NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Laos Railway facilitates cross-border travel

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

    KUNMING, March 28 — The China-Laos Railway has safely handled over 50 million passenger trips since its launch on Dec. 3, 2021, according to the railway operator.

    A flagship project within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the 1,035-km railway links Kunming of southwest China’s Yunnan Province and the Laotian capital of Vientiane. It has significantly enhanced regional connectivity, boosted regional economic growth, facilitated people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and demonstrated great development potential as a golden transport corridor.

    The China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd. said that as of Friday, it had operated 71,000 passenger train trips on the railway, serving more than 480,000 international travelers from 112 countries and regions worldwide.

    The railway operator has observed sustained growth in passenger traffic, with monthly ridership surging from 600,000 people during the initial operational phase to 1.6 million across the entire route.

    Railway authorities from China and Laos have partnered with tourism departments to promote international travel services along the railway, bringing vigor to tourism-related industries, including scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants near the route, according to the company.

    Moreover, the China-Laos railway’s service upgrades now feature multilingual support, including Chinese, Lao and English, through translation devices at stations and onboard trains, alongside health-focused amenities such as portable blood pressure monitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Federal Election a decade-defining opportunity for change: Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, 28 MARCH 2025 – As Australians prepare to go to the polls on May 3, Greenpeace Australia Pacific has called on all parties to deliver policies that will address the climate and nature crisis, and deliver a safe and prosperous future.

    “We are calling on politicians to secure a better future for Australians by delivering credible solutions to the cost of living crisis, and the dire situation facing our climate and environment,” David Ritter, CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said. 

    “As climate disasters cost Australians billions of dollars, heatwaves push temperatures to deadly highs with increasing frequency, and volatile gas prices wreak havoc on energy bills, it is clear that fossil fuels are harming our cost of living, health, and safety. 

    “Australia is also in an ecological crisis, with one of the world’s highest rates of extinction and deforestation, and devastating bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef. A healthy environment is at the foundation of our society—everything else depends on it. The loss of our natural heritage is not only a source of grief for nature-loving Australians, but a threat to our stability as a country. 

    “As all parties on the campaign trail pledge to address the cost of living crisis and deliver a better Australia for future generations, the credible policies will be the ones that protect nature and accelerate the transition towards cleaner, safer renewable energy,” said Mr Ritter. 

    Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s election asks include: 

    • A rapid transition to clean, affordable renewable energy and a faster phase out of coal, oil, and gas 
    • Laws that effectively protect nature, and provide independent oversight to make sure that development doesn’t go too far and destroy our precious, irreplaceable places. 
    • Enshrining greater protection for our oceans against threats like fishing, pollution, oil drilling and much more.

    Mr Ritter added: “Greenpeace is determined to ensure a safe and secure energy future for all. We’re alarmed by the Coalition’s plans to ‘approve a bucket load of gas’ and fast-track gas developments without due process. These would be a disaster for our climate, and precious places like Scott Reef. 

    “Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plans are dangerous, expensive ploys that only prolong the use of coal and gas in our energy system, and bring the risk of a nuclear waste accident or meltdown into our communities. 

    “We are halfway through a critical decade for action on climate change, and urgent action is needed to protect our precious, life-sustaining environment. Australians deserve, and demand, elected leaders who will steer us towards a safe, thriving future for generations to come.”

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 or [email protected].

    Greenpeace Australia Pacific is a global independent campaigning organisation that uses peaceful protest and creative confrontation to expose environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “Greedy, dangerous and desperate”: deep sea mining frontrunner turns back on Pacific for mining approval

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Friday 28 March 2025 — Greenpeace has slammed deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) as ‘greedy, dangerous and desperate’ after it announced plans to bypass procedure at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) by applying for a mining licence under the US mining code, effectively turning its back on its Pacific sponsoring states.

    The announcement rocked the ISA in its penultimate day, with TMC due to have its mining application agenda item heard early Saturday (AEST). TMC’s decision to use the United States’ Deep Sea Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) encourages an undermining of – and could be in breach of – international law[1].

    Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said the move was a “kick in the guts” for the Pacific and threatens multilateralism.

    “TMC is showing its true colours – greedy, dangerous and desperate. It’s crystal clear that TMC has never cared about economic prosperity or jobs for the people of Nauru, Kiribati or Tonga, nor did it ever care about addressing the climate crisis. TMC has only ever cared about one thing: filling its own pockets with money made at the expense of our Pacific lifeblood – the ocean. The Pacific is not a commodity; the deep sea mining industry is pushing to exploit Pacific resources and communities for profit – it can’t keep happening.

    “This move risks leaving Nauru, Kiribati and Tonga high and dry, and is an insult to multilateralism. TMC has been trying to pressure the international community to meet its demands at the ISA, pressuring and manipulating Pacific governments with the promise of a brighter, greener future. Now the facade has crumbled, and TMC leaves behind a trail of broken promises.

    “Deep sea mining is in trouble. TMC may be taking the first chance it gets to turn its back on Nauru, and is taking any avenue to push through their desperate and dying agenda, in this case, even if it could breach international law. Desperation breeds deceit, and TMC has never been more desperate.”

    Currently, 32 countries have backed a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining, including Tuvalu, Palau, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu and Samoa. Australia has not.

    Gounden added: “This isn’t the end of the road. What TMC has proven is that where there are cracks, there is crawlspace, and it has highlighted the need for a moratorium or precautionary pause.

    “The decision on the future of the ocean must be a process that centres the rights and voices of Pacific communities as the traditional custodians, not neocolonialist corporations. We are most effective when we work together, and the Pacific Ocean is calling for us to stand united now.”

    The ISA will meet for its final day today, where it is still expected to discuss what governments could do if TMC still puts in an application to the ISA without any rules in place.

    Leaders will have a crucial chance to show their support for ocean protection by supporting a moratorium on deep sea mining at the UN Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France, just a few weeks before the ISA July Assembly. 

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or [email protected]

    Photos available in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes to Editor

    [1] The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 has 170 parties, which are the vast majority of all States. It is known as the constitution for the oceans. After the United States and others had various issues with the concluded convention and concluded a further Agreement (Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982) which is known as the 1994 Agreement which was specifically about deep-sea mining – Part XI of UNCLOS. The United States has signed the 1994 Agreement, and most countries agree that UNCLOS is customary international law, so the US is still bound by UNCLOS and particularly Part XI. UNCLOS has numerous crucial parts, addressing maritime boundaries, the freedom of navigation, management of fisheries, pollution, environmental protection and marine scientific research as well as deep-sea mining.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Rubio holds a joint press availability with Surinamese President Santokhi

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

    Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio holds a joint press availability with Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi in Parimaribo, Suriname, on March 27, 2025.

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

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

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8ipp-sAM1c

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Representative Peters, Local Healthcare Leaders Highlight Importance of Saving Medicaid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    San Diego, CA – On March 21, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) and local leaders highlighted the importance of Medicaid and the harm that Republicans’ healthcare cuts and inflationary budget will have on our communities. One in five CA50 residents relies on Medicaid – cutting $880 billion in Medicaid funding would take away theirs and millions of Americans’ health care coverage and increase costs for tens of millions more.

    “In every congressional district in the country, Medicaid supports critical health care for children, Americans with disabilities, and working people who are already struggling to keep up in this economy.” said Rep. Scott Peters. “Cutting health coverage will not make America healthier, it will make us sicker. I’ve now voted twice to stop Republican efforts to slash Medicaid, and I promise to continue doing everything in my power to halt their schemes.”

    Rep. Peters brought together hospital and community health center staff, patients, long term care facility providers, labor union members, and local elected officials to emphasize how proposals to cut Medicaid funding would devastate health care in San Diego and across the country.

    “As a public safety net provider, UC San Diego Health delivers comprehensive care to all members of our community regardless of demographics, insurance coverage, or income status,” stated UC San Diego Health CEO, Patty Maysent. “Investing in Medicaid is an investment in the greatest asset we have in this nation, our people, and their health. UC San Diego’s clinicians, researchers, students and patients thank Congressman Peters for his commitment to sustaining this critical federal resource.”

    “I was diagnosed with a rare brain aneurysm and needed complex surgery. Thanks to Medi-Cal, I received life-saving neurosurgical care at UC San Diego Health,” said Karla Zimmerman, a patient at UC San Diego Health. “I still have two aneurysms that need continuous monitoring. As a mother of two, my biggest fear is not being there for my daughters. No one should have to worry about losing their health care.”

    “Don’t Cut Medicaid, you never know when you or your family member will need it,” said Sabrina Bishop, a United Domestic Worker (UDW) in-home care provider.

