Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Navy. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

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...

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

King Issues Plea to U.S. Navy: Increase Resources to Stop Drug Shipments





by: Senator Angus S. King Jr. (I - ME)

Washington, D.C. - April 10, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Admiral John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, to find opportunities to collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard to increase our ability to intercept drug shipments being transported into the United States by sea.

“I’d like to start my questioning with a plea….Of the hundred-percent [of drug shipments] that we have intelligence on, we’re only able to interdict twenty-five percent because of lack of maritime assets,” said Senator King. “Since this hearing started, twelve Americans have died of overdoses. Our country is under attack. People are dying. People are dying in my state – one a day. Please, see if you can find a way to allocate [Littoral Combat Ships] or other maritime assets to work with the Coast Guard to interdict those drug shipments. It is inexcusable that we know of a drug shipment and can’t do anything about it because of a lack of maritime assets… this is a heartfelt request to try to do something that’s within our power to do.”

Also during the hearing, Senator King expressed his appreciation for the Navy’s efforts to provide the data requested by Senator King regarding the two deadly 2017 collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald and the USS McCain. The data followed up on a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year, during which Senator King pressed Admiral Philip Davidson on specific ways to prevent fatal collisions in the future. Senator King concluded his recognition of the Navy’s efforts with a request for the leaders to continue to provide, on a quarterly basis, data related to Navy efforts to avoid future collisions.

Senator King ended his questioning by returning to his focus on cybersecurity – urging Navy leaders to ensure that their private sector partners are fully defending themselves from cyberattacks – particularly subcontractors, who can often have smaller operations and may be more vulnerable. Today’s questioning continues his effort to make sure the military’s private sector partners are secure; last month, he raised the subject with leaders of United States Transportation Command and United States European Command during an Armed Services hearing, and in February Senator King took part in a Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) hearing on cybersecurity where he emphasized the need for urgent action. During that hearing, Senator King questioned James Robb, President and CEO of North American Energy Reliability Corporation, about the dangers of foreign equipment in America’s energy grid, and urged Mr. Robb to recommend red teams to America’s utilities.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues in the Senate. In addition to his committee work, he serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.