Category: Transport

MIL-OSI USA: Warren Warns Walgreens Buyout by Private Equity May Lead to Pharmacy Closures, Lost Jobs in Massachusetts, Limit Access to Medication

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
April 29, 2025
Warren seeks assurances from Sycamore Partners that its heavily-leveraged, debt-fueled acquisition of Walgreens will not lead to layoffs, store closures
After private equity looted Steward Health Care hospitals, Warren concerned that Walgreens could be next: “These private equity buyouts of companies facing financial hardship…frequently lead to worse outcomes for employees and consumers.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote to private equity firm Sycamore Partners (Sycamore) regarding concerns that the firm’s proposed acquisition of retail pharmacy chain Walgreens may cost hardworking Massachusetts residents their jobs and create difficulties for patients who need access to lifesaving medications.
Sycamore’s multi-billion-dollar takeover of Walgreens has been touted as an attempt to keep the struggling retail pharmacy chain alive. However, private equity buyouts have a record of running already-struggling companies into the ground and producing devastating consequences for workers and communities, as witnessed by private equity’s looting of Steward Health Care, which resulted in two shuttered hospitals in Massachusetts.
“My primary concern is that Sycamore’s acquisition of Walgreens may lead to restructuring of the company that results in layoffs and pharmacy closures in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Warren.
Walgreens has already announced plans to close nine locations across Massachusetts, in addition to the six stores closed in the state within the past year. Many of the shuttered Walgreens stores are located in vulnerable communities, leaving thousands of residents without reliable pharmacy access.
Sycamore has a troubling history of leading the companies it acquires into bankruptcy, further harming already-struggling communities.
“These private equity buyouts…frequently lead to worse outcomes for employees and consumers: private equity firms sell off assets and close locations, employees lose their jobs, and consumers lose access to essential goods and services,” wrote Senator Warren.
A review by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) revealed that the Walgreens buyout will be heavily leveraged with debt, heightening the risk of bankruptcy and threatening the availability of critical services to customers and patients.
“These are deeply troubling conclusions, suggesting that yet another private equity firm might leverage a failing health care chain to turn a profit at the expense of Massachusetts’ patients, providers, and taxpayers,” wrote Senator Warren.
Millions of customers across the United States rely on Walgreens for primary care, essential medications, and household items, and if the Walgreens-Sycamore deal leads to even more store closures, customers could be left in “pharmacy deserts” without access to necessities.
“I seek assurances that Sycamore’s buyout of Walgreens will not damage the company further, and will not cost hardworking Americans their jobs or create difficulties for patients who need access to lifesaving medications,” concluded Senator Warren.
Senator Warren requested a response identifying the impact Sycamore’s acquisition of Walgreens will have on workers and communities by May 13, 2025.
Senator Warren has repeatedly called out the harms of private equity ownership on health care costs and quality of care and has fought to prevent companies from taking advantage of the bankruptcy system:
In February 2025, Senator Warren questioned private equity executive Stephen Feinberg, President of Cerberus Capital Management and nominee for Deputy Secretary of Defense, on his actions to enrich himself and his investors at the expense of Steward Health Care patients and workers.
In October 2024, Senator Warren led colleagues in reintroducing the Stop Wall Street Looting Act, comprehensive legislation to fundamentally reform the private equity industry and level the playing field by forcing private investment firms to take responsibility for the outcomes of companies they take over, empowering workers and protecting investors. This reintroduction comes after private equity firm Cerberus looted Steward Health Care, leaving hospitals, patients, and workers hanging out to dry.
In September 2024, Senators Warren and Markey (D-Mass.), alongside Representatives Auchincloss and Lynch, sent a letter to RHG raising concerns over its proposed acquisition of Steward Health Care’s physician group, Stewardship Health.
In September 2024, Senator Warren urged the IRS to crack down on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) squeezing the health care industry.
In August 2024, Senators Warren and Markey requested information from private equity firm Apollo Global Management (Apollo) on the company’s role in Steward’s bankruptcy, and urged Apollo to work in good faith to facilitate the sale of Steward’s Massachusetts hospitals.
In July 2024, Senators Warren and Markey wrote to Medical Properties Trust and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, owners of Steward’s eight Massachusetts hospitals, urging them to offer lease concessions to keep the hospitals open and viable.
In June 2024, Senator Warren, Representative Chu, and Representative Nadler urged CMS to increase oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic software tools used to guide coverage decisions in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, citing the NaviHealth scandal as cause for concern.
In June 2024, Senators Warren and Markey introduced the Corporate Crimes Against Health Care Act of 2024 to root out corporate greed and private equity abuse in the health care system, specifically preventing what happened with Steward from happening again.
In June 2024, Senator Warren wrote to the DOJ, FTC, and HHS calling out high health care costs due to vertically-integrated insurers, private equity companies, and pharmaceutical companies that are driving health care consolidation.
In June 2024, Senators Warren, Brown (D-Ohio), and Markey wrote to the Director of the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), calling for USTP to move to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee to run the company in place of Steward’s current management, and to monitor the hospitals’ bankruptcy proceedings to protect patients and local communities.
In May 2024, Senator Warren sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, urging them to support communities and health care providers affected by the crisis caused by Steward’s financial mismanagement.
In April 2024, Senators Warren and Senator Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to six private credit funds that are holders of Steward’s debt, asking them a series of questions about their loans and calling on them to offer loan modifications that could potentially help keep the hospitals afloat.
In April 2024, Senators Warren and Markey called out Medical Properties Trust and Macquarie Infrastructure Partners for exploiting Steward Hospitals, and urged them to help keep the hospitals open.
In April 2024, Senators Warren, Markey, and the rest of the MA delegation urged the FTC and DOJ to closely scrutinize UnitedHealth Group’s proposed acquisition of Steward Health Care’s physician group, Stewardship Health.
In April 2024, Senator Warren delivered remarks at a Senate hearing in Boston titled, “When Health Care Becomes Wealth Care: How Corporate Greed Puts Patient Care and Health Workers at Risk,” which centered on Steward Health Care’s Massachusetts hospitals.
In April 2024, Senators Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called out private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management (Cerberus) for its role in creating Steward Health Care’s financial challenges, following Cerberus’s reply to the Massachusetts congressional delegation’s February 2024 probe.
In February 2024, Senator Warren slammed UnitedHealth Group for leveraging NaviHealth’s unregulated artificial intelligence algorithm to unlawfully deny health care to seniors with severe injuries.
In March 2024, Senator Warren released a statement about Steward’s plan to sell its physician group Stewardship Health to UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Optum.
In March 2024, Senators Warren and Markey sent a letter to Steward CEO and Chairman Dr. Ralph de la Torre, calling on him to testify at a congressional hearing in Boston.
In March 2024, Senators Warren and Markey sent a letter to Dr. de la Torre, blasting him for years of financial mismanagement, private equity schemes, and executive profiteering that have led to Steward Health Care’s financial crisis.
In February 2024, Senators Warren and Markey, along with all nine members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, sent a letter to Cerberus seeking answers from the private equity firm for its role in creating the current financial challenges at Steward hospitals.
In January 2024, Senator Warren released a statement about Steward’s financial situation and allegations of patient neglect at Steward facilities.
In January 2024, Senator Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation in a letter to the CEO of Steward Health Care pressing the company to brief them on Steward’s financial position, the status of their Massachusetts facilities, and their plans to ensure the communities they serve are not abandoned.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Key evidence leads to guilty plea

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pled guilty today to theft of postal keys.

According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, Lee Vann Tyner, 48, broke into the Jolliff Station post office in Chesapeake by shattering the glass door to an entrance. Tyner entered the post office and stole several keys used to unlock mail receptacles.

On June 11, 2024, a Chesapeake Police officer conducted a traffic stop on an SUV that matched the description of a vehicle that the officer had received information was being used to sell narcotics. Tyner told the officer that he had no driver’s license or identification with him, and, initially, gave the officer a false name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Tyner falsely claimed that he had rented the SUV using Turo.

Inside the vehicle were postal keys that were confirmed to have been stolen from the Jolliff Station post office. Several Georgia driver’s licenses, mail, credit cards, debit cards, and Social Security cards that did not belong to Tyner were also found inside the SUV.

Tyner is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony C. Marek is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-4.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. Q1 2025 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SEATTLE, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SFBC), the holding company for Sound Community Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, or $0.45 diluted earnings per share, as compared to net income of $1.9 million, or $0.74 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, and $770 thousand, or $0.30 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.19 per share, payable on May 23, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 9, 2025.

Comments from the President / Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

“Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, we remained focused on lowering our cost of deposits and originating new loans at higher rates, which contributed to a 12-basis point improvement in our net interest margin compared to the prior quarter. This reflects the team’s strong efforts to build full banking relationships by addressing both the lending and deposit needs of our consumer and business clients,” remarked Laurie Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We continue to prioritize expense management, even though expenses increased compared to the previous quarter. The quarter-over-quarter increase was largely due to typical year-end accrual adjustments and annual expenses that are recognized in the first quarter. However, when compared to the first quarter of 2024, we have seen reductions in combined salaries and benefits, and operational expenses, thanks to our investments in technology. We also expect the year-over-year growth in data processing costs to moderate as the year progresses,” explained Wes Ochs, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Ochs continued, “While we did see an increase in nonperforming loans this quarter mainly due to two specific credits, one of which has since been repaid, we have not observed broader signs of stress in the loan portfolio. Importantly, we also successfully exited a $17 million loan that had been rated as special mention, which contributed to the decline in overall loan balances. Notably, 83% of our nonperforming loans are tied to just four loans, each with its own unique circumstances. These loans are well-secured, and we are actively working toward resolutions in the near-term.”


Q1 2025 Financial Performance
Total assets increased $75.6 million or 7.6% to $1.07 billion at March 31, 2025, from $993.6 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $17.5 million or 1.6% from $1.09 billion at March 31, 2024.				Net interest income decreased $149 thousand or 1.8% to $8.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, from $8.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, and increased $611 thousand or 8.2% from $7.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Loans held-for-portfolio decreased $13.9 million or 1.5% to $886.2 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $900.2 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $11.7 million or 1.3% from $897.9 million at March 31, 2024.				Net interest margin (“NIM”), annualized, was 3.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to 3.13% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 and 2.95% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Total deposits increased $72.5 million or 8.7% to $910.3 million at March 31, 2025, from $837.8 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $6.5 million or 0.7% from $916.9 million at March 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $5.8 million or 4.4% to $126.7 million at March 31, 2025 compared to $132.5 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $2.0 million or 1.5% compared to $128.7 million at March 31, 2024.				A $203 thousand release of provision for credit losses was recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to a $14 thousand provision and a $33 thousand release of provision for credit losses for the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively. At March 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans outstanding was 0.95%, compared to 0.94% at December 31, 2024 and 0.96% at March 31, 2024.

The loans-to-deposits ratio was 98% at March 31, 2025, compared to 108% at December 31, 2024 and 98% at March 31, 2024.				Total noninterest income decreased $62 thousand or 5.3% to $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024, and was virtually unchanged compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Total nonperforming loans increased $2.2 million or 28.9% to $9.7 million at March 31, 2025, from $7.5 million at December 31, 2024, and increased $600 thousand or 6.6% from $9.1 million at March 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans to total loans was 1.09% and the allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans was 86.95% at March 31, 2025.				Total noninterest expense increased $856 thousand or 12.1% to $7.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024, and increased $258 thousand or 3.4% compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

				The Bank continued to maintain capital levels in excess of regulatory requirements and was categorized as “well-capitalized” at March 31, 2025.

Operating Results

Net Interest Income after (Release of) Provision for Credit Losses

	For the Quarter Ended								Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024					Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024			Amount ($)			Percentage (%)		Amount ($)			Percentage (%)
	(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Interest income	$	13,706		$	14,736	$	13,760		$	(1,030	)	(7.0)	%	$	(54	)	(0.4)	%
Interest expense		5,635			6,516		6,300			(881	)	(13.5)	%		(665	)	(10.6)	%
Net interest income		8,071			8,220		7,460			(149	)	(1.8)	%		611		8.2	%
(Release of) provision for credit losses		(203	)		14		(33	)		(217	)	(1550.0)	%		(170	)	515.2	%
Net interest income after (release of) provision for credit losses		8,274			8,206		7,493			68		0.8	%		781		10.4	%

Q1 2025 vs Q4 2024

The decrease in interest income from the prior quarter was primarily due to a lower average balance of loans, investments and interest-earning cash, an eight basis point decline in the average yield on loans, a 41 basis point decline in the average yield on interest-bearing cash, and a 57 basis point decline in the average yield on investments.

Interest income on loans decreased $482 thousand, or 3.7%, to $12.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $13.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The average balance of total loans was $896.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from $900.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in the average balance of total loans was primarily due to declines in construction and land loans and one-to-four family loans, offset by growth in commercial and multifamily loans and home equity loans. The average balances for manufactured home loans, floating home loans, commercial business loans, and other consumer loans remained relatively flat from the fourth quarter of 2024. The average yield on total loans was 5.69% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 5.77% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The decline was primarily due to interest that was reversed on nonaccrual loans during the first quarter, as well as interest that had been recognized on those loans in the fourth quarter. This was partly offset by new loans being made at higher interest rates and some variable-rate loans adjusting upward. Interest income on investments was $108 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $132 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. Interest income on interest-bearing cash decreased $524 thousand to $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $1.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. This decrease was a result of both lower average yields and average balances during the quarter.

The decrease in interest expense during the current quarter from the prior quarter was primarily the result of lower average balances and rates paid on all categories of interest-bearing deposits. The average cost of deposits was 2.37% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 2.58% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 as higher costing deposits repriced lower due to market interest rate cuts beginning in September 2024. The average cost of FHLB advances was 4.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 4.31% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

A release of provision for credit losses of $203 thousand was recorded for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, consisting of a release of provision for credit losses on loans of $85 thousand and a release of provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $118 thousand. This compared to a provision for credit losses of $14 thousand for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, consisting of a release of provision for credit losses on loans of $73 thousand and a provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments of $87 thousand. The decrease in the provision for credit losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 resulted primarily from a smaller loan portfolio and a reduced balance of unfunded commitments, partially offset by an additional qualitative adjustment applied to certain loan segments, specifically consumer and construction loans, reflecting increased uncertainty in market conditions tied to the impact of tariffs and other external factors affecting our clients. Expected credit loss estimates consider various factors, including market conditions, borrower-specific information, projected delinquencies, and anticipated effects of economic trends on borrowers’ ability to repay.

Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024

Interest income on loans increased $355 thousand, or 2.9%, to $12.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $12.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The average balance of total loans was $896.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, up from $895.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The average yield on total loans was 5.69% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, up from 5.49% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The increase in the average loan yield during the current quarter, compared to the same quarter in 2024, was primarily due to the origination of new loans at higher interest rates. Additionally, variable-rate loans resetting to higher rates contributed to the increase in average yield compared to the first quarter of 2024. Interest income on investments was $108 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $111 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Interest income on interest-bearing cash decreased $406 thousand to $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $1.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was a result of both a lower average yield and average balance.

The decrease in interest expense during the current quarter from the same quarter a year ago was primarily the result of a $18.9 million decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing demand and NOW accounts, a $25.5 million decrease in the average balance of certificate accounts, and a $15.0 million decrease in the average balance of FHLB advances, as well as lower average rates paid on all categories of interest-bearing deposits; resulting from lower market interest rates generally. These average-balance decreases were partially offset by a $51.0 million increase in the average balance of savings and money market accounts. The average cost of deposits was 2.37% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 2.57% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The average cost of FHLB advances was 4.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, down from 4.31% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Noninterest Income

	For the Quarter Ended								Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024					Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024		March 31, 2024			Amount ($)			Percentage (%)		Amount ($)			Percentage (%)
	(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Service charges and fee income	$	684		$	619	$	612		$	65		10.5	%	$	72		11.8	%
Earnings on bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”)		195			127		177			68		53.5	%		18		10.2	%
Mortgage servicing income		269			277		282			(8	)	(2.9)	%		(13	)	(4.6)	%
Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights		(99	)		77		(65	)		(176	)	(228.6)	%		(34	)	52.3	%
Net gain on sale of loans		49			53		90			(4	)	(7.5)	%		(41	)	(45.6)	%
Other income		—			7		—			(7	)	(100.0)	%		—		100.0	%
Total noninterest income	$	1,098		$	1,160	$	1,096		$	(62	)	(5.3)	%	$	2		0.2	%

Q1 2025 vs Q4 2024

The decrease in noninterest income during the current quarter compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was primarily related to

a $176 thousand downward adjustment in fair value of mortgage servicing rights due to a smaller servicing portfolio, partially offset by :
an increase of $68 thousand in earnings from BOLI primarily due to the strategic decision to surrender and exchange existing policies into higher yielding policies in the first quarter, offset by fluctuations in financial markets which decreased the values of policies; and
a $65 thousand increase in service charges and fee income due to a volume incentive paid by Mastercard in the first quarter of 2025 and higher interchange income.

Loans sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, totaled $2.0 million, compared to $3.5 million and $4.2 million of loans sold during the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.

Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024

The increase in noninterest income during the current quarter compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was primarily due to

a $72 thousand increase in service charges and fee income primarily due to the reasons noted above, and
an $18 thousand increase in earnings from BOLI primarily due to the strategic decision to surrender and exchange existing policies into higher yielding policies in the first quarter, offset by fluctuations in financial markets, which reduced the values of policies. The increases in service charges and fee income and in earnings from BOLI were partially offset by
a $13 thousand decrease in mortgage servicing income as a result of the portfolio paying down at a faster rate than originations replace repayments;
a $34 thousand decrease in the fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights due to a smaller servicing portfolio; and
a $41 thousand decrease in net gain on sale of loans due to fewer loans sold.

Noninterest Expense

	For the Quarter Ended							Q1 2025 vs. Q4 2024				Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024		Amount ($)		Percentage (%)		Amount ($)			Percentage (%)
	(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Salaries and benefits	$	4,595	$	3,920		$	4,543	$	675	17.2	%	$	52		1.1	%
Operations		1,365		1,329			1,457		36	2.7	%		(92	)	(6.3)	%
Regulatory assessments		221		189			189		32	16.9	%		32		16.9	%
Occupancy		437		409			444		28	6.8	%		(7	)	(1.6)	%
Data processing		1,293		1,232			1,017		61	5.0	%		276		27.1	%
Net loss (gain) on OREO and repossessed assets		3		(21	)		6		24	(114.3)	%		(3	)	(50.0)	%
Total noninterest expense	$	7,914	$	7,058		$	7,656	$	856	12.1	%	$	258		3.4	%

Q1 2025 vs Q4 2024

The increase in noninterest expense during the current quarter from the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was primarily a result of:

a $675 thousand increase in salaries and benefits related to higher salaries expense, partially due to accrual reversals in the fourth quarter 2024, along with an annual deferred compensation contribution for key executives made in the first quarter of each year, higher 401(k) contributions, and higher payroll taxes related to annual bonus payments;
a $32 thousand increase in regulatory assessments due to a higher estimated accrual for exam costs;
a $28 thousand increase in occupancy due to higher annual property charges and maintenance fees recognized in the first quarter;
a $61 thousand increase in data processing due to higher vendor fees associated with annual subscription renewals; and
a $24 thousand increase in OREO and repossessed assets due to the addition of a new property in the first quarter of 2025 and the absence of property sales in the prior quarter.

Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024

The increase in noninterest expense during the current quarter from the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was primarily a result of:

a $276 thousand increase in data processing expenses due to various project implementations that began amortizing in the third quarter of 2024 and the reimbursement of expenses by a software vendor in the first quarter of 2024;
a $32 thousand increase in regulatory assessment expenses due to a higher estimated accrual for exam costs.

