Saturday, April 21, 2018

Senators Cantwell & Murray Cosponsor Historic Senate Resolution Expressing No Confidence in EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Calling on Pruitt to Resign

Press release issued 4/ 18/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-cantwell-and-murray-cosponsor-historic-senate-resolution-expressing-no-confidence-in-epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-calling-on-pruitt-to-resign

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined a group of 170 members of Congress to cosponsor resolutions in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives that express no confidence in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and formally call on him to resign. The resolutions come in response to Pruitt’s repeated ethics violations, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and actions that fundamentally undermine the mission of the EPA – favoring big polluters at the expense of science, our environment, and the health of children and families. The resolutions, led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) in the Senate and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) in the House, include 39 senators and 131 representatives. The 39 cosponsoring senators represent the highest number of senators in U.S. history to sign on to a resolution formally calling for a cabinet official’s resignation.

The Senate resolution reads in part: “.. under Administrator Pruitt the Agency is hemorrhaging staff and experts needed to protect the health, safety, and livelihood of millions of people in the United States, with more than 700 employees of the Agency having left or been forced out of the Agency during his tenure as Administrator.” The resolution continues: “… Administrator Pruitt has continually overridden the recommendations of scientists of the Agency in order to provide relief to industry, leaving in place the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and policies that are directly impacting the health and well-being of millions of people of the United States.”
The resolution follows numerous revelations about Pruitt’s ethical violations, widespread conflicts of interest, and repeated misuse of taxpayer dollars for his personal benefit, including:

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office determined that the EPA violated federal law by purchasing a $43,000 phone booth for Pruitt’s office – and then hiding that purchase from Congress.
Pruitt entered into a sweetheart housing deal to rent a Capitol Hill condo from the wife of a lobbyist – paying just $50 a night, and only paying for the nights he slept there.
Pruitt has racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills for luxury travel perks, including booking lavish first class and charter flights to Europe and elsewhere, staying in luxury hotels, and traveling with a huge entourage of staff and security.
Pruitt has reportedly reassigned or demoted EPA staffers who questioned his spending habits – at the same time that the EPA Inspector General is investigating him for giving unusual pay raises to favored aides.
Pruitt has deployed EPA enforcement officers to provide round-the-clock security with questionable justification.
As the lawmakers noted in the resolution, in addition to flouting the ethical standards of his office, Pruitt has done untold damage to the EPA and carried out a long list of actions to benefit his polluter friends – at the expense of the health, safety, and livelihood of American families, including:

Under Pruitt, the EPA is hemorrhaging staff and experts needed to protect the health and safety of the environment and the American people.
Pruitt has repeatedly overridden the recommendations of EPA scientists in order to provide relief to industry, like when he reversed the recommendation of his agency’s scientists to ban the use of the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, which has been linked to brain damage in children.
Pruitt has delayed the effective date of regulations, eased enforcement of existing regulations, and delayed the implementation of new regulations that are essential to protect public health and combat pollution.
Pruitt has failed to exercise the enforcement authorities and duties of the EPA, which are needed to investigate and deter pollution violations.
Pruitt has undermined the science at every turn, purging advisory committees of independent scientists and replacing them with mouthpieces for industry.

News story related on recent actions of EPA Chief
Administrator Pruitt Takes Important Action on Lead-Contaminated Site, Announces WIFIA Program in Indiana
press release issued 4/ 19/ 18
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-pruitt-takes-important-action-lead-contaminated-site-announces-wifia-0
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a memorandum to accelerate removal of lead contamination in Indiana, near the site of a former metals facility. He also announced that Indiana will receive a $436 million federal loan through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.


Cantwell, Senators Call on Administration to Take Immediate Action to Reduce Price of Life-Saving Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug
press release issued 4/18/ 19
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-senators-call-on-administration-to-take-immediate-action-to-reduce-price-of-life-saving-opioid-overdose-reversal-drug

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and 15 of her colleagues today called on Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to take immediate action to increase access to and reduce the price of naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug.

The senators’ letter follows a recent national advisory issued by the United States Surgeon General urging more Americans to keep on hand and learn how to use naloxone delivery devices. The letter also follows recent moves by retail pharmacies to widen access to products containing naloxone and, in many states, make them prescription-free.

