RURAL Act Introduced

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by: Terri A. Sewell (D-AL, 7th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Adrian Smith (NE-03) have introduced the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act, legislation that would help preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by expanding tax-exempt cooperative organizations’ access to government grants and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief.

“Our rural communities depend on reliable infrastructure, access to broadband and secure energy sources for their local economies to thrive,” Rep. Terri Sewell said. “Alabama’s rural electric co-ops provide essential broadband services in rural areas where high-speed internet is limited but essential to those areas’ economic growth. We must do more to provide high-speed internet – and the opportunities and resources that it brings – to the 22.4 million Americans living in rural parts of our country without quality internet access. The RURAL Act would ensure that these co-ops can retain their tax-exempt status when applying for grants to expand rural broadband or disaster assistance and provide these co-ops with the ability to secure the grants needed to continue to grow their renewable energy, economic development and energy efficiency initiatives.”

“Nebraska has a long tradition of relying on public and cooperative power generation to affordably meet the needs of families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses,” Rep. Adrian Smith said. “While continuing to ensure rural electric co-ops are largely funded by their membership as a condition of their tax-exempt status, we should also ensure funds received from grants or for pole usage do not affect their tax status. Just as rural power generation and transmission were vital to rural economic growth in the 20th century, access to both power and broadband will drive our rural economies in the 21st.”

“The legislation will enable electric cooperatives to continue powering rural communities across America,” said National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson. “Without this legislation, co-ops risk losing their not-for-profit, tax-exempt status if they accept government grants for recovery from major storms or to expand rural broadband access and other services that are critical to the future of rural communities. I applaud Congresswoman Sewell’s leadership on this issue and encourage House members to join the sponsors in supporting this bill.”

“Rural Electric Cooperatives have historically received grants from various sources to assist in providing services to their members such as renewable energy development, energy efficiency and conservation and more recently helping to deploy vital broadband service to rural Alabama communities. Recent changes in the Revenue Code create an unintended consequence for cooperatives that may jeopardize their tax-exempt status,” said Alabama Rural Electric Association President and CEO Fred Braswell. “Representative Sewell understands the importance of this to rural Alabama and its citizens. We thank her for continuing to fight for programs to help the rural cooperatives and the areas we serve.”

“Crucial community infrastructure projects in central Alabama have materialized because Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) has successfully obtained grants. Over the years these federal, state and local allocations have funded a rural wastewater system and new entry roads in county business parks. Congresswoman Terri Sewell has introduced the RURAL Act, which offers protection to electric cooperatives and other nonprofit organizations by allowing them to maintain certain tax exemptions. Without their not-for-profit status, electric cooperatives’ ability to pursue grants will be hampered by having to include additional costs in rates,” said Central Alabama Electric Cooperative President and CEO Tom Stackhouse. “Thank you, Congresswoman Sewell, for your leadership and diligence in sponsoring the RURAL Act. Continued protection will be essential for CAEC as we embark on our rural broadband project this year.”

“As an electric cooperative that was severely impacted by Hurricane Michael in October 2018, HR 2174 will allow PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s members to utilize FEMA grants without fear of losing our non-for-profit status,” said PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Vice President of External Affairs Horace Horn. “We are grateful for Rep. Sewell’s sponsorship of this legislation and look forward to working with her on this issue.”

The RURAL Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure tax-exempt cooperative organizations do not lose their tax-exempt status when they apply for and use certain government grants, contributions and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief.

A Senate companion measure was introduced by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tina Smith (D-MN).

The RURAL Act is available here.

BILL TO BRING DOWN INSULIN PRICES INTRODUCED

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===Good until May 10, 2019===

by: Kim Schrier (D-WA, 8th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- As Congress holds hearings about the high cost of insulin, U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) has introduced a bipartisan bill that will bring down the cost of insulin. Rep. Schrier, a member of the Executive Committee of the Diabetes Caucus who has Type 1 diabetes and is a pediatrician, knows all too well how the price of insulin is affecting families all across the country.

