Auto insurance companies made investigation public by fighting to quash inquiry into use of credit history to choose customers and price car insurance
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that a Thurston County Superior Court judge rejected an attempt by PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company and subsidiaries of the Progressive Corporation to stop his office’s investigation of potential race discrimination against Washington drivers. The companies both use consumer credit histories — or “credit-based insurance scores” derived from a consumer’s credit history — to decide whether to sell, and at what price to sell, their auto insurance products, despite evidence that this practice disproportionately harms people of color.
PEMCO and Progressive have a significant presence in Washington state. PEMCO has issued approximately 160,000 private passenger auto insurance policies to Washingtonians; Progressive likewise insures a significant portion of Washington drivers. Both companies openly use credit history and/or credit-based insurance scores to decide who they will provide coverage to, and at what price. Publicly available information indicates PEMCO charges people with low credit scores as much as triple those with high credit scores; Progressive likewise significantly increases premiums for individuals with negative credit histories.
The companies brought the matter to court to fight the office’s investigation, making the investigation public.
The office has a longstanding policy that it does not comment on investigations, including confirming whether they exist. However, in fighting to quash the Attorney General’s investigative demands, the insurance companies revealed the investigation. Given the significant importance of, and the public interest in, the practices under investigation, the office is offering comment.
“Washington law is clear: Unfair, deceptive or discriminatory business practices are illegal,” Ferguson said. “Significant evidence shows that using credit history to price insurance disproportionately affects people of color — even when their driving history is just as safe as white drivers. My office has a responsibility to investigate race discrimination against Washingtonians. I intend to do that."
Analyses show that the use of consumers’ credit history and/or credit-based insurance scores disproportionately affects drivers who are people of color, even if their driving records are just as safe as the driving records of white drivers. In 2020, the Consumer Federation of America, a consumer advocacy group, reported that when insurance companies rely on factors having nothing to do with driving, including credit scores, to price their insurance products, Black drivers “will pay more for auto insurance than white drivers, even when everything related to driving safety and vehicle type is held constant.”
One media report notes this stems from “a long history of discrimination” in lending, banking, and government programs that is well-understood to “affect the data that credit scoring models use today.”
According to the Consumer Federation of America, “[b]ecause insurance is required in every state but New Hampshire, the disparate pricing likely causes higher levels of uninsured driving among African Americans and higher incidence of state uninsured driving penalties for African Americans, which can include fines, car impoundment, and jail. It also means less access to vehicles and reduced access to jobs, as the nexus between car ownership and employment opportunity is well established.”
The Attorney General’s Office is seeking information about PEMCO and Progressive’s compliance with the Washington Consumer Protection Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination as part of its investigation.
Any Washingtonians with information about PEMCO’s or Progressive’s use of credit history in pricing, or deciding whether to offer, auto insurance, including people who believe they have experienced discrimination as a result of those practices, should reach out to the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division at 1-833-660-4877, and choose option 9 from the main menu. Individuals can also contact the Attorney General’s Office by email at AutoInsurance@atg.wa.gov.
Assistant Attorneys General Yesica Hernandez and Patricio Marquez, and Legal Assistants Anna Alfonso and Allie Lard, handled the Attorney General’s Office’s motion to enforce its investigation demands.
The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination in insurance transactions on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, citizenship or immigration status, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or honorably discharged veteran or military status.
The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division was created in 2015 to protect the rights of all Washington residents by enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws. It is named for Wing Luke, who served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He went on to become the first person of color elected to the Seattle City Council and the first Asian-American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest.
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Inslee to attend COP27, will highlight continued urgency and importance of subnational leadership in climate action.
Gov. Jay Inslee will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt between Nov. 13 and Nov. 16.
The conference is happening at a particularly critical point in time. Scientists say the planet has reached “code red” with several climate indicators reaching record extremes ranging from heat-related deaths to drought-related malnutrition.
Inslee has established Washington state as a global leader of subnational governments dedicated to climate action. He co-founded the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance and international Ocean Acidification Alliance, and helps lead America Is All In, the Pacific Coast Collaborative and global Under2 Coalition.
In recent years, Washington state has adopted a suite of aggressive policies to transition to 100% clean power, decarbonize buildings and transportation, and establish a new cap-and-invest program. Just last week, Washington state became the first and only state in the nation to require heat pumps in all new buildings, including homes and apartments. State leaders have emphasized environmental justice and worker standards in new policies and investments.
Meanwhile, the Biden Administration successfully passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the most significant federal legislation to date that addresses climate change. The U.S. generates an estimated 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, meaning any significant global progress will require bold U.S. action. The IRA aims to reduce U.S. emissions 40% by 2030. America Is All In issued a report yesterday showing the IRA will empower states and local jurisdictions to take the U.S. beyond 50% emission reductions by 2030.
