Families First, Immigrants, Cattle, Education, Fair Housing, Hospitals, Inmates, Mental Health, Transgenders, Pharmacies, Rulemaking, Student Loans, Internet, Coronavirus

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to March 22, 2020

Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Denounce Discrimination Against Asian Americans and Urge Unity in Responding to Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: National Congress of American Indians
March 17, 2020
The nation’s leading civil rights and racial justice organizations issued a joint urgent call to action against racism and discrimination targeting Asian Americans related to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
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The National Council of Jewish Women Applauds the US Senate’s Action On Families First Act
Source: National Council of Jewish Women, Inc.
March 18, 2020
“Among many important provisions, workers will be granted two weeks of emergency paid sick leave and twelve weeks of job-protected emergency paid family and medical leave for employees who work at companies that employ 500 people or less; increased Medicaid funding and guaranteed, no-cost coverage of COVID-19 testing in public and private health insurance; and emergency funding for unemployment insurance and for several nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These are critical and necessary efforts to ensure individuals and families can stay home while retaining their livelihoods, ultimately reducing pressure on our health care facilities and saving lives.”
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Watchdog Report: May Never Know How Many Children Were Separated
Source: National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
March 18, 2020
“It’s pretty damning that we may never have a full accounting of how many children were or remain separated – and that Border Patrol still may not be properly tracking families. Not only was this Administration’s family separation policy heartless – they bungled its implementation at every turn. The Acting DHS Secretary claims no children have been lost – but is withholding documents on this matter from Congress. It’s time for the Administration to come clean and provide these so we can get a full accounting of this policy.”
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NAR Survey Finds Nearly Half of Realtors® Say Home Buyer Interest Has Decreased Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak
Source: National Association of Realtors
March 19, 2020
“As the country reels both economically and emotionally from the spread of COVID-19, NCBA has been hard at work ensuring that cattle producers remain able to focus on the national infrastructure priority of keeping high-quality beef available to consumers."
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NCBA Sends Letter to Capitol Hill Urging Relief for Cattle Producers
Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
March 19, 2020
Nearly half of Realtors® – 48% – said home buyer interest has decreased due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors®. That percentage tripled from a week ago when it stood at 16%. Almost seven in 10 Realtors® – 69% – said there’s no change in the number of homes on the market due to the coronavirus outbreak, down from 87% a week ago.
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NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER TO INCREASE LIVE ONLINE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH JEFFREY ROSEN AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERTS
Source: National Constitution Center
March 19, 2020
The National Constitution Center today announced increased offerings to support students and citizens with virtual learning resources including live lectures and conversations with constitutional experts.
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NEA to Congress: Put people first to alleviate suffering caused by COVID-19
Source: National Education Association
March 19, 2020
As COVID-19 cases are increasing daily, schools have shuttered, cities are going into quarantine, and panic has begun to grip the American public. Although the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was a step in the right direction to provide much-needed relief, Congress cannot stop there. The National Education Association is calling on members of Congress and the Trump administration to implement immediate financial support measures first, along with regulatory relief that students desperately need from the Department of Education.
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Thousands Submit Comments to HUD Opposing Its Attack on Fair Housing
Source: National Fair Housing Alliance
March 19, 2020
More than 19,500 individuals and organizations submitted comments in response to a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed rule that would gut an essential civil rights tool under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) before the public comment period closed this week. The Trump administration proposed the rule in January and has since received widespread opposition from a wide array of civil rights advocates, legal experts, business groups and private citizens throughout the country.
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NILC Reacts to Coronavirus Phase 3 Legislation
Source: National Immigration Law Center
March 19, 2020
“The coronavirus phase 3 legislation introduced in the Senate is not a product of bipartisan negotiations. This is another gift to corporations that leaves out millions of tax-paying immigrants, many of whom have family members who are U.S. citizens. Our nation is facing a pandemic that does not discriminate and threatens to wipe out people’s livelihoods and devastate our economy. It is unconscionable that the Republican-controlled Senate continues to play politics with the health and well-being of Americans. We are all at risk when millions are left behind."
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Newhouse Urges Congressional Leadership to Strengthen Rural Hospitals During COVID-19 Outbreak
Source: U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse (R WA, 4th)
March 20, 2020
Rep. Dan Newhouse joined his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urgently requesting additional resources for rural health care providers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The letter was signed by a bipartisan group of 28 Members of Congress.
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Norton Calls on U.S. Parole Commission to Use Its Authority to Protect D.C. Residents and Others Under its Jurisdiction During Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: National Constitution Center
March 20, 2020
“The U.S. Parole Commission has the authority to release certain inmates, such as those being held for technical supervision violations,” Norton said. “The Commission should use its authority to ensure the health of inmates, staff and the public.”
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NASW Thanks President Trump, Congress for Swift Action To Promote COVID-19 Mental Health Access
Source: National Association of Social Workers
March 20, 2020
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds the Trump Administration and Congress for swiftly enacting vitally needed legislation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including ensuring broad access to Medicare mental health services via telehealth. Millions of older adults now practicing social distancing to avoid spread of the coronavirus will now be able to receive in-home teletherapy via video chat on their cell phone. NASW urges administration officials and lawmakers who are currently developing the next COVID-19 package, a massive $1 trillion economic stimulus bill, to continue to prioritize strengthening the social safety net.
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State, Regional and National Organizations Urge Gov. Little to Veto Trans Sports Ban Bill
Source: National Center for Transgender Equality
March 20, 2020
House Bill 500 bans transgender student athletes from participating in sports, which is counter to current policies set by the Idaho High School Activities Association. Idaho would become the first state in the country to pass legislation targeting transgender student athletes.
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Letter: Pharmacy has a critical role to play in COVID-19 crisis
Source: National Community Pharmacists Association
March 20, 2020
"As the coronavirus pandemic continues having huge implications on our health care system, small business neighborhood pharmacies are proving what we say all the time: that they are crucial to the health of their community, whether in crisis or not."
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State Groups Request Formal Pause to Active Rulemakings and Non-Rulemaking Notices
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures
March 20, 2020
Seven state organizations, National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, The Council of State Governments, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, United States Conference of Mayors and International City/County Management Association, requested President Donald Trump to formally pause all open public comment periods concerning both active rulemakings and non-rulemaking notices across every federal department or agency.
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Trump Administration’s plan to pause student loan payments is woefully insufficient
Source: National Consumer Law Center
March 20, 2020
“The administration’s plan to allow borrowers to request a pause in payments is woefully insufficient for addressing the needs of millions of student loan borrowers struggling during this public health crisis. Borrowers who may be short on funds and have limited bandwidth between juggling changes in their childcare and work plans should not have to also find time to consult with their loan servicer. "
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NDIA has just launched a new, national listing of Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans
Source: National Digital Inclusion Alliance
March 20, 2020
The COVID-19 health crisis has shed light on the need for home internet service, and the large number of American households in all kinds of communities who don’t have it. Some Internet Service Providers have responded with new or improved discount broadband plans, that will only be available for a short time; others continue to offer plans that were created prior to the crisis. NDIA commits to keeping this list of Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans updated daily.
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NIH shifts non-mission-critical laboratory operations to minimal maintenance phase
Source: National Institutes of Health
March 20, 2020
To further reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and enhance the safety of staff, the National Institutes of Health is shifting all non-mission-critical laboratory operations to a maintenance phase. Beginning on Monday, March 23, only mission-critical functions within NIH research laboratories will be supported. Mission-critical functions include the following: care of research participants in NIH clinical protocols that are non-elective, research directly on COVID-19, urgent public health research recommended by NIH scientific leadership, work involving significant research investments that could be lost if not continued, and protection of life, property and resources, including the care of research animals. This follows a March 13 guidance to all eligible NIH staff to telework to the maximum extent possible.
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Local Leaders Call for Funds Directly for Cities in Senate COVID-19 Legislation
Source: National League of Cities
March 21, 2020
"As local communities continue to combat the spread of COVID-19 across our nation, we need legislation on Capitol Hill that prioritizes getting funding to cities, towns and villages," said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities. "Right now, we estimate that nationally, cities will need at least $250 billion in emergency funding. Local leaders stand ready to work beside Congress to help counteract the devastating economic effects brought on by the Coronavirus."
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New Jersey asks for Military Intervention and More News about the Coronavirus Epidemic