    “No family should have to choose between paying for a doctor’s visit or putting food on the table. No senior should worry about whether they can afford their medications. No child should go without the healthcare they need to grow up healthy and strong,” stated City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “We will not stand idly by while the health and well-being of our families, seniors, and children are threatened. Together, with Congressman Peters, we will defend Medicaid and ensure that every person has access to the care they deserve.”

    “San Diegans are struggling to make ends meet, and federal cuts to healthcare is the last thing we need. As a parent, I can’t imagine telling one of my kids that we can’t afford to take them to a doctor when they’re sick,” said City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee. “But if Congress slashes these programs, one out of three people in San Diego County, including hundreds of thousands of kids, are going to have their health coverage impacted. Anyone who wants to lower the cost of living, support working families, and decrease homelessness should be against these cuts.”

    Rep. Peters has been a longtime advocate to make to protect Medicaid funding and make it easier – not harder – for Americans to access the tests, treatments, and cures they need. He has urged his Republican colleagues not to enact a budget that would increase inflation and balloon our deficit, while cutting vital healthcare, firefighters, and airline safety just to pay for tax cuts for people and corporations who don’t need them. Democrats will continue fighting to save Medicaid and protect Americans.

    A livestreamed recording of the press conference can be found here

    Additional photos from the event are available courtesy of Rep. Peters’ office here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scott Peters’ Statement on President Trump’s Self-Dealing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s troubling self-dealing:

    “While President Trump and Elon Musk get richer, Americans will suffer from their cuts to health care, food assistance, national parks, and so much more,” said Rep. Peters. “I will continue to hold the Trump Administration accountable for any attempt to enrich themselves or give special treatment to allies not available to ordinary Americans.”

    See below for how President Trump is using the Presidency to benefit himself and his allies at the expense of the American people.

    Last week, you saw President Trump shoot a car commercial at the White House to benefit Elon Musk, his top donor and a current government employee. “Coincidentally,” Elon donated $100M to the President on the same day.

    Trump touts Musk’s cars from the White House, Musk promises $100 million contribution to Trump – on the very same day.

    President Trump continues to send the message to politicians that he will forgive corruption as serious as fraud and bribery in exchange for loyalty.

    It Pays to Be a Friend of Donald Trump

    While Americans are concerned about high prices from tariffs, loss of government services, and attacks on veterans, the people who have the President’s ear are paying $5 million for a dinner.

    People Are Paying Millions to Dine With Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago

    $TRUMP coin is a perfect vessel for this corruption. You can get away with committing fraud if you have tens of millions to invest in the President’s meme coin. Remember when Jimmy Carter had to sell his peanut farm before taking office…

    A crypto mogul who invested millions into Trump coins is getting a reprieve on civil fraud charges

    Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is learning from Justin Sun’s example. If he is willing and able to enrich the president’s family, he may be in line for a pardon from Trump.

    Trump Family Has Held Deal Talks With Binance

    President Trump is sending a clear message that he is more than willing to fire any government official who tries to prevent his corruption.

    Justice Dept. Official Says She Was Fired After Opposing Restoring Mel Gibson’s Gun Rights

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sánchez votes against Republican CR, backdoor attack on vital safety net programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) released the following statement after voting against the Republican continuing resolution:

    “This is far from a clean funding bill, no matter how much Republicans try to spin it.

    “It slashes vital programs like health care, nutritional assistance, and cuts $23 billion from veterans’ benefits. And it offers no new aid for Los Angeles’ wildfire victims.

    “Even worse, it disregards the Constitution, failing to guarantee that President Trump will honor Congress’ funding decisions and exposes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to egregious cuts by unelected billionaire Elon Musk.

    “The Senate should reject this partisan, reckless bill and force Speaker Johnson back to the table to negotiate a clean, bipartisan bill that protects the programs Americans rely on.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ways and Means members: Don’t cut programs that protect American workers, trade

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

    WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and 13 of her committee Democratic colleagues today called on Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemerto and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reinstate recently canceled international labor programs that are critical to protecting American workers and defending U.S. trade.

    The members also called on the administration to block any attempts by Elon Musk and DOGE to cut the Department of Labor’s International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) staff and the programs they administer.

    “American trade policy relies on critical federal programs working overseas to challenge unfair competition from governments that commit egregious abuses in global supply chains,” the members wrote. “By eliminating these and other technical assistance projects, the Administration is surrendering an essential tool for leveling the playing field and holding our trade partners accountable. As Members of the Ways and Means Committee, with constitutional authority to oversee American trade policymaking, we strongly urge you to immediately reinstate canceled international labor programs in trade partner countries and fully fund ILAB to carry out its vital mission.

    In addition to Sánchez, the letter was signed by Representatives John B. Larson (D-Conn.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.), Donald Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).

    Full text of the letter is available here and follows:

    March 21, 2025

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer
    Secretary
    Department of Labor
    200 Constitution Ave NW
    Washington, DC 20210

    The Honorable Jamieson Greer
    Ambassador
    United States Trade Representative
    600 17th Street, NW
    Washington, D.C. 20508

    Dear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Ambassador Greer:

    As Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, we urge you to reinstate recently canceled international labor programs that are critical to protecting American workers and defending U.S. trade, and to also protect the U.S. Department of Labor’s International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) staff and the programs they administer from further cuts. ILAB and its programs work to ensure that U.S. trade policy does not result in the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs to countries with lax labor protections. Our committee has consistently supported funding ILAB to ensure U.S. trade agreements and policies are enforced because American workers and businesses should never have to compete with goods subsidized by unfair trade practices, including forced labor and child labor. 

    ILAB’s projects around the globe are key to achieving a level playing field for American workers and ensuring that American consumers are not complicit in buying products tainted by forced or child labor overseas. For example, a recently canceled ILAB project in Uzbekistan, supported by a broad coalition of American apparel companies, has been instrumental in eliminating the systemic use of forced and child labor in the Uzbek cotton sector. Just last year, in one of dozens of such findings, ILAB raised awareness of the use of forced labor in Indonesian nickel mines, which have flooded the global market, placing domestic producers at a significant disadvantage. ILAB also works to address China’s efforts to profit from slave labor, playing a leading role in the U.S. government’s Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force that works with Customs and Border Protection to enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. 

    As we begin the six-year review under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), we do so with an acute awareness that ILAB provides essential support to USTR to enforce the rules of the USMCA, including through dozens of cases brought under the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, ensuring that companies in Mexico can’t undercut American jobs and manufacturers by skirting the USMCA’s labor requirements. As the eyes and ears of the U.S. Department of Labor abroad, ILAB is the lynchpin in our efforts to ensure that Mexico and other trading partners are playing by the rules. 

    American trade policy relies on critical federal programs working overseas to challenge unfair competition from governments that commit egregious abuses in global supply chains. By eliminating these and other technical assistance projects, the Administration is surrendering an essential tool for leveling the playing field and holding our trade partners accountable. As Members of the Ways and Means Committee, with constitutional authority to oversee American trade policymaking, we strongly urge you to immediately reinstate canceled international labor programs in trade partner countries and fully fund ILAB to carry out its vital mission.

    Sincerely,

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Statement on Senate Passage of Republican Continuing Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement after Senate passage of H.R. 1968, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025: 

    “I voted against the continuing resolution because it’s a blatant power grab by the White House, giving unchecked control to Donald Trump and his billionaire allies, like Elon Musk, to dismantle the federal government. The CR makes cuts across the board, devastating critical programs that American families rely on.

    “Trump and Republicans are using the threat of a shutdown to strip away benefits from seniors, veterans, and working families – all to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. They have made it harder for Americans to access Social Security. They are dismantling Medicaid and Medicare, and they have already fired over 130,000 federal employees, with plans to cut 80,000 more at the VA alone. They have laid off workers maintaining our nuclear arsenal and shut down critical medical research labs. Instead of holding Trump accountable, Republicans are ceding their power and oversight, allowing his unchecked executive overreach to continue. Worse, they are empowering him further by giving him a blank check to continue this dangerous agenda, at the expense of our democracy and the American people.

    “House Democrats put forward a responsible alternative – a short-term spending bill that would have allowed time for real negotiations while safeguarding critical programs. But instead of working toward a bipartisan solution, Republicans rammed through this extreme measure, ignoring the needs of the people they were elected to serve. By passing this CR, Republicans weakened Congress’ power of the purse and handed greater control over taxpayer dollars to Trump and his wealthy backers – with no oversight or guardrails.

    “No one wants a government shutdown, but we are headed into disastrous times. Republicans are determined to cede their power and oversight to Donald Trump, abandoning their duty to the American people and allowing these dangerous actions to go unchecked. I will continue fighting alongside House Democrats to push back against this egregious overreach of power.”

