Press release issued 7/ 29/20
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to pass two bills to provide support to families who need childcare and support for childcare providers to enable the safe reopening of the economy.
The House passed a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Kilmer, the Child Care is Essential Act (H.R. 7027), to create a Child Care Stabilization Fund investing in childcare and ensuring providers across Washington have additional resources to safely reopen. Through the fund, approximately $838 million would be invested in Washington state’s childcare system - helping providers stay open, keeping employees on payroll, and ensuring childcare facilities are able to safely operate under new guidelines.
Additionally, the House passed the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 7327) to provide ongoing federal investments and tax subsidies for working families, bringing quality childcare to more working families and providing new tax credits to support child care providers affected by the COVID-19 shutdowns.
“This pandemic has been hard on parents and on kids. As we take steps to re-open the economy, it is absolutely essential we are ensuring folks who are returning to work have the access they need to safe, dependable, and high-quality childcare for their kids,” said Rep. Kilmer. “As a dad, I know personally how important this will be as we look towards the fall – particularly if schools go virtual. Access to childcare is important to families – and to economic development. Passing these bills today will help families in our region who need support – and help those who are working in childcare who have also felt the strain of this pandemic. I’m hopeful these bills will be passed by the Senate to help families and providers ensure safe childcare in our communities.”
According to the Center for American Progress, prior to the spread of the coronavirus, Washington was not providing care for every child that needed it. With 3.78 children waiting per one childcare slot, working families have lacked access to the safe, quality childcare that they need. The spread of COVID-19 has only worsened this problem. Since the pandemic, it is now estimated that there are 5.32 children waiting per childcare slot. Without robust federal investments soon, the childcare industry is expected to struggle to provide the care needed to help Americans return to work.
The Child Care Is Essential Act creates a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to provide grant funding to childcare providers to stabilize the childcare sector and support providers to safely reopen and operate. These grants would help providers and working families by:
Ensuring that the grants adequately support providers’ operating expenses and funding gets to them quickly;
Requiring that providers continue to pay their staff at the same compensation level as pre-COVID-19;
Providing tuition and copayment relief for working families;
Promoting health and safety through compliance with public health guidance;
Prioritizing providers that serve underserved populations;
Ensuring grants are awarded equitably across childcare settings; and
Conducting oversight through robust reporting requirements.
The Child Care for Economic Recovery Act provides ongoing federal investments and tax subsidies to help bring quality childcare within the reach of families to support ongoing employment. The Child Care for Economic Recovery Act:
Makes significant, ongoing federal investments in childcare to support children and working families, with $10 billion for infrastructure to improve childcare safety, $850 million to support family care for essential workers, and increased funding for federal childcare programs.
Provides improved and fairer tax benefits for families and working caregivers, enhancing the child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC), expanding the dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA), and creating a new tax credit to help employees access quality, affordable childcare.
Supports struggling childcare providers, with a new refundable payroll tax credit for childcare providers.
Incentivizes employers to keep childcare workers on payroll, by expanding the employee retention tax credit (ERTC).
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Ravages of acute hunger will likely hit six in 10 in Zimbabwe: WFP.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently seeking more international support to prevent millions of Zimbabweans plunging deeper into hunger. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
Five things you should know about disposable masks and plastic pollution.
The fight against plastic pollution is being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the use of disposable masks, gloves and other protective equipment soars, but UN agencies and partners insist that, if effective measures are put into place, the amount of plastics discarded every year can be significantly cut, or even eliminated.
Revealed: A third of world’s children poisoned by lead, UNICEF analysis finds.
Lead poisoning is affecting children on a “massive and previously unknown scale”, according to a ground-breaking new study launched on Thursday by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and international non-profit organization focused on pollution issues, Pure Earth.
Security Council: Poverty deepens, along with need, across Syria.
Humanitarian operations across war-shattered Syria are reaching 6.8 million people a month, but a worsening economic crisis is deepening poverty and pushing more and more Syrians into humanitarian need, the Security Council heard Wednesday.
Forced labour, prostitution and child marriages: rescuing victims of trafficking in Malawi.
Human trafficking is a problem in Malawi, with teenage boys forced to work as farm labourers, and young women to sexual exploitation in nightclubs or bars. The UN is supporting the Malawian governments to end the practice and protect vulnerable people.
UN NEWS RELEASES:
Secretary-General Launches COVID-19 Policy Brief on South-East Asia, Voices United Nations Support for Subregional Response, Recovery.
Amid Unrelenting Violence, Spread of COVID-19, Crisis in Yemen at Its Worst, Top Officials Tell Security Council, Warning Inaction Will Push Country into Abyss
The crisis in Yemen has never been worse, United Nations experts told the Security Council today, as delegates — meeting in person for the second time in four months — addressed the unrelenting violence, uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 and efforts to both right the peace process and pull the economy from the brink of collapse.
