NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Unleashes American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    UNLEASHING OPPORTUNITY IN THE PACIFIC: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to unleash American commercial fishing in the Pacific Ocean—a key component of the America First Fishing Policy.
    The proclamation opens the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing, boosting the economy of American Samoa.
    It allows U.S.-flagged vessels to fish commercially within 50 to 200 nautical miles of the PRIMNM’s boundaries.
    EMPOWERING AMERICAN COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN: President Trump believes that removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen will strengthen the U.S. economy, support local communities, and restore fairness to an industry disadvantaged by overregulation and foreign competition.
    The PRIMNM was first established by President Bush in 2009 and then expanded by President Obama, closing off over 400,000 square miles of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Pacific.
    The ban on commercial fishing within the PRIMNM did little to guard fish populations against overfishing, as tuna and other pelagic species are migratory in nature and do not permanently reside within the PRIMNM.
    As a result of the prohibitions on commercial fishing, American fishing fleets have lost access to nearly half of the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone in the Pacific Islands.
    This has driven American fishermen to fish further offshore in international waters to compete against poorly regulated and highly subsidized foreign fleets, most notably from China.
    By supporting honest American fishermen, we combat the rampant illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by foreign fleets.

    This disadvantages United States commercial fishermen and is detrimental for United States territories like American Samoa, whose private sector economy is dependent on the fishing industry.
    American Samoa is home to the only Buy American-compliant tuna processing facility for U.S. military rations and school lunch programs.
    This cannery is the largest employer on the island, providing about 5,000 jobs.  In fact, the cannery accounts for 99.5% of American Samoa’s exports and 84% of the private employment in the territory.

    ADVANCING U.S. ECONOMIC INTERESTS: President Trump’s actions to revitalize commercial fishing are part of his broader strategy to unleash the full potential of the American economy by prioritizing deregulation and cutting red tape.
    President Trump launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new Federal rule is justified by clear benefits and accompanied by much larger deregulatory measures.
    President Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council to cut red tape, enhance private sector investments, advance innovation, and streamline the permitting process across all forms of American energy.
    President Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” to examine how to streamline the operations of the Federal Government, eliminate unnecessary programs and wasteful spending, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
    President Trump has already reduced unnecessarily large governmental entities and terminated numerous harmful Biden expansions of governmental authority.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Extends the Hiring Freeze

    Source: The White House

    EXTENDING THE HIRING FREEZE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum extending the hiring freeze for an additional three months.

    • The freeze, originally implemented on January 20, 2025, prohibits filling vacant federal civilian positions or creating new ones, with minor exceptions.
      • Exemptions from the freeze for necessary positions—including for immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety—shall remain.
    • This Memorandum extends the hiring freeze through July 15, 2025.
    • It also clarifies that once a merit hiring plan has been adopted, any hiring of employees exempt from the freeze shall be consistent with that plan.
    • Upon expiration of the hiring freeze and implementation of the hiring plan, agencies will be able to hire no more than one employee for every four employees that depart from federal service (with appropriate immigration, law enforcement, and public safety exceptions).

    PROMOTING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY: The extension of the hiring freeze is a critical step in shrinking the federal government and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.

    • In the last two years of the Biden Administration, government was directly responsible for the creation of more than 1 in every 4 jobs.
    • President Trump is committed to reversing this trend by prioritizing private-sector job growth and reducing the federal workforce to focus on essential functions.

    REFORMING THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY: The American people elected President Trump to drain the swamp and end ineffective government programs that empower government without achieving measurable results.

    • The government wastes billions of dollars each year on duplicative programs and frivolous expenditures that fail to align with American values or address the needs of the American people.
    • President Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” to examine how to streamline the Federal Government, eliminate unnecessary programs, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
    • President Trump launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits.
    • President Trump authorized buyout programs to encourage federal employees to leave voluntarily.
    • Through these actions, President Trump is keeping his promise to restore efficiency and accountability in the Federal Government.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. Announces First Quarter Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOWELL, Mass., April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. (“Enterprise”) (NASDAQ: EBTC), parent of Enterprise Bank, announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Net income amounted to $10.4 million, or $0.84 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $10.7 million, or $0.86 per diluted common share, for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and $8.5 million, or $0.69 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

    On December 9, 2024, Enterprise announced its intention to merge with Rockland Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: INDB). The proposed merger is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. As previously announced, Enterprise shareholders approved of the proposed merger on April 3, 2025. No vote of Independent Bank Corp. shareholders is required.

    Selected financial results at or for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024, were as follows:

    • The returns on average assets and average equity were 0.87% and 11.45%, respectively.
    • Tax-equivalent net interest margin (non-GAAP) (“net interest margin”) was 3.32%.
    • Total loans amounted to $4.05 billion, an increase of 1.7%.
    • Total customer deposits (non-GAAP) amounted to $4.15 billion, a decrease of 0.9%.
    • Wealth assets under management and administration amounted to $1.51 billion, a decrease of 1.6%.

    Chief Executive Officer Steven Larochelle commented, “As we continue to work toward the upcoming merger with Rockland Trust, I am pleased to announce our team delivered strong results in the first quarter. Loan growth was solid at 1.7% for the quarter and 11% for the last twelve months. Operating results compared to the prior year quarter were positively impacted by net interest income growth of 10% resulting from strong loan growth and an increase in net interest margin.”

    Executive Chairman & Founder George Duncan stated, “Our anticipated merger with Rockland Trust has been well received by our shareholders, customers and communities with shareholders approving the merger on April 3rd. The planning for our integration into Rockland Trust is going well and the anticipated synergies and cultural alignment of our two banks remains attractive.”

    Net Interest Income
    Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to $38.7 million, an increase of $3.5 million, or 10%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to an increase in loan interest income of $6.6 million, partially offset by increases in deposit interest expense of $1.0 million and borrowings interest expense of $1.0 million as well as a decrease in income on other interest-earning assets of $637 thousand.

    Net Interest Margin
    Net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, amounted to 3.32%, 3.29% and 3.20%, respectively.

    During the first quarter of 2025, the Company sold non-performing loans with a net book value of $956 thousand, resulting in net recoveries of $461 thousand and loan interest income of $486 thousand. The sale of non-performing loans impacted both loan yields and net interest margin favorably by 5 basis points for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Three months ended – March 31, 2025, compared to March 31, 2024

    The increase in net interest margin was due to loan growth and, to a lesser extent, an increase in loan yields, partially offset by increases in the average balance of funding liabilities and funding costs.

    The increase in interest-earning asset yields of 21 basis points was due primarily to loan repricing and originations at higher interest rates, partially offset by an increase in funding costs of 9 basis points driven by higher market rates and increases in certificate of deposits and borrowed funds.

    Provision for Credit Losses
    The provision for credit losses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024, are presented below:

        Three months ended   Increase / (Decrease)
    (Dollars in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		   March 31,
    2024
    Provision for credit losses on loans – collectively evaluated   $                         685     $                         417     $                         268  
    Provision for credit losses on loans – individually evaluated                             (565 )                            1,451                            (2,016 )
    Provision for credit losses on loans                               120                              1,868                            (1,748 )
                 
    Provision for unfunded commitments                               211                            (1,246 )                            1,457  
                 
    Provision for credit losses   $                         331     $                         622     $                       (291 )

    The provision for credit losses on collectively evaluated loans of $685 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, resulted mainly from loan growth, partially offset by net recoveries, which were primarily from the sale of non-performing loans noted above.

    The decrease in the provision for credit losses of $291 thousand, compared to the prior year quarter, was due primarily to a net decrease in reserves on individually evaluated loans of $2.0 million, partially offset by an increase in reserves for unfunded commitments of $1.5 million.

    The decrease in reserves on individually evaluated loans was due primarily to two commercial relationships that experienced improvement in their collateral valuation compared to the prior year period, while the increase in reserves for unfunded commitments resulted primarily from an increase in off-balance sheet commitments that required a reserve.

    Non-Interest Income
    Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to $5.2 million, a decrease of $307 thousand, or 6%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in gains on equity securities of $766 thousand, partially offset by an increase in wealth management fees of $247 thousand.

    Non-Interest Expense
    Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to $29.9 million, an increase of $1.0 million, or 4%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was due primarily to increases in salaries and employee benefits expense of $760 thousand and merger-related expenses of $290 thousand.

    Income Taxes
    The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to 23.3%, compared to 23.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

    Balance Sheet
    Total assets amounted to $4.90 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $4.83 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of 2%.

    Total investment securities at fair value amounted to $603.9 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $593.6 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of 2%. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2025, was largely attributable to a decrease in unrealized losses on debt securities resulting from decreases in market interest rates during the period, partially offset by principal pay-downs, calls and maturities. Unrealized losses on debt securities amounted to $79.9 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $101.8 million at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 22%.

    Total loans amounted to $4.05 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $3.98 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of 2%. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2025, was due primarily to an increase in commercial real estate loans of $70.2 million.

    Total deposits amounted to $4.30 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $4.19 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of 3%. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2025, was due primarily to an increase in brokered deposits of $150.0 million. Excluding brokered deposits, total deposits decreased $37.0 million during the first quarter of 2025.

    Total borrowed funds amounted to $94.5 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $153.1 million at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 38%. The decrease during the three months ended March 31, 2025, resulted primarily from the increase in brokered deposits during the period.

    Total shareholders’ equity amounted to $385.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $360.7 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of 7%. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2025, was due primarily to a decrease in the accumulated other comprehensive loss of $17.0 million and an increase in retained earnings of $7.3 million.

    Credit Quality

    Selected credit quality metrics at March 31, 2025, compared to December 31, 2024, were as follows:

    • The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) for loans amounted to $64.0 million, or 1.58% of total loans, compared to $63.5 million, or 1.59% of total loans. The decrease in the ACL for loans to total loan ratio was due primarily to a decrease in reserves on individually evaluated loans.
    • The reserve for unfunded commitments (included in other liabilities) amounted to $4.6 million, compared to $4.4 million. The increase was driven primarily by an increase in off-balance sheet commitments that required a reserve.
    • Non-performing loans amounted to $28.5 million, or 0.70% of total loans, compared to $26.7 million, or 0.67% of total loans.

    Net recoveries for the three months ended March 31, 2025, amounted to $424 thousand, or 0.04% of average total loans, which included $461 thousand in recoveries from the sale of non-performing loans noted above. Net charge-offs for the three months ended March 31, 2024, amounted to $122 thousand, or 0.01% of average total loans.

    Wealth Management
    Wealth assets under management and administration, which are not carried as assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, amounted to $1.51 billion at March 31, 2025, a decrease of $24.7 million, or 2%, compared to December 31, 2024, resulting primarily from a decrease in market values.

    ABOUT ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation that conducts substantially all its operations through Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, commonly referred to as Enterprise Bank, and has reported 142 consecutive profitable quarters. Enterprise Bank is principally engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the general public and investing in commercial loans and investment securities. Through Enterprise Bank and its subsidiaries, the Company offers a range of commercial, residential and consumer loan products, deposit products and cash management services, electronic and digital banking options, as well as wealth management, and trust services. The Company’s headquarters and Enterprise Bank’s main office are located at 222 Merrimack Street in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Company’s primary market area is the Northern Middlesex, Northern Essex, and Northern Worcester counties of Massachusetts and the Southern Hillsborough and Southern Rockingham counties in New Hampshire. Enterprise Bank has 27 full-service branches located in the Massachusetts communities of Acton, Andover, Billerica (2), Chelmsford (2), Dracut, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Leominster, Lexington, Lowell (2), Methuen, North Andover, Tewksbury (2), Tyngsborough and Westford and in the New Hampshire communities of Derry, Hudson, Londonderry, Nashua (2), Pelham, Salem and Windham.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    This earnings release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by references to a future period or periods or by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “upcoming,” “estimate,” “assume,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “plan,” and other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements should not be relied on because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors may cause the actual results, performance, and achievements of the Company to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, (i) disruption from the proposed merger with Independent; (ii) the risk that the proposed merger with Independent may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the proposed merger with Independent; (iv) the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for the proposed merger with Independent; (v) the ability to successfully integrate the combined business; (vi) the possibility that the amount of the costs, fees, expenses, and charges related to the proposed merger with Independent may be greater than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected or unknown factors, events, or liabilities; (vii) the failure of the conditions to the proposed merger with Independent to be satisfied; (viii) reputational risk and the reaction of the parties’ customers to the proposed merger with Independent; (xi) the risk of potential litigation or regulatory action related to the proposed merger with Independent; (x) the impact on us and our customers of a decline in general economic conditions and any regulatory responses thereto; (xi) potential recession in the United States and our market areas; (xii) the impacts related to or resulting from uncertainty in the banking industry as a whole; (xiii) increased competition for deposits and related changes in deposit customer behavior; (xiv) the impact of changes in market interest rates, whether due to a continuation of the elevated interest rate environment or further reductions in interest rates and a resulting decline in net interest income; (xv) the lingering inflationary pressures, and the risk of the resurgence of elevated levels of inflation, in the United States and our market areas; (xvi) the uncertain impacts of ongoing quantitative tightening and current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (xvii) increases in unemployment rates in the United States and our market areas; (xviii) adverse changes in customer spending and savings habits; (xix) declines in commercial real estate values and prices; (xx) a deterioration of the credit rating for U.S. long-term sovereign debt or uncertainty regarding United States fiscal debt, deficit and budget matters; (xxi) cyber incidents or other failures, disruptions or breaches of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber-attacks; (xxii) severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical instability or other external events, including as a result of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress, including potential changes in U.S. and international trade and tariff policies and the resulting impact on the Company and its customers; (xxiii) the effect of volatility in the capital markets on our fee income from our wealth management business; (xxiv) competition and market expansion opportunities; (xxv) changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures; (xxvi) changes in tax laws; (xxvii) the risks related to the development, implementation, use and management of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learnings; (xxviii) potential increased costs related to the impacts of climate change; and (xxix) current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions. Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For more information about these factors, please see our reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty, and specifically disclaim any duty, to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
    This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    In connection with the proposed transaction between Independent and Enterprise, Independent has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) that includes a proxy statement for a special meeting of Enterprise’s shareholders to approve the proposed transaction and that also constitutes a prospectus for the Independent common stock that will be issued in the proposed transaction, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF INDEPENDENT AND ENTERPRISE ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INDEPENDENT, ENTERPRISE AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Copies of the Registration Statement and of the proxy statement/prospectus and other filings incorporated by reference therein, as well as other filings containing information about Independent and Enterprise, can be obtained, free of charge, as they become available at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Independent Investor Relations, 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370, telephone (774) 363-9872 or to Enterprise Bancorp, Inc., 222 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (978) 656-5578.

    ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (unaudited)
     
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents:            
    Cash and due from banks   $       52,194     $       42,689     $       41,443  
    Interest-earning deposits with banks             34,543               41,152             106,391  
    Total cash and cash equivalents             86,737               83,841             147,834  
    Investments:            
    Debt securities at fair value (amortized cost of $674,601, $685,766 and $749,561 respectively)           594,691             583,930             643,924  
    Equity securities at fair value               9,242                 9,665                 8,102  
    Total investment securities at fair value           603,933             593,595             652,026  
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock               4,932                 7,093                 2,482  
    Loans held for sale               1,069                    520                    400  
    Loans:            
    Total loans        4,049,642          3,982,898          3,654,322  
    Allowance for credit losses           (64,042 )           (63,498 )           (60,741 )
    Net loans        3,985,600          3,919,400          3,593,581  
    Premises and equipment, net             41,464               42,444               44,671  
    Lease right-of-use asset             23,946               24,126               24,645  
    Accrued interest receivable             21,782               20,553               20,501  
    Deferred income taxes, net             42,338               49,096               47,903  
    Bank-owned life insurance             67,927               67,421               65,878  
    Prepaid income taxes               4,099                 2,583                 5,771  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets             11,006               11,398               12,667  
    Goodwill               5,656                 5,656                 5,656  
    Total assets   $ 4,900,489     $ 4,827,726     $ 4,624,015  
    Liabilities and Shareholders‘ Equity            
    Liabilities            
    Deposits:            
    Customer deposits   $ 4,150,668     $ 4,187,698     $ 4,106,119  
    Brokered deposits           149,975                      —                      —  
    Total deposits        4,300,643          4,187,698          4,106,119  
    Borrowed funds             94,493             153,136               63,246  
    Subordinated debt             59,894               59,815               59,577  
    Lease liability             23,699               23,849               24,303  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities             29,422               33,425               30,945  
    Accrued interest payable               6,983                 9,055                 6,386  
    Total liabilities        4,515,134          4,466,978          4,290,576  
    Commitments and Contingencies            
    Shareholders‘ Equity            
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued                    —                      —                      —  
    Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 12,510,019, 12,447,308 and 12,376,562 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.                  125                    124                    124  
    Additional paid-in capital           111,621             111,295             108,246  
    Retained earnings           335,568             328,243             306,943  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (61,959 )           (78,914 )           (81,874 )
    Total shareholders’ equity           385,355             360,748             333,439  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 4,900,489     $ 4,827,726     $ 4,624,015  
    ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (unaudited)
     