Inslee’s itinerary will include press conferences, panel discussions, and roundtables with various organizations including the U.S. Green Buildings Council, The Climate Registry, Transportation Decarbonization Alliance, Ocean Acidification Alliance, and Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. The governor’s itinerary also includes bilateral meetings with countries and subnationals such as New Zealand and Quebec.
Inslee’s priority is promoting the importance of federal-state coordination and state efforts to implement the Inflation Reduction Act.
This will be the third COP Inslee has attended. His attendance is financed in part with the support of The Climate Registry.
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Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association submits concept paper, advances bid for US Dept. Energy Hydrogen Hubs opportunity.
Powerful public-private partnership encompassing Washington and Oregon forges ahead with development of green hydrogen proposal focused on decarbonizing transportation and heavy industry
SEATTLE, WA — The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) – a public-private partnership of tribal, labor, government, environmental and private sector hydrogen company leaders – submitted its 20-page concept paper to the US Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday, outlining the significant breadth and depth of possibilities for a hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest. PNWH2 is leading a regional effort to land one of very few shares of the DOE’s $8 billion investment in a nationwide network of clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
With the states of Washington and Oregon collaborating in this effort, the PNWH2’s final proposal will demonstrate the region’s incredible assets for supporting a successful hydrogen hub, including natural renewable hydropower and a rich history of innovation in the agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, high tech, maritime and clean tech sectors.
“We aim to lead. The Pacific Northwest unquestionably occupies a prime position for developing and deploying a green hydrogen hub capable of tackling the biggest challenges – decarbonizing industrial sectors of our economy such as heavy transportation, aviation, steel and more,” said Gov. Jay Inslee.
“By leveraging the region’s tremendous renewable energy capacity, low-cost electricity, strong electric utility leadership, extensive transportation network, and leading climate, environmental justice and economic policies, the PNWH2 Hub will create good jobs across the region,” said PNWH2 Board Chair and Washington State Commerce Director Lisa Brown.
“With this clean hydrogen hub, the Pacific Northwest can continue its history of forging innovative paths to meet the region’s clean energy and climate goals,” said Board Vice Chair, Oregon Department of Energy Director Janine Benner. “Clean hydrogen can be part of the solution that meets our clean energy goals, prioritizes equity, balances tradeoffs, and supports our economy.”
The PNWH2 Hub serves a diverse stakeholder group in the Pacific Northwest that will leverage several of the region’s primary strengths: abundant renewable energy resources, utility companies that today produce 81,000 MWh of clean energy (including hydroelectric), 947,000 labor union members, 172 transit providers, 64 public colleges and university zones.
“Our state legislature has helped position Washington as a leader in the production of renewable hydrogen. This proposal and partnership represent a rare opportunity to unleash the marketplace using our state’s academic experts, global best practices, renewable resources, and our existing assets,” said Washington State Senator Reuven Carlyle. “It’s exciting to see Washington step up and be a thought leader in the production, distribution and the use of renewable hydrogen. From maritime to aviation, long haul trucking to energy storage and more, renewable hydrogen has an important future in the market and our state’s climate action”
“Organized labor in both Oregon and Washington are essential for a successful hydrogen hub proposal to the US Department of Energy. Our manufacturing and building trades unions have the highly skilled workers needed now and their apprenticeship programs will grow that workforce as we build out the hydrogen hub on into the future,” said Board member Larry Brown, President, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO.
The PNWH2 Hub, in alignment with the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will focus on zero-carbon, clean H2 production and distribution, H2 technology, manufacturing, and power generation, all applied to transportation, agriculture, and commercial end uses. It will also include the workforce, academic institutions, and communities that will benefit and support project development. Washington and Oregon state commitments of support, integrated with DOE and private funding, will accelerate deployment of these technologies and achieve financial and operational viability of the hub.
The DOE investment will guarantee large-scale hydrogen production in the region, which will in turn unlock massive investment in end-use applications and infrastructure. To scale up accelerated adoption, while solving end-use requirements for infrastructure and equipment, the PNWH2 Hub will develop projects to produce an abundance of clean hydrogen.
“Amazon became the co-founder and first signatory of The Climate Pledge, committing to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. Decarbonizing our operations and transportation is a key piece of reaching our commitment, and investing in alternative fuel methods like green hydrogen is very important. We’re pleased to participate in the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, and we support efforts to accelerate the availability of green hydrogen in our home state of Washington and in Oregon,” said John Mi, Hydrogen Strategy Principal, Amazon.
Last call for new project proposals – RFI closes Nov. 15
The PNWH2’s request for information for individual projects to be included in the final proposal to DOE is open through Nov. 15. This opportunity is open only to new projects that have not previously responded to the RFI. The RFI is posted on Washington’s Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) portal. More Information is available on the PNWH2 website and by emailing info@pnwh2.com.
Involving all stakeholders in the coming clean hydrogen economy is a top priority for PNWH2, including participation from communities, public entities, private industry, labor, research, workforce development, investor-owned and public utilities and tribal nations.