These increases were partially offset by a $92 thousand decrease in operations expense, primarily due to the recognition of annual fee reimbursements from Mastercard beginning in the first quarter of 2025 and lower expenses across various accounts resulting from ongoing cost saving initiatives and process improvements.

Balance Sheet Review, Capital Management and Credit Quality

Assets at March 31, 2025 totaled $1.07 billion, up from $993.6 million at December 31, 2024 and down from $1.09 billion at March 31, 2024. The increase in total assets from December 31, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by a lower balance of loans held-for-portfolio. The decrease from one year ago was primarily a result of lower balances of cash and cash equivalents and loans held-for-portfolio.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $87.9 million, or 201.3%, to $131.5 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $43.6 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $6.5 million, or 4.7%, from $138.0 million at March 31, 2024. The increased cash and cash equivalents from the prior quarter-end was primarily due to the strategic decision to sell reciprocal deposits at the end of 2024, which reduced our cash balances. These reciprocal deposits returned to our balance sheet in the first quarter of 2025.

Investment securities decreased $110 thousand, or 1.1%, to $9.8 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $9.9 million at December 31, 2024, and decreased $462 thousand, or 4.5%, from $10.3 million at March 31, 2024, as pay-offs and paydowns of investments exceeded new purchases. Held-to-maturity securities totaled $2.1 million at both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, and totaled $2.2 million at March 31, 2024. Available-for-sale securities totaled $7.7 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $7.8 million at December 31, 2024 and $8.1 million at March 31, 2024.

Loans held-for-portfolio were $886.2 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $900.2 million at December 31, 2024 and $897.9 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease from both prior dates was primarily due to the payoff during the first quarter of 2025 of one $17.0 million loan that was risk rated special mention.

Nonperforming assets (“NPAs”), which are comprised of nonaccrual loans (including nonperforming modified loans), other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets, increased $2.2 million, or 29.4%, to $9.7 million at March 31, 2025, from $7.5 million at December 31, 2024 and decreased $49 thousand, or 0.5%, from $9.7 million at March 31, 2024. The increase in NPAs from December 31, 2024 was primarily due to the addition of six loans totaling $2.4 million to nonaccrual status, including two commercial real estate loans of $1.1 million and $988 thousand. The increase also included $41 thousand of other real estate owned properties. These additions were partially offset by $207 thousand in regular loan payments. Subsequent to quarter-end, the $988 thousand commercial real estate loan added during the quarter was paid-off. The decrease in NPAs from one year ago was primarily due to payoffs totaling $2.1 million, the return of $522 thousand of loans to accrual status, the sale of two other real estate owned properties for $690 thousand, and regular loan payments. These decreases were partially offset by the placement of an additional $3.6 million of loans on nonaccrual status, which included the two commercial real estate loans noted above.

NPAs to total assets were 0.91%, 0.75% and 0.90% at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively. The allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans outstanding was 0.95% at March 31, 2025, compared to 0.94% at December 31, 2024 and 0.96% at March 31, 2024. Net loan charge-offs for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $21 thousand, compared to $13 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024, and $56 thousand for the first quarter of 2024.

The following table summarizes our NPAs at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Nonperforming Loans:
One-to-four family	$	762		$	537		$	745		$	822		$	835
Home equity loans		368			298			338			342			83
Commercial and multifamily		5,627			3,734			4,719			5,161			4,747
Construction and land		22			24			25			28			29
Manufactured homes		501			521			230			136			166
Floating homes		2,363			2,363			2,377			2,417			3,192
Commercial business		—			11			23			—			—
Other consumer		10			3			32			3			1
Total nonperforming loans		9,653			7,491			8,489			8,909			9,053
OREO and Other Repossessed Assets:
Commercial and multifamily		—			—			—			—			575
Manufactured homes		41			—			115			115			115
Total OREO and repossessed assets		41			—			115			115			690
Total NPAs	$	9,694		$	7,491		$	8,604		$	9,024		$	9,743

Percentage of Nonperforming Loans:
One-to-four family		7.9	%		7.3	%		8.7	%		9.1	%		8.5	%
Home equity loans		3.8			4.0			3.9			3.8			0.9
Commercial and multifamily		58.0			49.8			54.8			57.2			48.7
Construction and land		0.2			0.3			0.3			0.3			0.3
Manufactured homes		5.2			7.0			2.7			1.5			1.7
Floating homes		24.4			31.5			27.6			26.8			32.8
Commercial business		—			0.1			0.3			—			—
Other consumer		0.1			—			0.4			—			—
Total nonperforming loans		99.6			100.0			98.7			98.7			92.9
Percentage of OREO and Other Repossessed Assets:
Commercial and multifamily		—			—			—			—			5.9
Manufactured homes		0.4			—			1.3			1.3			1.2
Total OREO and repossessed assets		0.4			—			1.3			1.3			7.1
Total NPAs		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

The following table summarizes the allowance for credit losses at the dates and for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands, unaudited):

	At or For the Quarter Ended:
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
Balance at beginning of period	$	8,499		$	8,585		$	8,493		$	8,598		$	8,760
(Release of) provision for credit losses during the period		(85	)		(73	)		106			(88	)		(106	)
Net charge-offs during the period		(21	)		(13	)		(14	)		(17	)		(56	)
Balance at end of period	$	8,393		$	8,499		$	8,585		$	8,493		$	8,598
Allowance for Credit Losses on Unfunded Loan Commitments
Balance at beginning of period	$	234		$	147		$	245		$	266		$	193
Provision for (release of) provision for credit losses during the period		(118	)		87			(98	)		(21	)		73
Balance at end of period		116			234			147			245			266
Allowance for Credit Losses	$	8,509		$	8,733		$	8,732		$	8,738		$	8,864
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans		0.95	%		0.94	%		0.95	%		0.96	%		0.96	%
Allowance for credit losses to total loans		0.96	%		0.97	%		0.97	%		0.98	%		0.99	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total nonperforming loans		86.95	%		113.46	%		101.13	%		95.33	%		94.97	%
Allowance for credit losses to total nonperforming loans		88.15	%		116.58	%		102.86	%		98.08	%		97.91	%

Total deposits increased $72.5 million, or 8.7%, to $910.3 million at March 31, 2025, from $837.8 million at December 31, 2024 and decreased $6.5 million, or 0.7%, from $916.9 million at March 31, 2024. The increase in total deposits compared to the prior quarter-end was primarily a result of the movement of reciprocal deposits off balance sheet for strategic objectives at year-end, followed by the return of those deposits to our balance sheet in the first quarter of 2025, and a decrease in one high cost money market deposit relationship as part of our strategic decision to decrease our overall cost of funds. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $5.8 million, or 4.4%, to $126.7 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $132.5 million at December 31, 2024 and decreased $2.0 million, or 1.5%, from $128.7 million at March 31, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 13.9%, 15.8% and 14.0% of total deposits at March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.

FHLB advances totaled $25.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $25.0 million at both December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024. FHLB advances are primarily used to support organic loan growth and to maintain liquidity ratios in line with our asset/liability objectives. FHLB advances outstanding at March 31, 2025 had maturities ranging from early 2026 through early 2028. Subordinated notes, net totaled $11.8 million at both March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, and $11.7 million at March 31, 2024.

Stockholders’ equity totaled $104.4 million at March 31, 2025, an increase of $765 thousand, or 0.7%, from $103.7 million at December 31, 2024, and an increase of $3.4 million, or 3.4%, from $101.0 million at March 31, 2024. The increase in stockholders’ equity from December 31, 2024 was primarily the result of $1.2 million of net income earned during the current quarter, $81 thousand in share-based compensation, and $21 thousand in common stock options exercised, partially offset by a $17 thousand increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax and the payment of $487 thousand in cash dividends to the Company’s stockholders.

Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company, is the parent company of Sound Community Bank, which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and has full-service branches in Seattle, Tacoma, Mountlake Terrace, Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Ludlow and University Place. Sound Community Bank is a Fannie Mae Approved Lender and Seller/Servicer with one loan production office located in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. For more information, please visit www.soundcb.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

When used in this press release and in documents filed or furnished by Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in the Company’s other press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events and may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors listed below or because of other factors that we cannot foresee that could cause our actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, include, but are not limited to: adverse impacts to economic conditions in the Company’s local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation or deflation, a recession or slowed economic growth, as well as supply chain disruptions; changes in the interest rate environment, including increases and decreases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) benchmark rate and the duration at which such interest rate levels are maintained, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the values of our assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of inflation and the current and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto; the effects of any federal government shutdown; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; fluctuations in interest rates; the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding; fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market area; secondary market conditions for loans;expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; environmental, social and governance goals and targets; results of examinations of the Company or the Bank by their regulators; increased competition; changes in management’s business strategies; legislative changes; changes in the regulatory and tax environments in which the Company operates; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on our third-party vendors; the potential for new or increased tariffs, trade restrictions, or geopolitical tensions that could affect economic activity or specific industry sectors; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest and other external events on our business; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, which are available at www.soundcb.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The risks inherent in these factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company and could negatively affect the Company’s operating and stock performance.

The Company does not undertake—and specifically disclaims any obligation—to revise any forward-looking statement to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	For the Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Interest income	$	13,706		$	14,736		$	14,838	$	14,039		$	13,760
Interest expense		5,635			6,516			6,965		6,591			6,300
Net interest income		8,071			8,220			7,873		7,448			7,460
(Release of) provision for credit losses		(203	)		14			8		(109	)		(33	)
Net interest income after (release of) provision for credit losses		8,274			8,206			7,865		7,557			7,493
Noninterest income:
Service charges and fee income		684			619			628		761			612
Earnings on bank-owned life insurance		195			127			186		134			177
Mortgage servicing income		269			277			280		279			282
Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights		(99	)		77			101		(116	)		(65	)
Net gain on sale of loans		49			53			40		74			90
Other income		—			7			—		30			—
Total noninterest income		1,098			1,160			1,235		1,162			1,096
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and benefits		4,595			3,920			4,469		4,658			4,543
Operations		1,365			1,329			1,540		1,569			1,457
Regulatory assessments		221			189			189		220			189
Occupancy		437			409			414		397			444
Data processing		1,293			1,232			1,067		910			1,017
Net (gain) loss on OREO and repossessed assets		3			(21	)		—		(17	)		6
Total noninterest expense		7,914			7,058			7,679		7,737			7,656
Income before provision for income taxes		1,458			2,308			1,421		982			933
Provision for income taxes		291			389			267		187			163
Net income	$	1,167		$	1,919		$	1,154	$	795		$	770

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	131,494		$	43,641		$	148,930		$	135,111		$	137,977
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value		7,689			7,790			8,032			7,996			8,115
Held-to-maturity securities, at amortized cost		2,121			2,130			2,139			2,147			2,157
Loans held-for-sale		2,267			487			65			257			351
Loans held-for-portfolio		886,226			900,171			901,733			889,274			897,877
Allowance for credit losses – loans		(8,393	)		(8,499	)		(8,585	)		(8,493	)		(8,598	)
Total loans held-for-portfolio, net		877,833			891,672			893,148			880,781			889,279
Accrued interest receivable		3,540			3,471			3,705			3,413			3,617
Bank-owned life insurance, net		22,685			22,490			22,363			22,172			22,037
Other real estate owned (“OREO”) and other repossessed assets, net		41			—			115			115			690
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value		4,688			4,769			4,665			4,540			4,612
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock, at cost		1,734			1,730			2,405			2,406			2,406
Premises and equipment, net		4,591			4,697			4,807			4,906			6,685
Right-of-use assets		3,546			3,725			3,779			4,020			4,259
Other assets		6,957			7,031			6,777			6,995			4,500
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,069,186		$	993,633		$	1,100,930		$	1,074,859		$	1,086,685
LIABILITIES
Interest-bearing deposits	$	783,660		$	705,267		$	800,480		$	781,854		$	788,217
Noninterest-bearing deposits		126,687			132,532			129,717			124,915			128,666
Total deposits		910,347			837,799			930,197			906,769			916,883
Borrowings		25,000			25,000			40,000			40,000			40,000
Accrued interest payable		586			765			908			760			719
Lease liabilities		3,828			4,013			4,079			4,328			4,576
Other liabilities		10,774			9,371			9,711			9,105			9,578
Advance payments from borrowers for taxes and insurance		2,450			1,260			2,047			812			2,209
Subordinated notes, net		11,770			11,759			11,749			11,738			11,728
TOTAL LIABILITIES		964,755			889,967			998,691			973,512			985,693
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		25			25			25			25			25
Additional paid-in capital		28,515			28,413			28,296			28,198			28,110
Retained earnings		76,952			76,272			74,840			74,173			73,907
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(1,061	)		(1,044	)		(922	)		(1,049	)		(1,050	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		104,431			103,666			102,239			101,347			100,992
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	1,069,186		$	993,633		$	1,100,930		$	1,074,859		$	1,086,685

KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
(unaudited)

	For the Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024
Annualized return on average assets	0.45	%	0.70	%	0.42	%	0.30	%	0.29	%
Annualized return on average equity	4.53	%	7.40	%	4.50	%	3.17	%	3.06	%
Annualized net interest margin⁽¹⁾	3.25	%	3.13	%	2.98	%	2.92	%	2.95	%
Annualized efficiency ratio⁽²⁾	86.31	%	75.25	%	84.31	%	89.86	%	89.48	%

(1)	Net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.
(2)	Noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income).

PER COMMON SHARE DATA
(unaudited)

	At or For the Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024
Basic earnings per share	$	0.45	$	0.75	$	0.45	$	0.31	$	0.30
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.45	$	0.74	$	0.45	$	0.31	$	0.30
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding		2,554,265		2,547,210		2,544,233		2,540,538		2,539,213
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding		2,578,609		2,578,771		2,569,368		2,559,015		2,556,958
Common shares outstanding at period-end		2,566,069		2,564,907		2,564,095		2,557,284		2,558,546
Book value per share	$	40.70	$	40.42	$	39.87	$	39.63	$	39.47

AVERAGE BALANCE, AVERAGE YIELD EARNED, AND AVERAGE RATE PAID
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates. Income and yields on tax-exempt obligations have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis. All average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield for the period they have been on nonaccrual (dollars in thousands).

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025							December 31, 2024							March 31, 2024
	Average Outstanding Balance			Interest Earned/Paid		Yield/Rate		Average Outstanding Balance			Interest Earned/Paid		Yield/Rate		Average Outstanding Balance			Interest Earned/Paid		Yield/Rate
Interest-Earning Assets:
Loans receivable	$	896,822		$	12,588	5.69	%	$	900,832		$	13,070	5.77	%	$	895,430		$	12,233	5.49	%
Interest-earning cash		95,999			1,010	4.27	%		130,412			1,534	4.68	%		107,361			1,416	5.30	%
Investments		12,924			108	3.39	%		13,263			132	3.96	%		14,038			111	3.18	%
Total interest-earning assets	$	1,005,745			13,706	5.53	%		1,044,507		$	14,736	5.61	%	$	1,016,829			13,760	5.44	%
Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
Savings and money market accounts	$	335,419			2,058	2.49	%	$	350,495			2,476	2.81	%	$	284,455			1,866	2.64	%
Demand and NOW accounts		140,905			108	0.31	%		144,470			128	0.35	%		159,762			141	0.35	%
Certificate accounts		289,960			3,039	4.25	%		301,293			3,413	4.51	%		315,495			3,696	4.71	%
Subordinated notes		11,766			168	5.79	%		11,756			168	5.69	%		11,724			168	5.76	%
Borrowings		25,000			262	4.25	%		30,546			331	4.31	%		40,000			429	4.31	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities	$	803,050			5,635	2.85	%	$	838,560			6,516	3.09	%	$	811,436			6,300	3.12	%
Net interest income/spread				$	8,071	2.68	%				$	8,220	2.52	%				$	7,460	2.32	%
Net interest margin						3.25	%						3.13	%						2.95	%

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities		125	%						125	%						125	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	126,215						$	130,476						$	132,438
Total deposits		892,499		$	5,205	2.37	%		926,734		$	6,017	2.58	%		892,150		$	5,703	2.57	%
Total funding ⁽¹⁾		929,265			5,635	2.46	%		969,036			6,516	2.68	%		943,874			6,300	2.68	%

(1)	Total funding is the sum of average interest-bearing liabilities and average noninterest-bearing deposits. The cost of total funding is calculated as annualized total interest expense divided by average total funding.

LOANS
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Real estate loans:
One-to-four family	$	262,457		$	269,684		$	271,702		$	268,488		$	279,213
Home equity		28,112			26,686			25,199			26,185			24,380
Commercial and multifamily		392,798			371,516			358,587			342,632			324,483
Construction and land		42,492			73,077			85,724			96,962			111,726
Total real estate loans		725,859			740,963			741,212			734,267			739,802
Consumer Loans:
Manufactured homes		42,448			41,128			40,371			38,953			37,583
Floating homes		86,626			86,411			86,155			81,622			84,237
Other consumer		18,224			17,720			18,266			18,422			18,847
Total consumer loans		147,298			145,259			144,792			138,997			140,667
Commercial business loans		14,690			15,605			17,481			17,860			19,075
Total loans		887,847			901,827			903,485			891,124			899,544
Less:
Premiums		688			718			736			754			808
Deferred fees, net		(2,309	)		(2,374	)		(2,488	)		(2,604	)		(2,475	)
Allowance for credit losses – loans		(8,393	)		(8,499	)		(8,585	)		(8,493	)		(8,598	)
Total loans held-for-portfolio, net	$	877,833		$	891,672		$	893,148		$	880,781		$	889,279

DEPOSITS
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	126,687	$	132,532	$	129,717	$	124,915	$	128,666
Interest-bearing demand		143,595		142,126		148,740		152,829		159,178
Savings		63,533		61,252		61,455		63,368		65,723
Money market		287,058		206,067		285,655		253,873		241,976
Certificates		289,474		295,822		304,630		311,784		321,340
Total deposits	$	910,347	$	837,799	$	930,197	$	906,769	$	916,883

CREDIT QUALITY DATA
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	At or For the Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024
Total nonperforming loans	$	9,653		$	7,491		$	8,489		$	8,909		$	9,053
OREO and other repossessed assets		41			—			115			115			690
Total nonperforming assets	$	9,694		$	7,491		$	8,604		$	9,024		$	9,743
Net charge-offs during the quarter	$	(21	)	$	(13	)	$	(14	)	$	(17	)	$	(56	)
Provision for (release of) credit losses during the quarter		(203	)		14			8			(109	)		(33	)
Allowance for credit losses – loans		8,393			8,499			8,585			8,493			8,598
Allowance for credit losses – loans to total loans		0.95	%		0.94	%		0.95	%		0.96	%		0.96	%
Allowance for credit losses – loans to total nonperforming loans		86.95	%		113.46	%		101.13	%		95.33	%		94.97	%
Nonperforming loans to total loans		1.09	%		0.83	%		0.94	%		1.00	%		1.01	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.91	%		0.75	%		0.78	%		0.84	%		0.90	%

OTHER STATISTICS
(Dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	At or For the Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024			March 31, 2024

Total loans to total deposits		97.53	%		107.64	%		97.13	%		98.27	%		98.11	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits to total deposits		13.92	%		15.82	%		13.95	%		13.78	%		14.03	%

Average total assets for the quarter	$	1,051,135		$	1,089,067		$	1,095,404		$	1,070,579		$	1,062,036
Average total equity for the quarter	$	104,543		$	103,181		$	102,059		$	100,961		$	101,292

Contact

Financial:
Wes Ochs
Executive Vice President/CFO
(206) 436-8587

Media:
Laurie Stewart
President/CEO
(206) 436-1495

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lauren Boebert Announces May Staff Mobile Office Hours

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

EATON, CO– Staff from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s (CO-04) office will be holding Mobile Office Hours in May across the district to connect with constituents within their communities. In addition to the Congresswoman’s congressional offices in Eaton and Lone Tree, the Mobile Office Hours aim to provide services to constituents who need in-person guidance.