“My insulin has tripled in price in the last 10 years and now costs $260, which is in between the price of Chanel No. 5 and cobra venom,” said Rep. Schrier. “We should be doing everything we can to make more affordable treatments widely available, because right now for too many of my patients and people across the country, the cost of insulin is a life or death issue. This bill paves the way for less expensive versions of brand name insulins.”

In December 2018, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance giving drug makers a pathway for biosimilar approvals. Like a generic drug, biosimilars can use an expedited approval process that doesn’t need to duplicate expensive clinical trials and are often sold at a fraction of the price of brand name drugs. The Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act, introduced by Rep. Schrier with Rep. Diana Degette (D-CO01) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY23) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02) would make this FDA guidance law. This is important to do because guidance can be easily revoked, throwing a future market into chaos and affecting people who were taking biosimilar drugs.

Most biologics are approved by the FDA under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act. A handful of protein-based biologics, including insulin, however, are approved under Section 505 of the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act. Drug makers are not able to make biosimilar (generic) versions of drugs approved under Section 505 due to regulatory issues.

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act, clarified that all protein-based biologics, including insulin, must be approved under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act starting on March 23, 2020. Drug makers can make biosimilars of biologics approved under Section 351. Biologics that were approved under Section 505 prior to March 23, 2020 would receive a “grandfathered approval” under Section 351. FDA guidance on how drug makers can file biosimilar applications after the law’s implementation date on March 23, 2020 was issued in December.

ENGEL, LOWEY, DEUTCH, SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON A TWO-STATE SOLUTION

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by: Bradley Schneider (D IL, 10th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Nita Lowey, Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations; Rep. Ted Deutch, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism; and Rep. Brad Schneider made the following statement:

“As strong, life-long supporters of Israel, a U.S.-Israel relationship rooted in our shared values, and the two-state solution, we are greatly concerned by the possibility of Israel taking unilateral steps to annex the West Bank. Every one of Israel’s frontiers plays an important role in its security, and Israel’s ability to guard itself from threats is non-negotiable. We hope that any security measures are implemented within the context of preserving the eventual possibility of a two-state solution. Two states for two peoples, negotiated directly by the two sides, with mutually agreed upon land swaps, is the best option to achieve a Jewish, democratic, secure Israel living side-by-side with a democratic, de-militarized Palestinian state.

“This will not be easy. Palestinian leadership has been unwilling to accept any reasonable peace proposal or even to negotiate seriously toward a solution. To paraphrase Abba Eban, the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. And instead of negotiating, they have pursued unilateral statehood through the United Nations.

“Our fear is that such unilateral steps—whether from Israelis or Palestinians—would push the parties farther from a final, negotiated settlement.”

Schakowsky Calls on Mattel to Recall Dangerous Infant Sleeper

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by: Jan Schakowsky (D-IL, 9th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today called on Mattel to issue a recall for the Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play. With at least 32 deaths associated with the use of this infant sleeper, it is beyond time to remove this item from store shelves and online markets.

“I have written to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and I have made a direct plea to Mattel to do what’s right and issue a recall on this infant sleeper immediately,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Mattel should put children’s lives and safety first and quickly alert consumers and stores that this product should not be used or sold. Any delay continues to put more children’s lives at risk.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long advised that babies should sleep flat on their backs in a clutter-free environment. The Rock ‘n Play is an inclined sleeper, which also recommends using its restraint system, which is also contrary to AAP recommendations.

Bill to Improve Assessment, Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease Introduced

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by: Linda Sanchez (D-CA, 38th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL), members of the Ways and Means Committee, along with Energy and Commerce Committee members Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, have introduced H.R. 2283 — Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act to encourage early assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. With as many as 16 million Americans expected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by 2050, the legislation seeks to aide caregivers and accelerate progress to disease modifying treatments.

Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Roger Wicker (R-MS.), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

“Millions of American families, including my own, know all too well the devastating toll that Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can take. Too often, patients don’t get a timely diagnosis, if they ever get one at all. Family caregivers do their best to provide the support and care their loved ones need, at great personal expense,” said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. “I am proud to work with my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to promote and streamline early assessment and diagnosis. The CHANGE Act provides critical support to patients and their family caregivers. With millions more Americans, including and particularly people of color, expected to be diagnosed in the coming decades, we can’t afford to wait.”

“Alzheimer’s Disease affects millions of Americans each day and the search for a cure must be relentless, which is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill to build upon existing tools for early detection, support physicians, families, and caregivers, gather data on how to improve federal efforts in Alzheimer’s research, and outline additional ways we provide care and treatment to those battling this disease,” stated Congressman Darin LaHood. “As a strong advocate for the fight to find a cure to Alzheimer’s, I will continue to support legislation that will help end this cruel disease for good.”

“Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease and millions are or will suffer from this heartbreaking illness,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “We need to do more to encourage early diagnosis while helping to relieve the burden placed on caregivers and family members. This bipartisan, bicameral bill is a critical first step to providing people with Alzheimer’s the care and treatment they need and deserve.”

“Alzheimer’s impacts families all throughout Eastern Washington. This heartbreaking disease not only presents a health crisis in America, but also an economic one. Almost everyone knows someone with or caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s,” Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said. “They need our support, more research for early detection and diagnosis, and better resources for care. The CHANGE Act will help by encouraging early assessment and diagnoses and accelerating development of life-changing treatments. One day we will find a cure, but until then, it’s critical that we move forward with legislation like this to help patients by improving diagnosis and treatments.”

“I thank this bipartisan group of legislators for their commitment and leadership to accelerating a cure for Alzheimer’s and providing relief to the 5.8 million Americans currently battling this terrible disease and their families, caregivers, and friends,” said George Vradenburg, chairman of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “We look forward to working with these legislators and their colleagues to advance the CHANGE Act through Congress and into law.”

Alzheimer’s is the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in the United States without an effective means of prevention, treatment, or cure. The CHANGE Act supports, incentivizes, and authorizes high-value Alzheimer’s patient care, caregiver support, and research initiatives to improve prevention and treatment and move toward a cure for the disease.

Specifically, the CHANGE Act:

Requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to identify a uniform, reliable cognitive impairment detection tool or set of tools that will incentivize clinicians to detect, refer, and diagnose Alzheimer’s and related dementias in their earliest stages.

Establishes payment measures to incentivize the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias and discussion of appropriate care planning services, including potential for clinical trial participation.

More information on the bill is available here.

Legislative text is available here.

Law Enforcement Immersive Training Bill Introduced

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by: Tim Ryan (D-OH, 13th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) introduced the Law Enforcement Immersive Training Act of 2019 (H.R. 2329). The bill would require the U.S. Department of Justice to create an immersive, real-life, scenario-based training curriculum to address key issues raised by law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. These include improving community-police relations, officer safety and resilience, situational awareness, physical and emotional responses to stress, critical decision-making and problem-solving, de-escalation and use of force, and crisis intervention. The bill would also create a grant program to support public and private entities that train law enforcement officers using a substantially similar immersive curriculum. The FOP and NAACP have both endorsed the legislation. To view the full text of the bill, click here.

“Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect is an absolute necessity. It makes citizens feel respected, officers feel supported, and allows communities to work together to fight crime and keep everyone safe. Across the country, we have seen what happens when that trust is tested or broken. Unfortunately, the lack of standardized police training can lead to negative outcomes for officers and citizens,” said Congressman Ryan. “Policing is a difficult job, and law enforcement training should reflect and prepare officers for the unique challenges of 21st century policing. All officers—in departments large and small, rural and urban—should have access to the state-of-the-art immersive training that saves lives and rebuilds trust. This bill is an important step toward addressing related concerns and finding common ground.”