Other important partners and stakeholders in PNWH2’s work include Washington’s innovation clusters and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) technical experts in hydrogen safety, energy justice, life-cycle impact analysis, electricity grid integration, cybersecurity, hydrogen electrolyzer and fuel cells technology and materials compatibility.
Additionally, the Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-fuels (CHARGE), part of Washington State University’s Joint Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials (JCDREAM) is a key research leader represented on the PNWH2 Board by Executive Director Aaron Feaver.
“We are thrilled to see the Pacific Northwest come together to pursue a clean hydrogen economy built on sustainable supply chains. The Northwest’s environment for policy, business, and technology is ripe for growth and innovation. With our tremendous depth of industry involvement, research knowledge and expertise, abundant resources, and regional momentum, the PNW has the potential to be a global leader in hydrogen production and technology,” Feaver said.
For more information and updates on the Pacific Northwest hydrogen Association, visit www.pnwh2.com.
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NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC.
Cantwell, Schrier, DelBene Secure Emergency Stabilization of Fire-Scarred Land Surrounding Highway 2.
EDMONDS, WA – Today, the U.S. Forest Service announced that emergency mitigation efforts to prevent landslides and floods along Highway 2 in the area burned by the Bolt Creek Fire will begin Thursday.
“The Bolt Creek Fire created a crisis along Highway 2 and this week, the Forest Service will be starting mitigation work that will better protect communities from Index to Skykomish from dangerous floods and landslides that could shut down the highway,” said Sen. Cantwell. “There is still more work to do to recover from the fire and I will continue to work with communities that rely on Highway 2 to make sure the land can recover and the highway stays open.”
"When we think of fires, sometimes we just think about the time when we're all breathing in smoke and when homes are at risk, but the risk continues. Because as soon as the rains come, we have a landslide risk," Rep. Schrier said. "That is why I am thrilled that we were able to secure funding for Highway 2 cleanup and mitigation efforts. We need to maintain transportation, exits, and safety here this winter when there's so much peril. This funding will help do just that.”
“Getting relief out quickly to communities impacted by wildfires is critical not only to rebuild from fire and smoke damage but also to mitigate the risk of landslides and other disasters in the aftermath. I am extremely pleased Sen. Cantwell, Rep. Schrier, and I were able to secure this funding for the communities affected along U.S. 2 to help them rebuild from this tragedy,” said Rep. DelBene.
The emergency stabilization work will focus first on storm-proofing and culvert repairs, according to the Forest Service’s Burned Area Emergency Response Report that was released today. The mitigation work will begin Thursday and will continue until snow restricts on the ground work. Any work remaining will be completed this spring. The U.S. Forest Service will fully fund the mitigation work.
On October 28, Sen. Cantwell and Reps. Schrier and DelBene visited Sultan, WA and met with local leaders about potential fire impacts. That same day the Members sent a letter to the Forest Service, urging them to expedite emergency repairs. In the letter, the Members noted that the Bolt Creek Fire burned 14,000 acres along U.S. Highway 2, a key connector in Washington state that carries 3.6 million tons of freight each year, and is traveled by over 22,000 vehicles daily.
Since the first fire closure on Sept. 10, 2022, when the Bolt Creek wildfire started, U.S. Highway 2 has closed seven different times. Local leaders and business owners fear even more closures if the post-fire landscape isn’t treated.
The U.S. Forest Service BAER program addresses landscapes that have been impacted by fire on Forest Service lands. The goal of the program is to protect the forest and surrounding communities from further natural disasters, like landslides and flooding, that can occur after the landscape has been burned from wildfire.
As wildfires become more frequent and intense in the West, Sen. Cantwell is working to ensure that communities have access to the resources necessary to prevent, fight and recover from major fires. In May, she introduced the Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022, which would empower the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to engage in wildfire response and develop better technology to forecast weather conditions that cause and spread wildfires.
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Cantwell: With New Federal Funding, Yakima Valley College Can Be “Backbone” of Central WA STEM Education.
YAKIMA, WA – On Friday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) visited Yakima Valley College (YVC) for a roundtable discussion about STEM education opportunities. Sen. Cantwell and YVC faculty and students discussed the hands-on STEM education opportunities available at YVC, as well as new federal funding for programs aimed at Hispanic and first-generation college students unlocked by the recently-passed CHIPS & Science Act. The roundtable was followed by a tour of YVC’s STEM education facilities, including an on-campus lab where students are growing bacteria as part as an ongoing study into antibiotics.
“You guys have been leading users of STEM education dollars through the National Science Foundation to actually increase the number of STEM students, but we need to put pedal to the metal. We need to do more,” Sen. Cantwell said at the roundtable. “How do we grow capacity all across the nation? Not every big tech innovation that's going to happen next is going to happen in San Francisco or Seattle – which, it’s not even affordable to do it there -- so how do you build capacity for that to happen in other places like here in Yakima? Well, you have to use your institution as the backbone of that.”
