Ponder the News: November 21, 2022

Scalise: Republicans Are Ready to fix Dems' Self-Made Crises, Hold Biden Accountable
Source: U.S. Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA, 1st)
November 18, 2022
You haven’t seen any oversight into the Biden Administration’s very questionable actions on so many fronts, this being one, and there [are] a lot of others. And we said we would do both. You don’t just do one. We’re going to pass policy. We’re going to have oversight. And it can all go on at the same time, starting on January 3rd, and we’ve been making preparations.
Read more...

U.S. Called to Bring China to International Court over COVID-19 (AND MORE!)

Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) Statement on Personal Protective Equipment
Source: American Psychiatric Association
April 2, 2020
CMSS and its member societies urge federal, state and local authorities to ensure an adequate supply and distribution of PPE for every frontline healthcare professional in the United States. Physicians and other healthcare professionals can and should expect their institutions to provide appropriate means to limit occupational exposure. Physicians and other healthcare professionals should be allowed to bring their own PPE to protect themselves, colleagues, and patients when these items are in short supply at their institutions. CMSS supports the Joint Commission statement allowing the use of private PPE, but this option does not obviate an institution’s responsibility to provide adequate PPE to all healthcare personnel.
Read more...

Pelosi’s coronavirus response investigation is absurd
Source: Americans for Limited Government
April 2, 2020
Nancy Pelosi’s decision to investigate the coronavirus response in the midst of the battle to save American lives is absurd and blatantly un-American. It is okay to question actions, but to open an official investigation that will drain resources from those who are working 24/7 trying to save American lives, and re-open our country as soon as possible is perhaps the most blatantly dangerous action I have ever witnessed by any elected official.
Read more...

Access Now joins 100+ organisations in telling governments: don’t use the coronavirus pandemic as cover for expanding digital surveillance
Source: Access Now
April 2, 2020
“Governments risk compounding the harms of this outbreak by running roughshod over our privacy and dignity, and ignoring protections that arose in direct response to overreach during past global crises. By selling tools of surveillance as public health solutions, authorities and all-too-willing companies could rewrite the rules of the digital ecosystem in corona-colored ink – which we fear is permanent,” said Peter Micek, General Counsel at Access Now.
Read more...

Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) Joins Entire Texas Democratic Delegation in Urging Governor Abbott and Secretary of State Hughs to Implement Statewide No-Excuse Vote-by-Mail Program
Source: U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX, 33rd)
April 3, 2020
Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) joined the entire Texas Democratic delegation urging Governor Greg Abbott and Secretary of State Ruth Hughs to implement a no-excuse vote-by-mail program for all elections in the state of Texas until the end of this year. The letter also calls for preserving in-person voting opportunities for those who need them, as long as in-person voting sites are structured in a way that will allow them to respond to any public health concerns. In the middle of this public health crisis, it is more important than ever that important pillars of our democracy are strengthened and that everyone in the state of Texas is able to exercise their right to vote.
Read more...

VELA ISSUES STATEMENT ON FIRING OF USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE MIDST OF GLOBAL CRISIS
Source: U.S. Representative Filemon Vela (D-TX, 34th)
April 3, 2020
The rash and emotional decision by the Acting Secretary of the Navy to fire the Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is deeply troubling in this time of global crisis. The act is truly unprecedented. Normally commanding officers are relieved by their immediate superiors instead this one was fired by the Pentagon,” said Congressman Vela. The firing appears to be politically motivated as the result of a letter released to the media painting the picture of a dire situation that was dismissed by the chain of command. A situation that none of us can fully appreciate, because the situation on the ground is often far worse than what we hear in letters and phone calls.
Read more...

======

======
Statement from Women’s Refugee Commission Executive Director Sarah Costa on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Source: Women’s Refugee Commission
April 3, 2020
Sixty percent of the more 70 million people currently displaced by conflict or crisis are women and girls. Displaced women and girls face unique challenges and risks – including increased risks of gender-based violence (GBV), limited access to critical health care services, and significant barriers to economic stability. The COVID-19 pandemic is sure to exacerbate these risks in alarming ways. Women and girls also are often the primary caregivers, with 70 percent of the global health and social service workforce made up of women, further increasing their risk of exposure.
Read more...

