THE PORT ANGELES GLOBE: 11/12/20

Press release issued 11.10.20

https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=3323AADB-D9A1-4EBE-9CFB-55E7D152BE3A

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent letters to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar reminding them to comply with federal law and preserve all records as the end of the Trump Administration approaches. Under the Federal Records Act (FRA), agencies are required to preserve all records that document “the transaction of public business” or contain “informational value.”

“In light of the upcoming transition from President Donald Trump’s administration to President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, I am writing to remind you of the critical importance that records are preserved and managed appropriately under the Federal Records Act (FRA). These records are important to ensure a smooth transition between presidential administrations,” wrote Senator Murray.

In her letters, Senator Murray warned that, “Any agency employee who ‘willfully and unlawfully’ conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, destroys, or attempts any such action against a federal record, is subject to fine and/or imprisonment for up to three years.” She also stressed to the Secretaries that violating the FRA can disqualify them from future federal office and reminded them that they have an obligation to inform the Archivist of “any actual, impending, or threatened unlawful action against records at your agency.”

Ediorial Note: Apparently Murray can't seem to understand that election ins't over until the legal is solve. Inecene she is trying to make Trump concede this election.

Senator Murray Opposes Partisan GOP Senate Labor, Health, Education and Human Services Bill, Saying It’s “Written As Though the Virus Surging Through Our Communities Doesn’t Exist”

Press release issued on 11.10.20

https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=825FFC0A-4BC7-4EA3-A38A-C97BC2C0A8DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement rejecting a partisan Republican Senate Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that dramatically underfunds public health infrastructure, child care, education, and more as our country faces a surging COVID-19 pandemic. Murray previously spoke out against Chairman Shelby’s refusal to address COVID-19 and racial injustice in the Senate appropriations process this year.

“Investments in our nation’s health, schools, and workers are more needed than ever as we fight COVID-19, but this bill is written as though the virus surging through our communities simply doesn’t exist.

“We need to be using every resource at our disposal to help families, including steps like strengthening our public health infrastructure, ensuring more families don’t lose child care, putting more resources towards schools and students, helping women get the reproductive health care they need, including through Planned Parenthood, and critically, making sure the painful disparities in COVID-19 outcomes for communities of color, and racial injustice more broadly, are addressed across our policymaking. Finally, we cannot accept dramatic cuts that will hurt seniors, workers, and refugees.

“For months Republicans haven’t taken the health and economic consequences of this pandemic seriously, and this one-sided, inadequate legislation is the latest example. I oppose this bill and will continue working for a final bill that actually helps families and communities deal with the deep challenges they’re facing.”

TOP NEWS HEADLINES...

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:

‘Bring life to those fighting for breath’, UNICEF urges on World Pneumonia Day.

Pneumonia is not a new emergency, it takes the lives of some 800,000 children each year, but this year’s COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more critical to stop the deadly infection, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday. ---UN NEWS CENTER

Landmine toll still high amid concerns over COVID-19 impact on clearance efforts.

Thousands of people continue to be killed and injured every year by landmines and explosive weapons in conflicts around the world, while the COVID-19 pandemic has forced mine-clearance efforts to be scaled back, a UN-backed civil society report on the issue said on Thursday.--UN NEWS CENTER

‘No way’ to get vital humanitarian aid into Ethiopia’s Tigray region, UN warns.

With telephone lines still cut and transport links disrupted, it is impossible for humanitarians to get vital supplies into Ethiopia’s Tigray region or assess evolving humanitarian needs, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said. ---UN NEWS CENTERS

Seafarers, heroes of the pandemic as shipping plays vital role in crisis.

The global shipping industry has played a vital role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and demand for its services has limited the annual decline in maritime trade volumes to around 4.1 per cent in 2020, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in its annual report on the shipping industry on Thursday. ---UN NEWS CENTER

NATIONAL HEADLINES:

Political Prisoners in Belarus Should be Released--US STATE DEPT.