Kilmer, Heck Introduce Bill to Provide Rental Assistance During COVID-19 Crisis

Emergency legislation would substantially expand existing short-term rental assistance for Americans impacted by COVID-19.
Press release issued 3/ 23/ 20
Tacoma, WA – Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Denny Heck (WA-10) introduced H.R. 6314, the Emergency Rental Assistance Act of 2020. This legislation would increase short-term rental assistance for most Americans by significantly expanding the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.

H.R. 6314 would provide $100 billion to ESG for short-term rental assistance. This funding would be given out to states in two chunks: $50 billion over the first 60 days, then $50 billion over the following 60 days targeted toward individuals with the greatest need. This legislation would also expand who can receive these funds by allowing those at 80% of area median income (AMI) to receive ESG, a significant increase from current law. Finally, while the bill would require localities to report on use of these funds, the reporting requirements would be significantly more flexible for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, including the allowance of virtual public hearings.

 “Even before COVID-19, too many people in our region and across the state have struggled to keep up with the cost of housing. Now, ongoing efforts to combat and contain COVID-19 are making it difficult for folks to keep up economically – including on rent,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Today, Rep. Heck and I are introducing new legislation to substantially expand rental assistance and ensure folks in our region can get the help they need, as quickly as possible.”

“Housing is the single largest expense for most American families,” said Rep. Heck. “By a longshot. Right now, those same families are facing job loss, struggling with child care, and dealing with other unprecedented financial burdens stemming from the global COVID-19 crisis – and many are unable to make next month’s rent. We have to get meaningful help to them as soon as we possibly can. Using the ESG program to provide more rental assistance is something we can do right now.”

Since 2011, ESG funds have been used for short- or medium-term rental. These funds are distributed through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program formula, where states and localities apply for ESG through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hundreds of states and localities receive these funds each year, which they allocate to eligible local government entities, nonprofits, public housing authorities, and local redevelopment authorities. These organizations distribute the grant money to individuals and families.

Kilmer Co-Sponsors Legislation to Minimize COVID-19 Impact on Student Veterans

Legislation Included in House Democrats’ COVID-19 Emergency Response Package
Press release issued 3/ 24/ 20

Tacoma, WA – On Monday, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) co-sponsored the bipartisan Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act Of 2020, introduced yesterday by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN). The legislation aims to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student veterans as schools and universities have taken proactive measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“If you serve our country, the federal government should have your back,” said Rep. Kilmer. “By expanding protections for student veterans during emergencies like COVID-19, preserving the work-study program, and continuing housing benefits, we’ll be taking real steps to ensure that the government steps-up and gives student veterans the support they need as our nation works to combat and contain COVID-19.”

“As we respond to the coronavirus pandemic, we cannot forget about our student veterans. This bill package will make key fixes so veterans can continue their studies without interruption, loss of income, or unexpected bills,” said Chairman Takano. “Under this bipartisan legislation, we can ensure no students have their housing cut off, lose their work study payment, exhaust their disaster housing stipend continuation payments, or lose their benefits due to a school closure from COVID-19.”

Here’s how this new legislation works for student veterans:

Work-Study During Emergencies: As institutions of higher learning are switching to solely online instruction and as campuses are shutting down as a precaution, student veterans who work on campus through VA’s work-study program will lose an important source of income. This bill gives VA the latitude to continue paying student veterans who lost their position on campus due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Expands Protections For Student Veterans During Emergencies: Currently, if schools close for up to four weeks during a term, VA can continue paying housing and allowances to student veterans. This bill builds on these protections by modifying current law to cover all emergency situations, including public health emergencies like those caused by the current spread of COVID-19. In addition, this legislation allows this protection to be triggered once every 6 months (down from 12) and creates a separate four week, uncharged period for the current COVID-19 situation.
Bridges Digital Divide: In order to halt the spread of COVID-19, many schools have begun moving to online classes -- but, not all students and schools who were attending on-site classes were able to make this transition online. This legislation would restore the interrupted term or semester of their education benefit to students who could not complete classes because of an emergency. With this fix, student veterans will continue to receive housing benefits through the end of their term and will not have their GI Bill eligibility charged for any class they were unable to complete and receive credit for if their schools or program shut down due to an emergency situation. This helps ensure student veterans can continue to cover daily expenses and pursue their degree without losing an entire semester of benefits.
Veterans Are Not Penalized For Emergency Situations: This legislation would stop the eligibility clock for student veterans and eligible dependents impacted by school closures during emergency situations by allowing VA to extend – by the same amount of time that a student was prevented from attending school due to an emergency – the “use or lose” date for VA education benefits.
Extends School Closure Protections to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Veterans: This bill would ensure parity for veterans in the VR&E program by including protections against sudden school closures or terminations of programs that could not transition to online learning, allowing VA to pay housing and subsistence allowance through the end of a term when schools shutter, and preventing veterans from losing eligibility time when they did not receive credit for classes taken. In addition, it would provide two additional months of subsistence allowance to veterans currently participating in the VR&E program who may face difficulty securing employment as a result of COVID-19’s impact on near-term employment prospects.
Background: The Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 builds on recent legislation, passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the president, to ensure student veterans will not see a reduction in their monthly housing allowance as a result of their schools moving to online instruction due to COVID-19. This legislation has been endorsed by Veterans Education Success, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators, cosponsored by 25 Members including Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chair Levin, and will be included in the Speaker’s COVID-19 emergency response package later this week.