VAN HOLLEN, BLUMENTHAL LEAD CALL FOR INVESTIGATION INTO NAVY’S COVID-19 OUTBREAK & DECISION TO RELIEVE CAPT. CROZIER OF COMMAND
Source: Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
April 3, 2020
We are particularly alarmed by the stark reversal from the Navy regarding CAPT Crozier’s leadership during this crisis. One day before CAPT Crozier was relieved of command, the Acting Secretary of the Navy stated in reference to the Captain’s 30 March request for assistance that “the fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any kind of retaliation.” It is also difficult to understand how CAPT Crozier’s decision to copy “20 or 30 people” on an email to his chain of command necessarily constitutes a breach warranting relief of command. This reversal sends a mixed message to sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt and given the remarkable show of support for CAPT Crozier by members of his crew, we are additionally worried about the impact of this decision on morale and readiness.
Read more...

VAN HOLLEN, MARKEY CALL FOR PRESERVING FIRST RESPONDERS’ ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SPECTRUM IN NEXT CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC RELIEF PACKAGE
Source: Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
April 3, 2020
The Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act repeals a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction off this band of spectrum by 2021. Police and fire fighters in highly-populated metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere use critical T-Band spectrum for emergency public safety communication. Agencies across the country have invested millions of local, state, and federal dollars in the T-Band networks, which offer the reliable coverage and regional interoperability that first responders require for mission critical voice communications.
Read more...

ACLU DEMANDS THAT ICE SUSPEND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT, RELEASE DETAINEES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Source: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
April 3, 2020
The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter today to the Department of Homeland Security demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) temporarily suspend civil immigration enforcement and release those in civil detention for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. ACLU state affiliates — including in Southern and Northern California, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington state, and Texas — are urging ICE field offices, private prison operators, and local elected officials around the country to act to limit spread of the virus and save lives.
Read more...

Perspective: Getting Through This Together
Source: American Medical Association
April 3, 2020
Since this pandemic began, the AHA has been sounding the alarm for policymakers and government leaders to make sure our field gets the tools and resources we need to win this war. We’ve told them — with your help — that hospitals, health systems and providers need more personal protective equipment, more ventilators and more beds and backup personnel to handle the surge in patients. And, we’ve told them that you need to be at the front of the line when it comes to financial support to keep our doors open because you are on the front lines, providing essential public services when and where they’re needed most.
Read more...

======

======
CPS Energy officials detail utility’s response to COVID-19 in Facebook Live event
Source: American Public Power Association
April 3, 2020
During the event, Gold-Williams noted that in the wake of the pandemic, CPS Energy has suspended customer disconnects indefinitely. “That’s not unusual,” she noted. “We typically suspend disconnects over the hottest part of the summer and around the Christmas holidays,” so CPS Energy already had a process and protocol in place. (Several other public power utilities have also suspended disconnects with COVID-19).
Read more...

COVID-19 costs American workers at least 10 million jobs
Source: Americans for Limited Government
April 3, 2020
“Today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment rate dramatically understates the actual state of the workforce. These reports are based upon mid-month surveys conducted on behalf of BLS, which do not reflect the full results of the last two new unemployment claims filed with state governments. The 1.35 million person increase in the number of unemployed is at least 8.5 million short of the actual number of people thrown out of work by the government’s response to the COVID-19 as demonstrated by the weekly unemployment claims reports released yesterday. This means that the actual COVID caused unemployment rate is likely between 9 and 10 percent and rising every day.
Read more...

Head Start, Child Care, Domestic Violence Programs to Receive Stimulus Funds
Source: Administration for Children and Families
April 3, 2020
“President Trump has secured more than $6 billion in funding to help meet the needs of America’s most vulnerable during this time of crisis, from youth in foster care to families enrolled in Head Start,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “As part of the President’s all-of-America approach to combating the coronavirus, ACF is providing extra support for community services, such as child care, housing, and nutrition, that Americans may rely on even more in this time of crisis.”
Read more...

McConnell: “Outstanding Nominations That Will Strengthen Our Independent Judiciary for Decades”
Source: Senator Mitch McConnell (R- KY)
April 3, 2020
“President Trump has announced two more outstanding nominations that will strengthen our independent judiciary for decades to come.”
Read more...