“No police officer, no firefighter, no public health provider, and no person should be unable to save a life because of the high price,” wrote the lawmakers. “By bringing down the cost, we can get this life-saving drug in the hands of more people as called for by the Surgeon General. Doing so will save countless lives.”

The price of hand-held auto-injector forms of naloxone have increased from $690 in 2014 to more than $4,000 today for a two pack, while the cost of one type of injectable naloxone drug has nearly doubled between 2009 to 2016, according to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine[WB(1] . In addition, the cost of Narcan, a form of naloxone that comes as a nasal spray, is listed at $150 per two pack, putting the life-saving drug out of reach for many families.

“The Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommended empowering the HHS Secretary to negotiate reduced pricing,” the lawmakers continued. “To date, no such action has been taken by HHS. We urge HHS to immediately negotiate a lower price for easy-to-administer naloxone combination products. In addition, we ask you to ensure affordable coverage for individuals with health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, and individual and employer-sponsored plans.”

“While a $50 or $60 overdose reversal drug may not seem like a lot of money, it is cost prohibitive for many families. By addressing the increasing price of naloxone, first responders, health care providers, and family members will be able to save lives in an overdose situation," said Spokane City Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.

Today’s letter comes as Senator Cantwell continues her leadership in the fight against the opioid epidemic. In December of 2016, Senator Cantwell supported the 21st Century Cures Act, which provided over $1 billion in federal funds to combat the opioid epidemic, including $11.7 million in funding for Washington state. In February of 2018, Cantwell introduced the CARES Act, to hold opioid manufacturers accountable for misleading advertising and negligent distribution practices. Later that month, Cantwell joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce CARA 2.0, a comprehensive bill to increase funding for programs providing opioid education, treatment, and recovery.

Remarks from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on Fiscal Year 2019 budget request for FDA
As prepared for delivery to U.S. House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development
Chairman Aderholt, Ranking Member Bishop, and Members of the Subcommittee. I’d like to thank the Committee for your commitment to FDA. We’ve been fortunate to receive strong bipartisan support in recent years. And the 2018 budget was no different.
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm604826.htm

Cantwell To Congress: Talk Is Cheap When It Comes To Supporting Our National Parks
Press release issued 4/ 18/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-to-congress-talk-is-cheap-when-it-comes-to-supporting-our-national-parks-
Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) called for a greater investment in our National Parks and highlighted the need for a strategic approach to deferred park maintenance.
"We have been talking about this issue for a long time because we want to enhance the public’s experience, we want to rehabilitate these buildings, and we want to make sure that there are park rangers there to keep the public safe," said Senator Cantwell. “We know that shortfalls really do erode the user experience, hurt the gateway communities, and threaten visitors as they travel through our parks.”
“With over 330 million visitors annually, the National Park System is key to that huge outdoor economy, and according to the Park Service, visitors are responsible for $35 billion in economic output and they spend over $18 billion each year in national gateway communities. And the number of visitors is only growing,” said Senator Cantwell.
“Besides increasing access…I think we really need to focus on the quality of the experience,” said Senator Cantwell.

Zinke Signs Secretarial Orders to Increase Recreational Opportunities on Public Lands and Waters
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/zinke-signs-secretarial-orders-increase-recreational-opportunities-public-lands-and
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today signed two secretarial orders continuing his efforts to prioritize the Department of Interior’s recreation mission and increase access to public lands.
Secretarial Order 3366 directs certain Interior bureaus to create and deliver plans to the Department within 90 days that focus on developing or expanding recreational opportunities on public lands and waterways. This order also directs bureau heads to designate one full-time employee charged to oversee recreational opportunities.


WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES...

