Essential, Nurses, Pregnancy, Social Media, Price Gouging, Drugs, News, Elections, Cars, Nuclear Waste, Dependents

Brown Unveils “Heroes Fund” Proposal to Provide up to $25,000 Pay Increase to Essential Workers on Frontline of Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
April 8, 2020
“Workers in hospitals and nursing homes, in the service sector and public safety, and throughout our economy are risking their lives during this public health emergency to keep our citizens safe, and their paychecks should reflect that. Frontline workers also need proper protection from the virus at work, said Senator Brown. “The next coronavirus-response package Congress passes must honor the dignity of their work by including this Pandemic Premium Pay proposal to compensate our frontline heroes and mandatory safety requirements to keep them safe on the job.”
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That would be nice, but, we don't do it for a reward. We do it because, just like everyone else, we want SOME semblance of normality back, and we still have to pay our bills.

The Buckeye Institute: To Fight COVID-19 Ohio Should Allow Nurses to Provide the Medical Care They Are Trained to Provide
Source: Buckeye Institute
April 8, 2020
“The Buckeye Institute has consistently argued and testified that ending restrictive collaboration agreements will help patients receive more affordable health care,” said Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute. “The COVID-19 pandemic makes this commonsense policy recommendation more urgent than ever and Ohio should suspend collaborative supervision requirements on the way to eliminating them so that nurses can help provide the necessary medical care to those in need.”
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Carper Joins Murray in Releasing New GAO Report That Underscores Need to Address Maternal Mortality Crisis
Source: Senator Thomas R. Carper (D - DE)
April 8, 2020
“This GAO report confirms that we must do more to better address the increase in maternal mortality rates we are seeing in the United States. It is simply unacceptable that, in the wealthiest nation on the planet, women are dying from pregnancy-related complications at a higher rate than any other developed country,” said Senator Carper. “We must be laser-focused on figuring out solutions to address the racial and ethnic inequities in our maternal health and support systems and how we can work to address them. It is my hope that this report will help serve as a roadmap of what we know about maternal mortality rates and, from that, identify what we can be doing in Delaware and across the country – at the local, state, and federal level – to address this preventable crisis that is causing too much heartache for American families.”
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Casten Leads Letter Demanding Social Media Platforms Do More to Stop the Spread of Deadly COVID-19 Misinformation Online
Source: U.S Representative Sean Casten (D-IL, 6th)
April 8, 2020
The letter said in part, “In the midst of a global pandemic, we write to you today concerned about the spread of misinformation on your media platforms. We applaud your efforts to collaborate on best practices to help spread good information and tamp down on bad information, but more needs to be done. During a geometrically spreading biological virus, viral social media posts about bogus cures, false claims, and conspiracy theories are deadly. You have great power to influence what the American public thinks is true – and with that power comes great responsibility.”
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RELEASE: CAP Report Details the Need for an Expansive Fourth Coronavirus Relief Package
Source: U.S Representative Sean Casten (D-IL, 6th)
April 8, 2020
An in-depth report from the Center for American Progress lays out a series of recommendations for what Congress should include in its fourth coronavirus relief package. In the first three packages, Congress provided a down payment on the emergency response to the dual public health and economic crises. But with each passing day—exacerbated by the initial slow response by the Trump administration and its continued failures as the crisis has deepened—it is increasingly clear that much more will be needed to allow for a robust public health response, provide relief commensurate to the economic disruption being felt, and protect the most vulnerable Americans. CAP believes that a fourth legislative package will need to be a least as large as the $2.2 trillion CARES Act and must include the following components:
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Quarantine Blues Got You Down? New Website Solves That Problem Just Like Isaac Newton Did
Source: Isaac Newton Project
April 8, 2020
The current pandemic provides just such an opportunity for all of us today. What will we do with our current sorrows? Use them and our unexpected free time to personally grow, or waste them by trying to forget them through diversions such as bingeing on Movies and TV series, which only provide temporary relief?