        Three months ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Interest and dividend income:            
    Other interest-earning assets   $               535     $               833     $            1,172
    Investment securities                  3,608                    3,881                    4,034
    Loans and loans held for sale                55,408                  54,528                  48,817
    Total interest and dividend income                59,551                  59,242                  54,023
    Interest expense:            
    Deposits                18,288                  19,488                  17,272
    Borrowed funds                  1,706                       394                       694
    Subordinated debt                     867                       867                       867
    Total interest expense                20,861                  20,749                  18,833
    Net interest income                38,690                  38,493                  35,190
    Provision for credit losses                     331                     (106 )                     622
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses                38,359                  38,599                  34,568
    Non-interest income:            
    Wealth management fees                  2,097                    2,043                    1,850
    Deposit and interchange fees                  2,157                    2,240                    2,069
    Income on bank-owned life insurance, net                     506                       522                       458
    Net gains on sales of loans                       47                         33                         22
    Net (losses) gains on equity securities                   (301 )                     (30 )                     465
    Other income                     682                       808                       631
    Total non-interest income                  5,188                    5,616                    5,495
    Non-interest expense:            
    Salaries and employee benefits                19,936                  19,276                  19,176
    Occupancy and equipment expenses                  2,582                    2,364                    2,459
    Technology and telecommunications expenses                  2,709                    2,687                    2,745
    Advertising and public relations expenses                     752                       609                       743
    Audit, legal and other professional fees                     541                       460                       734
    Deposit insurance premiums                     878                       950                       859
    Supplies and postage expenses                     229                       242                       237
    Merger-related expenses                     290                    1,137                         —
    Other operating expenses                  2,032                    2,117                    1,955
    Total non-interest expense                29,949                  29,842                  28,908
    Income before income taxes                13,598                  14,373                  11,155
    Provision for income taxes                  3,163                    3,646                    2,648
    Net income   $          10,435     $          10,727     $            8,507
                 
    Basic earnings per common share   $              0.84     $              0.86     $              0.69
    Diluted earnings per common share   $              0.84     $              0.86     $              0.69
                 
    Basic weighted average common shares outstanding         12,464,721           12,433,895           12,292,417
    Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding         12,495,458           12,460,063           12,304,203
    ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Selected Consolidated Financial Data and Ratios
    (unaudited)
         
        At or for the three months ended
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Balance Sheet Data                    
    Total cash and cash equivalents   $        86,737     $        83,841     $        88,632     $      199,719     $      147,834  
    Total investment securities at fair value            603,933              593,595              631,975              636,838              652,026  
    Total loans         4,049,642           3,982,898           3,858,940           3,768,649           3,654,322  
    Allowance for credit losses           (64,042 )           (63,498 )           (63,654 )           (61,999 )           (60,741 )
    Total assets         4,900,489           4,827,726           4,742,809           4,773,681           4,624,015  
    Customer deposits         4,150,668           4,187,698           4,189,461           4,248,801           4,106,119  
    Brokered deposits            149,975                       —                       —                       —                       —  
    Borrowed funds              94,493              153,136                59,949                61,785                63,246  
    Subordinated debt              59,894                59,815                59,736                59,657                59,577  
    Total shareholders’ equity            385,355              360,748              368,109              340,441              333,439  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity         4,900,489           4,827,726           4,742,809           4,773,681           4,624,015  
                         
    Wealth Management                    
    Wealth assets under management   $   1,214,050     $   1,230,014     $   1,212,076     $   1,129,147     $   1,105,036  
    Wealth assets under administration   $      297,233     $      305,930     $      302,891     $      267,529     $      268,074  
                         
    Shareholders’ Equity Ratios                    
    Book value per common share   $          30.80     $          28.98     $          29.62     $          27.40     $          26.94  
    Dividends paid per common share   $            0.25     $            0.24     $            0.24     $            0.24     $            0.24  
                         
    Regulatory Capital Ratios                    
    Total capital to risk weighted assets     13.06 %     13.06 %     13.07 %     13.07 %     13.20 %
    Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets(1)     10.39 %     10.38 %     10.36 %     10.34 %     10.43 %
    Tier 1 capital to average assets     8.98 %     8.94 %     8.68 %     8.76 %     8.85 %
                         
    Credit Quality Data                    
    Non-performing loans   $        28,479     $        26,687     $        25,946     $        17,731     $        18,527  
    Non-performing loans to total loans     0.70 %     0.67 %     0.67 %     0.47 %     0.51 %
    Non-performing assets to total assets     0.58 %     0.55 %     0.55 %     0.37 %     0.40 %
    ACL for loans to total loans     1.58 %     1.59 %     1.65 %     1.65 %     1.66 %
    Net (recoveries) charge-offs   $          (424 )   $             221     $              (7 )   $          (130 )   $             122  
                         
    Income Statement Data                    
    Net interest income   $        38,690     $        38,493     $        38,020     $        36,161     $        35,190  
    Provision for credit losses                   331                  (106 )                1,332                     137                     622  
    Total non-interest income                5,188                  5,616                  6,140                  5,628                  5,495  
    Total non-interest expense              29,949                29,842                29,353                29,029                28,908  
    Income before income taxes              13,598                14,373                13,475                12,623                11,155  
    Provision for income taxes                3,163                  3,646                  3,488                  3,111                  2,648  
    Net income   $        10,435     $        10,727     $          9,987     $          9,512     $          8,507  
                         
    Income Statement Ratios                    
    Diluted earnings per common share   $            0.84     $            0.86     $            0.80     $            0.77     $            0.69  
    Return on average total assets     0.87 %     0.89 %     0.82 %     0.82 %     0.75 %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity     11.45 %     11.82 %     11.20 %     11.55 %     10.47 %
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)(2)     3.32 %     3.29 %     3.22 %     3.19 %     3.20 %
    (1) Ratio also represents common equity tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets as of the periods presented.
    (2) Tax-equivalent net interest margin is net interest income adjusted for the tax-equivalent effect associated with tax-exempt loan and investment income, expressed as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
    ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Consolidated Loan and Deposit Data
    (unaudited)
     
    Major classifications of loans at the dates indicated were as follows:
     
    (Dollars in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Commercial real estate owner-occupied   $      708,645     $      704,634     $      660,063     $      660,478     $      635,420  
    Commercial real estate non owner-occupied         1,629,394           1,563,201           1,579,827           1,544,386           1,524,174  
    Commercial and industrial            483,165              479,821              415,642              426,976              417,604  
    Commercial construction            664,936              679,969              674,434              622,094              583,711  
    Total commercial loans         3,486,140           3,427,625           3,329,966           3,253,934           3,160,909  
                         
    Residential mortgages            450,456              443,096              424,030              413,323              400,093  
    Home equity loans and lines            105,779              103,858                95,982                93,220                85,144  
    Consumer                7,267                  8,319                  8,962                  8,172                  8,176  
    Total retail loans            563,502              555,273              528,974              514,715              493,413  
    Total loans         4,049,642           3,982,898           3,858,940           3,768,649           3,654,322  
                         
    ACL for loans           (64,042 )           (63,498 )           (63,654 )           (61,999 )           (60,741 )
    Net loans   $   3,985,600     $   3,919,400     $   3,795,286     $   3,706,650     $   3,593,581  
    Deposits are summarized at the periods indicated were as follows:
     
    (Dollars in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   September 30,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Non-interest checking   $     1,028,326   $     1,077,998   $     1,064,424   $     1,041,771   $     1,038,887
    Interest-bearing checking              715,517              699,671              682,050              788,822              730,819
    Savings              284,960              270,367              279,824              294,566              285,090
    Money market           1,437,907           1,454,443           1,488,437           1,504,551           1,469,181
    CDs $250,000 or less              393,890              377,958              375,055              358,149              337,367
    CDs greater than $250,000              290,068              307,261              299,671              260,942              244,775
    Total customer deposits           4,150,668           4,187,698           4,189,461           4,248,801           4,106,119
    Brokered deposits              149,975                       —                       —                       —                       —
     Deposits   $     4,300,643   $     4,187,698   $     4,189,461   $     4,248,801   $     4,106,119
    ENTERPRISE BANCORP, INC.
    Consolidated Average Balance Sheets and Yields (tax-equivalent basis)
    (unaudited)
     
    The following table presents the Company’s average balance sheets, net interest income and average rates for the periods indicated:
     
        Three months ended March 31, 2025   Three months ended December 31, 2024   Three months ended March 31, 2024
    (Dollars in thousands)   Average
    Balance    		   Interest(1)   Average
    Yield(1)    		   Average
    Balance    		   Interest(1)   Average
    Yield(1)    		   Average
    Balance    		   Interest(1)   Average
    Yield(1)
    Assets:                                    
    Other interest-earning assets(2)   $            44,673   $           535   4.86 %   $            68,224   $           833   4.85 %   $            86,078   $         1,172   5.48 %
    Investment securities(3) (tax-equivalent)                689,138               3,705   2.15 %                704,629               3,985   2.26 %                763,692               4,157   2.18 %
    Loans and loans held for sale(4) (tax-equivalent)              4,015,667             55,555   5.60 %              3,911,386             54,673   5.56 %              3,608,157             48,960   5.46 %
    Total interest-earnings assets (tax-equivalent)              4,749,478             59,795   5.10 %              4,684,239             59,491   5.06 %              4,457,927             54,289   4.89 %
    Other assets                  98,003                        101,952                          91,794        
    Total assets   $        4,847,481           $        4,786,191           $        4,549,721        
                                         
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:                                    
    Non-interest checking   $        1,034,122                   —       $        1,106,823                   —       $        1,069,145                   —    
    Interest checking, savings and money market              2,405,722             10,332   1.74 %              2,471,854             11,728   1.89 %              2,418,947             11,356   1.89 %
    CDs                686,689               7,121   4.21 %                683,248               7,760   4.52 %                549,097               5,916   4.33 %
    Brokered deposits                  76,647                 835   4.42 %                        —                   —   — %                        —                   —   — %
    Total deposits              4,203,180             18,288   1.68 %              4,261,925             19,488   1.82 %              4,037,189             17,272   1.72 %
    Borrowed funds                154,911               1,706   4.47 %                  37,812                 394   4.15 %                  63,627                 694   4.38 %
    Subordinated debt(5)                  59,847                 867   5.79 %                  59,768                 867   5.80 %                  59,530                 867   5.82 %
    Total funding liabilities              4,417,938             20,861   1.91 %              4,359,505             20,749   1.89 %              4,160,346             18,833   1.82 %
    Other liabilities                  59,976                          65,720                          62,500        
    Total liabilities              4,477,914                      4,425,225                      4,222,846        
    Stockholders’ equity                369,567                        360,966                        326,875        
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $        4,847,481           $        4,786,191           $        4,549,721        
                                         
    Net interest-rate spread (tax-equivalent)           3.19 %           3.17 %           3.07 %
    Net interest income (tax-equivalent)                 38,934                     38,742                     35,456    
    Net interest margin (tax-equivalent)           3.32 %           3.29 %           3.20 %
    Less tax-equivalent adjustment                     244                         249                         266    
    Net interest income       $       38,690           $       38,493           $       35,190    
    Net interest margin           3.29 %           3.27 %           3.17 %
    (1) Average yields and interest income are presented on a tax-equivalent basis, calculated using a U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% for each period presented, based on tax-equivalent adjustments associated with tax-exempt loans and investments interest income.
    (2) Average other interest-earning assets include interest-earning deposits with banks, federal funds sold and Federal Home Loan Bank stock.
    (3) Average investment securities are presented at average amortized cost.
    (4) Average loans and loans held for sale are presented at average amortized cost and include non-accrual loans.
    (5) Subordinated debt is net of average deferred debt issuance costs.

    Contact Info: Joseph R. Lussier, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (978) 656-5578

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Kaptur Call on Energy Department to Reverse New Indirect Cost Cap That Will Gut Funding for Cutting-Edge Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright expressing deep concern about how the Department’s recently announced cap on indirect costs for DOE research will jeopardize critical research and innovation—and calling on him to immediately reverse the policy.

    “We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent decision to impose a cap on indirect cost rates for DOE-funded research. This change threatens to destabilize America’s scientific research infrastructure, delay critical energy innovation, and result in widespread economic harm,” write Murray and Kaptur. “At a time when China is investing billions to catch up to the scientific advancements driven by decades of DOE investments, the U.S. should be accelerating its technological leadership, but this policy does the opposite.”

    The lawmakers note the cap will cut funding essential to conducing cutting-edge DOE research: “This cap represents a sweeping, indiscriminate funding cut that will jeopardize not just projects at universities but also university partners at the national laboratories and in industry. Scientists could be forced to scale back or shutter vital studies; collaboration across sectors may be frozen; and the next generation of clean energy technologies could be delayed or lost entirely.”

    Murray and Kaptur also underscore the implications of DOE’s new policy for the economy, stating: “Beyond its scientific implications, this policy change has serious economic consequences. DOE-funded research supports tens of thousands of jobs—from researchers and engineers to technical staff and support personnel—across all 50 states. In fiscal year 2024 alone, federal energy research investments generated billions in economic activity and helped anchor American competitiveness in global innovation markets. Weakening that support will reverberate through entire regions and industries, putting livelihoods at risk.”

    The lawmakers press Secretary Wright to explain the abrupt new policy change and call on him to reverse it, concluding: “[W]e also ask that you to immediately reverse this shortsighted and harmful new cap, which amounts to nothing short of a disastrous funding cut. DOE’s mission is too important to allow political interference to undercut America’s progress in energy research, climate resilience, and economic development. Let our scientists, engineers, and institutions continue their lifesaving, world-shaping work—uninterrupted.”

    The full letter is available HERE and below:

    April 16, 2025

    The Honorable Christopher Wright
    U.S. Department of Energy
    1000 Independence Ave SW
    Washington, DC 20585

    Dear Secretary Wright:

    We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent decision to impose a cap on indirect cost rates for DOE-funded research. This change threatens to destabilize America’s scientific research infrastructure, delay critical energy innovation, and result in widespread economic harm. At a time when China is investing billions to catch up to the scientific advancements driven by decades of DOE investments, the U.S. should be accelerating its technological leadership, but this policy does the opposite.

    DOE has long played a crucial role in supporting cutting-edge research in energy, climate science, advanced manufacturing, and national security. By capping indirect cost rates at 15 percent, this new policy undermines the essential support systems that make this research possible—such as the operation and maintenance of research facilities, labs, and technical infrastructure. Research institutions depend on these funds to conduct safe, innovative, and effective science.

    This cap represents a sweeping, indiscriminate funding cut that will jeopardize not just projects at universities but also university partners at the national laboratories and in industry. Scientists could be forced to scale back or shutter vital studies; collaboration across sectors may be frozen; and the next generation of clean energy technologies could be delayed or lost entirely. Even more worrying is the impact on our future science workforce, particularly in energy and critical and emerging technologies, where our nation has long struggled to recruit and train the best talent into roles at the intersection of technology and national security. 

    Beyond its scientific implications, this policy change has serious economic consequences. DOE-funded research supports tens of thousands of jobs—from researchers and engineers to technical staff and support personnel—across all 50 states. In fiscal year 2024 alone, federal energy research investments generated billions in economic activity and helped anchor American competitiveness in global innovation markets. Weakening that support will reverberate through entire regions and industries, putting livelihoods at risk.

    The policy’s abrupt implementation—absent consultation with the research community or Congress—has also introduced confusion and uncertainty into the energy research ecosystem. Programs will be paused, partnerships disrupted, and project leaders left with no clarity about how to proceed. In a moment that demands bold, collaborative leadership to meet America’s energy needs, these actions cause paralysis instead.  In regards to this new policy cap, please provide answers to the following questions:

    1. What will happen to existing awards at universities if they do not meet the new terms and conditions in this policy?
    2. What specific data or analysis did DOE use to determine that a 15% cap on indirect costs is appropriate and sustainable for research institutions?
    3. How does DOE justify this cap given that many universities currently operate with indirect cost rates significantly higher than 15% to cover essential research infrastructure and compliance?
    4. Was there any consultation with academic stakeholders, such as university administrators or research organizations, prior to implementing this policy change?
    5. What impact assessments has DOE conducted to understand how this cap will affect the financial viability of ongoing and future research projects at universities?
    6. Has DOE evaluated how this cap could influence the United States’ position in global research and innovation competitiveness?
    7. What are the long-term implications of this policy on the pipeline of future scientists and researchers trained through university programs?

    Particularly in light of the lack of information justifying this policy we also ask that you to immediately reverse this shortsighted and harmful new cap, which amounts to nothing short of a disastrous funding cut. DOE’s mission is too important to allow political interference to undercut America’s progress in energy research, climate resilience, and economic development. Let our scientists, engineers, and institutions continue their lifesaving, world-shaping work—uninterrupted.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Introduces Bill to Protect Seniors from New Trump Social Security Repayment Policy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) joined several of her House Democratic colleagues to introduce the Claws Off Social Security Act—a bill that protects seniors from having their entire Social Security checks withheld in cases of accidental overpayment.

    Under a recently implemented policy by the Trump Administration, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may withhold 100 percent of a senior’s benefit if an accidental overpayment occurs—even when the mistake was through no fault of the beneficiary. This change could leave millions of Americans without the income they rely on for food, housing, and medicine.

    The Claws Off Social Security Act would reinstate a commonsense safeguard previously in place during the Biden Administration, which limited repayments to 10 percent of a recipient’s monthly benefit. This allows seniors to repay overpayments gradually without being pushed into financial crisis.

    “For so many older Americans, a Social Security check isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline,” said Rep. Frankel. “It helps keep food on the table, the lights on, and critical medications within reach. It’s simply wrong to take away someone’s entire income because of a government mistake. This bill restores fairness and compassion to the system—ensuring seniors can repay what’s owed without losing everything they depend on to get by.”

    In 2023 alone, the SSA sought to recover overpayments from more than two million people. Many were blindsided by sudden demands for repayment and feared losing their only source of income.

    The Claws Off Social Security Act would:

    1. Cap the SSA’s monthly withholding for overpayments at 10 percent of a recipient’s benefit;
    2. Allow beneficiaries the option to repay more if they choose; and
    3. Provide an exception in cases involving fraud.

    The bill is co-led by Reps. Dwight Evans (PA-03), John Larson (CT-01), and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and is endorsed by leading advocacy organizations including Justice in Aging, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Social Security Works.