Barragán Urges Federally-Owned Personal Protective Equipment Go To Doctors and Nurses Ahead of ICE Agents
Source: U.S. Representative Nanette Barragan (D-CA, 44th)
April 3, 2020
In The Variety of Cardiovascular Presentations of COVID-19, the team of 18 New York City physicians note COVID-19 can involve the cardiovascular system in a variety of ways, and there are evolving considerations for treatment across the spectrum of patients with preexisting cardiovascular diseases. The researchers also detail four case studies of patients to illustrate the multiple cardiovascular presentations of COVID-19 infection.
Read more...

======

======
New York City physicians note multiple cardiovascular presentations of COVID-19, impact of pre-existing CVD
Source: American Heart Association
April 4, 2020
In The Variety of Cardiovascular Presentations of COVID-19, the team of 18 New York City physicians note COVID-19 can involve the cardiovascular system in a variety of ways, and there are evolving considerations for treatment across the spectrum of patients with preexisting cardiovascular diseases. The researchers also detail four case studies of patients to illustrate the multiple cardiovascular presentations of COVID-19 infection.
Read more...

U.S. SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT FRONTLINE WORKERS AGAINST COVID-19
Source: Senator Tammy Baldwin (D - WI)
April 6, 2020
Senator Baldwin’s COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act (S.3584) directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect health care workers and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to COVID-19, such as first responders, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
Read more...

Statement from Rep. Andy Barr Calling for Expansion of Paycheck Protection Program
Source: U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY, 6th)
April 7, 2020
“The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), enacted as part of the CARES Act, has generated more than $70 billion in forgivable loans to American small businesses in just a few days. Despite this massive and rapid investment in small businesses, and because of growing demand for the program, additional funding and enhancements are required to help small employers keep their workers on the payroll through the duration of the pandemic-related shutdown of the U.S. economy. That is why I am joining House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in supporting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s impending request to Congress for increased funding to the PPP. No eligible small business or employee should be left behind simply due to an arbitrary shortage of appropriations.
Read more...

Murkowski, Barrasso: States Need Flexibility in Using Coronavirus Relief Fund
Source: Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)
April 8, 2020
In their letter, the senators urge Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to publish guidance that cuts red tape and gives states and local governments flexibility to use these funds to address the needs and challenges their communities are facing.
Read more...


Rep. Jim Banks Calls on United States to Bring Case Against China to International Court of Justice
Source: U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd)
April 8, 2020
Rep. Banks says, “If China’s leaders hadn’t become embarrassed by the outbreak and tried to cover up its spread, the world may have had a better chance to prepare for this or even contain it in Wuhan or China. Instead, we have a pandemic. China shoulders most of that blame. Rather than succumb to the propaganda and spin of Chinese officials, the world must hold them accountable for mishandling this outbreak. If the United Nations cannot even do that, it has completely lost its purpose.”
Read more...

Counterintelligence Accountability Act Introduced

======


======

by: Elise Stefanik (R-NY, 21st)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Elise Stefanik introduced a bill this week that would require the FBI to notify the House and Senate Intelligence Committee when the Bureau opens a counterintelligence investigation into a candidate for Federal office, campaign for a candidate for Federal office, or an individual knowingly associated with a campaign for a candidate for Federal office.

This comes after Congresswoman Stefanik’s questioning of then-FBI Director James Comey at a HPSCI hearing in 2017, where he revealed that he did not follow the proper protocol of notifying Congress about opening a counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign in 2016. That questioning can be found here.

“Despite informal protocols followed in the past, James Comey failed to notify Congress about his investigation into the Trump Presidential campaign,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This loophole in the law allows the FBI to circumvent Congress and unilaterally conduct investigations without any congressional oversight. My bill will ensure that the right congressional overseers are informed of sensitive counterintelligence investigations into campaigns for Federal office, and I’m proud to lead this effort for transparency.”

Each Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is a cosponsor of this bill. Click here for a write-up on the bill from the Federalist.