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

Human rights must be maintained in beating back the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘without exception’ – UN experts---UN news
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060372
Dozens of independent UN human rights experts stressed on Thursday that in addition to public health and emergency measures, battling the COVID-19 pandemic, must respect the fundamental human rights of every individual.


Iraq: Top UN official calls on political leaders to confront COVID-19 pandemic and unite.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the political, security, social and economic crises roiling Iraq, the top UN official in the country hopes it will spur leaders to put aside their differences and unite for the common good.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060352

Gunmen kill 25 at Afghan temple, UN chief calls for accountability .
The Secretary-General condemned Wednesday’s attack on a Sikh-Hindu temple in the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan, that left dozens of civilians killed and injured.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060312

Threatened Brazilian activist fights for slavery descendants' rights.
A Brazilian activist who regularly receives threats of violence says he will continue fighting for the right of people of African descent to access land and property in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060362

Helping migrant shipwreck survivors to deal with trauma.
Every year, migrants embarking on sea-crossings see their journey end in tragedy: those who survive and return home can struggle to cope with daily life, and need support. To help migrant returnees, the UN has a range of programs aimed at tackling the mental health side-effects of trauma.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060192

UN launches major humanitarian appeal to keep COVID-19 from ‘circling back around the globe’
To confront the unprecedented worldwide challenge posed by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, top UN officials on Wednesday, launched a massive humanitarian appeal to mitigate its impact, particularly on fragile countries with weak health systems.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060222

Debt relief milestone in Somalia, as World Bank, IMF, call for global payment suspension in light of COVID-19
The top United Nations official in Somalia congratulated the Horn of Africa nation on Wednesday for achieving the benchmark set by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), confirming its eligibility for debt relief.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060292




This week video
President Trump Signs Coronavirus Economic Relief Bill
In an Oval Office ceremony, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic relief bill. The president outlined a number of the key provisions in the bill and thanked lawmakers for coming together in a bipartisan manner to pass the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) thanked his colleagues for passing “the biggest bill in history in record time.” The president was joined by Republican lawmakers, cabinet officials and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?470779-1/president-trump-signs-coronavirus-economic-relief-bill

Washington Congressional Delegation United in Calling for Increased Economic Support for Washingtonians in Third Coronavirus Response Package.

Press release issued 3/ 18/ 20

Washington Congressional Delegation United in Calling for Increased Economic Support for Washingtonians in Third Coronavirus Response Package
Tacoma, WA – Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) led the Washington congressional delegation in urging Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, and five House Committee Chairs to address some of Washington state’s growing economic challenges in the next coronavirus-related stimulus bill. The delegation called on House leaders to support workers and businesses to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak by expanding access to economic assistance, increasing investments to prevent housing displacement, creating parity for Tribes, and providing direct assistance to individuals. These policies reflect the needs of state, local, and tribal officials as communities across the state are adapting to prolonged social distancing measures. Washington state was the first impacted by COVID-19 and remains one of the most negatively affected.

“We hope you will consider the following proposals, many of which were developed by Washington state officials and our local communities who are working tirelessly to mitigate the deep economic impacts that our state is already experiencing, and that are beginning to expand nationwide,” the lawmakers wrote.