New Jersey has reported over 400 positive cases of COVID-19 and five deaths, according to Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). He is requesting that the military get involved due to shortages of hospital beds. Senator Menendez joined the New Jersey Delegation in a letter to Trump, which reads in part:

“The State of New Jersey is already working around the clock to revitalize and expand hospital infrastructure, but it will need support from the federal government to be sufficiently prepared for the anticipated influx of severe COVID-19 cases,” New Jersey’s congressional delegation wrote in a letter to President Trump. “New Jersey has already mobilized its national guard to investigate how to increase hospital infrastructure. Furthermore, our state’s Health Commissioner has been working with hospitals in reopening closed hospital wings, and is reviewing if it is possible to restore a closed hospital. Support at the federal level will help our state to meet its needs and allow those who contract the coronavirus to receive lifesaving healthcare.”

Mental Health America (MHA) announced that 1,015 additional mental health screeners nationwide have screened with a severe anxiety result in the month since the coronavirus worry began to emerge. “We have been monitoring an overall increase in anxiety screening since the middle of February, when concerns about COVID-19 began to grow,” reported Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of MHA

In a ruling that blocks the Trump Administration’s stricter work requirements for certain recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the attorneys general for 19 states, the District of Columbia, the City of New York, and 3 private plaintiffs, to temporarily block the finalized rule that would have gone into effect on April 1, and stripped benefits from an estimated 700,000 able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs.

Even without the ruling, the Family First legislation that was just passed to assist Americans during the Coronavirus crisis suspends this requirement temporarily.

To meet the needs of borrowers who may be impacted by the coronavirus, last week Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (“the Enterprises”) reminded mortgage servicers that hardship forbearance is an option for borrowers who are unable to make their monthly mortgage payment,” Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria said in a statement.

“As with any other event that negatively impacts a borrower’s ability to pay their monthly mortgage payment, FHA’s suite of loss mitigation options provides solutions that mortgagees should offer to distressed borrowers – including those that could be impacted by the Coronavirus – to help prevent them from going into foreclosure. These home retention options are located in FHA’s Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 Section III.A.2,” FHA said in a statement

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), to introduce legislation that would ensure Americans are able to vote this year, despite disruptions caused by COVID-19. The bill would expand early in-person voting and no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail to all states, and allowing voters who did not receive an absentee ballot to use a printable ballot currently only provided for military and overseas voters. The legislation comes as five states have already postponed primaries in response to the pandemic.

Amendment to Address Mental Health, Suicide Issues with Law Enforcement Passed

Washington, D.C. -March 6, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- The House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment to H.R. 1140, the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act. The amendment would address widely reported mental health and violence issues by Federal Air Marshals by ensuring the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) works with the Federal Air Marshal Service to provide solutions.