Commending Sudan for Responding to Increase in Violent Attacks against Civilians, Secretary-General Calls for Investigation
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the increasing violence in many parts of the Darfur region of Sudan, notably the attacks in West Darfur on 25 July and in North Darfur on 13 July, in which dozens of people were killed and more than 1,500 houses burned, leaving thousands displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
FROM THE US MISSION TO THE UN:
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria (via VTC).
" The Council’s adoption of Resolution 2533 provides a lifeline and hope to millions of internally displaced persons in northwest Syria, who have relied on the UN’s cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries day-in and day-out over the past five years. They know now they will continue to receive life-saving food, shelter, and medicine for another year, including through the harsh winter months."
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in Yemen.
" It is important the parties de-escalate the tensions on the ground and recommit to a UN-mediated political settlement. Cross-border Houthi attacks undermine efforts toward a settlement that can only serve to prolong the conflict – and the suffering of the Yemeni people. And as Mark has stated today, that this is leaving millions of the Yemeni people without the proper healthcare, clean water, or sanitation – which is crucial to preventing the spread of this virus."
Remarks at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on Women and the Afghan Peace Process (via VTC).
We know that Afghan women, for far too long, have borne the brunt of this lengthy conflict and that they have been regularly excluded from discussions about Afghanistan’s future. We recognize there have been social, economic, and political impediments in Afghanistan that have hindered meaningful inclusion of women and girls.
Sec. of State: Secretary Michael R. Pompeo Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Fiscal Year 2021 State Department Budget Request.
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
President Donald J. Trump Has Unleashed American Producers and Restored Our Energy Dominance.
LEADING AN ENERGY REVOLUTION: American energy production is soaring to new heights under President Donald J. Trump’s pro-jobs, pro-national security, and energy independence agenda.---WH Fact sheet
Washington State's Military Department Responds to COVID-19 Pandemic.
The state Emergency Operations Center was partially activated Jan. 22. It included officials from the state's health department and external affairs.---DOD
Justice Department Settles with School District to Resolve Disability Discrimination Complaint
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with Spencer East Brookfield Regional School District in Spencer, Massachusetts to resolve the department’s lawsuit alleging disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).---DOJ
Justice Department Settles Disability-Based Housing Discrimination Lawsuit with Owners and Developers of 82 Apartment Complexes in 13 States
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced today that the owners, developers and builders of 82 multi-family housing complexes have agreed to make extensive modifications to their properties and pay $475,000 to resolve claims that they violated the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act by designing and constructing apartment complexes that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities.---DOJ
Secretary DeVos Awards More than $180 Million to States Rethinking K-12 Education to Better Meet Students’ Needs During Coronavirus Disruption.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today more than $180 million in new grant funding will be awarded to 11 states rethinking education to better serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant will support states’ efforts to create new, innovative ways for students to continue learning in ways that meet their needs. Awardees include Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. The awards range from $6 million to $20 million.---Dept. of Education
USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help Farmers Hire Workers.
Washington, D.C., July 27, 2020 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced new features on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers.gov website designed to help facilitate the employment of H-2A workers.--USDA
SECRETARY CARSON PRAISES CONFIRMATION OF DANA WADE AS NEW FHA COMMISSIONER
Wade’s housing expertise includes her previous role as Acting Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson today applauded the confirmation of Dana Wade to serve as the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Commissioner. FHA currently insures more than 8 million single family mortgages, almost 12,000 mortgages for multifamily properties, over 3,700 mortgages for residential care facilities, and nearly 100 mortgages for hospitals.---HUD
SECRETARY CARSON AND CONGRESSMAN RUTHERFORD HOLD VIRTUAL SUMMER READING SESSION AT JACKSONVILLE ENVISION CENTER
Reading session is part of the “Summer Reading with Secretary Carson” series
WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson and Congressman John Rutherford (FL-4) released a new video as part of the virtual summer reading series, Summer Reading with Secretary Carson. While in Jacksonville, Florida the two visited the local EnVision Center and held a virtual reading session.---HUD
FDA Warns Companies Illegally Selling Hangover Remedies.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has issued warning letters to seven companies for illegally selling unapproved products labeled as dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat, mitigate or prevent hangovers, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The warning letters were issued to: Double Wood LLC; Ebnsol Inc.; Vita Heaven LLC (doing business as Hangover Heaven); Happy Hour Vitamins; LES Labs; Mind, Body & Coal LLC; and Purple Biosciences LLC.---FDA
Portland Riots Read-out: July 29
Bottom line:
The violence Portland has witnessed over the past eight weeks continues as violent anarchists keep attacking federal law enforcement officers and federal property on a nightly basis.