The policy proposals urge Congress and the federal government to:

Ensure that all federal resources provided to support communities, workers, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic are made available retroactively to the date on which a state, local, or tribal government first declared a state of emergency related to COVID-19.
Expand direct access to economic assistance through increased investment in the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Increase investments in existing Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs to ensure individuals are not displaced as a result of COVID-19 related financial hardship and that communities have the resources they need to continue providing essential services throughout the duration of this epidemic.
Create parity for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations by providing guaranteed direct access to all federal funding streams and resources created to combat, prevent, and mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak.
Employ tax incentives to provide direct assistance to individuals impacted by prolonged social distancing protocols.
Leverage the expertise of federal agencies to develop and disseminate best-practices to businesses and local communities to help further mitigate long-term impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic

Senator Murray Statement on Senate Passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act;

Press release issued 3/ 18/ 20

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health and labor committee, released the following statement on the Senate passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Earlier today, Senator Murray offered a modified version of her PAID Leave Act as an amendment to FFCRA. Her amendment would ensure that all workers have paid leave and all small businesses are quickly reimbursed for that paid leave this year and next, given the bipartisan recognition that a federal paid leave requirement is a critical part of this response. While Senator Murray’s amendment was blocked by Republicans, she will continue to push her PAID Leave Act in the next aid package to protect workers and small businesses. More information on the PAID Leave Act is available here.

"While I'm glad we finally passed this second round of relief, there continues to be an enormous amount we've got to do to ensure that workers, families, those on the front lines of our health care system, and small businesses have the resources and support to deal with the enormous challenge the coronavirus presents in Washington state and nationwide.”

"In the next phase of our work I'm going to continue fighting to make sure we respond directly to the public health crisis we face, and to put the people and communities hurt most directly first in all our efforts. That includes ensuring every worker can get paid leave and every business gets immediately reimbursed for it."

Senator Murray’s floor remarks calling for a vote on her amendment, as prepared for delivery, are below and video of her remarks is HERE.

“Thank you. M. President, I’ve been in the Senate for 9/11, for Katrina, for the 2008 financial crisis—and I still have never experienced anything like what we’re seeing today.”

“These are truly extraordinary circumstances and the stories I’m hearing from my constituents—and from people across the country—are crushing.

“And some of the most heartbreaking stories are the ones about people who want to do the right thing in this moment—but are having to choose between staying home as public health experts say we must, and paying the rent or putting food on the table.”

“I’m hearing from workers like Cristal Westwood from Auburn, Washington. Cristal and her husband just welcomed their first child on February 7th of this year. They both have autoimmune diseases, but her husband’s job isn’t allowing him to work from home.”

“Cristal says, ‘This is an extremely stressful situation for our family. We have the option for my husband to take leave without pay for the next month or so, but that would mean that we wouldn’t have any income coming in to support our family. He could use up all of his sick and vacation time, but that would mean that he doesn’t have any left for the rest of the year in case something happens. Both of these options don’t seem right.’”

“M. President I agree, that doesn’t seem right.”

“A Pastor in Tukwila, Washington shared similar concerns from a parent in their congregation with school-aged children who worries: ‘What if they call off school? I don’t have anyone to care for the kids. Then, without a paycheck, we will get evicted. As it is, we already run close to eviction every month.’”

“And then there’s Chris, who lives in Seattle, works in a grocery store, and is at high risk for coronavirus. She writes, ‘It’s an awful decision: Go to work and put your life at risk, or lose your job, lose your income, and lose your insurance. I haven’t committed either way at this point. I’m trying to find a way to stay home.’”

“And I’m not just hearing from workers, M. President, but from small business owners all across our state as well. People who own restaurants and shops—everyone from farmers to fishers—who are used to the spring being a time when the phones are ringing off the hook.”

“Now—no one is coming in the door. No one’s calling. And they want to do the right thing for their workers—but they don’t have the cash flow to keep them on.”

“M. President, people are scared—they feel they’ve gotten the rug pulled out from under them—and they need our help.”

“Unfortunately, here’s what my colleague from Wisconsin wants to do. After the House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan agreement that includes an important step forward to provide more workers the paid sick leave they need for this crisis, his amendment would undo that critical bipartisan work by stripping any paid sick leave progress out of the bill we are voting on today.”

“Instead of helping people keep their jobs and their paychecks by providing sick leave, Senator Johnson’s amendment would force workers to seek compensation through their state unemployment system, meaning they would be on their own until they were compensated by the state; and the unemployment system in each state would be drastically overburdened at a time when workers are going to need it in the event they are laid off.”

“While Democrats are pushing for solutions through Unemployment Insurance to support families and workers in the months ahead, simply using this program as a replacement for the paid sick leave workers need is unacceptable—it’s shameful. We can and must do better.”

