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

Historic LGBTQ Victory: U.S. House Passes Equality Act
Source: National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
May 17, 2020, 2020
Now that it’s been successfully passed in the House, we will turn our attention to building grassroots support and momentum to advance the Senate version of the Equality Act that is led by Senators Jeff Merkley, Susan Collins, Tammy Baldwin, and Cory Booker.
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Farm and Environmental Organizations Rebuke New USDA Regulatory Review
Source: National Family Farm Coalition
May 18, 2020, 2020
“USDA’s release of its new GE regulatory framework has dealt a devastating blow to the security of farmers’ livelihoods, the health of their farms and communities, and their ability to build the biodiverse, climate-resilient, and economically robust farming systems that we so urgently need. We’ve already seen how GE seeds engineered to resist herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, and dicamba, are driving widespread pesticide drift that is damaging crops, destroying farm businesses and wreaking havoc across the country. By abdicating the last of its responsibility to protect the public good in favor of corporate profit, USDA is encouraging a flood of new, untested genetically engineered organisms into our rural landscapes, putting farmers, ecosystems and our food supply at risk.”
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NIH-funded study to investigate pregnancy outcomes resulting from COVID-19 pandemic
Source: National Institutes of Health
May 19, 2020, 2020
The National Institutes of Health has launched a multipronged study to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during and after pregnancy. Researchers will analyze the medical records of up to 21,000 women to evaluate whether changes to healthcare delivery that were implemented as a result of the pandemic have led to higher rates of pregnancy-related complications and cesarean delivery. They also seek to establish the risk of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection transmitting the virus to their fetus. Newborns will be monitored and assessed until they are discharged from the hospital.
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With Millions Of Jobs At Stake, State And Local Government Associations Call On Congress To Approve Aid
Source: National Governor’s Association
May 20, 2020, 2020
With millions of jobs and the economic recovery at stake, the seven leading organizations representing state, territorial and local governments called on Congress to approve an aid package that would sustain vital services to Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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New rules from OCC: Banks can now get CRA credit for funding digital inclusion
Source: National Digital Inclusion Alliance
May 20, 2020, 2020
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal agency that oversees national banks and savings associations, has just added support for community digital inclusion programs to its official list of “qualified activities” that could help a regulated bank meet its obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).
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HHS clarifies that pharmacists are authorized to administer COVID-19 testing despite state law
Source: National Community Pharmacists Association
May 20, 2020, 2020
On May 19, HHS' Office of General Counsel released an advisory opinion clarifying that pharmacists are authorized to order and administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 tests in states where they are not be authorized to do so.
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The HEAL Act Expands Access to Health Care Regardless of Immigration Status
Source: National Immigration Law Center
May 20, 2020, 2020
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women and Families Act to expand immigrants’ access to crucial and comprehensive health care, with support from more than 250 organizations. This year marks the bill’s first-ever introduction in the Senate, and it comes at a time when it is abundantly clear that health coverage and care are critical for every person, family, and community.
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More Than 170 Businesses and Community Organizations Call on Congressional Leaders to Provide Direct Federal Aid to America’s Cities, Towns, and Villages
Source: National League of Cities
May 20, 2020, 2020
More than 170 businesses, associations, and community organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders in the House and Senate today urging them to provide direct federal assistance to America’s cities, towns, and villages in the next congressional recovery bill. The coalition is coming together following the bipartisan decision to shut down the nation’s economy due to COVID-19, which has strained the budgets of cities of all shapes and sizes, urban and rural, and of all political stripes.
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Majority of Small Businesses Have Received PPP Loan Funding, Fewer have Received an EIDL Loan
Source: National Federation of Independent Business
May 21, 2020, 2020
“Small businesses continue to face many challenges in operating their business in these difficult times,” said Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research & Policy Analysis. “Congress and the Administration have the authority to further lighten the burden for many of their immediate concerns, especially in offering more flexibility for PPP loans.”
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Amid Pandemic, Migrants Face Impossible Choices
Source: National Immigration Forum
May 21, 2020, 2020
A new Trump administration policy is reportedly forcing migrant parents to choose between family separation and indefinite detention in crowded facilities, adding to a growing list of troubling immigration policies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Los Angeles County Ends PACE Program Marred by Fraud, Abuse, and Unaffordable Loans
Source: National Consumer Law Center
May 22, 2020, 2020
Effective May 13, 2020, Los Angeles County has discontinued new financing under its Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program, concluding the County could not be certain the program can “provide sufficient protection for all consumers.”
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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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COVID-19, Bill Withers, Constitution, Pregnancy, Prisons, Veterans Administration, Unions, Airlines, PPE, Truckers, EPA, Media, Insurance, Hydroxycloroquine, Defense Production Act, New York

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been moved to ICU as he battles COVID-19 symptoms.