Congressman Kim’s speech in support of this amendment can be found by clicking here.

“Our law enforcement officers who work every day to keep thousands of airline passengers and crew safe are in a state of emergency, and it’s up to us to find solutions,” said Congressman Kim. “This amendment will give our Federal Air Marshals the help they need at this critical time. The cost of inaction is too high. It’s time for us to work together to save lives and honor the work these men and women do every day.”

The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act would strengthen the security operations of the TSA by providing TSA officers additional workplace rights and protections. The bill has been endorsed by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) and the American Federation of Government of Employees (AFGE).

Mental Health

Today's News from the Lawmakers

CCHR Condemns FDA's Approval of Electricity-Zapping for 'ADHD' Kids
Source: The Ponder News
May 1, 2019
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a device to zap a low-level electrical pulse through the forehead of 7-12 year olds as treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).[1] But the mental health watchdog, Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), says with concern that some psychiatrists have now turned to the FDA to approve a device that "electro-shocks children into docility."

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FDA permits marketing of first medical device for treatment of ADHD
Source: The Ponder News
April 22, 2019
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has permitted marketing of the first medical device to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The prescription-only device, called the Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) System, is indicated for patients ages 7 to12 years old who are not currently taking prescription ADHD medication and is the first non-drug treatment for ADHD granted marketing authorization by the FDA.

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CCHR Condemns FDA's Approval of Electricity-Zapping for 'ADHD' Kids

by: Citizens Commission on Human Rights

Los Angeles, CA - May 1, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a device to zap a low-level electrical pulse through the forehead of 7-12 year olds as treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).[1] But the mental health watchdog, Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), says with concern that some psychiatrists have now turned to the FDA to approve a device that "electro-shocks children into docility."

The Monarch eTNS System device costs around $1,000, according to CNN. A patch placed on the forehead uses a 9-volt lithium battery stimulation that creates a "tingling sensation" on the skin between the eyebrows.[2] Jan Eastgate, president of CCHR International says, "With no FDA regulation of psychiatry,[3] this latest practice of zapping a lack of focus could send a wrong message to children. There are psychiatrists that would have them believe that electricity pulsing through their brain while they sleep may help control impulsive behavior." And pediatric neurologist, Dr. Fred Baughman advises parents that there is no proof that "ADHD" behavior has a medical or neurobiological cause.[4]

Recently, the FDA also cleared the usage of electroshock treatment—up to 460 volts of electricity through the brain—for adolescents aged 13 and above with "bipolar" disorder.[5] Yet according to the FD&C Act, the "FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine."[6] As such, "How psychiatrists administer electroshock is a free-for-all license for potentially committing 'mental euthanasia' on anyone they please, including children," Eastgate adds. She called on people to sign CCHR's petition to ban ECT

Freedom of Information requests CCHR filed in seven U.S. states reveal that psychiatrists are electroshocking kids aged five and younger.[7]

It is common for psychiatrists to say they don't know how ECT "works." In a petition to the FDA Commissioner in 2016, Constitutional attorney, Jonathon Emord noted, "How ECT 'works' and even if it works is highly disputed."[8]

Nor are there clinical studies proving safety and efficacy of ECT devices, Emord says.[9] Likewise, the exact mechanism of the Monarch eTNS System and its long term effects is unknown.[10]

As Forbes pointed out: "There are nearly a dozen neurostimulation devices on the market that claim to improve cognitive function by allowing you to zap your brain with a small electrical current. But just because you can now do this at home doesn't mean it's a good idea. ECT uses electrical current in the range of 600-1000 milliamps.... But you're welcome to zap your brain with a much lighter touch of roughly 1-2 milliamps from the comfort of your couch for anywhere between $99 and $800 dollars. That is, if you don't mind leaving the state of your brain up to chance."[11]

The marketing hype fed parents for this new device is likely to go something like this, Eastgate says: The "zapping" ADHD device is a "noninvasive treatment" and less risky than cocaine-like amphetamines or stimulants currently prescribed to treat "ADHD." This avoids drug side effects like anorexia, poor growth and cardiovascular problems.[12]

Jessica Baron, writing in Forbes noted, "While it's true that the [neurostimulation] electrodes don't penetrate your head, they must produce enough current to reach the brain in order to have any effect at all. Calling these products 'noninvasive' is merely a marketing technique and a misleading one if you ask me."[13]

Researchers do not understand the effects of long-term use of brain stimulation, but say that no brain region exists in isolation. Modulating one brain area may impact on other areas.[14]

Nick J. Davis Ph.D. from the Department of Psychology, Swansea University in the UK, explains that because the brain continues to develop until the age of 20, stimulation in children and adolescents would have a stronger impact.[15]

Davis said there is evidence that enhancing one aspect of cognition may be detrimental to other cognitive faculties. "There is also the worrying possibility that electrical stimulation of the skull may induce or inhibit bone growth, an issue of particular importance in children whose cranial bones are not yet fused. This latter possibility has not been explored in human volunteers in brain stimulation experiments," Davis wrote in 2014.[16]

Davis pleaded for "calm and caution" when opting for stimulation device use in children because serious effects of transcranial stimulation include seizure, mood changes or induction of hyper- or hypo-mania.