“At a time when families are facing impossible decisions, my fellow Senators face a glaringly simple one—we need to be doing as much as we can as fast as we can, and this amendment would set us backwards at the worst possible time.”

“That’s why I’m offering another amendment instead, based on legislation I worked with Senator Gillibrand and Representative DeLauro to introduce yesterday.”

“Our legislation would provide workers with seven days of accrued paid sick leave, two weeks of paid emergency days, and twelve weeks of paid emergency leave, and it would make sure their employers can be quickly and fully reimbursed by the Treasury Department for providing this leave.”

“But for those who may not be ready just yet to agree we need paid sick days and paid leave going forward, permanently—the amended version of the bill I’m introducing today would only provide this support through December 2021.”

“Because my number one priority is getting people the support they need right now for the emergency at hand.”

“This is a commonsense step. It’s good for workers who need to stay home if they are sick or need to take care of family—without losing a job or a paycheck. “

“And it’s good for small businesses, who want to keep their workers and communities safe, and who are struggling to stay afloat during this sudden crisis.”

“It’s the right thing to do for our economy and for public health—and we should get it done as soon as possible.”

“If we don’t do this, if we let this opportunity slip by, we are sending a message to scared people across the country that we still are not willing to acknowledge the scope of the tragedy we are seeing unfold, we are still not listening to the stories like the ones I shared earlier—stories I know my colleagues have heard as well.”

“M. President, we must not—we cannot—send that message.”

“People need help. People need hope. People need to see that we are willing to do the right thing, and pass big solutions.”

“So I hope all my colleagues will join me in supporting my amendment. I want to see this passed and sent to the President’s desk as part of this response, and I’m not going to stop fighting until that happens.”

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

As dire forecasts about the global economy add to the anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN’s labour agency (ILO) on Thursday offered a range of urgent measures, which, if governments act quickly, can help to protect workers in the workplace, stimulate the economy and save millions of jobs.----UN News
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059672

UN health chief announces global ‘solidarity trial’ to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment
Just 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared by China, the first vaccine trial has begun, the UN health chief said on Wednesday, calling it “an incredible achievement” and urging the world to maintain “the same spirit of solidarity” that has helped fight Ebola.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059722

Still ‘early days’ to assess COVID-19 impact on women, children – UNICEF official/
Shortly after the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), UNICEF was among the first United Nations agencies to step up and deliver much-needed medical supplies including masks to China.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059732

Women plough the way to peace in South Sudan resettlement project
Women who had been displaced by fighting in South Sudan are sowing seeds of peace, with support from the UN mission in the country, UNMISS.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059712

UN agriculture agency staff continue to strive for a better world amid Italy COVID-19 lockdown
Italy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, with nearly 28,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 2,503 deaths, according to latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO).  While a national quarantine has the country in lockdown, it has not halted the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), based in the capital, Rome.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059642

Blueprint launched to manage Earth’s fragile peatland carbon sinks
A blueprint for how countries can keep carbon in fragile land-based carbon sinks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been unveiled by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059632

Treat migrants with dignity and respect during pandemic: UN migration agency
The importance of treating migrants with dignity and respect has not changed, UN migration agency (IOM), spokesperson Joel Millman has told UN News, adding that the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on migrants, highly represented in the food industry, which is now seeing widespread shutdowns, is ‘a huge concern’ to the agency.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059682

This week's Commentary:

WHO NEEDS $1,000 BUCKS THE MOST?
The poor, and homeless.
For the record, President Trump has managed to keep his campiagn promises, will he keep his word on this money give away venture?

Kilmer-led Legislation to Reform Congress Passes House....

Marks first time a “select committee” has turned recommendations into legislative action in recent history; Text was introduced and championed by the committee’s twelve bipartisan Members of Congress.
Press release issued 3/ 10/ 20

Washington, DC – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress’ bipartisan legislation to make Congress more effective, efficient and transparent. H.Res.756, the Moving our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution, includes nearly 30 of the recommendations made by the Select Committee, chaired by Rep. Kilmer, to make Congress work better for the American people. Today marks the first time in recent history that a select committee has effectively turned recommendations into legislative action.

“These recommendations are the product of bipartisan collaboration and a commitment to making Congress work better for the American people. These recommendations, though wide-ranging, share a common goal of making Congress more responsive, transparent and accessible for every American. Today marks the first time in recent history that a committee like ours has turned recommendations into legislative text, and it’s thanks to the collaboration and partnership of Democratic and Republican members. I am grateful for their time and commitment to improving the People’s House and I’m hopeful there will be more to come,” said Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA).