Other roundtable participants included:
Rajkumar Raj, Engineering Department Chair
Cristy Rasmussen, Director of STEM Programs
Dr. Wilma Dulin, Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Holly Ferguson, Viticulture Instructor
Matthew Loeser, Biology Instructor
Shawn Teng, Director of Occupational Health & Safety and Organic Chemistry Instructor
Anselma Bautista, first-generation YVC student studying to become a physician assistant
Eddie Juarez, first-generation YVC student and STEM Club president studying to become a physician
GianCarlo Perez, YVC student and STEM Club secretary studying optometry
Luis Soto-Miranda, YVC student studying computer science
Kevin Perez, YVC student studying engineering
The YVC educators and students told Sen. Cantwell about the school’s existing programs, including an immersive STEM club, an engineering lab where students gain experience using industry-standard software and 3D printers, and ongoing agricultural research projects in Yakima Valley involving both field and lab work. Roundtable participants additionally discussed the specific, newly-available federal grants created by the CHIPS & Science Act that could help YVC expand its STEM offerings.
The CHIPS & Science Act -- of which Sen. Cantwell was a chief architect and lead negotiator -- authorizes $13 billion in STEM education funding at the National Science Foundation, representing a tripling of the NSF’s annual STEM education budget over five years. One grant program unlocked by the bill is the Innovation in STEM Community College Education program, which can be used to scale up successful practices at community colleges like YVC, design and develop new curricula, and provide hands-on research experiences for students. YVC has successfully competed for NSF funds in the past – in 2016, the school received a $448,000 NSF to establish its New Scientist Training program, which provided scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on research opportunities to 52 low-income and first-generation students. In 2021, YVC received $496,694 from the NSF Hispanic-Serving Institution program to support its STEM Pathways program. The Pathways program aims to increase the percentage of Hispanic students participating in STEM courses.
More than half of Yakima Valley College’s enrolled students are Hispanic, and 80 percent of the student body are first generation college attendees.
“This is about access. Let’s give people the access and turn on the opportunity, and you guys will take care of the rest of this,” Sen. Cantwell said. “You really have a lot of support and you've shown a lot of really great examples of why this works. You might be one of the leading examples in this state.”
The CHIPS & Science Act additionally directs the NSF to increase STEM education opportunities for women, minorities, and Tribal communities and directs more than $1 billion to minority-serving institutions and emerging research institutions like YVC with a proven track record of helping grow a diverse workforce. YVC would also be eligible for funding under the NSF’s $750 million Advanced Technological Education Program, which supports training the technical workforce, as well as for programs focused on research partnerships with other universities, training veterans, and providing opportunities for low income students, women, and other groups underrepresented in STEM. The bill was signed into law on August 9, 2022.
(6) WORLD NEWS
Countering Terrorism in Africa Requires Preventive Approach Including Respect for Human Rights, Law, Deputy Secretary-General Tells Security Council
Several Delegates Underline Need to Review Sanctions Regime, Mission Mandates.
Link Source: https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc15102.doc.htm
Urging support for regional organizations and sustainable financing to counter terrorism in Africa, the Deputy Secretary-General stressed that the spread of terrorism is a concern for the entire international community and requires a preventive approach that includes respect for human rights and international law, as the Security Council held a high-level debate on counter-terrorism in Africa today.
Speaking on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, Amina Mohammed emphasized that nowhere has terrorism been felt more keenly than in Africa, underscoring that terrorists and violent extremists, including Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates have exploited instability and conflict to increase their activities and intensify attacks across the continent.
“In today’s hyperconnected world, the spread of terrorism in Africa is not a concern for African Member States alone. The challenge belongs to us all,” she underscored. Countering international terrorism requires effective multilateral responses that address concurrent and converging threats, such as the worsening climate crisis, armed conflict, poverty and inequality, lawless cyberspace and the uneven recovery from COVID-19.
“We must strike a better balance and ensure coherence and complementarity between preventive and militarized responses,” she said, highlighting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as crucial tools. The numerous regional initiatives to counter terrorism in Africa, including the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin and the joint force of the Group of 5 for the Sahel (G5 Sahel), need the international community’s full support and durable commitment. The Security Council must ensure predictable funding for African Union operations it authorizes, including to counter-terrorism, she urged.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said African initiatives, such as the Accra Initiative and the Peace Fund, demonstrate that the continent can mobilize its resources and its men and women in the fight against terrorism. However, the traditional means of responding to threats to peace, peacekeeping and peacebuilding no longer correspond to new menaces. The mandates of United Nations missions should be revised to make them more effective. The Union stands ready to work with the United Nations and the Council to initiate a new approach to counter the scourge, and its direct and indirect causes, he said.
Benedikta Von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response, European External Action Service, said that in September, the European Union assumed the role of co-chair of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and made the threat of terrorism in Africa a key priority for its two-year tenure. Detailing the European Union’s various counter-terrorism efforts, she stressed that women and girls must be actively included in the international community’s prevention approach. Empowering them to be active members of society will make them, and their societies, more resistant to extremist influences in the long run.
Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, warned that conflicts involving non-State armed groups — including jihadist groups — will be a source of instability in Africa for a while. Although African-led missions are well positioned to counter such threats, they can only be effective if they are properly and reliably resourced. A political strategy for counter-terrorism missions must also encompass projects to provide basic services and better governance in areas where non-State armed groups have gained influence. Moreover, stakeholders must contemplate engaging in dialogue with non-State armed groups — often seen as a taboo — to resolve both humanitarian and political issues.
In the ensuing debate, many Council members underscored the crucial need to address the drivers of instability and adopt a preventive, holistic and inclusive approach to counter terrorism in Africa. Several speakers called for the international community’s strengthened support to regional organizations and initiatives, while others urged sustainable funding for African-led operations. Delegates also pointed to the need to review the sanctions regime and United Nations mission mandates.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, which holds the Security Council presidency for November, speaking in his national capacity, stressed that international support to countering terrorism must be pre-emptive, rather than reactive. The Council and the wider international community must address the underlying drivers of instability through resilience-building in conflict prone regions, including in the areas of promoting democratic values, development and State services.
Gabon’s representative, on that point, called for a more urgent response from the international community to support Africa’s own multiplying regional counter-terrorism initiatives, including the G5 Sahel, the Accra Initiative and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Such support must be lent through adequate financial, logistical and material means, while also helping to dry up the sources of financing of terrorist groups.
Kenya’s representative, in a similar vein, stressed the need for adequate and predictable funding, including through United Nations-assessed contributions. As well, the Council must review the sanctions regime for Somalia to ensure that the Government is empowered to use its full sovereign will to defeat Al-Qaida and Da’esh affiliates in its territory, while tightening sanctions that are most clearly targeted at those groups’ ability to raise and send funds, assemble explosives, and recruit and transport foreign fighters.
Ireland’s representative also emphasized that Council-mandated measures to counter terrorism, including sanctions, are crucial to deter and address terrorist threats, but can have unintended negative humanitarian impacts. To address this, his country, together with the United States, introduced a draft resolution providing for a humanitarian exemption across all sanctions regimes, he said, urging all Council members to support that initiative.
China’s representative said that supporting Africa in combating terrorism is an important responsibility of the Council, which must prioritize resources to help the continent address the most pressing challenges it faces. He called for countries’ sovereignty to be fully respected and for no other political conditions to be attached to support. In this regard, the arms embargo against Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have had a negative impact and must be adjusted or lifted.
The representative of the Russian Federation said the necessary counter-terrorism mechanisms have already been developed within the United Nations, primarily in the Council. States have specific obligations to counter terrorism, which if strictly implemented, will produce the desired results. It is not productive to impose additional counter-terrorism obligations on United Nations missions in Africa. Such an expansion of their mandate is not in line with the specific nature of the Organization’s presence and diverts valuable resources, he stressed.
Norway’s representative said that United Nations missions in Africa are not set up to tackle the threat of terrorism due to various factors. However, such missions — both peacekeeping and political — are complementary to national and regional counter-terrorism efforts and can help contribute to stability and protecting civilians, evident in the partnerships between the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNISOM) and ATMIS.
Also speaking today were representatives of the United Arab Emirates, United States, Brazil, Mexico, India, Albania, France and the United Kingdom.
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Remarks at the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee Meeting on Israeli Practices and Settlement Activities--USUN
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
The United States firmly believes that Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security, and prosperity. A negotiated two-state solution remains the best way to ensure Israel’s security and prosperity for the future and fulfill the Palestinians’ desire for a state of their own. However, there are no shortcuts to statehood, which will only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties.
The United States continues to oppose the annual submission of the biased resolutions against Israel which we are here to discuss. We reject measures that are not constructive and that seek to delegitimize Israel. The failure to acknowledge the shared history of the Haram al-Sharif, Temple Mount, in these resolutions demonstrates they are intended only to denigrate and not to help achieve peace.
As such, the United States is deeply concerned with some of the language in the “Israeli Practices” resolution. Notably, the new language on a request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice – language that is highly problematic. We believe such an effort is counterproductive and will only take the parties further away from the objective we all share of a negotiated two-state solution. Moreover, this language was inserted late in negotiations into a semi-annual resolution of the Fourth Committee. This did not allow for sufficient consultation and is not the appropriate process for this type of request.
The decades-old, one-sided approach of the General Assembly towards the Middle East has failed – failed to build trust and create a positive international environment conducive to achieving peace. This approach consumes limited time and diverts resources from other challenges we face around the world without bringing us any closer to a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli-Palestinian situation is one of the most discussed topics here at the UN. And, each fall, as this Committee meets, many delegations dust off their talking points, reiterating the same messages they have delivered for years. It is time for all of us sitting here to get past our talking points and to pay attention to what is actually transpiring in the region.
In recent years, several countries signed the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements with Israel. These would have seemed impossible even five years ago, but now, we have government officials, business people, students, and tourists traveling between Israel and those states that have signed agreements, charting a new course of progress and opening new possibilities across the Middle East.