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    Issues: 119th Congress

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Hosts Press Conference Condemning Republicans’ Harmful Medicaid Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Oxnard, CA – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined local healthcare leaders at the Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc.’s Karen R. Burham Health Center in Oxnard to denounce the Republican proposal for the largest Medicaid cuts in history – jeopardizing care for millions, including over 200,000 Ventura County residents.

    “Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are pushing through the largest Medicaid cut in history – nearly $1 trillion – to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals in America,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This egregious – and outright wrong – proposal rips health care away from tens of millions of people and raises costs for millions more, as emergency room visits will skyrocket, and uncompensated care will force providers to shift costs.

    “This tax scheme will dismantle Medicaid – as we know it – for the 80 million Americans who rely on it. Medicaid is more than just health insurance. It is a lifeline for over 200,000 people in Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, including 80,000 children and 24,000 seniors. These individuals are now at risk of losing access to the care they depend on.

    “We cannot – and we will not – stand by while Republicans in the House, Senate, and White House destroy a program that millions rely on to live with dignity,” Brownley continued. “Medicaid is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing healthcare to those who need it most. Every American deserves access to timely, affordable, high-quality care. That is why I will never stop fighting to protect Medicaid — for our children, for our seniors, and for everyone who depends on it.”

    “Community health centers serve over 32,000,000 patients across the nation. Yet, we represent only 1% of the healthcare cost and we see about 10% of Americans across the nation. We are the nation’s largest primary care clinic system,” said Dr. Gagan Pawar, CEO of Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. “For many of our patients, it is the only means to receive lifesaving care. The expansion of Medi-Cal to more low-income individuals was a monumental step forward, and it is critical that we continue to expand and protect access to this essential program.”

    “Lawmakers want to dismantle the country’s healthcare safety net by defunding Planned Parenthood and making steep cuts to Medicaid, a program that many Planned Parenthood Health Center patients rely on. These cuts threaten life-saving access to care everywhere throughout our community,” said Jenna Tosh, CEO of Planned Parenthood California Central Coast. “80% of our patients come to us with Medicaid. Make no mistake. People’s lives are on the line with these cuts.”

    Congresswoman Brownley’s prepared remarks can be found here.

    Photos from today’s press conference can be found here.

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    Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Hosts Roundtable with Veterans to Discuss Impact of VA Cuts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, hosted a roundtable to hear from local veterans about the impacts they’re experiencing related to workforce cuts in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

    “The Trump Administration’s plan to cut over 80,000 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in addition to the 2,400 VA employees who have already been terminated, is an alarming move that threatens the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans. These firings are a clear indication that this administration is not prioritizing the needs of the men and women who have bravely served our nation in uniform and is actively undermining the quality of care they receive,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Today’s roundtable allowed me to hear firsthand from veterans and employees at the VA about the devastating impact of these cuts on their care and livelihoods.

    “With the VA already facing staffing shortages, terminating additional VA employees will inevitably worsen delays for healthcare and benefits and make it even harder for veterans to access the care they deserve. The loss of essential staff – from medical professionals to support workers – will disrupt services, increase wait times, and place even more strain on an already overwhelmed system. These terminations directly undermine the VA’s solemn mission to deliver the highest-quality care to those who have bravely served our nation in uniform.

    “I am extremely concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding these cuts,” continued Congresswoman Brownley. “The Trump Administration has failed to provide Congress with the basic information needed to understand the reasoning behind these cuts and their long-term consequences. It is unacceptable that we remain in the dark about how these decisions will affect the health, benefits, and care of our nation’s veterans.

    “Cutting resources at the VA, including staff, means cutting the care and services veterans rely on every day. These cuts aren’t just numbers on a budget sheet – they mean longer wait times for appointments, fewer doctors and nurses to provide care, and more veterans falling through the cracks. After serving our country, we shouldn’t have to fight for the healthcare and benefits we’ve earned,” said Richard Camacho, Co-Founder of the Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County.

    “Our commitment to our veterans should never be used as a bargaining chip to advance political agendas. Supporting the men and women who have served our nation must transcend partisan ideology because supporting veterans is always the right thing to do. We must do everything in our power to serve them as well as they have served us,” added Brownley.

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    Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare, Veterans’ Affairs

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Rep. Greg Steube Reintroduces FEMA for America First Act to Restrict FEMA Benefits for Paroled Noncitizens, Asylees and Refugees)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    February 28, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON— U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) yesterday reintroduced the FEMA for America First Act, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that federal disaster relief resources are reserved for American citizens. The bill seeks to amend current law by requiring that only noncitizens with lawful permanent resident status, asylees, and refugees actively working toward that status are eligible for FEMA benefits following a natural disaster.
    “American citizens must be our priority when it comes to disaster recovery,” said Rep. Steube. “For too long, FEMA benefits have been extended to paroled noncitizens and individuals who entered our country under policies that many believe have put genuine Americans at a disadvantage. The current administration’s use of humanitarian parole has enabled those without a clear path to lawful permanent residency to tap into disaster relief funds. My legislation restores accountability and ensures that FEMA’s critical resources are directed first and foremost to American taxpayers and lawful residents.”
    Under the proposed legislation, any noncitizen seeking FEMA assistance would need to hold a valid green card and meet taxpayer requirements. Similarly, asylees and refugees would be eligible only if they are actively progressing toward obtaining lawful permanent resident status.
    Presently, federal law permits any noncitizen paroled into the U.S. for at least one year for “urgent humanitarian purposes” to qualify for FEMA benefits, a provision that has been exploited. Rep. Steube’s reintroduction of this legislation is a decisive step toward realigning FEMA’s mission with the needs of American citizens during times of crisis.Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (ICYMI: Steube Introduces Resolution Authorizing Use of Military Force Against Mexican Drug Cartels)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    March 25, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON – ICYMI: U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced a joint resolution yesterday authorizing the use of military force against certain Mexican drug cartels. This resolution will permit the Trump administration to utilize the U.S. military in the fight against Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, the Michoacán family, the United cartels, the Cartel del Golfo, and the Clan del Golfo.

    From Fox News:
    “Congressman Greg Steube, R-Fla., is introducing a resolution today to empower the Trumpadministration to “take a sledgehammer” to the cartels by authorizing the president to use the “full force of the American military” against nine of the largest migrant criminal groups that have been wreaking havoc on American cities.  
    “One of the criminal groups included in the resolution is Tren de Aragua – also known as “TdA” – which is an international gang tied to the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley as well as the violent takeover of at least one apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, last year. The group is also suspected of having ties to Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro. 
    “The resolution authorizes President Donald Trump to unleash the American military on Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel and several other gangs, which it says have “violated the territorial integrity of the United States” and present “a clear and evident danger” to the American people.”
    With more Americans concerned than ever before about the border and opioid crises, swift and decisive action is needed to protect lives and defeat the cartels. More than 200 Americans die every day from fentanyl overdoses as Mexican drug cartels have established operations in all 50 states. Not only have the cartels trafficked in record amounts of narcotics, but their members have kidnapped and murdered U.S. citizens. 
    “We can no longer ignore the deliberate invasion of Mexican drug cartels into our neighborhoods and communities. These are not ragtag bands of low-level lawbreakers but organized criminal enterprises that profit off death and addiction. Far too many innocent people have suffered at the hands of the cartels,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “Until such time that the Mexican government finally steps up and squashes the drug cartels who use Mexico as their home base, Congress must give President Trump and Secretary Hegseth the green light to take a sledgehammer to these criminal networks and their supply chains. My joint resolution will authorize the Trump administration to use the full force of the American military against the nine largest drug cartels operating out of Mexico.”
    Read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Condemns Attacks on Social Security

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) condemned the Trump Administration’s reckless assault on the Social Security Administration (SSA), warning that mass layoffs and service cuts will devastate seniors and working families across New Mexico and the country, particularly seniors in rural communities.

    Under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the administration has proposed firing thousands of SSA employees, closing field offices, and not allowing seniors to access services over the phone, making it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to access the benefits they’ve earned. These cuts come despite strong bipartisan support for strengthening Social Security.

    “Social Security isn’t a handout—it’s a promise we’ve made to every American who has paid into the system,” said Vasquez. “Yet, Trump and Musk are gutting the agency, leaving seniors and vulnerable communities stranded. This isn’t about ‘efficiency’—it’s about dismantling a program that millions rely on.”

    Vasquez’s office has received multiple calls from seniors concerned about the Las Cruces social security office closed and potential barricades. 

    A Manufactured Crisis

    The administration’s latest move requires seniors to come in person to apply for or update their benefits. This could bar people who qualify for Social Security from applying, including people with disabilities, seniors in rural areas, and people who do not have internet access. At the same time, Musk has publicly called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” while the administration falsely claims that widespread fraud is draining the program.