    Click here to read the full text.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Warren County Man Charged for Possession Of Videos and Images of Child Sexual Abuse

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TRENTON, N.J. – A Warren County man was charged with possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Marc Panchenko, 53, of Washington Township, New Jersey, was charged in a one-count complaint with possession of child pornography. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court and was ordered detained.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Following Panchenko’s release from federal custody in November 2023 for a prior offense, Panchenko was placed on supervised release and a monitoring software was installed on his cellular telephone to detect any images of child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”). On or about March 3, 2025, the software alerted the authorities to the existence of CSAM on Panchenko’s phone. A further examination of the contents of the phone revealed the presence of over 600 videos of varying length and over 12,000 digital photos, an ongoing review of which has revealed numerous images of CSAM, including images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct as further outlined in the complaint.

    The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but due to his prior conviction on a similar charge, Panchenko is also facing a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. He is also facing a fine of up to $250,000.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force—Newark Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, the Washington Township Police Department, Warren County, under the direction of Chief of Police Christopher M. Jones, and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Jessica Cardone, with the investigation leading to the charge.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the Criminal Division in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                                        ###

    Defense counsel: Candace Hom, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brooklyn Resident Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rasheedul Mowla, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support or resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. When sentenced, Mowla faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.

    “Mowla sought to join a violent foreign terrorist organization that has conducted and inspired terrorist attacks worldwide, killing numerous innocent victims, including American citizens,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement, Mowla’s plan to join ISIS was thwarted.  This Office remains steadfast in its efforts to pursue and bring to justice those who support terrorism.”

    Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their outstanding work on the case.

    “Rasheedul Mowla made a concerted attempt to travel to Syria to join ISIS and expressed his willingness to actively support their extremist ideologies with physical violence.  He sought to jeopardize the welfare of his own country to align with a foreign terrorist organization known for killing American soldiers and innocent civilians,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “This is evidence of the FBI’s enduring commitment to leveraging the NY JTTF to interdict any United States citizen seeking to participate in terrorist activities, and ensure they no longer pose a threat to this nation.”

    “Rasheedul Mowla wasn’t just planning to join ISIS—he was ready to kill and die for them,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “That kind of threat demands a swift response, and thanks to the work of the NYPD and our federal partners, it was stopped before anyone got hurt.  This case underscores the importance of constant vigilance and the critical role our investigators play in keeping New York and the entire country safe.”

    As detailed in publicly filed court documents, the defendant traveled to Saudi Arabia in June 2017, purportedly to celebrate an Islamic religious holiday.  Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, the defendant attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS.  He was apprehended before entering Syria and, on August 29, 2017, was deported back to the United States.

    The defendant previously admitted to law enforcement authorities that, prior to traveling to the Middle East, he knew that ISIS was a terrorist organization that committed terrorist attacks and killed people.  He further admitted that, had he successfully arrived in Syria to join ISIS, he was planning to shoot weapons and willing to die on behalf of ISIS.             

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Arfa is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 

    The Defendant:

    RASHEEDUL MOWLA
    Age:  28
    Brooklyn, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-487 (AMD)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Exporting energy, importing opportunity

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Manufacturing Loans Skyrocket Under Trump Administration

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a major surge in manufacturing loans during the first 90 days of the Trump Administration. Compared to the same period during the Biden Administration, the number of SBA 7(a) loan approvals for small manufacturers has increased by 74%.

    The 7(a) loan program is SBA’s flagship program, a public-private partnership which offers government-guaranteed loans to help small businesses finance equipment purchases, real estate acquisition, working capital (including revolving credit lines), and business expansion. Since Jan. 20, 2025, SBA has approved over 1,120 7(a) loans for manufacturers with a total loan volume of $677 million. During the same period in 2021, SBA approved less than 650 7(a) loans for manufacturers with a total loan volume of $497 million. Nearly 99% of American manufacturers are considered to be small businesses.

    “Loan applications and approvals for small manufacturers are surging – a clear sign that American manufacturing is roaring back, fueled by pro-growth policies that put American workers and businesses first,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. “Thanks to President Trump’s agenda to restore economic and national security, SBA is helping to power an industrial comeback – meeting massive demand to help America’s small producers expand operations, create good-paying jobs, and restore our supply chains.”

    Manufacturing has been on the rebound since President Trump took office, boosted by his pro-business agenda – including tax cuts, deregulation, energy independence and tariffs. The country gained 10,000 manufacturing jobs during President Trump’s first full month in office after losing more than 111,000 under President Biden in 2024.

    Under Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has dedicated significant resources to support small manufacturers and workers. Last month, the agency announced its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative – a campaign to cut $100 billion in red tape, increase access to capital, and promote a skilled workforce. As part of this initiative, agency leaders have met with more than 150 small manufacturers across the country – holding roundtables and site tours on its Made in America Roadshow.

    SBA guarantees numerous different types of loans to help small businesses and manufacturers start and grow their businesses. In addition to the 7(a) loan program, the agency also guarantees 504 loans – which provide long-term, fixed rate financing of up to $5 million for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation.

    # # #

     

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Finstad Introduces Legislation to Remove SBA Offices from Sanctuary Cities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) introduced the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that would remove and relocate U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offices located in jurisdictions that have adopted sanctuary policies, to better ensure resources benefit American small businesses and rural communities.

    “Sanctuary jurisdictions raise serious public safety concerns and erode the rule of law,” said Rep. Finstad. “In Minnesota, cities like Minneapolis continue to circumvent federal law and prioritize illegal immigrants. This legislation ensures that the Small Business Administration is focused on its mission of providing critical resources and support to American citizens and small businesses while rejecting Democrat-run cities’ out-of-touch priorities.”

    “For decades, sanctuary cities have disregarded federal law without consequence, resulting in violence and heartbreak for American citizens. Many of these lawless cities have put the SBA offices at risk,” said Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business. “I fully support the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act, which will move SBA offices out of sanctuary cities and into safer, pro-business, pro-America municipalities that believe in the rule of law. Small businesses deserve to operate without the threat of crime and violence exacerbated by sanctuary policies.”

    Background:

    Specifically, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act:

    • Ensures that SBA offices are not located in sanctuary jurisdictions. If an office is currently in a state that is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, it will be relocated to another area within that same state.
    • Requires the Administrator to make a public determination on the relocation of offices within 60 days of the passage of this legislation.

    The Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act defines “sanctuary jurisdiction” as any state or political subdivision of a state that has in effect policies that prohibit or restrict immigration enforcement.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Congresswoman Barragán Hosts a Full House Community Conversation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    April 16, 2025

    Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

    South Gate, CA — On Monday, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) held a second Community Conversation on the proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential government services; the tariff “tax” on everyday essential items; the illegal deportation of legally protected immigrants; and the impacts of these actions on communities in the district. After hosting nearly 400 constituents at her first Community Conversation in San Pedro, last night’s event saw close to 300 people gather in South Gate to hear from the Congresswoman, ask questions, and tell their personal stories of how they would be impacted by these policies. 

    The Congresswoman was joined by Community Health Pediatrician and Medical Director of Health Education and Wellness at AltaMed, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, and Immigration Attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), Christine Yoon. 

    “Our constituents are scared and worried about the changes coming from Republicans in Washington that will have a serious impact on their daily lives,” said Rep. Barragán. “The Trump Tax on everyday essentials like groceries, clothes, and cars and the massive cuts to federal programs affect every family in our communities. Parents should not have to decide between buying medicine for their child or putting food on the table. Seniors should not be threatened with loss of care in nursing homes while their children work full-time. And families should not have to pay thousands more every year for everyday essentials because of a misguided trade-war. House Democrats will continue to show up in our communities and fight to protect critical programs that hardworking Americans rely on every day.” 

    “Medicaid funding not only ensures that 37 million children in our country have access to care, it also helps fund critical programs for children’s mental health and children with disabilities. As a pediatrician, when Medicaid is funded, I can ensure the children I care for have access to the preventative care they need to help them grow healthy. Cutting Medicaid also cuts doctors, nurses, and resources for community health centers, hospitals, and specialty care. If we truly believe in protecting the most vulnerable in our society and investing in the future of our children, then we must protect and preserve Medicaid at all costs,” said Dr. Shapiro.

    As a practicing community pediatrician, I can tell you that if my Medicaid patients lose access or have to pay increased costs in care, the impacts will be long-lasting and detrimental to their lives, their families, and their communities,” he continued. 

    The full livestream can be found HERE. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of State Hoskins Identifies Top 5 Threats to Missouri Investors

    Source: US State of Missouri

     

     

    Secretary of State Hoskins Identifies Top 5 Threats to Missouri Investors

    From the Missouri Securities Division, a division of Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ Office

    1. Scams Involving Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency

    Scammers often use Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other social media apps to find victims. Be cautious if someone asks you to cash out a retirement account like a 401(k) or to move money from an investment account into some sort of crypto platform. Always check the person’s background and qualifications before investing. If they hesitate to share that information, that’s a red flag. Walk away.

    2. Unregistered Promissory Notes

    Securities must be either registered or legally exempt—and so must the people selling them. Scammers often build trust and then ask for money. No friendship should require an investment. If it does, it’s likely a scam.

    3. Risky Real Estate Investments

    Real estate investment scams are on the rise. Scammers may try to sell you a share in a company that plans to buy and fix up distressed property for big profits. In many cases, the property is worthless, and investors lose most of their money. Always ask for a prospectus and read all disclosure documents before investing. Never invest more than you can afford to lose—there’s no such thing as a risk-free investment.

    4. Gold, Silver and Other Precious Metals

    Precious metals can help diversify your portfolio, but scammers use fear and pressure to convince people to invest too much in them. These investments may have hidden fees or be hard to sell. Some buyers have found it would take years to recover what they lost—time that older investors may not have.

    5. AI-Generated Testimonials

    Many online celebrity endorsements and reviews are fake and made using artificial intelligence. Whether real or not, a testimonial is never a reliable way to judge an investment. Always talk to a registered investment adviser. (You can check registrations on the Missouri Securities Commission website!) Don’t invest just because someone famous—or even a friend—recommended it.

    Stay alert when it comes to your finances. If someone asks for your investment, you can check their background by calling the Missouri Investor Protection Hotline at 1-800-721-7996.

    The Missouri Securities Division, a division of Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ Office, is here to help protect your hard-earned money.

    About the Missouri Securities Division

    The Missouri Securities Division, a division of the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office, is responsible for protecting Missouri investors and ensuring fair and transparent securities markets. Under the authority of the Missouri Securities Act of 2003, the Division regulates the offer and sale of securities and the licensing of broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers, and investment adviser representatives.

    The Division investigates allegations of securities fraud and unregistered activity, brings enforcement actions against violators, and provides investor education resources to help Missourians make informed financial decisions. Through proactive oversight and enforcement, the Securities Division plays a critical role in promoting public trust and financial integrity in Missouri’s investment landscape. The Division is led by Commissioner Michael O’Donnell.

     

    About the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office

    The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office serves as a central hub for key state functions that promote transparency, security, and opportunity for all Missourians. The Office oversees the administration of fair and secure elections, registers and supports businesses, maintains and preserves state records through the State Archives, and ensures public access to government rulemaking via the Administrative Rules Division.

    Additionally, the Office protects investors through the Securities Division, supports libraries and literacy programs across the state, and administers the Safe at Home address confidentiality program for survivors of abuse and assault. With a commitment to service, accountability, and civic engagement, the Secretary of State’s Office works every day to strengthen Missouri’s government and communities.

     

    About Secretary of State Denny Hoskins

    Denny Hoskins, CPA, was elected Missouri’s 41st Secretary of State in November 2024. With a strong background in business and public service, he is committed to improving government efficiency, transparency, and supporting Missouri families. Hoskins previously served as a legislator in both the state Senate and House. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Warrensburg and have five adult children.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Conclude the 2025 Article IV Discussions and Reach Staff-Level Agreement with Tanzania on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility and the Second Review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, April 17, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • The IMF and Tanzanian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Once approved by the IMF Executive Board, Tanzania will gain access to US$441 million in financing.
    • Tanzania’s economic outlook is favorable, with robust growth, low inflation, an improved current account, and increased foreign exchange liquidity. In FY25/26, well-balanced public revenue measures are expected to maintain fiscal and debt sustainability, while safeguarding priority social spending.
    • Continuing implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation policies, supported by the RSF, will help strengthen resilience to climate-related risks.

    A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Nicolas Blancher, visited Tanzania during April 2-17, 2025, and held discussions on the 2025 Article IV consultation, the fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, the reviews will make available SDR 326.47 million (about US$440.8 million), bringing the total IMF financial support under the ECF arrangement to SDR 682.21 million (about US$907.4 million), and SDR 255.72 million (about US$343.6 million) under the RSF.

    At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. Blancher issued the following statement:

    “I am pleased to announce that the IMF team and the Tanzanian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the policies needed to complete the fifth review under Tanzania’s ECF-supported program, and the second review of the RSF arrangement. The IMF’s Executive Board will discuss these reviews in the coming weeks.

    “Tanzania’s economic activity has been strong, with real GDP growth reaching 5.5 percent in 2024 and projected to increase to 6 percent in 2025. Inflation, at 3.3 percent in March (yoy), has remained subdued and below the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) target of 5 percent. While the economic outlook is favorable, risks are tilted to the downside. The external environment is uncertain, with risks from a slowdown in the global economy and trade, geoeconomic fragmentation, further intensification of the conflict in the DR Congo, and reduced foreign development assistance. On the domestic front, the upcoming national elections may increase risks of fiscal pressures or, more broadly, reform slowdown.

    “Fiscal consolidation is expected to pause in FY24/25 with the adoption of a supplementary budget in February 2025 aimed at increasing public spending by about 0.4 percent of GDP relative to the initial budget, through higher expenditures on education and health, clearance of domestic arrears, and other priority areas. It will be essential to resume growth-friendly fiscal consolidation in FY25/26 to preserve debt sustainability and rebuild fiscal space, especially in light of pressing social spending needs. To this effect, the authorities are committed to reducing the domestic primary deficit by 0.4 percentage points of GDP to 0.8 percent in FY25/26 through revenue measures yielding 0.9 percent of GDP, while safeguarding priority social spending at 7.1 percent of GDP.

    “With inflation remaining below the BoT’s 5 percent target maintaining the CBR at 6 percent, a level which the mission considers to be neutral or mildly stimulatory, will help preserve price stability in the period ahead. It will also be important to continue allowing exchange rate flexibility and conducting FX interventions in line with the BoT’s FX intervention policy. Increased tolerance for exchange rate flexibility, together with reforms to improve the functioning of the foreign exchange market, have been successful in bringing back FX flows into the formal market, increasing its liquidity and reducing the parallel market premium.

    “The current account deficit is estimated to have narrowed to 2.6 percent of GDP in CY2024, from 3.8 percent of GDP in CY2023. This was driven by strong exports of minerals and agricultural products, as well as record tourist arrivals, against a moderate increase in imports of capital goods and declining oil imports. In 2025, high gold prices are expected to support the export momentum and help further reduce the current account deficit. Gross international reserves stood at an adequate level of US$5.7 billion (about 3.8 months of imports) in March 2025.”

    “In the context of the Article IV consultation, the mission was also an opportunity to discuss longer-term prospects for the Tanzanian economy with a range of government and other counterparts. To meet the ambitious goals laid out in the Tanzania Vision 2050, it will be critical to ensure that sufficient resources are dedicated to the education and health of a young and rapidly growing population, and to create an enabling environment for private sector-led growth and job creation. In particular, further efforts to improve the availability and access to finance, streamline business regulations, and strengthen judicial and anti-corruption institutions, are key structural reform priorities.

    “Continuing the implementation of climate reforms, supported by the RSF, will enhance climate resilience and sustainability. The government has already started to strengthen the institutional framework for climate policies and public investment management in line with climate risks. Accelerating implementation of RSF reforms with technical and financial assistance from the IMF, the World Bank and other development partners, will help build resilience and catalyze support for the climate agenda in Tanzania.

    “The mission met with Minister of Finance, Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, Bank of Tanzania Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Tutuba, other senior officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations. The IMF team would like to thank the Tanzanian authorities and other counterparts for their hospitality, and the candid and productive discussions.”

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Works to Improve Mail Service for Iowans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    Published: April 17, 2025
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is working to improve mail service for Iowans by calling out the so-called “Delivering for America Plan” that has led to cut services and increased rates, disproportionately harming rural communities.
    In Ernst’s letter to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, she calls for a new Postmaster General who will pause this plan and prioritize the needs of rural consumers.
    “The Postal Regulatory Commission’s recent advisory opinion on the Delivering for America Plan also stated, ‘Rural communities will experience disproportionate downgrading of service standards’ and that ‘the proposal is unlikely to significantly improve the financial health of the Postal Service for multiple reasons,’” wrote Ernst.
    After Ernst worked to terminate electric vehicle waste at USPS through her Return to Sender Act, which would claw back any of the remaining $3 billion authorized in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, she continued to expose this government waste.
    “The Delivering for America Plan’s wasteful spending includes billions for purchasing electric Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) and charging infrastructure. Rather than buying vehicles with internal combustion engines that cost less per unit, the USPS announced plans to acquire at least 66,000 electric NGDVs. Unsurprisingly, this boondoggle is already way behind schedule – highlighting yet another failure of the Delivering for America Plan,” wrote Ernst.
    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: She shoots, she scores!

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Health ministers launch landmark polio vaccination campaign to protect 83 million children in Lake Chad Basin

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), April 17, 2025/APO Group/ —

    In a renewed effort to eradicate circulating polio variant type 2 in the Lake Chad Basin, Ministers of Health from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria launched today a synchronized regional vaccination campaign aimed at protecting 83 million under 5 children. The initiative is a crucial milestone in the fight against variant poliovirus type 2, which continues to pose a threat to millions of children across the region.

    Over the past 12 months, variant poliovirus type 2 has been detected both in the environment (wastewater samples) and among affected people in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. A total of 210 detections have been reported across these four countries, 140 of which resulted in paralysis. Although no cases have been reported in CAR so far, these findings underscore the ongoing risk of cross-border transmission and the pressing need for coordinated regional action.