The Negev Forum, for example, provides an opportunity to expand regional cooperation and integration to achieve shared security and prosperity.
While negotiations were indirect and did not constitute normalization, Israel and Lebanon made the historic and difficult decision to demarcate a maritime boundary. Yet, here in Conference Room 4, all still seems to be the same.
The General Assembly must take an honest look at this approach and consider alternatives. We encourage the General Assembly to look for a new way forward and abandon resolutions that are biased against Israel and distract from efforts to achieve peace.
The United States is committed to supporting the path to a two-state solution through constructive measures.
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
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NATIONAL & BUSINESS NEWS
NATIONAL
Man Indicted in Connection with Attempted Kidnapping and Assault at Pelosi Residence.
Link Source:
A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a California man with assault and attempted kidnapping in connection with the break in at the Pelosi residence on Oct. 28 in San Francisco.
The indictment supersedes the federal criminal complaint filed on Oct. 31.
According to the indictment, David DePape, 42, of Richmond, was arrested on Oct. 28 inside the Pelosi residence by San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) police officers responding to a 911 call from Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Paul Pelosi later described to police that he had been asleep when DePape, whom he had never seen before, entered his bedroom looking for Nancy Pelosi.
According to the indictment, minutes after the 911 call, two police officers responded to the Pelosi residence where they encountered Paul Pelosi and DePape struggling over a hammer. Officers told the men to drop the hammer, and DePape allegedly gained control of the hammer and swung it, striking Pelosi in the head. Officers immediately restrained DePape while Pelosi was injured on the ground. As set forth in the indictment, once DePape was restrained, officers secured a roll of tape, white rope, a second hammer, a pair of rubber and cloth gloves, and zip ties from the crime scene, where officers also observed a broken glass door to the back porch.
DePape is charged with one count of assault upon an immediate family member of a U.S. official with the intent to retaliate against the official on account of the performance of official duties. He is also charged with one count of attempted kidnapping of a U.S. official on account of the performance of official duties. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the assault count and 20 years in prison for the attempted kidnapping count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California, Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp of the FBI San Francisco Field Office, and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.
The FBI San Francisco Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the San Francisco Police Department are investigating the case.
The Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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More than 3 Million Youth Reported Using a Tobacco Product in 2022.
LINK SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1110-youth-tobaco.html
A study released today from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 3.08 million (11.3%) U.S. middle and high school students reported current (past 30-day) use of any tobacco product in 2022, which includes 2.51 million (16.5%) high school students and 530,000 (4.5%) middle school students.
The study assessed eight commercial tobacco products. E-cigarettes—for the ninth consecutive year—were the most commonly used tobacco product among all students (2.55 million), followed by cigars (500,000), cigarettes (440,000), smokeless tobacco (330,000), hookah (290,000), nicotine pouches (280,000), heated tobacco products (260,000), and pipe tobacco (150,000). The term “tobacco product” as used in this report refers to commercial tobacco products and not to sacred and traditional use of tobacco by some American Indian communities.
Among all race and ethnicity groups, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native students had the highest percentage of any tobacco product use (13.5%), while non-Hispanic White students reported the highest percentage of e-cigarette use (11.0%). Approximately one million youth reported using any combustible tobacco product; non-Hispanic Black students reported the highest percentage of combustible tobacco product use (5.7%), including cigar use (3.3%).
Additional groups with a higher percentage of tobacco product use were those reporting grades of mostly Fs (27.2%); those reporting severe symptoms of psychological distress (18.3%); those who identified as transgender (16.6%) or as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (16.0%); and those with low family affluence (12.5%).
“Commercial tobacco product use continues to threaten the health of our nation’s youth, and disparities in youth tobacco product use persist,” said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “By addressing the factors that lead to youth tobacco product use and helping youth to quit, we can give our nation’s young people the best opportunity to live their healthiest lives.”
This study’s findings, published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, were based on data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). NYTS, a cross-sectional, self-administered survey of U.S. middle (grades 6–8) and high (grades 9–12) school students, was administered January 18–May 31, 2022. Changes in methodology limit the ability to compare estimates from 2022 with those from prior years.
“It’s clear we’ve made commendable progress in reducing cigarette smoking among our nation’s youth. However, with an ever-changing tobacco product landscape, there’s still more work to be done,” said Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “We must continue to tackle all forms of tobacco product use among youth, including meaningfully addressing the notable disparities that continue to persist.”
Factors influencing youth tobacco product use
Many factors contribute to youth tobacco product use, including flavors, marketing, and misperceptions of harm. Most youth who use tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, want to quit.
This study’s findings suggest continuing disparities in tobacco product use, which to a certain extent could be attributed to greater exposure to tobacco promotion and advertising and greater tobacco retail outlet density in racial and ethnic minority communities, among other systemic factors. Those other factors include social determinants of health, which are conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of life-risks and outcomes.
