall,” Zhu said.
    The DPP lacks sincerity in restoring cross-Strait tourism and focuses more on political maneuvering than facilitating travel for mainland visitors, Zhu said.
    Additionally, Zhu condemned the DPP authorities’ refusal to grant entry permits to Shanghai delegations invited to participate in the 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival, calling it an act of political obstruction that damages cross-Strait cultural exchanges.
    She urged the DPP authorities to remove restrictions on cross-Strait exchanges and take practical steps to allow mainland tourists to visit.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges Philippines to withdraw US missile system

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Wednesday urged the Philippines to deliver on its promise to withdraw the U.S. Typhon missile system from its territory, warning that failing to do so would put its own security and national defense at the mercy of others, and would bring risks of geopolitical confrontation and an arms race to the region.

    Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, made the comments at a regular news briefing in response to a related question.

    The U.S. installed the Typhon missile system in the northern Philippines in April 2024 as part of joint U.S.-Philippines military drills. The Philippines promised that the deployment would be “temporary,” and that the system would be withdrawn following the conclusion of the military exercises.

    However, the Philippines has repeatedly reneged on its commitment and even plans to “procure” the system to increase its deterrence capabilities. It has also linked the South China Sea with the missile system in a move that is both “ridiculous and dangerous,” Guo said.

    He noted that Typhon is a strategic, offensive weapon with a range that covers most Southeast Asian nations, and said that the U.S. deployment in the Philippines seriously undermines regional peace and stability and harms the legitimate security interests of other countries.

    China will never sit idly by as its own security interests are jeopardized or threatened, and other countries in the region will not accept such a perverse move, Guo said.

    He urged the Philippines to make a strategic choice that genuinely serves the fundamental interests of the Philippines and its people.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy champions bill to repeal woke CFPB rule forcing banks to collect data on sex, ethnicity from small businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced a bill to repeal the Biden administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would implement Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 1071 amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) to require financial institutions to collect certain personal information on small businesses when they seek a loan.

    In 2023, Congress passed Kennedy’s joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to reverse the Biden administration’s rule, which requires banks to report to the CFPB on small business owners’ race, ethnicity and sex; and whether a business is minority-owned, women-owned or LGBT-owned. However, President Joe Biden vetoed the resolution, and the rule remains in effect.

    “President Biden’s woke CFPB put small business owners’ information at risk by requiring their personal details to be exposed online. My bill would repeal the last administration’s misguided regulation so that job creators’ private information isn’t public, and government doesn’t stand in the way of Main Street’s access to loans,” Kennedy said.

    Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.

    Background:

    • On March 30, 2023, the CFPB promulgated the final rule implementing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which amends the ECOA. The rule was published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023.
    • Section 1071 requires covered financial institutions to collect and report certain personal information on small business loan applicants and report that to the CFPB. The CFPB may then make certain parts of that information public, including data that could publicly identify the small business credit applicant.
    • In order to comply with the Biden CFPB rule, financial institutions would have to collect information about applicants, including the applicant’s census tract, North American Industry Classification System and years in business, among other personal information.
    • The rule applies to financial institutions that originated at least 100 small business loans in each of the two preceding calendar years.
    • Based on the number of credit transactions for small businesses, covered financial institutions must comply with the final rule beginning Oct. 1, 2024; April 1, 2025; or Jan. 1, 2026.
    • A small business is defined as a company with $5 million or less in revenue from the previous fiscal year. 
    • Among the many concerns about the CFPB’s collecting and storing such personal information is that the agency recently experienced a data breach including the personally identifiable information of 256,000 consumers and failed to properly inform them for two months.
    • The implementation of this rule may reduce the availability and accessibility of small business credit by increasing compliance costs of lenders.

    Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) cosponsored the bill.

    Text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘A house battery you can drive around’: how a handful of Australians are selling power from their cars back to the grid

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney

    24K-Productions

    Our cars sit unused most of the time. If you have an electric vehicle, you might leave it charging at home or work after driving it. But there’s another step you could take. If you have a bidirectional charger, you can set it to sell power back to the grid when demand is high.

    Fewer than ten people across Australia actually do this, because the technology – known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) – is very new. To date, it only works with a single car model (Nissan LEAF) and a single charger (Wallbox Quasar 1). We’ve estimated the number of users based on sales of this charger. The chargers are expensive and there’s a thicket of regulations to navigate.

    But that could soon change. Last year, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced new Australian standards and communications protocols for bidirectional chargers in a bid to make it mainstream. Cheaper EVs and bidirectional chargers will make this more appealing.

    If it takes off, V2G could become extremely useful to the power grid as a way to release power as required and stabilise the grid against fluctuations.

    This week, Australia’s renewable energy agency released a V2G roadmap, which notes widespread uptake could “materially reduce electricity costs for consumers and accelerate national emissions reduction”.

    To understand why people are using the technology and the challenges to do so, we interviewed five early adopters from New South Wales and South Australia. Our findings are released today.

    A bidirectional charger is necessary to sell power back to the grid.
    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Setting up V2G isn’t easy

    Our interviewees reported a long, complex journey to set up V2G. These early adopters had no playbook to follow, so the process was one of trial and error.

    Some relied on professional networks or social media groups to gather information. They spent significant time and energy finding electricians, installers and charger manufacturers to set up their systems. Strata approvals were required. They also had to negotiate with power retailers and distributors.

    Delays were common, especially when seeking approval from the energy distributor. Some interviewees reported delays of months to years.

    Most interviewees had experience in a technical field such as engineering or technology. Some reported a significant learning curve, while others using new software from their retailer reported a smoother “set and forget” process.

    So why do it? Our interviewees had several reasons, ranging from getting the most out of expensive assets (solar and the EV) to offsetting power bills entirely.

    Four out of five interviewees reported making a small profit of about A$1,000 annually instead of a bill. Many wanted to be able to reduce dependence on the grid and reduce their environmental impact.

    As one told us:

    you originally think of it as a car you can also use to power your house. [But actually] it’s a house battery you can drive around.

    Maximising savings

    Typically, our interviewees plugged their car in at home during the day to charge from their rooftop solar. In the evenings when power prices peaked, they used an app to sell power back to the grid. This maximised their cost savings for charging the car battery and their earnings from the grid.

    For instance, a V2G user was alerted by their energy retailer that power prices had spiked to over $20 per kilowatt hour – far above normal rates of 25–45 cents. They immediately set their car and home battery to sell power back to the grid. In two hours, they sold 28 kilowatt hours of power to the grid and made more than $560. As they told us: “I look forward to more such events.”

    Our interviewees often monitored energy prices, solar output and car battery levels to optimise their output. To avoid their EV battery getting too low, they set a lower limit – say 30% of charge – after which their car would stop exporting power.

    This photo shows the setup of one of our early adopter interviewees. Pictured is the Nissan LEAF and bidirectional charger. For years, this has been the only car model compatible with vehicle to grid, but this is set to change.
    Author provided, CC BY-NC-ND

    Is there a downside?

    One of the main reasons people are sceptical of V2G is due to concern about accelerated degradation of the battery.

    This is a common concern. But to date, there’s no consensus showing V2G shortens the battery life of EVs significantly. One recent study shows it increases degradation by 0.3% a year. But another showed V2G might actually extend battery life in some scenarios.

    Last year, we surveyed more than 1,300 members of a motoring organisation about their view of V2G technology. We found battery warranty was a bigger concern than battery life. This is because most EV manufacturers other than Nissan don’t mention V2G in their battery warranties, leading drivers to believe they might void their warranty by using V2G.

    Awareness of V2G technology is growing. The survey also found almost 40% of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with V2G, a jump from the 17% who reported familiarity in 2022. Among EV owners, almost 90% reported knowledge of the concept.

    Moving beyond early adopters

    For V2G to go mainstream, the process must be much simpler, cheaper and easier to set up.

    To accelerate uptake, reliable, accessible information is essential.

    Expanding government incentive programs to include bidirectional chargers would cut the upfront cost and make it more accessible.

    Even within the EV supply chain, knowledge of V2G is limited. Car dealerships will need to know which models work with V2G.

    Electricians may need specific training to install and maintain these chargers.

    EVs are falling in price as manufacturers vie for market share and cheaper options become available. V2G capabilities might help boost sales for competing car companies.

    As more motorists switch to EVs, interest in V2G will increase. While V2G can boost the appeal of EVs, there are others, such as Vehicle-to-Home (using your car to power your home during blackouts or to save money) and Vehicle-to-Load (using your EV to run power tools or appliances).

    Each of these can help consumers get more value from the vehicles parked in driveways and garages.

    Scott Dwyer receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    Scott Dwyer receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    Kriti Nagrath receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    – ref. ‘A house battery you can drive around’: how a handful of Australians are selling power from their cars back to the grid – https://theconversation.com/a-house-battery-you-can-drive-around-how-a-handful-of-australians-are-selling-power-from-their-cars-back-to-the-grid-249696

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 02/12/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Details New Report Documenting Crimes Committed by Illegal Aliens in Tennessee During Biden’s Final Months

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor about the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s report documenting the widespread migrant crime in Tennessee that occurred during the final months of the Biden-Harris administration. In the final three months of 2024, thousands of illegal aliens in Tennessee were charged with driving under the influence, domestic and aggravated assault, child abuse, rape, vehicular homicide, murder, and other heinous crimes.  

    Click here to watch Senator Blackburn’s remarks. 

    REMARKS AS PREPARED

    Since President Trump Took Office, Migrant Encounters Are Down 87% at Southern Border

    In just his first weeks back in the Oval Office, President Trump has taken strong action to secure our border. Through executive actions alone, the President has restored the successful Remain-in-Mexico policy, restarted border wall construction, ended catch-and-release, sent troops to the southern border, conducted deportations, and done so much more to Make America Safe Again. Already, we’re seeing incredible results. 

    In operations across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested 11,000 criminal illegal aliens, including many violent offenders and gang members. Since Inauguration Day, meanwhile, migrant encounters at the southern border have reportedly dropped 87 percent. To be certain, forceful efforts to secure our border are urgently needed.

    For four years, former President Biden allowed more than 10 million illegal aliens to enter our country, including tens of thousands of convicted criminals and more than 1.7 million known “gotaways.” And for four years, Tennesseans and Americans across the country have suffered the tragic consequences, including rampant migrant crime.

    New Report Documents Widespread Migrant Crime in Tennessee Under Biden

    Recently, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference released a report documenting the widespread migrant crime in our state during the final months of the Biden administration. In many ways, the report confirms what we already know: During the Biden years, every town was a border town, and every state was a border state.

    In just the final three months of 2024, there were a staggering 2,719 reports of illegal aliens being charged or convicted of 3,854 offenses in the State of Tennessee. Among them, the most common offense was driving under the influence, at 654 arrests. Shockingly, these offenses accounted for more than 13 percent of all DUI arrests statewide.

    This problem is a big reason why, last year, my Republican colleagues and I introduced the Protect Our Communities From DUIs Act. This bill would automatically deport any illegal who is charged with driving under the influence.

    Over the same period—from October to December last year—illegal aliens committed hundreds of violent, heinous crimes: 154 instances of domestic assault, 80 of aggravated assault, 21 of child abuse, 9 of statutory rape, 8 of sexual exploitation of a minor, 7 of vehicular homicide, 4 of murder, 3 of rape of a child, and on and on. Disturbingly, these numbers are likely an undercount: Only 73 of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported data to the District Attorneys General Conference.

    Biden’s Open Border Enabled Thousands of Crimes by Illegal Aliens in Tennessee

    Under Biden, national data showed that illegal aliens were pouring in from countries all over the world—and the Tennessee migrant crime report also reflects this. Across all the offenders, there were 92 unique countries of origin, from Mexico and Guatemala to Jamaica and Romania.

    Here’s the bottom line: Because of Biden’s open border, thousands of crimes were committed by thousands of criminal illegal aliens in the State of Tennessee over just a three-month span. And this is just one state. We know this is happening in communities across the country.

    More than anything, the report underscores the importance of President Trump’s mass deportations, which are already underway. Thankfully, there are many ways for Congress to support these efforts. My CLEAR Act, for example, would ensure state and local law enforcement officials have the tools to help the federal government deport criminal illegal aliens.

    This is crucial—especially when far-left leaders like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are refusing to turn over criminal illegal aliens to federal custody. Thankfully, Attorney General Bondi is suing these sanctuary cities for allowing criminal illegals—who have no right to be in our great nation—to harm Americans.

    Blackburn Bills Would Allow Deportation of Illegal Aliens Convicted of Sex Crimes and Ensure Border States Have More Authority to Secure Their Borders

    I’ve also introduced the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, which would allow the deportation of illegal aliens convicted of sexual offenses or domestic violence. Any illegal alien who commits these heinous crimes should be removed from our country immediately.

    And my CONTAINER Act would ensure that border states such as Texas have the legal authority to place temporary barriers on federal land to help stop the flow of traffickers, drugs, and criminals at the southern border. With help from states securing the border, ICE can direct more resources to deporting criminal illegals who are already in our country.

    With thousands of criminal illegals residing in Tennessee and across the country, we should be using every resource at our disposal to remove them from our country. In many ways, these bills would help President Trump get the job done.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Beyond the Airwaves: 5 Powerful Impacts of Peacekeeping Radio Stations

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    Written by Maya Kelly, with materials from UNESCO. Ms. Kelly is a Strategic Communications Consultant and Social Media Coordinator for the UN Department of Peace Operations. She has a background in media, communications, technoculture, and education policy.

    Radio’s ability to connect communities and share real-time, impartial news is a powerful tool for peace, and for UN peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and South Sudan (UNMISS).

    MINUSCA’s Radio Guira, MONUSCO’s Radio Okapi, and UNMISS’s Radio Miraya harness radio to advance peace and security and reach millions of listeners every day. By sharing credible news, providing critical information during crises, empowering vulnerable populations, amplifying diverse community voices, and strengthening community engagement in solutions to conflict, all while supporting local journalists, UN peacekeeping radio stations are committed to broadcasting for a better world:

    1. Sharing credible news in conflict zones

    Our radio stations provide credible and trustworthy news to people in conflict zones and other remote areas where local media is often unable to reach due to limited internet. Broadcasts tackle harmful misinformation and disinformation by disseminating verified information and news in local languages, protecting community members and peacekeepers alike.

    2. Providing support and lifesaving information during crises

    In times of crisis, including conflict, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, UN peacekeeping radio stations broadcast critical information. From health messages to updates on safety and security, these broadcasts help save lives by reaching vast, diverse, and remote audiences with information in multiple local languages.

    3. Empowering vulnerable populations

    Our radio stations empower and amplify the voices of marginalized groups, including women and young people. Programs cover essential topics like human rights, gender equality, youth participation and how people can get involved in peace and political processes. When health or conflict crises cause schools to close, stations broadcast radio lessons for children. 

    4. Fostering civic education & dialogue

    Our radio stations help inform listeners about their rights, responsibilities and roles as citizens within a society. Talk shows and call-in segments provide a platform for dialogue, offering diverse communities and parties to the conflict a safe space to discuss sensitive issues.

    5. Supporting local journalism 

    UN peacekeeping radio stations are largely staffed by local journalists and community members who provide a rich and deep understanding of the political and security context and speak the local languages. Stations offer long-term career growth opportunities for reporters, presenters, producers and broadcast technicians who forge ahead long after peacekeepers have left.

    Broadcasting for a better world

    UN peacekeeping radio stations, and their hundreds of dedicated staff, are voices for peace in the countries they serve. They are united in their mission to broadcast for a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. 

    ________________

    As crisis rages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO’s Radio Okapi remains steadfast in its commitment to providing ongoing, credible information on the situation. This vital station broadcasts 24/7 from 20 cities across the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of the African region. 

    Watch this video to meet some of the people working behind the scenes of Radio Okapi’s critical operation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China remains appealing to foreign investors

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

    SHANGHAI, Feb. 12 — Despite geopolitical tensions and rising trade protectionism, international businesses are deepening their commitments in China as 2025 unfolds, demonstrating the country’s appeal to those seeking to stay competitive globally.

    U.S. automaker Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai began producing energy storage batteries on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Toyota announced plans to establish a wholly owned electric vehicle plant in the eastern Chinese economic hub. In January, construction started on Siemens Healthineers’ new manufacturing and research facility in south China’s Shenzhen.

    The rationale behind these investments by global industry leaders is clear: China remains a vital market with significant growth potential.

    With its expanding middle class, China’s position as a global economic powerhouse makes its vast market hard to ignore. In 2024, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached a record 134.91 trillion yuan (about 18.81 trillion U.S. dollars), marking a 5-percent year-on-year increase. As the world’s second-largest economy, China offers opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.

    China’s supply chain has become increasingly sophisticated and complete. Its highly competitive and advanced manufacturing ecosystem continues to attract high-value, technology-intensive investments.

    Additionally, China’s talent pool, particularly its abundance of engineers, bolsters multinational corporations’ confidence in establishing global research and development centers here. The country’s transformation into an innovation hub is particularly evident in industries such as electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. As China builds a modern industrial system, it accelerates efforts to develop new quality productive forces, creating fresh opportunities for global companies.

    China remains committed to opening up and fostering win-win cooperation. The nation’s market has become increasingly accessible, and a series of measures have been taken to encourage foreign investment. In recent years, China has made significant strides in promoting high-standard openness, including reducing the negative list for foreign investment, eliminating all restrictions on foreign investors in manufacturing, and expanding unilateral opening to the least-developed countries. The results of these efforts are reflected in the 9.9-percent increase in the number of newly established foreign-funded enterprises in China last year.

    Furthermore, Chinese authorities have made expanding high-standard economic openness a key priority for 2025. During an executive meeting on Monday, the State Council approved an action plan to stabilize foreign investment this year. The meeting called for more practical and effective measures to attract foreign capital, underscoring China’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment.

    Despite challenges posed by the politicization of economic and trade issues in the West and sluggish global investment, China’s high-level openness, economic vitality, and expanding consumer base continue to make it a top investment destination.

    According to the 2024 Kearney Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index, which measures investor expectations for FDI over the next three years, China jumped from seventh to third place in global rankings, leading all emerging markets.

    As many multinational executives have noted, “The next China is still China.” In an era of uncertainty and instability, one thing remains clear: Investing in China is a strategic move for those looking to secure their future.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Fossil fuel anti-protest bills in Montana, Virginia, and Illinois threaten free speech and climate advocacy

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    © Tim Aubry / Greenpeace

    Already this year, lawmakers in Montana, Virginia, and Illinois have introduced bills that would hand corporations and prosecutors new tools to suppress climate activism. 

    Although proponents frame these bills as public safety measures, there is no evidence that they improve energy reliability or make communities safer. To the contrary, they contain intentionally broad provisions that would make climate advocates, environmental defenders, and landowners vulnerable to felony prosecution for infractions that are historically linked to protest. 

    In light of Big Oil’s death drive to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels (now with the federal government’s total support), policies that take aim at our right to protest make all of us less safe by undermining the urgent action that is needed to preserve a livable future.

    Twenty-three states already have some form of these laws in place.1 Certain components of them pose an obvious threat to climate protest (for example, boosting penalties for simple trespass near fossil fuel infrastructure), but no less dangerous are vague provisions that target “impeding” fossil fuel infrastructure or “causing damages.”

    Under some laws, it is unclear whether these provisions could be used to impose draconian penalties upon individuals engaged in peaceful sit-ins or symbolic protest actions such as painting a slogan on a pipeline without damaging its functionality. In recent years, oil and gas companies have sought large monetary damages from activists for alleged costs associated with project delays.2 Moreover, fossil fuel spokespeople and their allies in government routinely frame acts of civil disobedience as violent attacks deserving of deterrence and aggressive retaliation.

    Laws with intentionally broad language allow authorities to hang the threat of prosecution over activists’ heads, even if the most extreme charges are not pursued or eventually dropped. Further, they can force individuals and organizations into costly legal battles.

    A closer look at the new crop of anti-protest bills below:

    • Montana HB 257 would build on the state’s existing anti-protest law by removing the condition that sites classified as “critical infrastructure” be enclosed by a fence or identified by signage. The bill drew support from business groups representing ExxonMobil, Continental Resources, the American Chemistry Council, and other members in a January 27 committee hearing.
    • Virginia HB 2215 would make “damaging” certain facilities and equipment a class 3 felony, punishable by 5-20 years in prison. The primary sponsor, VA Rep. Terry Kilgore, is a long-time member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and has accepted more than $380,000 in campaign donations from Dominion Energy over his political career. ALEC, an organization that invites corporate lobbyists to help draft model bills that are promoted with state officials around the country, has played a key role in the spread of anti-protest laws since 2016. Dominion Energy has also lobbied for anti-protest laws, including to explicitly “address civil disobedience towards pipelines,” according to emails obtained by public records request.
    • Illinois HB 1480 would create a new felony offense that could cover nonviolent protesters at pipeline and other infrastructure sites with maximum penalties of 3–7 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. It would also extend liability to anyone who “conspires with” a person to commit the offense. This last provision is especially pernicious due to the history of prosecutors using scattershot conspiracy allegations to target individuals and organizations with shared political views absent evidence of specific crimes. IL Rep. Patrick Windhorst, the primary sponsor of this bill, is also a member of ALEC.