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COVID-19 Versus the Constitution
Source: E.W. Jackson Sr.
April 8, 2020
There is much speculation about the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. How long will it take for the economy to recover? Will this forever change the social behavior of Americans? Is shaking hands a practice of the past? Is social distancing the way of the future? However, there are far more profound questions that no one seems to be asking. Are we witnessing the permanent erosion of respect for the Constitution? Are we allowing state and local governments to exercise power beyond their constitutional boundaries?
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REP. CISNEROS URGES FOR HAZARD PAY AND PROTECTIONS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS TO HELP ADDRESS COVID-19 IMPACT DISPARITIES
Source: U.S Representative Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA, 39th)
April 8, 2020
“Our essential workers continue to go to work to ensure our community has access to basic and vital services. They put their lives on the line so our grocery shelves are stocked, mail is delivered, and patients receive medical care. Yet, many of our workers are not being paid what they deserve as they risk increased exposure to the coronavirus,” said Rep. Cisneros. “We need to do more than just thank them for their selflessness, we need to provide our essential workers with hazard pay and workplace protections. I join my colleagues in urging Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy to address these priorities in future coronavirus legislation.”
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Rep. Cleaver Introduces Legislation To Combat Price Gouging During National Crises
Source: U.S Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
April 8, 2020
“We often try to hammer down on price gouging as it is ongoing during a catastrophe,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Whether it’s a pandemic or a hurricane, national emergencies are going to happen, and scammers will try to profit from them. Therefore, we need a law that protects consumers from predatory price gougers who pop up during times of turmoil, instead of playing whack-a-mole every time a crisis emerges. I want to thank Senator Klobuchar for her leadership on this common sense bill and working with me to protect American consumers from exorbitant prices on critical supplies during this pandemic, as well as any other crisis that may arise in the future.”
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Senators Collins and Smith’s Bill to Prevent Drug Shortages is Now Law
Source: Senator Susan M. Collins - (R - ME)
April 8, 2020
“As we find ourselves amid the coronavirus pandemic, it’s critical that health care workers have access to the drugs they need to treat patients,” said Senator Smith. “But in 2018—the latest full year we have data for—there were more than 200 drug shortages in the United States, and that number has continued to increase. These bipartisan measures will help mitigate this problem by prioritizing the review of drug applications and inspections in the event of a drug shortage, as well as improving manufacture reporting and planning requirements. I’m glad that Congress passed these measures into law, and hope that they help health care workers and patients.”
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Congress Must Include Local News Funding in Next COVID-19 Stimulus
Source: Common Cause
April 8, 2020
“Local news outlets, ranging from state- to city- and community-level media organizations, are necessary partners in meeting the critical information needs of people in the United States,” the letter reads. “Americans cannot endure an accelerated decline in access to vital information. And like other adversely affected sectors of the economy, local news cannot withstand the hardships of COVID-19 and the worsening economic crisis without federal support. We’re calling on you to include the journalism sector in the congressional assistance packages revitalizing affected industries and sustaining workers across our nation.”
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Congress Must Include Local News Funding in Next COVID-19 Stimulus
Source: Common Cause
April 8, 2020
“Local news outlets, ranging from state- to city- and community-level media organizations, are necessary partners in meeting the critical information needs of people in the United States,” the letter reads. “Americans cannot endure an accelerated decline in access to vital information. And like other adversely affected sectors of the economy, local news cannot withstand the hardships of COVID-19 and the worsening economic crisis without federal support. We’re calling on you to include the journalism sector in the congressional assistance packages revitalizing affected industries and sustaining workers across our nation.”