It's a "calm and caution" the FDA ignores, Eastgate alleges. The studies of the current ADHD device have been small—about 60 children, using the device or a placebo each night for four weeks only. [17] However, Carlos Peña, Ph.D., Director, Division of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said: "This new device offers a safe, non-drug option for treatment of ADHD in pediatric patients."[18]

Dr. Peña also said that the FDA's Final Order on the ECT device classification provides information on its "safe and effective use" of ECT devices.[19]

Yet he was part of an FDA hearing in 2014 investigating the practice of aversive conditioning electrical devices to modify undesirable behavior.[20] In that case, the FDA recommended the device be banned, saying it subjected residents at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts to "an unreasonable and substantial risk to public health."[21] For almost three decades the Center has been zapping its special-needs residents with a custom-designed electric shock machine that delivers charges of up to 41 milliamps—10 times the amperage used in most stun guns—to their legs, arms, hands, feet, fingers or torsos via electrodes on the skin.[22] In 2013, Juan Mendez, the UN's former special rapporteur on torture, concluded that the rights of students "subjected to electric shocks and physical means of restraints have been violated under the UN convention against torture."[23]

CCHR says ongoing dangerous decisions by the FDA warrant a Congressional investigation into children and others potentially being put at substantial health and mental risk.

“We do not have an independent, valid test for ADHD, and there is no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction.”— National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Statement

MHA Statement on House Resolution 1112

by: Mental Health America

Washington, D.C. - March 4, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- “Mental Health America is deeply disappointed that in HR 1112, language is included that perpetuates historic, unfair and unfounded assumptions and prejudices about people experiencing or living with a mental health condition. It is built upon the widely held, but erroneous, belief that equates mental illness with violence.

“Studies confirm that less than 4% of violent crime, of any type, is committed by persons with a diagnosed mental illness. The greatest indicator of violence is past violence, not a mental illness diagnosis. Millions of people have mental illnesses and never have a violent thought or idea. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are more likely be victims of violence.

“This is why what may be a well-intentioned move away from the antiquated term “mental defective,” to “adjudicated with mental illness, severe developmental disability, or severe emotional instability” stills fall far short, and remains blatantly discriminatory in its substance and implications.

“Experiencing an episode that affects one’s mental health, living with a mental illness, experiencing emotional disturbance, or having developmental disability is not something to which a person is or should be adjudicated by the judicial system, nor should it or does it automatically imply dangerousness.

“MHA is working closely with its allies to see that legislative language regarding prohibitions or restrictions regarding firearms reflects the fact that there are times when a person may be and should be deemed to be ineligible to purchase or possess a firearm due to their mental status, it is not solely because they experience or have experienced a mental condition.”

We're Back!

The Ponder News
http://thepondernews.com
January 28, 2018

We're Back
The Ponder News
After 4 days of trying to download the Bitcoin Wallet, we've changed our minds. It was taking too long, and we have too much to do, and was missing too much because of it.

So, rather than download the Wallet onto my computer, we've chosen another route:

Blockchain Wallet

Sorry about the inconvenience, and we look forward to going back to work.

Click Here to sign up for your Bitocoin Wallet!
https://blockchain.info/wallet/#/

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Amata Welcomes Senator Hatch’s Companion Bill to Her House-Passed Air Service Legislation
Aumua Amata (R - American Samoa, At Large)
Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed newly introduced companion legislation from the honorable Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, that mirrors her bill to ensure reliable air service in American Samoa.
Read more...
https://radewagen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amata-welcomes-senator-hatch-s-companion-bill-her-house-passed-air

1-25-2018 Sen. Alexander Joins Fox News To Talk About Immigration
Senator Lamar Alexander (R - TN)
Watch Senator Lamar Alexander on Fox News about Immigration
Click Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CS2QdVdcF8&feature=youtu.be

Banks Stop $17 Billion in Fraud Attempts in 2016
American Bankers Association
America’s banks prevented $9 out of every $10 of attempted deposit account fraud in 2016, according to the 2017 American Bankers Association Deposit Account Fraud Survey Report released today. Facing increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes, banks have responded by investing in new technologies and enhancing overall customer protections.
Read more...
https://www.aba.com/Press/Pages/DDAFraud012418.aspx

Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Mental Health Reform
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
On Wednesday, January 20th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a hearing on mental health reform on the 114th Congress. The hearing focused primarily on the provisions of the Mental Health Reform Act (S. 1945)– legislation introduced by Committee members Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). While the Committee did not vote on this legislation, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said he wants to “move promptly” to put forward a series of recommendation from a variety of mental health proposals.
Read more...
http://aamft.org/imis15/AAMFT/Content/Advocacy/News_Events.aspx

American Action Network Continues Tax Reform Blitz, Releases $1 Million Digital Campaign
American Action Network
As support for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act continues to rise, American Action Network (@AAN) is launching digital ads in 20 congressional districts illustrating the positive benefits of pro-growth tax reform. The $1 million digital ad campaign will run for two weeks as part of AAN’s $10 million commitment to promote the merits of tax reform following the passage of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The district-specific ads indicate several popular tax provisions, such as increasing the Standard Tax Deduction, along with the $2,000 tax cut a typical family of four will save thanks to Congress making pro-growth tax reform a reality. View the districts targeted here.
Read more...
http://americanactionnetwork.org/press/american-action-network-continues-tax-reform-blitz-releases-1-million-digital-campaign/

Trump to Give First State of the Union
All Sides
President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday where he will outline the economic benefits of the tax cuts and will present his plans for immigration, infrastructure, and trade.
Read more...
https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news

A Question Mark Just Saved James Woods $3 Million
Western Journalism
A single question mark saved one conservative celebrity from paying $3 million in defamation charges.
Read more...
https://www.westernjournal.com/question-mark-just-saved-james-woods-3-million/