    For more information about these anti-protest bills and related lobbying activity, see here.

    Related to the push for fossil fuel anti-protest laws are strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Greenpeace is facing a costly SLAPP brought by Energy Transfer, the owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline, in North Dakota state court, which goes to trial this month. Further, California Attorney General Rob Banta, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups were sued for defamation by ExxonMobil this January after the defendants sought to hold Exxon legally accountable for its role in the plastics crisis.

     1Twenty-two states were counted for Greenpeace USA’s Dollars vs. Democracy 2023 report. The twenty-third state to pass a fossil fuel anti-protest law was Florida with H 275 / S 340 (2024).

    2 For example, see Mountain Valley Pipeline’s lawsuit against climate protesters. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/27/mountain-valley-pipeline-protest 

     3 For more about this, see “The Fossil Fuel Industry Used ALEC to Spread Fossil Fuel Anti-Protest Laws Across the Country” on page 30 of Dollars vs. Democracy 2023.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hawley Questions Trump DOJ Antitrust Nominee on Antitrust Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Wednesday, February 12, 2025

    Today in a Senate Judiciary Nomination hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Gail Slater, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice. Senator Hawley focused his questioning on Big Tech and antitrust enforcement,  and the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 
    “I am extremely concerned about what the emergence of AI and monopoly power in AI will mean for American consumers,” said Senator Hawley. 
    “We have got to give power back to individual Americans to protect their rights. Antitrust enforcement by the U.S. government is a critical part of that,” he concluded.
    [embedded content]
    Click here, or above to watch the full clip. 
    Senator Hawley previously served as chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution; Privacy, Technology, and the Law, where he worked to protect and defend the rights of Americans against powerful tech corporations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal jury convicts Florida man of attempting to coerce minor for sex in Missoula undercover investigation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MISSOULA — A federal jury today convicted a Florida man of attempting to coerce a minor for sex after he was arrested in Missoula in an undercover investigation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

    After a three-day trial that began on Feb. 10, the jury found the defendant, Stevenson Metelus, 36, of Margate, Florida, guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Metelus faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

    U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 24. Metelus was released pending further proceedings.

    “Metelus was a truck driver passing through Montana when he used social media to attempt to coerce a minor to have sex with him. The problem for him was he was unwittingly talking to an undercover law enforcement officer. This is the kind of critical work our office and our law enforcement partners are doing across the state to keep kids safe. Our work will continue, and it can only be done effectively due to the diligence, brilliance, and dedicated service of the people in our office and our law enforcement partners,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

    The government alleged at trial and in court documents that in October 2023, an FBI special agent, using a persona identified as Child 1, posted on MegaPersonals an advertisement for prostitution services in Missoula, listed the age of Child 1 as “99” and a phone number at which to contact Child 1. Metelus responded to the ad on Nov. 16, 2023 and asked Child 1 what her “specials” were. Metelus spoke with Child 1, eventually negotiating a price and sexual acts to engage in with her. Child 1 noted she was a minor girl. Ultimately, Metelus asked Child 1 to meet him in his truck when he arrived, but Child 1 said she had a room at the hotel and would leave the door open for him. Child 1 then said that she could meet him at a nearby gas station when he expressed concern about the plan. The undercover FBI agent had confidential source call Metelus and, acting as Child 1, spoke briefly with him. The confidential source again told Metelus that she was a minor. The parties then confirmed their plans to meet. Shortly thereafter, Metelus texted Child 1 that he had arrived at the gas station, where law enforcement arrested him. Metelus eventually admitted to law enforcement his intention was to meet Child 1 for commercial sex.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Missoula Police Department and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cook Islands opposition files no-confidence motion against PM

    By Melina Etches of the Cook Islands News

    A motion of no confidence has been filed against the Prime Minister and his Cabinet following the recent fiasco involving the now-abandoned Cook Islands passport proposal and the comprehensive strategic partnership the country will sign with China this week.

    Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather said Prime Minister Mark Brown should apologise to the people and “graciously” step down, or else he would move a no-confidence vote against him in Parliament.

    Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere today confirmed that a motion of no confidence has been filed, and he had placed the notice with the MPs.

    Parliament will convene for the first time this year next Monday, February 17, to consider various bills and papers, including the presentation of the supplementary budget.

    Heather, an Opposition MP, is concerned with Brown’s lack of consultation regarding the passport issue, which the Prime Minister later confirmed was “off the table”, and the China agreement with New Zealand.

    New Zealand has raised concerns that it was not properly consulted, as required under their special constitutional arrangement.

    However, PM Brown said he had advised them and did not believe the Cook Islands was required to provide the level of detail New Zealand was requesting.

    ‘Handled the situation badly’
    “He [Brown] has handled the situation badly. He has to step down graciously but if he doesn’t, I’m putting in a no confidence vote in Parliament — that’s the bottom line,” Heather told the Cook Islands News.

    “I will move that motion and if there’s no support at least I’ve done it, I’ve seen it through.”

    Heather also said that he believed the Prime Minister should apologise to the people of the Cook Islands.

    “A simple apology, he made a mistake, that’s it.”

    Cook Islands News asked the Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne for comment on Heather’s no confidence motion.

    Browne on Sunday told PMN that residents were angry, and there was mounting pressure and strong feeling that the PM Brown “should go” (step down).

    Backed by cabinet ministers
    The Prime Minister has the confidence of his Cabinet Ministers, who are backing their leader and the China agreement, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Tingika Elikana.

    Brown is in China on a state visit with his delegation. Yesterday marked the third day of the visit, during which he will oversee the signing of a Joint Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with China.

    He is also expected to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping.

    The content of the agreement and its signing date remain unknown.

    “At this stage, discussions regarding the agreement are still ongoing, and it would be premature to confirm a signing date at this time. However, once there are any formal developments, we will ensure updates are shared through an official MFAI media release,” a spokesperson for the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration told Cook Islands News.

    Public protest march
     A public protest march will convene at Parliament House on Monday to challenge the government’s direction for the people of the Cook Islands.

    Heather is spearheading the “peaceful” protest march, rallying citizens against PM Brown’s controversial proposal to introduce a Cook Islands passport.

    More than 100 people attended Heather’s public meeting last Monday evening at the Aroa Nui Hall to voice their concerns about government’s actions disregarding the voices of the people.

    “Do we just sit around no. Te inrinaki nei au e te marama nei kotou te iti tangata,” Heather said.

    “We have to do this for the sake of our country. This is not a political protest, it’s people of the Cook Islands uniting to protest, if you understand the consequences, you will understand the reason why.”

    Although Brown has since ditched the proposal after New Zealand warned it would require holders to renounce their New Zealand one, “the damage is done”.

    This has sparked heated debates about national identity, sovereignty and the implications for the Cook Islands relationship with New Zealand.

    Concerns of citizens
    Heather has taken onboard the concerns of citizens and argued that such a move could undermine the historical ties and shared citizenship that have long defined the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.

    He has no confidence in Brown’s statement that the proposed Cook Islands identity passport is “off the table”.

    “I think it is off the table for now . . .  but for how long?” Heather questioned.

    “Then there’s the impact of what he has done with our relationship with New Zealand so we are very much concerned about that.

    “We are making a statement. The march is actually to show the government of New Zealand that we the people of the Cook Islands don’t agree with the Prime Minister on that.

    “We want New Zealand to see that the people of the Cook Islands – that we love to keep our passport, that we care about our relationship as well.”

    Heather said they are also concerned about New Zealand’s reaction to the Cook Islands proposed agreement with China.

    ‘Peaceful’ protesters welcomed
    He welcomes members of the community to join the “peaceful” protest.

    On Monday morning, drummers will be located on both sides of Parliament House on the main road.

    At 10.45am, the proceedings will start when people start moving towards Parliament. Heather wants all protesters to bring along their New Zealand passports.

    Heather would like to remind people not to use dirty language at the protest — “auraka e autara viiviii, don’t bring your dirty laundry . . . ”

    First published by the Cook Islands News and republished with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Hundreds of thousands of working people and families will reap the rewards new towns across Britain, as the Prime Minister paves the way for the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era.

    • Over 100 sites across England have come forward to be considered for next generation of new towns
    • Government on track to create beautiful communities, provide affordable homes, and deliver much needed infrastructure, including schools and nurseries, GP surgeries, and bus routes 
    • By taking on the blockers, 20,000 homes, along with new schools and health facilities, will move forward following government action, and we will now turn to unblock the remaining 700,000 homes across 350 sites 
    • Comes as government rolls out major planning reforms to sweep away the blockers and push through its housebuilding agenda as part of the Plan for Change

    Hundreds of thousands of working people and families will reap the rewards new towns across Britain, as the Prime Minister paves the way for the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era.

    Visiting a housing development today, the Prime Minister will unveil the government’s plans for the next generation of new towns – well-designed, beautiful communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport where people will want to live. 

    Over 100 proposals from across every region in England were submitted, showing local areas and housebuilders’ ambition to get on board to build the next generation of new towns – playing their part in getting Britain building and tackling the worst housing crisis in living memory. Every new town will have the potential to deliver 10,000 homes or more. 

    Delivering security is central to this government’s Plan for Change, because the least working people deserve when they graft hard is a secure home. That’s why the government is providing much-needed housing in the right places with the right infrastructure, and the New Towns Taskforce has today set clear principles on what the next generation of new towns will deliver: affordable housing, vital infrastructure and access to open green spaces and nature, to transform the lives of working people. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream. After a decade of decline in housebuilding, the impact is a disconnect between working hard and getting on.

    This is about more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about the security and stability that owning your own home brings. I know what this means for working people – the roof above our head was everything for our family growing up. 

    We’ve already made progress in just seven months, unblocking 20,000 stuck homes. But there’s more to do.

    We’re urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder. We’re sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, no longer accepting no as the default answer, and paving the way for the next generation of new towns.

    As part of the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era, our ambitious Plan for Change will transform the lives of working people, once again connecting the basic principle that if you work hard, you should get on.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:  

    Time and again we are seeing too many new homes stuck or stalled that not only act as a barrier to growth but also has real-world consequences for working people and families who see homeownership as nothing more than a distant dream.  

    I will not run away from the tough choices to fix the housing crisis we inherited that has left thousands of families on housing waiting lists, allowed homelessness to spiral out of control, and stopped an entire generation from picking up the keys to their first home.  

    While our vision for the next generation of new towns is setting the stage for a housebuilding revolution in the years to come, urgent action is needed now to build the homes and infrastructure that our local communities are crying out for. That’s why our New Homes Accelerator is working at pace to find solutions and remove blockages in the system, executing long-lasting solutions to get spades in the ground.  

    Today we are embarking on the next chapter in our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million new homes, deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and raise living standards for working people and families across the country.

    For far too long, working people have been let down by a decline in housebuilding. That’s why the government is rolling up its sleeves and is taking on the blockers with major reforms to planning regulation to get Britain building. 

    That work is already underway, with a staggering 20,000 new homes now successfully unblocked by the government’s novel ‘New Homes Accelerator’ programme, which deploys planning expertise to speed up the delivery of housing sites held by unnecessary delays.  

    Areas that have already benefitted from direct government action include:

    • Over 1,000 homes unlocked at Cowley Hill in Liverpool, where an agreement has been reached with the Environment Agency who withdrew its previous objections on both flood risk and biodiversity grounds, subject to planning.
    • And at Wolborough in Devon, the Accelerator has worked with Natural England to help accelerate this development, whilst ensuring environmental improvements are secured. On top of the 1,100 homes the site is injecting £1.75 million towards off-site pedestrian and cycle improvements, playing pitches, bus services and a local travel plan.  

    Housebuilders and local councils have put forward over 350 housing development sites stuck in the system under the previous government – that together could unlock around 700,000 new homes.

    Around a quarter of sites submitted are already receiving government attention since the call for evidence closed in October – demonstrating success of the programme, and local ambition to support the government’s 1.5 million homes target.

    This goes hand-in-hand with government action to overhaul the planning system, supporting the builders and not the blockers, taking the brakes off economic growth, raising living standards, and making the tough decisions to deliver for working people and families. 

    This includes:

    • Publishing a new growth-focused National Planning Policy Framework, which introduced new mandatory for councils to deliver the right homes in the right places, with a combined total of 370,000 homes a year.
    • Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill next month. The Bill will overhaul environmental regulations to no longer accept the failed status quo where bats are more important than trains or newts more important than homes, and remove blockers to fast-track delivery of the homes and infrastructure that local communities need.    

    To get Britain building now – the government today announces plans to fast stream planning through brokering disagreements between the agencies and expert bodies, which by law must be consulted within the planning process. Bodies including National Highways, Natural England and the Environment Agency will need to bring planners and housebuilders to the table and iron out concerns that have been holding back development.

    Responding to sector concerns on pinch points, work stepping up with the Building Safety Regulator to ensure greater timeliness and efficiency when new tall buildings are signed off – to provide more homes for more people.

    This work will be bolstered by extra government funding announced today, including:  

    • £1 million for government agencies, including National Highways, Natural England and the Environment Agency, to speed up the planning approval of new homes and improve feedback to local authorities and industry where required.

    • £2 million to support the Building Safety Regulator to continue improving the processing for new-build applications.

    • Over £3 million of grants for local councils to bolster planning capacity, alongside direct advice and navigate through some of the more complex issues holding up new development.   

    Alongside the Accelerator, the government is also supporting local partners through a clearing service to help accelerate the sale of uncontracted and unsold affordable homes, with nearly 300 housebuilders, local councils and registered providers signing up in the first 50 days of its launch.   

    In December, the government set a clear hierarchy of brownfield first, grey belt second and green belt third. Today, further funding is being injected to drive regeneration and brownfield deliver in the following areas:  

    • £20 million to help transform neglected small-scale council-owned sites into new homes, for areas most in need.

    • Nearly £30 million from the Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund in Bradford to transform derelict brownfield sites into a vibrant residential area with 1,000 new homes, three community parks, shops, cafés, restaurants, and offices.

    • £1.5 million to support a regeneration programme at Manchester Victoria North, delivering a new district of 15,000 homes with transport links and green spaces.   

    Getting homes built for working people is a priority and is backed by investment in housing which is increasing to £5 billion for this year, including a top-up of £800 million being injected into the existing Affordable Homes Programme to help deliver tens of thousands of new affordable and social homes across the country.   

    This is in addition to an extra £100 million of cash to bolster local resources with increased planning fees to cover costs and funding to recruit 300 planning officers, making sure councils have the capacity they need to rubberstamp new homes and infrastructure.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks to 2025 European Union Ambassadors Conference: “How the EU Can Better Leverage Its Unique Partnership with the UN System at the Country Level” [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Excellencies,

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    I thank the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas for her invitation. It is a pleasure to be back following my participation in this conference in 2022.

    Let me begin by congratulating the new EU leadership and welcoming the EU Commissioners. Your leadership comes at a critical juncture, and I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen the vital and strong partnership between our institutions.
    Excellencies,

    There is no doubt that the world we face today is more complex and uncertain than when we last met in 2022.

    We are seeing that geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and a growing climate crisis are reshaping our global landscape. We are seeing key global players redefining their foreign policy and adding uncertainty to what is already a highly volatile political and economic environment.

    A few years ago, who would have imagined the war in Ukraine? Yet here we are, still grappling with the aftermath.

    I hope that we will be able to restore peace and stability in Ukraine, returning to a state of security that transcends the borders that have been so deeply affected.  We must also recognise that the greatest impact of these conflicts is felt by the people— not just in Ukraine but also in Gaza, Sudan, and the Sahel— people who are desperately searching for hope.

    The human toll is immeasurable, and this pressure on humanitarian support—where the European Union has been a generous leader—only adds to the challenges we face in achieving our Sustainable Development Goals.

    Excellencies,
     When we adopted the 2030 Agenda in 2015, we had a vision, but today, with five years to go, the road to realising our SDGs has become much more difficult. However, this does not mean we should abandon these Goals. Quite the opposite – they are now more urgent than ever.

    When we look at the poverty agenda, the inclusion agenda, human rights, climate, and the need for stronger institutions to support these goals, it becomes clear that we must intensify our collective efforts.

     But to get there, we would need stronger, not weaker, international cooperation reinforced by leadership. In September, our Member States came together to adopt the Pact for the Future, reaffirming our commitment to the 2030 Agenda and highlighting four areas of shared concern.

    First, we must tackle the peace and security agenda, recognising the rapid pace of technological advancements and the importance of staying ahead.

    Second, there’s the matter of AI and quantum computing—fields where we are making strides and where we must establish clear guardrails and work collaboratively. The European Union has taken commendable steps in this area, and we value the leadership you’ve shown. We look forward to deepening this cooperation.

    Third, we must address the urgent need to reform the international financial architecture. Many developing countries are grappling with overwhelming debt burdens and limited fiscal space. The combination of rising interest rates—unexpected, partly due to the war in Ukraine—and the aftermath of COVID-19 has put these countries in a difficult position. They are often forced to choose between funding essential services like education or health and servicing their debt. This is not just about managing a crisis; it is about shifting the conversation toward investment—investing in people, the future, and resilience.

    While Official Development Assistance (ODA) is undeniably vital, we must ensure it is strengthened so that it can truly fulfil its promise. ODA alone won’t be enough to meet the scale of the challenges we face. That’s why we must also find innovative ways to harness domestic resources and create an environment that attracts private sector investment.
    As many countries prioritise industrialisation and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, it is crucial that we also create the conditions that allow these efforts to flourish. We need to ensure that there is a favourable environment for domestic resources to be better utilised and for private sector investment to flow in. This way, we are giving countries a fair chance at financing their own development and creating sustainable, long-term solutions that go beyond ODA alone.

    Last but certainly not least, the Pact for the Future calls upon us to consider the future generations that will inherit the world we shape today. It emphasises the importance of keeping climate action at the centre of our efforts. As we move forward, we must ensure that these future constituencies are included in the decisions we make now.

    Excellencies,
    The values that underpin our global stability – and on which the UN-EU partnership is rooted are under attack: solidarity, peace, justice, tolerance, human rights, and a rules-based international order.

    We see the EU as an indispensable partner in defending these values.

    As we look ahead to 2025, this is a crucial moment to reflect on the path ahead. What are the EU’s priorities, and how can it balance work within Europe while nurturing the global partnerships that contribute to a more stable Europe and a more peaceful world?

    These partnerships are fundamental, as they not only support Europe’s security and prosperity but also promote the shared values that we all hold dear. This aligns with our UN Charter, which calls for a future built on peace, dignity, and prosperity for all.

    Excellencies,
    The SDGs offer a valuable framework for engaging with our partners across sectors—civil society, government, academia, business, and beyond. Investing in the SDGs should not be viewed as a burden but as a strategic opportunity—one that will drive future markets, social cohesion, resilience, and security, not least for the European Union itself.

    Goals 7 to 15 represent critical areas where economic investments and equality must be prioritized. By addressing these, we unlock dividends for the first six SDGs—providing governments with the resources to fund critical programs such as social protection, education, health, and women’s empowerment.

    However, these goals also depend on robust partnerships and strong institutions. Investing in governance and institutions may take longer to yield results, but it is the foundation for lasting change. The work is difficult, but it is vital if we are to secure a future where no one is left behind.

    To make this a reality, we must find ways to accelerate action on the SDGs together. That is why we have invested in strengthening our strategic UN-EU partnership, not just at the global level but critically – in countries. 

    Over the past years, and with the impulse provided by the Joint Guidance that was shared with you and the UN Resident Coordinators in 2023. We have seen our partnership grow in scope and impact, yielding results in joint advocacy, policy, and programmatic collaboration.

    Together, we have engaged in significant reflection on how to sharpen our focus and ensure that our efforts on the ground deliver greater impact. The UN has established a strong presence, but should we aim for even greater coordination and coherence? Absolutely. We continue to strive for that, and with recent policy decisions by some of our larger donors, we need to leverage these efforts to accelerate action on the ground.

    This is a crucial moment for us to also focus on the regional level—how we can deploy from HQ to the regions and ensure that the countries most in need can come together. The UN has the expertise, but is it sufficient? Can we deliver at the scale and speed that development demands?

    Right now, the answer is no. We need more investment—investment that can drive real change. To do that, we need to work more effectively together with the EU, multilateral development banks, national development banks, and regional institutions so that we can all pull in the same direction. Only by working together can we achieve the progress we need.

    Excellencies,
    In Guatemala, we jointly support the national digital transformation agenda, leveraging the joint SDG Fund digital track—where the EU is the most significant contributor—to scale up innovation and modernize public services.