    “Seniors in New Mexico rely on Social Security to pay for health care and medication, pay their rent, and put food on the table. Trump and Musk want to destroy Social Security because as billionaires, they’re completely out of touch with the struggles New Mexico’s seniors face to make ends meet,” said Vasquez. “I will not let them fund a tax cut for billionaires on the backs of seniors, the disabled, and the working class.”

    Impact on New Mexico and Rural America

    The proposed cuts would hit rural communities hardest, where SSA field offices already struggle with long wait times and limited staff. In New Mexico’s Second District alone, thousands of seniors rely on in-person SSA services to receive their benefits, appeal wrongful denials, or update their records.

    Holding the Administration Accountable

    In early March, Vasquez led House Democrats in urging the administration to end its harmful assault on the SSA and reverse its decision to close field offices and lay off more than 7,000 workers. 

    Now, furthering this advocacy, Vasquez is demanding that Acting Administrator Dudek abandon his misguided policy that forces seniors and disabled New Mexicans to enroll online or in person at the very field offices the administration is trying to shut down – rather than allowing them to enroll over the phone. This policy does nothing to reduce fraud or save taxpayer money. Instead, it serves as a de facto benefit cut, making it harder for New Mexicans to access the Social Security benefits they have earned and rely on.

    You can read Rep. Vasquez’s oversight letter here. The full letter is below: 

    Dear Acting Commissioner Dudek,
     

    I am writing to express my strong opposition to recent changes by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that are making it more difficult for seniors and other beneficiaries in New Mexico to receive the benefits they have earned. Despite strong bipartisan support for Social Security, these indiscriminate staffing cuts, office closures, and ending phone services will cut off seniors from their benefits. I urge you to immediately reverse course and instead work to strengthen Social Security and fulfill the promises made to seniors.  

    At the direction of Elon Musk, who has called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” the SSA announced that it would cut nearly 7,000 jobs and close multiple field offices this year. These indiscriminate cuts have already raised concerns about delayed benefits and increased errors – the opposite of increasing efficiency. Additionally, the SSA recently announced that it is ending phone verification services for new applications, despite no reports of widespread fraud or abuse.  These changes are forcing seniors to travel long distances in person just to access their guaranteed benefits. It is unconscionable that, while SSA demands more in-person visits, it is simultaneously cutting staff and closing offices, making it nearly impossible for seniors to receive the support they’ve earned through a lifetime of hard work.
     

    Across New Mexico, Social Security is the difference between dignity and despair. Over 365,000 New Mexico seniors rely on these benefits to pay for food, rent, and medication.  Shrinking the SSA workforce will further erode already strained customer service and delay benefits when seniors in my district already face hours-long phone wait times. The new identity verification rules, which will add up to 85,000 additional weekly visitors to field offices, will only worsen delays – especially in rural areas where in-person access is limited. Downsizing staff while increasing in-person requirements is a recipe for disaster. For seniors in rural areas, this is an assault on their financial security. 
     

    Social Security is a promise, one that must not be broken or eroded through administrative neglect. I urge you to immediately halt workforce reductions and office closures and reconsider the in-person verification rule. Instead, I call on you to expand in-person services, invest in rural field offices, and ensure that seniors and all beneficiaries have access to timely, effective support.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Hoyle Calls for Secretary Hegseth’s Resignation

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    March 27, 2025

    For Immediate Release: March 27, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) joined 69 other House Democrats in calling for the immediate resignation of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, after new reporting from The Atlantic made clear he shared classified information on Signal, an unapproved and unsecured communications platform.

    The letter was addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

    The full text is available here and below.

    Letter Text

    Dear Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio, Director Gabbard, and Mr. Waltz,

    We write to express grave concern over your handling of sensitive information regarding military operations in Yemen and potential risks to our servicemembers carrying out this mission. The Atlantic reported that their Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat on March 13 titled “Houthi PC small group.” Fortunately, an American journalist was added and not anyone who could have used this information to cause significant harm to the United States.

    As more evidence has come to light, the misconduct in the group chat has become further undefendable and inexcusable. You all jeopardized the lives of servicemembers. There must be accountability starting with the immediate resignation of Secretary Hegseth.

    The degree of incompetence, carelessness, and irresponsibility is difficult to underscore. It is incomprehensible that the heads of the world’s most powerful government were unknowingly sharing secret military plans and knowingly using an unsecure communications method to do so. A bad actor or foreign contact could have easily been added to this Signal group instead of Mr. Goldberg. This experience was so absurd that Mr. Goldberg thought it more likely to be a disinformation campaign or artificial intelligence than several key members of our government, many who sit on the National Security Council.

    This encounter calls into question the way in which this operation was discussed. It was reported that classified or highly sensitive information was being shared over Signal. Information that if leaked to the wrong sources could have resulted in dire national security consequences. As the article goes on to state, there are legitimate questions on whether laws like the Espionage Act or laws on preserving official federal records were violated.

    If you had not added a non-government individual to this Signal group, then this breach would never have come to light. This does not inspire confidence that other classified communications have been handled through proper channels or that this national security team is taking these issues seriously.

    We hope you understand the gravity of this situation. The decisions you make have a significant impact on our national security and the safety of our servicemembers. We will be demanding accountability and transparency in what transpired. For the sake of our national security, we ask that you fully and willingly cooperate with Congress in any forthcoming hearings or investigations.

    Sincerely,

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Letlow Pushes to Designate Ouachita River as Marine Highway

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05)

    Washington, D.C. – In an attempt to bolster economic growth and job creation in North Louisiana, Congresswoman Julia Letlow is advocating for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help provide a crucial economic development designation for the Ouachita River. 

    By designating the 605 mile-long river as Marine Highway M-165, DOT can further enhance the river’s capability to facilitate commerce, reduce highway congestion, and move freight. This is particularly key given the region’s agricultural presence, with river transportation providing for more export opportunities for commodities like rice, soybeans, cotton, and timber.

    The designation, provided under America’s Marine Highway Program, allows local agencies, industries, and shippers to become eligible for additional U.S. Department of Transportation grants supporting infrastructure improvements. A letter from Letlow to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the economic benefits such a move would provide.

    “Expanding the use of the Ouachita River will improve supply chain reliability, lower transportation costs, and support economic stability for businesses and communities across Louisiana,” said Letlow. “I have requested the Department of Transportation to make this designation that will recognize the immense potential of the Ouachita River and will advance regional and national economic interests.”

    Letlow’s letter also congratulated Secretary Duffy on his recent confirmation to the post of Transportation Secretary.

    Letlow’s full letter can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Marks 60th Anniversary of Selma Civil Rights Marches with National and Local Leaders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    SELMA, AL — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) marked the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches with national and local leaders, including the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in remembrance of “Bloody Sunday.” This anniversary commemorates a series of three civil rights marches led by Rep. John R. Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders, which ended with a violent clash on Sunday, March 7th, 1965, in which state troopers attacked nearly 600 unarmed protesters. Two weeks later, the march was completed as thousands gathered on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol demanding voting rights. The march and violence of Bloody Sunday galvanized national support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act months later in August of 1965.

    Rep. Stansbury participated in the 60th Anniversary march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and attended services and commemorations over several days in Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham with civil rights leaders and nearly 40 members of Congress. 

    “In a time when so much is on the line in protecting American democracy, freedoms, and voting rights, it is humbling to walk in the footsteps of the giants who marched for voting rights here in Selma a generation ago,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “This 60th Anniversary is a solemn reminder of the generations who fought to bend the arc of history towards justice. I am grateful to be in the fight alongside so many extraordinary leaders who carry that spirit forward into the work ahead.” 

    More about the history of the events on Bloody Sunday: 

    On March 7th, 1965 civil rights leaders and protesters began the 54-mile walk from Selma to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery to demand voting rights protections, only to make it 6 blocks down Broad Street and across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where they were met by more than 50 state troopers and a several dozen possemen on horseback. When the demonstrators refused to turn back, they were brutally beaten. 

    At least 17 were hospitalized and 40 others received treatment for injuries and the effects of tear gas. The attack, which was broadcast on national television, caught the attention of millions of Americans and became a symbol of the brutal oppression and racism of Jim Crow in the South. 

    Two weeks later, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and 3,200 civil rights protesters marched the 54 miles from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery — an event that prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. 

    Every year on the first weekend in March, the Bridge Crossing Jubilee commemorates both the bloody confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the march from Selma to Montgomery that followed.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Great American Bait and Switch Continues: Rep. Stansbury Calls Out Republicans on Their Real Agenda

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) released the following statement after voting against the Republican-backed Continuing Resolution:  

    “Over the last several weeks we have seen the reckless, lawless, and chaotic dismantling of critical federal programs, enabled and supported by the House GOP—just as they did with the passage of their spending bill in the House today,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01).  