    Over 50% of the polio cases reported in Chad in 2024 are linked to the strain circulating in Cameroon, underlining the importance of coordination and synchronization of polio response efforts. 

    Nearly 12 million children were vaccinated last year through mass immunization campaigns to halt the spread of the virus.

    To further strengthen immunity and curb transmission, a synchronized polio vaccination campaign will take place from 24 to 28 April 2025, targeting high-risk and mobile populations in border areas where surveillance indicators have remained below target. This campaign is part of a broader strategy to ensure all children are protected, regardless of location or movement patterns.

    The round is supported by an estimated 1.1 million frontline workers (including vaccinators, social mobilizers, and monitors) dedicated to protecting every last child.

    “The Lake Chad Basin remains a critical area in our fight against polio. By coming together as a region, we reinforce our commitment to ending polio once and for all,” said the Minister of Health of Chad, Hon. Dr Abdelmadjid Abderahim.

    As part of the launch, the Ministers of Health will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss challenges, review epidemiological data, and strengthen cross-border cooperation. The event aligns with the Africa Regional Polio Eradication Action Plan and the Polio Eradication Cross-Border Coordination Plan 2024–2025, endorsed in August 2024 and updated in February 2025 to adapt to the evolving epidemiological situation on the ground-underscoring the region’s united commitment to protecting every child.

    Global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Rotary International, will join the effort, reaffirming their commitment to polio eradication. Community health workers, local leaders, and volunteers will also play a vital role in ensuring the campaign’s success. This event will coincide with African Vaccination Week under the theme ‘Immunization for all is humanly possible.’

    The polio eradication initiative in the Lake Chad Basin demonstrates the power of collaboration in global health. By working together, governments, partners, and communities can ensure a polio-free future for children in the region and beyond.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: South Sudan on the brink as peace deal falters, UN warns

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    By Vibhu Mishra

    South Sudan stands at a dangerous crossroads as rising political tensions threaten to derail a fragile peace deal, amid growing fears of renewed conflict in the world’s youngest nation, already buckling under a deepening humanitarian crisis.

    Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, warned that a political standoff between President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar – the two principal signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement – has now degenerated into direct military confrontation.

    Volatility is mounting amid reports of renewed mobilisation by the White Army militia and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Upper Nile state, the alleged recruitment of children, and the deployment of Ugandan forces at the government’s request.

    Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fuelling political and ethnic tensions.

    “This situation is darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which cost over 400,000 lives,” Mr. Haysom said, briefing ambassadors in the Security Council.

    “The overriding imperative now is to urgently avert a relapse into full-scale conflict, refocus efforts on accelerating the implementation of the Agreement, and advance the transition towards South Sudan’s first democratic elections.”

    Spillover of war in Sudan

    Mr. Haysom underscored the urgent need for collective effort by national and international stakeholders to secure a cessation of hostilities, preserve the Revitalized Peace Agreement and ensure an end to the continuous cycles of incomplete transitions.

    The parties must resolve tensions through dialogue, build trust and confidence, refocus on the peace agreement and consensus-based decision making, and strongly commit not to return to war, he said.

    “We need look no further than across the northern border to Sudan for a stark reminder of how quickly a country can descend into catastrophic conflict. This region cannot afford another crisis that could further destabilise an already fragile landscape,” he stressed.

    UN pushes for dialogue

    Mr. Haysom, who also heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), highlighted its diplomatic efforts alongside the African Union, the regional bloc IGAD, Pope Francis and others to urge restraint and restore dialogue.

    He urged the Security Council to support steps to ease tensions, especially in the Nasir region of Upper Nile state; respect for the ceasefire; the release of detained officials; and encourage South Sudan’s leaders to put the interests of the people first.

    UNMISS also remains engaged in supporting civic and political space, and rule of law, while also focusing on protection of civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance and monitoring human rights. However, it faces limitations – especially in the face of a broader conflict – such as access denials and operating constraints.

    “UNMISS is a peacekeeping mission – not an army – and cannot be everywhere, all at once,” Mr. Haysom said.

    Humanitarian fallout worsening

    The political and security situation is unfolding against a backdrop of what the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called a “humanitarian nightmare in the making”.

    Also briefing ambassadors, Edem Wosornu, OCHA Director of Operations, warned that conditions have dramatically deteriorated over the past eight months.Across South Sudan, over 9.3 million people – three-quarters of the population – require humanitarian assistance, about half of them are children

    Since February, insecurity in Upper Nile has displaced 130,000 people, including thousands into Ethiopia as refugees. Hospitals have also been forced to shut down due to attacks and destruction, while nearly 7.7 million people are facing acute food insecurity.

    The crisis is feared to worsen as the rainy season begins. Last year, severe flooding affected about 1.4 million people, displaced communities and disrupted food production, fuelling localised violence.

    Break the cycle of violence

    Despite ongoing relief efforts, both UN officials underscored that humanitarian aid cannot substitute for political will.

    What is needed, they stressed, is urgent, sustained, and coordinated action – from national leaders, regional guarantors and the international community – to prevent the situation from spiralling.

    “Another war is a risk South Sudan simply cannot afford, nor can the wider region,” Mr. Haysom said.

    “The Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework to break this cycle of violence in South Sudan.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Calls Out Schumer’s Shameful Lies And Failed Service After 50 Years in Elected Office

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Pearl River, N.Y. – 4/17/2025… Today, in response to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s rally in Rockland County, where he falsely – and without evidence – accused Congressman Mike Lawler of cutting Medicaid, Rep. Lawler called Sen. Schumer “an inveterate liar” with a shameful record of putting partisan politics ahead of what’s best for New Yorkers. 

    “When Chuck Schumer got to Washington, D.C., our national debt was less than one trillion dollars, and today it’s $36 trillion and climbing with no end in sight. Any New Yorker – including the press – who takes him seriously on budget and spending issues should have their head examined,” said Rep. Lawler. “After 50 years in elected office, I wouldn’t trust Chuck Schumer to run a lemonade stand, let alone the federal government. No wonder he’s petrified of AOC.”

    Rep. Lawler specifically refuted bogus claims made by Sen. Schumer related to Medicaid. 

    “I have never and will never vote to cut Medicaid benefits for eligible recipients who rely on this program. Period. Full stop. Any accusation to the contrary is a lie and Sen. Schumer knows it,” added Rep. Lawler. “The difference between Sen. Schumer and me is that he wants to continue wasting billions of dollars providing Medicaid to illegal immigrants, who should be cut off immediately, and able-bodied young adults who would rather scam the system than try to find a job. Schumer is the reason our country is going broke, and New Yorkers pay the nation’s highest taxes. Instead of lying about me, he should be forced to answer for that.”

    Rep. Lawler also criticized Schumer over a host of other key issues. 

    Notably, that Senator Schumer blocked the Antisemitism Awareness Act during the 118th Congress, legislation that garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in the House, which combats the alarming rise in antisemitism nationwide. Schumer reportedly caved to pressure from the radical fringe of his party, choosing party politics over protecting Jewish communities.

    That Schumer was unable to advance any funding bills last year, forcing the House into repeated Continuing Resolutions for FY2025. As a result, important projects in New York, like clean water upgrades, public safety programs, and infrastructure improvements, have since been delayed.

    “When you look up ‘failed career politician’ in the dictionary, Sen. Schumer’s picture should be right next to it,” concluded Rep. Lawler. 

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee against Torture Praise France’s Engagement with the Review Process, Ask about Prison Overcrowding and Excessive Use of Force by the Police

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of France under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, with Committee Experts praising the State’s engagement with the review process, and raising questions about prison overcrowding and excessive use of force by the police.

    Abderrazak Rouwane, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Mr. Rouwane said conditions in French prisons were very concerning, with serious overcrowding. There were over 79,000 prisoners, although there were only 61,000 prison places, and there were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations, poor sanitation facilities, and a lack of penitentiary staff.  What measures were in place to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?

    Jorge Contesse, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, said excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  A 2017 law allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat, which reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police?

    Introducing the report, Isabelle Rome, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said France was working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  The Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 additional places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.

    The delegation added that a 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail and a 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service

    On excessive use of force by police officers, Ms. Rome said various training activities had been conducted for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence. The police code of ethics stated that force was to be used only when necessary and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  France had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

    The delegation added that the judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    In closing remarks, Erdogan Iscan, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles.

    In her concluding remarks, Ms. Rome said that the Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  Its recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture around the world.

    The delegation of France consisted of representatives from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Overseas Territories; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of the Armed Forces; Ministry of Health and Prevention; French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons; and the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of France at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 May.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the website of the session.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Wednesday, 23 April at 10 a.m. to consider the third periodic report of Turkmenistan (CAT/C/TKM/3).

     

    Report

    The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of France (CAT/C/FRA/8).

    Presentation of Report

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said respect for human rights and the prohibition of any act of torture or inhuman and degrading treatment were priorities in France’s foreign policy.  On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the President made concrete commitments, such as the organisation of the ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris in 2026.  On the fortieth anniversary of the Convention in 2024, France issued a statement reaffirming its support for the universalisation and implementation of the Convention and its Optional Protocol. Together with its partners, France organised the first World Congress on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva at the end of January 2025. 

    As a member of the Global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, France would continue to support the development of an international and binding legal instrument on trade in goods which could be used for capital punishment or torture.  While France already applied European provisions on such trade, regulating trade in such goods at the international level would be a crucial step towards eradicating torture and ill-treatment globally.

    France had strengthened its public policies regarding torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment since its last report in 2020.  Various training activities for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence had been increased.  The Code of Ethics of the National Police and the National Gendarmerie stated that force was to be used only within the framework set by law, only when necessary, and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  Judicial authorities investigated the most serious cases of alleged crimes and misdemeanours by police officers.  The State had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

    The legal framework guaranteed the right of persons in police custody to notify any person of their choice, the right to a doctor, the right to silence, and the right to be immediately assisted by a lawyer.  France was also working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  It adopted a preventive remedy mechanism in April 2021 to guarantee the right to respect for dignity in detention and a decree in June 2023 on legal aid.  In addition, the Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 places.  Measures had been put in place to increase access to psychiatric care in prisons and to control the use of solitary confinement.  The policy to combat suicide in prisons was bearing fruit, and measures to prevent and punish gender-based violence against intersex and transgender people had been implemented.  Further, at psychiatric establishments, structural reforms and significant financial measures had been taken to strengthen care and the training of caregivers.

    The immigration law of January 2024 introduced several significant advances: the creation of “France asylum” spaces and territorial chambers of the National Court of Asylum, simplification of immigration litigation, more effective protection of the most vulnerable asylum seekers, the cessation of detention of families with minors, and the creation of a fine for employers who used the work of foreigners without a residence permit in France.

    France was under no obligation under the Convention to remove the statute of limitations on the offence of torture.  However, the offence of torture as a predicate offence of the crime against humanity remained imprescriptible.

    In December 2023, France presented its third national plan to combat the exploitation and trafficking of human beings, for the years 2024 to 2027, consisting of 60 measures, the follow-up of which would be coordinated by an interministerial committee.  The Central Office for the Repression of Trafficking in Human Beings had also developed a strategy to combat the prostitution system and sexual exploitation.

    France was more committed than ever to the fight against discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech, in particular acts committed online.  A national unit for the fight against online hate was created within the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2020.  The National Plan for Equality developed for the period 2023-2026 included concrete and ambitious actions to eradicate the scourge of hatred and violence.  In May 2024, the President announced the creation of a new non-governmental organization, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.  A May 2024 law was also introduced to regulate the digital space to strengthen the repression of hate speech.

    In New Caledonia, the Government had been particularly active to guarantee the safety of people during the recent riots.  Emergency measures, for the benefit of the economic world and local authorities, had been deployed.  The working mission set up by the Head of State was engaging in dialogue with the local political forces, in the spirit of the Nouméa Accords.  In Mayotte, France had carried out operations aimed at restoring public order and combatting illegal immigration, and had accelerated the processing of asylum applications.  It was also heavily mobilised in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido. France remained committed to supporting the people of Mayotte in this ordeal by mobilising all the resources necessary for reconstruction and the restoration of daily life.

    Nine years after France’s last examination before this Committee and five years after the publication of its national report, France was staying the course to ensure that progress was made in the fight against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in France and internationally.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said France’s Criminal Code criminalised torture but did not specifically define the crime. The State needed to integrate a definition that was in line with article one of the Convention.  Why was the State party reluctant to have a stand-alone definition of torture, unlike other common law countries?  What court rulings had included specific definitions of torture? Why had France refused to remove the statute of limitations on torture crimes unless the crime was a crime against humanity?

    Reportedly, there were excessive delays in police informing detainees of their rights, particularly for arrests after demonstrations.  There were reports of excessive arrests to dissuade protesters.  Police custody lasted up to 48 hours, but this could be extended to 96 hours for serious offences.  The Committee was concerned by reported plans to increase the length of police custody, and reports of excessive handcuffing and poor training of police on custody regulations.  Was training on police ethics provided only on recruitment or continuously?  Was training provided on the Istanbul Protocol? Were there plans to introduce tools to monitor torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in police custody?

    Excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force?  One man of African descent had died in 2016 following arrest, and no one had been held accountable.  There were grounds to believe that there was a lack of proper training on excessive use of force.  A law of 2017 allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat.  This law had reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  Had the State party implemented measures to address racism in the police force?  What were the findings of the 2024 thinktank established to assess the increase in incidents of excessive use of force? What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police and what penalties were issued to perpetrators?

    In New Caledonia, eight Kanak protesters were killed by French officials under the state of emergency.  A large number of protesters were arrested and many claimed to have been beaten by police officers.  Why were detained persons taken to mainland France?  Why did the State party refuse to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples on French territory?

    Restrictions on immigration had reportedly increased due to a recent law on immigration control.  The fast-tracked procedure introduced by this law gave asylum seekers less time to prepare their cases.  What was the State party’s view of these legal changes?  How were lawyers who represented asylum seekers chosen and how was their performance assessed?  There were concerns about unlawful deportations and failure to respect the rights of asylum seekers.  France had forcibly expelled over 3,500 asylum seekers without sufficiently assessing the risks that they faced in their home countries.  What measures were in place to prevent forced expulsions? Would the State party respect the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in this regard?  How many appeals had been made against forced removals and what were their outcomes?

    State law was clear that French courts could prosecute people pursuant to the Convention for torture crimes committed outside of France; why did the same provisions not apply on crimes committed domestically?  France had called for the arrest of the President of the Russian Federation under the Rome Statute in 2024 but had stated that the President of Israel was immune to the International Court of Justice’s arrest warrant.  Why did its position differ for these two leaders?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that the State party had provided detailed responses to the list of issues.  He also commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Nothing justified the violence that had been seen since Sunday in prisons against penitentiary staff in France, but conditions in prisons were very concerning, with serious prison overcrowding.  There were over 79,000 prisoners in France, although there were only 61,000 prison places. The overcrowding rate was 150 per cent on average, and one prison had a rate of over 300 per cent.  There had been a 5.6 per cent increase in pre-trial detainees in 2024 compared to 2023.  There were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations in prisons, poor sanitation facilities, a lack of access to natural light, and a lack of penitentiary staff. 

    What measures were in place to develop a law to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?  Detainees were not informed about the complex complaints’ mechanisms available.  What measures would the State party take to bolster non-custodial alternatives and reduce the use of pre-trial detention? How did the State party ensure that full body searches were only conducted when necessary and prevent excessive night surveillance activities?  What was the legal framework related to body searches, night searches, and the complaints mechanism for prisoners?

    Prison overcrowding inhibited prisoners’ access to medical services.  Detainees needed to send written advanced requests for medical check-ups and there was a high rate of cancellation of medical transfers due to logistical difficulties.  Detainees with psychosocial disabilities were disproportionately represented in prisons. What steps had been taken to improve access to medical services in prisons and to prevent the incarceration of persons with psychosocial disabilities?  The number of suicides in places of deprivation of liberty in 2024 had increased compared to 2023, despite measures implemented to prevent them. How many investigations had been opened into suicides, and how many staff had been convicted related to prison deaths?

    Disciplinary seclusion measures were reportedly excessively used in places of deprivation of liberty.  How was the State party addressing this issue?  The law provided a maximum duration of solitary confinement for up to 30 days. What measures would the State party take to ban solitary confinement for minors aged between 16 and 18 and persons with psychosocial disabilities? 

    Maximum security wings had been established for persons accused of terrorism that were tantamount to solitary confinement.  Detainees were systematically handcuffed when guards carried out random checks and there were frequent full body searches.  What measures were in place to increase human contact for persons in these wings and to protect their rights?  How would the State party prevent the unnecessary detention of persons with disabilities and ensure that such people had access to the necessary support and facilities that they needed?

    Police custody facilities were small and inappropriate, with overcrowding, poor sanitation facilities, unwashed blankets and lack of access to drinking water.  In one case, a detainee had spent the night handcuffed to a waiting bench rather than being placed in a cell.  How would the State party ensure that handcuffs were used only as provided for in law, improve detainment facilities, and strengthen training for police officers on detainees’ rights?

    The Committee welcomed the 2024 ban on administrative detention for children.  However, administrative detention centres increasingly resembled prisons, with poor facilities, insufficient provision of food, and wire cages for detainees.  How would the State party improve conditions in administrative detention and prevent the detention of unaccompanied minors in Mayotte?

    There were 112 holding areas at ports on French territory.  Some 8,600 persons were held in these areas in 2023, where conditions were reportedly worsening.  There was no separation of men, women and children, and it was hard for detainees to access health care and psychological care, leading to suicides.  There were also reports of detained persons being subjected to violence.  How would the State party encourage civil society organizations and oversight bodies to visit these areas?  How would it improve conditions and access to support services and prevent the detainment of children in these areas?