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Common Cause Calls for Emergency Congressional Hearings on Elections During COVID-19 Pandemic in Wake of Wisconsin Primary
Source: Common Cause
April 8, 2020
“Every American deserves to have their voice heard on election day, but voters should never be forced to risk their personal safety in order to cast a ballot,” said Common Cause president Karen Hobert Flynn. “The decision to hold an in-person election in Wisconsin yesterday was reckless and irresponsible, endangering the lives of tens of thousands of Wisconsinites and needlessly disenfranchising thousands more. Congress must investigate this matter thoroughly and look for ways to ensure something like what happened yesterday is not repeated in November or ever again.”
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New Survey Reveals Teens' Anxieties, How They're Staying Connected, and Their Struggles with Distance Learning Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: Common Sense Media
April 8, 2020
The spread of the coronavirus has upended life for American teenagers, with 95% reporting the cancellation of in-person classes at their schools. Eight out of 10 teens say they're following news about the coronavirus pandemic closely, and more than 60% are worried that they or someone in their family will be exposed to the virus and that it will have an effect on their family's ability to earn a living, according to a new poll by Common Sense and SurveyMonkey.
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U.S. Department of Transportation Enables Carmakers To Bypass Safety Rules, Weakens the Public’s Ability to Hold Them Accountable
Source: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
April 8, 2020
Despite compelling public interest reasons not to do so, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a misguided decision that will short-circuit the public’s ability to scrutinize automakers’ requests to be exempt from federal safety standards, including when companies are trying to rush unproven self-driving cars to market. Under a change formalized on April 7, 2020, NHTSA will no longer require companies seeking these exemptions to provide timely, complete information on their requests prior to posting them for public comment.
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Cornyn Calls on Schumer to Drop Threat to Block Small Business Rescue Funding
Source: Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
April 8, 2020
“Senate Democrats should drop their shameful threat to block this funding immediately. Our small businesses desperately need help – now.”
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IDAHO DELEGATION URGES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO REMOVE SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL FROM INL
Source: Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
April 8, 2020
The delegation stressed that while the 1995 Settlement Agreement deadline to remove spent nuclear fuel from Idaho requires action by the Administration, Congress and states to develop a solution for long-term storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the Department could be preparing spent nuclear fuel stored at the INL for removal. The delegation wrote, “We encourage the Department to initiate activities needed to begin loading of spent nuclear fuel into a multi-purpose canister (MPC) at the Idaho National Laboratory using existing facilities.”
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Rep. DeGette on President Trump’s ventilator distribution mismanagement
Source: U.S. Representative Diana Degette (D-CO, 1st)
April 8, 2020
“Governor Polis and our Congressional delegation have been working to get more ventilators to Colorado for weeks. In fact, Colorado was set to receive 500 ventilators until FEMA blocked the shipment. Now, President Trump says we will get 100 as a courtesy to Senator Gardner. That means, because the president is playing politics with public health, we're still 400 ventilators short from what we should have received. His mismanagement of this crisis is costing lives and livelihoods.”
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Rep. Susan Davis Cosponsors the All Dependent Children Count Act to cover dependents up to age 24
Source: U.S Representative Susan Davis (D-CA, 53rd)
April 8, 2020
“I am hearing from many constituents who are discovering that they are not getting the help they hoped,” said Rep. Davis. “While the CARES Act has provided millions of Americans hurting from the coronavirus with relief, we are seeing too many people falling through the cracks. As Congress considers another stimulus bill, we need to expand recovery rebates to include more dependent children.”
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Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services Partner to Distribute More Than Half a Million Medical Supplies Confiscated from Price Gougers