Last week, DHS put up a metal fence around the building’s perimeter. Following rioters’ repeated attempts to topple and breach the fence, DHS reinforced the metal fence with another layer of concrete barriers on the outside, which has prevented rioters from pulling or pushing it over. While the fence remained standing through the night, rioters at one point were able to use bolt cutters to create a hole large enough for a person to crawl through.
In their unabated, nightly efforts to harm federal officers and destroy federal property, rioters attacked with hard projectiles, commercial-grade, mortar-style fireworks, flaming projectiles such as Molotov cocktails and lasers – which can cause, and has caused in our officers, permanent blindness.---DHS
HHS Secretary’s Report Calls for Congressional Action to Combat Surprise Billing and Promote Price Transparency.
“Americans have the right to know what a healthcare service is going to cost before they receive it,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “President Trump and his administration have done their part to deliver historic transparency around the prices of many procedures. Now it’s time for Congress to do what we all agree is necessary: combat surprise billing with an approach that puts patients in control and benefits all Americans.”
Trump Administration Establishes the First Cold Case Task Force Office for Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives
Seven Offices Being Established Across the Country to Handle Cold Cases in Indian Country.
BUSINESS & FINANCE HEADLINES:
USDA BLOG: Monitoring Tool Assists Ranchers and Wildland Managers Facing Drought.
Drought can be a serious game changer for rangeland, wildlife and wildland fire managers. America’s 662 million acres of public rangelands support wildlife like sage grouse, game species like deer and elk, and support rural communities by providing forage for livestock and places to enjoy the great outdoors.
Harvard University Professor Charged with Tax Offenses
Dr. Charles Lieber was previously indicted on charges of making false statements to federal authorities regarding his participation in China’s Thousand Talents Program---DOJ
Treasury Continues to Pressure Investors and Companies Supporting the Assad Regime’s Corrupt Reconstruction Efforts.
Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned one individual and nine entities for enriching the Syrian regime through construction of luxury real estate.
The Importance of Digitally Connecting All Americans.
In the age of COVID-19, broadband connectivity is more important than ever. It enables us to virtually connect to friends and loved ones while still adhering to social distancing guidelines; work or find employment opportunities remotely; and collaborate with teachers and educators in lieu of in-person classes.---US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/the-importance-of-digitally-connecting-all-americans
IRS issues proposed regulations for TCJA’s simplified tax accounting rules for small businesses.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations (PDF) updating various tax accounting regulations to adopt the simplified tax accounting rules for small businesses under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
Federal Reserve Board announces the extensions of its temporary U.S. dollar liquidity swap lines and the temporary repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities (FIMA repo facility) through March 31, 2021.
In Final Court Summary, FTC Reports Volkswagen Repaid More Than $9.5 Billion To Car Buyers Who Were Deceived by “Clean Diesel” Ad Campaign--FTC
In a final summary filed in federal court today, the Federal Trade Commission reported that Volkswagen and Porsche repaid a total of more than $9.5 billion since 2016 to car buyers under the FTC’s orders stemming from the companies’ deceptive “clean diesel” advertising of VWs and Audis fitted with illegal emission defeat devices.
Commerce Department Files Petition to Clarify Liability Protections for Online Platforms and Protect Against Censorship.
STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Inslee issues contact tracing proclamation, protects personal information.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation today related to the state's contact tracing efforts and personal information protection.
Proclamation 20-64 exempts personally identifiable information collected by COVID-19 case investigators from public disclosure. The proclamation does not provide additional exemptions for employees or volunteers who are conducting the contact tracing work, as the Public Records Act already exempts many types of personal information relating to public employees and volunteers.
"The success of the response to the COVID-19 epidemic depends in part on the free flow of information and individuals’ willingness to share information and cooperate with public health authorities," Inslee said. "Ensuring the protection of a person’s personally identifiable information may determine whether that person will fully cooperate with COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers."
“While we believe that COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing information, and the personally identifiable information that is gathered as a part of that work, is already exempt under the Public Records Act, we need certainty because ensuring the protection of a person’s personally identifiable information is critical to our COVID-19 efforts,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman.
The proclamation will expire on August 29.
AG FERGUSON: ROCKETMILES MUST PAY WASHINGTONIANS $300,000 OVER HIDDEN FEES.
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that, as a result of his office’s multiyear investigation into online travel agency Rocketmiles, Washington consumers can now file claims to receive their share of a $300,000 recovery. From May 1, 2015 to December 5, 2016, the company charged hidden fees on thousands of transactions in Washington, even though they told consumers they charged the same rate as booking directly with a hotel or a competing travel agency.