    In Ghana, our focus is similar, with a special emphasis on empowering women and young people through digital transformation.

    In Bosnia and Herzegovina, joint UN-EU teams are tackling shared priorities, from energy and green transition to digital transformation, human rights, and gender equality. And we are enhancing our programmatic and policy collaboration.

    In Nepal, the focus is on climate resilience, where the melting glaciers are a stark reminder of the climate challenges we face.

    In Zambia, we are focusing on human rights, governance, and emergency response—especially in the wake of climate-related events.

    These are just a few examples of our growing cooperation at the country level. New areas for collaboration are being identified, and we are looking to scale up the work already being done. For example, in the context of food systems and investments, we are identifying synergies that can create a multiplier effect.

    We know that issues like food systems are as important to Europe as they are to Africa, Asia, and SIDS. We are looking at enhancing connectivity and energy access, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This will help empower women, young people, and the agricultural sector by ensuring that businesses can access energy and financial services.
    Trade also plays a key role in this. By improving connectivity and access to e-commerce, we can help women and young people thrive economically. The intersection between education, technology, and the climate agenda is crucial for transforming societies.

    The Global Gateway Strategy and EU priorities, such as infrastructure investments, are vital in this regard. We must ensure we’re better aligned and able to deliver scalable, impactful change. The example of the M300 project, which aims to connect 300 million people to power in Africa, shows great promise—but we need to ensure that these connections are linked with other investments to amplify their impact.

    Excellencies,
    With UN Resident Coordinators and EU Ambassadors in 122 countries where we share presence in partner countries, we can achieve significant development impact that speaks to the ambition of the 2030 Agenda.

    You lead Teams Europe, while our Resident Coordinators steer the UN country teams. Each is making a difference. But by working together, we can aim for large-scale transformation.
    In most countries, we are already consulting each other on the development of our respective country strategies. But we see scope to expand opportunities for you and Resident Coordinators to co-lead regular strategic dialogues that enable the advancement of shared priorities and investment pathways to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

    Such pathways – or transitions – range from increasing energy access to transforming food systems, to advancing decent jobs, social protection, health and education, to expanding digital connectivity, to tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

    Excellencies,
    Our institutions are transforming rapidly.

    Just as the EU is reshaping its development cooperation approach, including through the Global Gateway Strategy and the Team Europe approach, the UN development system is also enhancing its impact, coherence and efficiency.

    The UN development system reform spearheaded by the Secretary-General is bearing fruit. The feedback received from developing countries on how the UN is responding to their development needs is very clear.

     In 2023, 96 percent of host governments said that UN teams on the ground are effectively responding to national priorities for SDG delivery. And 92 percent of host governments said that UN Resident Coordinators effectively lead the delivery of strategic support for national plans and priorities, compared to 79 percent in 2019.

    By leveraging our respective expertise and capacities, we can maximise synergies between Global Gateway priorities and the key transitions required for SDG acceleration.
    In complex settings, your leadership, alongside that of the Resident Coordinators, is equally critical to strengthening the coherence between humanitarian, development and peacebuilding action to enable early development investments and to help countries return to a development path.

    Together, we can promote development partners’ coordination mechanisms that are adapted to the country’s context and enable alignment of development investments with national priorities and the SDGs.

    By leveraging our respective convening power, we can scale up collaboration with governments and the national financing ecosystems, as well as International Financing Institutions and multilateral development banks – using existing tools such as the Integrated National Financing Frameworks.

    By challenging business as usual, beyond siloed or project-based models, we can — and we must— develop multistakeholder platforms for innovative financing and policy support.

    Excellencies,
    The challenges are immense but not insurmountable.

    Our strong partnership with the EU gives me hope.

    By strengthening our partnership even further, we can turn the Pact for the Future’s ambition for the SDGs into concrete, life-changing results across the globe.

    But the time for acceleration is now.

    Let us act boldly for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future where no one is left behind.

    Thank you.

    .

    .
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Precision Drilling Announces 2024 Fourth Quarter and Year End Unaudited Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This news release contains “forward-looking information and statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. For a full disclosure of the forward-looking information and statements and the risks to which they are subject, see the “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements” later in this news release. This news release contains references to certain Financial Measures and Ratios, including Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on acquisition, loss on investments and other assets, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations, Net Capital Spending, Working Capital and Total Long-term Financial Liabilities. These terms do not have standardized meanings prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. See “Financial Measures and Ratios” later in this news release.

    Financial Highlights and 2025 Capital Allocation Plans

    • Revenue in the fourth quarter was $468 million, an 8% decrease from 2023 as activity increases in Canadian drilling, well servicing, and international were more than offset by lower activity and day rates in the U.S.
    • Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $121 million in the quarter and included $15 million of share-based compensation charges, $4 million for rig reactivation costs and $4 million of non-recurring charges. In 2023, fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million and included share-based compensation charges of $13 million.
    • Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $15 million or $1.06 per share in the fourth quarter compared to $147 million or $10.42 per share as net earnings in 2023 included an income tax recovery of $69 million and a gain on acquisition of $26 million.
    • In 2024, we invested $217 million into our fleet and infrastructure, including multiple contracted rig upgrades and the strategic purchase of drill pipe for use in 2025. We expect to invest $225 million into our fleet and infrastructure in 2025, which may fluctuate with activity levels and customer contract upgrade opportunities.
    • For the year ended December 31, 2024, we achieved our annual debt reduction and return of shareholder capital targets, reducing debt by $176 million and repurchasing $75 million of common shares while building cash by $20 million. Precision has consistently met or exceeded its capital allocation goals since implementation in 2016.
    • For 2025, we expect to reduce debt by at least $100 million in 2025 and have increased our long-term debt reduction target to $700 million and extended our debt reduction period to 2027. In 2025, we plan to increase direct shareholder returns to 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments. To the extent excess cash is generated these allocations may be increased.

    Operational Highlights

    • Demand for our services continues to be strong and in 2024 our Canadian and international drilling rig utilization days increased 12% and 37%, respectively, while our well servicing rig operating hours increased 26% over 2023.
    • In the fourth quarter, Canada’s activity averaged 65 active drilling rigs versus 64 in the same quarter last year. Our Super Triple and Super Single rigs remain in high demand and are nearly fully utilized. Canadian revenue per utilization day was $35,675, up from $34,616 in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Our U.S. activity has remained relatively consistent since mid-2024. We averaged 34 drilling rigs in the fourth quarter with revenue per utilization day of US$30,991 versus 45 drilling rigs at US$34,452 in 2023’s fourth quarter.
    • International activity increased 6% over the same period last year while revenue per utilization day was US$49,636 compared to US$49,872 in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Service rig operating hours in the fourth quarter totaled 59,834, representing a 6% increase over the same quarter last year partially driven by the CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC) acquisition in November of 2023.

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

    “Through 2024 Precision demonstrated remarkable market resilience despite weaker than expected U.S. customer demand and late year customer budget exhaustion in Canada. We continued our long-term record of meeting or exceeding our capital allocation targets every year since 2016 with $176 million of debt reduction, $75 million of share buybacks, while increasing our cash balance by $20 million. In the fourth quarter, approximately $8 million of reactivation costs and non-recurring items impacted our financial results, along with slightly lower than expected Canadian customer demand. Despite these fourth quarter headwinds we continued investing in our core business lines, including purchasing approximately $18 million of drill pipe in advance of potential tariffs, investing $3 million to begin reactivating two idle Canadian Super Single rigs to meet demand in 2025, and upgrading one rig for Canadian heavy oil pad drilling opportunities.

    “The outlook for Canada remains very strong given robust heavy oil activity following the startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in May 2024 and the imminent startup of LNG Canada in mid-2025. My enthusiasm is further underpinned by the pace of rig reactivations following the seasonal Christmas break and the stable winter activity we have experienced to date with 81 rigs working since mid-January. The uncertainty introduced by potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian oil and gas exports, has been tempered and we have not experienced any change in customer demand or their longer-term capital spending plans.

    “In Canada, our drilling utilization days increased 12% over 2023 and our Super Triple and Super Single rigs, which represent approximately 80% of our Canadian fleet, are nearly fully utilized. Demand for our Super Triple fleet, which is the preferred rig for Montney drilling, is driven by robust condensate fundamentals and the startup of LNG Canada this year. Demand for our Super Single fleet is driven by increased activity in heavy oil targeted areas as customers are benefiting from improved commodity pricing, following the startup of Trans Mountain, and a softening Canadian dollar.

    “Internationally, our drilling utilization days increased 37% in 2024 following the recertification and reactivation of four rigs in 2023. In 2024, we had eight rigs working on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next few years.

    “In our Completion and Production Services business, our well servicing operating hours increased 26% over 2023 levels following the successful integration of CWC, where we achieved significant operating synergies. Our Completion and Production Services Adjusted EBITDA increased 30% year over year, which was slightly below our expectation due to late year customer budget exhaustion impacting our activity and rental business. I am very pleased with how we have transformed our Completion and Production Services business with two strategic tuck-in acquisitions. The High Arctic and CWC acquisitions more than doubled our Completion and Production revenue and Adjusted EBITDA since 2021 and solidified Precision as the premier well service provider in Canada.

    “During the year, Precision generated $482 million of cash provided by operations, allowing us to meet our capital return targets and invest $217 million into our fleet and infrastructure, which included multiple drilling rig upgrades and the strategic purchase of drill pipe for use in 2025. We expect to invest approximately $225 million in 2025, which reflects a weaker Canadian dollar and includes expected customer funded upgrades across our North American operations, including approximately $30 million in US fleet upgrades for customers targeting extended reach laterals.

    “With sustained free cash flow as a key differentiator of our business, we remain focused on reducing debt and increasing direct returns to shareholders. In 2025, we expect to reduce debt by at least $100 million, reinforcing our commitment to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of below 1.0 times. As we continue to realize the benefits of lower debt levels, we have increased our long-term debt reduction target by $100 million to $700 million and extended the debt reduction period by one year to 2027. In 2025, our goal is to increase our direct capital returns to shareholders by allocating 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, while continuing to move towards 50% of free cash flow thereafter, with excess cash potentially used to increase these allocations.

    “I would like to thank our employees for their dedication and commitment to serving our customers, and our shareholders for their continued support. With positive long-term fundamentals associated with global oil and natural gas demand and particularly the unique fundamentals driving drilling activity in our core geographic markets, I am confident we will continue to drive shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Neveu.

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

    SELECT FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION
    Financial Highlights

      For the three months ended
    December 31,    		     For the year ended
    December 31,    		  
    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)   2024       2023     % Change       2024       2023     % Change  
    Revenue   468,171       506,871       (7.6 )     1,902,328       1,937,854       (1.8 )
    Adjusted EBITDA(1)   120,526       151,231       (20.3 )     521,221       611,118       (14.7 )
    Net earnings   14,930       146,722       (89.8 )     111,330       289,244       (61.5 )
    Net earnings attributable to shareholders   14,795       146,722       (89.9 )     111,195       289,244       (61.6 )
    Cash provided by operations   162,791       170,255       (4.4 )     482,083       500,571       (3.7 )
    Funds provided by operations(1)   120,535       145,189       (17.0 )     463,372       533,409       (13.1 )
                                       
    Cash used in investing activities   61,954       57,627       7.5       202,986       214,784       (5.5 )
    Capital spending by spend category(1)                                  
    Expansion and upgrade   21,565       24,459       (11.8 )     52,066       63,898       (18.5 )
    Maintenance and infrastructure   37,335       54,388       (31.4 )     164,632       162,851       1.1  
    Proceeds on sale   (8,570 )     (3,117 )     174.9       (30,395 )     (23,841 )     27.5  
    Net capital spending(1)   50,330       75,730       (33.5 )     186,303       202,908       (8.2 )
                                       
    Net earnings attributable to shareholders per share:                                  
    Basic   1.06       10.42       (89.8 )     7.81       21.03       (62.8 )
    Diluted   1.06       9.81       (89.2 )     7.81       19.53       (60.0 )
    Weighted average shares outstanding:                                  
    Basic   13,982       14,084       (0.7 )     14,229       13,754       3.5  
    Diluted   13,987       15,509       (9.8 )     14,234       15,287       (6.9 )

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”
    Operating Highlights

      For the three months ended
    December 31,    		     For the year ended
    December 31,    		  
      2024     2023     % Change     2024     2023     % Change  
    Contract drilling rig fleet   214       214       –       214       214       –  
    Drilling rig utilization days:                                  
    U.S.   3,084       4,138       (25.5 )     12,969       17,961       (27.8 )
    Canada   6,018       5,909       1.8       23,685       21,156       12.0  
    International   736       693       6.2       2,928       2,132       37.3  
    Revenue per utilization day:                                  
    U.S. (US$)   30,991       34,452       (10.0 )     32,531       35,040       (7.2 )
    Canada (Cdn$)   35,675       34,616       3.1       34,797       33,151       5.0  
    International (US$)   49,636       49,872       (0.5 )     51,227       50,840       0.8  
    Operating costs per utilization day:                                  
    U.S. (US$)   21,698       21,039       3.1       22,009       20,401       7.9  
    Canada (Cdn$)   21,116       19,191       10.0       20,424       19,225       6.2  
                                       
    Service rig fleet   170       183       (7.1 )     170       183       (7.1 )
    Service rig operating hours   59,834       56,683       5.6       254,224       201,627       26.1  

    Drilling Activity

      Average for the quarter ended 2023   Average for the quarter ended 2024  
      Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31  
    Average Precision active rig count(1):                                              
    U.S.   60       51       41       45       38       36       35       34  
    Canada   69       42       57       64       73       49       72       65  
    International   5       5       6       8       8       8       8       8  
    Total   134       98       104       117       119       93       115       107  

    (1) Average number of drilling rigs working or moving. 

    Financial Position

    (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except ratios) December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023(2)  
    Working capital(1)   162,592       136,872  
    Cash   73,771       54,182  
    Long-term debt   812,469       914,830  
    Total long-term financial liabilities(1)   888,173       995,849  
    Total assets   2,956,315       3,019,035  
    Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio (1)   0.33       0.37  

    (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”
    (2) Comparative period figures were restated due to a change in accounting policy. See “CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY.”

    Summary for the three months ended December 31, 2024:

    • Revenue decreased to $468 million compared with $507 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of lower U.S. activity and day rates, partially offset by higher Canadian and international activity.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $121 million in the quarter and included $15 million of share-based compensation charges, $4 million for rig reactivation costs and $4 million of non-recurring charges. In 2023, fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million and included share-based compensation of $13 million. Please refer to “Other Items” later in this news release for additional information on share-based compensation charges.
    • Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was 26% as compared with 30% in 2023.
    • Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $15 million compared to $147 million in the same quarter last year as net earnings in 2023 included an income tax recovery of $69 million and a gain on acquisition of $26 million.
    • Generated cash provided by operations of $163 million, reduced debt by $25 million through the partial redemption of our 2026 unsecured senior notes and repayment of our U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility, repurchased $25 million of common shares under our Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB), and ended the quarter with $74 million of cash and more than $575 million of available liquidity.
    • U.S. revenue per utilization day, excluding the impact of idle but contracted rigs was US$30,813 compared with US$32,819 in 2023, a decrease of 6%. Sequentially, revenue per utilization day, excluding idle but contracted rigs, was down 6% compared with the third quarter of 2024. Fourth quarter U.S. revenue per utilization day was US$30,991 compared with US$34,452 in 2023. The decrease was primarily the result of lower fleet average day rates, idle but contracted rig revenue and recoverable costs. We recognized US$1 million of revenue from idle but contracted rigs in the quarter as compared with US$7 million in 2023.
    • U.S. operating costs per utilization day increased to US$21,698 compared with US$21,039 in 2023. The increase was mainly due to higher rig operating costs and fixed costs spread over lower activity, offset by lower recoverable costs and repairs and maintenance. Sequentially, operating costs per utilization day were down 2% due to lower recoverable costs.
    • Canadian revenue per utilization day was $35,675, an increase from the $34,616 realized in 2023 due to higher average day rates and recoverable costs. Sequentially, revenue per utilization day increased $3,350 due to higher boiler revenue and higher fleet-wide average day rates.
    • Canadian operating costs per utilization day increased to $21,116, compared with $19,191 in 2023, resulting from higher repairs and maintenance, rig reactivation costs and impact of labour rate increases. Sequentially, daily operating costs increased $1,668 and were the result of higher labour expenses due to rate increases, recoverable expenses and repairs and maintenance.
    • Internationally, fourth quarter revenue increased 6% from 2023 as we realized revenue of US$37 million versus US$35 million in the prior year. Our higher revenue was primarily the result of a 6% increase in activity, which was negatively impacted by a planned rig recertification accounting for 21 non-billable utilization days in October. International revenue per utilization day was US$49,636 compared with US$49,872 in 2023.
    • Completion and Production Services revenue was $69 million, an increase of $6 million from 2023, as our fourth quarter service rig operating hours increased 6%, reflecting the successful integration of the CWC acquisition in November 2023.
    • General and administrative expenses were $35 million as compared with $39 million in 2023 primarily due to lower non-recurring costs associated with our CWC acquisition in 2023, partially offset by higher share-based compensation charges.
    • Net finance charges were $16 million, a decrease of $3 million compared with 2023 as a result of lower interest expense on our outstanding debt balance.
    • Capital expenditures were $59 million compared with $79 million in 2023 and by spend category included $22 million for expansion and upgrades and $37 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure, and intangible assets.
    • Income tax expense for the quarter was $6 million as compared with a recovery of $69 million in 2023. During the fourth quarter, we continue to not recognize deferred tax assets on certain international operating losses.

    Summary for the year ended December 31, 2024:

    • Revenue for the year was $1,902 million, comparable with 2023.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was $521 million as compared with $611 million in 2023. Our lower Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributed to decreased U.S. drilling results and $13 million of higher share-based compensation, partially offset by the strengthening of Canadian and international results.
    • Net earnings attributable to shareholders was $111 million compared to $289 million in the prior year. Our lower current year net earnings was due to the impact of decreased U.S. drilling results, higher income tax expense of $67 million and the gain on acquisition of $26 million recognized in 2023.
    • Cash provided by operations was $482 million as compared with $501 million in 2023. Funds provided by operations were $463 million, a decrease of $70 million from the comparative period.
    • General and administrative costs were $132 million, an increase of $10 million from 2023 primarily due to higher share-based compensation charges.
    • Net finance charges were $70 million, $14 million lower than 2023 due to our lower interest expense on our outstanding debt balance.
    • Capital expenditures were $217 million in 2024, a decrease of $10 million from 2023. Capital spending by spend category included $52 million for expansion and upgrades and $165 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure, and intangible assets.
    • Reduced debt by $176 million from the partial redemption of our 2026 unsecured senior notes and repayment of our Canadian and U.S. Real Estate Credit Facilities.
    • Repurchased $75 million of common shares under our NCIB.

    STRATEGY

    Precision’s vision is to be globally recognized as the High Performance, High Value provider of land drilling services. We work toward this vision by defining and measuring our results against strategic priorities that we establish at the beginning of every year.

    Below we summarize the results of our 2024 strategic priorities:

    1. Concentrate organizational efforts on leveraging our scale and generating free cash flow.
      • Generated cash provided from operations of $482 million, allowing us to meet our debt reduction and share repurchase goals and build our cash balance by $20 million.
      • Increased utilization of our Super Single and tele double rigs, driving Canadian drilling activity up 12% over 2023.
      • Successfully integrated our 2023 CWC acquisition, increasing Completion and Production Services operating hours and Adjusted EBITDA 26% and 30%, respectively, year over year. Achieved our $20 million annual synergies target from the acquisition.
      • Internationally, increased our activity 37% year over year and realized US$150 million of contract drilling revenue compared to US$108 million in 2023.
    2. Reduce debt by between $150 million and $200 million and allocate 25% to 35% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases.
      • Reduced debt by $176 million and ended the year with a Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.4 times. On track to achieve a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times.
      • Returned $75 million to shareholders through share repurchases, achieving the midpoint of our target range.
      • Renewed our NCIB in September, allowing repurchases of up to 10% of the public float.
    3. Continue to deliver operational excellence in drilling and service rig operations to strengthen our competitive position and extend market penetration of our AlphaTMand EverGreenTMproducts.
      • Increased our Canadian drilling rig utilization days and well service rig operating hours year over year, maintaining our position as the leading provider of high-quality and reliable services in Canada.
      • Invested $52 million in expansion and upgrade capital to enhance our drilling rigs.
      • Nearly doubled our EverGreenTM revenue year over year.
      • Continued to expand our EverGreenTM product offering on our Super Single rigs with LED mast lighting and hydrogen injection systems.