“This training will not only better equip officers to ensure their own safety, but it will enhance their ability to serve and protect their communities by using current immersive technology to better prepare officers for real-life situations on the beat. This kind of training will improve officer safety, de-escalation, and community-police relations,” said Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

“The NAACP strongly supports the Law Enforcement Immersive Training Act,” said Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau and the Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy. “We are very appreciative of all of the hard work Congressman Ryan and others have put forth to ensure that law enforcement officers receive training on the culture of the communities with whom they interact. The majority of law enforcement officers are hard working men and women, whose concern for the safety of those they are charged with protecting and serving is often paramount, even when their own lives are on the line. However, if and when even one of their colleagues engages in unethical or problematic behavior, whether it be conscious or subconscious, the trust of the entire community can be, and will be, lost. The result can only lead to trouble for the communities and the officers. This training will go a long way in ensuring smooth, mutually beneficial relations.”

Dr. Ruiz Sends Letter to the President Urging Federal Aid for Local Communities Impacted by the Valentine’s Day Flood

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by: Raul Ruiz (D-CA, 36th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Palm Desert) sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to devote federal funding to help local communities recover from the Valentine’s Day flood. The letter comes after Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Trump over the weekend requesting a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for communities across California impacted by February’s flooding.

“I urge President Trump to issue a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in order to help hundreds of families and local businesses qualify for federal resources and get back on their feet,” said Dr. Ruiz. “Our communities hurt by the Valentine’s Day floods need help to fix roads and property. I have monitored the damage and communicated our local needs to Governor Newsom and applaud his diligent response and request to the President. We must support the people who, due to road damage, endure long drives to medical appointments, loss of customers to their small business, and longer commutes to work. I will continue to track progress and advocate to bring home federal resources to fix our roads and businesses.”

Background

On April 13, Governor Gavin Newsom requested Presidential Major Disaster Declarations to bolster ongoing state and local recovery efforts following severe February storms that caused widespread flooding, mudslides, and damage to critical infrastructure across California.

If granted, the Presidential Major Disaster Declarations would help state, tribal, and local governments with recovery projects including the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and utilities.

You can read the full text of the Congressman’s letter to the President below.


April 15, 2019


President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing in support of Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for California communities impacted by the severe winter storms that occurred in February. As the Representative of California 36th Congressional district, I urge you to swiftly provide federal aid to the affected communities, including those I represent in Riverside County and the San Jacinto Mountains.

The major weather event that occurred in mid-February brought heavy winds and rains that caused intense flooding, mudslides, and damaged critical infrastructure including sewage systems and roadways. State Routes 243 and 74, near the town of Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains, were so severely damaged that repairs are estimated to take up to two months to complete, stranding businesses and residents in the area.

I have heard from my constituents about the personal and economic toll these damages have taken on our communities. Road closures have led some residents to struggle to reach their medical appointments, and local economies have suffered due to declines in tourism. Federal aid is essential to helping these communities recover and local residents get back on their feet.

Thank you for your consideration, and I urge you to grant this disaster request as soon as possible. I look forward to working with you to ensure that the individuals affected by these storms have the necessary resources to repair their communities and local infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Raul Ruiz, M.D.
Member of Congress

Rep. Chip Roy On San Antonio City Council Reconsidering Banning Chick-fil-A From The Airport

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by: Chip Roy (R-TX, 21st)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) released the following statement Friday regarding the San Antonio City Council’s decision to reconsider banning Chick-fil-A from the San Antonio International Airport:

“I was pleased to see that San Antonio city councilman Greg Brockhouse is planning to motion to reconsider the city council’s previous decision to ban Chick-fil-A from the San Antonio International Airport.

As I wrote in a letter to members of the city council last month, targeting individuals, organizations, or corporations for carrying out their deeply-held religious beliefs in accord with our laws and consistent with many Americans’ similarly held religious beliefs is hardly making San Antonio a ‘champion of equality and inclusion.’