    “In passing this Continuing Resolution, Republicans were clear that they will continue to support Trump and Elon Musk’s dismantling of federal agencies, they will continue to support firing thousands of federal employees, and they will continue to support illegally withholding congressionally mandated funds.  

    “This is not a budget—it’s a bait and switch—as they now turn their attention to their real agenda of gutting healthcare, housing, and food assistance and other vital programs Americans depend on to give permanent tax breaks to billionaires.  

    “That is why I voted no on a budget and a plan that will continue to hurt the people I serve in New Mexico.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Fights for New Mexicans, Food Assistance Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    Food Assistance Programs
    Critically important programs at risk in Trump Administration

    ALBUQUERQUE — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) kept fighting on Friday against President Trump and Elon Musk’s unlawful and harmful systematic dismantling of critical federal government food assistance programs during a press conference at the Roadrunner Food Bank.    

    Watch the video here.   

    “Hunger is a policy choice,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “There is no reason why any family, any child, any senior, any veteran in the United States should be hungry. There is plenty of food in this country. We are a wealthy country with a multitude of agriculture and food, and we have the ability to take care of our people. The decision to cut vital life-saving programs is a decision to let people go hungry in this country. We know that the policy choices that both the Trump administration and Congress under GOP leadership are making to let millions of Americans go hungry—that is a choice that they are making. But we also know that there is a policy choice of abundance, that there is a policy choice that we know that works.” 

    The Congresswoman was joined by community leaders who shared insight into the real-world impacts of the current chaos in Washington, D.C.   

    “We are deeply concerned that decisions being made seem to be in a haphazard manner with no recognition of the potential long-term impact,” said Katy Anderson, Vice President of Strategy, Partnership, and Advocacy at Road Runner Food Bank. “We work with over 500 partners across the state, and some of those partners are facing the loss of much or all of the funding that they rely on to support their communities … Cuts to programs that support Americans will increase hunger in our country, and I’m going to repeat that. They will increase hunger in our country. There is no doubt.” 

    “It’s just very hard right now to think about cuts to SNAP and what that’s going to do and what we’re going to do at the food bank because we like certainty at food banks,” said Jason Riggs, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Road Runner Food Bank. “We got trucks to load. Our trucks cover over 360,000 miles a year. We need to know what’s going to be loaded on those trucks way ahead of time and we need the people currently across the street waiting in line to get some food from one of our distributions. We need them to know when they get there, there’s going to be food, and when they go to the grocery store, the money’s going to be on their EBT card, and they’re going to be able to feed their families.” 

    “We’re facing challenges that make it harder to do this work,” said Renee Ruybal, Chief Advancement Officer at Meals on Wheels. “The rising costs of food and fuel are already putting pressure on our ability to serve every neighbor in need. We’re also seeing federal funding changes that impact our ability to expand our operations. Last year, we had an approved project to bring our face-to-face delivery to the town of Bernalillo, to Placitas, and to Algodones. That funding was removed from the recent federal budget bill, putting that expansion on hold. If these programs face more cuts, more New Mexicans will turn to us for help, but at a time when we have fewer resources to meet that growing need. So, all of this: higher costs, federal funding cuts, and potential reductions in other food assistance programs will force us to make tough choices. 

    “If hunger is a policy choice, we made a choice together, all of us, that we were not going to tolerate hunger in our communities because our communities are built around food,” said Jill Dixon, Executive Director at The Food Depot. “Every celebration, every lamentation in our communities happens with food at the table. The Food Depot stands for nutritious food being on the table for every single person in our community, and so do my food bank friends. We all should stand for that. It is a fundamental human right to have food at the table. And America has enough food to feed everyone within its borders.” 

    “Agri-Cultura is the largest cooperative here in New Mexico,” said Helga Garcia-Garza, Executive Director of Agri-Cultura Network and La Cosecha CSA. “We’re small-scale farmers and ranchers that many years ago, in 2009, we developed our mission out of a theory that we wanted to keep production local. We wanted to make it accessible to communities that otherwise would not receive organic produce and keep building capacity, keep having an impact on community health, wealth, and well being. So these programs, the ripple effect not only within the farmers but what we’ve been doing for years and years collectively together in state policy work to change procurement practices for that local investment and with that long-term vision of New Mexico becoming a sustainable regenerative food state.” 

    Impacts on New Mexicans if Trump cuts essential programs:  

    • In New Mexico, 487,113 people receive SNAP monthly.
    • 1 in 5 New Mexico children face hunger and food insecurity. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Stansbury, Nadler, Scott, Leger Fernández, Senator Murray Condemn Unlawful Dismissal of EEOC Commissioners, Demand Immediate Reinstatement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led 236 colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump in response to his unprecedented and unlawful dismissal of Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels. 

    “We write to express our outrage at your unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels of the bipartisan U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” the Members wrote. “This unlawful abuse of presidential power undermines the EEOC’s historic independence, harms U.S. workers, and unduly politicizes the Commission’s work. It also impedes the Commission’s ability to fully carry out its critical mission on behalf of the American people. We urge you to swiftly reinstate Commissioners Burrows and Samuels.” 

    The EEOC was established in 1964 with strong bipartisan support to serve as an independent, multi-member body tasked with preventing and addressing employment discrimination. It is the primary federal law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring that workers are protected against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Workers rely on the EEOC to be a fair and independent body—not one subject to the shifting political whims of the executive branch.   

    Both Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels had been confirmed by bipartisan votes of the Senate prior to the start of their terms, with Commissioner Burrows’ term not set to expire until July 2028 and Commissioner Samuels term not set to expire until July 2026. 

     The Members highlighted the massive return on investment the EEOC delivers for the American people, stating, “From 2014-2024, the EEOC recovered $5.6 billion for workers who were discriminated against under these laws, significantly more than the agency’s appropriations during that time period. For FY 2024, the EEOC secured a record $700 million for workers who experienced discrimination. The EEOC’s role in enforcing these protections is essential to ensuring that all workers have a fair chance to obtain employment, provide for their families, and contribute to our economy.” 

    The Members made clear the illegal firing by President Trump is an intrusion into Congress’ constitutional authority, stating, “The Administration’s firing of Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels is unprecedented and an intrusion into Congress’ Article I constitutional authority. The appointment of EEOC Commissioners is governed by statute and is designed to ensure the agency’s independence from the executive.  The President appoints Commissioners and the Senate confirms them. That is the beginning and end of the executive’s role in determining who can sit on the Commission and for how long. The law not only expressly requires the Commission to be bipartisan, but it also sets out five-year terms, a design that ensures that Commissioners’ terms run between presidential terms, another purposeful action by Congress to ensure the Commission’s independence.” 

    “Longstanding Supreme Court precedent also confirms that multi-member independent commissions such as the EEOC enjoy protection from “coercive influence” of the executive. In Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), the Supreme Court made clear that members of independent commissions like the EEOC cannot be removed at will by the President. Prior Presidents have agreed; no Commissioner of the EEOC has ever been removed prior to the expiration of their term in the Commission’s 60-year history.” 

    “Workers deserve to earn a living free from discrimination and feel confident that when they are harmed, they can count on an independent EEOC, not a politicized body, to protect their rights,” the Members concluded. “We urge you to reinstate Commissioner Burrows and Commissioner Samuels, and we look forward to your urgent response.” 

    The full letter can be read here. 

    The letter was also signed by: In addition to Representative Nadler, Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, Representative Stansbury, and Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Fernández the letter is signed by Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Pete Aguilar, Sen. Angela D. Alsobrooks, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Nanette Barragán, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Wesley Bell, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Donald Beyer, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. Janelle Bynum, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Ed Case, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Gilbert Cisneros, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Rep. James E. Clyburn, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Herbert Conaway, Rep. Gerald Connolly, Sen. Christopher Coons, Rep. J. Correa, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Christopher Deluzio, Rep. Maxine Dexter, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Richard Durbin, Rep. Sarah Elfreth, Rep. Veronica Escobar, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Dwight Evans, Rep. Cleo Fields, Rep. Shomari Figures, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Valerie Foushee, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Laura Friedman, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Jesús García, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Daniel Goldman, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Maggie Goodlander, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Al Green, Sen. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John W. Hickenlooper, Rep. James Himes, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Glenn Ivey, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Henry Johnson, Rep. Julie Johnson, Sen. Timothy Kaine, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. William Keating, Sen. Mark Kelly, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Timothy Kennedy, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Greg Landsman, Rep. John Larson, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Susie Lee, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rep. John Mannion, Sen. Edward J. Markey, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Sarah McBride, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Grace Meng, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Rep. Dave Min, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Joseph Morelle, Rep. Kelly Morrison, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Frank Mrvan, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Donald Norcross, Rep. Eleanor Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Johnny Olszewski, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Gary Peters, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Nellie Pou, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Emily Randall, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. Luz Rivas, Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, Rep. Jacklyn Rosen, Rep. Deborah Ross, Rep. Raul Ruiz, Rep. Patrick Ryan, Rep. Andrea Salinas, Sen. Bernard Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Janice Schakowsky, Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Adam B. Schiff, Rep. Bradley Schneider, Rep. Hillary Scholten, Rep. Kim Schrier, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Terri Sewell, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Lateefah Simon, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Adam Smith, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Eric Sorensen, Rep. Darren Soto, Rep. Greg Stanton, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Rep. Thomas Suozzi, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Emilia Sykes, Rep. Linda Sánchez, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Mike Thompson, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Derek Tran, Rep. Lauren Underwood, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Eugene Vindman, Sen. Mark R. Warner, Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. George Whitesides, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Frederica Wilson, and Sen. Ron Wyden.   