    2025 Strategic Priorities

    1. Maximize free cash flow through disciplined capital deployment and strict cost management.
    2. Enhance shareholder returns through debt reduction and share repurchases.
      1. Reduce debt by at least $100 million in 2025 and debt by $700 million between 2022 and 2027, while remaining committed to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times.
      2. Allocate 35% to 45% of free cash flow, before debt repayments, directly to shareholders and continue moving direct shareholder capital returns toward 50% of free cash flow thereafter.
      3. Grow revenue in existing service lines through contracted upgrades, optimized pricing and utilization, and opportunistic consolidating tuck-in acquisitions.

        4. OUTLOOK

        The long-term outlook for global energy demand remains positive with rising demand for all types of energy including oil and natural gas driven by economic growth, increasing demand from third-world regions, and emerging energy sources of power demand. Oil prices are constructive as OPEC+ continues to honour its production quotas, producers remain committed to returning capital to shareholders versus increasing production, and geopolitical issues continue to threaten supply. In Canada, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which became operational in May of 2024, combined with the imminent startup of LNG Canada are projected to provide significant tidewater access for Canadian crude oil and natural gas, supporting additional Canadian drilling activity. In the U.S., the next wave of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals is expected to add approximately 11 bcf/d of export capacity from 2025 to 2028, supporting additional U.S. natural gas drilling activity. Coal retirements and a build-out of artificial intelligence data centers could provide further support for natural gas drilling.

        Our Canadian drilling activity continues to be robust in 2025 and we currently have 81 rigs operating and expect this activity level to continue until spring breakup. Our Super Single fleet is near full utilization as heavy oil customers are benefiting from improved commodity pricing and a weak Canadian dollar. Our Super Triple fleet, the preferred rig for Montney drilling, is also nearly fully utilized, and with the expected startup of LNG Canada in mid-2025, rig demand could exceed supply. Overall, we expect our Canadian drilling activity to be up year over year with near full utilization of our Super Series rigs, which should support day rates and increase demand for term contracts as customers secure rigs to ensure fulfillment of their development programs. The uncertainty introduced by potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian oil and gas exports, has been tempered and we have not experienced any change in customer demand or their longer-term plans.

        In the U.S., we currently have 34 rigs earning revenue, which has been relatively consistent since mid-2024. Drilling activity growth remains constrained as producers continue to focus on shareholder returns rather than growth, while volatile commodity prices, customer consolidation, and drilling and completion efficiencies have restricted activity growth. If commodity prices remain stable and around today’s level, we expect drilling demand to begin to improve in the second half and gain momentum through the remainder of 2025 as new LNG export capacity is added and customers seek to maintain or possibly increase production levels.

        Internationally, we have eight rigs working on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next few years. We continue to bid our remaining idle rigs within the region and remain optimistic in our ability to secure rig reactivations.

        As the premier well service provider in Canada, the outlook for this business remains positive. We expect the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and LNG Canada to drive more service-related activity, while increased regulatory spending requirements are expected to result in more abandonment work. Customer demand should remain strong, and with continued labour constraints, we expect firm pricing into the foreseeable future.

        Contracts

        The following chart outlines the average number of drilling rigs under term contract by quarter as at February 12, 2025. For those quarters ending after December 31, 2024, this chart represents the minimum number of term contracts from which we will earn revenue. We expect the actual number of contracted rigs to vary in future periods as we sign additional term contracts.

        As at February 12, 2025   Average for the quarter ended 2024     Average     Average for the quarter ended 2025     Average  
            Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     2024     Mar. 31     June 30     Sept. 30     Dec. 31     2025  
        Average rigs under term contract:                                                            
        U.S.     20       17       17       16       18       15       13       8       6       11  
        Canada     24       22       23       23       23       20       19       18       14       18  
        International     8       8       8       8       8       8       8       7       7       8  
        Total     52       47       48       47       49       43       40       33       27       37  


        SEGMENTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

        Precision’s operations are reported in two segments: Contract Drilling Services, which includes our drilling rig, oilfield supply and manufacturing divisions; and Completion and Production Services, which includes our service rig, rental and camp and catering divisions.

          For the three months ended December 31,     For the year ended December 31,  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024     2023     % Change       2024     2023     % Change  
        Revenue:                                  
        Contract Drilling Services   402,610       446,503       (9.8 )     1,617,735       1,704,265       (5.1 )
        Completion and Production Services   68,830       62,459       10.2       294,817       240,716       22.5  
        Inter-segment eliminations   (3,269 )     (2,091 )     56.3       (10,224 )     (7,127 )     43.5  
            468,171       506,871       (7.6 )     1,902,328       1,937,854       (1.8 )
        Adjusted EBITDA:(1)                                  
        Contract Drilling Services   125,683       162,459       (22.6 )     532,345       630,761       (15.6 )
        Completion and Production Services   15,895       12,193       30.4       66,681       51,224       30.2  
        Corporate and Other   (21,052 )     (23,421 )     (10.1 )     (77,805 )     (70,867 )     9.8  
            120,526       151,231       (20.3 )     521,221       611,118       (14.7 )

        (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

        SEGMENT REVIEW OF CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES

          For the three months ended
        December 31,        		     For the year ended
        December 31,        		  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)   2024       2023     % Change       2024       2023     % Change  
        Revenue   402,610       446,503       (9.8 )     1,617,735       1,704,265       (5.1 )
        Expenses:                                  
        Operating   264,858       270,303       (2.0 )     1,041,068       1,030,053       1.1  
        General and administrative   12,069       13,741       (12.2 )     44,322       43,451       2.0  
        Adjusted EBITDA(1)   125,683       162,459       (22.6 )     532,345       630,761       (15.6 )
        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)   31.2 %     36.4 %           32.9 %     37.0 %      

        (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

        United States onshore drilling statistics:(1) 2024     2023  
          Precision     Industry(2)     Precision     Industry(2)  
        Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:                      
        March 31   38       602       60       744  
        June 30   36       583       51       700  
        September 30   35       565       41       631  
        December 31   34       569       45       603  
        Year to date average   36       580       49       670  

        (1) United States lower 48 operations only.
        (2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

        Canadian onshore drilling statistics:(1) 2024     2023  
          Precision     Industry(2)     Precision     Industry(2)  
        Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:                      
        March 31   73       208       69       221  
        June 30   49       134       42       117  
        September 30   72       207       57       188  
        December 31   65       194       64       181  
        Year to date average   65       186       58       177  

        (1) Canadian operations only.
        (2) Baker Hughes rig counts.

        SEGMENT REVIEW OF COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES

          For the three months ended
        December 31,        		     For the year ended
        December 31,        		  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where noted)   2024       2023     % Change       2024       2023      % Change  
        Revenue   68,830       62,459       10.2       294,817       240,716       22.5  
        Expenses:                                  
        Operating   50,714       48,297       5.0       217,842       181,622       19.9  
        General and administrative   2,221       1,969       12.8       10,294       7,870       30.8  
        Adjusted EBITDA(1)   15,895       12,193       30.4       66,681       51,224       30.2  
        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue(1)   23.1 %     19.5 %           22.6 %     21.3 %      
        Well servicing statistics:                                  
        Number of service rigs (end of period)   170       183       (7.1 )     170       183       (7.1 )
        Service rig operating hours   59,834       56,683       5.6       254,224       201,627       26.1  
        Service rig operating hour utilization   38 %     38 %           42 %     42 %      

        (1) See “FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS.”

        OTHER ITEMS

        Share-based Incentive Compensation Plans

        We have several cash and equity-settled share-based incentive plans for non-management directors, officers, and other eligible employees. Our accounting policies for each share-based incentive plan can be found in our 2023 Annual Report.

        A summary of expense amounts under these plans during the reporting periods are as follows:

          For the three months ended
        December 31,        		     For the year ended
        December 31,        		  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) 2024     2023     2024     2023  
        Cash settled share-based incentive plans   14,018       11,972       42,828       32,063  
        Equity settled share-based incentive plans   1,071       697       4,588       2,531  
        Total share-based incentive compensation plan expense   15,089       12,669       47,416       34,594  
                               
        Allocated:                      
        Operating   3,709       2,765       11,868       9,497  
        General and Administrative   11,380       9,904       35,548       25,097  
            15,089       12,669       47,416       34,594  


        FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS

        Non-GAAP Financial Measures
        We reference certain Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
        Adjusted EBITDA We believe Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on acquisition, loss on investments and other assets, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization), as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and our reportable operating segment disclosures, is a useful measure because it gives an indication of the results from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.

        The most directly comparable financial measure is net earnings.
          For the three months ended
        December 31,        		     For the year ended
        December 31,        		  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
        Adjusted EBITDA by segment:                      
        Contract Drilling Services   125,683       162,459       532,345       630,761  
        Completion and Production Services   15,895       12,193       66,681       51,224  
        Corporate and Other   (21,052 )     (23,421 )     (77,805 )     (70,867 )
        Adjusted EBITDA   120,526       151,231       521,221       611,118  
        Depreciation and amortization   82,210       78,734       309,314       297,557  
        Gain on asset disposals   (1,913 )     (8,883 )     (16,148 )     (24,469 )
        Loss on asset decommissioning   —       9,592       —       9,592  
        Foreign exchange   1,487       (773 )     2,259       (1,667 )
        Finance charges   16,281       19,468       69,753       83,414  
        Gain on repurchase of unsecured notes   —       —       —       (137 )
        Loss on investments and other assets   1,814       735       1,484       6,810  
        Gain on acquisition   —       (25,761 )     —       (25,761 )
        Incomes taxes   5,717       (68,603 )     43,229       (23,465 )
        Net earnings   14,930       146,722       111,330       289,244  
        Non-controlling interests   135       —       135       —  
        Net earnings attributable to shareholders   14,795       146,722       111,195       289,244  
               
        Funds Provided by (Used in) Operations     We believe funds provided by (used in) operations, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, is a useful measure because it provides an indication of the funds our principal business activities generate prior to consideration of working capital changes, which is primarily made up of highly liquid balances.

        The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) operations.
               
        Net Capital Spending     We believe net capital spending is a useful measure as it provides an indication of our primary investment activities.

        The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) investing activities.

        Net capital spending is calculated as follows:
            For the three months ended
        December 31,        		     For the year ended
        December 31,        		  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)     2024       2023       2024       2023  
        Capital spending by spend category                        
        Expansion and upgrade     21,565       24,459       52,066       63,898  
        Maintenance, infrastructure and intangibles     37,335       54,388       164,632       162,851  
              58,900       78,847       216,698       226,749  
        Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment     (8,570 )     (3,117 )     (30,395 )     (23,841 )
        Net capital spending     50,330       75,730       186,303       202,908  
        Business acquisitions     —       646       —       28,646  
        Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets     —       —       (3,623 )     (10,013 )
        Purchase of investments and other assets     718       61       725       5,343  
        Receipt of finance lease payments     (208 )     (191 )     (799 )     (255 )
        Changes in non-cash working capital balances     11,114       (18,619 )     20,380       (11,845 )
        Cash used in investing activities     61,954       57,627       202,986       214,784  
        Working Capital We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

        Working capital is calculated as follows:
          December 31,     December 31,  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024       2023  
        Current assets   501,284       510,881  
        Current liabilities   338,692       374,009  
        Working capital   162,592       136,872  
        Total Long-term Financial Liabilities We define total long-term financial liabilities as total non-current liabilities less deferred tax liabilities, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

        Total long-term financial liabilities is calculated as follows:
          December 31,     December 31,  
        (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024       2023  
        Total non-current liabilities   935,624       1,069,364  
        Deferred tax liabilities   47,451       73,515  
        Total long-term financial liabilities   888,173       995,849  
        Non-GAAP Ratios
        We reference certain additional Non-GAAP ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
               
        Adjusted EBITDA % of Revenue     We believe Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of consolidated revenue, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings, provides an indication of our profitability from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.
               
        Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity     We believe that long-term debt (as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to long-term debt plus equity (total shareholders’ equity as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) provides an indication of our debt leverage.
               
        Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA     We believe that the Net Debt (long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio provides an indication of the number of years it would take for us to repay our debt obligations.
         
        Supplementary Financial Measures
        We reference certain supplementary financial measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors.
               
        Capital Spending by Spend Category     We provide additional disclosure to better depict the nature of our capital spending. Our capital spending is categorized as expansion and upgrade, maintenance and infrastructure, or intangibles.
               

        CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY

        Precision adopted Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current and Non-current Liabilities with Covenants – Amendments to IAS 1, as issued in 2020 and 2022. These amendments apply retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024 and clarify requirements for determining whether a liability should be classified as current or non-current. Due to this change in accounting policy, there was a retrospective impact on the comparative Statement of Financial Position pertaining to the Corporation’s Deferred Share Unit (DSU) plan for non-management directors which are redeemable in cash or for an equal number of common shares upon the director’s retirement. In the case of a director retiring, the director’s respective DSU liability would become payable and the Corporation would not have the right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months. As such, the liability is impacted by the revised policy. The following changes were made to the Statement of Financial Position:

      • As at January 1, 2023, accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $12 million and non-current share-based compensation liability decreased by $12 million.
      • As at December 31, 2023, accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $8 million and non-current share-based compensation liability decreased by $8 million.

      The Corporation’s other liabilities were not impacted by the amendments. The change in accounting policy will also be reflected in the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ending December 31, 2024.

      PARTNERSHIP

      On September 26, 2024, Precision formed a strategic Partnership with two Indigenous partners to provide well servicing operations in northeast British Columbia. Precision contributed $4 million in assets to the Partnership. Profit attributable to Non-Controlling Interests (NCI) was $0.1 million in 2024.

      Precision holds a controlling interest in the Partnership and the portions of the net earnings and equity not attributable to Precision’s controlling interest are shown separately as NCI in the Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings and Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

      CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

      Certain statements contained in this release, including statements that contain words such as “could”, “should”, “can”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “may”, “continue”, “project”, “potential” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, “forward-looking information and statements”).

      In particular, forward-looking information and statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

      • our strategic priorities for 2025;
      • our capital expenditures, free cash flow allocation and debt reduction plans for 2025 through to 2027;
      • anticipated activity levels, demand for our drilling rigs, day rates and daily operating margins in 2025;
      • the average number of term contracts in place for 2025;
      • customer adoption of AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions;
      • timing and amount of synergies realized from acquired drilling and well servicing assets; and
      • potential commercial opportunities and rig contract renewals.

      These forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by Precision in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These include, among other things:

      • our ability to react to customer spending plans as a result of changes in oil and natural gas prices;
      • the status of current negotiations with our customers and vendors;
      • customer focus on safety performance;
      • existing term contracts are neither renewed nor terminated prematurely;
      • our ability to deliver rigs to customers on a timely basis;
      • the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending; and
      • the general stability of the economic and political environments in the jurisdictions where we operate.

      Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information and statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

      • volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas;
      • fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities;
      • fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
      • our customers’ inability to obtain adequate credit or financing to support their drilling and production activity;
      • changes in drilling and well servicing technology, which could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive advantage;
      • shortages, delays and interruptions in the delivery of equipment supplies and other key inputs;
      • liquidity of the capital markets to fund customer drilling programs;
      • availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed;
      • the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on operations and facilities;
      • competitive operating risks inherent in contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services;
      • ability to improve our rig technology to improve drilling efficiency;
      • general economic, market or business conditions;
      • the availability of qualified personnel and management;
      • a decline in our safety performance which could result in lower demand for our services;
      • changes in laws or regulations, including changes in environmental laws and regulations such as increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing or restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, which could have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas;
      • terrorism, social, civil and political unrest in the foreign jurisdictions where we operate;
      • fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates; and
      • other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Precision and Precision’s ability to respond to such conditions.

      Readers are cautioned that the forgoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to Precision’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, which may be accessed on Precision’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca or under Precision’s EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and Precision undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

      CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   December 31,
      2024      		     December 31,
      2023(1)      		     January 1,
      2023(1)      		  
      ASSETS            
      Current assets:                  
      Cash   $ 73,771     $ 54,182     $ 21,587  
      Accounts receivable     378,712       421,427       413,925  
      Inventory     43,300       35,272       35,158  
      Assets held for sale     5,501       —       —  
      Total current assets     501,284       510,881       470,670  
      Non-current assets:                  
      Income tax recoverable     —       682       1,602  
      Deferred tax assets     6,559       73,662       455  
      Property, plant and equipment     2,356,173       2,338,088       2,303,338  
      Intangibles     12,997       17,310       19,575  
      Right-of-use assets     66,032       63,438       60,032  
      Finance lease receivables     4,806       5,003       —  
      Investments and other assets     8,464       9,971       20,451  
      Total non-current assets     2,455,031       2,508,154       2,405,453  
      Total assets   $ 2,956,315     $ 3,019,035     $ 2,876,123  
                         
      LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                  
      Current liabilities:                  
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 314,355     $ 350,749     $ 404,350  
      Income taxes payable     3,778       3,026       2,991  
      Current portion of lease obligations     20,559       17,386       12,698  
      Current portion of long-term debt     —       2,848       2,287  
      Total current liabilities     338,692       374,009       422,326  
                         
      Non-current liabilities:                  
      Share-based compensation     13,666       16,755       47,836  
      Provisions and other     7,472       7,140       7,538  
      Lease obligations     54,566       57,124       52,978  
      Long-term debt     812,469       914,830       1,085,970  
      Deferred tax liabilities     47,451       73,515       28,946  
      Total non-current liabilities     935,624       1,069,364       1,223,268  
      Equity:                  
      Shareholders’ capital     2,301,729       2,365,129       2,299,533  
      Contributed surplus     77,557       75,086       72,555  
      Deficit     (900,834 )     (1,012,029 )     (1,301,273 )
      Accumulated other comprehensive income     199,020       147,476       159,714  
      Total equity attributable to shareholders     1,677,472       1,575,662       1,230,529  
      Non-controlling interest     4,527       —       —  
      Total equity     1,681,999       1,575,662       1,230,529  
      Total liabilities and equity   $ 2,956,315     $ 3,019,035     $ 2,876,123  

      (1) Comparative period figures were restated due to a change in accounting policy. See “CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICY.”

      CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)

          Three Months Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
                               
                               
      Revenue   $ 468,171     $ 506,871     $ 1,902,328     $ 1,937,854  
      Expenses:                        
      Operating     312,303       316,509       1,248,686       1,204,548  
      General and administrative     35,342       39,131       132,421       122,188  
      Earnings before income taxes, loss on investments and
      other assets, gain on acquisition, gain on repurchase
      of unsecured senior notes, finance charges, foreign
      exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on
      asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization      		     120,526       151,231       521,221       611,118  
      Depreciation and amortization     82,210       78,734       309,314       297,557  
      Gain on asset disposals     (1,913 )     (8,883 )     (16,148 )     (24,469 )
      Loss on asset decommissioning     —       9,592       —       9,592  
      Foreign exchange     1,487       (773 )     2,259       (1,667 )
      Finance charges     16,281       19,468       69,753       83,414  
      Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes     —       —       —       (137 )
      Gain on acquisition     —       (25,761 )     —       (25,761 )
      Loss on investments and other assets     1,814       735       1,484       6,810  
      Earnings before income taxes     20,647       78,119       154,559       265,779  
      Income taxes:                        
      Current     2,811       486       7,470       4,494  
      Deferred     2,906       (69,089 )     35,759       (27,959 )
            5,717       (68,603 )     43,229       (23,465 )
      Net earnings   $ 14,930     $ 146,722     $ 111,330     $ 289,244  
      Attributable to:                        
      Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation   $ 14,795     $ 146,722     $ 111,195     $ 289,244  
      Non-controlling interests   $ 135     $ —     $ 135     $ —  
      Net earnings per share attributable to
      shareholders:      		                        
      Basic   $ 1.06     $ 10.42     $ 7.81     $ 21.03  
      Diluted   $ 1.06     $ 9.81     $ 7.81     $ 19.53  


      CONDENSED       INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

          Three Months Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
      Net earnings   $ 14,930     $ 146,722     $ 111,330     $ 289,244  
      Unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets and liabilities of operations denominated in foreign currency     89,412       (36,755 )     119,821       (33,433 )
      Foreign exchange gain (loss) on net investment hedge with U.S. denominated debt     (49,744 )     22,679       (69,027 )     21,195  
      Tax related to net investment hedge of long-term debt     750       —       750       —  
      Comprehensive income   $ 55,348     $ 132,646     $ 162,874     $ 277,006  
      Attributable to:                        
      Shareholders of Precision Drilling Corporation   $ 55,213     $ 132,646     $ 162,739     $ 277,006  
      Non-controlling interests   $ 135     $ —     $ 135     $ —  


      CONDENSED       INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

          Three Months Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   2024     2023     2024     2023  
      Cash provided by (used in):                        
      Operations:                        
      Net earnings   $ 14,930     $ 146,722     $ 111,330     $ 289,244  
      Adjustments for:                        
      Long-term compensation plans     4,398       (2,541 )     18,888       6,659  
      Depreciation and amortization     82,210       78,734       309,314       297,557  
      Gain on asset disposals     (1,913 )     (8,883 )     (16,148 )     (24,469 )
      Loss on asset decommissioning     —       9,592       —       9,592  
      Foreign exchange     1,477       (853 )     2,442       (866 )
      Finance charges     16,281       19,468       69,753       83,414  
      Income taxes     5,717       (68,603 )     43,229       (23,465 )
      Other     (392 )     (9 )     (272 )     (229 )
      Loss on investments and other assets     1,814       735       1,484       6,810  
      Gain on acquisition     —       (25,761 )     —       (25,761 )
      Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes     —       —       —       (137 )
      Income taxes paid     (1,617 )     (708 )     (6,459 )     (3,103 )
      Income taxes recovered     27       17       85       24  
      Interest paid     (2,806 )     (3,335 )     (72,241 )     (83,037 )
      Interest received     409       614       1,967       1,176  
      Funds provided by operations     120,535       145,189       463,372       533,409  
      Changes in non-cash working capital balances     42,256       25,066       18,711       (32,838 )
      Cash provided by operations     162,791       170,255       482,083       500,571  
                               
      Investments:                        
      Purchase of property, plant and equipment     (58,900 )     (78,582 )     (216,647 )     (224,960 )
      Purchase of intangibles     —       (265 )     (51 )     (1,789 )
      Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment     8,570       3,117       30,395       23,841  
      Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets     —       —       3,623       10,013  
      Business acquisitions     —       (646 )     —       (28,646 )
      Purchase of investments and other assets     (718 )     (61 )     (725 )     (5,343 )
      Receipt of finance lease payments     208       191       799       255  
      Changes in non-cash working capital balances     (11,114 )     18,619       (20,380 )     11,845  
      Cash used in investing activities     (61,954 )     (57,627 )     (202,986 )     (214,784 )
                               
      Financing:                        
      Issuance of long-term debt     17,078       —       27,978       162,649  
      Repayments of long-term debt     (41,813 )     (86,699 )     (204,319 )     (375,237 )
      Repurchase of share capital     (25,023 )     (17,004 )     (75,488 )     (29,955 )
      Issuance of common shares from the exercise of options     —       —       686       —  
      Debt amendment fees     (46 )     —       (1,363 )     —  
      Lease payments     (3,266 )     (3,010 )     (13,271 )     (9,423 )
      Funding from non-controlling interest     —       —       4,392       —  
      Cash used in financing activities     (53,070 )     (106,713 )     (261,385 )     (251,966 )
      Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     1,700       (798 )     1,877       (1,226 )
      Increase in cash     49,467       5,117       19,589       32,595  
      Cash, beginning of period     24,304       49,065       54,182       21,587  
      Cash, end of period   $ 73,771     $ 54,182     $ 73,771     $ 54,182  


      CONDENSED       INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

          Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation              
      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   Shareholders’
      Capital      		     Contributed
      Surplus      		     Accumulated
      Other
      Comprehensive
      Income      		     Deficit     Total     Non-
      controlling
      interest      		     Total
      Equity      		  
      Balance at January 1, 2024   $ 2,365,129     $ 75,086     $ 147,476     $ (1,012,029 )   $ 1,575,662     $ —     $ 1,575,662  
      Net earnings for the period     —       —       —       111,195       111,195       135       111,330  
      Other comprehensive income for the period     —       —       51,544       —       51,544       —       51,544  
      Share options exercised     978       (292 )     —       —       686       —       686  
      Settlement of Executive Performance and Restricted Share Units     21,846       (1,479 )     —       —       20,367       —       20,367  
      Share repurchases     (86,570 )     —       —       —       (86,570 )     —       (86,570 )
      Redemption of non-management directors share units     346       (346 )     —       —       —       —       —  
      Share-based compensation expense     —       4,588       —       —       4,588       —       4,588  
      Funding from non-controlling interest     —       —       —       —       —       4,392       4,392  
      Balance at December 31, 2024   $ 2,301,729     $ 77,557     $ 199,020     $ (900,834 )   $ 1,677,472     $ 4,527     $ 1,681,999  
          Attributable to shareholders of the Corporation              
      (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)   Shareholders’
      Capital      		     Contributed
      Surplus      		     Accumulated
      Other
      Comprehensive
      Income      		     Deficit     Total     Non-
      controlling
      interest      		     Total
      Equity      		  
      Balance at January 1, 2023   $ 2,299,533     $ 72,555     $ 159,714     $ (1,301,273 )   $ 1,230,529     $ —     $ 1,230,529  
      Net earnings for the period     —       —       —       289,244       289,244       —       289,244  
      Other comprehensive income for the period     —       —       (12,238 )     —       (12,238 )     —       (12,238 )
      Acquisition share consideration     75,588       —       —       —       75,588       —       75,588  
      Settlement of Executive Performance and Restricted Share Units     19,206       —       —       —       19,206       —       19,206  
      Share repurchases     (29,955 )     —       —       —       (29,955 )     —       (29,955 )
      Redemption of non-management directors share units     757       —       —       —       757       —       757  
      Share-based compensation expense     —       2,531       —       —       2,531       —       2,531  
      Balance at December 31, 2023   $ 2,365,129     $ 75,086     $ 147,476     $ (1,012,029 )   $ 1,575,662     $ —     $ 1,575,662  


      2024 FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

      Precision Drilling Corporation has scheduled a conference call and webcast to begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET) on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

      To participate in the conference call please register at the URL link below. Once registered, you will receive a dial-in number and a unique PIN, which will allow you to ask questions.

      https://register.vevent.com/register/BI9168b4c0516f4409ab4f297340994ebc

      The call will also be webcast and can be accessed through the link below. A replay of the webcast call will be available on Precision’s website for 12 months.

      https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/8hij84aa

      About Precision

      Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as Alpha™ that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel.

      Precision is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PD” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “PDS”.

      Additional Information

      For further information, please contact:

      Lavonne Zdunich, CPA, CA
      Vice President, Investor Relations
      403.716.4500

      800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W.
      Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1
      Website: www.precisiondrilling.com

      The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘It’s a house battery you can drive around’ – how a handful of Australians are selling power back to the grid from their cars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney

    24K-Productions

    Our cars sit unused most of the time. If you have an electric vehicle, you might leave it charging at home or work after driving it. But there’s another step you could take. If you have a bidirectional charger, you can set it to sell power back to the grid when demand is high.

    Fewer than ten people across Australia actually do this, because the technology – known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) – is very new. To date, it only works with a single car model (Nissan LEAF) and a single charger (Wallbox Quasar 1). We’ve estimated the number of users based on sales of this charger. The chargers are expensive and there’s a thicket of regulations to navigate.

    But that could soon change. Last year, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen announced new Australian standards and communications protocols for bidirectional chargers in a bid to make it mainstream. Cheaper EVs and bidirectional chargers will make this more appealing.

    If it takes off, V2G could become extremely useful to the power grid as a way to release power as required and stabilise the grid against fluctuations.

    This week, Australia’s renewable energy agency released a V2G roadmap, which notes widespread uptake could “materially reduce electricity costs for consumers and accelerate national emissions reduction”.

    To understand why people are using the technology and the challenges to do so, we interviewed five early adopters from New South Wales and South Australia. Our findings are released today.

    A bidirectional charger is necessary to sell power back to the grid.
    doublelee/Shutterstock

    Setting up V2G isn’t easy

    Our interviewees reported a long, complex journey to set up V2G. These early adopters had no playbook to follow, so the process was one of trial and error.

    Some relied on professional networks or social media groups to gather information. They spent significant time and energy finding electricians, installers and charger manufacturers to set up their systems. Strata approvals were required. They also had to negotiate with power retailers and distributors.

    Delays were common, especially when seeking approval from the energy distributor. Some interviewees reported delays of months to years.

    Most interviewees had experience in a technical field such as engineering or technology. Some reported a significant learning curve, while others using new software from their retailer reported a smoother “set and forget” process.

    So why do it? Our interviewees had several reasons, ranging from getting the most out of expensive assets (solar and the EV) to offsetting power bills entirely.

    Four out of five interviewees reported making a small profit of about A$1,000 annually instead of a bill. Many wanted to be able to reduce dependence on the grid and reduce their environmental impact.

    As one told us:

    you originally think of it as a car you can also use to power your house. [But actually] it’s a house battery you can drive around.

    Maximising savings

    Typically, our interviewees plugged their car in at home during the day to charge from their rooftop solar. In the evenings when power prices peaked, they used an app to sell power back to the grid. This maximised their cost savings for charging the car battery and their earnings from the grid.

    For instance, a V2G user was alerted by their energy retailer that power prices had spiked to over $20 per kilowatt hour – far above normal rates of 25–45 cents. They immediately set their car and home battery to sell power back to the grid. In two hours, they sold 28 kilowatt hours of power to the grid and made more than $560. As they told us: “I look forward to more such events.”

    Our interviewees often monitored energy prices, solar output and car battery levels to optimise their output. To avoid their EV battery getting too low, they set a lower limit – say 30% of charge – after which their car would stop exporting power.

    This photo shows the setup of one of our early adopter interviewees. Pictured is the Nissan LEAF and bidirectional charger. For years, this has been the only car model compatible with vehicle to grid, but this is set to change.
    Author provided, CC BY-NC-ND

    Is there a downside?

    One of the main reasons people are sceptical of V2G is due to concern about accelerated degradation of the battery.

    This is a common concern. But to date, there’s no consensus showing V2G shortens the battery life of EVs significantly. One recent study shows it increases degradation by 0.3% a year. But another showed V2G might actually extend battery life in some scenarios.

    Last year, we surveyed more than 1,300 members of a motoring organisation about their view of V2G technology. We found battery warranty was a bigger concern than battery life. This is because most EV manufacturers other than Nissan don’t mention V2G in their battery warranties, leading drivers to believe they might void their warranty by using V2G.

    Awareness of V2G technology is growing. The survey also found almost 40% of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with V2G, a jump from the 17% who reported familiarity in 2022. Among EV owners, almost 90% reported knowledge of the concept.

    Moving beyond early adopters

    For V2G to go mainstream, the process must be much simpler, cheaper and easier to set up.

    To accelerate uptake, reliable, accessible information is essential.

    Expanding government incentive programs to include bidirectional chargers would cut the upfront cost and make it more accessible.

    Even within the EV supply chain, knowledge of V2G is limited. Car dealerships will need to know which models work with V2G.

    Electricians may need specific training to install and maintain these chargers.

    EVs are falling in price as manufacturers vie for market share and cheaper options become available. V2G capabilities might help boost sales for competing car companies.

    As more motorists switch to EVs, interest in V2G will increase. While V2G can boost the appeal of EVs, there are others, such as Vehicle-to-Home (using your car to power your home during blackouts or to save money) and Vehicle-to-Load (using your EV to run power tools or appliances).

    Each of these can help consumers get more value from the vehicles parked in driveways and garages.

    Scott Dwyer receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    Scott Dwyer receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    Kriti Nagrath receives funding from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre and the NRMA for this project.

    – ref. ‘It’s a house battery you can drive around’ – how a handful of Australians are selling power back to the grid from their cars – https://theconversation.com/its-a-house-battery-you-can-drive-around-how-a-handful-of-australians-are-selling-power-back-to-the-grid-from-their-cars-249696

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: USAID Cuts – Uncertainty around PEPFAR program puts millions of people at risk – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    New York/Johannesburg/Brussels, February 13, 2025 — The decision by the US government to temporarily freeze funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) alongside all other foreign aid for at least a 90-day period has had immediate effects on people living with HIV (PLHIV), said Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) today. Although the US has since clarified that certain treatment programs can continue at least until April, we are concerned that critical elements of the PEPFAR program remain frozen.

    “More than three weeks since the US government froze PEPFAR funding, there is still widespread confusion and uncertainty as to whether this critical lifeline for millions of people has been cut off,” said Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA. “Despite a limited waiver covering some activities, what our teams are seeing in many of the countries where we work is that people have already lost access to lifesaving care and have no idea whether or when their treatment will continue. MSF is calling on the US government to immediately resume funding for the full range of PEPFAR operations as well as other critical health and humanitarian aid.”

    On February 1, after over a week of chaos and a freeze of activities, the US government issued a limited waiver allowing for the resumption of some programming with specific guidance for HIV. However, that guidance was unclear, and it did not immediately reach PEPFAR country teams. Across our broad network, MSF did not see a single organization able to resume work as a result of this limited guidance on waivers. On February 6, the US government issued clarified guidance on HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programs.

    However, we remain concerned that key areas of HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support are not included in this additional guidance, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all vulnerable groups, including LGBTQ people and sex workers, specific interventions for adolescents girls and young women in high prevalence countries, and community-led monitoring programs. These services are essential to ensuring a successful response to the epidemic.

    While MSF does not accept US government funding and will not be directly affected by cuts or freezes to PEPFAR, many of our activities are contingent on the programs that have been interrupted. In some places we’ve had to adapt and change our activities and the indirect effects of these freezes have already been felt in our projects in various parts of the world.

    In Sub-Saharan Africa, where MSF runs several HIV/AIDS and related health programs, we are already witnessing impacts on patients. In South Africa, many clinics providing HIV services, including testing, treatment, and PrEP through PEPFAR-funded organizations have been shuttered, leaving people confused and distressed about where to access their critical medication. In Mozambique, a major partner organization of MSF that provided comprehensive HIV services had to stop activities completely. In Zimbabwe, most organizations providing HIV services have also stopped work, disrupting in particular the DREAMS program aimed at decreasing new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women.

    “Any interruption to HIV services and treatment is deeply distressing to people in care and an emergency when it comes to HIV treatment,” said Tom Ellman, director of the South Africa Medical Unit at MSF Southern Africa. “HIV medicines must be taken daily or people run the risk of developing resistance or deadly health complications.”

    In Democratic Republic of Congo, the aid freeze was already affecting the most successful model of antiretroviral drug distribution ever implemented in the capital city of Kinshasa: the community-run free distribution and peer support points, known locally as “PODIs”. In a country where stigma against people living with HIV is massive and poverty remains a barrier to care, PODIs have proven to be a medically necessary approach for addressing delays or therapy abandonment. With PEPFAR-supported points of care now closed and other activities frozen, thousands of people were left without support and with a high risk of developing advanced HIV. MSF teams supporting advanced HIV disease care in Kinshasa might not be able to meet the increased demand if disruptions persist.

    In South Sudan, approximately 51 percent of people living with HIV know their status, and 47 percent are on treatment. A discontinuation of this program will have devastating effects on thousands of people and their communities.  MSF has worked alongside PEPFAR providing essential HIV care in this context and has seen firsthand how this program saves lives. The support of PEPFAR in this country is critical.

    PEPFAR-supported programming is deeply interconnected with and reliant on other components of the US foreign aid system, specifically implementation support provided by USAID and technical and other assistance provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Given that the foreign aid freeze and stop-work orders continue to affect these other agencies, and staff from these agencies have been put on immediate leave or recalled, it is unclear when and how even the limited activities now allowed will be able to restart.

    “These disruptions will cost lives and upend years of progress against this virus,” said Benoit. “Every day that passes is an emergency for millions of people for whom PEPFAR is a lifeline.”

    PEPFAR-supported programming has been heavily integrated into key aspects of the broader health systems of partner countries over the last 20 plus years and as a result the consequences of these disruptions have been far-reaching. For this reason, some of the services affected go beyond purely HIV treatment and prevention, such as in Uganda, where PEPFAR-funded aspects of infectious disease surveillance and response, including for Ebola virus, have been stopped.

    “When MSF first started treating people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 years ago, there were no ARV medicines on the shelves, every diagnosis felt like a death sentence, and communities were desperately trying to curb the virus’ spread,” said Ellman.

    Since then, PEPFAR support has helped save more than 25 million lives and encouraged the fight against HIV to be a truly global one. But continued success relies on continued access to the full range of HIV-related programs, services, and goods including prevention services and treatment, population-specific and targeted programs, programs related to gender-based violence, and other critical areas, said MSF.

    As health care providers, we are deeply concerned by these disruptions to this lifesaving program.

    “Even temporary interruptions to key components of PEPFAR will harm people at risk of acquiring HIV and people living with HIV,” said Benoît. “We urge the US government to immediately resume all funding of critical humanitarian and health aid, including the full range of PEPFAR operations.”

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Welcomes First Stars of Valor Veterans Fellow in U.S. Senate

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is announcing Clayton Brown of Bondurant, Iowa will join his state staff as a veterans fellow and the first-ever participant of the U.S. Senate’s Stars of Valor Veterans Fellowship program. Brown, a U.S. Army veteran, will work directly with Iowa veterans and serve as a liaison with Veterans Service Organizations and other veterans service providers. He will attend local events and help Iowa veterans navigate federal agencies and facilitate connections with local medical services, employment opportunities and other community resources.  
    “During my 99 county meetings, I often hear about the challenges veterans face when they reintegrate into civilian life. Having a community outreach officer dedicated solely to Iowa veterans allows me to better address their needs and concerns,” Grassley said. “I’m glad to have Clayton join my dedicated team of caseworkers to help ensure the federal government fulfills its promises to the men and women who have served our country in uniform. A graduate of Colfax-Mingo High School, Clayton served for a decade as a unit supply specialist and brings important perspective to his new role serving our state’s hometown heroes.” 
    “I am deeply honored for the opportunity to represent Senator Grassley and Iowa veterans,” Brown said. 
    Background:
    A decade ago, Grassley created veterans fellow positions to add more eyes and ears on the ground to strengthen the process of representative government and focus on Iowa veterans’ unmet needs. Grassley’s office is the first in the U.S. Senate to utilize the Stars of Valor Veterans Fellowships program authorized in the 117th and 118th Congresses. 
    The Stars of Valor Fellowship Program provides two-year, paid fellowship opportunities in the U.S. Senate for qualifying veterans, eligible wounded or disabled veterans, active-duty military spouses and Gold Star families. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Longtime Champion of the False Claims Act, Urges AG Bondi to Fully Review Biden-Harris DOJ’s Pending Qui Tam Case Dismissals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of legislation that significantly strengthened the False Claims Act (FCA), is urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately halt pending FCA qui tam case dismissals issued under the Biden-Harris administration and conduct a full review to ensure decisions were made appropriately and in accordance with the facts and law. According to the DOJ, in 2024 qui tam FCA cases yielded the lion’s share of recoveries, recouping $2.4 billion out of the $2.9 billion recovered.
    “The False Claims Act (FCA) is our Nation’s greatest tool to fight and deter government fraud and return money to the taxpayers. A critical part of the FCA is its qui tam provision, which allows whistleblowers who typically have inside knowledge of fraudulent conduct to sue on the government’s behalf,” Grassley wrote.
    Last year, Grassley wrote two letters to the Biden-Harris DOJ requesting information on the Department’s standards for dismissing FCA qui tam cases in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that DOJ may dismiss at any point during the litigation. Grassley raised concerns that the DOJ will be emboldened to dismiss qui tam cases, even years into the process and for reasons unrelated to the merits, after initially declining to intervene. The Biden-Harris DOJ failed to respond to either letter.
    “The Biden-Harris Justice Department’s failure to provide transparency into the process and standards it used to dismiss qui tam cases after initially declining to intervene raises questions with respect to whether fraudsters were potentially let off the hook at significant cost to the taxpayers,” Grassley continued.
    In her response to Grassley’s questions for the record, AG Bondi confirmed that she “will ensure the Department makes [FCA] dismissal decisions only as appropriate and in accordance with the relevant facts and law.” Grassley cited Bondi’s response in his letter and urged the DOJ to withdraw motions that do not align with the facts and the law.
    Text of Grassley’s letter to Attorney General Bondi follows: 
    February 7, 2025
    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
    The Honorable Pamela J. BondiAttorney GeneralDepartment of Justice
    Dear Attorney General Bondi:
    The False Claims Act (FCA) is our Nation’s greatest tool to fight and deter government fraud and return money to the taxpayers.  A critical part of the FCA is its qui tam provision which allows whistleblowers, who typically have inside knowledge of fraudulent conduct, to sue on the government’s behalf.[1]  Since the updates I authored to the qui tam provision were enacted into law, the FCA has recovered over $78 billion in taxpayer dollars and saved billions more by deterring would be fraudsters.[2]  According to Justice Department statistics, in 2024 FCA cases recovered more than $2.9 billion lost to fraud.[3]  Of that $2.9 billion, over $2.4 billion came from qui tam cases.[4]
    On March 6 and May 9, 2024, I wrote to the Biden-Harris Justice Department requesting information and statistics concerning the Department’s dismissal of FCA qui tam cases after the Supreme Court’s June 16, 2023, decision in United States Ex Rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc., et al.[5]   In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the Justice Department may dismiss a qui tam case at any point, so long as they first intervene.[6]  I am concerned that the Justice Department, after initially declining to intervene in a case, will now be emboldened to intervene at any point in litigation – even years into litigation – and dismiss FCA cases for reasons unrelated to the merits.[7]  My March and May letters were similar to my September 4, 2019, letter to then-Attorney General Barr requesting information about the Justice Department’s implementation of their new FCA dismissal policy, known as the “Granston Memorandum,” and its vague instructions that could potentially lead to a greater number of qui tam cases being dismissed for reasons unrelated to their merits.[8]  On December 19, 2019, then-Attorney General Barr responded to my letter and provided the list of cases I requested where the government moved to dismiss.[9]   However, the Biden-Harris Justice Department failed to respond to both of my letters. 
    The Biden-Harris Justice Department’s failure to provide transparency into the process and standards it used to dismiss qui tam cases after initially declining to intervene raises questions with respect to whether fraudsters were potentially let off the hook at significant cost to the taxpayers.  The process and standards the Biden-Harris administration used in determining whether to intervene and dismiss FCA cases post-Polansky may not align with the priorities of the current administration.
    In your response to my questions for the record about FCA dismissals, you stated “I will c decisions only as appropriate and in accordance with the relevant facts and law.”[10]  Accordingly, I strongly urge you to immediately halt all pending dismissals and conduct a review of all qui tam cases from June 2023 to the present with pending Biden-Harris Justice Department motions to dismiss to ensure that the decisions were made “only as appropriate and in accordance with the relevant facts and law.”  Should these motions to dismiss not align with the facts and the law, the Justice Department must withdraw them. In addition, I request that you provide responses to my March 6 and May 9 letters, which the Biden-Harris Justice Department failed to answer, which I’ve enclosed along with copies of my September 2019 letter to Attorney General Barr and his response.
    Thank you for your prompt review and responses. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Randolph on my Committee staff at (202) 224-7708.
    Sincerely,
    Charles E. GrassleyChairmanCommittee on the Judiciary