“Our Congressional Mobile Office Hours provide an opportunity for constituents from across the 4th District to get the assistance they need from our staffers who can help them in a variety of ways,” stated Congresswoman Boebert. “Meeting Coloradans where they are is a critical part of the work our office does, and I know our Mobile Office Hours will be a huge help to constituents of all backgrounds and locations.”

Staff from Congresswoman Boebert’s office will be available to help constituents who aren’t getting answers from federal agencies, like veterans seeking to get the care they earned from the VA, travelers that need expedited assistance to receive a passport on short notice, taxpayers being harassed by the IRS, and senior citizens having issues with the Social Security Administration or Medicare. Additionally, constituents are invited to come to the office hours to express their viewpoints on legislative issues or request special Congressional Commendations from the Congresswoman recognizing outstanding public achievements.

Since the beginning of her tenure as Representative for the 4th Congressional District on January 3rd, 2025, Congresswoman Boebert’s office has returned $1,352,970.62 to constituents.

Mobile Office Hours will be available at the following times and locations:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025

Morgan County Mobile Office Hours

City Hall, Meeting Room

315 Emerson Street

Hillrose, CO

12:00-1:00pm

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025

Washington County Mobile Office Hours

County Courthouse Annex Building

181 Birch Avenue

Akron, CO

10:00-11:00am

Yuma County Mobile Office Hours

Quintech, Conference Room

529 N. Albany St

Yuma, CO

2:00-3:00pm



TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

Weld County Mobile Office Hours

Town Hall, Boardroom

185 Lincoln Ave.

Nunn, CO

10:00-11:00am

Arapahoe County Mobile Office Hours

Anythink Library

495 7th Street

Bennett, CO

3:30-5:00pm

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025

Douglas County Mobile Office Hours

Town Hall, Conference Room

8720 Spruce Mountain Road

Larkspur, CO

10:00-11:30am

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack’s Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act Passes Energy & Commerce Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06)’s bill, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, passed through the Energy & Commerce Committee.

The bill prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the organ transplant system. It upholds, clarifies, and builds upon rights established in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Sec. 504 of the Rehab Act, and Sec.1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, the bill prohibits covered entities from determining that an individual is ineligible to receive a transplant, deny an organ transplant or related service, refuse to refer the individual to an organ transplant center, refuse to place an individual on a waiting list, or decline insurance coverage for a transplant or related service based solely on the fact that the individual has a disability.

Named for Charlotte Woodward, an adult with Down syndrome who received a lifesaving heart transplant over a decade ago, the bill also recognizes the importance of auxiliary aids and services, the ability of an individual’s support network to help with post-operative care, and the need for reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to make organ transplant systems and facilities more accessible to those with disabilities. Reps. Cammack and Dingell have been the bill’s sponsors for the last several years.

Rep. Cammack’s inspiration for introducing the bill is Baby Zion Sarmiento from Ocala, Florida. Zion was born with Down syndrome and a heart defect in June 2021. Following 40 days in the NICU and five open-heart surgeries, Zion passed away after being denied a heart transplant because of his disability.

The bill has received the endorsement of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the National Fragile X Foundation, Family Voices National, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), and LuMind IDSC Foundation.

The next stop for the bill is consideration before the full House of Representatives.

Read the text of the legislation here and watch Rep. Cammack’s remarks during today’s hearing here.

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MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Mfume Joins Elfreth, Maryland House Colleagues to Press for Answers on Behalf of International Students Attending Maryland Universities
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) led a letter with Representatives Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on behalf of Maryland university international students who have been arrested or had their student visas revoked by the Trump Administration. To date, over 1,700 visas have been revoked and 4,736 students have had their status terminated across the country by this Administration.

“We write with profound concern that the Department of State revoked the status of student visas in the United States and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a number of students without any transparency or explanation of why they are being targeted,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Students have been picked up in the street – in some cases by plain clothed immigration agents in unmarked cars – and being held in detention facilities with no warning and limited information as to why they are being deported. These students should be entitled to the fundamental rights of due process and freedom of speech – just as our Framers intended,” the lawmakers continued. “The Administration’s egregious policies have already had serious impacts at Maryland universities, including Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland College Park, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. These students are from different countries, in different programs, and have been in the U.S. for different lengths of time, yet are suffering the consequences of the indiscriminate policies of this Administration without explanation.”

In their letter, the lawmakers press for information on the following:
- The number of student visas revoked from Maryland Universities
- If the Department of State plans to reissue these visas
- How many Maryland students have had their legal status terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by ICE, including: the specific legal status terminated and the legal authority for termination
- A timeline for SEVIS record termination framework
- The criteria the Department of State and ICE use to identify students for visa revocation and termination of legal status in SEVIS
Beyond the international students’ fundamental rights of due process and freedom of speech, international students enrolled in English language programs at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $371.3 million and supported 2,691 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Congresswoman Elfreth, a former Maryland college professor, issued an original statement on the rights of international students at the beginning of April, which is available HERE.

The full text of the letter is available HERE.

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MIL OSI USA News –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Jury Convicts Florida Man For Stealing $10.9 Million From Medicare

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Lino Mallari Gutierrez, a/k/a “Joe Gutierrez,” (age, Palm City) guilty of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute, five substantive counts of health care fraud, and four substantive counts of payment of kickbacks in connection with a heath care program. After the jury verdict, the Court remanded Gutierrez into custody. Gutierrez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2025. Gutierrez was indicted on August 22, 2023.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Gutierrez and his co-conspirators, including Jonathan Rouffe, owned and operated two durable medical equipment (DME) companies that collectively billed Medicare more than $10.9 million for medically unnecessary DME, of which more than $5 million was paid to Gutierrez and his co-conspirators. Gutierrez and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks to marketing companies in exchange for signed doctors’ orders for unnecessary braces, which Gutierrez and the co-conspirators then used to bill Medicare. The marketing companies used call centers to solicit Medicare patients and telemedicine companies to procure prescriptions for unnecessary braces for these patients. Gutierrez and Rouffe concealed their role in the scheme by putting the DME companies in the names of straw owners.

As part of the conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, Gutierrez also filed false records with his employer and a private regulatory organization to conceal his involvement in the DME companies. Gutierrez and Rouffe were in the process of establishing four more DME companies with additional straw owners—including Gutierrez’s mother and two of Gutierrez’s friends—when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the DME fraud through a national operation, which began in the Middle District of Florida, and through which dozens of co-conspirators were identified, charged, and convicted. Prior to law enforcement action, Gutierrez and Rouffe had already taken multiple steps to use these additional DME companies to bill Medicare for additional fraudulent claims. After learning of law enforcement action, Gutierrez moved Medicare proceeds from his account into other bank accounts under his control.

Rouffe previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the fraud scheme.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Peresie and Trial Attorney Margaret Mortimer of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councils to seize and crush fly-tipping vehicles to clean up Britain
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Councils to seize and crush fly-tipping vehicles to clean up Britain

Waste criminals, fly-tippers and cowboy waste operators to have vehicles seized and crushed
Secretary of State Steve Reed visiting A1 Metal Recycling Centre in Wokingham to see a vehicle being crushed

A new crackdown on cowboy waste operators will tackle soaring fly-tipping and clean up Britain’s streets, lanes and rural areas, the Government has announced today (Tuesday 29 April).

Councils will work with the police to identify, seize and crush vehicles of waste criminals. Drones and mobile CCTV cameras will be deployed to identify cars and vans belonging to fly-tippers so they can be destroyed.

Ministers have launched a rapid review to slash red tape blocking councils from seizing and crushing vehicles. Councils currently have to bear the significant cost of seizing and storing vehicles but under new plans, being consider by Ministers, fly-tippers will cover this cost, saving councils and taxpayers money.

In addition, waste cowboys will now face up to five years in prison for operating illegally. Any criminals caught transporting and dealing with waste illegally will now face up to five years in prison under new legislation.

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

Waste criminals and fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages have gone unpunished for too long.

That ends today. The Government is calling time on fly-tipping. I will not stand by while this avalanche of rubbish buries our communities.

Under the Plan for Change, this Government will seize and crush fly-tippers vans’ to clean up Britain’s streets.

These measures support the Government’s Plan for Change and will help deliver its key mission of Safer Streets for the public, restoring communities’ faith in efforts to combat anti-social behaviour.

Waste crime is trashing communities across the country. Fly-tipping has skyrocketed by a fifth whilst the number of prosecutions has fallen by the same amount since 2018/19. The failure to punish these criminals has left our high streets, roads and countryside buried under an avalanche of rubbish.

The Environment Agency will also carry out identity and criminal record checks on operators in the sector so there is nowhere to hide for rogue firms.

It will be handed more resources as they will now be able to fund the cost of policing the industry through permits, boosting their powers and cutting costs for taxpayers. The reforms will also give them more power to revoke permits, issue enforcement notices and hefty fines.

Philip Duffy, Environment Agency Chief Executive, said:

Waste crime is toxic. Criminals’ thoughtless actions harm people, places, and the economy, blighting our communities and disrupting legitimate businesses.

At the Environment Agency, we’re determined to bring these criminals to justice through tough enforcement action and prosecutions. That’s why we support the Government’s crackdown on waste criminals, which will ensure we have the right powers to shut rogue operators out of the waste industry.

Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Jacob Hayler, said:

For too long, criminality has run rampant across the waste sector. These illegal activities threaten the environment; damage communities and undermine legitimate recycling and waste operations. ESA has long campaigned for tighter rules, tougher enforcement and harsher penalties to deter criminals, so we very much welcome today’s reforms and hope that they are put to good use driving criminals out of our sector.

In particular, the proposed reforms to the carriers, brokers, dealers and exemption regimes, coupled with strong and effective enforcement from the regulators, could go a long way to help tackle the scourge of waste crime, with increased scrutiny and accountability making it much harder for criminals to operate in our sector.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

Our residents have had enough of the dumpers who pollute their neighbourhoods with rubbish. These new powers will be a welcome addition to our arsenal, reinforcing our zero-tolerance stance on fly-tipping. We’ve already witnessed the positive impact of our focused efforts, and I am determined to use every tool at our disposal, including seizing vehicles, to reclaim our streets.

The Government is making available £69 billion to council budgets across England – a 6.8% cash terms increase – and bringing forward the first multi-year funding settlement in a decade, to help fund key responsibilities like tackling fly-tipping

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Published 29 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: New Britain Man Sentenced to 43 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Narcotic Pills

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIK PETERSEN, 44, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 43 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotic pills.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating suspicious packages that were being delivered to the Newington residence of Petersen’s brother, Kyle Petersen. At the time, Kyle Petersen was on federal supervised release following a federal conviction in 2017 involving the trafficking of fentanyl and prescription pills. During the investigation, a court-authorized search of a package mailed to Kyle Petersen contained more than 400 grams of pills containing Protonitazene, a synthetic opioid typically more potent than fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Kyle Petersen had received approximately 34 similar packages mailed from the same source in Michigan, and also received approximately 46 packages from California and Oregon suspected to contain multiple pounds of marijuana. Investigators also made controlled purchases of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl from Erik Petersen.

Kyle and Erik Petersen were arrested on federal criminal complaints on April 3, 2024. On that date, a search of Kyle Petersen’s residence revealed more than a kilogram of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Xanax pills, a large quantity of Protonitazene, approximately 40 grams of cocaine, and $76,650 in cash.

Erik Petersen has been detained since his arrest. On December 19, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, Bromazolam, and Protonitazene.

Kyle Petersen has pleaded guilty and is detained while awaiting sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New Britain and Newington Police Departments. The Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hamden, West Haven, Fairfield, Seymour, and Glastonbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Urgently Announces First Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call; Participation in Upcoming Investor Conferences
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VIENNA, Va., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urgent.ly, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULY) (“Urgently”), a U.S.-based leading provider of digital roadside and mobility assistance technology and services, today announced the date for the release of its first quarter 2025 financial results and its participation in upcoming investor conferences.

First Quarter 2025 Earnings

Urgently will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

Those wishing to participate via webcast should access the call through Urgently’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.geturgently.com. Those wishing to participate via telephone may dial in at 1-877-317-6789 (USA) or 1-412-317-6789 (International). The replay will be available via webcast through Urgently’s Investor Relations website.

Upcoming Investor Conferences

During the first quarter of 2025, executive management will participate in the following upcoming investor conferences:
- The Sidoti Micro-Cap Virtual Investor Conference on May 21, 2025. Matt Booth, Chief Executive Officer of Urgently, and Tim Huffmyer, Chief Financial Officer of Urgently, are scheduled to present at 10:45 a.m. Eastern Time and will host one-on-one and small group investor meetings throughout the day.
- The Jefferies Automotive Aftermarket Private and Public Conference at the InterContinental New York Barclay in New York, New York on May 22, 2025. Matt Booth and Harrison Russell, Senior Vice President of Partnerships of Urgently, will host one-on-one and small group investor meetings throughout the day.
A live webcast and archived replay of conference presentation will be available on the Urgently Investor Relations website at https://investors.geturgently.com/.

About Urgently

Urgently is focused on helping everyone move safely, without disruption, by safeguarding drivers, promptly assisting their journey, and employing technology to proactively avert possible issues. The company’s digitally native software platform combines location-based services, real-time data, AI and machine-to-machine communication to power roadside assistance solutions for leading brands across automotive, insurance, telematics and other transportation-focused verticals. Urgently fulfills the demand for connected roadside assistance services, enabling its partners to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive high customer satisfaction and loyalty, by delivering innovative, transparent and exceptional connected mobility assistance experiences on a global scale. For more information, visit www.geturgently.com.

For media and investment inquiries, please contact:
Press: media@geturgently.com
Investor Relations: investorrelations@geturgently.com

The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Sanders, Dingell, Hundreds of Health Care Workers Introduce Medicare for All

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today introduced the Medicare for All Act with hundreds of nurses, health care providers and workers from around the country at a press conference in front of the Capitol.

In America today, despite spending twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, more than 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of every four Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, over half a million people go bankrupt due to medically-related debt, and more than 60,000 die because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.

“It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth,” said Jayapal. “We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken health care system, which is why we need Medicare for All. People deserve and want comprehensive health care that covers mental health, long-term care, reproductive care, dental, vision and hearing, all without copays, private insurance premiums, sky-high deductibles or other hidden fees. Health care is a human right, that is exactly why it’s time to pass Medicare for All.”

“The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” said Sanders. “It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.”

“Every American has the right to health care, period. If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need,” said Dingell. “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.”

Under this legislation, Medicare would provide comprehensive health care to every American with no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles. It would also expand Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and it would give every American the freedom to choose their doctors without endless paperwork or fighting their insurance company. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save our health care system $650 billion a year. Further, researchers at Yale University have estimated that Medicare for All would save 68,000 lives a year.

This legislation would also create a health care system that finally puts people over profits. In fact, since 2001, the top health care companies in America spent 95 percent of their profits, $2.6 trillion, not to make Americans healthy but to make their CEOs and stockholders obscenely rich. While nearly one out of four Americans cannot afford the life-saving medicine their doctors prescribe, ten top pharma companies made $102 billion in profits in 2024. Meanwhile, the CEOs of just 4 prescription drug companies – Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, and Merck – together made over $100 million last year.

“Nurses see the failure of our country’s profit-driven health care system every time we clock in to work,” said Nancy Hagans, President of National Nurses United. “In the richest country on earth, nobody should be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table. Yet countless families are pushed to the breaking point while greedy corporations charge astronomical, ludicrous fees for care that our patients have every right to receive. Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All. When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need.”

“We are long overdue for a universal health care system that guarantees care for all — free of copays, deductibles, and job-based coverage restrictions,” said Dr. Diljeet K. Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H., and President of Physicians for a National Health Program. “With the passage of the Medicare for All Act, physicians can focus on healing patients, not battling insurers over denials and delays. Patients will finally be able to seek care without the constant fear of crushing medical bills. Physicians for a National Health Program proudly stands with our legislators in the fight to make excellent health care a reality for everyone in America.”

“As Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy and Congressional Republicans rush to strip health care from millions of Americans, we know this: We must not only block their cruel cuts but move America to a system that provides health care to everyone as a matter of right,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “America spends much more than other wealthy countries on health care only to have the worst health outcomes. The system works for health insurers, Big Pharma, hospital chains and private equity firms – but no one else. Medicare for All would ensure everyone in America can get the care they need throughout their lives. It is the realistic, humane, just and efficient reform we need.”

“Postal workers know the value of affordable, universal services, grounded in a commitment to putting people over profits. That’s the type of service we are committed to provide communities across the country, day in and day out,” said Mark Dimondstein, President of American Postal Workers Union. “For too long, greedy corporations and their Wall Street investors have been able to deny the people of the country the quality, affordable, universal health care working people deserve. Medicare for All, health care as a human right, will make us all healthier and financially better off. A health care system that works for working people, not the profits of the insurance companies, is long overdue. It’s time for Medicare for All.”

“Health care should be a human right. But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table,” said Shawn Fain, President of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). “We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care. We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.”

“If you want to renew the public’s faith in our political system, pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025,” said Alan Minsky, Executive Director, Progressive Democrats of America. “This one piece of legislation will instantly end the era, which has lasted far too long, when profits and wealth accumulation are more important than human life, including yours. MFA will return the general welfare, and the well-being of every individual, to the heart of our social contract. That will renew faith in America.”

“Health care is a right, not a privilege. The reintroduction of the Medicare for All Act is a crucial step toward ending a system that profits from people’s pain,” said Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Directors of Popular Democracy. “Too many Americans are forced to choose between paying their rent and paying for life-saving medication, while corporations rake in billions. Medicare for All isn’t just a policy—it’s the lifeline working families desperately need. Our communities deserve a health care system that prioritizes people over profits. We will fight until we win the health care we deserve.”

“Health care is a human right and a basic need. Yet instead of getting health care, Americans get delays, denials, and bills they cannot afford. Today, predatory insurance CEOs are poised to reap the windfall from the tax scam giveaways earmarked for billionaires and corporations. The oligarchs that put Donald Trump and Dr. Oz in power want everything we have. We get sicker, make impossible choices, and go broke. They boost the stock prices of corporations – like UnitedHealth – that profit off our pain, and buy more mansions and yachts. We can put an end to those warped priorities through Medicare for All,” said Sulma Arias, executive director of People’s Action Institute. “Working people have made this the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, and there is more than enough if we don’t let the corporate crooks and billionaires steal it. So it’s time to choose: Our health care or their greed?”

The legislation has an additional 102 cosponsors in the House: Alma Adams (NC-12), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), André Carson (IN-7), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

The legislation also has an additional 15 cosponsors in the Senate: Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

It is also endorsed by dozens of organizations, which can be found here.

Issues: Health Care

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Former President of Ypsilanti Steelworkers Union Sentenced for Stealing $58,000 in Union Funds

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

DETROIT – Dilanjan Miller was sentenced today to six months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.

Joining Beck in the announcement is Thomas Murray, District Director of the Detroit-Milwaukee District Office of the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Miller, age 38, was sentenced after pleading guilty before the Honorable Laurie Michelson to bank fraud. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Judge Michelson ordered Miller to pay restitution to the union.

According to the facts alleged in the information and further developed at the plea hearing, USW Local 2513 represented machine operators, inspectors, stock chasers, and rackers at Marsh Plating in Ypsilanti. Miller was elected President of Local 2513 in April 2018. Miller also assumed all financial duties of Local 2513 as acting Financial Secretary and Treasurer. While President, Acting Financial Secretary, and Acting Treasurer of the union, Miller embezzled approximately $47,347 of union funds in the custody and control of the Bank of Ann Arbor by issuing approximately 38 unauthorized checks to himself and forging the signature of the second signatory on 20 of those checks; issuing approximately 4 unauthorized checks made payable to a family member; and making approximately 2 unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account.