UN PRESS RELEASE: Despite Recent Challenges, Colombia Represents Pinnacle of Success in Fostering Peace, Security Council Hears at Briefing on New Developments
While circumstances had tested commitment to the peace agreement in Colombia, a united Council had helped to sustain resolve, demonstrating how it could effectively contribute to peace, members of that body heard this morning.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sc13307.doc.htm

In annual memorial, UN pays tribute to 140 fallen staff members
Were it not for the sacrifices of United Nations peacekeepers, humanitarians and other personnel, the people who needed urgent support in the most difficult and dangerous environments would have experienced greater suffering, the top UN official said Thursday in an annual memorial service for fallen colleagues.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1007682

Mosquito-packed drones ready to join fight against Zika and other deadly diseases – UN agency
Robotics may soon be a critical ally in the fight against disease-spreading bugs, a United Nations agency said Thursday after a successful test releasing sterile mosquitos from aerial drones as part of efforts to suppress the insect that spreads Zika and other diseases. 
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1007672

UN rights experts urge Iran to annul death sentence against prisoner
A group of United Nations human rights experts have called on Iran to annul the death sentence against a prisoner citing serious concerns that he was tortured in detention and did not receive a fair trial.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1007652
( more world news headlines on page 2)




IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:

page 2
Senator Murray: Bridenstine’s “failure to accept fundamental scientific truths about Earth’s climate” & “history of hateful, demeaning, and divisive comments” make him unfit to lead U.S. civil space 



PAGE 3
The Sweeping Legacy of First Lady Barbara Bush

Page 4
Inslee letter to U.S. Department of State on restrictive refugee policies


Page 5: Over 120 companies in the Spokane area support industry employers across the world, including Boeing, making it America’s fifth largest aerospace cluster.



Page 6: Senators Murray, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Protect American Coasts from Catastrophic Oil Spills

Murray & Cantwell's continued effort to have the US be depended on foreign oil!





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Saturday, April 14, 2018

DOD: Pentagon Officials Describe Syria Strikes, Hope Assad Gets Message


https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1493718/pentagon-officials-describe-syria-strikes-hope-assad-gets-message/
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2018 —
The Syrian regime killed at least 45 people and sickened hundreds of others in a chemical weapons attack on Douma, Syria, April 7, and on April 13, U.S., British and French service members launched attacks that severely degraded the Syrian chemical arsenal and sent a message to Syrian leader Bashir Assad to stop using chemical weapons against his own people.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, the Joint Staff director, briefed the press today from the Pentagon on the operation saying it was successful and that there were no allied casualties.
White said the attack on innocent civilians in Douma “demanded a response,” and the allies targeted the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons infrastructure. “We launched these strikes to limit Syria’s ability to use chemical weapons in the future,” she said.
Operation Carefully Planned
The operation was carefully orchestrated and methodically planned to lessen chances of civilian casualties, the spokesperson said. The missiles hit targets during the Syrian pre-dawn hours, and planners, weaponeers and aircrew were careful to ensure little collateral damage. “We successfully hit every target,” White said.
Missiles hit three distinct military chemical weapons targets. “The three facilities are – or more appropriately, were – the fundamental components of the regime’s chemical weapons warfare infrastructure,” McKenzie said.
One target, the Barzah center, housed the regime’s research, development and production center for chemical and biological weapons. Photos taken after the strike show that where once three buildings stood, there is now nothing but rubble.
Strikes also hit a chemical weapons storage facility and a chemical bunker facility. “We selected these targets carefully to minimize the risk to innocent civilians,” the general said.
“We are still conducting a more detailed damage assessment, but initial indications are that we accomplished our military objectives without material interference. I would use three words to describe the operation: Precise, overwhelming and effective,” he said.
Allies Fired 105 Weapons
The allies fired 105 weapons at these targets. The missiles came from British, French and American platforms in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean, McKenzie said.
“All weapons hit their targets close to the designated time on target,” he said. The American ships were: the USS Monterrey, the USS Laboon, the USS Higgins and the submarine USS John Warner. Two B-1 Lancer bombers launched joint air-to-surface stand-off missiles. Support aircraft – tankers, fighters, electronic warfare aircraft and more – also participated.
“None of our aircraft or missiles involved in this operation were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses,” McKenzie said. “We have no indication that Russian air defenses were employed.”
Syrian response was ineffectual as the Syrians launched surface-to-air missiles on a ballistic trajectory. “Most of the launches occurred after our strike was over,” the general said. “When you shoot iron into the air without guidance, it has to come down somewhere.”
Since the strike, U.S. officials have not seen any military response from actors within Syria. “We remain postured to protect our forces and those of the coalition should anything occur,” the general said.

