Homeland Security, Trillion Trees, Sexual Assault, Pebble Mine, Veterans, SNAP, Innovation, Public Lands, Roger Stone, D.C. Statehood, AI, Rice

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to February 17, 2020

CHAIRMAN THOMPSON: TRUMP AGAIN USING HOMELAND SECURITY TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, INFLICT REVENGE AS HE SENDS BORDER PATROL TO MAJOR U.S. CITIES
Source: House Committee on Homeland Security
February 14, 2020
"It is truly alarming that President Trump is moving resources away from the border just to ratchet up his cruel immigration agenda, throw meat to his base, and inflict revenge on states that don't do what he says. Doing so undermines our homeland security and will only help drug smugglers and those that seek to do us harm. The President is again using the Department of Homeland Security to score political points to help him win reelection. He must be stopped."
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Nat. Resources Committee Holding Feb. 26 Hearing on Chair Grijalva’s Public Lands and Waters Climate Change Bill, Rep. Westerman’s “Trillion Trees Act
Source: House Committee on Natural Resources
February 14, 2020
The Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m. in Longworth 1324 on two bills introduced by Committee members designed to address climate change.
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All Democratic Committee Members Object to DeVos’ Proposed Rule Harming Student Survivors of Sexual Assault
Source: House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform
February 14, 2020
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, led all Democratic Members of the Committee in a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting information about a proposed rule that would encourage schools to pursue fewer investigations of sexual harassment and assault. The Department is poised to finalize the rule soon.
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Chair DeFazio Responds to Army Corps Environmental Impact Statement on Pebble Mine
Source: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
February 13, 2020
“The Army Corps of Engineers’ environmental analysis of the Pebble Mine was flawed from the start, and recent reports indicate it isn’t improving. When the Chief of the Corps told me the Corps was taking its statutory responsibilities seriously and it was better to do the job right than do it fast, I took him at his word. However if recent reports about the current state of review of this project are true, it appears the Corps has, again, missed the mark,” said Chair DeFazio. “If the Pebble Mine is built- the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon run will be placed in jeopardy and likely destroyed, as well as the culture and livelihood of the tribes, fisher people, and communities that depend on this abundant resource. As Chairman of the Committee responsible for the Corps and the Clean Water Act, I will do everything in my authority to ensure this doesn’t occur.”
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CHAIRMAN TAKANO, 77 MEMBERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TRUMP TO GRANT RELIEF TO 190,000 ILL VETERANS
Source: House Committee on Veterans Affairs
February 13, 2020
In their letter, Members call on the president to accept scientific evidence and add bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, parkinsonism, and hypertension to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs list of presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange exposure. This change would provide lifesaving benefits to more than 190,000 veterans currently in need of VA resources and healthcare.
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HUDSON HOSTS PRESS CONFERENCE ON VETERAN CAREGIVER ACT
Source: U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC, 8th)
February 13, 2020
U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg’s Congressman and a voice for North Carolina veterans, hosted a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building to discuss the Care for the Veteran Caregiver Act (H.R. 5701), bipartisan legislation he introduced with Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-04) on Jan. 30. The Caregiver Act will further modernize the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers so that veterans and their families can better access the Caregiver program. Rep. Hudson was joined by Rep. Rice, veterans, veteran caregivers, stakeholders and member organizations of the National Military & Veterans Alliance, a nonpartisan umbrella organization of 35 veteran- and military-serving organizations.
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Fudge: Trump Budget Illustrates Administration’s Cruel Priorities
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
February 12, 2020
“Going to such lengths to gut programs like SNAP, once again, reveals the Administration’s insensitivity to the needs of the people the office is entrusted to serve,” said Chairwoman Fudge. “The proposed budget is nothing more than an assault on vulnerable Americans, particularly people in marginalized communities. Eliminating programs that ensure seniors have access to food, recipients receive nutrition education, and next generation anti-hunger advocates are trained will have devastating effects on the quality of life of countless citizens.”
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Chairman Yarmuth Opening Statement at Budget Hearing on The President's 2021 Budget
Source: House Committee on the Budget
February 12, 2020
Just six short months ago, the President signed a bipartisan two-year budget deal into law. It does everything the President’s proposal fails to do -- it set rational discretionary toplines allowing strong investments in our national and economic security; it had bipartisan support – including the Ranking Member and myself; and it set Congress up for a successful appropriations process. But now, the President is going back on his word. Instead, he is, once again, proposing deep cuts to critical programs that help American families and prepare our nation for the future. Once again, he is breaking his promises and lying to the American people.
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Crow Looks to Strengthen Innovation Pipeline Between Universities and Small Businesses
Source: House Committee on Small Business
February 12, 2020
“Products like lifesaving drugs, groundbreaking medical devices, and advancements in agriculture are the result of collaboration among faculty, students, and the business community,” said Chairman Crow. “These innovations – only made possible by public investment – are needed now more than ever as technology is rapidly changing every sector of the economy. However, as more and more states cut funding for research-based universities, the federal government’s role in supporting innovation at our nation’s colleges and universities is more important than ever.”
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Crow Looks to Strengthen Innovation Pipeline Between Universities and Small Businesses
Source: House Committee on Ways and Means
February 12, 2020
When American patients and their families receive medical care, they shouldn’t have to lie awake at night worrying about the hidden fees or unexpected bills to come. That’s why the House Committee on Ways and Means has offered its solution to end surprise medical bills once and for all.
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HUFFMAN BILL PASSES AS PART OF MULTI-STATE PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT PACKAGE
Source: U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA, 2nd)
February 12, 2020
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting America’s Wilderness Act, a massive new public lands management package that would permanently protect 1.37 million acres of federal land and 1,000 river miles in three states. Representative Jared Huffman’s (D-San Rafael) bill, the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act was approved as part of this legislative package.
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Committee Advances Bipartisan Solution to Ban Surprise Billing
Source: House Committee on Education and the Workforce
February 11, 2020
“Surprise medical billing is a troubling and all-too-common product of our complex health care system. The status quo is unacceptable. Patients are getting hit with astronomical bills and both payers and providers are facing an uncertain future.” said Chairman Scott. “The Ban Surprise Billing Act is a bipartisan solution that protects patients from unexpected, often significant out-of-pocket costs while being fair to both providers and payers. I want to thank Dr. Foxx and all members of the Committee for working together to advance a proposal that provides patients and their families the consumer protections they deserve.”
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Chairman Schiff Statement on Roger Stone Sentencing
Source: House Committee on Intelligence
February 11, 2020
“I do not take a position on the proper prison term for Mr. Stone, but it would be a blatant abuse of power if President Trump has in fact intervened to reverse the recommendations of career prosecutors at the Department of Justice.
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Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference Ahead of DC Statehood Bill Markup and Committee Vote
Source: U.S. Representative Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD, 5th)
February 11, 2020
“I have long been a supporter of and urged that the District of Columbia’s representative have a real vote in the Congress of the United States. Now when I was Majority Leader the first time, we assured that the representative of the District of Columbia and other non-voting Members of the Congress of the United States would have a vote in what we call our Committee of the Whole. Under the Constitution however, we could not extend that fully. Unfortunately, when the Republicans took back the Majority, they eliminated that vote, [which was] an act of disrespect, not only to the residents of the District of Columbia, but towards our democracy.
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Hurd Praises Administration’s Request for Increased AI and Quantum Funding
Source: U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX, 23rd)
February 11, 2020
“America must lead in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other technologies that will define the 21st century,” said Hurd. “I applaud the Administration for recognizing the importance of AI and quantum research and will continue to work with my colleagues to prepare our nation for these challenges and ensure America remains the most important economy in the world.”
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MISS. SENATORS PROMOTE U.S.-GROWN RICE IN U.K. TRADE TALKS
Source: Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
February 11, 2020
The Mississippi Senators are among a group of Senators from rice-producing states who have signed a letter that encourages U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “to take advantage of the rice demand in the U.K. to achieve increased market access for U.S.-grown rice through your upcoming negotiations.”
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American Cures Act And American Innovation Act Reintroduced