Miller also used the union’s Bank of Ann Arbor debit card as his own personal debit card. He made at least 184 unauthorized personal purchases, totaling approximately $11,259. His purchases with the union’s debit card included flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, and retail purchases. For example, Miller used the debit card to pay for five flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Atlanta and for rental cars in Florida and Atlanta. Miller also used the debit card at a jewelry store and several footwear shops.

Acting U.S. Attorney Beck commended the work of the Department of Labor in conducting this criminal investigation of a corrupt union officer and said, “Union officials are expected to serve with integrity. This prosecution demonstrates that we will not tolerate union officers who abuse their authority and line their own pockets at the expense of the union’s membership. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out corruption and fraud involving unions.”

“Dilanjan Miller betrayed the trust of his fellow union members and failed in his fiduciary duties when he stole over $58,000 from Steelworkers Local 2513 for his personal benefit through multiple embezzlement schemes,” said U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards District Director Thomas Murray. “Today’s sentencing leaves no question as to the department’s commitment to seek justice when anyone puts personal financial gain ahead of the best interests of their fellow union members.”

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Resnick Cohen.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Billings man sentenced to almost 5 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Ryder Lyle Allard, 37, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that beginning in at least March of 2022 and continuing until in or about October of 2022, at Billings and elsewhere, Allard distributed methamphetamine, which was corroborated by controlled purchases by undercover law enforcement officers and confidential sources in 2022.

On September 13, 2022, law enforcement executed a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Allard. The transaction, which was audio-recorded, involved two undercover officers meeting with Allard in a vehicle at a gas station in Billings. During the meeting, Allard sold the undercover officers roughly 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine for $1,365.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the DEA.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

MIL Security OSI –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI: Best Sugar Daddy Websites to Meet Sugar Daddies and Babies in 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Las Vegas, Nevada, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

As sugar dating becomes increasingly mainstream, finding a trustworthy and user-friendly sugar daddy website is essential for anyone looking to explore mutually beneficial relationships. The best sugar daddy site of 2025 offers a blend of safety, verified users, user-friendly interfaces, and features tailored to help both sugar daddies and sugar babies find meaningful connections. Whether you’re new to sugar dating or a seasoned user, choosing the right site can make all the difference.

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sugardaddy.com’s new report highlights the popular sugar daddy site that aims to make meeting others serious about these arrangements easier. From user-friendly interfaces to features that prioritize safety and transparency, this platform is making waves for all the right reasons.

The best sugar daddy website in 2025 provides a safe and straightforward way to build honest, mutually beneficial relationships. Whether you’re seeking financial support, companionship, or mentorship, platforms like sugardaddy.com make it easier than ever to find what you’re looking for.

Choosing the right platform depends on your personal preferences and relationship goals, but with the right approach and mindset, sugar dating can be a rewarding and empowering experience.

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What Makes Sugar Daddy Website the Best?

It’s important to understand what factors distinguish a top-tier sugar daddy platform like sugardaddy.com:
- User Verification: To prevent scams and fake profiles, the best websites verify users through ID checks, photo verification, or phone confirmation.
- Privacy & Security: High-quality platforms offer encrypted messaging, profile privacy controls, and fraud prevention systems.
- Ease of Use: A clean, intuitive design helps users focus on meaningful communication.
- Transparent Intentions: These platforms support open dialogue about goals, expectations, and arrangements.
- Success Rate: The most popular sugar dating websites boast high match and satisfaction rates among users.
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The Rise of Sugar Daddy Websites in 2025

The stigma surrounding sugar daddy websites has completely disappeared by 2025, so they now function as ordinary relationship platforms. Adults now select sugar daddy websites as an important mainstream dating choice due to their straightforward and rewarding relationship format. Traditional dating apps remain abundant in the market, yet more people choose sugar daddy sites because these platforms provide emotional intimacy and monetary stability. The contemporary cultural mindset, together with an increased openness in dating practices, explains this transition.

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How Sugar Daddy Sites Work

For anyone curious about how sugar daddy websites actually function, the process is more straightforward than most people think. These platforms are designed to connect sugar daddies and sugar babies in a safe, respectful, and mutually beneficial way. Whether you’re looking for companionship, financial support, or a genuine connection, knowing how these platforms work can help you get started with confidence.

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Signing Up Is Simple

The first step on any sugar daddy website is signing up. Most platforms allow anyone over 18 to create an account, though many sugar daddy sites attract users in their 20s through their 50s and beyond. During sign-up, users are asked to identify whether they are a sugar daddy or a sugar baby. Some sites even allow for flexible options if you fall somewhere in between or just want to explore.

After entering your email and basic info, you’ll usually be asked to confirm your account. Sugar daddy websites legitimize this process with a quick verification to make sure you’re a real person. This step is essential for cutting down on fake profiles and scammers.

⇒ Meet Thousands of Real Sugar Babies and Sugar Daddies!

Building Your Profile

Once you’ve registered, you’ll move on to building your profile. This is where things start to get interesting. Sugar daddy websites typically let users write a short bio, upload photos, and list preferences for what they’re seeking—whether that’s financial help, emotional support, or simply someone to enjoy life with. Millionaire sugar daddy profiles often highlight lifestyle, availability, and expectations upfront, so there’s no confusion.

With a good profile, you can make a huge difference in drawing the right sort of interest. That’s why most sugar babies and daddies take a bit of time to fill out every section. Sincerity is valued on a sugar daddy website, and more honest, detailed profiles tend to get more responses.

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Free vs. Paid Memberships

A lot of questions come in here. Most sugar daddy websites allow you to join for free, but the best experience is usually only available through a premium membership. You may be able to set up a profile and browse for free, but you may need to pay to send messages, see who viewed you, or unlock certain features.

However, some sugar baby websites also provide premium options for sugar babies, such as making your profile visible or accessing special features. However, if you are searching for sugar daddy websites to earn money, you will need to pick one that appreciates your time and provides tools that help you reach your goals.

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How to Make Money on Sugar Daddy Websites

For sugar babies, joining sugar daddy websites to make money isn’t just about receiving gifts or allowances—it’s about building connections with clear expectations and mutual respect. In today’s online sugar dating world, many are finding that with the right approach, these platforms offer genuine financial benefits while maintaining personal boundaries.

Sugar Daddies usually seek financial support or mentorship and possible lifestyle perks in exchange for companionship, communication, and honesty. Everything is upfront, and these agreements vary. Everyone knows what they’re getting themselves into, and there is no guessing or manipulation.

Arrangements are established on respectable sugar baby websites on the comfort levels of the person. Monthly allowances, per-meet contributions, or help with specific needs such as tuition or rent are some of the sugars that some sugar babies prefer. These discussions early on are awkward for no one, though it’s clear.

⇒ Discover Your Perfect Sugar Dating Match!

It’s not only about money. Sugar babies feel a lot of confidence, hone their communication skills, and connect to experienced, well-established partners who can give more than just financial help. The most successful arrangements have a certain level of trust and transparency on both sides, and respect goes both ways.

In addition, there is some discretion involved. Private messaging, photo blurring, and profile controls are most sugar dating platforms that allow you to keep things private. This helps both sides to keep their privacy secure while exploring real possibilities for connection.

Sugar daddy websites for money are an efficient and empowering way to acquire funds, especially if you are ready for flexibility or stability or would like to earn extra income whilst taking heed of your school studies or career.

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Safety Tips When Using Sugar Daddy Websites

Safety is one of the most important parts of using sugar daddy websites. Whether you’re new to the scene or have been part of the sugar daddy dating world for a while, understanding how to protect yourself online should always come first. The best experiences happen when both sugar daddies and sugar babies know how to spot red flags and follow smart safety habits from the start.

Verified Profiles Matter

The best sugar daddy websites today understand the importance of keeping their communities real and respectful. One of the easiest ways to ensure that the person you’re talking to is genuine is by looking for verified profiles. Many sugar daddy sites have verification processes that ask users to confirm their identity with photo IDs, selfies, or other forms of proof. If a platform doesn’t offer this option, it’s a red flag. Verified profiles cut down on scammers and fake accounts, and they make it easier for users to relax and build real connections.

⇒ Join a Reputable Sugar Daddy Website

Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Unfortunately, not everyone who’s online is honest. One should pay attention to the common signs of a scam or dishonest behavior. That is a serious warning sign if someone is afraid of video calls, won’t step in and verify their identity, or asks for money right before you’ve even met and agreed to anything. The sugar daddy would never randomly bombard you with ‘too good to be true‘ and weird requests that make you feel weird about it. However, sugar daddies should be careful about sugar babies who ask about money right away, dodge questions all the time, or tell different stories.

Best Practices for Sugar Babies

If you are a sugar baby, follow your gut. First, you need to begin with just the best sugar daddy websites that are known and have good safety features, such as secure messaging, profile moderation, and reporting system. At first, keep the conversation on the platform, and when you start chatting with someone. During the process, don’t hand over your phone number, email, or any of your social media handles so early in the request. Have one friend for the first few times they meet in public, and let that friend know where you’ll be. The actions may be small, but they add up to being safe.

⇒ Connect with Elite Singles on a Discreet Sugar Daddy Website

Best Practices for Sugar Daddies

Sugar daddies have to watch out, too. You should search for sugar babies with full and honest profiles. Having clear photos and a thoughtful bio can go a long way in expressing sincerity. Never cave into rash feelings about sugar daddy sites. Understand them first before entering into financial arrangements – or any other kind for that matter, then use the strong safety tools the sites offer to both parties. Communication and mutual agreement, not pressure, is the basis for real relationships in the sugar dating space.

Stay on the Right Sites

Finally, choose the right platforms. Choose the best sugar daddy websites that are known for moderation, transparency, and real users. These sites provide secure chat systems, profile vetting, and a way to report suspicious activity, all of which will help you stay in control of your experience.

Simply put, safety in a sugar daddy dating site boils down to making common sense, relying on your instincts, and choosing a platform with user protection as a top priority. Sugar dating can be fun, companionship, or a serious arrangement, but if you stay smart about safety, you can have the most sugar dating without the stress.

⇒ Discover Premium Sugar Daddy Dating Opportunities

Tips for Creating a Successful Sugar Daddy or Sugar Baby Profile

Your profile is the first impression you make, and on sugar daddy websites, authenticity and clarity go a long way.
- Use Real, High-Quality Photos: Clear, recent pictures add credibility and attract serious users.
- Write a Specific Bio: State what you’re looking for and what you offer. Be honest about your expectations.
- Verify Your Profile: Verified users receive more attention and trust on top sugar dating sites.
- Be Respectful and Clear in Messages: Communication should be polite, clear, and aligned with the platform’s culture.
⇒ Sign Up for the Best Sugar Daddy Website!

How to Find a Sugar Daddy Online

How to approach sugar dating online can be the difference between a worthwhile experience and an exhausting one for any sugar babies or sugar daddies. If you are a newbie to this lifestyle or just want to get better results in 2025, here’s how you can find a sugar daddy or connect to someone who is after the same goal.

Tips for Sugar Babies

If you’re wondering how to get a sugar daddy who actually values you and respects your time, it starts with your profile. This is your introduction—your pitch. Be confident, be honest, and don’t over-edit your personality. The goal isn’t to look like someone you think he wants; the goal is to stand out by being the real you.

Your photos should be clear and recent. Don’t lean too heavily on filters or professional shoots that don’t reflect your day-to-day look. Sugar daddies aren’t just looking for looks—they’re looking for confidence, charm, and someone who understands what a mutually beneficial connection means.

When you start chatting with someone, don’t be afraid to clarify what you’re looking for. The right sugar daddy will appreciate your honesty. Being upfront doesn’t make you demanding—it shows you value your time and his.

Safety comes first. Use platforms that offer ID verification or moderation, and keep communications on the app or website until you’re completely comfortable. Avoid sending money or personal financial info, and meet in public places for the first time.

⇒ Explore the best sugar daddy dating site everyone is using.

Tips for Sugar Daddies

If you’re looking for where to find a sugar daddy relationship that works, it’s important to understand the tone of today’s online sugar dating scene. Sugar babies today are educated and independent, and they know their worth. They’re not just looking for money—they’re seeking connection, mentorship, and clarity.

So when reaching out, respect their time and be upfront about your expectations. Whether you’re looking for ongoing companionship or something more casual, stating that clearly avoids confusion.

A strong profile helps here, too. Talk about your interests, what kind of arrangement you prefer, and what you enjoy offering in return. And just like sugar babies—stay safe. Never send sensitive financial information through unsecured channels, and if a profile seems too perfect or pushy about money right away, take a step back.

⇒ Match with Your Ideal Sugar Partner Today!

Expert Tips for Sugar Dating

Finding the right match on a sugar daddy website takes more than just creating an account and sending a few messages. The team at Sugar Dating Experts has spent years reviewing platforms, studying real success stories, and speaking with experienced users to understand what actually works in the world of sugar dating. Here are some of their top expert-backed tips to help you make the most of your time on the best sugar daddy websites and avoid the common pitfalls that trip up new users.

1. Choose the Right Sugar Daddy Site

Not all sugar daddy sites are created equal. Some are packed with inactive accounts or overrun by bots. That’s why starting on one of the best sugar daddy websites—those known for verified users, active communities, and strong security—is the smartest move. If you’re serious about building a successful arrangement, it’s worth joining a sugar daddy website that values discretion, clear communication, and quality matches over quantity.

⇒ Start Your Sugar Dating Journey with a Safe Sugar Daddy Website

2. Keep Your Profile Real and Focused

Whether you’re a sugar baby or a sugar daddy, your profile is your first impression. Avoid clichés and vague statements. Be clear about what you’re looking for, and stay honest. If you’re a sugar baby, don’t be afraid to outline your interests and expectations while remaining polite and respectful. If you’re a sugar daddy, listing what kind of connection you prefer (and what you’re offering in return) will help attract the right kind of attention.

3. Prioritize Communication and Boundaries

From the first message to your first meeting, setting the tone early is essential. Don’t be afraid to talk about your boundaries, expectations, and level of comfort with certain topics. Good sugar dating relationships thrive on clear communication. Respect is key. The best connections on sugar daddy websites are built on mutual understanding—not games or assumptions.

4. Take Safety Seriously

A legitimate sugar daddy website should offer secure messaging, profile moderation, and clear policies against harassment or fraud. Stick to platforms that offer those features. Never send money to someone you haven’t met or fully vetted, and don’t feel pressured to give out personal details too quickly. Sugar dating is all about mutual benefit and trust, not rushed decisions.

5. Have Realistic Expectations

A relationship built through sugar dating can be exciting and rewarding, but only when both sides are upfront about what they want. Patience goes a long way. Don’t expect perfection right away. The most successful users on sugar daddy sites know it takes a bit of time, trial, and honesty to find the right fit.

⇒ Discover Your Perfect Sugar Dating Match!

Final Thoughts

As 2025 continues to shape the way people build relationships, sugar daddy websites are proving they’re more than just a passing trend—they’re becoming a serious choice for adults who know what they want. From the rise of premium sugar daddy sites to the ease of mobile platforms, today’s users are finding smarter, safer, and more respectful ways to build mutually beneficial relationships.

Sugar daddy websites have evolved into legitimate, well-regulated platforms that help people form beneficial and respectful connections. With proper safety precautions, honest communication, and the right platform, sugar dating can offer personal growth, companionship, and support for both parties.

The best sugar daddy websites offer a refreshing alternative to traditional dating. Instead of wasting time on apps full of mixed signals, people can now connect with others who share clear goals—whether it’s companionship, support, or a lifestyle upgrade. It’s about honesty, clarity, and being upfront from the beginning.

If you’re wondering how to find a sugar daddy or where to find a sugar daddy who respects boundaries and values communication, then starting with a trusted sugar daddy website is the right move.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are sugar daddy websites?

Sugar daddy websites are online platforms designed to connect successful, often older individuals (sugar daddies) with younger partners (sugar babies) looking for mentorship, support, or mutually beneficial relationships. These websites offer a safe, structured environment for users to communicate and define their expectations.

How do I choose the best sugar daddy website?

To choose the best sugar daddy website, consider factors like user verification, security features, ease of use, number of active users, and the site’s reputation. Look for platforms with clear guidelines, responsive customer support, and robust privacy protection. Reading reviews and comparing features can also help you select the most suitable option.

Are sugar daddy websites safe to use?

The top sugar daddy websites invest heavily in user safety. They often include profile verification, encryption, and fraud detection tools. However, safety also depends on user behavior. It’s important to follow online dating best practices, such as avoiding sharing sensitive information too quickly and meeting in public places.

Is joining a sugar daddy website free?

Most sugar daddy websites offer free basic accounts, but premium features like unlimited messaging, profile boosts, or access to verified users usually require a paid subscription. Some platforms allow sugar babies to join for free, while sugar daddies may need to pay to interact fully.

What is the most popular sugar daddy site in 2025?

While popularity can vary by region and demographic, platforms like sugardaddy.com continue to be among the most visited and trusted sugar daddy websites in 2025. Each site has unique features, so the best option depends on what kind of arrangement you’re seeking.

Can you find a genuine relationship on sugar daddy websites?

Yes, many users find meaningful and long-term relationships through sugar daddy websites. Clear communication, honesty about expectations, and choosing a reputable platform increase the chances of forming genuine connections.

Media Contact

Company: Sugar Daddy LLC

Contact Person: Christopher A. Waldo

Email: support@sugardaddy.com

Address: 5820 Sunset Ridge Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

URL: https://www.sugardaddy.com/

Phone: +1 (888) 841-4235

Content Accuracy Disclaimer

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The MIL Network –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace USA’s response to TMC’s push to fast-track deep sea mining in the High Seas under the U.S. Seabed Mining Code

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Greenpeace International activists from around the world have paddled and protested around MV COCO, a specialized offshore drilling vessel currently collecting data for deep sea mining frontrunner, The Metals Company, on its last expedition before it files the world’s first ever application to mine the seabed in the Pacific Ocean. © Martin Katz / Greenpeace

In response to The Metals Company’s push to fast-track deep-sea mining in the High Seas under the U.S. Seabed Mining Code, Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA’s Deep Sea Mining Campaign Lead, stated: “Greenpeace USA condemns this reckless attempt by The Metals Company (TMC) to bypass international law and commercialize mining in the high seas and US-adjacent waters. It is nothing less than the plunder of the Pacific once again being pursued without the consent of Pacific Peoples. We cannot allow another dangerous extension of corporate greed and neo-colonialism, sacrificing ocean health, Indigenous rights, and future generations for the short-term gain of a few corporations to repeat itself in the deep sea.”

TMC’s application comes as Congress meets today, Tuesday, April 29, in a hearing requested by the House Natural Resources Committee, to explore the Potential of Deep-Sea Mining to expand American Mineral production. The application for mining TMC USA-A_2 in the Clarion Clipperton Zone attempts to exploit the U.S. legal system to advance mining operations in areas it was already licensed to explore under Nauru’s sponsorship through the International Seabed Authority processes. It disregards the multilateral process agreed upon by 170 countries and the European Union under UNCLOS. The company has faced opposition in that body from 32 countries and several Indigenous Pacific groups that have called for a ban, pause, or moratorium on deep sea mining.

Solomon P. Kaho’ohalahala, chair of the Pacific Island Heritage Coalition, said: “The people of the Pacific have a cultural connection to the deep sea. It is the birthplace of our ancestors, and of all life. Deep sea mining is an assault on our cultural heritage, and it is being rushed forward without our consultation. We call on Congress to stop this assault on the ocean we know as home, and to respect the values of Hawaiians and people from across the Pacific who will be on the frontlines should this industry take hold.”

Hemphill continued: “We urge congressional leaders to defend democratic oversight, reject corporate shortcuts, and protect the deep ocean. Greenpeace USA stands with Pacific communities, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and governments worldwide calling for a moratorium on this dangerous industry. We must defend the oceans, uphold international law, and reject a broken system that gambles our planet’s future for corporate profit.”