Senator Murray's Statement on U.S. Missile Strikes in Syria
(Washington, D.C.)  – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after President Trump announced the U.S. and its allies had launched missile strikes in Syria.
“President Assad's use of chemical weapons and attacks on civilians are inexcusable, inhumane, and illegal. While I support the goal of holding President Assad accountable and degrading his ability to use chemical weapons, I have a number of questions and concerns about tonight’s action and the plan moving forward that I am going to want answers to in the days ahead.”


Senator Murray presses Secretary Perry, reminding him of federal government’s legal and moral obligation to clean up Hanford site
(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry about the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget, which includes deep cuts not only to Hanford cleanup operations, but also to research and development being conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Lab, or PNNL. At today’s hearing, Senator Murray asked Secretary Perry specifically about his department’s decisions related to the Waste Treatment Plant, and warned Secretary Perry she could not support any proposals until the Department of Energy provided a thorough review and analysis to Congress, the State of Washington, and the Tri-Cities community. On PNNL, Senator Murray reminded Secretary Perry he himself had called our national labs “crown jewels,” and that the Trump Administration’s budget cuts would cause the loss of thousands of scientists and engineers, a “staggering” loss in knowledge and experience. Senator Murray also repeated calls for the Trump Administration to abandon attempts to sell off or privatize the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) transmission system.
In a statement, Senator Murray said she would keep the pressure on the Administration to reverse course on its proposal to cut investments in Hanford cleanup.
“The President’s proposed cuts to Hanford cleanup are extremely disappointing, especially in the wake of recent events highlighting the hazards that must still be addressed and the risks this cleanup poses to workers, the public, and the environment,” Senator Murray said. “But I refuse to let Hanford workers and the Tri-Cities community be punished because the Trump Administration doesn’t understand or respect the federal government’s obligation to clean up the site. I am confident that Democrats and Republicans alike will again set aside this short-sighted proposal from the President, and then we can get back to the work of making sure Hanford has the resources needed to continue critical cleanup work, meet legal deadlines, and ensure strong worker safety protections at all times.”
Senator Murray has a track record of successfully fighting back against the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts. Last month, after months of negotiations, Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill that added more than $200 million for Hanford cleanup activities for a total of $2.42 billion across the Office of River Protection and Richland Operations budgets, rejecting the White House’s proposed cuts. The spending bill also included a historic $6.3 billion for the Office of Science, and $2.3 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which supports research and development activities at PNNL. In addition, the bill ensured BPA can continue to operate and maintain its transmission assets, which accounts for approximately 75 percent of the system in the Northwest.


Last week Ranking Member Murray and Chairman Alexander announced a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis
(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, delivered opening remarks at a hearing about the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, which Senator Murray and Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN), unveiled last week.
In her remarks, Senator Murray reflected on how the Committee’s bipartisan focus on listening to those on the frontlines of the opioid crisis helped members craft legislation to address their concerns. She drew a connection between the stories and insights shared by the people she’s heard from—in D.C. and Washington state—and the proposals included in the Committee’s legislation. The discussion draft includes a set of proposals representing ideas on both sides of the aisle. Senator Murray has long been focused on addressing the tragedy of the opioid crisis that has impacted families throughout the nation, meeting with patients, families, and experts across Washington state to learn more about their experiences, and fighting to strengthen the federal government’s response to combating the opioid epidemic.