by U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, D.C. - April 2, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the distribution of hoarded personal protective equipment (PPE), including approximately 192,000 N95 respirator masks, to those on the frontline of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response in New York and New Jersey.

The FBI discovered the supplies during an enforcement operation by the Department of Justice's COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force on March 30 and alerted HHS which used its authority under Defense Production Act (DPA) to order that the supplies be immediately furnished to the United States. In addition to the N95 respirator masks, the supplies found included 598,000 medical grade gloves and 130,000 surgical masks, procedure masks, N100 masks, surgical gowns, disinfectant towels, particulate filters, bottles of hand sanitizer, and bottles of spray disinfectant.

"If you are amassing critical medical equipment for the purpose of selling it at exorbitant prices, you can expect a knock at your door," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "The Department of Justice's COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force is working tirelessly around the clock with all our law enforcement partners to ensure that bad actors cannot illicitly profit from the COVID-19 pandemic facing our nation."

"Cracking down on the hoarding of vital supplies allows us to distribute this material to the heroic healthcare workers on the frontlines who are most in need," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "Thanks to the quick work of the White House, the Department of Justice, and HHS, the seized resources were distributed in days to the doctors, nurses and first responders who need them. President Trump's all-of-America approach to combating the coronavirus involves an aggressive approach to stopping hoarding, and the American public can play a role by being on the lookout for this behavior."

HHS will pay the owner of the hoarded equipment pre-COVID-19 fair market value for the supplies and has begun distributing to meet the critical need for the supplies among healthcare workers in New York and New Jersey.

Specifically, after inspecting the supplies, HHS arranged for the delivery of the PPE to the New Jersey Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

"This is the first of many such investigations that are underway," said Peter Navarro, DPA Policy Coordinator and Assistant to the President. "Our FBI agents and other law enforcement agencies are tracking down every tip and lead they get, and are devoting massive federal resources to this effort. All individuals and companies hoarding any of these critical supplies, or selling them at well above market prices, are hereby warned they should turn them over to local authorities or the federal government now or risk prompt seizure by the federal government."

Vendors interested in selling PPE to the federal government should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency at https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/how-to-help. Anyone who learns of hoarding or price gouging of PPE should report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by dialing 1-866-720-5721 or emailing disaster@leo.gov.

HHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency continue to collaborate with private industry to overcome the shortage of PPE across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Defense Production Act and Presidential Executive Order are intended to prevent accumulation in excess of reasonable demands of business, personal, or home consumption, or for the purpose of resale at prices in excess of prevailing market prices, also known as hoarding and price gouging, of medical supplies critical to the COVID-19 response.

Brown Bill to Crack Down on Drug Company Greed, Protect Taxpayer Dollars Signed into Law

by: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Washington, D.C. - April 23, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- President Trump signed U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) bipartisan measure into law that would prevent drug companies from misclassifying their medications as generic drugs to charge Medicaid, and therefore taxpayers, more money. Brown’s measure follows Mylan’s $465 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for overcharging Medicaid by millions of dollars by misclassifying their EpiPen as a generic medication. Brown’s bill would give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the ability to correctly reclassify a medication and recoup any rebates given to the drug companies when they misclassify a drug. Brown’s measure is part of a bipartisan bill that now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Taxpayers should not be on the hook for the drug companies’ corporate greed,” said Brown. “By going after bad actors who try to rig the game in their favor by misclassifying their products, we can cut down on costs and protect Ohio taxpayers who rely on these medications for their health and the health of their families.”

Brown has led the charge when it comes to lowering the cost of prescription drugs for Ohio patients.

Brown recently re-introduced his Stop Price Gouging Act, which would require drug companies to report and justify increases in drug prices, and penalize drug companies that engage in unjustified price increases with financial penalties proportionate to the price spike.

The Stop Price Gouging Act would:

Require drug companies to report increases in drug prices, and justify the increase.

Penalize drug companies that engage in unjustified price increases with financial penalties proportionate to the price spike.

In addition to the Stop Price Gouging Act, Brown also introduced legislation with Rep. Doggett (D-TX) to put people over big Pharma profits. Their Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate drug prices and, if drug companies refuse to negotiate in good faith, it would enable the Secretary to issue a competitive, compulsory license to another company that is willing and able to produce the medication as a generic.

Last year, Brown and a group of Senators introduced a package of proposals to help bring down the cost of prescription drugs. The package included provisions to stop price spikes by penalizing pharmaceutical companies that engage in price gouging, and would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices – which the President promised to do throughout his campaign. Brown’s bill, which will be reintroduced later this year, has been described as “just about every policy idea drug lobbyists hate.”