There are, however, ongoing efforts at the national, state, and local levels to help reduce youth tobacco product use, such as enforcing the federal minimum age of sale of 21 years for all tobacco product types; FDA’s ongoing actions against sales of unauthorized e-cigarettes; state and community restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products; efforts to raise the price and prohibit public indoor use of tobacco products; media campaigns and other education efforts that warn about the dangers of tobacco product use.
What more can be done?
Commercial tobacco product use remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Nearly all tobacco product use begins during youth and young adulthood.
Youth use of tobacco products—in any form—is unsafe. Such products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Using nicotine during adolescence might also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.
Everyone can help reduce youth product tobacco use. Parents, educators, and healthcare providers can help youth recognize and avoid the dangers of tobacco product use, and support and encourage youth who use tobacco products to quit. Furthermore, it is imperative to address policy and environmental factors that are driving tobacco-related disparities.
(10) BUSINESS NEWS
Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend November Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
Link Source: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/11/10/urban-producers-public-invited-attend-november-meeting-federal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers, innovative producers, and other stakeholders to virtually attend the third public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Committee) on Nov. 29. This Committee will discuss recommendations it intends to submit to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to remove barriers to urban and innovative producers and increase access of urban and innovative producers to USDA programs and services.
“The federal advisory committee’s expertise and guidance is helping us dig into issues facing urban producers, enabling us to determine ways USDA can better serve them,” said Terry Cosby, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which leads USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). “This partnership helps urban producers as well as the neighborhoods they grow in, supporting equity and resilient local food systems and access to nutritious food.”
The Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to support urban and innovative agriculture, creating a network for feedback. Members include agricultural producers, and representatives from the areas of higher education or extension programs, non-profits, business and economic development, supply chains and financing. The inaugural public meeting of the Committee was held in March 2022 and a second public meeting was held in August 2022.
(11) Stay Food Safe this Thanksgiving Holiday
Link Source: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/11/07/stay-food-safe-thanksgiving-holiday
WASHINGTON, November 7, 2022 – Keep your stomach full of turkey and free from foodborne illness this Thanksgiving holiday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds us all that it’s important to remember the steps to food safety during America’s biggest meal.
“While the four steps to food safety — clean, separate, cook and chill — are important every day and at every meal, they are particularly significant on Thanksgiving,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin. “There will likely be many guests and many delicious dishes at your holiday table, but you don’t want to invite any foodborne pathogens. Follow those four steps — in particular remember to use a food thermometer — and your Thanksgiving dinner will be a safe one.”
Keep your Thanksgiving celebration food safe by following the tips below.
Clean and Sanitize
Handwashing is the first step to avoiding foodborne illness. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before, during, and after handling food. In a recent study, 97 percent of participants in a USDA test kitchen failed to wash their hands properly. Make sure to follow these handwashing steps:
Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Lather your fingers with soap.
Scrub soapy hands and fingers thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Rinse your hands under clean, running water.
Dry hands off with a clean towel or air dry them.
Clean and sanitize any surfaces that have touched raw turkey and its juices and will later touch food such as kitchen counters, sinks, stoves, tabletops, etc.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is the spread of bacteria from raw meat and poultry onto ready-to-eat food, surfaces, and utensils. One way to avoid this is by using separate cutting boards — one for raw meat and poultry, and another for fruits and vegetables. Our recent study found that sinks are the most contaminated areas of the kitchen. USDA recommends against washing your raw poultry due to the risk of splashing bacteria throughout your kitchen. Clean and sanitize any areas that will come into contact with the turkey before and after cooking.
Thaw the Turkey Safely
Never thaw your turkey in hot water or leave it on a countertop. There are three ways to safely thaw a turkey: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave.
Refrigerator thawing: Turkey can be safely thawed in a refrigerator to allow for slow and safe thawing. When thawing in a refrigerator, allow roughly 24 hours for every four to five pounds of turkey. After thawing, a turkey is safe in a refrigerator for one to two days.
Cold water thawing: The cold water thawing method will thaw your turkey faster but will require more attention. When thawing in a cold-water bath, allow 30 minutes per pound and submerge the turkey in its original wrapping to avoid cross-contamination. Change the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. The turkey must be cooked immediately after thawing.
Microwave thawing: To thaw a turkey that fits in the microwave, follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during the thawing process, bringing the food to the “Danger Zone.”
It’s safe to cook a completely frozen turkey; however, it will take at least 50 percent longer to fully cook.
Cook Thoroughly
Your turkey is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. Insert a food thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing and the innermost part of the thigh to check its internal temperature. USDA recommends using a food thermometer even if the turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator to ensure it has reached 165 F in the three previously stated places.
Stuffing your Turkey
USDA recommends against stuffing your turkey since this often leads to bacteria growth. However, if you plan to stuff your turkey, follow these steps:
Prepare the wet and dry ingredients for the stuffing separately from each other and refrigerate until ready to use. Mix wet and dry ingredients just before filling the bird’s cavity.
Do not stuff whole poultry and leave in the refrigerator before cooking.