Every committee member co-sponsored this legislative text, led by Chair Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Vice Chair Tom Graves (R-GA), to signal their strong support for delivering real reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. The recommendations, which will be implemented by the House, include streamlining and reorganizing human resources, modernizing and revitalizing technology, improving access to documents and publications, and making the House accessible to all. The full list of recommendations made by the Select Committee can be found here.

Created by an overwhelming bipartisan vote at the beginning of the 116th Congress, the Select Committee was tasked to produce recommendations on rules to promote a more modern and efficient Congress; procedures, including the schedule and calendar; policies to develop the next generation of leaders; staff recruitment, diversity, retention, and compensation and benefits; administrative efficiencies, including purchasing, travel, outside services, and shared administrative staff; technology and innovation; and the work of the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.

In January 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. Kilmer as Chairman of the Select Committee calling him, “an innovator and a pioneer, who has worked relentlessly to make the House more transparent and more responsive to the voices of Members and the American people.”

The Select Committee has held 16 hearings and numerous Member and staff-level briefings and listening sessions to solicit ideas and recommendations for reforming the legislative branch. On a rolling basis throughout the year, the Select Committee issued recommendations and shared ideas for reform on a bipartisan basis. Last fall, after widespread bipartisan support throughout Capitol Hill, the Select Committee and its work was extended through the end of the 116th Congress. The rule that created the Select Committee originally had it set to expire on February 1, 2020. The extension allows the Select Committee to continue its work proposing bipartisan reforms to make Congress work better for the American people.

Kilmer Receives Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s ‘Congressional Youth Innovation’ Award.

Press release issued 3/ 10/ 20

Washington, DC – Last week, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) was awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s ‘Congressional Youth Innovation’ Award for his commitment to helping young people reach their full potential. Representatives of the Boys & Girls Clubs honored Rep. Kilmer’s innovative leadership in sponsoring the Youth Workforce Readiness Act, a bill which aims to equip young people with skills to succeed in the workforce, increase job accessibility, and end the cycle of poverty.

“Representative Kilmer could not be more deserving of receiving BGCA’s Congressional Youth Innovation Award. He has been a longtime champion for youth in our region. His support has helped us secure funding for new facilities and enhanced programs and opportunities to create great futures for the nearly 4,000 youth we serve in the Puget Sound region,” said Carrie Holden, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. “Representative Kilmer is not only a leader we can turn to in Congress, but is one that has taken the time on a number of occasions to visit our Clubs and engage with our Club members—some of the youngest constituents he works for. He understands that the work we do to ensure great futures for the young people we serve cannot be done on our own, and we are grateful for his continued partnership and support.”

“A true leader doesn’t just solve for today’s problems but for tomorrow’s as well. Congressman Kilmer is a prime example of a leader who goes above and beyond at formulating solutions that will have the maximum impact on our youth’s present and future,” said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “His commitment to investing in tomorrow’s leaders today has had an undeniable impact not just in Washington but throughout the country. We are fortunate to have a dedicated advocate in the halls of Congress and are honored to call him a supporter and friend.”

“Kids are one-third of our population—but 100% of our future. That future will be brighter because of the amazing work of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I’m proud to receive the ‘Congressional Youth Innovation’ Award for my work to help ensure our students have the skills they need for the workforce of tomorrow. I’ll keep working to partner with great organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help our youth to reach their full potential.”

The Youth Workforce Readiness Act establishes a competitive grant program for out-of-school-time programs—like those supported at Boys & Girls Clubs across Washington state—that focus on skills development, career exposure, job-readiness and certification, and work-based learning.

In addition to co-sponsoring the Youth Workforce Readiness Act, Rep. Kilmer introduced the Compete for the Future Act last Congress, a bipartisan bill that would create a prize competition for youth and pre-apprenticeship programs that help high schoolers learn skills for high-demand jobs.

The Boys and Girls Clubs serve nearly 123,000 Washington youth and 4.7 million youth across the country.


WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:

Syria: Humanitarians reaffirm support as conflict enters its 10th year.
UN agencies have underscored their commitment to continue supporting civilians affected by the war in Syria, which this month enters its tenth year.

Iran: BBC and other broadcast journalists harassed; families threatened – UN experts .
Threats, unlawful surveillance and harassment by the authorities, are just some of the concerns facing journalists in Iran, prompting a group of independent UN human rights experts on Wednesday, to once again sound the alarm.