Full text below of Senator Murray’s remarks:
“Thank you Mr. Chairman, for your bipartisan work throughout this process. And thank you to the witnesses joining us today, I look forward to your testimony.
“Six months ago, we began a series of bipartisan hearings on the opioid crisis. We began asking questions and seeking answers to learn more about its root causes and ripple effects, and what meaningful action we can take to help our families and communities.
“In the course of listening to those most directly facing this crisis, both here and back home in Washington state, I’ve heard so many stories about this challenge: families strained by a loved one’s battle with opioid addiction; parents who lost the children they would do anything for to a disease they felt helpless to do anything against; children separated from parents who are suffering from opioid addiction, and unable to care for them; grandparents, relatives, and others who have stepped up to support a victim’s family.
“And the burden of this crisis isn’t just borne by individuals, or families—but by entire communities. An elementary principal back in Washington told me about the kids at his school who are unable to focus on their studies because of the trauma of their parents’ disease and the teachers who have to face the challenge of supporting these students and addressing their trauma in the classroom. The staff at a hospital in Washington told me how many of the babies  they deliver are born to mothers suffering from addiction, including opioid addiction.
“And this committee has also heard from experts in the field who are fighting this epidemic. We’ve heard from community leaders and state officials about the tools they are using, the tools they still need, and the role of data and technology. We’ve heard from agency heads and researchers about the need for new resources and authorities, and the potential for new discoveries to help treat those struggling with addiction. We’ve heard from a journalist, who followed the crisis closely, about how we got here, and how our communities are the frontlines in turning the tide. And we’ve heard from Governors about the lessons they’ve learned in the laboratories of democracy that we can put to use on the national level.
“We have heard about the challenges and opportunities, the successes and failures, the hope and the heartbreak of this crisis. And today, we are responding with strong steps that build on our recent work to address it. 
“The bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 was drafted with serious attention to the concerns we heard. And it offers some serious solutions to help address them. 

“This legislation answers the call for more resources to expand effective treatment programs on the state level by reauthorizing and improving the targeted response grants from the 21st Century Cures Act.
“It answers the call for better tools to diagnose, prevent, and treat pain and addiction by empowering the National Institutes of Health with more flexibility to support high impact research on public health threats, including this opioid epidemic.
“It answers the call for new products and solutions by clarifying the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to require special packaging and safe disposal options, encourage the development and review of non-addictive pain treatments, and keep illicit products from entering our country.

“The legislation addresses the need for better data and technology practices so health providers and pharmacies can spot patterns of potential misuse by expanding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s efforts to support states in improving Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, and encourage better and faster data collection and sharing between states.
“It addresses the need to help our schools and children by developing a taskforce and grants to help support trauma-informed care programs, increasing access to mental health care for children, and supporting state efforts to improve plans of safe care for children born to mothers battling addiction.
“And addresses the need to help our strained behavioral health workforce so that patients can get the care they need, even if they live too far from a doctor’s office, by expanding loan repayment to behavioral health providers who practice in underserved areas, increasing access to behavioral health services in areas hardest hit by the epidemic and facing provider shortages, and authorizing new grants to target the workforce shortages in substance use and mental health treatment.
“It addresses the need to increase access to treatment by allowing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide grants to help providers establish new recovery centers, by allowing health centers to treat addiction patients with innovative telehealth models and technology that can help them serve rural or remote areas, and by building on our work in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to permanently allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatment.
“It addresses the need to give those affected by this disease a path forward by providing grants for workforce training to help them get back on their feet.

“And it addresses many other challenges, big and small, that we’ve heard from people across the country working to turn the tide of the opioid epidemic.
“While this legislation will not be the last step we take to respond to this crisis, it is a major step. And I want to thank all of my colleagues both on and off this committee, from both sides of the aisle, for their bipartisan work and their dedication to getting this done.
“I especially want to thank Chairman Alexander for working with me, and for sharing my focus on bringing as many voices as possible to the table so that we could hear their stories, concerns, and needs firsthand. This bill is a testament to the value of listening. And we’re not done listening yet.
“Many of the policies presented here are still works in progress. And we are committed to working together with stakeholders to help make sure we can include as many of the good ideas out there as possible.
“I look forward to hearing what our witnesses today have to add to the conversation as we work to get this important bill to the finish line for families across the country.


In other congressional delegation headlines....
Kilmer Questions Zinke on Drilling, Park Fees, Elwha Water Facility
Today, Representative Derek Kilmer asked Secretary Ryan Zinke about the Trump Administration’s plan to open nearly all of America’s coastal waters to offshore drilling, and the plan to raise visitor fees at some of the nation’s most popular national parks, including Olympic National Park. Kilmer also raised a local issue concerning the Elwha Water Facility.

Kilmer Statement on $5 Per Car National Park Entry Fee Increase
Today, the Department of the Interior announced it would raise entry fees at most National Parks by $5 per car. This is a major reversal of the Administration’s initial plan, which proposed tripling entry fees at the 17 most popular National Parks, including Olympic National Park. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), the original sponsor of the National Park Service Legacy Act made the following statement:

Kilmer to Host Transparency Teletownhall with Special Guest Nick Penniman, CEO of Issue One--WEDNESDAY
On the heels of congressional testimony from Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, US Representative Derek Kilmer will host a teletownhall focused on steps Congress can take to safeguard America’s elections, and shine a light on the murky world of political advertising. The event is Wednesday, April 18 at 6:00 pm PST.

