Wednesday, March 8, 2017

The Ponder News: Midwives, gun rights, Health Care, NASA, Veterans, Travel Ban, South Korea, Sexual Abuse, Planned Parenthood, Avian Flu

Vote is today on midwife regulation bill in Alabama
TimesDaily
March 7, 2017

Jessica Thompson is just weeks from delivering her fourth child, a son, and she wants a midwife-assisted birth at her Lauderdale County home.

But that would be against the law.

Alabama law does not allow certified professional midwives to practice in the state. The law has stipulations for nurse midwives to practice under an Alabama doctor, but there are few practicing in the state, and even those can't assist a woman desiring to delivery outside a hospital.
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Trump signs Abraham gun rights bill into law
Ralph Abraham (R-LA, 5th)
March 2, 2017

The law ends a regulation implemented in the midnight hours of the Obama administration that required the Social Security Administration to submit to the FBI the names of all beneficiaries who are assigned a representative payee to manage their financial affairs due to a mental disability. Their names would then be put in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system, which would effectively eliminate their Second Amendment right to buy and possess firearms without due process.
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Congresswoman Adams Statement on the American Healthcare Act
March 7, 2017
Alma Adams (D-NC, 12th)

Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement after Congressional Republicans announced their healthcare plan intended to replace the Affordable Care Act.
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Allen on American Health Care Act
Rick Allen (R-GA, 12th)
March 7, 2017

House Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee recently introduced the American Health Care Act. This legislation is part of the House Republican agenda to bring Obamacare relief to Americans. Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.-12) released the following statement:
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House Approves NASA Transition Authorization Act
Brian Babin (R-TX, 36th)
March 7, 2017

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 (S.442), which cleared the Senate last month. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation reaffirms Congress’ commitment to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and directs NASA to pursue a balanced portfolio of activities. It now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
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BANKS STATEMENT ON OBAMACARE REPLACEMENT PLAN
Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd)
March 7, 2017

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) today released the following statement regarding the Republican plan to replace Obamacare:
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BANKS INTRODUCES BILL TO ALLOW VETERANS TO BE BURIED CLOSER TO HOME
Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd)
March 7, 2017

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) today introduced a bill that would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for the transportation of a deceased veteran’s remains to a state-owned or tribal-owned veterans cemetery. The VA is currently only authorized to transport such remains to a national veterans cemetery.
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REP. BARLETTA’S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER
Lou Barletta (R-PA, 11th)
March 6, 2017

Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today applauded President Trump’s latest executive order, which pauses the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days. It also suspends the issuance of new visas for 90 days for individuals from six countries that either are designated as state sponsors of terrorism, or have become terrorist hotbeds. The six countries are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
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Rep. Bass Rips New Health Proposal
Karen Bass (D-CA, 37th)
March 7, 2017

On Tuesday, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement in response to the House Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
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Beatty Statement on Affordable Care Act Repeal and Replace Bill
Joyce Beatty (D-OH, 3rd)
March 7, 2017

On March 6th, House Republicans released legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In response, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement:
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Rep. Ami Bera Statement on Passage of NASA Transition Authorization Act
Amy Berra (D-CA, 7th)
Mar 7, 2017

Rep. Ami Bera, ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Space, released the following statement after the House voted to pass the NASA Transition Authorization Act, which establishes a funding range for the nation’s space program.
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Cotton Statement on China’s Criticism of Missile-Defense System in South Korea
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Mar 7, 2017

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement in response to China's criticism of the THAAD missile-defense system recently deployed in South Korea:
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Congress Sends Bipartisan Cruz-Nelson NASA Transition Authorization Act to the President’s Desk
Senator Ted Cruz- (R - TX)
Mar 7, 2017

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed S. 442, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2017, a bill originally introduced in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas). In the House, the chairmen with committees of jurisdiction for the bill are U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), chairman of the House Space Subcommittee. The legislation provides stability for NASA to sustain and build upon existing national space investments designed to advance space exploration and science with an overall authorization level of $19.508 billion for fiscal year 2017. With the House’s passage of the bill today, the legislation now heads to the White House to await President Donald Trump’s signature.
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Donnelly Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Introduce Bill Requiring U.S. Amateur Athletic Organizations, Members to Report Sexual Abuse
Senator Joe Donnely - (D - IN)
March 6, 2017

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation that would require amateur athletics governing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to local or federal law enforcement, or a child-welfare agency designated by the Justice Department. The bill stems from recent allegations of sexual abuse made against personnel involved with USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and USA Taekwondo. The bill was led by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and also introduced by Susan Collins (R-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Todd Young (R-IN.)
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Duckworth Statement on the President’s Newest Discriminatory Executive Order
Senator Tammy Ducksworth (D - IL)
March 6, 2017

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the executive order signed by the President today restricting travel from six Muslim-majority countries:
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Planned Parenthood CEOs Raking in the Cash at Taxpayers' Expense
American Life League
March 8, 2017

American Life League’s Stop Planned Parenthood International (STOPP) completed and released its third report on the compensation of the chief executive officer of each of Planned Parenthood’s 56 affiliates across the country. The report showed a significant increase in CEO compensation since the last report released in 2015.
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APA Concerned About Proposed ACA Replacement Bill
American Psychiatric Association
March 7, 2017

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is deeply concerned that the proposed ACA replacement released last night will negatively impact care for people with mental illness and substance use disorders. The APA urges continued support and expanded access to quality, evidence-based mental health and substance use services.
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America’s Road Team Captains Complete Weight Loss Challenge, Meet Health Goals
American Trucking Association
March 7, 2017

American Trucking Associations and America’s Road Team are congratulating five America’s Road Team Captains for successfully meeting their team’s weight loss goals and leading the field in Healthy Fleet’s 10 Pound Challenge.
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What Guttmacher got wrong … again.
Americans United for Life
March 8, 2017

With all the talk about the “need” for more funds for Planned Parenthood, many in the media ignore the reality that nobody goes to the nation’s number one abortion provider for a flu shot. Full-service medical care is available in many locations nationwide, along with contraception if that is desired. But the lucrative and grisly product that Planned Parenthood sells, first and foremost, is abortion. Redirecting scarce taxpayer and healthcare dollars to full-service, actual medical facilities is the right thing to do for mothers and their unborn children.
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USDA Issues Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Tennessee
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Mar 7, 2017

USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the full subtype for the highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza reported in Lincoln County, TN. The virus has been identified as North American wild bird lineage H7N9 HPAI based upon full genome sequence analysis of the samples at the NVSL. All eight gene segments of the virus are North American wild bird lineage. This is NOT the same as the China H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in Asia. While the subtype is the same as the China H7N9 lineage that emerged in 2013, this is a different virus and is genetically distinct from the China H7N9 lineage.
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