Castro Statement on Cohen Guilty Plea

Washington, D.C. - November 29, 2018 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX, 20th), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement:

“Today’s guilty plea from Michael Cohen for lying to Congress about Moscow Trump Tower shows that his plea arrangement struck in August has indeed turned into cooperation. This news comes on top of Paul Manafort, former Trump Campaign Chairman, being caught lying to federal prosecutors as well as Roger Stone’s key tipster Jerome Corsi also admitting to lying to Congress. Altogether, these developments demonstrate the great lengths Trump allies were willing to go to protect the President.

“It’s critical we bring back Michael Cohen, and others who have potentially lied like Roger Stone before the Committee, in addition to accelerating the pace for Republican colleagues to release transcripts from our interviews. The House Intelligence Committee must also zero-in on whether the Russians have any financial leverage over President Trump, and we must build pressure across the board for Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to recuse himself from this investigation immediately.

“In just one week, we’ve see Michael Cohen plead guilty to lying to Congress, Jerome Corsi publically admit to lying to Congress, Paul Manafort caught for lying to Mueller, reports that Roger Stone and Julian Assange may have met right before a Wikileaks dump, the President provide written statements on the July 2016 Trump Tower meeting and Roger Stone’s Wikileaks knowledge, and Mueller zeroing in on late-night phone calls between Roger Stone and the President. Now more than ever, we need to protect Mueller from any potential firing. I urge House and Senate Republican leaders to bring legislation to protect Mueller to the floor immediately. We shouldn’t have to wait until January for Congress to protect U.S. national security, our democracy, and the rule of law.”

Congressman Biggs' Statement on the Presidential Transition Team's Right to Privacy

By Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th)



Washington, D.C. - December 21, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- Recently, we learned that the General Service Administration (GSA) inappropriately, and potentially illegally, released tens of thousands of private documents from Donald Trump’s Presidential Transition Team (PTT) to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Current law considers records produced by the PTT as private and they are afforded Fourth Amendment protections. These documents are not government property, and the GSA does not have the authority to release any of these records without due process.

In August, Special Counsel Mueller requested that GSA release copies of the emails, laptops, cell phones, and other materials associated with 13 PTT members responsible for national security and policy matters. Contrary to legal precedent and prior direction from the GSA General Counsel, his Deputy General Counsel turned over mountains of private communications to Mueller. He did so without notifying the PTT or redacting any private, privileged information. Congressman Andy Biggs released the following statement –

“The GSA’s distribution of unredacted and private records is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment. It appears that the request and acquiescence by the GSA Deputy General Counsel was done to fuel Special Counsel Mueller’s overly broad investigation. The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 ensures that transition teams receive the right to privacy and I will introduce legislation to strengthen these rights, if necessary. I will also be sending letters to the General Services Administration and Special Counsel Mueller for clarification as to the basis of the request and transfer of these privileged documents.”


See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Uranium One investigation raises a lot of questions

Source: Pete King (R-NY, 2nd)



Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee announced on Tuesday they would be opening an investigation into the Obama-era Uranium One deal, which gave Russia a 20% stake in U.S. uranium mining capacity.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said that in 2010, he alerted then-Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner that the uranium deal was being made with a company controlled by the Russian government.

“[Geithner] said that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) was thoroughly investigating this. Well if they were, were they told about the investigation? If so, why did they go ahead and approve it? I know Congress was never told about this investigation. Why did the FBI close the investigation? Bob Mueller was head of the FBI then, so it raises a lot of questions,” King told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee will also investigate whether federal agencies knew the FBI was probing possible corruption before the deal was approved. At the time, the Justice Department had a criminal investigation into the Russian company's Uranium One purchase.

“Our question is No. 1, if [the FBI investigation showed bribery, corruption and influence peddling by the Russians], did the FBI notify the Obama administration? Did they notify the Justice Department? Did they notify the Treasury Department and the State Department? And if so, why did the deal go forward?,” King asked.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton helped orchestrate the Uranium One deal and her foundations reportedly received millions from someone involved with the deal.

King also raised questions as to whether the Russian dossier, which the Clinton campaign and the DNC allegedly funded, has any bearing on the FBI investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion.