Five things you should know now, about the COVID-19 pandemic
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the status of the COVID-19 outbreak from epidemic to pandemic. Here are five important pieces of information on what this means for you and your community.

Coronavirus: Pandemic alert should be trigger for countries to do more against COVID-19
Countries must “double-down” on their efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, the UN health agency said on Wednesday, after announcing that the global emergency can now be described as a pandemic. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the announcement as “a call to action – for everyone, everywhere.”

More support key for counter-terrorism in Africa, where ‘misogyny is at the heart of so many’ groups.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for greater international support to African countries in their continued fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in parts of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin region and the Horn of Africa.

Democracy is sliding away in Myanmar, warns top rights investigator
Daily fighting in Myanmar, widespread internet blackouts and reporting restrictions, indicate that the shift to more democratic rule is “sliding away”, a senior UN-appointed independent rights investigator said on Wednesday.

Brazilian mountain farmers reap recognition, through UN heritage listing.
Farmers who gather flowers from the Espinhaço Mountain Range in Brazil received well-deserved recognition on Wednesday for their crucial role in enhancing biodiversity and preserving traditional knowledge.






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Jet Airliner | Steve Miller Band

Rep. Kilmer Votes to Support COVID-19 Emergency Funding Supplemental

Kilmer-led Provision to Provide Relief to Small Businesses Included.
Press release issued 3/ 4/ 20

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Kilmer voted to support H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provides $8.3 billion in new funding to establish a robust response to this public health emergency. The legislation, which passed the House 415-2, includes $950 million for state and local health agencies to conduct vital public health activities, including surveillance, laboratory testing, infection control, contact tracing, and mitigation.

The legislation also includes a provision championed by Rep. Kilmer that allows $1 billion in loan subsidies to be made available to help small businesses, including shellfish growers, trade-dependent manufacturers, and others that have been impacted by financial losses as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. This funding could enable the Small Business Administration to provide an estimated $7 billion in loans to these entities and provides $20 million to the SBA to administer these loans.

“This robust emergency funding package is an important step toward ensuring the federal government steps up to the scale and seriousness of this growing public health emergency. It provides critical funding to ensure that vaccines, once developed, are affordable and available to all who need them, and, that state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response to the COVID-19 threat,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I’m grateful that this bill includes a provision I took the lead on to deal with some of the economic impacts of this. I’ve already heard from shellfish growers and some export-dependent manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by this situation. It’s important for the federal government to have the backs of our small businesses by providing this assistance.”

“The American people are counting on our federal government for a coordinated and comprehensive response to the coronavirus. This emergency supplemental legislation consists of robust, entirely new funding to address the virus and keep Americans safe from this growing public health emergency,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “It also includes a measure led by Rep. Kilmer to ensure that our nation’s small businesses have the assistance they need. As always, Derek is a trusted partner as we complete the Appropriations Committee’s important work, and I’m grateful for his leadership in this conversation.”

“Americans urgently need a coordinated, fully-funded, whole-of-government response to protect us from the widening coronavirus epidemic,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “As cases in Washington state and across the country continue to grow, Congressman Derek Kilmer’s leadership has been vital to the House passing a robust funding package today. Based on Congressman Kilmer’s suggestion, Democrats are proud to have included $7 billion in low-interest SBA loans in our bipartisan coronavirus emergency funding bill to protect small businesses impacted by this epidemic and maintain the economic strength of our communities.”

The emergency supplemental provides $8.3 billion in entirely new funding to combat the coronavirus epidemic. It includes:

More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;
$2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state & local health agencies;
Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;
$61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions;
$1.25 billion to address the coronavirus abroad to help keep Americans safe here at home;
$300 million so the government can purchase vaccines at a fair and reasonable price; and,
Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses, to help cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency.
The legislation directs Small Business Disaster Loans to be made available to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture producers, and non-profit organizations which have been impacted by financial losses as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The emergency supplemental also contains other provisions to ensure a comprehensive response. The bill:

Allows seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
Requires the Trump administration to reimburse health accounts that were previously impacted to pay for the coronavirus response;
Ensures state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response.
Additionally, the bill includes a requirement to reimburse $136 million to health accounts, including mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention, and heating and cooling assistance for low-income families, that was transferred by the Administration to support its response.

Senator Murray Presses Federal Public Health Officials on Administration Response to Coronavirus.