CONGRESS APPROVES TWO-YEAR ‘CADILLAC TAX’ DELAY
Alliance to Fight the 40
The Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don’t Tax My Health Care has applauded Congressional leaders for including a two-year delay of the 40% “Cadillac Tax” in their bill to end the government shutdown and provide funding through February 8th. This two-year delay will push the effective date for the “Cadillac Tax” to 2022, and will help to protect health care coverage for the more than 178 million Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance.
Read more...
http://www.fightthe40.com/AlliancetoFightThe40/assets/File/Alliance/FinalCRVote012218.pdf

Solar Panel and Washing Machine Tariffs Signal Hope for American Workers
Alliance for American Manufacturing
The White House announced new tariffs on a flood of imported solar panels and washing machines on Monday. After determining that cheap imports took advantage of America's market, the president imposed tariffs of up to 20 percent for solar panels and up to 50 percent for washing machines.
Read about it
http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/press-releases/entry/solar-panel-and-washing-machine-tariffs-signal-hope-for-american-workers

FEDERAL REGULATORS RESPOND TO OUTCRY FROM ALASKANS CONCERNED ABOUT MINING IN BRISTOL BAY
Alaska Governor's Office
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday took a step that both respects due process rights of the mining industry and acknowledges the concerns many Alaskans have about the potential effects of mining in the Bristol Bay region.
Read about it
https://gov.alaska.gov/newsroom/2018/01/federal-regulators-respond-to-outcry-from-alaskans-concerned-about-mining-in-bristol-bay/

Boyle Introduces STABLE GENIUS Act Requiring Presidential Candidates Undergo and Disclose Medical Examination

By Brendan Boyle (D-PA, 13th)

Seriously?

Washington, D.C. - January 12, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) introduced the Standardizing Testing and Accountability Before Large Elections Giving Electors Necessary Information for Unobstructed Selection (STABLE GENIUS) Act to require that all presidential candidates undergo a standardized medical examination and publicly disclose its results before the election. Specifically, Boyle’s legislation would require candidates whom have won the presidential nomination of a political party to file a report with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as such candidates must do for a host of other campaign-related requirements, certifying that he or she has undergone medical examination by the medical office under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy and containing the results of the examination. All FEC filings are publically available online.

“The President believes he is a ‘stable genius.’ I do not,” said Congressman Boyle. “President Trump’s reckless, erratic behavior has exposed a critical flaw in our existing election process. Before voting for the highest office in the land, Americans have a right to know whether an individual has the physical and mental fitness to serve as President of the United States. While it is necessary to take the current President’s concerning behavior seriously and I support legislation to address these ongoing concerns, I believe we must also be proactive and do all we can to ensure a situation like this does not arise again.”
Boyle concluded, “My legislation provides a much needed safeguard to ensure that future presidential candidates meet the basic standards of a proper, uniform medical examination, and that this information is available to the American public before voting for the Office of the Presidency. While President Trump apparently considers himself a ‘stable genius,’ the American people deserve a thorough, standardized procedure to allow a medical professional to determine this.”

Congressman Boyle remains an outspoken defender of our democratic norms and leadership abroad, and holding the Trump Administration accountable to the American people. Boyle cosponsors H.Res.456, objecting to President Trump’s conduct in office, as well as legislation to require the president to disclose his taxes, disclose communications with the Russian government, and refrain from influencing U.S. policy toward Russia until the FBI’s investigation concludes. Additionally, Boyle cosponsors H.J.Res.120, legislation to prevent any president from pardoning himself or any member of his family, administration, or campaign staff. As co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, Congressman Boyle is fighting for economic opportunity for the middle class, and holding the President accountable for his promises to blue collar workers on labor protections, job security, outsourcing, trade, and manufacturing.

President Trump Signs Young, Donnelly Bill to Improve Mental Health Services for Law Enforcement

By Senator Todd Young (R - IN)



Washington, D.C. - January 11, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- President Trump signed into law U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly’s (D-Ind.) Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act. Donnelly and Young introduced the bill in the Senate in early April and it passed unanimously in May. U.S. Representatives Susan Brooks (IN-05) and Val Demings (FL-10) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives in late April, and it passed the House in November and cleared the Senate on December 21.

Senator Young said, “Our law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day in order to keep us safe, and they can face significant stress and trauma. The President signing our bipartisan bill into law means that these brave men and women will have greater access to mental health services when they need them.”

Senator Donnelly said, “Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve and protect our communities, and it’s important we ensure they have access to mental health services. I’m proud President Trump has signed our bipartisan legislation into law because it will provide tools for law enforcement agencies to help support the mental health and wellness of these brave men and women.”

Representative Brooks said, “I’m grateful that the President signed into law an important bill I led in the House to support law enforcement. Our hardworking men and women in law enforcement deserve better access to mental health services that will allow them to safely cope with the stress and trauma they experience on the job. We place so much emphasis and attention on our police officers’ physical fitness, but we need to do more to ensure they are mentally healthy as well. This law makes grants available to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, develops training for mental health providers specific to law enforcement mental health needs, and supports law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks. It directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to share best practices used by the military to help soldiers with PTSD and other mental health challenges with local law enforcement agencies to better address mental health challenges faced by officers. Ensuring the safety of the law enforcement community in Indiana and across the country is critically important. I am proud to have led this bipartisan effort to support our nation’s police officers with my colleagues in the House, specifically Representatives Demings, Collins, Pascrell and Reichert as well as fellow Hoosiers in the Senate, Senators Donnelly and Young.”