“You could have had a document prepared at the request of Hillary Clinton’s campaign filled with lies as an excuse and as a rationale to go ahead with a federal investigation into the Trump campaign. If that’s true that is really police state tactics,” King said.

Related News:

BREAKING: Gowdy Opens Investigation Into DOJ's Exoneration of Hillary Clinton, 2016 Decisions

House Democrats seek GAO Investigation into Federal Scheme to Fund Delta Tunnels Project

Source: Jared Huffman (D-CA, 2nd)



Washington, D.C. - October 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Led by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), the Natural Resources Committee’s Ranking Member, six House Democrats are calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a new investigation into the misuse of taxpayer funds by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation, following last month’s revelations that tens of millions of dollars were secretly spent by the federal agency to subsidize private interests and help develop plans for a massive new California water project.

In its September audit, the Interior Department’s Inspector General found that the Bureau of Reclamation improperly subsidized the planning process for the California WaterFix project, also known as the “Delta Tunnels.” The audit identified at least $84 million in taypayer funds spent without disclosure to Congress as required by law, and kept hidden from other water users, stakeholders, and the public. According to the Inspector General, at least $50 million of this total should have been paid by the local water agencies that sought to benefit from the massive infrastructure project, such as the powerful Westlands Water District. Instead, those costs were secretly reassigned by the Bureau of Reclamation so that taxpayers would pay most of the water districts’ share.

With today’s letter, the lawmakers are asking the GAO, the federal watchdog agency that conducts investigations and audits on behalf of Congress, to issue a legal opinion about the Bureau of Reclamation’s funding scheme. The penalty for this type of misuse of public money can include removal from office.

The Inspector General’s audit found that the controversial funding plan was first launched in 2008, during the period when David Bernhardt was the department’s top lawyer. Upon leaving the department, Bernhardt became one of the top lobbyists for the Westlands Water District, the major beneficiary of this funding plan. He has now returned to the Interior Department as Deputy Secretary. In responses to the Inspector General, Interior Department staff have indicated that there are no plans to recoup these millions of dollars in taxpayer funds that were spent without authorization or rationale.

In addition to Rep. Huffman and Rep. Grijalva, the letter was also signed by Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA).

The full text of the letter below.

The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro

Comptroller General of the United States

U.S. Government Accountability Office

441 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20548

Dear Comptroller General Dodaro,

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General, (DOI OIG), recently issued a report regarding the Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) spending on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) – a state-led effort involving the construction of new water diversion facilities benefitting select water contractors in the state of California. See DOI OIG, Report No. 2016‑WR‑040, The Bureau of Reclamation Was Not Transparent in its Financial Participation in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (Sept. 7, 2017) (DOI OIG Report). In its report, the DOI OIG found that USBR “did not fully disclose to Congress and other stakeholders the $84.8 million cost of its participation in the BDCP efforts.” DOI OIG Report, at 1. The DOI OIG report (at 1) states further that:

[USBR] did not report [to Congress] $50 million derived from an appropriation, available for other general purposes, that it also used for the BDCP. USBR obtained this $50 million over a 7‑year span by using a complex, obscure process that was not disclosed in the annual congressional budget justifications, Office of Management and Budget Calfed Bay‑Delta certified annual financial reports, or numerous briefing documents on BDCP issues and status prepared by USBR for senior management officials.

The complex, obscure process cited by DOI OIG report involved USBR altering its standard funding process for operation and maintenance activities which, according to the DOI OIG report, “obscured the source of its funding and the total cost of [USBR’s] participation in the BDCP.” DOI OIG Report, at 8. The DOI OIG report states that “USBR supplemented its BDCP activities with $50 million derived from funds appropriated for ‘water and related resources’ and authorized for application to reimbursable Federal [Central Valley Project Operation and Maintenance] activities and other purposes.” DOI OIG Report, at 8. That is, USBR may have “written off” reimbursable expenses and converted them to expenses borne by the taxpayer.

Given these troubling findings, we respectfully request a GAO legal opinion as to whether USBR’s actions with regard to the $50 million referenced above were consistent with, among other things, the rule against augmentation and the Miscellaneous Receipts Statute, 31 U.S.C. § 3302 (b). For your convenience, please find the full OIG report enclosed.