Louisa Casson, Greenpeace International Senior Campaigner, said: “The first application to commercially mine the seabed will be remembered as an act of total disregard for international law and scientific consensus. This unilateral US effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition. Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep sea mining. Leaders will be meeting at the UN Oceans Conference in Nice in June, where they must speak with one voice in support of a moratorium on this reckless industry.”

President Trump’s recent executive order promoting U.S. plans to initiate deep-sea mining in both U.S. and international waters has faced widespread criticism from several environmental NGOs, and state actors, including France, China, and the European Commission who have condemned it as a unilateral action that undermines multilateral cooperation and the United Nations. While the U.S. never ratified UNCLOS, bypassing the international system violates global norms that safeguard the deep ocean as the “common heritage of humankind,” setting a dangerous precedent for the management of all global commons.

Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, [email protected]

Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

MIL OSI NGO –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney won: Here are the key economic priorities for his new government

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Berhane Elfu, Lecturer in Finance, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

The Liberal Party led by Mark Carney has secured a fourth consecutive term in government. This victory has come at a time when Canada is facing an unprecedented threat to its economic security and sovereignty from United States President Donald Trump.

In an election defined by concerns over Trump’s erratic tariff policy and talk of making Canada a 51st state, voters decided Carney was the leader best equipped to deal with these challenges.

Carney previously served as governor of the Bank of Canada, where he guided the country through the 2008 global financial crisis. He later became the first non-British person to head the Bank of England, helping guide the United Kingdom through Brexit, one of the biggest shocks to the British economy in decades.

Read more:
Game change Canadian election: Mark Carney leads Liberals to their fourth consecutive win

Now the world is facing similar financial shocks from Trump’s trade war. The on-again, off-again nature of Trump’s tariff policy could inflict significant damage to the global economy — even more to the American economy — and cause irreparable damage to its reputation as a rational entity in international trade.

In the face of the ill-advised and self-defeating U.S. tariffs, the new Canadian government should take prudent, urgent and bold steps to strengthen the nation’s economy. Here are major and important economic priorities for the government to reshape the economy and spur much-needed economic growth.

Stabilize and strengthen the national economy

As a primary act, the new government should stabilize the Canadian economy from the tariff shocks. It must continue to develop carefully calibrated retaliations to Trump’s tariffs.

The revenue raised from the tariffs should be used to compensate those directly affected by them, using a multi-pronged mechanism that includes training, increased employment insurance benefits and additional transfers to low-income households to reduce the impact of tariffs on food costs.

Read more:
U.S. tariffs are about to trigger the greatest trade diversion the world has ever seen

Currently, a series of provincial regulations restrict the goods and services that cross Canada’s provincial borders daily. The new government should urgently remove longstanding interprovincial trade barriers.

According to a report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, removing these impediments could boost the economy by up to $200 billion annually. Similarly, a study by the International Monetary Fund indicates the effect of these barriers is equivalent to a 21 per cent tariff.

Removing interprovincial trade barriers would significantly offset the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs on the Canadian economy, and provide a boost to the “Buy Canadian” movement.

Carney seems to have made this a priority already, which is promising. In March, he said he aims to have “free trade by Canada Day” among provinces and territories.

Streamlining natural resource projects

Canada is a natural resource superpower. However, for natural resources and critical minerals to be extracted efficiently, regulatory processes need to be streamlined by cutting red tape and duplicative assessments.

The federal government and the provinces should agree to a single environmental assessment that meets the standards of both jurisdictions.

Additionally and importantly, respectful, genuine and meaningful consultations must be undertaken by project proponents and governments with the relevant Indigenous communities to address their concerns, respect their rights and safeguard their economic well-being in the development of the natural resources projects.

Carney has said he will uphold the principle of free, prior and informed consent when it comes to initiating resource extraction projects and make it easier for Indigenous communities to become owners of said projects.

A similar approach should also guide the construction of infrastructure projects such as pipelines and ports, which play a crucial role in facilitating Canada’s exports.

Boost Canada’s productivity through innovation

A country’s ability to raise living standards for its people mostly depends on its capacity to improve its productivity. Economist Paul Krugman once stated, “productivity is not everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything.”

Canada’s productivity is lagging, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Read more:
Canada is lagging in innovation, and that’s a problem for funding the programs we care about

The new Canadian government should take steps to boost the nation’s productivity by increasing direct expenditures on research and development. Additional funding should be allocated to higher institutions of learning, and incentivizing businesses to spend more on research and development through significant tax credits.

Although research and development spending continues to grow in Canada, as a percentage to GDP, it is the second lowest among G7 nations. Boosting investments will drive innovation, spur economic growth and ensure Canada remains competitive on the global stage.

Dealing with U.S. tariffs

One of the government’s primary tasks will be preparing meticulously for trade negotiations with the U.S. to address the threat of tariffs and reach a “win-win” trade deal. Given Trump’s highly unpredictable nature, negotiations will not be easy.

Although Trump could have withdrawn from the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), he has not done so, and zero-tariffs remain in effect for products that are certified as being North American origin under the CUSMA rules. This could be a solid starting point for future trade negotiations.

At the same time, Carney and his team must work to stabilize the Canadian economy against the unprecedented threat of Trump’s tariffs by strengthening the domestic economy, diversifying Canada’s exports and reducing the country’s dependence on the U.S.

Pulling away from the world’s largest economy will not be easy for Canadian businesses, given the deep integration of Canada’s economy with that of the U.S.

Still, expanding trade with the European Union, the U.K., Africa and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — and exploring other opportunities to reducing trade barriers with nations in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America — will enlarge Canada’s export market.

By doing all this, Canada can not only prepare for a tough round of U.S. trade talks but also position itself as a stronger, more self-reliant global trading partner.

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

– ref. Mark Carney won: Here are the key economic priorities for his new government – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-won-here-are-the-key-economic-priorities-for-his-new-government-255477

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Alexey Overchuk held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Alexey Overchuk held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev.

On the sidelines of the meeting of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, held in the Republic of Uzbekistan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev.

During the conversation, current issues of developing trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan were discussed, including in terms of creating the most favorable conditions for exporters and importers of the two countries in order to fulfill the task set by the heads of state of increasing the volume of mutual trade.

From the point of view of simplification and optimization of cargo transportation between countries, the importance of work on the accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the unified customs transit system of the EAEU was noted.

Alexey Overchuk and Zhamshid Khodjaev agreed to intensify dialogue between economic departments and expert communities of Russia and Uzbekistan on issues of studying the possibilities of further liberalization of trade relations between the countries.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: On holding auctions on April 30, 2025 to place OFZ issues No. 26235RMFS and No. 26246RMFS

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

For bidders

We inform you that, based on the letter of the Bank of Russia and in accordance with Part I. General Part and Part II. Stock Market Section of the Rules for Conducting Trading on the Stock Market, Deposit Market and Credit Market of Moscow Exchange PJSC, the order establishes the form, time, term and procedure for holding auctions for the placement and trading of the following federal loan bonds:

Name of the Issuer	Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
Name of security	federal loan bonds with constant coupon income
State registration number of the issue	26235RMFS from 10/12/2020
Date of the auction	April 30, 2025
Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form)	The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble)
Trade code	SU26235RMFS0
ISIN code	RU000A1028E3
Calculation code	B05
Additional conditions of placement	The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%.
Trading time	Trading hours: bid collection period: 12:00 – 12:30; bid execution period: 13:00 – 18:00.

Name of the Issuer	Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
Name of security	federal loan bonds with constant coupon income
State registration number of the issue	26246RMFS from 08.05.2024
Date of the auction	April 30, 2025
Information about the placement (trading mode, placement form)	The placement of Bonds will be carried out in the Trading Mode “Placement: Auction” by holding an Auction to determine the placement price. BoardId: PACT (Settlements: Ruble)
Trade code	SU26246RMFS7
ISIN code	RU000A108EE1
Calculation code	B05
Additional conditions of placement	The share of non-competitive bids in relation to the total volume of bids submitted by the Bidder may not exceed 90%.
Trading time	Trading hours: bid collection period: 14:30 – 15:00; bid execution period: 15:30 – 18:00.

Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //VVV. MEEX.K.M.M.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Dmitry Chernyshenko met with volunteers from the Zaporizhia region

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Chernyshenko, as part of a working visit to the city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhia region, held a meeting with representatives of the 80th Anniversary of Victory volunteer corps and activists of the “Volunteers of Victory” movement at the Youth Center. The event was also attended by the Governor of the Zaporizhia region Yevhen Balitsky.

The meeting took place in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and on the eve of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Deputy Prime Minister discussed with the volunteers their participation in the preparation for the celebration, assistance to veterans, and the projects that the guys plan to implement.

Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized the importance of the volunteer movement in the country and noted the contribution of volunteers to preserving historical memory and supporting veterans.

He spoke about his personal involvement in the creation of the volunteer movement in Russia and its role in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

“Now volunteers have even more responsibility on their shoulders. You are helping our country cope with the difficulties its residents are facing. I would like to thank you for giving the most precious thing you have, an irreplaceable resource – time. I am sure that by giving, you also get satisfaction from what you do, you feel a sense of involvement in a great cause. And the only way to repay volunteers in a good way is recognition,” he added.

At the Youth Center, the Deputy Prime Minister got acquainted with the eco-workshop, the creative project “Art-Yug”, the work of the regional headquarters “We are together”, the media studio and the center for preparation for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory. Since the opening of the Youth Center, about 12 thousand people have taken part in its events.

Dmitry Chernyshenko also visited a number of sports and educational facilities in Melitopol, where significant transformations took place with the support of the Government.

One of them, the Spartak stadium, is being built practically from scratch. The first stage of work has been completed, and the second stage will begin soon – the arrangement of stands, installation of lighting poles, installation of video surveillance and utility networks. It is expected that the Spartak stadium will become one of the largest football grounds in Donbass and Novorossiya.

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke with the young football players and presented his team with a certificate for the development of the material and technical base.

“This year, declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, we are approaching a significant date – May 9. Every family keeps the memory of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers who fought for their native land. Today, our brothers continue this fight in the special military operation zone. We remember and honor their feat. As a sign of support and respect, we have brought you a gift that we hope will help you in your training. We wish you to grow up to be strong athletes, achieve success in the Russian Football Premier League and take worthy places,” he said.

In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko met with the students of the Children’s and Youth Sports School No. 1 and presented the team with a certificate for the purchase of sports equipment and gear.

The school was launched in September last year by President Vladimir Putin.

“In less than a year, a major overhaul of the building and premises was carried out here: the gyms, locker rooms, showers, utility rooms were completely renovated, the ventilation was replaced, a new fire-fighting system and new sports equipment were installed. The territory was also improved. More than 6 thousand children are involved in the system of children’s and youth sports schools of the region, and this number is constantly growing. Only at the Melitopol Youth Sports School No. 1, about a thousand children are involved in sports,” said the governor of the Zaporizhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky.

At Melitopol State University (MelSU), Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the progress of major repairs. The comprehensive program for modernizing MelSU infrastructure includes academic buildings, student dormitory buildings, gyms, canteens, a library, boiler houses and other facilities. By September 1, 2025, it is planned to complete major repairs of four academic buildings.

“More than 13 thousand students receive higher education at Melitopol State University, last year more than 5.5 thousand students from 73 regions of Russia entered MelSU, which once again demonstrates the demand and development of education in the Zaporizhzhya region, which is fully integrated into the educational field of the Russian Federation,” added Evgeniy Balitsky.

Dmitry Chernyshenko presented Melitopol University with a certificate for the purchase of printing equipment. The Deputy Prime Minister laid flowers at the monuments to Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Malyuga and twice Hero of Socialist Labor Dmitry Motorny.

In Melitopol, Dmitry Chernyshenko also got acquainted with the multimedia historical park “Russia – My History”. He paid special attention to the exhibition dedicated to the celebration of Victory Day.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova took part in the board meeting of the FMBA of Russia

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency.

As Tatyana Golikova noted, the board meeting is being held on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Soviet medicine made a special contribution to the victory. The medical service saved the wounded, provided their treatment, rehabilitation and return to duty. The key role in the fight for life at the front belonged to the blood transfusion service and donation. Over the past 15 years, the Federal Medical and Biological Agency has been responsible for organizing the activities of the blood service in our country.

In just four years of war, over 7 million blood transfusions were performed. Every day, 300 to 3 thousand people donated blood, mostly women. The active army received over 1.7 million liters of blood. The total number of donors was 5.5 million people.

“Today, the database, which has been maintained since 2008, contains data on more than 10 million blood donors and 30 million donations. The annual number of blood and blood component donors remains stable at almost 1.5 million people, with 99% of donations being gratuitous,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

In 2024, a program to modernize blood services in new regions was launched; more than 200 units of equipment, including high-tech equipment, were purchased.

“Since 2023, on the instructions of the President of the country, the Concept of increasing the procurement of blood plasma for the production of drugs has been implemented. In 2024, the FMBA successfully completed the first stage – 600 tons of plasma were prepared. In 2025, the volume should be at least 780 tons. The task is not easy, but strategically important for the country,” said Tatyana Golikova.

The Deputy Prime Minister separately noted the development of bone marrow donation.

“The number of donors in the Federal Bone Marrow Donor Registry increased by 120,000 last year, reaching 438,000 donors. By the end of 2025, the registry should include more than 500,000 donors. The appropriate funding has been allocated to replenish the registry and conduct bone marrow donor typing, the amount of which is 7 times higher than in 2023. I am confident that this will increase the number of studies. More than 67,000 typings should be performed this year. These figures represent saved lives,” she said.

In the conditions of military actions on the territory of the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, Kursk region, medical workers of the FMBA take direct part in providing medical care to wounded soldiers and civilians, ensure radiation, chemical and biological safety. In Mariupol, there is a multidisciplinary medical center of the FMBA. The second stage of construction is currently underway.

“The implementation of the national project “Healthcare” was completed in 2024. FMBA allocated more than 9.3 billion rubles for the implementation of its activities. As a result, high-quality infrastructure changes took place in the agency’s system. As part of the modernization of the primary link, 77 facilities were commissioned, 931 units of equipment and 127 vehicles were delivered. As part of the fight against cancer, 12 medical organizations were equipped with 292 units of equipment, including 23 units of heavy equipment. Behind each figure is both the availability and quality of medical care, especially in those settlements where only FMBA institutions are present,” said Tatyana Golikova.

Since 2025, new national projects have been launched: “Long and Active Life”, “Family”, “New Health Preservation Technologies”, in the implementation of which the FMBA of Russia also takes an active part.

“By 2030, within the framework of the national project “Long and Active Life”, 148 more primary care facilities will be created and renovated in the FMBA system, more than 2.6 thousand pieces of equipment and 138 vehicles will be purchased. In addition, 16 modern admissions departments using modular designs will be created, oncology centers and federal research centers will be equipped with the necessary equipment. Within the framework of the federal project “Protection of Motherhood and Childhood” of the national project “Family”, 25 women’s consultations, perinatal centers, children’s hospitals will be created and equipped with new equipment. All these measures will improve the quality and accessibility of medical care for our citizens, which is especially important for closed territorial entities, where the agency’s institutions are the only ones,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

Within the framework of the national project “New technologies for preserving health”, it is planned to increase the share of domestic production of drugs in terms of vital and essential drugs to 90% and in terms of medical products to 40%. Almost 1 billion rubles have been allocated by the FMBA for 6 years to implement the set task.

“Another task of the agency is to preserve the life and health of people working in extreme conditions and in industries with harmful and hazardous health factors. Today, the FMBA system has a network of 38 comprehensive health centers and digital health centers created over 3 years, located directly at strategic production facilities. This made it possible to reduce the incidence rate by 17% and reduce cases of temporary disability by 23% in 2024,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

In conclusion, Tatyana Golikova thanked all employees of the FMBA and its subordinate institutions for their dedicated work.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Jayapal, Sanders Introduce Medicare for All

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are today introducing the Medicare for All Act of 2025.

“Every American has the right to health care, period. If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need,” said Dingell. “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.”

“It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth,” said Jayapal. “We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken healthcare system, which is why we need Medicare for All. People deserve and want comprehensive health care that covers mental health, long-term care, reproductive care, dental, vision and hearing, all without copays, private insurance premiums, sky high deductibles or other hidden fees. Health care is a human right, that is exactly why it’s time to pass Medicare for All.”

“The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” said Sanders.“It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.”

Dingell has long led the fight for universal health care coverage, introducing Medicare for All every Congress since she was elected. Her father-in-law, John Dingell Sr., drafted the first legislation that ultimately led to the creation of Medicare and her husband, John Dingell Jr., introduced a single-payer healthcare plan every session he served in Congress.

The Medicare for All Act builds upon and expands Medicare to provide comprehensive benefits to every person in the United States. This includes primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, long-term services and supports, reproductive health care, and more. The Medicare for All Act of 2025 also includes universal coverage of long-term care with no cost-sharing for older Americans and individuals with disabilities, and prioritizes home and community-based care over institutional care. Additionally, patients have the freedom to choose the doctors, hospitals, and other providers they wish to see without worrying about whether a provider is in-network. Importantly, the legislation streamlines the health care system to negotiate drug prices and reduce exorbitant administrative waste.

This legislation comes at a critical time when vital lifesaving health care programs, like Medicaid and Veterans Health Administration benefits, are at risk of being completely gutted by the Trump Administration. Currently, 85 million people in America are either uninsured or underinsured, and if the Trump Administration succeeds at completely privatizing our health care infrastructure, the number of uninsured and uninsured people will grow exponentially. The legislation has 104 original cosponsors in the House and 16 original cosponsors in the Senate.

View a video of the introduction press conference here.

“Nurses see the failure of our country’s profit-driven health care system every time we clock in to work,” said Nancy Hagans, President of National Nurses United. “In the richest country on earth, nobody should be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table. Yet countless families are pushed to the breaking point while greedy corporations charge astronomical, ludicrous fees for care that our patients have every right to receive. Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All. When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need.”

“We are long overdue for a universal health care system that guarantees care for all — free of copays, deductibles, and job-based coverage restrictions,” said Dr. Diljeet K. Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H., and President of Physicians for a National Health Plan. With the passage of the Medicare for All Act, physicians can focus on healing patients, not battling insurers over denials and delays. Patients will finally be able to seek care without the constant fear of crushing medical bills. Physicians for a National Health Program proudly stands with our legislators in the fight to make excellent health care a reality for everyone in America.”

“Postal workers know the value of affordable, universal services, grounded in a commitment to putting people over profits. That’s the type of service we are committed to provide communities across the country, day in and day out,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “For too long, greedy corporations and their Wall Street investors have been able to deny the people of the country the quality, affordable, universal healthcare working people deserve. “Medicare for All,” healthcare as a human right, will make us all healthier and financially better off. A healthcare system that works for working people, not the profits of the insurance companies, is long overdue. It’s time for Medicare for All.”

“Medicaid is a life and death issue for tens of millions of people,” said Jaron Benjamin, Deputy Chief of Campaigns at Popular Democracy in Action. “For years, our network has fought for programs like Medicaid and Medicare that keep families whole: elders aging with dignity, children getting the care they need, people with disabilities living full lives. Instead of protecting what works, Republicans in Congress are pushing cuts to Medicaid so they can hand more money to their billionaire backers. We won’t stand by while our communities are sacrificed for tax giveaways.”

“As Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy and Congressional Republicans rush to strip health care from millions of Americans, we know this: We must not only block their cruel cuts but move America to a system that provides health care to everyone as a matter of right,” said Robert Weissman, co-president, Public Citizen. “America spends much more than other wealthy countries on health care only to have the worst health outcomes. The system works for health insurers, Big Pharma, hospital chains and private equity firms – but no one else. Medicare for All would ensure everyone in America can get the care they need throughout their lives. It is the realistic, humane, just and efficient reform we need.”