Press release issued 3/ 3/ 20
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, at the Senate health committee hearing on the emerging threat of the novel coronavirus, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the committee, pressed public health officials on the critical need for a comprehensive, fact-driven response. At the hearing, Senator Murray asked officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about our ability to quickly scale up testing, following reports of new cases across the country and in Washington state.

In her opening remarks, Senator Murray outlined the need for an emergency supplemental funding agreement that would go far beyond the Trump Administration’s inadequate proposal and reimburse state and local public health officials in Washington state and across the country, support the development of a vaccine, and invest in public and global health programs to ensure we are fully prepared to respond to future emergencies. Senator Murray also stressed the need to account for the many ways that the Trump Administration’s efforts to sabotage health care could impact the coronavirus response by making it harder for people to access the care they need. She specifically noted that it is crucial to ensure that cost does not become a barrier to accessing diagnostic tests or any future vaccine.

During questioning, Senator Murray also asked about the public health implications of not guaranteeing paid medical leave. Currently, many people cannot follow the CDC’s advice to stay home from work if they are sick without losing a paycheck.

“I’m hearing from people who want to get tested and believe they have been exposed—but nobody can tell them where to go. I’m hearing that even when people can get tested—and it’s very few—the results aren’t coming back as fast as we’ve been told they would,” said Senator Murray.

“The Administration had months to prepare for this—and it is unacceptable that people at risk of infection in my state and nationwide can’t even get an answer as to whether or not they are infected.  To put it simply, if someone at the White House or in this Administration is actually in charge of responding to the coronavirus, it would be news to anyone in my state.  And I have been on the phone with officials for days now,” continued Senator Murray.

Senator Murray has been closely monitoring the spread of novel coronavirus in the U.S and in Washington state, and has pressed the Trump Administration regarding its response to the virus, including questioning HHS Secretary Alex Azar on the administration’s preparedness for the burgeoning public health crisis during a Senate hearing last week. Additionally, Senator Murray has requested that Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia provide details on how they plan to protect students, teachers and other school staff, families, and workers against the spread of the virus.

Senator Murray’s full opening remarks are below.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. And thank you to all our witnesses for joining us today.

I am so grateful to the women and men out there working to keep our country safe. I hope you’ll all pass that along to the teams you work with.

This is a frightening time. Six people have already died in my state as a result of this virus according to the most recent reports. We expect the number of infections to continue to grow.

And people across Washington state—and the nation—are really scared.

I’m hearing from people who want to get tested and believe they have been exposed—but nobody can tell them where to go.

I’m hearing that even when people can get tested—and it’s very few—the results aren’t coming back as fast as we’ve been told they would.

The Administration had months to prepare for this—and it is unacceptable that people at risk of infection in my state and nationwide can’t even get an answer as to whether or not they are infected.

To put it simply, if someone at the White House or in this Administration is actually in charge of responding to the coronavirus, it would be news to anyone in my state. And I have been on the phone with officials for days now.

And that is completely unacceptable.

We are now seeing community transmission of this virus. Families deserve to know—and fast—when testing will actually be ready to scale up, what they should be doing, and most importantly what we are doing.

And, unfortunately, I have to say that while I’m profoundly grateful for the work public health officials are doing—I’m frustrated at the steps the President himself has taken, from repeatedly contradicting experts’ advice, to downplaying the seriousness of the threat we face, to appointing a politician, to lead this response.

So I am glad we will have the opportunity to hear directly from the experts today and get answers to questions I’m hearing back at home I know people want answered—one of which is, again, exactly when are we going to scale up testing, especially now that we are beginning to see community transmission in the U.S.?

After all, it is only after a long, frustrating delay that we are finally able to test patients for this disease at state labs across the country. And the last few days seem to confirm what experts have warned—this is likely to continue spreading. We now have more than 100 cases of novel coronavirus that have been tested in our country, including repatriated cases.

While there’s a lot we are still learning about the novel coronavirus, a few things are abundantly clear about how we need to respond.

First, we need to be listening to the experts and ensuring facts and science drive our response.

In particular, the public needs to be able to trust that the information they’re hearing from experts in the federal government is in no way influenced by political considerations or by ideology.

And that the policies being put in place are based on evidence about how to keep families safe, not fear or prejudice.

I was heartened to hear your assurances, Dr. Fauci, that contrary to reporting, you have not been ‘muzzled’ by the Administration.

It is essential that continue to be the case. We cannot have an effective response without accurate information and transparency from the Administration, and I will continue to be very focused on this.