    The letter is endorsed by: A Better Balance, American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Employment Law Project, National Partnership for Women & Families, and the National Women’s Law Center. 

    Other statements of support:   

    “Since its establishment 60 years ago as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC has protected the rights of workers to earn a living free from discrimination. President Trump’s illegal and unprecedented dismissal of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels critically impairs the EEOC’s ability to ensure that individuals aren’t denied jobs and opportunities because of who they are.  We condemn the administration’s flagrant politicization of an independent, nonpartisan civil rights agency and join members of Congress calling for the reinstatement of the commissioners without delay,” said Mike Zamore, National Director of Policy and Government Affairs of the American Civil Liberties Union. 

    “People rely on the EEOC to be an independent, fair body that will protect their right to be free from discrimination in their workplace,” said Gaylynn Burroughs, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “President Trump’s removal of EEOC Commissioners Burrows and Samuels is just another extension of his authoritarian power grab that will ultimately harm workers. His actions are a clear abuse of power intended to bend the Commission to his will, but the Commission works for all working people, not for President Trump. The EEOC was born out of the civil rights movement to help ensure equal employment opportunity for all workers. We will continue to fight to preserve the integrity of the Commission, for equal opportunity, and for the right of all workers to be free from discrimination.” 

    “We condemn the administration’s unlawful attempt to fire sitting EEOC commissioners. This reckless decision is already having devastating consequences for workers waiting for the agency to take legal action against employers engaged in discrimination and severe ramifications for the agency’s ability to function effectively and enforce labor and civil rights protections,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Workers who are depending on the EEOC to do its job should not have to endure discrimination because of political stunts intended to undermine civil rights enforcement. By making it virtually impossible for the Commission to take important actions, because it lacks a quorum, the administration is effectively circumventing robust enforcement of statutory anti-discrimination protections that workers depend on every day. President Trump must reinstate the commissioners he fired to rectify this situation. We commend Congressman Jerry Nadler and Senator Patty Murray, and all the members of Congress who join us in this fight, for standing up to safeguard the rights and the freedoms of all workers so that they are treated fairly in workplaces that are free of discrimination.” 

    “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s role in ensuring equitable workplaces and enforcing our nation’s laws against discrimination is vital. It is an outrage that the Trump Administration has gutted the agency by illegally firing key EEOC Commissioners who have tirelessly championed robust enforcement of important workplace laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII of the Civil Right Act. This is an overstep of the President’s authority that will hamstring the agency’s ability to carry out its mission. We thank Congressman Nadler, Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, Congresswoman Stansbury, and Congresswoman Leger Fernández for their leadership in defending the EEOC,” said Inimai Chettiar, President of A Better Balance.  

    “President Trump’s removal of Commissioners Burrows and Samuels was an outrageous attack on civil rights and the rule of law – one of many actions taken by the president in pursuit of his goal to further entrench inequality and occupational segregation. The EEOC’s independence and bipartisan structure was established by Congress in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is essential to its mission to promote equal opportunity in the workplace. This lawlessness and disregard for our Constitution cannot stand,” said Josh Boxerman, Government Affairs Manager, National Employment Law Project. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Garbarino Leads Bipartisan Push to Modernize U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), a member of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Board of Visitors, today introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize more than $1 billion over 10 years for a full-scale campus modernization of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

    The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Laura Gillen (R-NY-04), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) underscoring a shared commitment to bolstering national security and maritime readiness through investment in one of the nation’s five federal service academies.

    “For generations, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has trained the men and women who keep our supply chains moving and our national defense strong,” said Rep. Garbarino. “But the infrastructure on campus must keep up with the rigorous demands placed on today’s Midshipmen. This bill ensures the Academy remains a world-class institution worthy of its mission.”

    The legislation authorizes $1.02 billion from FY2026 to FY2035 via the Maritime Security Trust Fund, beginning with $54 million for design and planning in the first year and annual construction funding of over $107 million thereafter. The bill calls for full operational continuity at the Academy throughout construction and recommends using design-build contracting to speed delivery and reduce costs.

    “For more than 80 years, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has been the pride of Long Island. As one of America’s five services academies, USMMA is a pathway for young Americans to serve our country and contribute to our maritime security. I’m proud to join Rep. Garbarino and my colleagues in working together for Long Island and leading this bipartisan bill to strengthen Long Island’s tradition of producing the best Midshipmen and mariners in the world,”said Rep. Gillen. 

    “To ensure the Merchant Marine Academy continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of maritime and national security leaders, Congress must invest in its infrastructure, which has languished since the mid-20th century. Doing so is essential to providing Midshipmen, who will go on to serve America around the globe,  with the education and hands-on training they need to excel in critical industries like marine transportation and defense,” said Rep. LaLota. “Upgrading these facilities will strengthen the Academy’s ability to prepare top-tier officers and ensure it remains a premier institution for the nation’s future maritime leaders.”

    “The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a national treasure that has been neglected for decades. It is time to restore it to its former glory!” said Rep. Suozzi.

    Rep. Garbarino has served on the USMMA Board of Visitors since joining Congress and has been a leading advocate for modernizing the Academy’s campus and supporting the next generation of maritime leaders.

    The full text of the bill can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bice Celebrates the Passage of her Legislation to Overturn Burdensome Biden-Era Regulations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Bice celebrated the bipartisan House passage of her legislation H.J.Resolution 24. The resolution permanently overturns burdensome regulations on walk-in coolers and freezers from the previous Administration. At the tail end of the Biden Administration, the Department of Energy unveiled new regulations that imposed stricter energy efficiency standards on walk-in coolers and freezers. These regulations increase the costs for small business owners and consumers across the nation. 

    “Today, in a bipartisan fashion, the House acted to overturn more last-minute environmental regulations from the Biden Administration. Walk-in coolers and freezers are essential for pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide,” Congresswoman Bice stated. “This regulation, which had an estimated cost of a billion dollars, would have been crippling for businesses throughout the country, especially in rural areas. We must continue to push back against federal overreach, and I appreciate the support of my colleagues on this critical measure.” 

    “Biden’s regulations limited consumer choice, raised prices, and put unnecessary financial burdens on American businesses and families. House Republicans continue to reverse this regulatory non-sense and lower costs for businesses and families,” Chairwoman McClain said. 

    “The Biden-Harris Administration placed new and harmful regulations on commercial refrigeration units, yet another example of needless regulation raising prices for businesses and families while failing to provide cost savings or increasing food safety,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “These Congressional Review Act resolutions are a critical part of our work to eliminate costly and burdensome regulations that failed to serve the American people. Thank you to Congressman Goldman and Congresswoman Bice for your leadership on these important issues.” 

    Congresswoman Bice Spoke today on the House Floor to Encourage Passage

    Congresswoman Bice’s Floor Remarks: 

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and first, let me say I rise obviously in strong support of House Joint Resolution 24, legislation that I authored, which uses the Congressional Review Act to overturn regulations by the Biden administration. 

    I was extremely excited this morning to be notified that I have a statement of Administrative policy support from President Trump on this legislation. 

    In December of 2024, the Department of Energy enacted new energy efficiency standards for walk in coolers and freezers, equipment vital to pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide. 

    These regulations will impose significant financial burdens on small businesses, which will have to absorb major upgrade cost to the meet these new aggressive standards. 

    At a time when our focus should be on lowering the cost of living for our constituents, it’s clear most of these expenses will be borne by consumers in the form of increased prices. 

    Furthermore, they threaten significant operational disruption for many enterprises that rely on this equipment. 

    We have heard from many businesses in rural areas which will have to go through extensive structural and electrical upgrades to accommodate the new equipment. 

    These same businesses have reported that getting their refrigerators and freezers repaired is a process which is already taking too long and expensive, and will become even more so.   