Pondering: Price Gouging,Terrorism, Nursing Home, Single Payer Health Care, Equifax, DACA, Retirement, Transportation, Education, Human Trafficking, Automatic Knives, Health Insurance

After airline ticket fares skyrocketed before and following Hurricane Irma, legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to cap airfares when a disaster has been declared. Under the proposed bill, the “AirFAIR Act”, when a state, territory or U.S. possession makes a disaster declaration, airlines would be prohibited from making price hikes exceeding 30%. Furthermore, the Department of Transportation would have authority to further reduce the maximum allowed price increase during catastrophes.

As the nation contends with the aftermaths of Harvey and Irma and prepares for Hurricane Jose, there have been multiple reports of airlines drastically increasing prices. Some consumers noted price increases from $547 to over $3200. Other travelers posted on social media fares of $1,738 for flights between Miami and Indianapolis and a $2,370 flight between Miami and Los Angeles. Airlines have contended that they did not change their pricing structure and that price changes are dictated by computer algorithms on the companies’ booking websites.

Another bill has been introduced to fight terrorism and force the United Nations to define "international terrorism."

The Define It To Fight would withhold ten percent of United States funding to the United Nations (U.N.) until the intergovernmental organization adopts a definition for "international terrorism." Instead, those funds would be directed to the U.S. Treasury for the purpose of reducing the national debt – which now stands at more than $20 trillion.

The U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1373 on September 28, 2001, which created the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) to become the lead U.N. agent in the war on terror. Since then, the CTC has failed to name a single terrorist, terrorist organization or state-sponsor of terrorism. The three U.S.-identified state sponsors of terror – Iran, Syria and Sudan – have submitted reports to the CTC about their compliance with Resolution 1373. In the absence of any U.N. definition of terrorism, all three states have readily proclaimed that they are engaged in a vigorous campaign to combat terrorism despite clear and irrefutable evidence to the contrary.

The United States is the largest contributor to the U.N., providing about $3.3 billion a year to finance U.N. activities and financing 22 percent of their budget.

Eight patients at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills tragically lost their lives because of a ‘prolonged power failure’ that shut down the facility’s air conditioning system. After the first three patients died, more than 100 others were evacuated to various medical facilities, one of which is just across the street from the nursing home.

John Barrasso (R - WY) believes Senator Bernard Sanders' (I - VT) single-payer health care bill, S. 1804, is not only a government takeover of health care, but would also put financial burdens on the American people. He has requested the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide a full cost estimate of the bill.

In the wake of the Equifax breach, legislation has been introduced to require accountability and transparency for data brokers like Equifax who are collecting and selling personal and sensitive information about consumers. The Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act allows consumers to access and correct their information to help ensure maximum accuracy. The legislation also provides consumers with the right to stop data brokers from using, sharing, or selling their personal information for marketing purposes. The bill additionally requires data brokers to develop comprehensive privacy and data security programs and to provide reasonable notice in the case of breaches. The legislation empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the law and promulgate rules within one year, including rules necessary to establish a centralized website for consumers to view a list of covered data brokers and information regarding consumer rights.

President Trump has rescinded Obama's DACA program, causing much outcry from those who supported it. However, rumors have been abounding lately that Trump is making a deal with the Democrats to keep it. When confronted with the news, Trump said that no deal had been reached, and the only way he would even consider making the deal would be if the Democrats agreed to fully fund the Wall.

More than 30 states – including Arkansas and Connecticut – have established Century or Centennial Farms designations and awards. However, no federal recognition for 100-year-old farms currently exists. The Century Farms Act that has been introduced in the Senate will direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a program honoring and recognizing the invaluable contributions of century-old farms.