Bryan Roach, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said, “The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is excited that legislation to assist and support Law Enforcement Wellness and Mental Health has passed the necessary review and rigor to be incorporated into law. The value of our officers’ mental health and wellness to the individual officer, the Department and the citizens they serve is meaningful. We strive to provide the best opportunities to succeed in our noble profession, and appreciate efforts of everyone involved with the creation and advocacy of this bill.”

Marion County Sheriff John Layton said, “With each passing year, law enforcement agencies across the country are strengthening their embrace and understanding of the role that mental health care plays in the communities that they serve. Critical Intervention Training - special training that helps law enforcement officers recognize and respond to individuals with mental health needs - is now a common component of training for new officers. Still, placing the needs of their communities above their own, a gap has occurred in mental health and wellness services for these heroic men and women who face dangerous, and even deadly, situations on a daily basis. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act goes a long way to close that gap. It is imperative that we provide robust mental health and wellness care to our law enforcement officers, so they can continue to serve each of their communities at their best. I am so pleased with the passage of this bill, and I’m grateful to Senator Joe Donnelly and Senator Todd Young, and all of Indiana’s representatives in Congress for their support.”

Rick Snyder, Indianapolis FOP President, said, “This is a significant step forward for our law enforcement profession in addressing the mental trauma officers suffer due to acute and repeated exposure to violence, threats of violence and traumatic events. This legislation will allow our communities to better understand these challenges so proper support may be made available to those on the front lines in our cities and towns across America. This legislation is also a great example of bipartisan work within Congress. We value and appreciate the leadership of Senator Donnelley, Senator Young, Congresswoman Brooks and Congresswoman Demings. We are collectively grateful to President Trump for signing this legislation into law and once again demonstrating his support for law enforcement nationwide.

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the FOP, said, “Our officers wear protective clothing and other equipment to keep themselves safe from physical harm, but they also face challenges to their mental health and well-being. It is time we take care of those who watch over and protect us. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act is now law and will help better support the men and women behind the badge. The FOP has been a leader on mental health for law enforcement officers, and we have been proud to work with Senators Donnelly and Young on this effort. The passion Senators Donnelly and Young show for the mental health and wellness of our law enforcement officers should be the standard for every member of Congress.”

Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations, said, “State and local law enforcement officers are our nation’s first responders. They respond to our country’s greatest tragedies as well as violent and abhorrent crimes that unfortunately occur with some frequency in our communities. They have seen and experienced horrors that they cannot forget, yet they still put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act recognizes the stress and strain of the job and gives officers the support and resources they need to address their emotional and mental wellbeing. The enactment of this vital legislation is a victory for officers across the nation and we offer our sincere appreciation to Senators Donnelly and Young for their leadership on this issue and their commitment to ensuring officers have access to the best mental health services available.

William Owensby, President of the Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, said, “Senator Donnelly’s support of Indiana law enforcement reached new heights as legislation authored by him was signed into law. The Senator was approached by the Fraternal Order of Police about helping to provide assistance to law enforcement who suffer from the effects of the stresses of their jobs and he immediately rose to the occasion. With strong bipartisan support from Indiana, the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act was made a reality. Many thanks for the unwavering support Senator Donnelly!"

The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act authorizes grants to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, directs the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to develop resources for mental health providers based on the specific mental health challenges faced by law enforcement, and supports law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks.

It also directs the Departments of Defense (DoD), Justice, and Veterans Affairs (VA) to confer about existing DoD and VA mental health practices and services that could be adopted by law enforcement agencies.

The legislation had the support of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO), the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Recognizing the stress and trauma that law enforcement officers experience and in an effort to support officers, IMPD created initiatives through the Office of Professional Development and Officer Wellness and started a peer mentoring program. These efforts by IMPD helped inspire Donnelly’s and Young’s bill.



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APA and National Council for Behavioral Health Applaud the ISMICC’s First Report

By American Psychiatric Association



Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and National Council for Behavioral Health commend the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its report by the federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC). The report acknowledged that the health care system has failed to meet the needs of adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, and outlined areas to help address this failure.

Based on initial deliberations, the ISMICC’s areas of focus include making it easier to access care, closing the gap between treatment that works and what is offered, and developing financing strategies that increase availability and affordability of care.

The APA and National Council call on the Department of Justice, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and CMS to move swiftly to identify specific, concrete actions each agency can take to move forward these recommendations.

We will continue to contribute to and closely follow the ISMICC as we work together to improve the lives of all people with mental illnesses and addictions. They deserve nothing less.


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Early Intervention in Mental Health is Critical

By Senator Lamar Alexander (R - TN)




Washington, D.C. - December 14, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- At an oversight hearing on the mental health provisions in 21st Century Cures, Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that early intervention for patients with mental health disorders is critical.

“Sean Lester is, by all accounts, a typical, Nashville young adult with a full-time job who also attends college,” Alexander said. “However, just before his 25th birthday, he experienced his first schizophrenic experience and has spent ten weeks receiving psychiatric treatment since 2014. Sean wrote me, saying, “This may seem slightly depressing, but my story does not end there. The doctors and staff I encountered at the hospital and at the Centerstone clinic taught me to live productively again in society. I have been free of the hospital for a whole year now. During that time, I have taken medication, returned to work, and even paid off a car! I am currently enrolled at Tennessee State University as a Junior pursuing a degree in Psychology.’”

Alexander continued: “Sean is one person out of nearly 10 million in the United States with a serious mental health condition. Without treatment, his story could have had a very different outcome. Over the past few years, this Committee has worked in a bipartisan way to update parts of the federal mental health system – including programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – for the first time in over a decade.”