    [1] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(c).
    [2] Department of Justice, False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $2.9B in Fiscal Year 2024, Press Release (Jan. 15, 2025) https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/false-claims-act-settlements-and-judgments-exceed-29b-fiscal-year-2024.
    [3] Id.
    [4] Id.
    [5] United States, ex rel. Polansky v. Exec. Health Res., Inc., 599 U.S. 419, 143 S. Ct. 1720, 216 L. Ed. 2d 370 (2023) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-1052_fd9g.pdf.
    [6] Id.
    [7] G. Norman Acker III, John H. Lawrence, Michael H. Phillips, Supreme Court Affirms Government’s Broad Dismissal Authority In False Claims Act Suits, US Health Care and FDA Alert (Jul. 5, 2023) https://www.klgates.com/Supreme-Court-Affirms-Governments-Broad-Dismissal-Authority-in-False-Claims-Act-Suits-7-5-2023; see also Tirzah S. Lollar and Megan Pieper, DOJ Flexes Its Post-Polansky (c)(2)(A) Muscles and Moves To Dismiss Qui Tam Midway Through Discovery, Qui Notes: Unlocking the False Claims Act (Mar. 19, 2024) https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/blogs/fca-qui-notes/posts/2024/03/doj-flexes-post-polansky-muscles; Brenna E. Jenny and Matt Bergs, First Court of Appeals to Apply Polansky Upholds DOJ’s Dismissal, FCA Blog (Aug. 8, 2024) https://fcablog.sidley.com/2023/08/08/first-court-of-appeals-to-apply-polansky-upholds-dojs-dismissal/; Paula Ramer and Alejandra C. Uria, Another One Bites the Dust: The Government Secures Its Third Federal Qui Tam Dismissal Under Its Broad (c)(2)(A) Authority Since Polansky, Qui Notes: Unlocking the False Claims Act (Apr. 23, 2024) https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/blogs/fca-qui-notes/posts/2024/04/another-one-bites-the-dust.
    [8] Letter from Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley to Attorney Barr re: Granston Memo, (Sep. 4, 2019) https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2019-09-04%20CEG%20to%20DOJ%20(FCA%20dismissals).pdf.
    [9] Letter from the Justice Department to Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley re: Granston Memo, (Dec. 19, 2019) https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/-/media/files/perspectives/publications/2020/01/doj-response-to-senator-grassley.pdf.
    [10] On file with Committee staff.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Cantwell Reintroduce Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Prices, Drive PBM Accountability

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, are reintroducing two bipartisan bills to combat the high cost of prescription drugs and provide greater transparency of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
    “Iowans are fed up with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs and eager for Congress to act to put a stop to pharmacy benefit managers’ shady practices. These bipartisan legislative solutions will bring much-needed transparency to prescription drug pricing and ensure the federal government can effectively target the abusive practices that unfairly drive up drug costs,” Grassley said.  
    “For too long, Americans have been left in the dark while PBMs – the mysterious middlemen – manipulate prescription drug prices. We need to hold PBMs accountable for skyrocketing drug costs. With these bipartisan bills, I’m continuing to fight for accountability and transparency in the drug market so we can shine a light on unfair practices and make sure patients get a fair deal on the medications they need,” Cantwell said.
    Prescription Pricing for the People Act:
    This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to complete a 6(b) study examining the effects of consolidation on pricing in the PBM industry, as well as other potentially abusive behavior by PBMs. The bill instructs the FTC to provide policy recommendations to Congress to improve competition and protect consumers.
    Grassley has welcomed the FTC’s interim staff reports on opaque PBM practices. The interim staff reports are a direct result of Grassley’s prior requests for a 6(b) study on potential anti-competitive practices in the prescription drug industry, as well as his bipartisan demands for a status update in light of FTC’s significant delays. Once passed, this legislation will bring the FTC 6(b) study to completion. The bill falls within the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
    Additional cosponsors are Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and James Lankford (R-Okla.).
    The bipartisan proposal is supported by the AARP, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Pharmacists Association, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Community Oncology Alliance, National Community Pharmacists Association and National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.
    Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act:
    This bill bans deceptive and unfair pricing schemes, prohibits arbitrary claw backs of payments made to pharmacies, and requires PBMs to report to the FTC on how much money they make through spread pricing and pharmacy fees. The bill falls within the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce Committee.
    Additional cosponsors are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).
    The bipartisan proposal is supported by the AARP, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Pharmacists Association, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of Mature American Citizens, Autoimmune Association, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Community Oncology Alliance, National Community Pharmacists Association and National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.
    “AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans aged 50 and over, is pleased to support the Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025 and Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act of 2025. We value your ongoing bipartisan efforts to lower drug prices for consumers and taxpayers. It is outrageous that Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, AARP.
    “APhA supports Senators Grassley’s and Cantwell’s reintroduction of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, which would go a long way toward addressing PBMs’ anticompetitive business practices putting many independent pharmacies out of business and creating ‘pharmacy deserts’ in rural and underserved communities, where the neighborhood pharmacy may be the only health care provider for miles. We also support the Prescription Pricing for the People Act directing the FTC to report on ways to enforce antitrust and consumer protection laws. APhA stands ready to work with Senators Grassley and Cantwell and the FTC to not only examine PBMs’ anticompetitive business practices but to take the necessary actions to end them,” said the American Pharmacists Association.
    “The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) commends Senators Grassley and Cantwell for once again taking an early lead in introducing pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) legislation in the 119th Congress. The Prescription Pricing for the People Act (S.113 in the 118th Congress) and the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act (S.127 in the 118th Congress) lit the fuse for additional legislation in both the Senate and the House to stop the top PBMs from harming patients, especially those with cancer. We thank Senators Grassley and Cantwell for their leadership in reintroducing these bills in the 119th Congress. Americans face medication delays and denials, as well as higher costs and waste, at the hands of the top PBMs, especially CVS/Caremark, Cigna/Express Scripts, and United/Optum Rx, which control 80 percent of the prescription drug market. They have to be stopped from harming cancer patients and others with serious diseases. It’s time for Congress to act now!” said Ted Okon, Executive Director, Community Oncology Alliance (COA).
    “Increased transparency into PBM operations is critical to understanding the many ways their underhanded tactics lead to increased costs, delayed access to care, and an unfair marketplace for independent pharmacies – tactics that need swift, significant reforms. The PBMs’ attempt to block every action to increase transparency in the drug delivery system should concern everyone from patients to policymakers. We’re grateful to our allies in Congress like Sens. Grassley and Cantwell for keeping these bills on their agenda and pushing for accountability and change. PBM reform cannot wait,” said B. Douglas Hoey, CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association.
    “IBD patients deserve to understand why PBMs are making the decisions that they do, and whether these decisions are financially motivated or based on science. They should also share in any cost savings achieved by PBMs. The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act would make great strides in revealing the true motives and operating practices of PBMs, and in aligning their incentives with increased patient access to medications,” said Erin McKeon, Director, Federal Advocacy, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
    “The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act of 2025 would prevent anti-competitive practices and require PBMs to operate with full transparency. This bill ensures that PBMs can no longer manipulate pricing, prioritize profits over patients, or exploit loopholes that drive up costs. AMAC Action is committed to protecting seniors from predatory pricing schemes and ensuring they have access to affordable prescription medications. We commend you both for leading this bipartisan effort and urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation to bring long-overdue transparency and accountability to the PBM industry,” said Andrew J. Mangione Jr., Senior Vice President, AMAC Action.
    About Pharmacy Benefit Managers
    PBMs were initially formed in the 1960s to process claims and negotiate lower drug prices with drug makers. Now, PBMs administer prescription drug plans for hundreds of millions of Americans.
    Today, three PBMs control nearly 80 percent of the prescription drug market. They serve as middlemen, managing every aspect of the prescription drug benefits process for health insurance companies, self-insured employers, unions and government programs.
    They operate out of the view of regulators and consumers — setting prescription costs, deciding what drugs are covered by insurance plans and how they are dispensed, pocketing unknown sums that might otherwise be passed along as savings to consumers, and undercutting local independent pharmacies.
    This lack of transparency makes it impossible to fully understand if and how PBMs might be manipulating the prescription drug market to increase profits and drive-up drug costs for consumers.
    Background:
    Grassley has long championed efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Three pieces of legislation authored and coauthored by Grassley have been signed into law to combat anticompetitive practices and stop drug makers from reaping profits at the expense of taxpayers and consumers. Grassley has also led in-depth congressional investigations to expose those responsible for prescription drug price gouging.  
    Other actions include:
    January 2025: Grassley welcomed the FTC’s second interim staff report on PBMs and urged congressional and executive branch action.
    July 2024: Grassley welcomed the FTC’s interim staff report on PBMs and urged congressional and executive branch action.
    January 2024: Grassley sent a letter urging the FTC to complete its investigation into the health care industry’s most powerful prescription drug middlemen.
    November 2023: The Finance Committee adopted a Grassley-led provision to strengthen oversight of CMS and hold PBMs accountable. 
    July 2023: The Finance Committee adopted several Grassley-led PBM accountability provisions. 
    March 2023: The Senate Commerce Committee passed a Grassley-backed bill to hold PBMs accountable for unfair practices driving up costs for consumers.
    February 2023: The Senate Judiciary Committee — which Grassley currently chairs — passed five Grassley-led bills to boost competition in the pharmaceutical industry and improve patients’ access to more affordable prescription drugs.
    October 2022: Grassley led a bipartisan letter urging the FTC to complete its investigation into PBMs to shine light on drug pricing practices.
    January 2021: Grassley and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released a two-year bipartisan investigation into insulin price gouging.
    August 2018: Grassley requested the FTC assess pharmaceutical supply chain intermediaries.
    Learn more about Grassley’s persistent efforts to lower prescription drug costs HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing For Justice Department Executive Nominees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    February 12, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General (DAG), and Gail Slater to be Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division (AAG-Antitrust).
    Key Quotes:
    “President Trump has vowed to use the Justice Department to advance his own interests and to seek ‘retribution’ against ‘the enemy within.’”
    “The Trump Administration already purged dozens of senior career leaders at the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation… And, the Administration has forced career law enforcement officers to retire, resign, or be fired simply for executing tasks that were assigned to them. These actions are nakedly partisan.”
    “Many members on the Democratic side of the aisle expressed fears that Attorney General Pam Bondi would put her loyalty to the President ahead of anything else. Our fears have been realized.”
    “On her first day as Attorney General, Pam Bondi issued 14 memos to Department of Justice staff that reflect the most extreme of President Trump’s priorities, including far-right Project 2025 policies. Attorney General Bondi established a ‘Weaponization Working Group’ that is a clear effort to make good on her pledge to ‘investigate the investigators.’”
    “Given the political retribution that is already being carried out with the blessing of the President at the Justice Department, Mr. Blanche’s nomination deserves heightened scrutiny. If confirmed, he will serve as the second-in-command at the Department, overseeing the day-to-day operations.”
    “With Ms. Bondi’s unyielding loyalty to President Trump already disclosed, we must ask ourselves whether Mr. Blanche would be willing to act as an independent voice within the Department’s leadership.”
    “Mr. Blanche, I enjoyed meeting with you in my office… You told me repeatedly that your true loyalty is to the rule of law. That’s the right answer from my point of view. But I am afraid I need to ask you more to conclude that you would be able to arise to the occasion which is likely to present itself.”
    “What is happening at the Federal Bureau of Investigation should give Republicans and Democrats pause. That great agency is entrusted with the safety and security of the United States of America. Making it political does not help.”
    Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Holds Senate Floor to Protest HHS Nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Underscores How RFK’s Extreme Views Would Endanger the Health of Millions of Middle-Class Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 12, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats’ protest opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Trump. In her remarks, Duckworth underscored just how unqualified Kennedy is for the job and how his long-held, well-established extreme views would put programs and services that millions of middle-class Americans rely on—like Medicaid—at risk. Video of Duckworth’s full speech can be found on the Senator’s YouTube, Twitter/X and Facebook.

    Key quotes:

    • “Next month will mark the five-year anniversary of when COVID shut down our nation. In this moment, it is dangerous, reckless and heartless to everyone who lost a loved one in the pandemic to even consider nominating a guy who has stated that, quote, ‘no vaccine is safe and effective.’ And if our HHS Secretary refuses to ensure children are protected against preventable-yet-deadly diseases—like measles, RSV, whooping cough or polio—it will be our kids, not Mr. Kennedy, who pay the price.”
    • “The only reason Kennedy is even up for confirmation is because he, like Elon Musk, decided to throw his dignity to the wind and bow down at Trump’s altar. And because of that, he gets to be yet another rich guy with too few qualifications and too much power somehow now charged with leading our government… So why would any of us ever think that he’d have the courage to stand up to Trump if the President issues an order that actively harms everyday Americans? How could any of us actually believe that Kennedy would fight back against Trump’s worst instincts, when Kennedy has proven time and again that he believes more in sycophancy than science?”
    • “Americans are going be the ones to suffer. Because now, with Kennedy’s confirmation, even programs as popular, effective and vital as Medicaid will be in even greater danger… Medicaid is a lifeline for kids, pregnant women, people in nursing homes and Americans with disabilities. But Republicans don’t seem to care about any of that. It’s obvious that Donald Trump has never stayed up late at night hunched over the kitchen table, with a calculator in one hand and a medical bill in the other, praying to figure out a way to afford his child’s insulin.”
    • “To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: I am sure many of you have faced health crises of your own. I’m sure many of you have had a parent who’s been sick or a nephew who’s been in a car crash, a spouse who’s needed an emergency C-section or a child who’s relied on an autoimmune injector. Imagine if your loved one hadn’t had care they could rely on in that moment. Then ask yourself how you can sleep soundly tonight if you vote to further the agenda of a couple rich guys who so clearly don’t care about making America healthy—they only care about tipping it even more in favor of the wealthy. They’re not bringing back the good ole days of Reagan. They’re just bringing back the days of dying from the measles. And they’re certainly not making America great again. They’re making America sick again. That’s the Trump-Kennedy promise.”

    Duckworth’s opening remarks as prepared below:

    You know, if you go back exactly 20 years ago today, I could tell you exactly where I was. I was in Walter Reed Medical Center. I was staring at the beige colored walls. And amidst the pain in every inch of my body, I was trying to muster the strength to sit up, or to take a step, or even just to take a breath.

    I spent months and months and months in that room. Hooked up to machines, getting wheeled in and out of surgeries, learning how to live again in my new, post-shootdown world. But despite it all, looking back, I consider every one of those days in that hospital room lucky.

    Because when the worst happened to me—when that RPG exploded in my lap in Iraq and I needed serious, sustained medical attention to survive the hour, the day, the year—I had health care I could rely on.

    The same cannot be said for countless Americans.

    Americans whose health care costs have already been too high, and whose access to care is in even greater danger if this Chamber is foolish enough to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as our next Secretary of HHS. Put simply, Mr. Kennedy cannot be trusted with the grave, grave responsibility that comes with this job.

    He cannot be trusted with our lives. He is focused on pushing his agenda—regardless of the cost to middle-class Americans. And if this man is confirmed, more Americans will die preventable deaths because of his policies.

    Next month will mark the five-year anniversary of when COVID shut down our nation. In this moment, it is dangerous, reckless and heartless to everyone who lost a loved one in the pandemic to even consider nominating a guy who has stated that, quote, “no vaccine is safe and effective.”

    And if our HHS Secretary refuses to ensure children are protected against preventable-yet-deadly diseases—like measles, RSV, whooping cough or polio—it will be our kids, not Mr. Kennedy, who pay the price.

    I’ve gotten letter after letter from my constituents, begging me to try to reason with my colleagues, to do whatever I can to prevent a man so ignorant of all things science and medicine from holding a position of such power over our child’s next breath.

    One pediatrician from Illinois wrote to me: I will always remember the 9-month-old infant with whooping cough who could not be saved despite every high-tech ventilator and medication we had available.” Another said: “I recall a father screaming and punching a hole in the wall when his 4-year-old son died of chicken pox.” The stories, the letters, the avoidable tragedies go on and on. Imagine how much worse the heartbreak will become under a guy who acts like the term “vaccine” is a swear word.

    Look, the only reason Kennedy is even up for confirmation is because he, like Elon Musk, decided to throw his dignity to the wind and bow down at Trump’s altar.

    And because of that, he gets to be yet another rich guy with too few qualifications and too much power, somehow now charged with leading our government.

    Trump is running this country like the mob: Kiss his ring, pledge your unyielding loyalty, get made—it’s just this time, you get made into a Cabinet Secretary. Well, Kennedy has given Trump his fealty.  So why would any of us ever think that he’d have the courage to stand up to Trump if the President issues an order that actively harms everyday Americans?  How could any of us actually believe that Kennedy would fight back against Trump’s worst instincts, when Kennedy has proven time and again that he believes more in sycophancy than science?

    Now, Americans are going be the ones to suffer. Because now, with Kennedy’s confirmation, even programs as popular, effective and vital as Medicaid will be in even greater danger. Republicans told us in Project 2025 that they would come for Medicaid—and this is the rare case when the GOP has actually kept its word, putting at risk the roughly 80 million Americans who rely on it. Americans in red states and blue, in big cities and small towns—folks who may have never heard of RFK Jr., but who will certainly feel the effect when he rips away the care their family so desperately needs.

    Medicaid is a lifeline for kids, for pregnant women, for people in nursing homes, for Americans with disabilities. But Republican’s don’t seem to care about any of that. It’s obvious that Donald Trump has never stayed up late at night hunched over the kitchen table, with a calculator in one hand and a medical bill in the other, praying to figure out a way to afford his child’s insulin.

    No. Of course not.

    With every passing day, it becomes clearer and clearer that Republicans care more about tax breaks for the billionaires they pal around with on the golf course than prescriptions for the middle-class folks who actually work at Mar-a-Lago.

    And while that teacher in Peoria lays awake at night, trying to work out how she can afford her father’s home care now that he can no longer get those services through Medicaid… While that new mom in Chicago who’s just learned she has stage 3 cancer is trying to find a second job so she can afford both diapers for her newborn and her own chemotherapy… Donald Trump and Elon Musk will be too busy lining their already-full pockets to care.

    To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: I am sure many of you have faced health crises of your own. I’m sure many of you have had a parent who’s been sick or a nephew who’s been in a car crash… a spouse who’s needed an emergency C-section or a child who’s relied on an autoimmune injector. Imagine if your loved one hadn’t had care they could rely on in that moment.

    Then ask yourself how you can sleep soundly tonight if you vote to further the agenda of a couple rich guys who so clearly don’t care about making America healthy—they only care about tipping it even more in favor of the wealthy. They’re not bringing back the good ole days of Reagan. They’re just bringing back the days of dying from the measles.

    And they’re certainly not making America great again. They’re making America sick again. That’s the Trump-Kennedy promise.

    I care about my constituents’ ability to afford their prescription meds. Their ability to get the vaccines that’ll keep them alive through the next pandemic. Their ability to survive those worst-case-scenario health moments without going broke in the process.