    There were around 500 incidents reported to the Ombudsman in 2023 related to the excessive use of force by police officers.  Administrative penalties had been issued to police officers in around 40 cases.  The rate of prosecutions for such cases had fallen between 2016 and 2021.  Why was this?  The Committee was concerned by the increase in the use of tasers.  Three people were seriously injured in 2023 by tasers.  A 30-year-old man’s heart had stopped twice after police used a taser on him.  How did the State party ensure that the use of tasers followed principles of proportionality?

    Another Committee Expert cited reports that police identity checks disproportionately targeted persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Black and Arab persons.  Would the Government take measures to ensure that police used stop-and-search measures in strict compliance with international law?  What oversight was there of these practices?

    One Committee Expert asked about measures to properly investigate cases of sexual violence and to strengthen support services for victims of sexual violence and incest. There were reports of mothers being criminalised for child abduction in cases where they sought to protect their children from abusive fathers.  How would the State prevent the prosecution of mothers in such cases?  Could the State party provide information on investigations into cases of sexual violence committed by French troops in the Central African Republic?  What safeguards were in place to ensure consent for medical procedures on intersex persons?

    A Committee Expert asked about pre-deployment training provided to French peacekeepers on international humanitarian law.  What training did police receive on the use of tasers and other equipment?  The United Nations General Assembly had called on States to prevent and prohibit trade in equipment for the purposes of torture. What legal and policy measures were in place in this regard?

    One Committee Expert said that in recent years, the Government had initiated fewer investigations into trafficking and prosecuted fewer traffickers.  Enforcement authorities reportedly continued to arrest child victims of forced begging and deport undocumented minors from Mayotte without investigating whether they were victims of trafficking.  How was this being prevented?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said France believed that the Criminal Code covered the provisions of the Convention; there was thus no need to revise it.  There was a 2022 court of cassation ruling that included a definition of torture that was in line with that of the European Convention on Human Rights.  The crime of torture was not time-barred when it was part of a crime against humanity or genocide.  The statute of limitations lasted for 20 years from the commission of the crime; the State party believed that this was long enough.

    There had been major reforms to police custody legislation that allowed for immediate access to lawyers from the moment of detention.  Persons in detention could inform third parties of the detention and needed to be immediately informed of their rights.  Police custody was rendered void if it did not respect legal regulations.  It could not exceed 24 hours, but could be extended by courts in certain situations, such as in cases of drug trafficking and terrorism due to the complex nature of investigations.  Preventative arrest was illegal in France.

    Respect for human dignity and hygiene in places of deprivation of liberty was a priority for the State party.  It was modernising police detention facilities, installing floor heating, and expanding cell sizes.  The Police Commissioner and the Head of the Gendarme Brigade were responsible for ensuring appropriate detention conditions and regular cleaning.  There were regular inspections of the gendarmerie and police stations.  The percentage of blankets that had been washed had increased between 2016 and 2021, and single-use blankets were also being used.  Water was not available in cells for security reasons, but police were required to provide water to detainees when they asked for it. Persons were not to be placed in cells with blocked toilets.  Around 90 per cent of facilities had hygiene kits.

    There was initial training for police and gendarmerie officers on regulations related to arrests, ethics and appropriate use of force, and additional training was provided to officers upon promotion.  Officers who handled weapons needed to go through training each year on rules related to the use of weapons.  Work psychology programmes had been set up that promoted de-escalation and delaying the use of weapons.  Victims’ associations provided testimony during training courses. 

    The national training college for prison guards provided theoretical training on European legislation on human rights and the use of force, and virtual reality helmets were used in practical training for guards on preventing violence.  Prison guards were trained to build positive relationships with inmates and to use non-violent means of resolving conflicts. Persons who conducted hearings of asylum seekers were trained on the Istanbul Protocol and on identifying victims of torture.  A Government body had been established that focused on issues of torture and trauma in asylum assessments.

    Police and the gendarme were guided by the Criminal Code, which gave them the right to decide whether to handcuff an individual based on the threat that they posed and the flight risk.  Training taught officers how to observe and read situations and to follow technical guidelines.  Handcuffing to a fixed point could only be done when necessary to prevent persons in custody from becoming a danger to themselves or police.  Handcuffing persons lying on their stomach was prohibited in 2021.

    Tear gas was not recommended to be used in closed areas such as football stadiums.  There was rigorous training on tear gas, flash-ball launchers and tasers, which could not be used on moving vehicles.  Police were bound to provide immediate assistance to persons struck by these weapons.  Sonar grenades were used to disperse crowds rather than explosive devices. There was post-facto judicial oversight on the use of these devices.

    Police could only carry out identity checks if there was a suspicion of illegal or threatening behaviour or an arrest warrant.  Body searches sometimes needed to be carried out during identity checks to check for weapons.  Only officers of the same sex could carry out such searches and there was post-facto judicial oversight.

    State agents received ongoing training on the appropriate use of force.  The 2017 law spelled out the rules on the appropriate use of force, respecting the principles of necessity and proportionality. There were 5,300 assaults on police in 2023.  In 2015 and 2016, many police officers had been killed; this number had reduced each year since.

    Law enforcement officials’ activity was monitored by plaintiffs, external oversight bodies and superiors.  Members of the public could report illegal behaviour via various channels; some 6,000 complaints had been received in 2024.  Investigations were carried out into all complaints, and prosecutions or administrative actions were taken to respond to failings.  Close to 600 police officers had been sanctioned in 2024. The judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    Racial and facial profiling were prohibited.  Complaints related to racial profiling and discriminatory identity checks represented only a small percentage of complaints against police.  Officers were required to explain why identity checks were carried out and to wear body cameras when carrying out checks.

    Training was provided to prison staff at juvenile detention centres on responding to violent situations.  Prison guards were not allowed to use any form of violence against detainees. Force could only be used when necessary and needed to be proportionate.  Excessive use of force was reported to the judiciary for investigation.  Accused guards could be suspended and their salary withheld.

    The rights of irregular migrants were systematically respected in administrative detention centres. People placed in these centres were deemed to be a threat to public order; half of the people in these centres had served prison sentences.  All cases of excessive use of force by officials were subject to judicial oversight.

    New Caledonia had been trying to develop its institutional framework.  Some stakeholders had been expressing their discontent with this process, giving rise to protests in spring 2024, in which hundreds of people were injured.  There were 14 deaths, including deaths of two gendarmes.  Hundreds of firearms were fired at police officers, and hundreds of people who participated in the protests were subsequently subjected to prison sentences.  A minister for the overseas territories had since been appointed and would promote a peaceful emancipation process.

    All persons’ rights were protected in France, regardless of their cultural and racial heritage.  French authorities paid special attention to the needs and desires of persons living in its overseas territories, including related to health, education and land rights. The legal framework was reconciled with customary laws in Guyana and New Caledonia by customary councils of indigenous peoples.  Authorities supported these bodies and sought to increase their resources.

    Deaths of migrants could be attributed to traffickers and businesses that exploited migrants’ suffering.  Some 73 migrants had died in the English Channel.  Law enforcement officials sought to prevent deaths of migrants at sea. When foreign citizens posed threats to the country, they could be extradited.  Appeals to extraditions could be lodged within 24 hours of the decision.  Qualified legal experts represented foreigners that lodged appeals.  The principle of non-refoulement was respected by France in extradition procedures.  Risks of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment were taken into consideration by officials at all stages of proceedings. France sought guarantees from receiving countries that extradited persons would not be subjected to torture.

    The overall prison occupation rate was 131 per cent as of 2025.  The Ministry of Justice had rolled out a voluntary prison regulation policy.  A 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail.  A 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service.  There was a programme in place to add 15,000 prison places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.  In 2024, 18 million euros were allocated to renovation and maintenance of overseas prisons.  In Mayotte, Cyclone Chido had caused damage to detention facilities; funds had been allocated to ensure repairs and to reduce overcrowding in these facilities.

    French law established strict conditions for the detention of minors.  Minors aged 16 to 18 could only be held in solitary confinement for three to six days, or in single person blocks from five to seven days. Seclusion did not restrict their access to family visits or medical and education services.  The number of suicides in prisons had increased in recent years; it was around 140 in 2024.  The increase was proportionate to the increase in the prison population. An action plan for preventing suicides had been drafted in 2023.  The State had provided over 1,800 prison staff with training on preventing suicide and a hotline had been established to report detainees’ suicide risks.

    All detainees were provided with healthcare that was of the same quality of that of the general population free of charge.  Each place of deprivation of liberty had a healthcare clinic.  The State party was encouraging student doctors to carry out internships at prisons, and to try job sharing between hospitals and prison clinics.

    All sexual relationships with children aged 14 or younger were considered to be rape.  When persons reported sexual violence by partners, anti-family violence units carried out investigations and judicial action was taken against perpetrators.

    There was currently a legal debate raging in France related to the obligation to cooperate with the rulings of the International Criminal Court.  French courts would rule on this issue, reviewing arrest warrant requests and the immunities that applied to officials. 

    France trained military staff who were to be deployed overseas on international humanitarian and human rights law, including the prohibition of torture.  Allegations of abuse citing members of the French armed forces were handed over to judicial authorities for investigation.  Constant assessments of human rights protections by French armed forces were conducted in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross.  France applied internationally determined sanctions and embargos on goods that could be used for capital punishment and torture.

    A bioethics law was adopted in 2021 and six centres specialised in caring for intersex children had been set up.  Experts made proposals regarding treatment and therapy for intersex children.  The aim was to avoid abusive therapy. Assessments were well received by surgeons and families.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if France planned to take measures to incorporate the complete prohibition of torture in domestic law and prevent superior orders from being used as a defence for the act. Were superiors held accountable for subordinates’ actions if they were aware of them?  It was striking that France refused to define torture in its legislation or to remove the statute of limitations on it.  Why was this?  Had there been cases in which individuals had sought to lodge torture cases after the statute of limitations had elapsed?

    In one case of a killing by police, it seemed that there was there was no immediate threat to officers when they fired on a person.  Had the concept of “imminent threat” intentionally been removed from the 2017 law?  Why had killings by police reportedly increased five-fold since the introduction of the law?  There was a large discrepancy between the number of cases of racial profiling recorded by the State and the number reported by civil society.  Why was this?

    Leaders of indigenous independence movements had reportedly been held in seclusion in New Caledonia for more than 300 days.  Was this information credible?  Why had persons who were detained in New Caledonia transferred to the mainland? Did transferred persons consent to such transfers?  Dialogue was needed to advance toward emancipation in New Caledonia.  How did the State party ensure that the best legal experts provided counsel to persons who came before asylum authorities?

    The International Criminal Court specified that Heads of State did not enjoy immunity from arrest warrants.  How did France understand its obligations to the Court?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that the dialogue had been fruitful.  The Committee welcomed the recent survey undertaken on hate crimes conducted in 2023, which found that more than three-fifths of these crimes concerned racial discrimination.  The Committee welcomed measures adopted in the national anti-racism plan to eliminate racism; what results had been achieved by the plan?  What follow-up had the State party carried out on the Ombudsperson’s recommendations concerning medical procedures on intersex persons? The Ombudsperson had called for the prohibition of flash-ball launchers; had this been enacted?

    Other Committee Experts asked questions on reports of excessive use of physical restraints in psychiatric institutions, monitoring of such institutions, and strategies to increase the number of qualified medical personnel and prevent violence against children in them; measures to ensure that the definition of rape in the Criminal Code was in line with international standards; and steps taken to ensure the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in detention.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Criminal Code stated that persons were held criminally responsible for carrying out orders that were clearly unlawful.

    There was complete withdrawal of parental authority when a parent posed a risk to children. Various judicial bodies collaborated to assess cases of parental abduction and domestic violence.

    The 2017 law on internal security specified that weapons could only be used when strictly necessary and after verbal orders were given.  Police considered the imminence of danger when acting.  State figures suggested that there had been a 44 per cent increase in deaths caused by police since the adoption of the 2017 law, not a five-fold increase.

    Professional lawyers were appointed to defend asylum seekers.  It was not up to the French Government to give instructions regarding how cases of transfer from New Caledonia to the mainland were handled. The Government had been working to improve detention conditions in New Caledonia.

    Full body searches could only be used as a last resort measure.  Searches into cavities were banned.  Training on body searches was provided for prison staff.  Some 48 cases had been brought against prison staff for repeated searches.  There was an awareness raising campaign in place on promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in prison.  Transgender persons were placed in vulnerable wings only as a last resort.  Reports of discrimination or sexual violence against these persons were investigated.

    There was administrative, medical and judicial oversight of psychiatric institutions. Reforms that were undertaken in 2021 ensured that authorised institutions had the necessary equipment and resources.  Doctors needed to obtain authorisation to carry out non-consensual medical procedures and there was judicial oversight of such procedures and of hospitalisations.

    The law on rape covered non-consensual contact with genitals.  In 2021, the act of ordering rape was considered a crime.

    Concluding Remarks

    ERDOGAN ISCAN, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue. The multilateral system was facing a political and financial crisis and it was important to reacknowledge the value of the United Nations Charter.  The dialogue was an essential tool for this process.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles in this regard. It would identify three recommendations for immediate follow-up within a year.

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the high-quality dialogue.  The Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  France was a living democracy and could only move forward.  The Committee’s recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party, including regarding the statute of limitations. The legal reforms implemented by the State party aimed to strengthen the rights of all persons in France, including those in detention.  There was no tolerance for discrimination.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment around the world.

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    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CAT25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Seek Immediate Termination of DOGE’s Unauthorized Use of AI Systems, Call Out Security Risks and Potential Criminal Liability

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) were joined by 45 additional Members of Congress including Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Ranking Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to call for the immediate termination of the “Department of Government Efficiency’s” (DOGE) use of unauthorized AI systems, emphasizing the significant security risks posed and potential criminal liability involved. The lawmakers also expressed deep concerns with lack of oversight over AI usage, sharing of non-public or sensitive data, and with Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest as a federal contractor and founder and owner of xAI. 

    The lawmakers wrote:

    “We write to express concern about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems within this Administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), without standards or regard for sensitive data. We understand AI’s potential for modernization and efficiency improvements within the federal government, and support implementation of AI technologies in a manner that complies with existing data security and software development, acquisition, and usage laws, and that provides proper transparency, vetting, and oversight over the use of such AI technologies. We are specifically concerned about reports of Elon Musk and DOGE’s monitoring and sharing of federal employee and non-public federal data using AI tools, and reports of intentions to use sensitive data to train private AI models. These present serious security risks, self-dealing, and potential criminal liability if not handled correctly, and have the potential to undermine successful and appropriate AI adoption.

    “In addition, DOGE’s reported use of AI technologies on sensitive information raises significant concerns about data security. Musk’s DOGE team at the Office of Personnel Management reportedly used AI systems to analyze emails from a large portion of the two million person Federal workforce describing their previous week’s accomplishments—without model transparency and without addressing major concerns about security or conflicts of interest. Alarmingly, sensitive data from across the Department of Education was also reportedly fed into an AI system, including data with personally identifiable information for people who manage grants, as well as sensitive internal financial data. Without proper protections, feeding sensitive data into an AI system puts it into the possession of a system’s operator—a massive breach of public and employee trust and an increase in cybersecurity risks surrounding that data. Generative AI models also frequently make errors and show significant biases—the technology simply is not ready for use in high-risk decision-making without proper vetting, transparency, oversight, and guardrails in place.

    “Sharing of such data would constitute a major data privacy and data security risk. Specifically, we are concerned that sharing such data outside of federal systems or lawfully vetted contracts may run in violation of laws such as the Privacy Act of 1974, the E-Government Act of 2002, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. These laws set requirements for the federal government’s collection and use of personal information and sensitive data— including through establishing limits on agency information sharing, and requirements for data minimization, disclosure limitations, cybersecurity, transparency, and privacy impact assessments for developing or procuring information technology. In addition, the federal government is legally obligated to comply with codified requirements for vetting software and cloud products and services across the federal government, through programs such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). 

    “It is clear that DOGE’s use of AI clearly does not meet the standards the previous memoranda set. Worse, existing AI systems like CamoGPT have been used in the misguided purging of federal materials from references to achievements of Americans of color and women, including the Navajo Code Talkers and the Tuskegee Airmen. It is not clear how the use of CamoGPT meets the Congressional authorization for AI usage provided in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, but it is alarming that the result of such usage by this Administration was referred to as an error—raising questions about the appropriateness of and lack of sufficient oversight of its use.

    “While we support the federal government integrating new, approved AI technologies that can improve efficiency or efficacy, we cannot sacrifice security, privacy, and appropriate use standards when interacting with federal data. We also cannot condone use of AI systems, often known for hallucinations and bias, in decisions regarding termination of federal employment or federal funding without sufficient transparency and oversight of those models—the risk of losing talent and critical research because of flawed technology or flawed uses of such technology is simply too high. We ask that you immediately terminate any use of AI systems that have not been approved by FedRAMP or equivalent formal approval procedures or that do not comply with existing laws. In addition, we ask that you do not use any AI system to make employment termination decisions relating to civil servants.”

    Full text of the letter follows below, and a signed copy is available here.

    –

    Dear Director Vought:

    We write to express concern about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems within this Administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), without standards or regard for sensitive data. We understand AI’s potential for modernization and efficiency improvements within the federal government, and support implementation of AI technologies in a manner that complies with existing data security and software development, acquisition, and usage laws, and that provides proper transparency, vetting, and oversight over the use of such AI technologies. We are specifically concerned about reports of Elon Musk and DOGE’s monitoring and sharing of federal employee and non-public federal data using AI tools, and reports of intentions to use sensitive data to train private AI models. These present serious security risks, self-dealing, and potential criminal liability if not handled correctly, and have the potential to undermine successful and appropriate AI adoption.