“If you want to renew the public’s faith in our political system, pass The Medicare for All Act of 2025,” said Alan Minsky, Executive Director, Progressive Democrats of America. “This one piece of legislation will instantly end the era, which has lasted far too long, when profits and wealth accumulation are more important than human life, including yours. MFA will return the general welfare, and the well-being of every individual, to the heart of our social contract. That will renew faith in America.”

“Health care is a human right and a basic need. Yet instead of getting health care, Americans get delays, denials, and bills they cannot afford. Today, predatory insurance CEOs are poised to reap the windfall from the tax scam giveaways earmarked for billionaires and corporations. The oligarchs that put Donald Trump and Dr. Oz in power want everything we have. We get sicker, make impossible choices, and go broke. They boost the stock prices of corporations – like UnitedHealth – that profit off our pain, and buy more mansions and yachts. We can put an end to those warped priorities through Medicare for All,” said Sulma Arias, executive director of People’s Action Institute. “Working people have made this the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, and there is more than enough if we don’t let the corporate crooks and billionaires steal it. So it’s time to choose: Our health care or their greed?”

“Health care should be a human right. But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table. We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care,” said Shawn Fain, President of the UAW. “We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.”

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Larsen Releases Statement on Trump’s First 100 Days
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Releases Statement on Trump’s First 100 Days

Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025
Today, Rep. Rick Larsen released a statement on President Trump’s first 100 days in office:

“Let’s look at some numbers to judge the President’s performance.
- 5.5% – the increase in the cost of eggs in Everett since Trump took office. (Source: comparing prices in Everett grocery stores.)
- 8.91% – the increase in the cost of gas in Washington state since Trump took office. (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration)
- $4,600 – the increased costs each year that the average family will face because of Trump’s reckless trade war. (Source: Center for American Progress)
- 65,000 – the decrease in the number of border crossings from Canada into Whatcom County compared to the same time in March 2024. (Source: NBC News)
- $9.6 trillion – the stock market value that has been wiped out since Trump took office. (Source: MarketWatch)
- 60,000 – the number of federal workers fired by Musk and DOGE (Source: Seattle Times)
- $4.5 trillion – the amount of tax cuts over ten years in the Republican Rip-Off budget, paid for by slashing health care, education, food assistance and other critical services people in Northwest Washington rely on. (Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
- 210 – the number of lawsuits filed by Americans across the country in the past 14 weeks directly challenging Trump’s orders. (Source: House Judiciary Committee)
- 108 – the number of court orders from federal judges to block or pause Trump’s lawless and unconstitutional actions. (Source: House Judiciary Committee)
“In his first 100 days, President Trump has driven costs up, cut critical services and trampled on the Constitution. Alongside House Democrats, I am pushing back on the Trump administration in Congress, in the courts and in our communities to protect my friends and neighbors in Northwest Washington.

“Your first-hand experiences are essential in this fight. I need to hear from you about how the Trump administration has impacted your life, your job and your loved ones. You can share your story here: https://democraticleader.house.gov/shareyourstory.”

###
MIL OSI USA News –
April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI: ChampionX Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ChampionX Corporation (NASDAQ: CHX) (“ChampionX” or the “Company”) today announced first quarter of 2025 results. Revenue was $864.5 million, net income attributable to ChampionX was $85.8 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $190.9 million. Income before income taxes margin was 12.1% and adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.1%. Cash from operating activities was $66.8 million and free cash flow was $38.6 million.

CEO Commentary

“The first quarter demonstrated the resilience of our ChampionX portfolio as we delivered strong adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin, and generated positive free cash flow. These results reflect the commitment of our ChampionX employees around the world who express daily an unwavering focus on delivering value-added solutions for our customers’ most important challenges. I am thankful and humbled to lead such a talented and dedicated team,” ChampionX’s President and Chief Executive Officer Sivasankaran “Soma” Somasundaram said.

“During the first quarter of 2025, we generated revenue of $864 million, which decreased 5% sequentially, in line with our expectations, driven primarily by a typical seasonal decline in international operations. We generated net income attributable to ChampionX of $86 million, income before income taxes margin of 12.1%, and we delivered adjusted EBITDA of $191 million, representing a 22.1% adjusted EBITDA margin, our second-highest level as ChampionX, which speaks to the continued productivity and profitability focus of our team.

“Cash flow from operating activities was $67 million during the first quarter, which represented 78% of net income attributable to ChampionX, and we generated free cash flow of $39 million, our 12th consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow. Our balance sheet and financial position remain strong, ending the first quarter with approximately $1.2 billion of liquidity, including $527 million of cash and $674 million of available capacity on our revolving credit facility.

“As a leading global provider of production optimization solutions for the energy industry, ChampionX is uniquely well-positioned to help operators meet the objective of maximizing the value of their producing assets, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing structural shift toward capital discipline and moderating capital spending in the upstream and midstream industries. As global oil production grows, our differentiated and resilient production-oriented portfolio drives our expectation of positive performance relative to general oil and gas market activity in 2025.

“Amid recent changes in international trade policies, ChampionX is continuing to put its continuous improvement culture to work every day to successfully deliver products and technologies designed to improve our cost structure and drive efficiencies. We are leveraging our global and flexible supply chain footprint, long-standing supplier partnerships, pricing adjustments, and productivity initiatives to address tariff impacts, and we will continue to be there to serve our customers and deliver differentiated margin and free cash flow performance.”

Agreement to be Acquired by SLB

On April 2, 2024, SLB (NYSE: SLB) and ChampionX jointly announced a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) for SLB to purchase ChampionX in an all-stock transaction. The transaction was unanimously approved by the ChampionX board of directors and the transaction received the approval of the ChampionX stockholders at a special meeting held on June 18, 2024. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

ChampionX may continue to pay its regular quarterly cash dividends with customary record and payment dates, subject to certain limitations under the Merger Agreement. Given the pending acquisition of ChampionX by SLB, ChampionX has discontinued providing quarterly guidance and will not host a conference call or webcast to discuss its first quarter 2025 results.

Production Chemical Technologies

Production Chemical Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $523.4 million, a decrease of $46.3 million, or 8%, sequentially, due primarily to seasonally lower international sales volumes.

Segment operating profit was $82.2 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $109.1 million. Segment operating profit margin was 15.7%, a sequential decrease of 248 basis points, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 20.8%, a sequential decrease of 259 basis points. The sequential decrease in segment operating profit margin and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by lower sales volumes.

Production & Automation Technologies

Production & Automation Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $264.4 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 2%, sequentially, due primarily to seasonally lower international sales volumes. Revenue from digital products was $57.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, a sequential decrease of 7%, driven by seasonally lower customer activity in North America.

Segment operating profit was $37.6 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $70.3 million. Segment operating profit margin was 14.2%, a sequential decrease of 27 basis points, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 26.6%, a sequential increase of 34 basis points. The decrease in segment operating profit margin and the increase in adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by lower sales volumes, offset somewhat by productivity improvements.

Drilling Technologies

Drilling Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $50.5 million, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 3%, sequentially, driven primarily by lower North America sales volumes.

Segment operating profit was $8.2 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $10.2 million. Segment operating profit margin was 16.2%, compared to 20.6% in the prior quarter, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 20.3%, a decrease of 346 basis points, sequentially, due primarily to lower volumes.

Reservoir Chemical Technologies

Reservoir Chemical Technologies revenue in the first quarter of 2025 was $26.9 million, an increase of $5.0 million, or 23%, sequentially, driven by higher sales volumes in the U.S. and internationally.

Segment operating profit was $5.5 million and adjusted segment EBITDA was $6.3 million. Segment operating profit margin was 20.5%, an increase of 1008 basis points, sequentially, and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was 23.6%, an increase of 647 basis points, sequentially. The increase in segment operating profit margin and adjusted segment EBITDA margin was driven by higher sales volumes together with a more favorable product mix.

Other Business Highlights: Production Chemical Technologies and Reservoir Chemical Technologies

Awarded several first fill contracts for new conventional and unconventional fields in the Middle East region.
The North America Offshore production chemicals team was awarded the contract for an upcoming major capital project in the Gulf of America. The win was the culmination of years’ worth of work developing technical solutions to address the project’s most impactful challenges.
Commenced the initial deliveries of a significant volume of hydrate inhibitor for a major new FPSO, supporting an independent Australian operator.
Awarded program of competitive process water treatment applications in Canada after performing comprehensive technical assessments and value-added recommendations.
Completed our second RENEWIQ^® (production and reservoir chemistry delivered through one trailer) joint offering for frac treating.
Reservoir group was awarded RENEWIQ work for the application of our production enhancement PROE completion chemistry to improve production over the life of wells. This program, combined with our one-site PCT service expertise, continues to bring differentiated solutions to operators in the Permian Basin.
Started the Unconventional Water team to support North America Land Water applications.
Recently won four different contracts after re-entering the US Land market with our H2S scavenger program.
Providing chemistries supporting a Canadian customer that is scheduled to commission and start up a new thermal asset in August 2025.

Other Business Highlights: Production & Automation Technologies

Awarded a multi-year contract for production optimization software by a customer in Indonesia. 4000+ wells were successfully migrated in Q1 to our XSPOC^® production optimization software, delivering data-driven insights to help the customer make informed production decisions across their field for all artificial lift systems.
Continue to see strong market adoption of new digital technologies as operators look for cost-effective, scalable monitoring solutions. More than 450 SmartSpin^® wireless rod rotator sensors have been installed in the field and 120+ of the recently launched SMARTEN™^® Lite rod pump controller have been deployed.
ChampionX’s RMSpumptools, in partnership with our UNBRIDLED^® ESP Systems team, continues to grow sales of Automatic Diverter Valves (ADV) in the Permian for a major oil company. This key technology offers customers better sand and solids management in ESP systems and acts as a safety device for ESPs featuring a PMM motor.
Following two 6-month trial installations, RMSpumptools has received an order for its Y-chek systems by a Middle East national oil company. This success sets the direction for expansion of this Y-chek solution.
Completed the first 30+ well trial with a major producer in the Permian basin of the newly offered chemical injection assurance (CIA) software module on the modern, secure, and scalable Connexia^® platform. The CIA software provides fully integrated chemical measurement and delivery data as well as control and optimization capabilities.
The SMARTEN XE ESP control system is a leader in the ESP control market. In Q1, ChampionX secured a new customer based on the advanced capabilities of the SMARTEN XE controller. The system’s ability to deliver enhanced performance across multi-pad projects was central to the customer’s decision. Since launch, ChampionX has installed hundreds of ESPs with SMARTEN XE controls, improving the operation of customers’ ESP systems.
Launched newly designed LOOKOUT^® optimization services to provide real-time data with full ESP system control, advanced data visualization, integrated communications, and direct access to a team of multi-disciplined artificial lift experts. Powered by a modern digital backbone, LOOKOUT optimization services enable streamlined integration of diverse data sources and control solutions. LOOKOUT also leverages the full capabilities of the SMARTEN XE ESP control system, delivering advanced automation for ESP operations.
ChampionX’s Integrated Production Optimization (IPO) business continues to expand. A Permian operator, following a series of acquisitions, has expanded implementation of the IPO solution across newly acquired acreage – placing all new wells and ESP replacements under the IPO program. IPO has consistently delivered measurable production uplift, enhanced equipment reliability, stabilized reservoir pressure drawdown, and optimized chemical spend for the operator.
ChampionX’s Norris Sucker Rods has been awarded a large contract for the supply of approximately 35,000 sucker rods for a major customer in India. ChampionX won the contract based on superior reliability and in-country technical support, according to the customer.
Norris Rods received a large bulk order for sucker rods from a U.S. independent producer to assure supply for future operations and to mitigate the impact of tariffs. Norris Rods are manufactured from U.S. steel at the Company’s factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

About Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to financial results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), this news release presents non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income attributable to ChampionX and adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX, provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because they reflect the core operating results of our businesses and help facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods. In addition, free cash flow, free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA ratio, and free cash flow to revenue ratio are used by management to measure our ability to generate positive cash flow for debt reduction and to support our strategic objectives. Although management believes the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating ChampionX’s overall financial performance, the foregoing non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in the accompanying financial tables.

About ChampionX

ChampionX is a global leader in chemistry solutions, artificial lift systems, and highly engineered equipment and technologies that help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely, efficiently, and sustainably around the world. ChampionX’s expertise, innovative products, and digital technologies provide enhanced oil and gas production, transportation, and real-time emissions monitoring throughout the lifecycle of a well. To learn more about ChampionX, visit our website at www.ChampionX.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the proposed transaction between SLB and ChampionX, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction and the anticipated timing of the transaction, and information regarding the businesses of SLB and ChampionX, including expectations regarding outlook and all underlying assumptions, SLB’s and ChampionX’s objectives, plans and strategies, information relating to operating trends in markets where SLB and ChampionX operate, statements that contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition and all other statements other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that SLB or ChampionX intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions made based on information currently available to management. All statements in this communication, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements that may be identified by the use of the words “outlook,” “guidance,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “should,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “targets,” “may,” “can,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” “projected,” “projections,” “precursor,” “forecast,” “ambition,” “goal,” “scheduled,” “think,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “see,” “likely,” and other similar expressions or variations, but not all forward-looking statements include such words. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and which may cause SLB’s or ChampionX’s actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors and risks that may impact future results and performance include, but are not limited to those factors and risks described in Part I, “Item 1. Business”, “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in SLB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 22, 2025 and Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in ChampionX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 5, 2025, and each of their respective, subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K. These include, but are not limited to, and in each case as a possible result of the proposed transaction on each of SLB and ChampionX: the ultimate outcome of the proposed transaction between SLB and ChampionX, including the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction; the ability to operate the SLB and ChampionX respective businesses, including business disruptions; difficulties in retaining and hiring key personnel and employees; the ability to maintain favorable business relationships with customers, suppliers and other business partners; the terms and timing of the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; the anticipated or actual tax treatment of the proposed transaction; the ability to satisfy closing conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction (including the adoption of the merger agreement in respect of the proposed transaction by ChampionX stockholders); other risks related to the completion of the proposed transaction and actions related thereto; the ability of SLB and ChampionX to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies and value creation from the proposed transaction; changes in demand for SLB’s or ChampionX’s products and services; global market, political and economic conditions, including in the countries in which SLB and ChampionX operate; the ability to secure government regulatory approvals on the terms expected, at all or in a timely manner; the extent of growth of the oilfield services market generally, including for chemical solutions in production and midstream operations; the global macro-economic environment, including headwinds caused by inflation, rising interest rates, unfavorable currency exchange rates, and potential recessionary or depressionary conditions; the impact of shifts in prices or margins of the products that SLB or ChampionX sells or services that SLB or ChampionX provides, including due to a shift towards lower margin products or services; cyber-attacks, information security and data privacy; the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics (including COVID-19) and epidemics and any related company or government policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or government policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; trends in crude oil and natural gas prices, including trends in chemical solutions across the oil and natural gas industries, that may affect the drilling and production activity, profitability and financial stability of SLB’s and ChampionX’s customers and therefore the demand for, and profitability of, their products and services; litigation and regulatory proceedings, including any proceedings that may be instituted against SLB or ChampionX related to the proposed transaction; failure to effectively and timely address energy transitions that could adversely affect the businesses of SLB or ChampionX, results of operations, and cash flows of SLB or ChampionX; and disruptions of SLB’s or ChampionX’s information technology systems.

These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed transaction, are included in the Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus that was filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the registration statement on Form S-4 are, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to SLB’s and ChampionX’s respective periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in SLB’s and ChampionX’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, respectively, and SLB’s and ChampionX’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Neither SLB nor ChampionX undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Byron Pope
byron.pope@championx.com
281-602-0094

Media Contact: John Breed
john.breed@championx.com
281-403-5751

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2025			2024			2024
Revenue	$	864,464		$	912,037		$	922,141
Cost of goods and services		572,938			600,154			622,937
Gross profit		291,526			311,883			299,204
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expense		177,045			184,722			172,414
(Gain) loss on sale-leaseback transaction		—			—			(29,883	)
Interest expense, net		13,196			12,375			13,935
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net		1,504			1,697			55
Other expense (income), net		(4,631	)		(5,026	)		2,927
Income before income taxes		104,412			118,115			139,756
Provision for income taxes		15,384			33,204			26,596
Net income		89,028			84,911			113,160
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		3,231			2,145			237
Net income attributable to ChampionX	$	85,797		$	82,766		$	112,923

Earnings per share attributable to ChampionX:
Basic	$	0.45		$	0.43		$	0.59
Diluted	$	0.44		$	0.43		$	0.58

Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		191,143			190,586			190,803
Diluted		193,709			193,487			193,964

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024
*ASSETS*
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	526,559		$	507,681
Receivables, net		417,639			466,782
Inventories, net		497,183			496,831
Assets held for sale		241,791			14,001
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		85,617			78,602
Total current assets		1,768,789			1,563,897

Property, plant and equipment, net		729,931			755,422
Goodwill		619,505			718,944
Intangible assets, net		247,907			258,614
Other non-current assets		134,258			173,375
Total assets	$	3,500,390		$	3,470,252

*LIABILITIES AND EQUITY*
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	6,203		$	6,203
Accounts payable		498,335			455,531
Liabilities held for sale		61,415			—
Other current liabilities		218,943			324,138
Total current liabilities		784,896			785,872

Long-term debt		590,746			591,453
Other long-term liabilities		220,054			261,749
Stockholders’ equity:
ChampionX stockholders’ equity		1,916,726			1,846,437
Noncontrolling interest		(12,032	)		(15,259	)
Total liabilities and equity	$	3,500,390		$	3,470,252

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	89,028		$	113,160
Depreciation and amortization		60,056			59,580
(Gain) loss on sale-leaseback transaction		—			(29,883	)
Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction		—			4,092
Deferred income taxes		(10,941	)		(12,903	)
Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets		1,616			1,107
Receivables		13,937			62,915
Inventories		(25,569	)		(39,873	)
Accounts payable		40,675			68,248
Other assets		(19,955	)		(602	)
Leased assets		(6,665	)		(4,254	)
Other operating items, net		(75,380	)		(48,079	)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities		66,802			173,508

Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(31,250	)		(31,912	)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		3,004			2,390
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transaction		—			44,292
Purchase of investments		—			(17,162	)
Sale of investments		—			13,070
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(21,472	)
Net cash used for investing activities		(28,246	)		(10,794	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt		(1,551	)		(1,551	)
Repurchases of common stock		—			(49,399	)
Dividends paid		(18,110	)		(16,247	)
Other		(488	)		3,104
Net cash used for financing activities		(20,149	)		(64,093	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		471			(1,161	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		18,878			97,460
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		507,681			288,557
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	526,559		$	386,017

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Segment revenue:
Production Chemical Technologies	$	523,390		$	569,662		$	590,108
Production & Automation Technologies		264,377			269,568			252,614
Drilling Technologies		50,530			51,942			55,206
Reservoir Chemical Technologies		26,926			21,937			24,705
Corporate and other		(759	)		(1,072	)		(492	)
Total revenue	$	864,464		$	912,037		$	922,141

Income before income taxes:
Segment operating profit (loss):
Production Chemical Technologies	$	82,172		$	103,567		$	87,832
Production & Automation Technologies		37,554			39,027			28,470
Drilling Technologies		8,174			10,703			44,402
Reservoir Chemical Technologies		5,529			2,294			3,746
Total segment operating profit		133,429			155,591			164,450
Corporate and other		15,821			25,101			10,759
Interest expense, net		13,196			12,375			13,935
Income before income taxes	$	104,412		$	118,115		$	139,756