AG FERGUSON TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: I WILL CHALLENGE AN UNLAWFUL ATTEMPT TO DELAY THE ELECTION.
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today issued a response to President Trump’s statement that he is considering delaying the November election. On Thursday morning, President Trump tweeted: “With Universal Mail-In Voting (Not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”
Commerce awards final 100 small business grants from initial Working Washington funds.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced the final group of grants from the first round of the Governor’s Working Washington Small Business emergency grant program to 100 very small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Businesses with up to 10 employees in 13 counties across the state received a total of more than $286,000 to cover costs including rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses.
$332,000 Cooke Aquaculture penalty supports habitat restoration in Skagit County and statewide.
Salmon will have better habitat with help from a $332,000 penalty settlement with Cooke Aquaculture after the collapse of its floating pen near Cypress Island in 2017. The settlement required that the fine be split, part going to an environmental project for regional salmon enhancement or habitat restoration and the other part going to our Coastal Protection Fund.
Initial unemployment insurance claims for week of July 19-25, 2020.
OLYMPIA – During the week of July 19 through July 25, there were 28,840 initial regular unemployment claims (down 1.7% from the prior week) and 677,355 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (up 0.6% from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
State seeks feedback on draft Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy Comprehensive Review.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public feedback on its proposed Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy Comprehensive Review, which evaluates the state’s progress on the first phase of its Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy.
WDFW closes water access area along Washougal River for two months starting Aug. 20, limited hours begin Aug. 3
The Department of Health launches CORONA Survey
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched the Community Recovery-Oriented Needs Assessment, or the CORONA survey. The survey is an effort to assess the behavioral, economic, social, and emotional impacts and the needs of communities across the state as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Outdoor Recreation Generates Big Money in Washington
People spend $26.5 billion annually in Washington to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity, according to a report released today.
EDITORIAL
SO LONG TO MAJOR LEAGUE'S NON BIAS REPUTATION!
By Peter Ripley
Baseball, Football, Basket Ball, and Hockey games were once a place where fans can escape the world for a while, just enjoy of attending leaving your worries of life for a while, enjoying a ball game, where politics were left out side the stadium.
Maybe with the exception of the NHL, the other major leagues have all took a knee to show disrespect to our National anthem. Instead they now support Marxist groups like Antifa, and BLM, who are bent if destroying our nation.
However it was good to see some athletes choose not to take the knee during the national anthem.
The following news stories how bias the major leagues have become, while the atmosphere of watching a ball game without politics now ruined, by Marxist thugs. It is sad that many people are'nt willing to boycott these major league teams, mostly because there are so many applaud their disrespectful actions, because many support Marxism!
That's scary!
Related news stories:
STANDING PROUD: NHL Players Stand Together in Solidarity During Performance of US National Anthem---Sean Hannity
Players on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers refused to take a knee during the performance of the US national anthem this week; making the NHL the only league where athletes refused to kneel to promote “social justice” in America.
Every Single Player and Coach Protests During Anthem on NBA's Opening Night.---WJ
Victor Davis Hanson: America Has Chance To Save Itself Thanks to 3 Woke Industries That Just Suicided---WJ
'Dangerous slippery slope': Charles Barkley warns NBA about becoming too political---Washington Times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/30/charles-barkley-warns-nba-about-kneeling-becoming-/
NBA Resumes Season with ‘Black Lives Matter’ Painted on Court--National Review
LeBron James salutes Colin Kaepernick for inspiring NBA’s National Anthem demonstration
“I hope we made Kaep proud,” LeBron James said, after four teams knelt during the national anthem on the NBA bubble's opening night.---WP
Steelers Player Won’t Kneel For Anthem: ‘Screw Anybody’ Who Has A ‘Problem With That’; Talks Of Immigrant Grandmother--Daily Wire
LOCAL MEETINGS & AGENDAS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 8/3/20
Clallam County Commission regular session for 8/4/20
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 8/4/20
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 8/3/20
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA for 8/3/20
He became the ultimate sacrifice
Weekly Scripture verse: Psalm 119:114 (New King James Version)
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
Weekly Bible Study: The Mesha Stele
In 1868, a stone monument was found at the ancient site of Dibon, once the capital of Moab. The site is currently located in the modern country of Jordan. The black basalt stele is a record of King Mesha of Moab recounting his rebellion against Israel.---by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Free bible studies (WBS)
Learn English using the bible as text (WEI)
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
The Port Angeles Globe is a weekly publication, published every Saturday by, Peter Ripley, Publisher. Your donation is appreciated.