    A DOGE staffer who is also currently employed at SpaceX reportedly created an “AI assistant” for DOGE staff, powered by Musk’s xAI Grok-2 model—this model was hosted on a subdomain of the staffer’s external website, raising both security concerns and conflict of interest issues. In addition to privacy and security concerns, Musk stands to profit from access to government data or contracting opportunities that are not available to competitors or the public. Increased access to sensitive government data would set his AI models at an unfair competitive advantage over other AI service providers—the conflicts of interest become exponentially worse if Musk pursues further contracts to become a major provider of government AI services.

    Further, DOGE reportedly used a chatbot named “GSAi” based on Anthropic and Meta models with the stated intent of analyzing contract and procurement data via a centralized system consolidated under GSA, which would pose similar security and conflict of interest problems. Giving Musk’s teams access to sensitive government data on other contracts across the federal government is especially problematic when considering Musk’s business interests with SpaceX —already a major government contractor—as well as with SpaceX subsidiary Starlink, Tesla, and elsewhere.

    In addition, DOGE’s reported use of AI technologies on sensitive information raises significant concerns about data security. Musk’s DOGE team at the Office of Personnel Management reportedly used AI systems to analyze emails from a large portion of the two million person Federal workforce describing their previous week’s accomplishments—without model transparency and without addressing major concerns about security or conflicts of interest. Alarmingly, sensitive data from across the Department of Education was also reportedly fed into an AI system, including data with personally identifiable information for people who manage grants, as well as sensitive internal financial data. Without proper protections, feeding sensitive data into an AI system puts it into the possession of a system’s operator—a massive breach of public and employee trust and an increase in cybersecurity risks surrounding that data. Generative AI models also frequently make errors and show significant biases—the technology simply is not ready for use in high-risk decision-making without proper vetting, transparency, oversight, and guardrails in place.

    Sharing of such data would constitute a major data privacy and data security risk. Specifically, we are concerned that sharing such data outside of federal systems or lawfully vetted contracts may run in violation of laws such as the Privacy Act of 1974, the E-Government Act of 2002, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. These laws set requirements for the federal government’s collection and use of personal information and sensitive data— including through establishing limits on agency information sharing, and requirements for data minimization, disclosure limitations, cybersecurity, transparency, and privacy impact assessments for developing or procuring information technology. In addition, the federal government is legally obligated to comply with codified requirements for vetting software and cloud products and services across the federal government, through programs such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). 

    In 2023, OMB established memoranda to help implement requirements to vet and approve AI technologies for federal use, such as OMB memoranda M-24-10 and M-24-18, which directed federal agencies to use AI only after developing tests and guidelines to ensure that its use would not compromise privacy and cybersecurity. These memoranda recognized the sensitive nature of the information the federal government handles every day and the significant privacy risks of using unvetted AI technologies on such information—including the risk of sharing personally identifiable or otherwise sensitive information with the AI model deployers. While these memoranda were recently revised through OMB’s M-25-21 and M-25-22, the new memoranda retain some provisions on data security and data privacy, including calls against using non-public data for training commercial AI models. These memoranda also define employment decisions for federal employees as a high-impact AI use application. 

    It is clear that DOGE’s use of AI clearly does not meet the standards the previous memoranda set. Worse, existing AI systems like CamoGPT have been used in the misguided purging of federal materials from references to achievements of Americans of color and women, including the Navajo Code Talkers and the Tuskegee Airmen. It is not clear how the use of CamoGPT meets the Congressional authorization for AI usage provided in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, but it is alarming that the result of such usage by this Administration was referred to as an error—raising questions about the appropriateness of and lack of sufficient oversight of its use.

    While we support the federal government integrating new, approved AI technologies that can improve efficiency or efficacy, we cannot sacrifice security, privacy, and appropriate use standards when interacting with federal data. We also cannot condone use of AI systems, often known for hallucinations and bias, in decisions regarding termination of federal employment or federal funding without sufficient transparency and oversight of those models—the risk of losing talent and critical research because of flawed technology or flawed uses of such technology is simply too high. We ask that you immediately terminate any use of AI systems that have not been approved by FedRAMP or equivalent formal approval procedures or that do not comply with existing laws. In addition, we ask that you do not use any AI system to make employment termination decisions relating to civil servants. 

    It is important to understand the extent to which this administration’s reckless disregard for legal authorities and necessary security protocols has extended into use of AI systems. Thoughtful adoption of AI is of strategic national importance. Please provide responses to the following questions by no later than April 25, 2025:

    1. Has DOGE or the Trump Administration used AI technologies powered by xAI’s models?
    2. What new AI software has been deployed and used by this Administration that was not used by a previous administration? Provide a list.
      1. Include whether each is on the CISA or DISA authorized technologies list or FedRAMP approved services list, and the date such technology or service was added.
      2. Include how this Administration’s use of each of such technologies is in compliance with laws such as the Privacy Act of 1974, the E-Government Act of 2002, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014. 
    3. Of the models used in the past two months, who has access to the information submitted to such models and how is oversight being conducted?
      1. Please provide the level of clearance, authorization, and training they have received.
      2. Please provide whether they are a special government employee or what category of employee they are.
    4. Have the “Grok” models used or the AI technologies used in “GSAi” gone through a federal procurement process prior to use?
      1. Describe the process such technologies were subject to, and provide documentation.
    5. As many AI deployers collect information on the prompts input into their AI models, and use those prompts and their inferences to train their models, how are you ensuring that no deployers of any AI technologies that DOGE or the Trump Administration may use engage in this practice?
    6. Has DOGE or the Trump Administration to date used any AI technology to make or recommend an employment decision about a federal employee?
      1. If so, which technologies has the Department or Administration used?
      2. If so, how many federal employees did the Department or Administration use AI technology to make or recommend an employment decision about?
    7. Has DOGE or the Trump Administration to date used any AI technology to make or recommend a decision regarding a contract or federal funding?
      1.  If so, which contracts and/or which funding? Please provide the search query and rationale for the decision.
    8. Have Musk or DOGE employees used government datasets that are not publicly accessible in the training of any non-Federal AI technologies, including for any “Grok” models?
    9.  Has DOGE or the Trump Administration to date shared any government datasets that are not publicly accessible with any services, sites, or actors that are not approved by FedRAMP or in a way that is not in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the E-Government Act of 2002, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, or any other relevant laws governing data security?

    The name, agency or department of origin, and a timespan of the information covered in the dataset;

    A description of the static or dynamic data sources and scope of the data accessed for the analyses performed; and

    A description of the content of the data accessed, including data types and known features. This should include identification of any metadata collected (such as associated users, IP addresses, locations, or timestamps).
         
        10. Do any DOGE servers or websites incorporate AI technologies not previously approved under the requirements set by M-24-10 or M-24-18, or agency guidance in compliance with those memoranda, or not on the CISA or DISA authorized technologies list or FedRAMP approved services list? If so, provide a list.
        11.What steps has the Trump Administration taken to ensure that Musk and all DOGE employees are not using their federal government role to enrich themselves personally or the companies in which they hold ownership or maintain affiliation, including through sharing of data?

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Steering & Policy Committee Co-Chair Congresswoman Barragán Opens Hearing on Harmful Trump & Republican Cuts to SNAP Benefits

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 25, 2025

    Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

    Steering & Policy Committee Co-Chair Congresswoman Barragán Opens Hearing on Harmful Trump & Republican Cuts to SNAP Benefits

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Steering and Policy (S&P) Committee, opened a committee hearing on the harmful impact of Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ potential cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. This was the second in a series of hearings, led by the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, to highlight the disastrous impact of cuts to essential government services in order for Trump and Republicans to pay for tax cuts to their billionaire donors. 

    “Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans want to take food off the tables of middle- and working-class American families. They do not care about hardworking Americans who just want to have a solid meal and feed their loved ones. One in ten people across the United States relies on SNAP. That could be your grandmother, father, next door neighbor, or so many others in your community that suffer from a lack of food to eat. House Democrats will fight like hell to stop Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in Congress from taking food out of the hands of the Americans who need it most,” said Congresswoman Barragán. 

    The Congresswoman was joined at the hearing by fellow House Democrats: House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Co-Chair Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Steering & Policy Co-Chairs Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Greg Casar (TX-35), and Shontel Brown (OH-11). 

    The hearing featured multimedia exhibits, expert witnesses, and testimony from everyday Americans who spoke about how the loss of SNAP benefits could devastate families and communities. Witnesses included Tom Colicchio, head judge and executive producer of the Emmy-winning Bravo hit series Top Chef and food security advocate, Stacy Dean, the Inaugural Carbonell Family Executive Director of the Global Food Institute at The George Washington University, Kaitlynne Yancy, Director of Membership Programs at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and SNAP dependent, Cindy Camp, a full-time unpaid family caregiver who lost her Medicaid coverage after the COVID-19 pandemic, and Aaron Carrillo, a health care executive who relied on SNAP benefits to provide family stability during his childhood. 

     Video of the opening remarks can be found HERE.

     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces First Mentor-Protégé Agreement Under Enhanced Program

    Source: NASA

    NASA is marking progress in strengthening the agency’s small business partnerships, supply chain resiliency, and domestic space manufacturing capabilities.
    Under the agency’s enhanced Mentor-Protégé Program, NASA has announced the first Mentor-Protégé Agreement between L3Harris Technologies, a NASA large prime contractor, and Parametric Machining, Inc., a veteran-owned small business.
    This agreement will help advance NASA’s mission by fostering innovation and reinforcing the agency’s supply chain. As NASA continues to advance the Artemis campaign, deep space exploration, and aeronautics research, partnerships like this are essential in securing a resilient and efficient supplier base.
    “We are excited to facilitate the first agreement under the newly enhanced NASA Mentor-Protégé Program,” said Dwight Deneal, assistant administrator for NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs. “This agreement, and the many that will follow, promote domestic ingenuity and manufacturing and provide opportunities for small businesses to grow and thrive within NASA’s industrial base.”
    Through Mentor-Protégé Agreements, large prime contractors serve as mentors, offering technical and business development assistance to small business protégés. This collaboration not only enhances protégés’ capabilities but also provides mentors with a stronger, more reliable subcontracting base, enabling them to fill their supply chain gaps. Additionally, protégés gain potential prime and subcontract opportunities, enhanced technical capabilities, technical training, and long-term business growth.
    Relaunched in November 2024, the merit-based NASA Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to bolster small business development while strengthening NASA’s supply chain and industry base. By focusing on a targeted set of North American Industry Classification System codes, including research and development and aerospace manufacturing, NASA ensures that participating small businesses are well-positioned to contribute to long-term mission objectives.
    The agreement between L3Harris Technologies and Parametric Machining, Inc. demonstrates the value of NASA’s revamped Mentor-Protégé Program. NASA is actively accepting new Mentor-Protégé Agreements and encourages large prime contractors and small businesses to explore the benefits of forming partnerships under the program. Participating in the Mentor-Protégé Program provides:

    Enhanced manufacturing capabilities and subcontracting opportunities.
    Mentorship from experienced NASA prime contractors.
    Opportunities to advance competitiveness in government contracts.
    Access to technical assistance and business development support.
    A pathway for small businesses to integrate into NASA’s supply chain.

    L3Harris Technologies is a prime contractor at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, supporting the Geostationary Extended Observations Imager Instrument Implementation contract. NASA Goddard also will serve as the administering center for this agreement.
    For more information on NASA’s Mentor-Protégé Program and how to participate, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/osbp/mentor-protege-program
    -end-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: How DHS is Combating Child Exploitation and Abuse

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Fact Sheet: How DHS is Combating Child Exploitation and Abuse

    very day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leads the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA)

    As part of the Department’s critical mission to combat crimes of exploitation and protect victims, we investigate these abhorrent crimes, spread awareness, collaborate with interagency and international partners, and expand our reach to ensure children are safe and protected

    “At the Department of Homeland Security, our mission is to protect the American people, and that includes protecting our children

    The internet has completely changed how we connect, but it has also opened new doors for predators who want to harm our kids,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

    “It’s a topic that should unite all of us, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the work of Homeland Security Investigations and all that they do to combat online child exploitation

    ”
    DHS battles online CSEA using all available tools and resources department-wide, emphasizing its commitment to the Department’s homeland security mission to “Combat Crimes of Exploitation and Protect Victims

    ” In recognition of President Trump’s proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, DHS is committed to raising awareness of these heinous crimes, preventing child exploitation and abuse, and bringing perpetrators to justice

    As part of the Department’s ongoing work in this area, today DHS is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Know2Protect, the U

    S

    government’s first prevention and awareness campaign to combat online CSEA

     
    Between April 2024 and February 2025:

    DHS launched Know2Protect®, a first of its kind national public awareness campaign to combat online CSEA

    The campaign enhances the Department’s capabilities to combat online CSEA by partnering with the private sector to deliver its awareness messaging and coordinating federal efforts to confront and prevent this growing epidemic

    The Department has successfully entered into over 20 Know2Protect® Memoranda of Understanding with leading technology companies, national and international sports leagues, youth-serving organizations and nonprofits, and other private sector partners to raise awareness of this crime and help children stay safer online

    DHS increased the footprint of law enforcement partners at the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3) to enhance coordination across all DHS agencies and offices to combat cyber-related crimes and further the Department’s mission to combat online CSEA

    Several partners are collocated and work together every day at the DHS C3, including the United States Secret Service (USSS), U

    S

    Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS),      U

    S

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)

     
    The Blue Campaign, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, hosted 170 national trainings on the indicators of forced labor and sex trafficking and how to report these crimes with more than 24,000 participants from the federal government, non-governmental organizations, law enforcement, and other external stakeholders

    DHS identified and rescued 1,567 child victims of online CSEA through the work of HSI and made 4,460 arrests for crimes involving online CSEA

    Learn more in the U

    S

     Immigration and Customs Enforcement Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report
    HSI and ERO have instituted a collaborative operational initiative to locate unaccompanied alien children (UAC) released from the care and custody of the U

    S

    Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement (HHS-ORR)

    The UAC initiative   identifies and locates UACs to ensure immigration obligations are met, and investigate any potential indicators of forced labor, sex trafficking, or other exploitation

    To accomplish this work, DHS coordinates with law enforcement at home and abroad to enforce and uphold our laws, protects victims with a victim-centered approach that prioritizes dignity and respect, and works to stop this heinous crime through public education and outreach

    Enforcing Our Laws
    DHS works with domestic and international partners to enforce and uphold the laws that protect children from abuse

    The Department works collaboratively with  Department of Justice prosecutors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U

    S Marshals, INTERPOL, Europol, and other international law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute perpetrators

    DHS increased U

    S

    government and law enforcement efforts to combat financial sextortion, a crime targeting children and teens by coercing them into sending explicit images online and extorting them for money

    From FY22 to FY24, HSI received more than 4,900 CyberTipline reports related to sextortion predators from Côte dʼIvoire

    From these reports, 652 children have been identified and supported by HSI

    In an effort to combat this crime, HSI sent special agents to Côte d’Ivoire to provide online CSEA training to local law enforcement and supported local law enforcement efforts in locating and apprehending offenders residing there

    The CCHT works alongside the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to identify and pursue the recovery of underage victims of sex trafficking

    The CCHT emphasizes victim identification operations which allows HSI field offices to rescue these children while implementing a victim centered approach

    The CCHT supports HSI field operations throughout the investigation and prosecution of these traffickers and their networks

    DHS partnered with 61 regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces to investigate people involved in the online victimization of children, including those who produce, receive, distribute and/or possess child sexual abuse material, or who engage in online sexual enticement of children

    DHS researched and developed modern tools and technologies that equip domestic and international law enforcement partners with advanced forensic capabilities to accomplish their mission to identify victims and apprehend child sexual abusers

    The Science and Technology Directorate developed StreamView, a digital forensics and data analytics tool designed to assist law enforcement in effectively addressing child exploitation cases

    By aggregating, organizing, and analyzing investigative leads, StreamView enables investigators to determine crime locations, identify victims, and bring perpetrators to justice more efficiently

    Since May 2023, StreamView has identified and rescued over 133 child and adult victims, dismantled more than 29 criminal networks, generated over 600 leads and referrals, and arrested of over 120 criminal actors

    The platform has also contributed to 10 convictions and 8 life sentences, significantly improving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) investigations

    The U

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    Secret Service provides forensic, technical, and investigative assistance to NCMEC and state/local/tribal law enforcement in cases involving missing and exploited children

     Support includes polygraph examinations, age progression/regression, composite sketches, audio/image/video enhancement, speaker identification/recognition, questioned document analysis, fingerprint development and examination, geospatial information mapping system, digital forensics

    U

    S

    Customs and Border Protection screens all undocumented unaccompanied children and other arriving minors for indicators of abuse or exploitation, human trafficking, extraterritorial sexual exploitation of children, sexual predators involved in crimes of exploitation, and all suspected criminal cases are referred to HSI

    Transportation Security Administration (INV) Special Agent Polygraph Examiners provide their expertise to advance investigative and prosecutorial efforts in support of child sexual exploitation investigations

    INV developed evidence of child sexual exploitation and/or abuse in 15 criminal specific and pre-employment examinations

    INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiners, assigned to its Special Operations Division, conduct examinations on behalf of INV, HSI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, federal and local law enforcement agencies

    In a case involving a child victim, an INV Special Agent Polygraph Examiner administered a specific issue polygraph examination, which resulted in the arrest of an individual attempting to solicit a child and identified six other victims ranging in age from 5-16 years of age

    Protecting and Supporting Victims

    The Angel Watch Center (AWC) within DHS C3 proactively identifies U

    S

    persons traveling abroad who have been convicted of sexual crimes against children

    By using travel related information and publicly available state sex offender registries, the AWC notifies destination countries of these individuals’ pending arrivals to help prevent potential child sex tourism and other forms of exploitation

    The HSI AWC sent over 4,800 travel notifications to foreign governments on convicted, registered U

    S

    child sex offenders, leading to over 900 denials of entry

    These efforts build international cooperation to ensure all countries are safe from sexual predators

    In July 2023, HSI launched the first U

    S

    -based international victim identification surge, “Operation Renewed Hope (ORH)