    So for all those reasons and a thousand more, I will be voting no on Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination. If my Republican colleagues care about any one of those things, too, then they will have no choice but to do the same. Thank you.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Hoeven & Rep. Mann Introduce Legislation to Move Food for Peace Program to USDA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) – members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry – joined Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), David Rouzer (NC-07) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (PA-15), in introducing legislation to move the administration of the Food for Peace Program from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    For the past 70 years, American farmers have helped combat international hunger through Food for Peace, feeding more than 4 billion people in more than 150 countries.

    “Kansas has a long history of providing food to the hungry beginning with a Kansas farmer suggesting the U.S. provide surplus grain to countries in need, to President Eisenhower establishing the resulting humanitarian aid program, to Senator Bob Dole expanding Food for Peace, to the farmers who grow the crops that feed the world,” said Sen. Moran. “As part of an ongoing effort to save money and increase efficiency, Food for Peace should be moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By moving this program closer to the producers who grow these crops, we can help reduce waste and make certain our farmers have access to this valuable market. Food stability is essential to political stability, and our food aid programs help feed the hungry, bolster our national security and provide important markets for our farmers.”

    “Our nation’s farmers and ranchers are the best in the world and work hard to provide food and fuel not only for our nation, but those in need across the globe,” said Sen. Hoeven. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture already administer U.S. farmer-based food aid programs and it only makes sense that USDA would oversee the Food for Peace program, as well.”

    “President Trump made a promise to the country to cut wasteful spending, reduce overbearing federal bureaucracy, and to ensure every taxpayer dollar was spent wisely and responsibly,” said Rep. Mann. “I applaud President Trump for upholding that promise and reviewing our federal spending line by line to root out waste, fraud, and abuse while ensuring programs like Food for Peace are in line with his mission and vision. For 70 years, Kansas and American farmers have played an active role in sending their commodities to feed malnourished and starving populations around the world. This free gift from the American people is more than food. It’s diplomacy and feeds the most vulnerable communities while helping them recognize the freedom, prosperity, and good America can establish across the globe. By moving Food for Peace to USDA, the program can continue to equip American producers to serve hungry people while providing more transparency and efficiency as to how taxpayer dollars are stewarded. I will continue to work with the Trump Administration to uproot wasteful spending while ensuring America can continue to be the beacon of hope and freedom we are to the rest of the world.”

    “Food for Peace is a critical program for American farmers and has a proven track-record of successfully feeding people all over the world,” said Rep. Crawford. “I am encouraged by the Trump Administration taking a fresh look at how we provide foreign assistance, including Food for Peace. I believe a move from USAID to USDA would make program administration more efficient and more in-line with America’s priorities. USDA already runs two international food assistance programs that deal with in-kind food donations, Food for Progress and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. This makes USDA a natural home for Food for Peace.”

    “The Food for Peace program plays a critical role in helping prevent starvation in places around the world that need it most, while also providing American farmers additional market opportunities,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Moving this program from USAID to USDA allows a commodity-focused agency to manage and execute the program’s mission while ensuring accountability that funds will be spent responsibly. America must continue to be a global leader in the fight against hunger.”

    Last week, Sen. Moran urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to quickly ship and distribute the American-grown food that was stalled in ports and warehouses in the U.S. and around the world as a result of the State Department’s pause on international assistance. Nearly $560 million worth of American-grown food was at risk of spoiling. On February 8, the State Department provided notices to participating aid organizations to resume shipping and distribution of the stalled American-grown food aid.

    Statements of Support:

    “Kansas farmers take great pride in Food for Peace and the impact the program and American commodities have had on feeding the world,” said Chris Tanner, president of Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. “Moving Food for Peace to USDA would continue to provide the needed relief for people in need. Thank you to Senator Moran and Congressman Mann for leading the way on this issue.”

    “Kansas-grown sorghum is a critical crop for food security in America and abroad,” said Adam York, CEO of Kansas Sorghum Producers Association. “Throughout changes in administrations, sorghum farmers have worked to have a seat at the table in international food programs housed across many agencies to ensure America’s farmers can contribute to our national security. We recommend policy makers continue prioritizing American agriculture as a solution to challenges in domestic and foreign policy.”

    “National Sorghum Producers supports this legislation that would move U.S. food aid programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture—a move that makes sense and would ensure the long-term viability and success of these programs by continuing to provide a critical market for American sorghum farmers and the ability to move grain from our fields to the hands of those in need around the world,” said Amy France, chairwoman of National Sorghum Producers.

    “U.S. soybeans play an important role in addressing global hunger,” said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association. “Soybeans are the only plant-based protein that provides all nine amino acids essential for human health, and our farmers have been proud to support international food assistance programs. ASA strongly supports efforts to protect these programs and to ensure U.S. grown commodities continue to feed vulnerable populations around the globe. We thank Representative Mann and Senator Moran for their leadership on this important issue.”

    “Our nation’s millers take great pride in feeding those facing famine emergencies around the world,” said Kim Z Cooper, Vice President of Government Affairs for the North American Millers’ Association. “Our flagship emergency food aid program Food for Peace not only helps those abroad, but is a critical component of Buy American and America First policies. We applaud Representatives Mann (R-KS), Thompson (R-PA), Crawford (R-AR), Newhouse (R-WA), Rouzer (R-NC), and Senators Moran and Hoeven for introducing legislation that would allow Food for Peace to operate under USDA, and reinstate this critical, life-saving program.”

    This legislation is also supported by the U.S. Dry Bean Council, National Sorghum Producers, U.S. Wheat Associates, National Association of Wheat Growers, The Midwest Dry Bean Coalition, North Central Bean Dealers Association, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, USA Rice, U.S. Peanut Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Scott Join Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Ease Burdens on Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

    WASHINGTON. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined nine of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to ease burdens and shield small businesses from excessive legal red tape. The Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 would extend the filing deadline for businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) until January 1, 2026, giving the U.S. Department of Treasury more time to educate business owners on the new reporting requirements, assess Biden administration BOI decisions and make certain small businesses are not overburdened or penalized for violating unclear and unnecessarily complicated regulations.

    The senators were joined by Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.).

    “Small businesses are the backbone of our rural communities, and with limited staff and resources, the current reporting requirements place an unnecessary burden on our businesses,” said Sen. Moran. “Extending the filing deadline allows small businesses the additional time they need to comply with updated guidelines and avoid harmful penalties.”

    “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we need to ensure they have the necessary time and information to comply with reporting requirements from the federal government,” said Sen. Scott. “This commonsense bill will ensure small businesses are protected and not overly burdened by unclear and unnecessarily complicated regulations – allowing them to focus on serving their customers while following the law.”

    Representative Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) led companion legislation in the House, which passed on Monday by a vote of 408-0.

    BACKGROUND:

    • The Corporate Transparency Act was signed into law as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act and established new reporting requirements around beneficial ownership for businesses.
    • During implementation of the rule, the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) failed to notify small businesses of the new reporting requirements. According to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 80% of NFIB members have never heard of the new reporting requirements.
    • On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the enforcement of these filing requirements. Now, small businesses across the country are expected to comply immediately or face harsh penalties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Hundreds of thousands of working people and families will reap the rewards new towns across Britain, as the Prime Minister paves the way for the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era.

    • Over 100 sites across England have come forward to be considered for next generation of new towns
    • Government on track to create beautiful communities, provide affordable homes, and deliver much needed infrastructure, including schools and nurseries, GP surgeries, and bus routes 
    • By taking on the blockers, 20,000 homes, along with new schools and health facilities, will move forward following government action, and we will now turn to unblock the remaining 700,000 homes across 350 sites 
    • Comes as government rolls out major planning reforms to sweep away the blockers and push through its housebuilding agenda as part of the Plan for Change

    Hundreds of thousands of working people and families will reap the rewards new towns across Britain, as the Prime Minister paves the way for the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era.

    Visiting a housing development today, the Prime Minister will unveil the government’s plans for the next generation of new towns – well-designed, beautiful communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport where people will want to live. 

    Over 100 proposals from across every region in England were submitted, showing local areas and housebuilders’ ambition to get on board to build the next generation of new towns – playing their part in getting Britain building and tackling the worst housing crisis in living memory. Every new town will have the potential to deliver 10,000 homes or more. 

    Delivering security is central to this government’s Plan for Change, because the least working people deserve when they graft hard is a secure home. That’s why the government is providing much-needed housing in the right places with the right infrastructure, and the New Towns Taskforce has today set clear principles on what the next generation of new towns will deliver: affordable housing, vital infrastructure and access to open green spaces and nature, to transform the lives of working people. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream. After a decade of decline in housebuilding, the impact is a disconnect between working hard and getting on.

    This is about more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about the security and stability that owning your own home brings. I know what this means for working people – the roof above our head was everything for our family growing up. 

    We’ve already made progress in just seven months, unblocking 20,000 stuck homes. But there’s more to do.

    We’re urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder. We’re sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, no longer accepting no as the default answer, and paving the way for the next generation of new towns.

    As part of the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era, our ambitious Plan for Change will transform the lives of working people, once again connecting the basic principle that if you work hard, you should get on.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:  

    Time and again we are seeing too many new homes stuck or stalled that not only act as a barrier to growth but also has real-world consequences for working people and families who see homeownership as nothing more than a distant dream.  

    I will not run away from the tough choices to fix the housing crisis we inherited that has left thousands of families on housing waiting lists, allowed homelessness to spiral out of control, and stopped an entire generation from picking up the keys to their first home.  

    While our vision for the next generation of new towns is setting the stage for a housebuilding revolution in the years to come, urgent action is needed now to build the homes and infrastructure that our local communities are crying out for. That’s why our New Homes Accelerator is working at pace to find solutions and remove blockages in the system, executing long-lasting solutions to get spades in the ground.  

    Today we are embarking on the next chapter in our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million new homes, deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and raise living standards for working people and families across the country.

    For far too long, working people have been let down by a decline in housebuilding. That’s why the government is rolling up its sleeves and is taking on the blockers with major reforms to planning regulation to get Britain building. 

    That work is already underway, with a staggering 20,000 new homes now successfully unblocked by the government’s novel ‘New Homes Accelerator’ programme, which deploys planning expertise to speed up the delivery of housing sites held by unnecessary delays.  

    Areas that have already benefitted from direct government action include:

    • Over 1,000 homes unlocked at Cowley Hill in Liverpool, where an agreement has been reached with the Environment Agency who withdrew its previous objections on both flood risk and biodiversity grounds, subject to planning.
    • And at Wolborough in Devon, the Accelerator has worked with Natural England to help accelerate this development, whilst ensuring environmental improvements are secured. On top of the 1,100 homes the site is injecting £1.75 million towards off-site pedestrian and cycle improvements, playing pitches, bus services and a local travel plan.  

    Housebuilders and local councils have put forward over 350 housing development sites stuck in the system under the previous government – that together could unlock around 700,000 new homes.

    Around a quarter of sites submitted are already receiving government attention since the call for evidence closed in October – demonstrating success of the programme, and local ambition to support the government’s 1.5 million homes target.

    This goes hand-in-hand with government action to overhaul the planning system, supporting the builders and not the blockers, taking the brakes off economic growth, raising living standards, and making the tough decisions to deliver for working people and families. 

    This includes:

    • Publishing a new growth-focused National Planning Policy Framework, which introduced new mandatory for councils to deliver the right homes in the right places, with a combined total of 370,000 homes a year.
    • Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill next month. The Bill will overhaul environmental regulations to no longer accept the failed status quo where bats are more important than trains or newts more important than homes, and remove blockers to fast-track delivery of the homes and infrastructure that local communities need.    

    To get Britain building now – the government today announces plans to fast stream planning through brokering disagreements between the agencies and expert bodies, which by law must be consulted within the planning process. Bodies including National Highways, Natural England and the Environment Agency will need to bring planners and housebuilders to the table and iron out concerns that have been holding back development.

    Responding to sector concerns on pinch points, work stepping up with the Building Safety Regulator to ensure greater timeliness and efficiency when new tall buildings are signed off – to provide more homes for more people.

    This work will be bolstered by extra government funding announced today, including:  

    • £1 million for government agencies, including National Highways, Natural England and the Environment Agency, to speed up the planning approval of new homes and improve feedback to local authorities and industry where required.

    • £2 million to support the Building Safety Regulator to continue improving the processing for new-build applications.

    • Over £3 million of grants for local councils to bolster planning capacity, alongside direct advice and navigate through some of the more complex issues holding up new development.   

    Alongside the Accelerator, the government is also supporting local partners through a clearing service to help accelerate the sale of uncontracted and unsold affordable homes, with nearly 300 housebuilders, local councils and registered providers signing up in the first 50 days of its launch.   

    In December, the government set a clear hierarchy of brownfield first, grey belt second and green belt third. Today, further funding is being injected to drive regeneration and brownfield deliver in the following areas:  

    • £20 million to help transform neglected small-scale council-owned sites into new homes, for areas most in need.

    • Nearly £30 million from the Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund in Bradford to transform derelict brownfield sites into a vibrant residential area with 1,000 new homes, three community parks, shops, cafés, restaurants, and offices.

    • £1.5 million to support a regeneration programme at Manchester Victoria North, delivering a new district of 15,000 homes with transport links and green spaces.   

    Getting homes built for working people is a priority and is backed by investment in housing which is increasing to £5 billion for this year, including a top-up of £800 million being injected into the existing Affordable Homes Programme to help deliver tens of thousands of new affordable and social homes across the country.   

    This is in addition to an extra £100 million of cash to bolster local resources with increased planning fees to cover costs and funding to recruit 300 planning officers, making sure councils have the capacity they need to rubberstamp new homes and infrastructure.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New industry bonus opens to support good jobs and low carbon manufacturing factories

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Industrial heartlands and coastal areas will receive a major economic boost as the government backs renewable energy firms investing in industrial communities.

    • Government launches new investment to support clean energy manufacturing, and highly skilled jobs in industrial towns and cities
    • offshore wind developers can now bid for financial support if they drive investment in UK’s most deprived regions, build low carbon factories, or support net zero supply chains
    • the bonus will kickstart growth and support good jobs – delivering the mission to become a clean energy superpower through the government’s Plan for Change

    Industrial heartlands and coastal areas will receive a major economic boost as the government backs renewable energy firms investing in industrial communities – backing good jobs through the government’s Plan for Change. 

    The application window has opened for the Clean Industry Bonus, which provides financial support for offshore wind developers, on the condition they prioritise their investment in areas that need it most, including traditional oil and gas communities – supporting highly skilled jobs such as engineers, electricians or welders.

    The support also rewards developers who build more sustainable low carbon factories, offshore wind blades, cables and ports to reduce industrial emissions across the clean energy supply chain.

    By encouraging developers to use less polluting suppliers, the bonus will help tackle the climate crisis while also addressing supply chain blockages in renewable technologies driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – supporting industry on the transition to clean, secure, homegrown energy that Britain controls.

    The UK produces more offshore wind than any other European country, making it the backbone for plans to deliver a clean power system by 2030 and become a clean energy superpower. This bonus will help accelerate the drive for clean power – incentivising developers to build the infrastructure the country needs to end reliance on unstable fossil fuel markets and help keep energy bills down for good.   

    Since July, the government has seen £34.8 billion of private investment into UK’s clean energy industries. In November, the government launched its carbon capture and storage industry supporting 4,000 jobs in the North West and Teesside. ScottishPower awarded a £1 billion turbine contract for its East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm to Siemens Gamesa, including blade production at its Hull blade factory – the company employ over 1,300 people in Humberside.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:   

    We are backing our proud manufacturing, coastal and oil and gas communities with good jobs, skills and private sector investment – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, kickstarting growth, delivering energy security and transforming towns and cities as part of the transition – from the ports of Nigg and Leith to the manufacturing hubs of Blyth and Hull. 

    Steve Foxley, Chief Executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, said: 

    This news is an important signal from government to industry of intent to grow our offshore wind sector in a way that benefits both our climate and our economy, supporting expansive regional job creation and bolstering national energy security.  

    Alongside innovating to develop next-generation technologies, delivering the right levels of future deployment and fulfilling the ambitions of the Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind, it will drive up confidence in our ability to secure the clean investments we need in the years to come.

    Dan McGrail, CEO of RenewableUK, said:  

    The offshore wind industry already employs over 34,000 people in the UK, but there’s an opportunity to treble this number by the end of the decade if we grow the sector’s supply chain. Government initiatives like the Clean Industry Bonus, coupled with industry initiatives to support innovation and the upcoming Industrial Strategy, could drive hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment into new manufacturing. 

    Whilst we’re right to focus on securing investment in manufacturing new turbine foundations, blades and cables, we shouldn’t forget that there are also thousands of jobs in the construction and maintenance of wind farms too. You can go to places across the country like Grimsby and Great Yarmouth and Buckie on the Moray Firth and see boats full of engineers ensuring our wind farms operate at maximum efficiency. 

    Dhara Vyas, Energy UK, Chief Executive, said:  

    Offshore wind is set to become the backbone of a decarbonised power system. To build an industry that is resilient to supply chain challenges, we need a framework that supports sustainable deployment, while fostering investment in the UK’s industrial heartlands. 

    The Clean Industry Bonus will help to unlock economic growth, create job opportunities, and maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind. 

    Alongside the development of a broader industrial strategy, the Clean Industry Bonus will play an important role in strengthening the Contracts for Difference mechanism. Clarity will be critical in ensuring we can deliver Allocation Round 7, which is likely to be the single most important auction to achieving the Clean Power goal.

    The UK is already home to the world’s first floating offshore wind farm and has the highest deployment of offshore wind in Europe. As a result, the UK’s offshore wind industry is supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country. 

    This latest boost for renewable developers comes after the government delivered the most successful renewables auction round in history last year, securing contracts for Europe’s largest and second largest offshore wind farm projects. 

    The bonus will come with an initial £27 million per gigawatt of offshore wind projects. That means if developers commit to 7-8 GW of offshore wind, up to £200 million of funding could be made available. 

    Funding will be allocated competitively with the results announced by the Energy Secretary in the summer.

    Notes to editors

    The Clean Industry Bonus will apply to all offshore wind projects bidding for funding through this year’s renewable energy auction, Allocation Round 7 of the Contracts for Difference scheme, which is the main mechanism for securing clean energy infrastructure for Britain. September’s auction secured 5 GW for offshore wind, enough to power the equivalent of around 8 million homes.

    The funding will come through the government’s Contract for Difference mechanism. The scheme is designed to protect billpayers from high costs with the lowest price bids successful, ensuring value for money.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA Announces New Flag Display Policy

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

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    WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs today instituted a new flag policy limiting the display of certain flags on VA premises. The policy will establish consistent and clear guidance across the department and among all employees.

    The policy, which can be viewed here, outlines a list of flags — in addition to the American flag — that may be displayed at VA facilities.

    VA’s new guidance follows a longstanding Department of Defense policy instituted during the first Trump Administration and kept in place during the Biden Administration.

    “This policy will bring consistency and simplicity to the display of flags throughout the department, which now has a singular focus: serving the needs of Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Uncertainty around PEPFAR program puts millions of people at risk News Feb 12, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    The decision by the US government to temporarily freeze funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) alongside all other foreign aid for at least a 90-day period has had immediate effects on people living with HIV, said Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today. Although the US has since clarified that certain treatment programs can continue at least until April, we are concerned that critical elements of the PEPFAR program remain frozen.

    “More than three weeks since the US government froze PEPFAR funding, there is still widespread confusion and uncertainty as to whether this critical lifeline for millions of people has been cut off,” said Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA. “Despite a limited waiver covering some activities, what our teams are seeing in many of the countries where we work is that people have already lost access to lifesaving care and have no idea whether or when their treatment will continue. MSF is calling on the US government to immediately resume funding for the full range of PEPFAR operations as well as other critical health and humanitarian aid.”

    On February 1, after over a week of chaos and a freeze of activities, the US government issued a limited waiver allowing for the resumption of some programming with specific guidance for HIV. However, that guidance was unclear, and it did not immediately reach PEPFAR country teams. Across our broad network, MSF did not see a single organization able to resume work as a result of this limited guidance on waivers. On February 6, the US government issued clarified guidance on HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs.

    What our teams are seeing in many of the countries where we work is that people have already lost access to lifesaving care and have no idea whether or when their treatment will continue. 

    Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA

    However, we remain concerned that key areas of HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support are not included in this additional guidance, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all vulnerable groups, including LGBTQI+ people and sex workers; specific interventions for adolescent girls and young women in high prevalence countries; and community-led monitoring programs. These services are essential to ensuring a successful response to the epidemic.

    While MSF does not accept US government funding and will not be directly affected by cuts or freezes to PEPFAR, many of our activities are contingent on the programs that have been interrupted. In some places we’ve had to adapt and change our activities and the indirect effects of these freezes have already been felt in our projects in various parts of the world.