Cantwell Statement On New Zinke Plan To Raise Park Fees
Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-WA) made the following statement regarding Secretary Zinke’s new proposal to raise park fees by five dollars in most parks where fees are charged: 


WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES...

In other world news headlines...
UN PRESS RELEASE: While Debating Pros, Cons of Migration at Population and Development Commission, Delegates Share Best Practices, New Approaches to Urban Challenges
International migration was a global and multidimensional phenomenon of economic and social importance, the Commission on Population and Development heard today, as delegates shared ways to improve the management of flows, address key drivers and channel the potential of young people.

UN PRESS RELEASE: Security Council Press Statement on Attack against United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic

‘Time to move from promises to action;’ UN envoy urges Malian parties to peace accord
While Malians must ensure the successful holding of elections this year, their priority should be the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement, a senior United Nations official said Wednesday.

UN human rights experts urge Viet Nam not to stifle dissenting voices
United Nations experts have urged Viet Nam not to crackdown on civil society or stifle dissent, after the authorities jailed several human rights defenders for “conducting activities to overthrow the people’s government” – a charge that carries the possibility of the death sentence or life imprisonment.

Syria: Break impasse in Security Council, avoid situation ‘spiraling out of control’ – UN chief
Amid the risks of the situation in Syria “spiraling out of control,” the United Nations chief has appealed to the five permanent members of the Security Council to break the current deadlock on reported use of chemical weapons in the war-torn country.


IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION
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Saturday, April 7, 2018

Construction begins on Veterans Affairs Puget Sound clinic in Silverdale

from an shared news story on Congressman Kilmer's webpage.
Source: Kitsap Sun
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/in-the-news/construction-begins-on-veterans-affairs-puget-sound-clinic-in-silverdale
After many years of planning and quite a few setbacks, ground was broken on Monday morning on the long-awaited Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Silverdale.
"As we break ground today, there's one word that comes to mind more than any other, and it's 'Phew!'" said U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer. "To say that this has been a long time coming would be quite an understatement."
In October 2015, the VA Puget Sound selected a building on Kitsap Way in Bremerton, which previously housed a Rite Aid, as its new clinic site. But the project was waylaid when it was discovered the building wasn't up to federal seismic standards. The VA terminated the lease for that facility in January 2017 and headed back to the drawing board before selecting the Silverdale site last July.

Construction should be completed in about one year, said Mike Brown, a partner with Veterans Plaza LLC, which will build the clinic. Bremerton-based architecture firm Rice Fergus Miller designed it.
For years, the VA Puget Sound has sought to build a larger clinic in Kitsap County to address the backlog and long wait times at the existing 6,000-square-foot VA clinic at 925 Adele Ave. in Bremerton.
"We've definitely outgrown that space, not only with the number of veterans we need to serve, but when it comes to technology and the services available there," said Michael Tadych, director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
About 37,000 veterans in the area are eligible to receive health care from the Bremerton clinic.
"(They) should be able to receive the health care services they deserve, right here in our community, rather than traveling to Seattle or American Lake for attention," said Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido.
The future Silverdale clinic will be a 15,000-square-foot, one-story building with a large lobby space, a covered drop-off area and a parking lot of more than 90 spots.
The clinic will be located at 9177 Ridgetop Blvd., right in the middle of the county's commercial hub, with access to Clear Creek and the neighboring hiking trail.
Urban City Brew Co. is currently located at the future clinic's street address. Once construction begins to pick up, the coffee shop will be moving to a new location at 15220 Silverdale Way NW, said owner Kaitlin Hubbell. 
The clinic will offer expanded mental health services and tele-medicine services as well as provide access to an additional home-based primary care team and on-site physical therapy, said VA Puget Sound spokeswoman Kimberly Wilkie.
The VA opened a temporary administrative office at 2771 Hemlock St. in Bremerton at the beginning of March to alleviate some of the strain on the Bremerton clinic until the Silverdale clinic begins providing care to patients.
Certain health care functions, such as the home-based primary care, tele-health and tele-mental health programs, moved over to the annex to open up more clinical space to treat patients at the Bremerton clinic. 
Although the annex predominantly houses administrative functions, patients can be seen at the annex for tele-dermatology services by appointment only. For all other health care needs, patients need to go to the Bremerton clinic, Wilkie said.