    ” To date, there have been three yearly operations: ORHI, ORHII, and ORHIII, to identify and rescue child victims of online exploitation

    In these operations, HSI and its domestic and international partners work on child sexual abuse material contained in HSI holdings, teams expertly comb through and analyze unidentified series of child sexual abuse material to identify children and offenders and create lead packages for appropriate investigative partners in furtherance of associated law enforcement actions

    In the Spring of 2025, HSI conducted ORHIII, which resulted in 386 probable identifications and 56 victims who have been identified and rescued

    Once victims of child exploitation are identified and/or rescued, the HSI Victim Assistance Program (VAP) supports them and their non-offending caretaker(s) by using highly trained forensic interview specialists to conduct victim-centered and trauma-informed forensic interviews

    In addition, VAP’s victim assistance specialists provide resources to victims such as crisis intervention, referrals for short and long term medical and/or mental health care and contact information for local social service programs and agencies to assist in the healing process

    HSI provides short-term immigration protections to human trafficking victims, including victims of child sex trafficking

    U

    S

    Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants immigration benefits to eligible child victims of human trafficking, abuse, and other crimes, including T nonimmigrant status, U nonimmigrant status, and immigrant classification under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

    Educating and Increasing Public Awareness

    The Know2Protect® campaign has garnered over 518 million impressions across various media platforms, in large part due to donated advertising from signed partners and other partner activations

    The top visited pages on Know2Protect

    gov are Take Action, How2Report, and Know the Threats

    Project iGuardian is the official in-person educational program of the Know2Protect campaign

    Led by HSI, Project iGuardian offers in-person presentations designed to inform children, teens, parents, and trusted adults on the threat of online CSEA, how to implement preventive strategies, and report suspected abuse to law enforcement

    Since the start of FY24, more than 400 special agents have been trained to give Project iGuardian presentations

    In FY24, HSI gave more than 1,100 presentations to more than 122,000 children, teens, parents, and teachers domestically and internationally

    These presentations yielded more than 75 victim disclosures and 77 investigative leads for online CSEA

    So far in FY 25, HSI has given more than 760 iGuardian presentations to over 69,000 children and adults, which have yielded more than 41 victim disclosures and 13 investigative leads

    In April 2024, the Blue Campaign announced a partnership with rideshare company Lyft to train their drivers, who interact with millions of riders per year, on how to recognize indicators of human trafficking among their passengers, and how to report it

      From July to September 2024, Blue Campaign collaborated with NCMEC to promote human trafficking awareness across various social media platforms, targeting both minors and those who work with minors

    The campaign garnered more than 2 million impressions on Twitch, 14 million on Facebook, 3million on Snapchat, and 4 million through display ads

    The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) covers child sexual exploitation and abuse awareness in its Human Trafficking lesson plan

    In FY2024, FLETC trained nearly 4,400 individuals in human trafficking awareness

    USSS Childhood Smart Program Ambassadors educated more than 112,000 children, parents, and teachers across 31 states and the District of Columbia about how to prevent online child sexual exploitation and child abduction

    The Childhood Smart Program provides age-appropriate presentations to children as young as five as well as to adults

    Presentations focus on internet and personal safety as well as other topics such as social media etiquette and cyber bullying

    The HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center trained more than 800 individuals across the interagency on female genital mutilation or cutting, a severe form of child abuse and a crime under federal law when done to individuals under the age of 18

    The Blue Campaign Blue Lightning Initiative, part of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, trained more than 260,000 aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and victims of forced labor and sex trafficking, to include child sex trafficking, and report their suspicions to law enforcement in FY 2023

    The Initiative added 31 new partners this past year, raising its total partners to 136 aviation industry organizations, including its first two official international partners

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency administers SchoolSafety

    gov, an interagency website that includes information, guidance and resources on a range of school safety topics

    SchoolSafety

    gov includes a child exploitation section that houses more than 60 resources to help school communities identify, prevent and respond to child exploitation

    Since its launch in January 2023, child exploitation section has been viewed more than 35,600 times

    What You Can Do and Resources Available

    Visit  www

    Know2Protect

    gov to access free resources to understand the threats of online CSEA and learn preventative strategies to stop future victimization

    Request an educational presentation tailored for school children and trusted adults:

    Visit SchoolSafety

    gov for resources to help educators, school leaders, parents, and school personnel identify, prevent, and respond to child exploitation

    Learn more from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

    Visit https://www

    dhs

    gov/blue-campaign for resources about how to prevent, identify and report human trafficking

     
    How to report suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse in the United States:
    Contact your local, state, campus, or tribal law enforcement officials directly

    Call 911 in an emergency

    If you suspect a child has been abducted or faces imminent danger, contact your local police and the NCMEC tip line at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

    If you suspect a child might be a victim of online child sexual exploitation, call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 and report it to NCMEC’s CyberTipline

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Marks One-Year Milestone of Know2Protect® Campaign, Strengthening Nationwide Efforts to Combat Online Child Exploitation

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Marks One-Year Milestone of Know2Protect® Campaign, Strengthening Nationwide Efforts to Combat Online Child Exploitation

    ASHINGTON D

    C

    –  Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Know2Protect: Together We Can Stop Online Child Exploitation™ public awareness campaign

    Since its inception, the Know2Protect campaign, housed within the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3), has had a profound impact, reaching millions through traditional and digital media channels

    The campaign has empowered young people, parents, educators, corporations, and community leaders with essential resources to prevent and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA)

    “At the Department of Homeland Security, our mission is to protect the American people, and that includes protecting our children

    The internet has completely changed how we connect, but it has also opened new doors for predators who want to harm our kids,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

    “It’s a topic that should unite all of us, and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the work of Homeland Security Investigations and all that they do to combat online child exploitation

    ”
    The threat of online child exploitation has never been bigger or more sophisticated

    DHS increased the footprint of law enforcement partners at C3, last year, to enhance coordination across all DHS agencies and offices to combat cyber-related crimes and further the Department’s mission to combat online CSEA

    In 2024, U

    S

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) identified and arrested nearly 5,000 individuals involved in online CSEA, while also recovering over 1,700 child victims

    In the same year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 20 million reports of online child sexual abuse material

    By providing comprehensive tools on Know2Protect

    gov, the campaign has become a powerful force in raising awareness about the severe risks children face online, while emphasizing prevention, safety measures, and offering critical support for survivors

    Since its inception last year, the campaign has made a tangible impact through its outreach efforts—resulting in 128 victim disclosures and over 90 investigative leads in the fight against online child exploitation

    Know2Protect’s work to coordinate federal efforts to combat online child exploitation and abuse has made an astounding impact across the world

    The campaign has achieved more than a half a billion (683M) impressions online, with 18% of the impressions coming from donated advertising dollars from campaign partners such as Google, Snapchat, X, Lamar, Meta and Roblox

    “We all have a responsibility to protect children from online exploitation,” said Head of Global Government Affairs at X, Romina Khananisho

    “As the global town square, X is proud to partner with DHS’ Cyber Crimes Center to support the Know2Protect campaign

    We commit to raising awareness about all the tools available to combat child exploitation and encourage all our users to join us in this critical mission by sharing the information with your communities

    ”
    Expanded Partnership Efforts
    The K2P campaign’s success is fueled by partnerships with leading technology companies, major sports leagues, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement associations and other private sector partners

    These collaborations have expanded Know2Protect’s reach, delivering its vital message to young people across social media platforms, sporting events, and community organizations, ensuring it resonates wherever they live, learn, and play

    Past and current partners like Snap, Meta, X, and Roblox have played a crucial role in disseminating safety messages to their vast user bases, while NASCAR and the NFL have supported the campaign by integrating Know2Protect PSAs and other materials into their events

    “Snap congratulates the Department of Homeland Security on the first anniversary of its impactful Know2Protect public awareness campaign,” said Jacqueline Beauchere, Global Head of Platform Safety at Snap Inc

    , the parent company of Snapchat

    “Snap was the first entity to support the campaign in 2024, commissioning bespoke research, offering free ad space on Snapchat for educational campaign materials, and creating a fun Snapchat Lens to promote learning and engagement

    We applaud and join in the Department’s efforts to educate youth, parents, policymakers, and others about the risks of child sexual exploitation and abuse both online and off

    ”  
    “At Meta, we’ve spent over a decade building tools to fight criminals who try to exploit young people online,” said Meta’s Global Head of Safety, Antigone Davis

    “To complement our in-app protections and make them even more effective, it’s important that young people also feel confident to spot the signs of online harm and know where to go for help

    That’s why we’ve also been focused on educational campaigns for teens and parents, and why we’re proud to continue supporting the Department of Homeland Security’s vital Know2Protect campaign as it moves into its second year

    ”
    Education and Support
    Know2Protect’s educational initiative, Project iGuardian, provides direct training to schools, community groups, and organizations to help identify and address online safety risks

    As the official in-person training program of the Know2Protect campaign, Project iGuardian is led by Homeland Security Investigations and offers presentations to children, teens, parents, and trusted adults

    Since its re-launch in October 2023, Project iGuardian has conducted nearly 2,000 presentations, reaching over 200,000 people both domestically and internationally

    “We know it is critical to provide children, parents, and caregivers with access to resources and information on how to report crimes targeting children online,” said Director of Global Programs at Google

    org, Amanda Timberg

    “We are proud to once again donate Google Search and YouTube ad credits to promote the Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect campaign to raise awareness on the issue and to help children stay safe online

    ”
    More Accomplishments
    The campaign has achieved several notable milestones over the last year, including:

    2024 Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards Finalist for its 90-second PSA

    2024 Homeland Security Today Holiday Hero Award where the campaign was honored with the Most Innovative Campaign to Combat Child Exploitation

    2024-2025 school year #Back2School sub-campaign, featuring engaging and educational resources for teens and family members in the form of crossword puzzles, word searches, Project iGuardian coloring pages, a first day of school picture sign, Family Online Safety Agreement, Internet Safety Checklist, and printable safety posters and tipsheets for schools to display in classrooms and hallways

    The release of nine new videos, including the widely popular 90-second PSA on the dangers of online CSEA, which has accumulated 6

    8 million views on YouTube and 14

    8 million impressions through TV advertising

    Other key releases include the Sexting and Sextortion PSA, as well as 15- and 30-second PSAs highlighting how quickly online interactions can take dangerous turns

    These have also aired on the NFL Network and at NASCAR events, significantly extending the reach of the Know2Protect message

    The campaign also recently released a 60-second PSA focusing on how online exploitation happens and why we need the public’s help

    The launch of the K2P Kids and Teens Portal, a dedicated space for children and teens aged 10 and up, offering age-appropriate tips and resources to help them protect themselves online

    The impactful activation of partnerships across the technology, sports, social media, and gaming industries, including:

    Snapchat Lens activation

    K2P activations at high-profile events like the Daytona 500, NASCAR Talladega 24, NFL Flag Championship 2024, MLB and MLS All-Star Games 2024, having a presence at the NFL Super Bowl Experience and a NASCAR Kids newsletter feature

    Scouting America and Know2Protect unveiled a special Project iGuardian scouting patch that honors the commitment of scouts who attend the DHS-led online safety training and who pledge to keep themselves and others safe online

    Upcoming Initiatives
    Know2Protect is taking bold steps to further amplify its impact and continue the fight against online CSEA

    Upcoming initiatives and events will provide even more opportunities for individuals and organizations to get involved and take action, including:

    A Project iGuardian presentation livestream on X for parents, trusted adults and teens, hosted by country music star John Rich — tune in April 23 at 8 p

    m

    EST and learn how you can help keep children safe online

    Be sure to follow @Know2Protect on X so you don’t miss it!
    June marks Internet Safety Month and there’s no better time to reinforce the importance of setting healthy online boundaries

    Know2Protect’s #DigitalBoundaries sub-campaign continues DHS’s momentum to educate and empower children, teens, parents and trusted adults to prevent and combat online CSEA by setting healthy online boundaries during the summer months when kids will have time to spend online

    In August 2025, the campaign will launch Pledge2Protect, the official, nationwide call-to-action of the Know2Protect campaign

    The goal of Pledge2Protect will be to galvanize communities to take action by taking the pledge to prevent crimes of exploitation targeting kids online

    Parents, teens and kids will have the opportunity to take the pledge, receive age-appropriate resources, and share that knowledge with others by passing the pledge

    It’s time to move from awareness to action—help us prevent online exploitation and implement life-saving strategies

    A variety of previously signed partners are expected to continue their official partnership with Know2Protect

    Know2Protect welcomes its new partnerships with X, American Camp Association, Panini America, Kodex and Simple Learning Systems

    “As we mark the one-year anniversary of the Know2Protect campaign, it’s clear that protecting children from online exploitation demands a united, collective effort,” said Noem

    “I urge more organizations to join us in this urgent mission—because every partnership brings us one step closer to eradicating this devastating crime

    ”
    Know2Protect is working hand-in-hand with private sector leaders, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to execute this nationwide campaign

    Learn more about becoming an official Know2Protect partner

    “Know2Protect is not just about raising awareness—it’s about sparking real, impactful change,” Noem said

    “Backed by our powerful partnerships, this campaign is equipping communities with critical tools to protect children from online predators while also safeguarding against exploitation before it happens

    Together, we are making a tangible difference in the fight to prevent further victimization

    ”
    Early intervention is critical

    If you suspect a child may be a victim of online CSEA, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline™

    If you believe a child has been abducted or is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement and the NCMEC Tipline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Food Manufacturer Expanding Operations in Fredonia

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that AgriAmerica Fruit Products LLC has completed the revitalization and upgrade of a 69,000-square-foot grape juice processing facility located at 200 Water Street in the Village of Fredonia. After the initial investment was made to acquire the property in 2018, the company invested more than $2.5 million to purchase and install new machinery within the existing facility that had not been used for any type of production for several years. This project by AgriAmerica has increased Western New York’s fruit processing capacity to better serve the grape farmers in the region.

    “The expansion of AgriAmerica’s processing capabilities provides a much-needed production facility for Chautauqua County grape farmers,” Governor Hochul said. “This Western New York Regional Economic Development Council investment is just another example of how we are helping upstate businesses take advantage of the region’s resources to generate growth, opportunity, and create jobs as we work together to initiate future economic prosperity.”

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This expansion of a Western New York grape processor is a great example of the positive results we can achieve through strategic state investment. By leveraging existing resources, we can support the growth of local companies like AgriAmerica. I am very pleased ESD could help ensure such an important food manufacturer expand and support area farmers in Chautauqua County.”

    New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York’s grape growers lead our nation in the production of this specialty crop that supports our agricultural community and grape-related businesses, crafting value-added products, across New York State. The expansion of the AgriAmerica processing facility will provide our state’s producers with another market opportunity and bring New York grape juice to consumers around the world.”

    AgriAmerica LLC — a commercial grape farming entity owned by Eric Huddy and Richard Jozwiak — formed AgriAmerica Fruit Products LLC (AAFP) in 2018 specifically to fill the need for a locally owned and operated fruit processing and juice storage facility in Chautauqua County. Just prior to Huddy and Jozwiak taking action, three area grape juice processing plants had closed or went through significant fruit intake reductions. This left more than 25,000 tons of grape crop unprocessed — causing an annual loss of over $3.5 million to local growers.

    AAFP serves the Lake Erie Fruit Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative with nearly 100 family farm members who are contracted to locally grow more than 10,000 tons of grapes annually. AAFP’s revitalized and upgraded grape juice factory affords the Cooperative an opportunity to provide a viable and sustainable market for its grape growing members. Crop sale returns are distributed amongst members by the Cooperative in a fair and equitable manner in proportion to the tonnage and quality grade of the fruit delivered by each member. In turn, AAFP processes the freshly harvested grapes and manufactures bulk-shipped single strength juices, juice concentrates, pulps and purees. AAFP remains the only grape processing facility in the Lake Erie Region where 100 percent of the products manufactured are export-grade and Kosher for Passover certified. With this, AAFP has been able to establish long-term product supply relationships with well-known Kosher branded juice and wine bottling companies including Royal Wine Corporation and Kedem Foods.

    AgriAmerica Fruit Products, LLC, Founding Partner and Managing Member Eric Huddy said, “My business partner Richard Jozwiak and I shared a vision for the future of the old vacant factory in Fredonia. Here in the rural western New York State, the grape industry is absolutely critical. Based on this understanding, AgriAmerica’s Fredonia Grape Juice Factory Revitalization Project received overwhelming support not only from the Village of Fredonia and County of Chautauqua but also throughout the New York’s Lake Erie and Finger Lake grape growing regions, which included numerous towns and counties that had vineyard operators who stood to benefit from this project. We are truly grateful for the awesome level of support we received for this project from the community, the farmers and government at the local, county and state level. The completion of this project will greatly assist AAFP toward remaining as a competitive manufacturer of nearly 2-million gallons of grape juice annually.”

    The expansion project consisted of design, engineering, consulting, facility construction/renovations and the installation of new fixtures and machinery. More specifically, the project will allow AAFP to more efficiently and dependably process fresh fruit, pasteurize and chill juices and refrigerate bulk juice storage tank rooms. In addition to bringing the old, existing systems up-to-date, a brand-new, state-of-the-art juice concentration system was installed.

    Rather than importing machines from overseas or out-of-state, AgriAmerica selected local companies based in Buffalo, New York to design, manufacture and install the new juice concentration system. Now, the facility is able to manufacture new concentrate products while achieving a high level of transportation savings and promoting a positive impact on the environment because hauling concentrate requires much less transportation than hauling single strength juice. The completion of this project will greatly assist AAFP toward remaining as a competitive manufacturer of nearly 2 million gallons of grape juice annually. On the supply side, the new processing facility has created a stable outlet for family farms to sell their local grape crop. On the demand side, the Fredonia facility is responsible for producing an equivalent of approximately 32-million servings of grape juice per year to people all around the world.

