Apprenticeship Act, Belarus, Vaccines, and Sexual Misconduct

The House of Representatives passed the National Apprenticeship Act which would invest in increasing access to Registered Apprenticeships (RAs), codify and streamline existing standards that are vital to support RAs, and invest and expand the successful RA model to youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. The National Apprenticeship Act would invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities in existing and emerging industry sectors, according to U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th).

Apparently, Belarus's election woes make ours look like small potatoes. This is one we need to be watching, to see how it all plays out. Read more...

October has now been declared "National Principles Month" officially. Read more...

U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL, 9th) introduced the Helping Adults Protect Immunity Act (HAPI) Act to ensure more Americans can receive necessary vaccines, including any future COVID-19 vaccine, at no out-of-pocket cost. The legislation would create parity in vaccine coverage between traditional Medicaid and Medicaid expansion programs. The bill would also provide enhanced federal matching funds for states to better reach at-risk and vulnerable patient populations. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced the Senate companion bill. Read more...

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Acting Inspector General (DOD-IG) Sean O’Donnell demanding an explanation for the delayed conclusion of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct against former Navy Auditor General Ronnie J. Booth.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report reviewing the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) management of their intellectual property. The report recommends HHS fix a deficiency in their commercial licensing process and publicly report more about the licensing of their intellectual property. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) requested this report in order to learn more about how taxpayer-funded research is being used to develop drugs and vaccines.