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Muirragui and Vic Edgerton, of the House Natural Resources Committee, at (202)-225-6065. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Abraham calls for hearings to bring Mueller 'out of the shadows'

Source: Ralph Abraham (R-LA, 5th)

Washington, D.C. - October 25, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., R-Alto, joined 18 other members of Congress in calling on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees hold hearings to examine Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team’s potential conflicts of interest and political bias.

“This team has sweeping authority and an open-ended mission, yet they are allowed to operate largely in secret, selected by and ultimately accountable to only one person: Mr. Mueller himself,” the members wrote in a letter dated Oct. 13. “With numerous reports emerging almost every day on possible conflicts of interest and allegations of political bias, it would be in the interest of both the public and the Special Counsel team to speak to the American people through their elected representatives in Congress.”

Dr. Abraham said, “Almost daily another red flag is raised over this team’s ability to remain impartial during this investigation. If they have nothing to hide, let them come forward to a hearing and be accountable to the American people.”

Other members of Congress signing the letter include Brian Babin, Jody Hice, Bob Gibbs, Doug LaMalfa, Ralph Norman, Bill Flores, Bill Posey, Randy Weber, Kay Granger, Trent Franks, Andy Harris, Alex Mooney, Steve King, Duncan Hunter, Scott DesJarlais, Joe Wilson, Neal Dunn, and Dave Brat.

Related News:

Louisiana congressman joins call to pull Russian political inquiry 'out of the shadows'

Rapid DNA Act

Washington, D.C. - August 29, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The bipartisan, bicameral Rapid DNA Act to help local law enforcement use new technology to speed up justice has been signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Traditional DNA analysis can take weeks, but Rapid DNA analysis permits processing of samples in about 90 minutes or less. The technology revolutionizes the way in which those arrested for crimes are enrolled in the criminal justice system; shortens the time required for their DNA to be linked to unsolved crimes; and speeds up innocent people’s exoneration.

The Rapid DNA Act will let local law enforcement agencies – under standards and guidelines established by the FBI – perform real-time DNA testing at the time of arrest within their own booking stations, comparing samples to profiles in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

The Rapid DNA Act was introduced in January by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and by Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Swalwell. It was supported by law enforcement organizations including the National Fraternal Order of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major City Chiefs Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and National District Attorneys Association, as well as by the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations.

Pleasanton-based IntegenX Inc. is a global market leader for Rapid DNA human identification.

“Today marks a landmark day in more efficiently fighting crime and supporting law enforcement,” said Robert Schueren, President and CEO of IntegenX. “As a company in the 15th Congressional District, we’re grateful for the support and co-sponsorship from Congressman Swalwell.”

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has been a strong advocate of Rapid DNA technology to solve crimes and exonerate the wrongfully accused.

“Rapid DNA technology provides an exciting new way to identify or clear a suspect within 90 minutes instead of what now can take years,” said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley. “Law enforcement agencies across the nation, and the people they serve, will be grateful for this bipartisan effort to make their work more efficient.”

In testimony before Congress last year, FBI Director James Comey said the authority in the bill would help law enforcement “change the world in a very, very exciting way” by enabling officials to know “near-instantly” whether a person in custody is connected with other crimes or is innocent of the suspected charge.

Below are statements and information regarding this ACT:

House Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA, 15th):

“This law’s enactment proves that, even in troubled political times, we can work together across the aisle to make Americans safer,” said Swalwell, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee. “This new law will help law enforcement agencies across the nation use a more powerful tool to protect and serve our communities, to clear the innocent, and to attain justice for victims.”

House Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA, 6th):

“I am extremely proud to see the bipartisan Rapid DNA Act, a product of the House Judiciary Committee, signed into law. While once taking days or weeks, DNA testing can now be completed in a matter of hours. However, a decades-old law prevents the use of Rapid DNA technology in many circumstances, which has created a growing backlog. The Rapid DNA Act remedies this problem so that police stations across the United States can use Rapid DNA technology to quickly identify violent suspects and free the innocent.

“I also want to thank Crime Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner for his years of leadership on this important issue which is a significant component of the House Judiciary Committee’s ongoing efforts on criminal justice reform."