    For businesses looking to enter underserved markets, this will be another barrier in doing so. 

    For businesses operating on a narrow profit margin, this could be what sends them under. 

    Recognizing these detrimental impacts, I fought against the adoption of this rule and expressed my disapproval last year during the public comment period. 

    Like many of the rules handed down by the Biden Administration, this effort will have a harsh economic impact while failing to achieve its own stated goal. 

    DOE estimates that the rule would carry a minimum price tag of nearly a billion dollars with minimal energy usage reduction. 

    My colleague mentioned that it would be a savings of $6 billion / 30 years, but what he didn’t mention to you is the cost of new equipment, replacement equipment with these new energy efficiency standards could be 10s of thousands of dollars adding up to billions and billions of dollars that are going to be borne by these businesses. 

    I’m grateful President Trump has taken the decisive action to halt these rules by having the Department of Energy postponed the effective date of these standards providing breathing room for businesses. 

    However, more work needs to be done and Congress has a role to play. 

    My resolution seeks to ensure that these overreaching regulations are permanently overturned. 

    By doing so, we will protect small businesses from unnecessary compliance cost and preserve the diversity of choice available to consumers. 

    This action aligns with our broader commitment to rollback burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth and infringe upon individual freedoms. 

    In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2022, the total cost of regulations is estimated over $3 trillion. 

    We cannot continue to allow burdensome regulations on every aspect of our lives and our businesses. 

    I urge my colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 24, legislation that will reduce burdens on businesses and serve in the best interest of the American people. 

    And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – 40 years since evacuation due to US nuclear tests, Greenpeace and displaced Rongelap community honour commitment to nuclear and climate justice fight

    Source: Greenpeace

    Forty years since the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior evacuated the people of Rongelap Island to Mejatto due to decades of US government nuclear weapons testing, Greenpeace and the displaced Rongelap community have come together on the remote Pacific island to commemorate this significant moment in their shared histories.[1]
    Cathy Joel, one of three women who were present at the commemoration and the few remaining survivors of the 1954 Castle Bravo bomb – the US government’s largest ever nuclear weapons test – and was part of the Greenpeace evacuation to Mejatto, described her terror:[2]
    “I didn’t expect that I would be here as part of this very important event. I was six years old when the bomb exploded and I was so afraid. My father tried to comfort me but I was so frightened he couldn’t calm me down. The explosion was so bright, there were so many colours, it frightened me as I had not seen them before. I couldn’t explain it but all I knew was that I was so scared.
    “Three of us women are here [in Mejatto] and I was afforded the opportunity to speak on behalf of these survivors. I’d like to encourage all of you when looking at us, see us as a remembrance of what happened in 1954 when the bomb exploded. We encourage you to continue to stand together, be strong and live in harmony – that is our wish.”
    Called “Operation Exodus,” Greenpeace was tasked to relocate Rongelap’s entire population of 350 due to nuclear fallout from Castle Bravo, which rendered their home uninhabitable. In May 1985, over 10 days and taking three trips, the residents collectively dismantled their homes bringing everything with them, including livestock, and 100 metric tons of building material.
    Four decades later, the surviving Rongelap community is now spread across the Marshall Islands. Many travelled back to Mejatto for the commemoration, including those who were children during the evacuation, and prominent members of the Marshallese government. The Rainbow Warrior’s visit comes as Greenpeace entities were found liable for more than USD$660m in damages as part of a meritless SLAPP suit by fossil fuel giant Energy Transfer, aimed at silencing those fighting for justice and the right to peaceful protest.[3]
    Bunny McDiarmid, crew member during the 1985 Rainbow Warrior evacuation, and former Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace International from 2016-2019 said:
    “Forty years ago, the people of Rongelap stood up to the United States when they refused to take proper accountability and responsibility for the damage it had done. After undergoing years of health impacts from exposure to radiation, Greenpeace answered a call to help evacuate them from their once rich, but now contaminated home island. We continue to stand with the Marshallese community – as we do with other communities that suffer displacement and colonial exploitation – in their fight for justice for the nuclear weapons legacy, and for the threats they are already feeling from climate change.
    “The bonds between Marshall Islands and Greenpeace are very strong and have stood the test of time. They say we rescued them from a contaminated Rongelap, but the reality is that they rescued themselves – the Marshallese are the strong and brave people who took their future into their own hands and continue to do so. We cannot relocate the world – it is only through standing and acting together that we will make the needed difference that saves us all. In the fight for justice, our voices will not be silenced.”
    First displaced by nuclear fallout, the people of Mejatto – and across the low-lying Marshall Islands – are facing ‘threats from all sides’ as the climate crisis accelerates impacts to their homes, livelihoods, and cultures. Mejatto has been in drought for three months with once predictable seasonal rain failing to arrive, increasing extreme heat impacting health and food availability, and coastal erosion eating away the land.
    The Rainbow Warrior is in the Marshall Islands as part of a six-week mission across the country with a team of nuclear specialists onboard conducting independent research to support the government in its ongoing fight for nuclear justice and compensation; and to reaffirm its solidarity with the Marshallese people – now facing further harm and displacement from the climate crisis, and the emerging threat of deep sea mining in the Pacific.[4]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Message to Health Minister – hear the voice of health unions if you want a better health system – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The PSA is urging Health Minister Simeon Brown to work closely with unions to ensure the health system delivers the better patient outcomes he constantly talks about.
    “We agree with the Minister on one thing – New Zealanders deserve a health system that ensures patients get timely, quality health care, but he’s going about it the wrong way,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “His announcement today does not mention the role of unions and our place in the health system.
    “We know the playbook here – keep running down the public health system to justify going down the slippery slope of privatisation where care based on need is replaced by ability to pay.
    “Any review must ensure the public health system is protected. Unions and health workers have a critical role to play in making sure we have a health system that delivers for New Zealanders. Workers know what needs to happen to improve delivery and right now they are saying the Government’s cuts are damaging health services.
    “This Minister is overseeing a system that is still laying off workers and one that needs more funding, far more than the Government is prepared to inject to recognise our ageing population and the rising cost of health care.
    “That’s the real issue here. And the Minister can start by reversing the planned deep cuts to the IT team at Health NZ Te Whatu Ora which keeps critical systems going in our hospitals.
    “Our message to the Minister is clear – work with us, fund the system properly and stop playing politics. The stakes are too high, patients’ lives are at stake.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Record number of Māori and Pacific midwifery graduates at Ara – ARA Institute of Canterbury

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    There is no doubt the cohort of Māori and Pacific midwives at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Autumn graduation are a special (and groundbreaking) group.
    Among the record 10 Māori and two Pasifika graduates, two had babies while studying and all are now either self-employed or joining the ranks at the hospitals and birthing units around the motu, with four already established in their own whānau Māori-focused practice.
    They began their Bachelor of Midwifery studies at the advent of Te Whatu Ora-funded Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora in 2021 – an initiative created to help address the need for more Māori and Pasifika midwives by providing pastoral care, academic and some financial support.
    Ara’s Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora liaison Jay Waretini said the impact of the size of the cohort and those coming in behind them was immense.
    “There is a real shortage of Māori and Pasifika midwives across the country so to have these graduates servicing the community is nothing short of significant,” she said. “We’re doubling the numbers. Each and every one will make a difference.”
    “They’ve overcome their barriers, jumped the hurdles, and grounded themselves to be able to cross that stage this week. I’ve never felt pride like this before.”
    Waretini acknowledged the significant support of Dr Kelly Tikao, and Ara academic Dr Jaqui Martin in the success of the programme, as well as the connections formed with Ngā Maia (the National Professional body for Māori Midwives), Māori Midwives ki Tahu (a regional body of Māori Midwives), and the Te Puawaitanga ki Otāutahi Trust kaupapa Māori organisation.
    “Our entire midwifery staff team has also held space and created change in response to what our ākonga Māori and Pasifika needs are. It’s a whole team effort,” she said.
    Toni Weiser, one of the four graduate wahine behind the new Ōhua Midwives practice said the whole class had a pact to ensure no-one was left behind.
    “We had each other’s backs. It felt like we wrapped a korowai of care around each other to ensure we all succeeded,” she said. “There were challenges, especially in the first year, but Jay brought us together, gave us strength and created a whānau vibe.”
    Study highlights for Weiser were the national Te Ara o Hine-Tapu Ora hui and fono when Māori and all Pasifika students came together with their peers to be immersed in culture and restore mauri.
    “We now have connections all over Aotearoa as we head into our practice. For me, finding people to lean into was huge as I evolved as a person through my degree,” she said.
    For all the celebration, both at a special gathering for whānau on Thursday night and at graduation on Friday, Waretini said there was still a way to go.
    “With Māori and Pasifika making up just 10% and 5% of all midwives respectively, the workforce crisis is not yet resolved. There is still work to do but we are in much better shape with this latest influx of Māori and Pasifika graduates.” she said.
    “Our profession has been eagerly awaiting their arrival.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Politics – Workforce legislation review another attack on health workers – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    The Government’s reviewing of health workforce legislation represents another attempt to attack health professions and the health workforce, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
    NZNO Kaiwhakahaere says there is no basis to Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claims the current health workforce regulations were overly bureaucratic and slowed down access to care “making it harder for patients to get the services they need”.
    “There’s basically no evidence presented to suggest that there needs to be a change anywhere. It’s merely a set of ideological assertions. Where is the evidence of the problem that is being sought to be addressed?”
    Kerri Nuku says the Minister has got this wrong on many fronts including the inclusion of an understanding of tikanga Māori, the workforce crisis, and the level of competency required by health professionals.
    “Of course, the inclusion of an understanding of tikanga Māori is central to any profession in Aotearoa NZ and especially in health where the current underserving of Māori is a scandal.
    “We’ve actually got 50% of our nurses from overseas. We need to find work for the Internationally Qualified Nurses already in NZ and ensure they’re culturally competent instead of bringing in more.
    “New Zealand’s 1000 hours of clinical versus 800 hours in Aussie? How can it be a bad thing that we expect more of our nurses training?”
    The review’s suggestions are regressive and needed a rethink as it seems like a return to the now discredited changes of the 1980/90s where ideology trumped evidence, she says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Ara graduation speaker shares triumph over ‘tricky times’