Today’s hearing is the third oversight hearing on the 21st Century Cures Act, which included provisions from the Mental Health Reform Act that passed the committee on March 16, 2016 and updated programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) for the first time in a decade. Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, the first Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, a position created in Cures, has new authorities through Cures to work with states and federal agencies and to help more Americans receive the treatment they need.

“Most of the services, treatment, and care for people with mental health issues is provided by the private sector, like Vanderbilt, or through programs run by the states. The federal government plays a role through Medicaid and SAMHSA, which provided Tennessee with over $80 million grants last year.”

“Prior to our work on Cures, the coordination between federal agencies that provide mental health care was not as effective as it could have been. I hope today we will learn how implementation of these provisions is going. For example, how has coordination improved between federal agencies on the best ways to assist those with mental illness? We hoped that promising research into early intervention programs at the National Institutes of Health would translate into clinical applications for patients… I look forward to hearing about the progress being made to ensure more people can receive the help they need and have positive outcomes like Sean.”


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House Adopts Tonko Amendment to Upgrade Mental Health Crisis Response Systems

Source: House Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY, 20th)

Washington, D.C. - September 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to adopt an amendment by New York Congressman Paul D. Tonko that would allocate $12.5 million to states to establish real-time bed registries to assist individuals experiencing a psychiatric or substance abuse crisis.

Rep. Paul Tonko: “When a person is going through a mental health or substance use crisis, getting immediate and effective treatment can be a matter of life and death. Today, many states today lack a reliable system for keeping track of which treatment facilities have space available, meaning vulnerable patients are left waiting while overburdened healthcare workers call each area hospital, one by one, in the hope that they can find an appropriate placement. Even at its best, this is an inefficient and time-consuming process. At its worst, the results are tragic. By streamlining the process of finding the appropriate treatment placement for patients in crisis, this program promises to save lives, increase system efficiency, and provide a higher standard of care for those who urgently need it.”

The Strengthening Community Crisis Response Systems grant program was authored by Rep. Tonko and included as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by former President Obama.

Bed registries supported by this legislation would collect and provide real-time Internet-based information regarding available beds, the type of patient that may be admitted, the level of security provided, and any other information that may be necessary to allow for the proper identification of appropriate facilities for treatment of individuals in psychiatric or substance abuse crisis.

These systems include psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization centers, first responders, emergency health care providers, primary care providers, law enforcement, court systems, health care payers, social service providers, behavioral health providers, and residential community resources.

HOUSE SET TO APPROVE MURPHY AMENDMENTS TO FUND THE HELPING FAMILIES IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ACT

Source: House Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA, 18th)

Washington, D.C. - September 13, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The House approved all but one of Congressman Tim Murphy's (PA-18) amendments to secure the resources needed to stand up programs previously authorized in the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which was signed into law last year. This afternoon, the remaining amendment to fund Assisted Outpatient Treatment will be up for a roll call vote.

As Chairman of Oversight & Investigations, Murphy spearheaded a multi-year effort aimed at improving our nation’s broken mental health system by improving our antiquated patchwork of ineffective policies and redirecting $130 billion authorized on mental health and addiction treatment into evidence-based programs and treatment. Finally, last year, Congress succeeded in passing Congressman Murphy's mental health reform bill, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which was then signed into law as a part of the 21st Century Cures Act. The next step is to translate the promises Congress made into commitments of action by approving Murphy's amendments to provide the resources needed for the authorized programs.

Murphy’s amendments directed dollars to stand up children's mental health services, pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs, better treatment for individuals in the criminal justice system, development of the mental health workforce, and for a database of inpatient psychiatric facilities to strengthen community crisis response systems.

The last of Murphy’s amendments to be voted on provide full funding for assisted-outpatient treatment (AOT) programs, will be considered later this evening. The timing of the vote on Murphy's amendment has not yet been scheduled, but is expected sometime later this evening. Get live updates here.

“It was a moment of hope for millions of families across the country when Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act,” stated Murphy on the House floor last night. “I am grateful for my colleagues who came together to approve funding for life-saving programs, and ask that as we continue this process, we remember the families in mental health crisis who are counting on us to translate the promises we made into commitments of action.”

When the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act was signed into law as a part of the 21st Century Cures Act, the programs included in the mental health reform bill were approved but not yet funded. The next step is the appropriations process, or the actual funding to translate the law from text on paper to programs in communities. Murphy's amendments are attached to the larger appropriations package, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Act, which will continue to move through the House this week.

The House approved the following amendments last night:

111 Amdt. #77 – Increasing Funds for the Mentally Ill Offender Act (MIOTCRA)
Increases funding by $2 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) to facilitate collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, and mental health and substance abuse treatment system to improve access to effective treatment for people with mental illnesses involved with the justice system. Directs that grants be used to create or expand mental health courts, programs for specialized training to criminal or juvenile justice agency officers and mental health personnel in identifying symptoms to respond to individuals with mental illnesses, and to support cooperation between State and local governments with respect to the mentally ill offenders.

175 Amdt. #91 – Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Promotion, Intervention and Treatment
Provides $5 million for grants to develop, maintain, or enhance infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment programs, including programs for infants and children at significant risk of developing, showing early signs of, or having been diagnosed with mental illness, including a serious emotional disturbance. These programs are to be evidence-based models and practices that can be replicated in other appropriate settings.

176 Amdt. #89 – Increasing Access to Pediatric Mental Health Care
Provides $9 million in grants that will improve access to behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care by supporting the development and improvement of statewide or regional pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs, and further develop regional pediatric mental health teams to provide consultative support for pediatric primary care.