Bill Withers passed away on April 4, 2020. He was best known for his song, "Lean on Me".

In a press conference at the White House with the Coronavirus Task Force, Donald Trump was asked why he did not declare a national emergency and enact a national lockdown. Donald Trump answered the reporter saying, "Because we have what is called a United States Constitution, and I respect that very much." He went on to explain that every state has different needs, so it is better that each governor act in a way that best benefits his or her own state. He has issued national guidelines for each state to follow. That should be enough.

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Patient-Centered Care for Pregnant Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Source: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
March 30, 2020
As the physicians, certified nurse-midwives (CNM) and certified midwives (CM) who care for patients and their families, we see firsthand the stress and uncertainty facing pregnant people, parents, and their support networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are listening to the people we care for and share their concerns about the impact of this pandemic on their intended plans for labor and birth. We stand in solidarity with our patients and are committed to working tirelessly to deliver evidence-based, respectful, patient-centered care to ensure parents and their families are supported during this time of pandemic.
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CONGRESSMAN DAVID TRONE CALLS ON FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS TO RELEASE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE PLANS
Source: U.S. Representative David Trone (D-MD, 6th)
March 31, 2020
As of March 27, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) had 14 incarcerated individuals and 13 staff across 16 BOP facilities (in nine different states) who tested positive for COVID-19.[1] We know that the coronavirus presents a unique and serious danger to our nation's prisons and jails. BOP must prioritize the health and safety of correctional staff and incarcerated individuals by taking necessary steps to mitigate the chance of an outbreak of the virus at all BOP facilities, be prepared to provide immediate and comprehensive care to our incarcerated population when COVID-19 is detected at one of our prisons or jails, and prevent transmission between BOP facilities.
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VA Employee Union Criticizes Veterans Benefit Administration for Requiring Employees to Report to Work After Two Tested Positive for Coronavirus
Source: American Federation for Government Employees
March 31, 2020
“It is appalling that VBA management still expects employees to come into the facility after there were two confirmed coronavirus cases. These employees were still walking around the facility less than two weeks ago,” said Jim Rihel, AFGE Local 940 President. “Since the announcement of the positive COVID-19 cases, the anxiety levels of already nervous employees have been through the roof.”
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NLRB Changes Rules to Make It Harder for Workers to Be Represented
Source: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
March 31, 2020
“In two weeks time, in the middle of a pandemic, President Trump’s NLRB suspended representation elections and then made it harder for employers to voluntarily recognize unions. In other words, the board is effectively sealing off any viable path to unionization at a time when workers need a voice on the job more than ever. Donald Trump’s caustic hostility to collective bargaining has manifested itself in the most anti-worker NLRB in America’s history. The labor movement will fight these actions with everything we have.”
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Don’t Use Taxpayer Dollars To Buy Private Companies
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council
March 31, 2020
ALEC Action is strongly opposed to provisions in the recently signed $2 trillion economic aid package that give the United States government part ownership in airline companies. Private sector options must be exhausted before any government involvement is considered, and a government loan to airline carriers would have been far less damaging than the federal grants in the signed proposal. The federal government should never spend taxpayer dollars to acquire ownership in private companies. The structure of government assistance should not require governmental ownership of private companies, nor should it impose regulations that interfere with a company’s ability to conduct business and pay back taxpayer dollars.
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AMA supports health care workforce using their own PPE
Source: American Medical Association
March 31, 2020
“As physicians and other frontline health care workers across the U.S. continue to face dire shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), the AMA fully supports them in using their own face masks and respirators when these critical resources are unavailable and not provided by their employer. The people working round the clock to combat this virus should not be penalized or punished for taking precautions necessary to protect themselves, their patients, and their families from the spread of COVID-19. We are pleased that The Joint Commission updated its guidance today, and provided an evidence-based analysis, to clarify that its policy does not prohibit health care workers from bringing their own PPE from home.”
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“Phase Three” COVID-19 Legislation: Keys for Motor Carriers
Source: American Trucking Association
March 31, 2020
“Across the country right now, truckers are answering the call during this national emergency, delivering food, medicine, PPE and other critical supplies. It’s important for our nation’s supply chain that trucking has access to liquidity, so we can keep our trucks on the road—and not on the sales lot.”
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Reps. Tlaib, Levin Lead Michigan Lawmakers in Urging EPA to Continue Actively Enforcing Environmental Rules and Regulations
Source: U.S. Representative Rashida Tialb (D-MI, 6th)
March 31, 2020
Congresswoman Rashid Tlaib (MI-13), Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), and five other members of the Michigan congressional delegation, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging him to rescind its March 26 guidance, which announced it would suspend active enforcement of many important environmental policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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If NYT doesn’t think critical press briefings on Chinese coronavirus are news, then get some real reporters in there