Once the Silverdale clinic is operational, both the Bremerton clinic and the temporary administration office are slated to close.
Many veterans are looking forward to the expand care possibilities the larger clinic could offer.
"I'll have to come check it out because the old facility didn't have what I needed," said Daniel Defenbaugh, a veteran who served in the Navy for seven and half years and worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Although Defenbaugh has sought out mostly private health care for his medical needs, he goes to the Bremerton clinic when he can.
"They seem to have a caring staff, but they're restricted on what they can provide," he said. "I think the frustration with so many veterans is the wait time, but that's a problem with healthcare in general."
Defenbaugh is looking forward to when the clinic opens for the possibility of it becoming a sort of central meeting place for veterans and the community to interact.
"Another aspect of it is that could be more of a kind of meeting place where people can just kind of show up and have some interaction with some of the vets as sort of a way to give back," he said.

Senator Murray’s bill, the Child Care for Working Families Act, is the first of its kind and would address the high cost of child care & promote access to high-quality early learning
Press release issued 4/ 5/ 18
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=BBCDA0DF-1BAA-467E-BF8D-B94520E2B125

(Seattle)  – On the heels of securing the largest increase ever in federal child care funding to address America’s growing child care crisis, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate education committee, visited child care and early learning centers across Washington state to hear directly from parents, children, and child care workers and center directors about the challenges working families face when trying to find affordable, high-quality child care. Touring centers from the Tri-Cities to Southwest Washington, Senator Murray discussed her work to reduce child care costs for low and middle-income parents and strengthen investments in the nation’s child care infrastructure and workforce as part of her continued efforts to make the economy work better for working families.

Senator Murray made stops in Richland, Longview, Vancouver and Seattle to tour local child care facilities and learn more about how the lack of affordable child care options impact families and communities throughout Washington state. During her visits, Senator Murray met with local parents and child care center administrators and workers to hear stories of their various child care experiences, and shared the latest developments on her bill, the Child Care for Working Families Act. Additionally, Senator Murray discussed her recent efforts to secure more than $2.3 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant in the bipartisan spending bill Congress passed last month—the largest increase in federal child care spending ever, and a significant “down payment” on the bill’s goals to expand access to high-quality, affordable child care for all.

“As I’ve traveled and listened to stories across Washington state – from parents who’ve had to make tough choices in their families because of climbing child care costs, to child care center directors who have to routinely turn away tearful parents because there just aren’t enough slots to go around – one thing is certain: no family or community is exempt from the child care crisis,” said Senator Murray. “As a former preschool teacher, I know the first years of a child’s life are the most critical to their development, yet too many working families across our country don’t have the resources or support they need to give their kids the right start to enter Kindergarten ready to learn and succeed. As so many parents have told me, when it comes to securing our future, we can either pay for it now by improving child care and early learning for the next generation of students and workers, or pay for it dearly later – and that’s why I’ll continue fighting to strengthen investments in our youngest learners until our dream of providing high-quality child care for all is a reality.”
The Child Care for Working Families Act would significantly expand access to child care and early learning for low and middle-income families by bringing down rising child care costs, ensuring that no family under 150 percent of the state median income pays more than seven percent of their income on child care. Additionally, the bill would make major investments in training and compensation for child care workers, and would significantly expand access to high-quality preschool for low- and middle-income 3 and 4 year olds. Unveiled last fall, Senator Murray has already garnered strong bicameral support for the legislation, with 30 Senate co-sponsors and 119 cosponsors on the House companion bill.