I hope the motion to reconsider results in a reversal of the council’s initial decision that I can only describe as discriminatory and bigoted.”

Senator Warren Unveils Bill to Expand Criminal Liability to Negligent Executives of Giant Corporations

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by: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D - MA)

Washington, D.C. - April 17, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the Corporate Executive Accountability Act, which holds executives of large corporations criminally responsible when their companies commit crimes, harm large numbers of Americans through civil violations, or repeatedly violate federal law. The Senator also reintroduced the Ending Too Big to Jail Act, a comprehensive bill to hold big bank executives accountable when the banks they lead break the law.

These two measures come one week after the retirement of a second Wells Fargo CEO who held a senior position in the bank while millions of fake accounts were opened, thousands of cars were unlawfully possessed, and hundreds of homeowners were inappropriately foreclosed.

"Corporations don't make decisions, people do, but for far too long, CEOs of giant corporations that break the law have been able to walk away, while consumers who are harmed are left picking up the pieces," said Senator Warren. "These two bills would force executives to responsibly manage their companies, knowing that if they cheat their customers or crash the economy, they could go to jail."

Executives at large corporations often escape prosecution because it is hard to demonstrate that they are personally aware of all their company's actions -- and establishing knowledge is a critical element of proving most crimes. However, some federal laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Clean Air Act, already impose criminal liability on corporate leaders when a company's negligence causes massive harm -- regardless of whether leaders personally approved actions that broke the law.

The Corporate Executive Accountability Act builds on these existing federal statues and makes it easier to send executives to jail for serious crimes by expanding criminal liability to negligent executives of corporations with more than $1 billion in annual revenue that:

Are found guilty, plead guilty, or enter into a deferred or non-prosecution agreement for any crime.

Are found liable or enter a settlement with any state or Federal regulator for the violation of any civil law if that violation affects the health, safety, finances, or personal data of 1% of the American population or 1% of the population of any state.

Are found liable or guilty of a second civil or criminal violation for a different activity while operating under a civil or criminal judgment of any court, a deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreement, or settlement with any state or Federal agency.

Punishment for such a violation will be up to a year in jail, while a second violation carries up to three years in jail, consistent with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The Corporate Executive Accountability Act has been endorsed by Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform, Take On Wall Street, and the Consumer Federation of America.

The Ending Too Big to Jail Act makes it easier to hold financial executives accountable by:

Creating a permanent investigative unit for financial crimes within the Treasury Department by giving the Special Inspector General for the bailout a new mission -- prosecuting financial crimes.

Requiring executives at big banks larger than $10 billion to certify that there is no criminal conduct or civil fraud within the institution, making it easier to prove wrongdoing if it is later discovered.

Putting deferred prosecution agreements under the jurisdiction of judges so that they can ensure that the agreements are in the public interest and can supervise their implementation.

The Ending Too Big to Jail Act, which was first introduced by Senator Warren in March 2018, has been endorsed by Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform, Take On Wall Street, the Communications Workers of America, and Professor Brandon Garrett of Duke Law School, author of Too Big to Jail: How Prosecutors Compromise with Corporations.

Senate Intel Vice Chair Warner on Assange

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by: Senator Mark R.Warner (D - VA)

Washington, D.C. - April 17, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement regarding the arrest of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, today in the United Kingdom:

“Julian Assange has long professed high ideals and moral superiority. Unfortunately, whatever his intentions when he started WikiLeaks, what he’s really become is a direct participant in Russian efforts to undermine the West and a dedicated accomplice in efforts to undermine American security. It is my hope that the British courts will quickly transfer him to U.S. custody so he can finally get the justice he deserves.

“I would like to thank President Moreno and the Ecuadoran government for taking the long-overdue step of withdrawing sanctuary for Mr. Assange so that he can finally face justice for his actions.”