Source: Americans for Limited Government
March 31, 2020
“In the New York Times’ world, blunders are news, gotchas are news, but actual information on how every American can help save lives in a time when the Chinese coronavirus is the only story is not news. What a bunch of frauds. The White House should rotate the New York Times out of the White House press room twice a week in favor of someone who actually covers the news, and see how they scream that they are denied access. Obviously, all the White House would have to tell the New York Times is that they don’t want to waste their time, since from their perspective the briefings don’t make news.”
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How Americans for Prosperity is uniting with communities, businesses, and policymakers to combat COVID-19
Source: Americans for Prosperity
March 31, 2020
Activists, businesses, and lawmakers all have a role to play in protecting public health, ensuring greater access to care for vulnerable patients, and allowing for communities to come together to adapt and innovate to help the people and institutions affected by COVID-19.
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Anthem Waives Cost Share for COVID-19 Treatment
Source: Anthem, Inc
March 31, 2020
Anthem’s commitment to improving lives and supporting our local communities is more important than ever as the nation joins together to address the COVID-19 crisis. As part of Anthem’s ongoing actions to meet the needs of those directly impacted by the disease, the company announced it will expand coverage, effective April 1, for members in its affiliated health plans undergoing treatment related to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
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Georgia Tech faces lawsuit for discriminating against MLK’s niece
Source: Alliance Defending Freedom
April 1, 2020
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing the Students for Life chapter at Georgia Tech filed suit in federal court Wednesday after the university’s student government denied funding for a speaking event featuring Alveda King, the niece of civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., because she is “inherently religious” like her uncle.
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Warren Urges FDA to Address Shortages of Drugs Prematurely Touted by President Trump as COVID-19 Treatments
Source: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D - MA)
April 2, 2020
Though scientists have begun testing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as candidates for potential COVID-19 treatments and the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the prescription of the drugs in certain circumstances, public health experts have cautioned against their wide distribution. Despite these warnings, President Trump continues to use his platform to tout unproven treatments, resulting in inappropriate prescribing, at least one death, and reported shortages of the drugs. This threatens to exacerbate existing health problems; there are already reports pharmacists have had to turn away or limit supplies to patients being treated for autoimmune disorders.
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Internists Say Defense Production Act must be used to Produce PPE
Source: American College of Physicians
April 2, 2020
In a letter sent this afternoon to President Trump, the American College of Physicians (ACP) said the Defense Production Act (DPA) must immediately be invoked to require manufacturers to make personal protection equipment (PPE) for physicians and other health care workers.
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Internists Call on the Trump Administration to Open Health Insurance Enrollment Due to COVID-19
Source: American College of Physicians
April 2, 2020
“COVID-19 continues to dramatically alter our way of life. We appreciate the administration and Congress’ efforts to expand access to COVID-19 testing without cost sharing. However, millions remain uninsured or underinsured,” wrote Robert McLean, MD, MACP, president, ACP in the letter. “ACP is concerned that those without comprehensive coverage may be less likely to seek and receive testing and treatment of COVID-19, endangering themselves and others.”
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Private insurer actions urged to support COVID-19 challenge
Source: American Hospital Association
April 2, 2020
The AHA has urged leaders from the nation's five largest private health insurance companies — Aetna, Anthem, Humana, Cigna and UnitedHealthCare — and organizations that represent insurers (America’s Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association) to join hospitals and health systems to "meet the historic challenge" caused by COVID-19 to "ensure that the health care system is there for anyone who needs care."
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NYC Official Says City Is Preparing To Dig ‘Trenches’ In A Park To Bury The Dead
Source: Reporter Sara Carter/Jennie Taer
April 6, 2020
The Chair of the New York City Council’s health committee Mark D. Levine said Monday that the city is overwhelmed by the number of deaths from the coronavirus and that they’re preparing to dig “trenches” in a city park to bury the dead.
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Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act

by U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th)

Gilbert, AZ - January 24, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- This week, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act, which requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges to a local hospital and to adhere to basic safety standards. Congressman Biggs, Senator Kennedy, and others offered the following statements:

“Many abortion providers refuse to accept the reality that an abortion is a serious medical procedure that should be treated with the same care and caution as any other surgery or medical treatment. Women deserve to have doctors and medical professionals who can provide quality care and quickly address any complications that may arise. Requiring doctors and abortion providers to have hospital admitting privileges and to maintain safe and clean clinics should be common sense measures that face little opposition.