by: Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)

Washington, D.C. - April 23, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today were joined by researchers from Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine to announce their bicameral legislation to restore the United States’ commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research. The American Cures Act and the American Innovation Act would create a mandatory fund to provide steady, predictable funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies, allowing the United States to remain a leader in development and discovery for decades to come.

“The American Cures and Innovation Acts will allow America’s smartest scientists and researchers to spend less time figuring out how to cut their budgets and more time finding new ways to produce clean energy and clean water, as well as develop news cures and treatments for Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.” said Durbin. “In the last two centuries, U.S. government support for scientific research has helped split the atom, put a man on the moon, create the Internet, and map the human genome. Today we face new hurdles, but continuing to support scientific research is the smartest investment we can make for our health, our future, and our economy.”

“It’s more important than ever that we defend America’s place as a world leader in scientific progress,” Congressman Foster said. “Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped the U.S. lead the world in new innovations, grow the economy, create millions of jobs, and provide critical advancements to our national security. As we confront new challenges, we need to make sure our scientists have the resources they need to perform their work at the highest levels and help us maintain our role as global leaders in research and innovation.”

“Biomedical and life science research create breakthrough treatments and lifesaving cures, while supporting high-quality jobs and billions in economic output. Federal investment has slipped in recent years, and robust, sustained funding is needed. The American Cures Act will ensure our country’s investment and innovation in world-class life sciences and biomedical research continues, led by Illinois,” said Congresswoman Underwood.

The American Cures Act—of which Representative Underwood is the lead House sponsor—would provide annual budget increases of five percent plus inflation at America’s top four biomedical research agencies: the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense Health Program, and the Veterans Medical and Prosthetics Research Program.

The American Innovation Act—of which Representative Foster is the lead House sponsor—would provide annual budget increases of five percent for cutting edge research at five important federal research agencies: The National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science, the Department of Defense Science and Technology Programs, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientific and Technical Research, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Science Directorate. This steady, long-term investment would allow the agencies to plan and manage strategic growth while maximizing efficiencies.

President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request would devastate funding for medical and scientific research by proposing to cut funding at the National Institutes of Health by $5 billion (or 12 percent), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $750 million (or more than 10 percent), the National Science Foundation by nearly a billion dollars (12 percent), and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by $1.1 billion (or more than 16 percent) from FY19 funding levels.

Research and development (R&D) funding in the United States has been lagging in recent decades. In 1960’s the United States invested 17 percent of its discretionary budget on research and development—that number is now down to 9 percent. Between 1960 and 1980, federal R&D spending as a share of GDP averaged 1.52 percent per year. However, federal R&D investments now average just under 0.8 percent year. This steady decline has led to a cumulative $1.5 trillion research investment deficit. Meanwhile, China’s research intensity (GDP expenditures on R&D) has increased sharply since the early 2000s – if this trend continues, China will soon surpass the U.S.

The American Cures Act is supported by: the American Heart Association, Research!America, the National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Arthritis Foundation, ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, as well as many Illinois health and hospital systems, including Advocate Aurora Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Loyola University Health System, Sinai Health System, Northwestern Medicine, and AMITA Health.

The American Innovation Act is supported by: Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, American Geophysical Union, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Task Force on American Innovation.