    This project will create an additional five full-time jobs and numerous seasonal positions at the Fredonia processing facility, as well as 469 full-time equivalent jobs over the next four years mainly in the agriculture sector and industries allied with agriculture. The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC), through Empire State Development (ESD), provided a $498,600 capital grant for this priority project through Round 8 of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

    WNYREDC Co-Chair and Campus Labs Co-Founder Eric Reich said, “We are always looking to support solid projects that generate jobs and economic opportunity. Because of the Governor’s unwavering commitment to upstate companies, they are taking their business to the next level, growing their workforces and fueling economic opportunities statewide.”

    Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. said, “AgriAmerica’s investment in Chautauqua County represents more than just the revitalization of a facility—it’s a commitment to the hardworking grape growers who define our region’s agricultural identity. This expansion ensures that local family farms have a reliable, local partner for their harvests and strengthens our position as a leader in juice and wine production. I commend AgriAmerica and Empire State Development for their collaboration on this vital project that brings jobs, opportunity, and long-term growth to our community. I’d also like to thank Mark Geise, our Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, for his steadfast leadership in helping to move this project forward. Multi-level partnerships like this—between the state, our county IDA, and local stakeholders—are what make doing business in Chautauqua County strong and why this region continues to be a great place to grow and invest.”

    County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency CEO Mark Geise said, “I am glad the CCIDA had the opportunity to work with Mr. Huddy and his team at Agri-America, along with the State, to provide financial incentives to bring the Fredonia-based facility back to life thereby creating good paying jobs and supporting the Concord grape farmers in the region.”

    Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said, “We are proud to have AgriAmerica as a part of our Fredonia landscape. Our history was built on agriculture and becoming the world’s largest concord grape region, but for a while many farmers struggled to get their grapes processed. We are thrilled to see the expansion of grape processing capacity and production in our community.”

    To learn more about the WNYREDC, click here.

    About the Regional Economic Development Councils
    The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Click here to learn more.

    About Empire State Development
    ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through ILOVENY. For more information, please visit ESD’s website here, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Training course on trade in services concludes in Geneva for WTO acceding governments

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Training course on trade in services concludes in Geneva for WTO acceding governments

    The governments represented were Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Curaçao, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Participants received training on the  GATS disciplines, including how to create schedules of commitments, and how to view services from a sectoral perspective. They also learned how to develop market access offers in services in the context of bilateral market access negotiations.
    The course also covered current trends in services trade, and provided participants with an overview of the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, launched in 2017 by a group of WTO members to streamline regulations and reduce unnecessary barriers to services trade. In addition, the course looked into cross-cutting topics, such as e-commerce and investment facilitation. Experience-sharing roundtables were also organized with selected WTO members active in accessions and with former services negotiators.
    Speaking at the closing session of the course, WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang emphasized the transformative potential of the WTO accession process and the importance of trade in services in this process. He noted that services negotiations can drive domestic reform and attract foreign direct investment. DDG Zhang encouraged participants to continue advancing their governments’ accession negotiations while actively engaging across all areas of the WTO’s work.
    In a fireside chat with Hamid Mamdouh, former Director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division, on the last day of the course, WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill emphasized the dynamism and resilience of services trade. She noted that many recently acceded members have been outperforming most WTO members in services trade growth, GDP growth and domestic investments.
    At the opening session on 7 April, Maika Oshikawa, Director of the WTO’s Accessions Division, highlighted the value of specialized training courses the WTO Secretariat has been regularly providing since 2016 on key pillars of accession negotiations. She said that “understanding WTO disciplines and practices on trade in services is essential for preparing market access offers and conducting bilateral market access negotiations.”
    Markus Jelitto, Officer in Charge of the WTO Trade in Services and Investment Division, said: “Negotiating services in the context of WTO accession is a complex challenge — but one that holds significant potential. Services trade offers exceptional opportunities for developing economies, including those in the process of WTO accession.”
    Mondher Mimouni, Director of ITC’s Division of Market Development, stressed the importance of mastering WTO rules on services trade, especially for acceding governments. He said: “This training is a critical step toward maximizing the benefits of WTO membership.”
    Ylham Yarashov, a participant from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, said the course provided useful guidance  to support his government’s accession efforts. He stated: “The knowledge gained from this training will be applied directly because we will be beginning to build Turkmenistan’s position and preparing our offers and requests in a way that responds to both our economic interests and development priorities.”
    Another course participant, Sonam Tshering Dorji from Bhutan’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, said: “The course provided me with deeper insights into the world of services, which are highly relevant to the work of my Ministry. It has also strengthened my ability to read and draft schedules of commitments, while offering valuable opportunities to expand my network with fellow negotiators from various acceding governments.”
    Carol Young from The Bahamas Investment Authority who also participated in the course, said: “The training highlighted the need to better align my country’s National Investment Policy with WTO principles to prepare for its accession to the Organization.”

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    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government expands Social Security support for parents and students17 April 2025 ​Islanders will now receive improved Social Security support during two key stages, with two new policies introduced by the Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham. These policies are… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    17 April 2025

    ​

    Islanders will now receive improved Social Security support during two key stages, with two new policies introduced by the Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham. These policies are supporting both those pursuing further education and stay at home parents who will have another child in the future. 

    Firstly, to support lifelong learning, the maximum period for which student contribution credits can be claimed for Social Security purposes has been extended from 36 months to 60 months. ​These credits help maintain an individual’s contribution record while they are in full-time education, protecting their future pension entitlement. 

    ​The updated student credit policy applies to anyone currently studying or beginning a new full-time course. Individuals will be able to claim up to 60 months, minus any student credits previously used. Those who completed full-time education before this change remain eligible for up to 36 months of credits under the existing policy. 

    In a second change, parents who stay at home to care for a child under free nursery education age will now be able to use Home Responsibility Protection, HRP,​​ credits to qualify for parental allowance for a future child. Previously, while HRP credits counted towards pension entitlements, they did not provide eligibility for parental allowance. 

    These changes mean: 

    • Parents will be able to use HRP credits to claim parental allowance if their baby’s due date, or adoption date,​ is on or after 1 July 2025, and 
    • They choose to start receiving parental allowance from 1 July 2025.

    ​This support will be available until the August before the school year in which the child turns four, when they become eligible for free nursery education through the Jersey Nursery Education Fund.

    ​Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said: “These changes reflect our continued commitment to supporting Islanders throughout their lives from raising young families to investing in education. By ensuring that parents at home with young children can access parental allowance if they have another child, and that students studying full-time are protected in their pension contributions, we’re delivering practical changes that respond to people’s needs for now and in the future. 

    “These measures also directly support the goals set out in our Common Strategic Policy to prepare for demographic change, support families, and invest in skills.” 

    For more information, visit Gov.je/essh​ or Employment, Social Security and Housing at Union Street.​​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Joint Statement by the Solutions Champions Marking 27 Years of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    New York/Geneva, 17 April 2025 – Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement – a landmark framework that defines the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and outlines the responsibilities of national governments and other authorities to protect and support them. Since their acknowledgment by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1998, the Principles have served as a foundation for national and international responses. They have shaped domestic laws, informed policies and supported efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of millions of IDPs around the world. 

    Yet despite this progress, internal displacement continues to rise at an alarming rate. Today, 76 million people are displaced within their own countries due to conflict, violence, disasters, and increasingly the impacts of extreme weather shocks. Millions of people have remained trapped in protracted displacement for years or even decades. This growing global crisis calls for a renewed commitment to the Guiding Principles and support for governments to meet their responsibilities to provide protection, assistance, and long-term solutions.

    At the heart of the Guiding Principles is the concept of “sovereignty as responsibility”. IDPs are citizens or residents of their country, and national authorities have a duty to protect their rights and promote durable solutions in line with their wishes and international standards. 

    Solutions require strong national leadership, inclusive planning and long-term investments to help people regain self-reliance and rebuild their lives in dignity and peace. At a time when humanitarian needs are surging and resources decreasing, we are concerned about the risk of reversing hard-won gains on addressing internal displacement achieved over the past years. Now more than ever, we need to foster long-term solutions, stability and inclusion. 

    As the United Nations’ Solutions Champions, and guided by the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, we reaffirm our shared commitment to support IDPs and host communities in moving from crisis to lasting recovery, peace and development. We will seek to advance cost-effective actions from the onset of a crisis, provide support to national leadership wherever possible, strengthen local capacities and ensure the voices of IDPs guide the support they receive. We will also do more to reduce the risk of future displacement through early warning systems, support for local confict and resolution mechanisms, disaster risk reduction, and building resilience to extreme weather shocks.

    We also urge governments to integrate the Guiding Principles into national laws and policies, and to lead on the design and financing of sustainable solutions. IDPs must be included in national development strategies and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that no one is left behind. Finally, we further encourage governments that have already taken steps in this direction to continue their leadership and share good practices to support others. 

    This anniversary is a moment for reflection and action. Displacement should not mean despair. Solutions are possible – but only if we act together, and act now.

    Signed,

    The Solutions Champions:

    IOM Director General

    UNDP Administrator

    N High Commissioner for Refugees

    Emergency Relief Coordinator

    Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs

    Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players, says Dr Jitendra Singh;

    Source: Government of India

    “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players, says Dr Jitendra Singh;

    ANRF to Anchor India’s Scientific Future: Dr. Jitendra Singh Charts Roadmap for Cross-Ministry Collaboration

    ‘No More Silos’: Dr. Jitendra Singh Pitches Unified Scientific Vision

    From Lab to Market: Govt Taps ANRF to Turn Research into Scalable Public Goods with commercial viability

    Dr. Jitendra Singh Chairs Joint Review Meet of All Science Ministries, Charts Unified Innovation Roadmap

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:19PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant move aimed at transforming India’s scientific research and innovation ecosystem into a collaborative and commercially viable enterprise, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today called for positioning the newly constituted “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) as a critical organisation for all science ministries and departments across the government and declared that ANRF has been envisaged to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players.

     Chairing a high-level joint  meeting of all the science Ministries and departments in Govt of India  at the National Science Centre here today, the Minister laid out a vision for aligning research outcomes across departments with national priorities, private sector participation, and market readiness.

    At the core of this shift, said Dr Jitendra Singh,  is the aspiration to build a unified research strategy that breaks silos, avoids duplication and delivers tangible, scalable benefits to society. “All the science ministries must work with the intent to deliver market-relevant, public-good products,” he  emphasised, adding that ANRF will not only act as a coordinating body but also serve as a catalyst to bring in private sector investment and innovation.

    The ANRF’s newly appointed CEO, Dr.Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, outlined a bold roadmap that envisions catalytic funding models, deep private sector integration, and AI-led scientific acceleration. The agency is set to model its functioning on globally successful institutions like the NSF and DARPA, launching cross-ministerial missions focused on economic growth and societal impact.

    Notably, ANRF is set to launch a “Small Business Deep Tech Innovation” programme inspired by global best practices, aimed at supporting startups and MSMEs in scaling technologies for real-world application. In a bid to maximise national research infrastructure, ANRF will also roll out a “Cloud of Research and Innovation Infrastructure” to allow deep-tech startups and institutions to access underused equipment across the country.

    The foundation’s AI-for-Science initiative is another key highlight, focusing on using AI to model scientific equations in physics, chemistry, and biology — a leap expected to drastically shorten the time from theory to practice in core scientific domains.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the importance of projects with visible public utility, citing CSIR’s HANSA-NG aircraft, the Department of Atomic Energy’s Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and space-based applications as models to emulate.

    The HANSA-NG, a two-seater trainer aircraft developed indigenously by CSIR-NAL, is already witnessing strong market interest with 110 orders and production lined up in collaboration with Pioneer Clean Arms Pvt Ltd. Dr. Jitendra Singh noted the project’s potential to reduce India’s dependency on expensive foreign pilot training, and suggested roping in private airlines and aerospace component manufacturers to scale up production beyond Bengaluru.

    Similarly, the Department of Atomic Energy is developing the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 200 MW pressurised water reactor intended for industrial applications and grid-independent power generation. These initiatives demonstrate the type of innovation the Minister wants the ANRF to incubate and scale.

    India’s space programme also featured prominently in the review. From the recent success of the SPADEX satellite docking to the development of reusable engine technology and advanced space exploration missions, the Department of Space reported rapid strides, including preparations for India’s human spaceflight mission by 2040.

    Across the spectrum — whether it’s ocean mining technology from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, bio-manufacturing hubs by DBT, or cutting-edge chips and AI solutions in partnership with semiconductor labs — the government is pushing for synergy, scalability, and sustainability.

    Concluding the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the future of Indian science lies in integration and innovation. “The time for working in silos is over. We must institutionalise collaboration and deliver solutions that matter,” he said, signalling a new era for India’s science ecosystem — one where policy, private investment, and research institutions converge under the stewardship of ANRF.

    The meeting was attended by Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister; Hari Ranjan Rao, Additional Secretary in the PMO; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, along with other senior officials.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Reviews Tribal Welfare Schemes in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Tribal Affairs Reviews Tribal Welfare Schemes in Delhi

    Three-Day National Review Charts Roadmap for Holistic Tribal Development

    Emphasis on Ground-Level Execution of PM-JANMAN & DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

    Special Focus on Education, Empowerment, and Tribal Heritage

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Government of India remains steadfast in its commitment to the holistic development of tribal communities across the country. A comprehensive suite of initiatives—ranging from scholarships, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), Article 275(1) grants, PM-JANMAN, DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), to livelihood programs and Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)—continue to drive inclusive growth and empowerment among tribal populations.

    In line with this vision, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs conducted a three-day National Review and Orientation Meeting from 15th to 17th April 2025 in New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri VibhuNayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the guidance of Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri JualOram. The review brought together Principal Secretaries, Tribal Welfare Secretaries, Directors, and senior officials from States and Union Territories to evaluate progress and recalibrate strategies for accelerated implementation.

    Strengthening IEC Campaign, Benefit Saturation Camp &Ground-Level Implementationof PM-JANMAN & DAJGUA

    In his inaugural address, Secretary Shri VibhuNayar stressed the importance of district- and block-level capacity building and robust institutional mechanisms to ensure effective on-ground execution& IEC Campaign ofPM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.

    Key Highlights:

    • PM-JANMAN, launched on 15th November 2023 from Khunti (the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda), aims to uplift 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 30,000 habitations, providing comprehensive last-mile delivery of housing, water, sanitation, education, healthcare, nutrition, and digital connectivity for approximately 45 lakh beneficiaries.
    • DAJGUA, a convergence-based initiative across 17 Union Ministries, targets the transformation of 63,843 tribal villages in 549 districts, impacting over 5.5 crore tribal citizens through 25 integrated interventions.
    • States have been directed to achieve complete saturation of interventions under PM-JANMAN by 15th November 2025, marking the 150th birth anniversaryofBhagwan Birsa Munda.
    • Emphasis was placed on village-wise tracking, physical completion, and quarterly progress reporting ending June 2025, with certification from Gram Sabhas as a mandatory milestone for saturation.
    • States were encouraged to replicate best practices from high-performing districts and bring lagging areas at par through knowledge-sharing and convergence.
    • States were encouraged to start IEC Campaign & Benefit saturation camp for DAJGUA in coming few weeks.
    • States were encouraged to sanction interventions under DAJGUA at faster pace.

    Elevating Quality of Education through EMRS

    The review laid strong emphasis on improving academic and infrastructural standards in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). The Ministry’s vision is to transform EMRS into centres of academic excellence, nurturing future tribal leaders and innovators.

    Action Points:

    • Recruitment and continuous training of qualified teachers
    • Infrastructure upgrades and smart classroom facilities
    • Integration of experiential learning and 21st-century skills
    • Enhanced student and staff welfare mechanisms
    • State-wise progress on each EMRS construction was closely reviewed

    Expanding Access and Efficiency in Scholarships

    To ensure no tribal student is left behind, the Secretary urged states to step up efforts to increase awareness and timely disbursal of pre- and post-matric scholarships.

    Directives to States:

    • Ensure timely and transparent disbursal
    • Remove bureaucratic and procedural bottlenecks
    • Integrate all states into the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or states having portal to integrate NSP portal throughAPI-based systems
    • Ensure disbursal at the beginning of the academic year to maximize impact

    Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh: A Year of Impactful Action

    Recognizing the year as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, Shri VibhuNayarhas given special emphasis to States and TRIs to organize thematic events/ activities / campaigns / initiatives that honour tribal heritage while promoting social and economic inclusion. The key themes include:Education & Skill Development, Health & Nutrition, Livelihood & Entrepreneurship, Preservation of Tribal Art, Culture, and Language, Infrastructure and Service Delivery.

    A whole-of-government approach—involving collaboration with Line Ministries, State Departments, NGOs, and Corporates—was advocated to ensure deeper engagement and measurable impact.

    Preserving Tribal Arts, Culture, and Languages: Adi Sanskriti& Adi Vaani

    The Secretary emphasized accelerating theinitiatives like Adi Sanskriti and Adi Vaani.

    • Adi Sanskriti Project focuses on creating quality content for Tribal Art Academy, Digital Repository, and Tribal Haat to curate and promote tribal art, cuisine, rituals, and cultural expressions.
    • Adi Vaani, an AI-driven multilingual translation platform, is being leveraged to overcome language barriers in education and governance.
    • States have been instructed to identify low-resource tribal languages for AI-based documentation and development.

    Combating Sickle Cell Disease: Centers of Competency

    As part of the National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia, the Ministry announced the establishment of Centers of Competency in tribal regions. These centres will act as hubs for screening, treatment, capacity building, and community outreach.

    The three-day review culminated in a renewed commitment to inclusive, technology-driven, and community-centric approaches to tribal development. The roadmap ahead emphasizes:

    • Stronger inter-ministerial convergence
    • Capacity building at every administrative level
    • Active community participation for sustainable outcomes
    • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs continues to lead with vision and resolve, ensuring that
    • tribal citizen becomes a key stakeholder in India’s growth storyTop of Form    

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