    Failure to reauthorize global AIDS program would be catastrophic

    Read more

    In sub-Saharan Africa, where MSF runs several HIV/AIDS and related health programs, we are already witnessing impacts on patients. In South Africa, many clinics providing HIV services, including testing, treatment, and PrEP through PEPFAR-funded organizations have been shuttered, leaving people confused and distressed about where to access their critical medication. In Mozambique, a major partner organization of MSF that provided comprehensive HIV services had to stop activities completely. In Zimbabwe, most organizations providing HIV services have also stopped work, disrupting in particular the DREAMS program aimed at decreasing new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women.

    “Any interruption to HIV services and treatment is deeply distressing to people in care and an emergency when it comes to HIV treatment,” said Tom Ellman, director of the South Africa Medical Unit at MSF Southern Africa. “HIV medicines must be taken daily or people run the risk of developing resistance or deadly health complications.”

    In Democratic Republic of Congo, the aid freeze was already affecting the most successful model of antiretroviral drug distribution ever implemented in the capital city of Kinshasa: the community-run free distribution and peer support points, known locally as “PODIs.” In a country where stigma against people living with HIV is massive and poverty remains a barrier to care, PODIs have proven to be a medically necessary approach for addressing delays or therapy abandonment. With PEPFAR-supported points of care now closed and other activities frozen, thousands of people were left without support and with a high risk of developing advanced HIV. MSF teams supporting advanced HIV disease care in Kinshasa might not be able to meet the increased demand if disruptions persist.

    In South Sudan, approximately 51 percent of people living with HIV know their status, and 47 percent are on treatment. A discontinuation of this program will have devastating effects on thousands of people and their communities.  MSF has worked alongside PEPFAR providing essential HIV care in this context and has seen firsthand how this program saves lives. The support of PEPFAR in this country is critical.

    These disruptions will cost lives and upend years of progress against this virus. Every day that passes is an emergency for millions of people for whom PEPFAR is a lifeline.

    Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA

    PEPFAR-supported programming is deeply interconnected with and reliant on other components of the US foreign aid system, specifically implementation support provided by USAID and technical and other assistance provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Given that the foreign aid freeze and stop-work orders continue to affect these other agencies, and staff from these agencies have been put on immediate leave or recalled, it is unclear when and how even the limited activities now allowed will be able to restart.

    “These disruptions will cost lives and upend years of progress against this virus,” said Benoit. “Every day that passes is an emergency for millions of people for whom PEPFAR is a lifeline.”

    PEPFAR-supported programming has been heavily integrated into key aspects of the broader health systems of partner countries over the last 20-plus years and as a result the consequences of these disruptions have been far-reaching. For this reason, some of the services affected go beyond purely HIV treatment and prevention, such as in Uganda, where PEPFAR-funded aspects of infectious disease surveillance and response, including for Ebola virus, have been stopped.

    When MSF first started treating people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 years ago, there were no ARV medicines on the shelves, every diagnosis felt like a death sentence, and communities were desperately trying to curb the virus’ spread.

    Tom Ellman, director of the South Africa Medical Unit at MSF Southern Africa

    “When MSF first started treating people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa 25 years ago, there were no ARV medicines on the shelves, every diagnosis felt like a death sentence, and communities were desperately trying to curb the virus’ spread,” said Ellman.

    Since then, PEPFAR support has helped save more than 25 million lives and encouraged the fight against HIV to be a truly global one. But continued success relies on continued access to the full range of HIV-related programs, services, and goods including prevention services and treatment, population-specific and targeted programs, programs related to gender-based violence, and other critical areas, said MSF.  

    As health care providers, we are deeply concerned by these disruptions to this lifesaving program.

    “Even temporary interruptions to key components of PEPFAR will harm people at risk of acquiring HIV and people living with HIV,” said Benoît. “We urge the US government to immediately resume all funding of critical humanitarian and health aid, including the full range of PEPFAR operations.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Forceful Senate Floor Speech, Murray Lays Out Real Dangers of Confirming RFK Jr., Calls on Colleagues to “Show Some Courage,” Reject Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Theorist as Top Health Official

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Murray: “If you think RFK Jr. will change who he is, you are lying to yourself… If you do not draw a line somewhere, you will cross every line you could ever imagine. You will be pushed further and further into accepting things you never thought you would—things you never thought you could.”
    ICYMI: In Senate Hearing, RFK Jr. Refuses to Say HPV Vaccine is Safe to Sen. Patty Murray, Pressed on Credible Accusation of Sexual Assault
    Murray, a longtime congressional leader on health care who has led hearings on addressing vaccine hesitancy, has been a leading vocal opponent of RFK Jr.’s nomination—speaking out on the Senate floor, holding events, raising the alarm after meeting with him
    *** VIDEO of Senator Murray’s floor speech HERE***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, took to the Senate floor to warn of the very real dangers that lie ahead if Republicans insist on confirming RFK Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and urge her colleagues to “show some courage… show some conscience” and vote against this nomination.
    Murray laid out the many ways RFK Jr. could undermine vaccines as HHS Secretary—as well as so much else that’s at stake with his confirmation. Murray pointed out that, if confirmed, there will be nothing stopping RFK Jr. from firing the CDC’s entire vaccine advisory committee—responsible for making recommendations about vaccines and indirectly determines which vaccines must be covered by insurance—and replacing them all with vaccine skeptics. RFK Jr. will also oversee FDA, another agency he has repeatedly tried to discredit and attack—and where he has said he plans to fire hundreds of scientists on Day One.
    “My colleagues should know better. They do know better,” said Murray on the Senate floor. “But they are looking the other way. They are choosing to pretend like it is in any way believable that RFK Jr. won’t use his new power to do exactly the thing he has been trying to do for decades—undermine vaccines.”
    Murray spoke about how RFK Jr. will also have jurisdiction over NIH, where he could redirect funds away from promising cures, or make good on his plan to fire hundreds of researchers and pause infectious disease research. Pointing to Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s’ recent attacks on NIH biomedical research funding, Murray said: “At a time when lifesaving research like this is already under attack from the President and the richest man in the world, no one who truly values medical research should vote to install one of the biggest attackers of medical science as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”
    Murray also spoke about health insurance—another huge responsibility for HHS. “Last time Trump was in office, we saw millions of people lose their health coverage,” Murray said. “The uninsured rate went up after years of hard-won progress, and we all know he still wants to rip up the Affordable Care Act—driving up costs and kicking people off their coverage. And there’s no reason to think Mr. Kennedy will stand up to that effort. Indeed, there is no reason to think he has the experience and understanding of the system to do so. During his committee hearings, RFK Jr. confused Medicare and Medicaid—basic stuff—and failed to describe the components of Medicare.”
    Murray also hammered how RFK Jr. poses an enormous risk to reproductive health care in America—pointing out that not only did RFK Jr. confess to having no real understanding of the Department’s role in enforcing Americans’ right to emergency care, but he showed he will be totally open to Republicans’ efforts to rip away access to medication abortion nationwide.
    Also noting the danger of putting RFK Jr. in charge of pandemic threats, Murray emphasized that “We cannot take this man at his word—something he has changed and gone back and forth on time and again. But we can take him at his record—which is that he has consistently undermined vaccine confidence and even profited from it.”
    “I cannot tell my colleagues enough: this isn’t a game, this is not a political role without consequence, the Health Secretary has real power over whether Americans can get basic information and care that impacts whether they live or die,” Murray continued.
    “So if my colleagues are feeling the pressure from President Trump or if they are feeling the weight of the richest man in the world on their backs, I would warn them: this will certainly not be the last test we face here in the Senate… If you do not draw a line somewhere, you will cross every line you could ever imagine. You will be pushed further and further into accepting things you never thought you would—things you never thought you could.
    “I think most of my colleagues know what is really at stake here. I think most of my colleagues know what sort of man RFK Jr. is and what sort of damage he could do if confirmed. There are political realities, we all get that—but there is also right and wrong… So, I urge all my colleagues to show some courage. I urge them to show some conscience. I urge them to join me in voting NO on RFK Jr.’s nomination,” Murray concluded.
    When President-elect Donald J. Trump first announced his intention to select Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of HHS, Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move—and she has consistently spoken out and laid out for her colleagues the case against his nomination since, including in a lengthy Senate floor speech earlier this month—VIDEO HERE. Murray met with RFK Jr. on January 15th and released a statement afterward reiterating her opposition to his nomination and urging her colleagues, “to be honest with themselves about the stakes of putting one of the anti-vaccine movement’s loudest, proudest champions in charge of HHS and join me in opposing RFK Jr.’s nomination.” In December, Murray held a roundtable discussion at UW Medicine on the importance of scientific research and vaccines—especially for children—and spoke about how having RFK Jr. lead HHS would threaten Americans’ health and safety. At the hearing on his nomination before the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Murray pressed RFK Jr. to acknowledge that the HPV vaccine was safe and effective—he would not—and respond to credible accusations of sexual assault.
    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Murray has long fought to boost biomedical research, strengthen public health infrastructure, and make health care more affordable and accessible. Over her years as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, she has secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. As Chair of the HELP Committee, Murray was also instrumental in crafting the American Rescue Plan Act, including its landmark investments in public health and health care. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. Murray is also the lead sponsor of the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA), legislation to establish $4.5 billion in dedicated, annual funding for a grant program to build up and maintain the nation’s public health system across the board. 
    In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) pressing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks on the Senate floor, as delivered are below and HERE:
    “Mr. President, the American people are watching now with alarm—because the vast majority of people know: vaccines are safe, they’re effective, they are lifesaving.
    But we are now on the verge of confirming, as our nation’s highest health official, a man who has spent considerable time, money, and effort undermining that basic fact.
    “A man who has abused his platform by refusing to acknowledge the well-established science that shows that vaccines arenot linked to autism. Fear about that point—fueled by RFK Jr. and others peddling misinformation—is a leading reason that parents do not get their kids vaccinated against preventable, dangerous diseases.
    “That’s why elevating a man like RFK Jr. to lead HHS would be so dangerous. Just giving him any platform to spread vaccine doubt is dangerous. But to give him one of the biggest megaphones in the world? It is truly shameful that we even are debating this.
    “My colleagues should know better. They actually do know better. They are looking the other way. They are choosing to pretend like it is in any way believable that RFK Jr. won’t use his new power to do exactly the thing he has been trying to do for decades—undermine vaccines.
    “Never mind the fact that CDC has already modified webpages with information about vaccines and other vital public health information—which a federal judge has now ordered the Trump Administration to restore.
    “Never mind that the Trump administration is also, reportedly, planning widespread and significant layoffs—layoffs—at CDC and across HHS.
    “This is how RFK Jr. substitutes his own beliefs for science. So, when the vaccine conspiracies start swirling—and RFK Jr. turns HHS into ground zero for misinformation—‘I had no idea’ is not going to be an excuse for confirming him.
    “Because at the HELP Committee hearing, the Chair pressed him repeatedly about the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. And when RFK Jr. said he needed to ‘see the evidence,’ he was shown the evidence. But, to no one’s surprise, he did not keep his word, admit he’d been wrong, and spread the good news that vaccines do not cause autism.
    “He has had two weeks since that hearing to look at the same settled science as everyone else—crickets. But he won’t hesitate to quote the latest anti-vax conspiracy. He is totally up to speed on that front.
    “Are my colleagues really buying this guy will take an impartial look at the science?
    “If you think RFK Jr. will change who he is, you are lying to yourself. He has given no evidence to suggest that—and all the evidence in the world to the contrary.
    “Given his long, and growing track record, we cannot just pretend if RFK Jr. finally gets power to undermine vaccines—a cause that he has dedicated a considerable amount of time and effort to—that he’ll just give it up. That is not believable.
    “And I know I’ve been talking a lot about vaccines—because it is so obviously alarming—but the responsibility he would have goes far beyond that.
    “So, let’s break some of this down—both the ways he could undermine vaccines as HHS Secretary, and the other responsibilities that would be at stake.
    “To start with, the CDC is under HHS. That means that the Secretary directly appoints people to CDC’s vaccine advisory board. That board is responsible for making recommendations about vaccines—and it is those recommendations that determine whether or not certain vaccines have to be covered by insurance.
    “So, simply put: changing those recommendations will change what vaccines millions of Americans, including kids, will be able to get from their health care provider.
    “If he is confirmed, there would be nothing stopping RFK Jr. from firing the entire board and replacing them all with vaccine skeptics.
    “After all, he has said many times, and in many ways, he thinks CDC is corrupt and bought by pharma—as usual, by the way, without any evidence.
    “RFK. Jr. would also oversee the Food and Drug Administration; that is another agency he has repeatedly tried to discredit and attack—where he says he plans to fire—fire!—hundreds of scientists on Day One. And an agency that plays the crucial role of making sure our drugs and our treatments—including vaccines—are safe and effective.
    “Not only would Mr. Kennedy have a key perch from which he could undermine vaccines on a scale like never seen before, he could also use his platform to peddle quack treatments with no basis in science.
    “RFK Jr. would also have jurisdiction over NIH. That alone means influence over billions of dollars in medical research—research that is responsible for a significant portion of our economy, and more importantly, research that patients are desperately hoping will help them find cures. 
    “But RFK Jr. could redirect those funds to promote his favorite pet conspiracies instead of promising cures.
    “Or he could make good on his plan to fire hundreds of researchers and pause infectious disease research—for eight years. It should go without saying: viruses aren’t going to take a break.
    “And here’s the thing—the attacks on medical research are now already happening under Trump. From his day one Executive Orders, President Trump has already been threatening medical research.
    “Suddenly, all of our grants are at risk because they are looking at addressing ‘barriers to care’ or understanding why Black and Native American women have higher maternal death rates.
    “And now—President Trump also is trying to illegally, arbitrarily, and suddenly change NIH guidelines to set an unrealistically low cap on indirect cost rates. That would mean researchers are laid off, studies canceled—including lifesaving clinical trials—and kids are not able to get the treatment they need.
    “All because President Trump and Elon Musk don’t seem to understand how we actually fund important research, and couldn’t even be bothered to find out before taking an axe to medical research labs.
    “At a time when lifesaving research like this is already under attack from the President, and the richest man in the world, no one who truly values medical research should vote to install one of the biggest attackers of medical science as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    “And, M. President, insurance is another huge portfolio for HHS. Last time Trump was in office, we saw millions of people lose their health care coverage. The uninsured rate went up after years of hard-won progress, and we all know he still wants to rip up the Affordable Care Act—which will drive up costs and kick people off their coverage.
    “There’s no reason to think Mr. Kennedy will stand up to that effort. Indeed, there is no reason to think he has the experience and understanding of the system to actually do so.
    “During his committee hearings, RFK Jr. confused Medicare and Medicaid—this is basic stuff! He failed to describe the components of Medicare. 
    “And yes, Mr. President, I also absolutely have to talk about abortion care. This is of grave importance—especially right now.
    “In his hearings, not only did RFK Jr. confess to having no real understanding of EMTALA—that is a law which requires patients have access to lifesaving emergency care including, in some cases, abortion care—he also showed that he will be totally open to Republicans’ fact-free efforts to rip away access to medication abortion.
    “Like so many other issues that RFK Jr. is simply wrong about, the science on that has been settled for many years now.
    “Mr. Kennedy made clear though, he is very open to revisiting access to the abortion pill, based on a Republican argument against the science that basically boils down to: ‘Nuh uh, nuh uh!’
    “Putting up barriers to accessing the abortion pill—or ripping it off the market completely, as Republicans have made very clear they want to do—would be absolutely devastating.
    “And let’s not forget about pandemic threats. The lies that RFK Jr. spread during the last pandemic already make clear he is not the man to do this job. But if that weren’t enough, when there was a pandemic threat response planning session for this new Administration—he skipped it! He didn’t go! It would almost be comical if this wasn’t so serious.
    “Mr. President, everywhere you look, everything about this nominee is so concerning.
    “We cannot take this man at his word—something he has changed and gone back and forth on time and time again. But we can take him on his record—which is that he has consistently undermined vaccine confidence and, by the way, note: he even profited from that.
    “And we can take the threat of what he might do seriously, especially given the alarming things that are already happening.
    “If RFK Jr. gives you his word of honor, that he won’t freeze research—well guess what? We are already seeing the Trump Administration totally upend medical research. Thanks to the Trump funding freeze, NIH hasn’t issued any grant awards in weeks!
    “If RFK Jr. swears that he is not going to take down information about vaccines, that he is not going to silence experts, well don’t look now—but the Trump Administration has already taken down or changed CDC pages about vaccines. They have already silenced public health experts.
    “If RFK Jr. pinky promises you that he won’t undermine medical science or studies, and he won’t ignore global health threats, well, you might want to sit down for this—but President Trump has completely demolished our global health aid work. He has already completely demolished it.
    “The fallout is utterly heart wrenching. Already we know of a woman who died—because the USAID-supported hospital she went to for oxygen was forced to discharge her because they got a ‘stop-work’ order from the Trump administration.
    “It is not clear if she was the first death caused by Trump’s complete freeze, but there is no question, she will not be the last.
    “And Mr. President—let me make a really important point here: it is not just people across the world who will be affected by this.
    “There was a study being done on a new HIV treatment with thousands of volunteers, a study being done already having a thousand volunteers doing the treatment. But now, without their regular injections, which are cut off because of Trump’s move, there is going to be too little of the drug in their system to protect those people from HIV—but enough of the drug that if they contract HIV, it could mutate to become drug resistant.
    “So, for all the absolutely unhinged conspiracies we have heard about medical research from RFK Jr. and the like, where is the concern for this actual risk, in this actual study, happening right now all because President Trump cut off foreign assistance?
    “RFK Jr. has been silent about that risk, silent about how wrong that is—and so, even as he is making these empty promises on one hand to some of our colleagues, he is already standing by as President Trump breaks them on the other hand.
    “Oh, and here’s one more—if RFK Jr. says he is going to consult you on health care personnel, please do not be fooled.
    “Look, I don’t know why my colleagues need me to tell them this—I like to think we have some pretty smart people around here—but this vote, RFK Jr.’s own nomination, this is your consultation on health care personnel. Not some made up promise for later. This is the point you have the most power.
    “Whatever he might say, you don’t get to choose who RFK Jr. will appoint to this or that—heck, he doesn’t get to choose who President Trump appoints. 
    “The decision you get to make, all of us on this floor get to make, is the decision on this floor before us right now. You get to choose who you vote to confirm. And you will have to live with that decision.
    “And, if you ignore the warning signs, and confirm RFK Jr.—then, when the wheels fall off the wagon, you may try to tell yourself you were lied to, but you knew who you were dealing with. You knew who you were dealing with. You knew what he has said before, and what he has refused to say.
    “You had all the knowledge you needed to do the right thing.
    “I cannot tell my colleagues enough: this is not a game, this is not a political role without consequence. The Health Secretary has real power over whether Americans can get basic information and care that impacts whether they live or die.
    “As I have tried to drive home throughout this process—vaccines save lives. That is not a question. It is not a slogan. It is a fact.
    “If, when parents look to you, worried about their newborn, wanting to do what is best for their baby, and trusting your advice as a public health leader—if you cannot tell them the same truth that centuries of science and experience tells us, which is that vaccines are safe, effective, and lifesaving, then you have absolutely no business leading the Department of Health and Human Services. None. 
    “And so, just as I did at the hearing, I want to warn all of my colleagues: by merely voting to confirm Mr. Kennedy, we would be telling our constituents he is worth listening to on vaccines. That alone will get people killed—before he even lifts a finger.
    “Because he does not even need the levers of power to get people killed—all he needs is a megaphone.
    “To affirm his views by voting to confirm him as our highest health official—let’s not mince words about what that will mean.
    “When babies die from whooping cough because parents weren’t sure the vaccine was safe—will you be able to look them in the eye? When the flu sweeps our nursing homes, when measles sweeps through our communities—will it be worth it?
    “Mr. President, I will end on this—I’m sure there are plenty of members who know perfectly well just how dangerous it would be to confirm RFK Jr. They don’t need to hear it from me—in fact, some of them may even know the danger better than I do.
    “But here’s what I do know: conscience is a muscle. Courage is a muscle. The less you use them, the more they fade away.
    “So if my colleagues are feeling the pressure from President Trump or if they are feeling the weight of the richest man in the world on their backs on this vote, I would warn them: this will certainly not be the last test we face here in the Senate.
    “Giving into pressure now won’t make it go away. It won’t soften the pressure you face later, and it will not strengthen your resolve when the stakes are higher. It will just show: pressure works.
    “If you do not draw a line somewhere, you will cross every line you could ever imagine. You will be pushed further and further into accepting things you never thought you would—things you thought you never could.
    “I think most of my colleagues know what is really at stake here. I think most of my colleagues knowwhat sort of man RFK Jr. is, and what sort of damage he could do if confirmed.
    “There are political realities, we all get that—but there is also right and wrong. There is also fact and fiction.
    “There is people staying healthy, and people dying pointlessly—kids dying pointlessly—from diseases that we can prevent, because they thought Congress took its job vetting our health secretary seriously.
    “So, M. President, I urge all my colleagues to show some courage. I urge them to show some conscience. I urge them to vote NO on RFK Jr.’s nomination.”

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