Stuff the turkey loosely — about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound.
Immediately place the stuffed, raw turkey in an oven set no lower than 325 F.
A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook. Once it has finished cooking, place a food thermometer in the center of the stuffing to ensure it has reached a safe internal temperature of 165 F.
Let the cooked turkey stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing.
For more information on turkey stuffing, visit Turkey Basics: Stuffing.
The Two-Hour Rule
Don’t leave your food sitting out too long! Refrigerate all perishable foods sitting out at room temperature within two hours of being cooked, or one hour if the temperature is 90 F or above. After two hours, perishable food will enter the “Danger Zone” (between 40 F and 140 F), which is where bacteria can multiply quickly and cause the food to become unsafe. Discard all foods that have been left out for more than two hours. Remember the rule — keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Transporting hot foods — Wrap dishes in insulated containers to keep their temperature above 140 F.
Transporting cold foods — Place items in a cooler with ice or gel packs to keep them at or below 40 F.
When serving food to groups, keep hot food hot and keep cold food cold by using chafing dishes or crock pots and ice trays. Hot items should remain above 140 F and cold items should remain below 40 F.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in small shallow containers and put them in the refrigerator. Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat up to four days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, leftovers are safely frozen indefinitely but will keep best quality from two to six months.
Resources
For Thanksgiving food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Do you have any last-minute turkey day questions? The Meat and Poultry Hotline will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
Check out the USDA FoodKeeper App, which helps to reduce food waste by providing food and beverage storage information. Access news releases and other information at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) website at www.fsis.usda.gov/newsroom. Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter.com/usdafoodsafety or in Spanish at: twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production; fairer markets for all producers; ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities; building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices; making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America; and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
(12) LOCAL MEETINGS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission Work Session for 11/14/22
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11142022-491
Clallam County Commission board meeting as been Cancelled. Reason, unknown at press time.
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 11/15/22
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/12276/CC-Agenda-Packet-11152022
Port of Port Angeles Special meeting for 11/16/22
https://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11162022-636
City of Sequim Council for 11/14/22
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2718
City of Forks will have a meeting on 11/14/22 at 5:30 pm, but no agenada was posted on their webpage.
https://forkswashington.org/document-category/council-agendas/
Clallam County PUD Board meeting for 11/14/22
https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-14-22-WEB-Packet.pdf
OMC BOARD MEETING FOR 11/16/22
https://www.olympicmedical.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AGENDA-November-16-2022.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission Meeting for 11/14/22 (Cancelled) Veteran's Day.
Special Port Townsend meeting for 11/14/22
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1961
(13)
WDFW seeks public input on draft long-term plan to protect Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and coastal Olympic Peninsula steelhead.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is looking for feedback on the Department’s draft Coastal Steelhead Proviso Implementation Plan.
As required by the Legislature in the 2021-2023 budget, the proviso directed the Department to develop a plan to protect steelhead for each river system of Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and coastal Olympic Peninsula. The public can comment online through Nov. 20, and WDFW will submit the plan to the Legislature in December.
“The Department feels it’s extremely important to include public feedback as part of this process,” said Kelly Cunningham, WDFW fish program director. “We encourage the public to dig in to the draft plan and share their perspectives with us so that we can incorporate their feedback as we finalize the report.”
The plan includes guidelines and information about recreational fishery regulations, monitoring and evaluation, hatchery operations, habitat restoration, economic vitality, and other considerations. Other plan elements include budget projections and critical research needed for successful implementation. It also details a communications strategy to enhance public awareness about coastal steelhead management.
The draft plan was informed with feedback from WDFW’s Ad-Hoc Coastal Steelhead Advisory Group, which has been meeting publicly over the past year. Its final meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in room 172 of the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. The meeting will also be available virtually via Zoom. More information about the group and upcoming meeting details are available on WDFW’s Ad-Hoc Coastal Steelhead Advisory Group webpage.
To review the draft plan and comment online, visit WDFW’s website. Members of the public who have limited or no internet connection may also mail written comments to WDFW’s Coastal Region office:
48 Devonshire Road
Montesano, WA 98563
On Nov. 17, WDFW staff will brief the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Fish Committee about the latest updates associated with coastal steelhead pre-season planning and the development of the Coastal Steelhead Proviso Implementation Plan. The Commission will also receive a briefing during its Dec. 8-10 hybrid meeting in Clarkston. More information is available on the Commission web page.
In addition to this work, WDFW is also hosting a Nov. 28 virtual town hall, which marks the third meeting in a three-part series, intended to gather feedback as part of a separate process associated with 2022-2023 coastal steelhead pre-season planning. More information is available on the Department’s website. Pending funding, WDFW anticipates plan implementation will begin with the 2023-2024 coastal steelhead season.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
Individuals who need to receive this information in an alternative format, language, or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact the Title VI/ADA Compliance Coordinator by phone at 360-902-2349, TTY (711), or email (Title6@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation.