Operating profit margin / income before income taxes margin:
Production Chemical Technologies		15.7	%		18.2	%		14.9	%
Production & Automation Technologies		14.2	%		14.5	%		11.3	%
Drilling Technologies		16.2	%		20.6	%		80.4	%
Reservoir Chemical Technologies		20.5	%		10.5	%		15.2	%
ChampionX Consolidated		12.1	%		13.0	%		15.2	%

Adjusted EBITDA
Production Chemical Technologies	$	109,065		$	133,475		$	118,031
Production & Automation Technologies		70,269			70,739			60,340
Drilling Technologies		10,237			12,321			16,074
Reservoir Chemical Technologies		6,347			3,751			5,346
Corporate and other		(5,049	)		(8,021	)		(8,079	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	190,869		$	212,265		$	191,712

Adjusted EBITDA margin
Production Chemical Technologies		20.8	%		23.4	%		20.0	%
Production & Automation Technologies		26.6	%		26.2	%		23.9	%
Drilling Technologies		20.3	%		23.7	%		29.1	%
Reservoir Chemical Technologies		23.6	%		17.1	%		21.6	%
ChampionX Consolidated		22.1	%		23.3	%		20.8	%

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Net income attributable to ChampionX	$	85,797		$	82,766		$	112,923
Pre-tax adjustments:
(Gain) loss on sale leaseback transaction⁽¹⁾		—			—			(29,883	)
Russia sanctions compliance and impacts⁽²⁾		28			73			152
Restructuring and other related charges		1,059			2,704			1,709
Merger transaction costs⁽³⁾		10,232			14,434			—
Acquisition costs and related adjustments⁽⁴⁾		—			75			1,232
Intellectual property defense		382			158			779
Merger-related indemnification responsibility⁽⁵⁾		—			100			—
Tulsa, Oklahoma storm damage		—			—			305
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net		1,504			1,697			55
Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction		—			—			4,092
Tax impact of adjustments		(2,971	)		(5,565	)		5,066
Adjusted net income attributable to ChampionX		96,031			96,442			96,430
Tax impact of adjustments		2,971			5,565			(5,066	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		3,231			2,145			237
Depreciation and amortization		60,056			62,534			59,580
Provision for income taxes		15,384			33,204			26,596
Interest expense, net		13,196			12,375			13,935
Adjusted EBITDA	$	190,869		$	212,265		$	191,712

_______________________

_{(1) Amount represents the gain on the sale and leaseback of certain buildings and land.}
_{(2) Includes charges incurred related to legal and professional fees to comply with, as well as additional foreign currency exchange losses associated with, the sanctions imposed in Russia.}
_{(3) Includes costs incurred in relation to the Merger Agreement with Schlumberger Limited, including third party legal and professional fees.}
_{(4) Includes costs incurred for the acquisition of businesses.}
_{(5) Expense related to the June 3, 2020 merger transaction with Ecolab in which we acquired the Chemical Technologies business.}

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX	$	0.44		$	0.43		$	0.58
Per share adjustments:
(Gain) loss on sale leaseback transaction and disposal group		—			—			(0.15	)
Russia sanctions compliance and impacts		—			—			—
Restructuring and other related charges		0.01			0.01			0.01
Merger transaction costs		0.05			0.07			—
Acquisition costs and related adjustments		—			—			0.01
Intellectual property defense		—			—			—
Merger-related indemnification responsibility		—			—			—
Tulsa, Oklahoma storm damage		—			—			—
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net		0.01			0.01			—
Loss on Argentina Blue Chip Swap transaction		—			—			0.02
Tax impact of adjustments		(0.01	)		(0.02	)		0.03
Adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to ChampionX	$	0.50		$	0.50		$	0.50

CHAMPIONX CORPORATION
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES BY SEGMENT
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Production Chemical Technologies
Segment operating profit	$	82,172		$	103,567		$	87,832
Non-GAAP adjustments		1,658			2,251			3,933
Depreciation and amortization		25,235			27,657			26,266
Segment adjusted EBITDA	$	109,065		$	133,475		$	118,031

Production & Automation Technologies
Segment operating profit	$	37,554		$	39,027		$	28,470
Non-GAAP adjustments		764			75			2,076
Depreciation and amortization		31,951			31,637			29,794
Segment adjusted EBITDA	$	70,269		$	70,739		$	60,340

Drilling Technologies
Segment operating profit	$	8,174		$	10,703		$	44,402
Non-GAAP adjustments		766			306			(29,883	)
Depreciation and amortization		1,297			1,312			1,555
Segment adjusted EBITDA	$	10,237		$	12,321		$	16,074

Reservoir Chemical Technologies
Segment operating profit	$	5,529		$	2,294		$	3,746
Non-GAAP adjustments		(278	)		39			16
Depreciation and amortization		1,096			1,418			1,584
Segment adjusted EBITDA	$	6,347		$	3,751		$	5,346

Corporate and other
Segment operating profit	$	(29,017	)	$	(37,476	)	$	(24,694	)
Non-GAAP adjustments		10,295			16,570			2,299
Depreciation and amortization		477			510			381
Interest expense, net		13,196			12,375			13,935
Segment adjusted EBITDA	$	(5,049	)	$	(8,021	)	$	(8,079	)

Free Cash Flow

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
(in thousands)		2025			2024			2024
Free Cash Flow
Cash flows from operating activities	$	66,802		$	207,250		$	173,508
Less: Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of fixed assets		(28,246	)		(37,117	)		(29,522	)
Free cash flow	$	38,556		$	170,133		$	143,986

Cash From Operating Activities to Revenue Ratio
Cash flows from operating activities	$	66,802		$	207,250		$	173,508
Revenue	$	864,464		$	912,037		$	922,141

Cash from operating activities to revenue ratio		8	%		23	%		19	%

Free Cash Flow to Revenue Ratio
Free cash flow	$	38,556		$	170,133		$	143,986
Revenue	$	864,464		$	912,037		$	922,141

Free cash flow to revenue ratio		4	%		19	%		16	%

Free Cash Flow to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio
Free cash flow	$	38,556		$	170,133		$	143,986
Adjusted EBITDA	$	190,869		$	212,265		$	191,712

Free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA ratio		20	%		80	%		75	%

The MIL Network –

April 30, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the General Assembly event in Commemoration of His Holiness Pope Francis [trilingual, as delivered; scroll down for All-English and All-French versions]

Source: United Nations – English

xcellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

His Holiness Pope Francis was a man of faith — and a bridge-builder among all faiths.

He was a champion of the most marginalized people on earth.

He was a voice of community in a world of division…

A voice of mercy in a world of cruelty…

A voice of peace in a world of war.

And he was a steadfast friend of the United Nations, addressing Member States from this very podium in 2015.

During that historic visit, he also spoke of our organization’s ideal of a “united human family living in harmony, working not only for peace, but in peace, working not only for justice, but in a spirit of justice.”

On behalf of our UN family, I extend by deepest condolences to the Catholic community and to so many others around the world grieving this tremendous loss.

Excellencies,

Pope Francis was at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church for a dozen years — but that was preceded by decades of service and good works.

As a young man, Pope Francis found his calling in the slums of Buenos Aires, where his dedication to serving the poor earned him the title “Bishop of the Slums.”

These early experiences sharpened his conviction that faith must be an engine of action and change.

Pope Francis put that engine into overdrive as an unstoppable voice for social justice and equality.

His 2020 encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, drew a straight line between greed and poverty, hunger, inequality and suffering.

While decrying the inequality that defines our globalized economy, he also warned against what he called “globalization of indifference.”

I will never forget the first official visit he undertook as Pope, at a time when I served as High Commissioner for Refugees.

Pope Francis chose to go to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in 2013 — to put a global spotlight on the desperate plight of asylum seekers and migrants.

He warned against “the culture of comfort, which makes us think only of ourselves, makes us insensitive to the cries of other people.”

And on last year’s World Refugee Day, he called on all countries “to welcome, promote, accompany and integrate those who knock on our doors.”

When I met with him at the Vatican as Secretary-General in 2019, I was struck by his humanity and his humility.

He always saw challenges through the eyes of those on the peripheries of life.

And he said we can never look away from injustice and inequality — or close our eyes to those suffering from conflict or acts of violence.

Always a pilgrim for peace, Pope Francis ventured to war-torn countries around the world — from Iraq to South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond — decrying bloodshed and violence, and pushing for reconciliation.

He stood with conviction for innocents caught in war zones such as Ukraine and Gaza.

He did it with his global platform — but he also did it in much more personal and profound ways.

Every day without fail, precisely at 7:00 p.m., he would quietly call the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City.

As someone at the Church said, “He would ask us how we were, what did we eat, did we have clean water, was anyone injured? It was never diplomatic or a matter of obligation. It was the questions a father asks to their son.”

And in his final message on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis underscored the vital importance of ending these conflicts.

Jusqu’au bout, le pape François aura incarné l’appel à la justice – pour les peuples et pour la planète.

Grâce à son encyclique Laudato Si publiée en 2015, il a contribué à l’adoption de l’Accord de Paris en appelant les dirigeants à protéger « notre maison commune ».

Il a également mis en évidence les liens manifestes entre la dégradation de l’environnement et la dégradation de la condition humaine.

Le pape François comprenait que ceux qui avaient le moins contribué à la crise climatique en subissaient les conséquences les plus graves – et que nous avons le devoir spirituel et moral d’agir.

Excelencias:

En el mundo actual de división y discordia, es particularmente significativo que el Papa Francisco haya proclamado 2025 como el año de la esperanza.

Él fue siempre un mensajero de esperanza.

Ahora nos corresponde a todos nosotros llevar adelante esta esperanza.

En su funeral del sábado, me conmovió profundamente ver a líderes de todas las religiones y tendencias políticas unirse en solidaridad para honrar la vida y los logros del Papa Francisco – un raro espíritu de unidad y reflexión solemne que necesitamos ahora más que nunca.

Nuestro mundo sería un lugar mucho mejor si siguiéramos su ejemplo de unidad, compasión y comprensión mutua a través de nuestras propias palabras y acciones.

Mientras lloramos la muerte del Papa Francisco, renovemos nuestro compromiso con la paz, la dignidad humana y la justicia social – las causas a las que dedicó cada momento de su extraordinaria vida.

Muchas gracias.

***
[All-English]

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

His Holiness Pope Francis was a man of faith — and a bridge-builder among all faiths.

He was a champion of the most marginalized people on earth.

He was a voice of community in a world of division…

A voice of mercy in a world of cruelty…

A voice of peace in a world of war.

And he was a steadfast friend of the United Nations, addressing Member States from this very podium in 2015.

During that historic visit, he also spoke of our organization’s ideal of a “united human family living in harmony, working not only for peace, but in peace, working not only for justice, but in a spirit of justice.”

On behalf of our UN family, I extend by deepest condolences to the Catholic community and to so many others around the world grieving this tremendous loss.

Excellencies,

Pope Francis was at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church for a dozen years — but that was preceded by decades of service and good works.

As a young man, Pope Francis found his calling in the slums of Buenos Aires, where his dedication to serving the poor earned him the title “Bishop of the Slums.”

These early experiences sharpened his conviction that faith must be an engine of action and change.

Pope Francis put that engine into overdrive as an unstoppable voice for social justice and equality.

His 2020 encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, drew a straight line between greed and poverty, hunger, inequality and suffering.

While decrying the inequality that defines our globalized economy, he also warned against what he called “globalization of indifference.”

I will never forget the first official visit he undertook as Pope, at a time when I served as High Commissioner for Refugees.

Pope Francis chose to go to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in 2013 — to put a global spotlight on the desperate plight of asylum seekers and migrants.

He warned against “the culture of comfort, which makes us think only of ourselves, makes us insensitive to the cries of other people.”

And on last year’s World Refugee Day, he called on all countries “to welcome, promote, accompany and integrate those who knock on our doors.”

When I met with him at the Vatican as Secretary-General in 2019, I was struck by his humanity and his humility.

He always saw challenges through the eyes of those on the peripheries of life.

And he said we can never look away from injustice and inequality — or close our eyes to those suffering from conflict or acts of violence.

Always a pilgrim for peace, Pope Francis ventured to war-torn countries around the world — from Iraq to South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond — decrying bloodshed and violence, and pushing for reconciliation.

He stood with conviction for innocents caught in war zones such as Ukraine and Gaza.

He did it with his global platform — but he also did it in much more personal and profound ways.

Every day without fail, precisely at 7:00 p.m., he would quietly call the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City.

As someone at the Church said, “He would ask us how we were, what did we eat, did we have clean water, was anyone injured? It was never diplomatic or a matter of obligation. It was the questions a father asks to their son.”

And in his final message on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis underscored the vital importance of ending these conflicts.

Throughout, Pope Francis was a clear voice of justice for people and planet.

He helped secure the adoption of the Paris Agreement with his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si that called on leaders to protect “our common home.”

He also highlighted the clear ties between environmental degradation and the degradation of humanity.

Pope Francis understood that those who contributed the least to the climate crisis suffered the most — and that we have a spiritual and moral duty to act.

Excellencies,

In today’s world of division and discord, it is particularly meaningful that Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 to be the year of hope.

He was forever a messenger of hope.

Now it falls to all of us to carry this hope forward.

At his funeral on Saturday, I was deeply moved to see leaders from across all faiths and political stripes come together in solidarity to honour the life and achievements of Pope Francis — a rare spirit of unity and solemn reflection that we need now, more than ever.
Our world would be a much better place if we followed his lifelong example of unity, compassion and mutual understanding through our own words and actions.

As we mourn the passing of Pope Francis, let us renew our pledge to peace, human dignity and social justice — the causes for which he dedicated every moment of his most extraordinary life.

Thank you.

***
[All-French]

Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

Sa Sainteté le pape François était un homme de foi – et un bâtisseur de ponts entre toutes les religions.

Il s’était fait le champion des personnes les plus marginalisées sur Terre.

Il était une voix de solidarité dans un monde de clivages…

Une voix de compassion dans un monde de cruauté…

Une voix de paix dans un monde de guerre.

C’était aussi un grand ami de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et il s’était exprimé en 2015 devant les États Membres depuis cette même tribune.

Lors de cette visite historique, il avait évoqué l’idéal de notre Organisation, à savoir « une famille humaine unie, vivant en harmonie, travaillant non seulement pour la paix, mais dans la paix ; travaillant non seulement pour la justice, mais dans un esprit de justice. »

Au nom de notre famille, celle des Nations Unies, j’adresse mes plus sincères condoléances à l’ensemble des catholiques et aux nombreuses autres personnes qui, partout dans le monde, souffrent de cette terrible perte.

Excellences,

Le pape François a été à la tête de l’Église catholique romaine pendant 12 ans, mais son pontificat a été précédé par des décennies de service et de bonnes œuvres.

Jeune homme, il a trouvé sa vocation dans les quartiers défavorisés de Buenos Aires, où son dévouement au service des pauvres lui a ensuite valu le titre « d’évêque des bidonvilles ».

Ces premières expériences ont renforcé sa conviction que la foi devait être un moteur d’action et de changement.

Restant fidèle à cette conviction, il a défendu sans relâche la cause de la justice sociale et de l’égalité.

Dans son encyclique de 2020, Fratelli Tutti, François a établi un lien direct entre la cupidité, d’une part, et la pauvreté, la faim, l’inégalité et la souffrance, d’autre part.

Tout en dénonçant les inégalités qui caractérisent notre économie mondialisée, il a également mis en garde contre ce qu’il appelait la « mondialisation de l’indifférence ».

Je n’oublierai jamais sa première visite officielle en tant que pape, à une époque où j’étais Haut‑Commissaire pour les réfugiés.

En 2013, François avait choisi de se rendre sur l’île méditerranéenne de Lampedusa pour appeler l’attention du monde entier sur la situation désespérée des demandeurs d’asile et des migrants.

Il avait alors mis en garde contre « la culture du bien-être, qui nous amène à penser à nous-même, nous rend insensibles aux cris des autres ».

L’année dernière, à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale des réfugiés, il a exhorté tous les pays à « accueillir, promouvoir, accompagner et intégrer ceux qui frappent à nos portes ».

Quand je l’ai rencontré au Vatican en 2019 en ma qualité de Secrétaire général, j’ai été frappé par son humanité et son humilité.

Il voyait toujours les problèmes à travers les yeux de celles et ceux qui sont relégués aux périphéries.

Il disait qu’il ne fallait jamais détourner le regard de l’injustice et de l’inégalité, ni fermer les yeux sur celles et ceux qui subissent les conséquences d’un conflit ou d’actes de violence.

Infatigable pèlerin de la paix, le pape François s’est rendu dans des pays déchirés par la guerre – de l’Iraq au Soudan du Sud, en passant par la République démocratique du Congo – pour dénoncer la violence et les affrontements sanglants et prôner la réconciliation.

Il défendait avec conviction les innocents qui se trouvent dans des zones de guerre, comme en Ukraine et dans la bande de Gaza.

Il le faisait depuis sa tribune, mais aussi à un niveau beaucoup plus personnel.

Tous les jours sans exception, à 19 heures précises, il se retirait pour appeler l’église de la Sainte-Famille, à Gaza.

L’un de ses interlocuteurs a raconté ces conversations : « François nous demandait : “comment allez-vous ? Qu’avez-vous mangé ? Avez-vous de l’eau ? Y-a-t-il des blessés parmi vous ?” Il ne le faisait pas pour des raisons diplomatiques ou par obligation. C’était le genre de questions qu’un père aurait posées ».

Et, dans son tout dernier message, le dimanche de Pâques, le pape François a souligné à quel point il était vital de mettre fin à tous ces conflits.

Jusqu’au bout, le pape François aura incarné l’appel à la justice – pour les peuples et pour la planète.

Grâce à son encyclique Laudato Si publiée en 2015, il a contribué à l’adoption de l’Accord de Paris en appelant les dirigeants à protéger « notre maison commune ».

Il a également mis en évidence les liens manifestes entre la dégradation de l’environnement et la dégradation de la condition humaine.

Le pape François comprenait que ceux qui avaient le moins contribué à la crise climatique en subissaient les conséquences les plus graves – et que nous avons le devoir spirituel et moral d’agir.

Excellences,

Dans ce monde de division et de discorde, le fait que le pape François ait proclamé 2025 année de l’espérance revêt une signification particulière.

Il aura été jusqu’au bout un messager de l’espérance.

Et c’est à nous qu’il revient maintenant de continuer de faire vivre cette espérance.

À ses funérailles, samedi, j’ai été profondément ému de voir des dirigeants de toutes confessions et toutes tendances politiques réunis dans la solidarité pour rendre hommage à la vie et à l’œuvre du pape François, dans un esprit d’unité et de réflexion solennelle rares dont nous avons plus que jamais besoin aujourd’hui.

Notre monde serait bien meilleur si nous suivions, dans nos propres paroles et actions, l’exemple d’unité, de compassion et de compréhension mutuelle qu’il a donné tout au long de sa vie.

Que ce deuil soit l’occasion de renouveler notre engagement en faveur de la paix, de la dignité humaine et de la justice sociale, causes pour lesquelles le pape François a consacré chaque instant d’une vie pour le moins extraordinaire.

Je vous remercie.