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    Jessica Westley and Shaun Raddock signed up for matching qualifications during Covid lockdowns while raising four “wonderful, energetic, neurodiverse children” then aged 3 to 13.
    Four years later, Jessica took centre stage to share her study experience at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s autumn graduation, with Shaun, just two papers behind her cheering her on.
    She paid tribute to the ‘incredibly understanding tutors and department heads’ who helped her achieve her Bachelor of International Tourism and Hospitality Management degree.
    “Those who have experience with neurodiversity know that every day can be a challenge, however, with their support we’ve managed to navigate the tricky times and appreciate the easier moments better,” she told those gathered.
    She said the degree was geared towards her ultimate dream to own and manage a tiny home tourist venture. “The boost to my confidence that achieving study awards and this qualification has given me is huge – proving to myself and my children that no matter your age or past experiences, if you set your mind to something, you can achieve anything.”
    Staff, students but also Ara’s partners and stakeholders in local industry were front of mind for Ara Executive Director Darren Mitchell.
    “We sincerely thank you for your ongoing support as we seek to transform lives through vocational education,” he said. “I know these graduates will be super keen to get out there and show our community how talented they really are.”
    Well over 900 attended Ara’s two Autumn ceremonies in the Wolfbrook Arena including hundreds receiving bachelor’s degrees, dozens of post-graduate qualifications, 19 master’s degrees and hundreds more diplomas and certificates.
    The biggest cohort was in Health Practice with 233 nurses, midwives, medical imaging professionals and other related graduates now equipped to contribute to New Zealand’s vital healthcare sector.
    They include Ara’s largest ever contingent of Māori and Pacific midwives, four of whom have already set up Ōhua Midwives, a practice specialising in the care of whānau Māori.
    One of the group, Toni Wiesler, said their plans formed while in their second year of study.
    “We all wanted to work together but couldn’t find a way and then we had a ‘lightbulb moment’ to start our own practice which was exciting and terrifying all at once.”
    Wiesler said the classmates added plans to the Ōhua Midwives kete over time and by the end of their study they were ready to go.
    “We had to rise above the doubts, but it was the best decision we ever made. We are looking to grow, and we can’t wait.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public Health Warning: Nitazenes found in counterfeit oxycodone tablets in NSW

    Source: Australian Green Party

    NSW Health is warning the community about the dangers of nitazenes following the detection of nitazenes in fake oxycodone tablets in NSW.
    The fake oxycodone tablets were found to contain N-desethyl isotonitazene, and have been described as green round tablets, marked ‘OC’ on the front and ‘80’ on the reverse, and lack a film coating.  
    Pharmacy-dispensed oxycodone, sold as the brand name Oxycontin, is now marked ‘ON’ instead of ‘OC’ and has a film coating.
    Nitazenes are extremely potent synthetic opioids which are more likely to suppress or stop breathing compared with other opioids.
    NSW Poisons Information Centre Medical Director Dr Darren Roberts said these drugs are extremely dangerous, as they can be hundreds of times more potent than oxycodone and can cause severe overdose or death.
    “Nitazenes are extremely potent and can vary widely in their strength,” Dr Darren Roberts said.
    “As they are illicit and unregulated, there is no way of knowing what type of nitazene is present or what dosage is being taken. The strength and contents can vary widely, even within the same batch.
    “It is extremely important that people recognise the signs of an opioid overdose, signs to look for include pin-point pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing/snoring, and skin turning blue/grey.
    “It’s strongly recommended that anyone who uses illicit drugs carry naloxone,” Dr Roberts said.
    Nitazenes have been detected in fake tablets, such as oxycodone and benzodiazepines, and in drugs thought to be heroin or MDMA.
    Take home naloxone is a life-saving treatment which can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, including with nitazenes.
    Nitazenes can last longer in the body than oxycodone, heroin and naloxone. Higher and repeated doses of naloxone may be required as well as hospital treatment.
    Anyone who uses naloxone should call Triple Zero (000) for an Ambulance immediately after use for follow up care. You won’t get into trouble for seeking medical care. If you feel unwell, or if your friend feels unwell, do something about it.
    Take home naloxone is available as an easy-to-use nasal spray or injection from some pharmacies and other health services. For more information on the take-home naloxone program visit: Your Room – Naloxone.
    Naloxone is available from NUAA via mail in a discreet package. Order via their online shop or call (02) 9171 6650.
    Anyone who has concerns about adverse effects from drugs should contact the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, at any time 24/7.
    For support and information on drug and alcohol problems, contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 1800 250 015. This is a 24/7 service offering confidential and anonymous telephone counselling and information.
    NSW public drug warnings are available at Public drug warnings.
    ​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scott to Address Riverdale Kiwanis Club

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

    Rep. Scott to Address Riverdale Kiwanis Club

    Congressman David Scott will provide remarks about Medicare Part-D, the state of the 13th Congressional District, his experiences during a recent trip to Iraq, and other issues during a forum hosted by the Riverdale Kiwanis Club. The public is invited to attend this event. For more information, please call 770-471-2436.

    WHEN: Saturday, March 11, 2006 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

    WHERE: Riverdale City Hall 6690 Chuch Street Riverdale, GA 30274

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Danny K. Davis Stands with Democratic Leaders at National Rally Opposing President Trump’s Harmful Policies

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

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) joined fellow Democratic lawmakers, activists, and community leaders in a powerful show of unity at today’s national rally in opposition to President Donald Trump’s latest policies, which threaten democracy, economic justice, and fundamental human rights.

    The rally, organized by progressive advocacy groups, including MoveOn and other grassroots organizations, saw thousands take to the streets demanding an end to policies that roll back civil rights protections, harm working families, and undermine America’s commitment to global humanitarian aid.

    “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and today, we send a clear message to the Trump administration: we will not stand by as policies that hurt working-class families, communities of color, and vulnerable populations continue to be implemented,” said Congressman Davis. “From slashing critical public safety and health programs to dismantling international aid organizations like USAID, the administration’s actions have real and devastating consequences.”

    Congressman Davis emphasized the urgent need to resist recent budget cuts that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, including reductions in funding for minority-owned businesses, affordable housing, and public safety initiatives such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. He also strongly condemned the administration’s attempts to dismantle USAID, highlighting the organization’s crucial role in disaster relief, poverty reduction, and global health initiatives.

    “Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant and stand together to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms,” Davis continued. “The people have the power, and we are here today to amplify their voices, demand justice, and fight back against these draconian policies.”

    As a longtime advocate for economic and racial justice, Congressman Davis reaffirmed his commitment to legislative action that counters harmful policies, strengthens social safety nets, and ensures all Americans have access to equal opportunities.

    ### About Congressman Danny K. Davis
    Congressman Danny K. Davis represents Illinois’ 7th Congressional District and has been a steadfast advocate for civil rights, criminal justice reform, healthcare, and economic equity. Throughout his tenure in Congress, he has worked to expand opportunities for marginalized communities and fight against policies that threaten social and economic justice.

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Tumia Romero
    Chief of Staff, Congressman Danny K. Davis
    Email: tumia.romero@mail.house.gov

    Would you like to add any specific details or tailor the tone further?

    MIL OSI USA News –