Second, we need to provide adequate resources to meet the needs of our federal, state, and local health officials.

Because we know resources that come through programs like CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness program are absolutely critical—but also were never envisioned to be sufficient to respond to a threat like this one.

So we have a lot more to do.

Congress is now working on a bipartisan emergency supplemental funding agreement that will reimburse state and local public health officials for costs they have already incurred combating coronavirus and provide additional resources to our communities, guarantee resources are available to respond to outbreak hotspots, support development of vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat this virus, and invest in public and global health programs to keep us prepared to respond to future emergencies.

I want to recognize the Republicans and Democrats who came together to work quickly on this package. And I urge the Senate to pass it very quickly.

And I’m glad we are working toward an agreement that goes well beyond President Trump’s inadequate request for $1.25 billion dollars in new funding. And I really again urge the Senate to take this up as soon as the House, get it passed and get it to our local communities who are dealing with this.

And I’m encouraged by this Committee’s strong bipartisan record in responding to public health emergencies as well.

Just last year, this Committee strengthened and reauthorized the law underpinning so many of the federal efforts and resources we’re seeing employed today.

So I especially want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, for our work together, and Senators Casey and Burr for their efforts on that.

Third, we need to be sure we aren’t just responding to the latest developments, but staying ahead of this crisis by planning ahead—because this likely isn’t ending any time soon.

We are already seeing some of the challenges that will come next, like the strain this will put on our health care system.

We need to make sure our hospitals have the capacity to address this virus, without overwhelming their ability to provide other care people need.

We need to make sure health care workers caring for coronavirus patients are safe from infection themselves, including by making sure we have a sufficient supply of protective equipment.

We need to manage our nation’s drug and medical device supply—especially considering we expect demand for some supplies, and we’re already seeing that, to skyrocket, and how many drugs and devices are manufactured in countries where an outbreak could interrupt production—something that we again are already seeing.

We also need to give adequate attention to public health education.

In an age where disinformation has been weaponized and falsehoods and rumors can gain traction as we all know faster than ever. We absolutely can’t let conspiracies stoke reckless panic, spur ugly discrimination, spread dangerous misinformation, or undermine our public health experts.

We need to actively take steps to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment motivated by stereotypes and fear.

And we also have to account now for the ways the President’s harmful health care policies have undermined our ability to respond to public health threats.

As a result of the Administration’s sabotage of the health care system, our uninsured rate has started going up for the first time in years and junk plans—which aren’t required to cover diagnostic tests or vaccines—are expanding.

These politically motivated, irresponsible actions by the President make it much harder for people to get the care they need to keep this crisis under control.

So we have to make sure everyone who needs it has access to diagnostic testing going forward.

And while a vaccine is likely still over a year away, we absolutely need to make sure cost isn’t a barrier there as well.

But it’s not just our health care system we need to be considering as we work to stay ahead of this disease.

Communities and families right now are facing their own difficult decisions, like: What measures should schools take to keep students safe? What can parents do? And when should schools close?

Employers and workers in my state will face similar questions about whether their employees should go to work, and whether they should stay open.

I’m going to be pressing Secretary DeVos more later this week about how her Department is helping prepare for these issues—and I’ve written to Secretary Scalia about this too.

And as is so often the case, this public health threat will have hidden and higher costs for those who are low-wage workers, who don’t have affordable child care, who don’t have health insurance, and who are experiencing homelessness.

In my home state people are being told to stay home for two weeks if they are sick. There aren’t tests, so they can’t get tested—guess who can’t stay home? If you don’t have child care, if you’re a low wage worker, if you don’t have sick leave

When those people’s basic needs are not met, they can’t make the choices that best protect themselves—which means they can’t make the choices that best protect others too—because one person getting sick has repercussions for all of those around them.

Situations like this remind us we are all a community in a very real sense, and we all have a stake in one another’s wellbeing.

So, when we discuss the impacts of this health threat, I want to be clear this is not just about changes in the stock market.

But that we also develop plans responsive to the day-to-day experience families actually have—and that is something I plan to raise today—and will keep raising.

I look forward to hearing from all of our witnesses about how we best prepare our communities for what’s next.

I’m going to continue working with you and our health officials to keep families in Washington state and across the country informed of what they should be doing—and what we are doing—and to keep them safe.

And I’m going to continue pushing to make sure that as this situation develops further, we keep listening to the experts, providing our health officials the resources they need, and planning for the long term.

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