MIL OSI Africa –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders, Jayapal, Dingell, Hundreds of Health Care Workers Introduce Medicare for All

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
WASHINGTON, April 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), today introduced the Medicare for All Act. Hundreds of nurses, health care providers and workers from around the nation joined the lawmakers for a press conference in front of the Capitol.
In America today, despite spending twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, more than 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of every four Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, over half a million people go bankrupt due to medically-related debt, and more than 60,000 die because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.
“The American people understand, as I do, that health care is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” said Sanders. “It is not acceptable to me, nor to the American people, that over 85 million people today are either uninsured or underinsured. Today, there are millions of people who would like to go to a doctor but cannot afford to do so. This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your wealth. Health care is a human right that all Americans, regardless of income, are entitled to and they deserve the best health care that our country can provide.”
“It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth,” said Jayapal. “We don’t suffer from scarcity in America, we suffer from greed. That’s most clear in our broken health care system, which is why we need Medicare for All. People deserve and want comprehensive health care that covers mental health, long-term care, reproductive care, dental, vision and hearing, all without copays, private insurance premiums, sky-high deductibles or other hidden fees. Health care is a human right, that is exactly why it’s time to pass Medicare for All.”
“Every American has the right to health care, period. If you’re sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need,” said Dingell. “A health care system that ties coverage to employment will always leave patients vulnerable. It’s flat-out wrong and Medicare for All would put a stop to it. We’ve been fighting this fight since the 1940s, when my father-in-law helped author the first universal health care bill. It’s time to get this done.”
Under this legislation, Medicare would provide comprehensive health care to every American with no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles. It would also expand Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision care, and it would give every American the freedom to choose their doctors without endless paperwork or fighting their insurance company. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save our health care system $650 billion a year. Further, researchers at Yale University have estimated that Medicare for All would save 68,000 lives a year.
This legislation would also create a health care system that finally puts people over profits. In fact, since 2001, the top health care companies in America spent 95 percent of their profits, $2.6 trillion, not to make Americans healthy but to make their CEOs and stockholders obscenely rich. While nearly one out of four Americans cannot afford the life-saving medicine their doctors prescribe, ten top pharma companies made $102 billion in profits in 2024. Meanwhile, the CEOs of just 4 prescription drug companies – Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, and Merck – together made over $100 million last year.
The legislation has 104 cosponsors in the House and has 16 cosponsors in the Senate – an increase in the number of Senate cosponsors from last Congress – including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
“Nurses see the failure of our country’s profit-driven health care system every time we clock in to work,” said Nancy Hagans, President of National Nurses United. “In the richest country on earth, nobody should be forced to choose between taking their medications and putting food on the table. Yet countless families are pushed to the breaking point while greedy corporations charge astronomical, ludicrous fees for care that our patients have every right to receive. Nurses are fighting for a future in which our patients’ health is put first always and that’s why we are proud to continue our support for Medicare for All. When we guarantee health care for all, corporations and billionaires will no longer be able to deny anyone the care that they need.”
“We are long overdue for a universal health care system that guarantees care for all — free of copays, deductibles, and job-based coverage restrictions,” said Dr. Diljeet K. Singh, M.D., Dr.P.H., and President of Physicians for a National Health Program. “With the passage of the Medicare for All Act, physicians can focus on healing patients, not battling insurers over denials and delays. Patients will finally be able to seek care without the constant fear of crushing medical bills. Physicians for a National Health Program proudly stands with our legislators in the fight to make excellent health care a reality for everyone in America.”
“As Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy and Congressional Republicans rush to strip health care from millions of Americans, we know this: We must not only block their cruel cuts but move America to a system that provides health care to everyone as a matter of right,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen. “America spends much more than other wealthy countries on health care only to have the worst health outcomes. The system works for health insurers, Big Pharma, hospital chains and private equity firms – but no one else. Medicare for All would ensure everyone in America can get the care they need throughout their lives. It is the realistic, humane, just and efficient reform we need.”
“Postal workers know the value of affordable, universal services, grounded in a commitment to putting people over profits. That’s the type of service we are committed to provide communities across the country, day in and day out,” said Mark Dimondstein, President of American Postal Workers Union. “For too long, greedy corporations and their Wall Street investors have been able to deny the people of the country the quality, affordable, universal health care working people deserve. Medicare for All, health care as a human right, will make us all healthier and financially better off. A health care system that works for working people, not the profits of the insurance companies, is long overdue. It’s time for Medicare for All.”
“Health care should be a human right. But every time we negotiate with a boss for the right to see a doctor, they nickel and dime us until people have to choose between their health and putting food on the table,” said Shawn Fain, President of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). “We’re sick of having to go on strike just to have decent health care. We’re sick of corporate America asking us to give up raises, retirement security, or work-life balance at the bargaining table so working-class people can avoid medical bankruptcy. Our current health care system is a con job that only works for the billionaire class. Medicare for All is common sense, and it’s what the working class needs. The UAW is proud to support this bill.”
“If you want to renew the public’s faith in our political system, pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025,” said Alan Minsky, Executive Director, Progressive Democrats of America. “This one piece of legislation will instantly end the era, which has lasted far too long, when profits and wealth accumulation are more important than human life, including yours. MFA will return the general welfare, and the well-being of every individual, to the heart of our social contract. That will renew faith in America.”
“Health care is a right, not a privilege. The reintroduction of the Medicare for All Act is a crucial step toward ending a system that profits from people’s pain,” said Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Directors of Popular Democracy. “Too many Americans are forced to choose between paying their rent and paying for life-saving medication, while corporations rake in billions. Medicare for All isn’t just a policy—it’s the lifeline working families desperately need. Our communities deserve a health care system that prioritizes people over profits. We will fight until we win the health care we deserve.”
“Health care is a human right and a basic need. Yet instead of getting health care, Americans get delays, denials, and bills they cannot afford. Today, predatory insurance CEOs are poised to reap the windfall from the tax scam giveaways earmarked for billionaires and corporations. The oligarchs that put Donald Trump and Dr. Oz in power want everything we have. We get sicker, make impossible choices, and go broke. They boost the stock prices of corporations – like UnitedHealth – that profit off our pain, and buy more mansions and yachts. We can put an end to those warped priorities through Medicare for All,” said Sulma Arias, executive director of People’s Action Institute. “Working people have made this the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, and there is more than enough if we don’t let the corporate crooks and billionaires steal it. So it’s time to choose: Our health care or their greed?”
Read the bill text here.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The impact of strategic voting in Canada

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Terri Givens, Professor, Political Science, University of British Columbia

Initially expected to result in a decisive Conservative victory, the Canadian federal election took a dramatic turn as Mark Carney led the Liberals to victory. It also offered an important lesson in the power of strategic voting — driven not just by domestic politics but by external pressures from the United States and a re-energized Liberal campaign.

In December 2024, the Conservative Party was leading the Liberal Party by more than 20 points in the polls. But Justin Trudeau’s resignation, combined with U.S. President Donald Trump’s antagonistic stance towards Canada, triggered a sharp shift in public opinion.

When Carney stepped in as prime minister and party leader, the stage was set for a Liberal comeback. But what had been seen as a referendum on the 10-year rule of the Liberal Party ended up being focused on the existential threat posed by Trump’s tariffs and his calls to turn Canada into the 51st state.

During the campaign, many voters discussed their intention to switch from the Conservatives to the Liberals.

The pushback against the Conservatives, and in particular their leader, Pierre Poilievre, led to him losing in his own riding, although the Conservatives gained more seats overall.

The Liberals benefited from strategic voting, but it was the NDP that appeared to lose the most from this strategy.

The NDP went from winning 25 seats in the previous election to only seven, while their leader Jagmeet Singh also lost in his riding, leading to his resignation as party leader.

Strategic voting on display

My first book, Voting Radical Right in Western Europe (2009), focused on the impact of strategic voting. At the time, I observed that political parties would often try to induce voters to vote strategically for a party or candidate that might not otherwise be their first choice.

This type of strategic voting was clearly on display in the second round of the French presidential election in 2002, when Jean-Marie Le Pen of the far right National Front faced Jacques Chirac in the second round.

Some left-leaning voters went to the polls with clothespins on their noses or latex gloves on to vote for Chirac and keep Le Pen out of the presidency.

This strategy worked again in the July 2024 legislative elections in France, where the left and mainstream right-leaning parties came together to make sure that they didn’t split the vote in districts where it could lead to a win by the far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally). In both cases, voters chose more moderate candidates, reducing the influence of the far right.

Electoral systems are often designed to encourage voters to choose a more moderate candidate. This approach includes putting electoral hurdles in place. For example, parties in Germany have to win at least five per cent of the vote or win three district seats to enter the legislature.

This approach had been successful since the Second World War in keeping far right parties out of the legislature — that is until the recent success of the Alternative for Germany party.

The ability of that party to gain votes in the former East Germany has been the main reason for its success.

Winners and losers in Canada

Canada presents an interesting case for strategic voting. In the lead-up to the federal election, many voters were posting suggestions for strategic voting in districts where the vote was being split between parties, particularly on the left.

For example, there was a close race in a riding in British Columbia between the Green and Conservative candidates. I noticed social media posts in which voters were encouraged to shift their vote from the NDP or Liberal candidates to give the Green candidate a better chance of winning the riding.

As of April 25, Conservatives were expected to win the riding, but on election night, Elizabeth May from the Green Party won with 39 per cent of the vote, with the Conservative candidate falling to third place behind the Liberals.

Given the fact that the Canadian electoral system is winner-take-all in each riding, it’s important that voters understand the broader impact of their vote on the national outcome.

It’s likely that many voters switched their votes from their smaller, preferred party — particularly the NPD — to one of the main parties, depending on the kind of poll projections they might have been seeing in their ridings.

This situation exemplifies the importance of parties providing clear information on potential outcomes to encourage voters to use their vote strategically to get a desired outcome at the national level.

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

– ref. The impact of strategic voting in Canada – https://theconversation.com/the-impact-of-strategic-voting-in-canada-255489

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Urges Commerce Department to Establish Clear Guidelines to Prevent the Illegal Diversion of Firearms Sold Abroad
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
April 29, 2025

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called on the Commerce Department to establish clear guidelines to prevent the illegal diversion of American-made firearms sold abroad.

Wyden’s letter to Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick follows recent reports indicating that staffing shortages at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), a subagency of Commerce, have hampered its ability to effectively vet foreign companies purchasing U.S.-made firearms and prevent them from diverting these weapons to terrorists or other criminals.

“End-use checks, which require on-location verification of importers’ bona fides, are the cornerstone of an effective export control policy and are paramount to ensure end user compliance with approved license agreements and to verify that controlled dual-use items like firearms are not being illicitly diverted or re-exported to bad actors,” Wyden stated in his letter to Secretary Lutnick.

These staffing shortages have also led BIS to rely in some cases on the International Trade Administration (ITA) – whose primary responsibility is to promote and facilitate U.S. commercial interests abroad – to carry out on-site inspections known as “end-use checks,” which are meant to ensure that purchasers are not merely operating as fronts to funnel American-made firearms to criminal organizations. However, in some cases, ITA staff who conducted end-use checks also recruited foreign businesses to attend a firearms trade show, posing a clear conflict of interest.

“An official charged with national security responsibilities over certain firearms cannot and should not be the same official charged with selling the same firearms,” Wyden emphasized, raising further concerns about ITA’s serious conflict of interest in playing two very different roles at once. ITA officials may also lack the requisite training, knowledge, and investigative experience to vet foreign actors purchasing American firearms.

To prevent conflicts of interest and strengthen oversight to ensure American firearms exported abroad do not end up in the hands of foreign terrorist organizations or other bad actors, Wyden requested Secretary Lutnick create clear intra-agency guidelines and respond to the following questions:

Is BIS planning on establishing an Export Control Officer position for either the Western Hemisphere or Africa?

Will the Commerce Department commit to requiring BIS and ITA to develop guidance, including standard operating procedures for ITA FCS officers who are conducting end-use checks?

Does ITA have a policy on allowing locally employed staff to conduct end-use monitoring?

What training do ITA FCS officers currently receive regarding end-use monitoring and Export Administration Regulations?

How many end-use checks for firearms or related items such as ammunition and optical devices have been conducted by ITA FCS officers in the last five calendar years? How many of these checks resulted in the denial of exports?

How many firearms export licenses have been approved by BIS since February 1, 2025?

The text of the letter is here.
MIL OSI USA News –
April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: At Senate Hearing, Top VA Doctor Reveals to Senator Hassan That He Has Seen No Analysis of How Trump Plan to Slash VA Staffing Will Impact Veterans’ Care

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

WASHINGTON – Today during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) acting Chief Medical Officer, Thomas O’Toole, MD, about the risk to veterans’ care from the Trump Administration’s plan to fire 80,000 employees from the VA – nearly one in five employees. Dr. O’Toole admitted that he has not seen any analysis of how these mass firings would affect veterans’ care, revealing a troubling lack of thought behind a plan that could jeopardize the ability of veterans across the country to receive the health care, support, and benefits that they have earned and deserve.

To watch Senator Hassan’s hearing questions, click here.

Senator Hassan began by explaining how she has been asking VA officials and nominees if they can guarantee that the Trump Administration’s plan to fire 80,000 VA employees will not result in longer wait times for veterans to get appointments and receive care.

Senator Hassan asked Dr. O’Toole point-blank: “Have you seen or been provided with any analysis as to how firing 80,000 VA employees might affect veterans’ care?” Dr. O’Toole responded, “I have not.” When Senator Hassan asked if he had been directed to perform or oversee any analysis on the cuts and the impact to care, he did not answer that he had.

“I continue to be concerned, then, about the Trump Administration’s policies of hiring freezes, firings, and general disruption,” concluded Senator Hassan. “It’s really difficult to see how the chaos that is churning is going to help recruit and retain mental health professionals that our veterans really deserve access to.”

Senator Hassan had previously pressed Mark Engelbaum, a top VA official, to answer questions about the firings, but he refused to commit that the employee terminations would not delay or negatively impact care for veterans.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: The forest in Russia, like all other resources, should be used as efficiently as possible

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev held a working meeting with timber industry workers from Primorsky Krai in Vladivostok.

“We will discuss the use of forest resources. Unfortunately, forests in the Russian Federation are used to a much lesser extent than in other forest countries. In addition, there is a certain downward trend. In the first quarter of this year, timber harvesting in Primorsky Krai decreased by 11%, and exports decreased even more. Accordingly, tax revenues from industry enterprises to the regional budget amounted to 3%. There were a number of speeches on the topic of, say, more effective regulation of the industry. So far, there have been no major changes here. We need to ensure that forests in Russia, like all other resources, are used as efficiently as possible,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

The issues discussed included the implementation of forest management activities in the Primorsky Krai, the work of the Federal State Information System of the Forestry Complex, and support by forestry enterprises of the Primorsky Krai for the special military operation.

According to Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, since the beginning of the SVO, forestry companies operating in the region have transferred more than 16 thousand cubic meters of timber, more than 50 units of equipment, supplied equipment, weapons, medicines and provided other assistance to military units. During the period of partial mobilization, they equipped and provided military training grounds and tent cities with the necessary materials entirely at their own expense.

“We have always provided and continue to provide large-scale, free assistance to the families of military personnel – tens of thousands of cubic meters of firewood, money. Their fellow countrymen who serve on the front lines contact their leaders directly. And they never get a refusal – on any issues. Now our enterprises have organized a rhythmic and regular free supply of lumber to the troops, to the SVO zone. Despite the sanctions, the decline in revenue and the difficult economy, assistance to the army is being scaled up,” said Oleg Kozhemyako.

The meeting discussed the work of the Primorsky branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Roslesinforg”. The previous management of the branch concluded 19 contracts with forest lessees of Primorsky Krai on forest management (forest taxation) on an area of 330 thousand hectares, for which obligations were overdue. The work was not completed, the funds were spent, and an irreparable cash gap was actually formed. The work was either not started, or it needs to be completely redone.

In addition to unfulfilled obligations to businesses, the Primorsky branch of Roslesinforg has had debts to the region since 2020 under a contract for the establishment of rural forests on an area of 50 thousand hectares. These works were ordered at the expense of their own budget. The forest management work carried out under the 2023 state assignment in the Ussuri forestry on an area of 127 thousand hectares requires a complete review and large-scale adjustment.

Currently, the Primorsky branch is fulfilling overdue obligations through current business and financial activities with an acute shortage of tax engineers and funds allocated for the fulfillment of the state assignment: the branch is forced to spend a significant portion of the funds received from new customers to fulfill overdue obligations and fulfill the state assignment for 2024 and 2025.

The new head of the branch takes a set of measures aimed at independently resolving the current situation (an agreement is reached with the tenants of forest areas on extending the terms of execution of contracts, new employees are actively hired, including those with remote employment from other regions, new contracts are concluded, etc.). But the measures taken are clearly insufficient due to the scale of the problem; intervention by the federal center is required to correct the current situation with forest management in the Primorsky Territory, as well as a deep analysis of this area as a whole, including an assessment of the effectiveness of the decisions taken on federalization and monopolization of these powers.

Yuri Trutnev instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources to develop and submit proposals for remote forestry accounting.

“A number of unqualified management actions have led to people not being able to obtain forest plots and even information, or build a timber processing plant. We have promoted a clear way to solve this problem – forest management based on space images and aerial photographs. We can keep records of forests based on remote methods. The Ministry of Natural Resources supports this solution. We discussed this together with the minister. Therefore, we need to switch to remote methods as quickly as possible and restore order in the forest,” said Yuri Trutnev.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmytro Chernyshenko thanked teachers and mentors of schools in the Kherson region for preserving historical memory

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Chernyshenko made a working visit to the Kherson region.

The Vice Prime Minister assessed the progress of construction and restoration of institutions in the spheres of education, youth policy, sports, religion, and also talked to their representatives. The events were attended by the Governor of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo.

The event “The glory of these days will not fade!” was held at Genicheskaya School No. 1. In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko, students recited poems about the Great Patriotic War and performed songs about Russia.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister assessed the work of the school museum “History of One Family”. It features the exhibition “Suitcase of Memory” dedicated to the Great Patriotic War and the SVO.

“On the eve of one of the most important holidays – Victory Day – I express my deep gratitude to the teachers and mentors who so carefully preserve the history of their native land. Let’s make sure that your experience with the “Memory Suitcase” is spread. At the very least, we will start with your sister schools, and then we will conduct such a relay race throughout the country. Everything that you have come up with here will now be repeated by your friends, colleagues from other cities of our vast country,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

Currently, the school has 14 sister schools throughout Russia, including in Krasnodar Krai, Volgograd, Adygea, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Khabarovsk.

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Republic of Adygea and its head Murat Kumpilov for the renovation of the physical education and health complex and the music room, and also noted the need for major repairs at the school.

In conclusion, he presented the school with a certificate for improving its material and technical base and history textbooks. “Promise that you will definitely study and try. After all, the most important thing you can do for our country now is to study well. And we, on our part, on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, will continue to create conditions so that you can realize your potential and talents. And you have a lot of talents – we are convinced of this!” the Deputy Prime Minister addressed the students.

Also in Genichesk, Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the progress of the comprehensive reconstruction of the Kherson Technical University and talked to students. The Deputy Prime Minister was provided with detailed information about the work of the Russian Children and Youth Movement “Movement of the First”, the physics and chemistry laboratory, the design department, as well as a presentation of the computer sports development center and the UAV research laboratory. In conclusion, the Deputy Prime Minister handed over a certificate to the university for the purchase of a vehicle.

“In the Kherson region, I see a huge focus on raising the level of socio-economic development. The most important thing is that on the eve of such an important holiday for our country – Victory Day – we decided to focus on children and youth and on the opportunities that are provided in accordance with the national goal outlined by President Vladimir Putin, to realize the potential and develop the talents of each person,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

He emphasized the professional involvement of teachers and also noted the importance of the role of modern defenders of the Fatherland: “We are very grateful to our heroes today, the participants of the SVO, who protect us and strive to ensure that peaceful life comes as soon as possible and we continue our positive development.”

In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko and Vladimir Saldo visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where they discussed work issues with Metropolitan Filaret of Novaya Kakhovka and Genichesk and Archpriest Alexander Demkin.

“This is one of the most significant Orthodox churches in the Kherson region. A place where history, faith and national unity have always been close. The church is more than a century old – it has had to endure a lot at different times. Today it is open to people again, lives and receives parishioners. For the Kherson region, preserving churches is not just caring for buildings. It is preserving our history, our roots, which give us the strength to move forward,” said Volodymyr Saldo.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 30, 2025

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