177 Amdt. #88 – Strengthening the Mental and Substance Use Disorders Workforce
Provides $10 million in funding for a training demonstration program awarding grants to train medical residents and fellows to practice psychiatry and addiction medicine, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health service psychologists, and social workers to provide mental and substance use disorders services. Recipients will integrate primary care with mental and substance use disorder care services in under-served and community-based settings.

179 Amdt. #86 – Strengthening Community Crisis Response Systems
Provides funding for grants to strengthen community crisis response systems to develop, maintain, or enhance a database of inpatient psychiatric facilities, crisis stabilization units, and residential community mental health and residential substance use disorder treatment facilities; addressing a lack of inpatient psychiatric beds. Grant applicants will develop crisis response plans to promote integration and coordination between local public and private entities, including first responders, emergency health care providers, primary care providers, law enforcement, and behavioral health providers.

The House will consider the following amendment today:

155 Amdt. #90 – Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Increases court-ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) by $5 million to the fully authorized amount of $20 million total to support the severely mentally ill, allowing them to get treatment in the community without incarceration or hospitalization. AOT reduces incarceration, homelessness, and emergency room visits by upwards of 70 percent.

TSA, Abused Children, Guns, Mental Health, Energy, Healthcare

Following two House Homeland Security inquiries this week into the growing TSA wait lines at airports around the country, Representative John Katco (R-NY, 24th) introduced the bipartisan Checkpoint Optimization and Efficiency Act of 2016, to overhaul TSA bureaucracy and help relieve congestion at airports as peak travel season approaches. The legislation directly addresses the efficiency of the TSA, as well as the current, flawed staffing model used by this agency.

Specifically, the legislation introduced by Representative Katko would:

Grant TSA the flexibility to utilize all personnel present to compensate for long wait lines, including reallocating Behavior Detection Officers to speed up passenger screening efforts and granting greater authority to Federal Security Directors, who know the individual airport best, to make staffing resource decisions.

Ensure that private stakeholders, airports, and government regulators are coordinating response through a staffing advisory committee.

Require TSA to assess its current staffing allocation model and share this model with both air carriers and airports.
Reallocate canine team assets to high volume airports and checkpoints.

Require TSA to establish a service level agreement and minimum staffing numbers with air carriers and airports.

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Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI, 2nd), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth has introduced the bipartisan All Kids Matter Act, which that would allow states to use federal foster care dollars for preventative services to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children who are at-risk of suffering abuse, neglect, or any other traumatic childhood experience.

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At least fifteen U.S. Senators and 10 U.S. Representatives joined together to introduce a resolution in the House & Senate establishing June 2nd as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and designating June as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month.” Every day in America, an average of 297 men, women and children are shot, 91 of them fatally.

Establishing a day to bring attention to the issue of gun violence honors the thousands of Americans who are victims of gun violence every year, including Hadiya Pendleton who was shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois on January 29, 2013. The resolution also urges citizens and community leaders to concentrate heightened attention on gun violence during June, when gun violence typically spikes at the start of the summer months, and to work together to make our communities safer from this violence.

I am supportive of keeping the 2nd Amendment alive. I believe if enough of the right people owned guns, there would be a lot less gun violence, and while I believe that victims of violent crimes should be heard, I don't believe taking guns out of the hands of law abiding people, or making it harder for them to own one, is the answer. I do, however, believe that gun safety education (as opposed to gun safety regulation) is.

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With millions of Americans struggling to access and afford basic mental health services, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, 3rd (D-MA, 4th) introduced a bill to increase the federal Medicaid reimbursement rate for mental and behavioral health care services. Dubbed the “Medicaid Bump,” Kennedy’s bill would enhance the federal match for new, state-based mental health spending.

Medicaid is currently the single largest payer of mental health services in the United States. However, stubbornly low reimbursement rates have impeded gains made under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, making it difficult for providers to accept patients. The impact on access to care has been profound: Nearly half of all counties in the United states have no practicing psychologists, psychiatrists or social workers.

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Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA, 25th) introduced a bill Thursday that would expand opportunities for companies to contract with the federal government for energy production and improve the process for evaluating new energy projects.

H.R. 5349, the Energy Contracting Opportunities Act, would change an outdated rule for federal agencies that limits their ability to enter into long-term contracts with energy companies, bringing them in line with contracting options currently only available to the Department of Defense. This change would give smaller and newer energy companies, including those that work with renewable sources like solar and wind, more opportunities to compete for government contracts to reduce the government’s taxpayer-funded energy bill. This flexible approach has already been a huge success for the Defense Department.

H.R. 5349 would also provide clarity on an issue that has caused major delays in developing new energy projects by requiring a study on impacts that different energy sectors have on bird populations around the country. Not having this information has been a major roadblock for approving new projects. The side-by-side comparison would allow those deciding whether or not to approve or zone for projects to have accurate, up-to-date information on the effects of various energy projects, taking into account the significant industry-driven improvements recently made to energy technology.

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The Rural Health Care Connectivity Act, passed the House of Representatives last week. The bipartisan legislation was included as part of a larger bill, H.R. 2576, the TSCA Modernization Act. Specifically, Loebsack’s bill makes skilled nursing facilities eligible to receive funds through the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Healthcare Program. This is a $400 million program that provides discounts for telecommunications services so that rural healthcare providers pay comparable rates to their urban counterparts, and helps expand healthcare provider access to broadband services.

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Happy Memorial Day. On this day I would like to thank all of those who serve, who have served, and especially all of those who gave all they have to the cause of keeping America free!