Because of reports that Washington Republicans are looking at cuts to Social Security and Medicare as well as place new taxes on retirement savings accounts that would reduce workers’ take home pay in order to pay for massive tax cuts for Wall Street, Senator Sherrod Brown (D - OH) has promised in front of the Senate Finance Committee to put up "One hell of a fight". He was not the only one who warned the White House and Senate and House leaders against funding corporate tax breaks by slapping new taxes on retirement savings for workers.

Their reasoning is that ‘rothification,’ would take away the freedom Americans currently have to choose the retirement savings plan that works best for them. Instead, it would force everyone into a Roth account. Unlike 401ks, IRAs or other retirement savings plans many Americans currently use, Roth savings are taxed up front, reducing workers’ take home pay and making it more expensive for Americans to save for retirement.

Roth plans are also more expensive for employers to offer and would make it harder for small businesses to provide retirement plans for their employees.

Further, the Senators also pointed out that rothification is fiscally irresponsible and would add to the federal deficit.

The Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation or the Moving FIRST Act, a bill that will enhance the transportation systems of American communities through the use of innovative technology, has been introduced in the Senate. This legislation will establish and build on the successes of the 2015 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Cities Challenge administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) by expanding the opportunity for more communities – both urban and rural – to compete for resources that will fund efficient, creative and innovative transportation projects.

The Middle School Technical Education Program (Middle STEP) Act, legislation that would expose middle school students to career and technical education (CTE) programs focused on career exploration, has been introduced in the Senate. The Middle STEP Act would establish a pilot program that allows middle schools to partner with colleges, other postsecondary institutions, and local businesses to develop and implement CTE exploration programs that give students access to apprenticeships or project-based learning opportunities, which are traditionally not available to students until high school or higher education.

The Senate has unanimously passed the Abolish Human Trafficking Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017. The measures will strengthen and reauthorize key programs that support survivors of human trafficking and provide important resources to law enforcement agencies in the fight to end modern slavery. The bills will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Freedom of Commerce Act, S. 1779, which would allow consumers to purchase an automatic knife legal in their state, regardless of where it was manufactured in the U.S has been introduced in the Senate.

Enacted in 1958, the Federal Switchblade Act (FSA) leverages the federal government’s power over interstate commerce to prohibit the purchase, sale and trade of automatic knives between any of the 50 states or U.S. territories. Current federal law prohibits the interstate sale and importation of switchblades, curtailing states’ rights to legislate the legality of certain tools within their borders.

This legislation would repeal certain provisions of the FSA and allow domestic manufacturers to ship and sell their products to buyers in other states, as well as permit the importation certain knife parts. Moreover, the bill would not replace or alter any existing state laws regarding switchblades and other automatic knives. Buck Knives, Inc., a knife manufacturer based in Post Falls, Idaho, supports the legislation.

Currently legal in 27 states, automatic knives are defined based on their opening mechanism and are used primarily by professional trades and outdoor recreationalists

The Small Business Health Plans bill, introduced in the Senate, would allow multiple small businesses to pool their employees, across multiple states, for the purpose of purchasing health insurance coverage for their employees in a large group market. By banding groups of small businesses together, it would provide them with greater negotiating power for better prices and greater benefits for their employees.

TX Governor says Price Gouging Illegal

Source: Texas Governor Gregg Abbott

Austin, TX - September 1, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Governor Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation reaffirming Texas' firm stance against price-gouging across the entire state in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Texas law strictly prohibits price-gouging and gives the Attorney General the authority to prosecute anyone exploiting a declared disaster by charging exorbitant amounts for food, fuel, or other necessities. In his proclamation, the Governor assures Texans that the Attorney General and other law enforcement officers will seek to identify and prosecute those who use price-gouging to take advantage of the public during this crisis.

"Price-gouging is unlawful throughout Texas, and I will work with Attorney General Ken Paxton to ensure all who engage in this reprehensible act are vigorously prosecuted," said Governor Abbott. "Taking advantage of victims of Hurricane Harvey is indefensible and Texas will punish these lawbreakers to the fullest extent of the law. We must be helping our fellow Texans in need, not seeking to exploit their struggles."