“Sadly, we know many abortion providers’ main priority is not tending to the health and safety of pregnant women. Instead it’s maintaining and protecting the profitable abortion market. According to National Right to Life’s annual report, more than 61 million abortions have been performed in the United States since abortion became legal in 1973. It is heartbreaking that our society is willing to accept this loss of life. I will continue working with my colleagues and pro-life leaders around the nation until we end this practice and protect the rights of both pregnant women and their unborn children. And I am grateful to Senator Kennedy for his partnership in introducing this important legislation.” – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

“It’s hard to imagine someone more in need of access to quality medical care than an expectant mother and her unborn child. The abortion industry cuts corners at the expense of vulnerable people, and the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act would ensure that women have easy access to vital protective care.

“I’m thankful to partner with my friend Andy Biggs in this effort to save and improve lives and encourage my colleagues in both chambers of Congress to support this legislation.” – Senator John Kennedy (R-LA)

“The March for Life applauds Representative Biggs and Senator Kennedy for standing up for both women and children. Abortion facilities harm women and are always dangerous and medically substandard. Abortionists are more concerned with their profits than with women’s health and safety – we thank the elected officials who are willing to hold these abortionists responsible.” – Tom McClusky, President, March for Life Action

“Excluding abortion facilities from following standard health procedures is no way to promote women’s health care. We’re grateful to Congressman Biggs for introducing legislation to ensure that our laws protect the health and safety of both the mother and her child.” – Travis Weber, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Family Research Council

“It’s long past time for abortion providers to recognize the serious dangers of abortion. While we long for the day when abortion is unthinkable, the reality today is any abortion should be performed in a safe environment by a doctor who can care for the women from beginning to end, including any emergency that may arise. I am grateful to Congressman Biggs for standing up for these principles and remaining steadfast in his fight against abortion.” – Cathi Herrod, President, Center for Arizona Policy

Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy (EQUIP) Act Introduced in the House

Washington, D.C. - November 29, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes and reducing rates of unintended pregnancy. She thinks that by asking young women questions, like "Are you trying to have a baby?" "Are you sexually active?" "Are you wearing protection?" This will reduce the stresses of unintended pregnancy.

While this does not help lower-income young women who may not be regularly seeing a doctor, it does seem like a step in the right direction for providing information that will, in the long run, prevent a need for an abortion.

The Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy (EQUIP) Act supports evidence-based pregnancy intention screening initiatives that facilitate important, patient-centered conversations between women and their health providers. These initiatives prepare health care providers to routinely ask female patients of child-bearing age about their goals regarding pregnancy, and subsequently provide appropriate pre-conception or contraceptive care and counsel.

“Families and communities are healthier when women are able to have healthy, planned pregnancies,” said Bonamici. “Studies show that empowering women and their health care providers to have a discussion about pregnancy intentions reduces unintended pregnancies, promotes maternal health, and improves birth outcomes. I’m proud to support bringing a successful pregnancy intention screening initiative from Oregon to a national scale."

“We applaud Congresswoman Bonamici for her leadership on women’s health issues, and are very hopeful that the EQUIP Act will bring widespread national attention to pregnancy intention screening,” stated Grayson Dempsey, Executive Director of the Oregon Foundation for Reproductive Health. “Oregon has always been on the forefront of progressive healthcare policy and we are proud that the One Key Question™ initiative has been able to help so many women get the services they need for planning and preventing pregnancy.”

"The EQUIP Act takes an important step towards ensuring that every woman—no matter who she is or where she lives—has the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant, and most importantly, to have the power to act upon those intentions," said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "It will contribute to strengthening and spreading pregnancy intention screening protocols that support women and their health care providers in having important conversations that allow women to get the health care they need and want in order to avoid an unintended, or prepare for, a healthy pregnancy."

Bonamici modeled this legislation on One Key Question™, a pregnancy intention screening initiative developed by the Oregon Foundation for Reproductive Health. The initiative supported the implementation of structured pregnancy intention screening pilot studies in Oregon, including at Washington County Family Planning clinics in 2013. This model is now being implemented at sites in at least 30 states.

Bonamici strongly supports access to contraception and opposes efforts by the Trump Administration to terminate the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.

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