Senator Murray’s tour began last Thursday, March 29 with a visit to the YMCA Early Learning Center in Richland, where a local father spoke about the financial strain his family has suffered due to rising child care costs for his three daughters, and long-time child care advocates shared details about the challenges they’ve faced finding and recruiting high-quality child care workers due to a lack of incentives for professionals to remain in early childhood jobs. On April 3, Senator Murray visited Lower Columbia College’s Early Learning Center in Longview, where she met with student parents who discussed the importance of ensuring their children are exposed to high-quality early learning experiences to prepare them for school success. The next day, on April 4, Senator Murray traveled to Vancouver where she was joined by NYU researcher Ajay Chaudry, author of Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality, on a tour of the Hough Early Learning Center, and met with local parents who shared personal stories about the difficulties they’ve faced trying to find quality child care they could afford. Senator Murray wrapped up this leg of her child care tour on April 5, visiting with parents and workers at South Seattle’s Hoa Mai Vietnamese Preschool, where she heard more about the benefits of investing in child care workers and affordability for working families.



WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES.

UN PRESS RELEASE: Delegates Exchange Views on Unleashing Private Sector Power to Solve Entrenched Inequalities at Day-long Economic and Social Council Partnership Forum
With 8 per cent of people around the world living in poverty, and 192 million unemployed, achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development would require unleashing the power of the business community to solve entrenched structural ills, delegates told the Economic and Social Council Partnership Forum today.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ecosoc6898.doc.htm

Global food price index rises for second consecutive month – UN agency
Global food prices rose for the second consecutive month with the index for these commodities averaging 172.8 points in March, 1.1 per cent higher than in February, the United Nations food security agency announced Thursday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1006601

Mine action is ‘concrete step towards peace,’ says UN chief on International Mine Awareness Day
On the day set aside to raise awareness about the threat of landmines, unexploded grenades and other munitions that impede the return to normal life after conflict, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is urging Governments to provide political and financial support to keep up the vital work of mine action wherever it is needed.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1006411

Test sample results from Salisbury nerve agent attack expected next week – chemical weapons watchdog
Results of tests of samples collected from individuals exposed to a nerve agent in Salisbury, the United Kingdom, are expected to be received by early next week, the head of the United Nations-backed body working to rid the world of chemical weapons said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/04/1006541



IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Page 2
Senators Murray, Cantwell Announce Federal Investments in Transit Agencies Across Washington State

Page 3
Cantwell Statement On Trump Administration Attack On Fuel Efficiency

Page 4
INSLEE'S Statement on EPA's decision to weaken federal emissions standards.


page 5: BUSINESS & FINANCE
Dental hygienist pleads guilty for lying to state in workers' comp case


page 6 Commentary & meeting agendas




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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Kilmer, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Shipyard Workers, Other Federal Workers Retire On-Time

Press release issued 3/ 27/ 18
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-jones-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-shipyard-workers-other-federal-workers-retire-on-time

In 1989, the government changed its retirement system for federal workers. Today, as the first generation under that new system begins to retire, some workers are discovering a bad surprise.   Workers who started as temporary employees and then converted to full-time employment are now finding that they may have to work years longer than their peers in order to receive the same retirement benefits.
Some workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC-East) in North Carolina, and at federal facilities across the country are planning their retirements and finding out that this is their story.
Today, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Representative Walter B. Jones (R, NC-3) introduced The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 5389) to fix this problem.
“Folks who work hard for our country deserve a government that has their back,” Rep. Derek Kilmer said. “This bill lets people retire securely and on time. Workers shouldn’t have to put their physical health at risk because some government red tape says they should work longer than their peers.”
“H.R. 5389 rights an injustice to our civil servants by allowing them to ‘buy back’ the time they spent serving in ‘probationary status,’” said Rep. Walter Jones. “To all federal workers who have selflessly served our military and government, like at FRC-East and other bases in North Carolina, it is only right that they receive the accurate benefits for the years that they worked.”
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act would help federal workers the government originally hired as temporary employees who then converted to full-time employees be able to retire on time. Temporary employees don’t receive the same benefits as full-time employees, and they don’t pay into the federal retirement system. The bipartisan bill would let employees pay into the retirement system for the years they worked under temporary status. That way, they can retire with benefits that match the total number of years they worked. Right now, federal employees are offered two choices: retire with a lower level of benefits than their peers, or work later into life.
Catch-up payments aren’t a new idea. The Office of Personnel Management permitted the payments for workers in this situation under the system it phased out in 1989. When the government switched to the new retirement system, the authority for the buy-backs ended. The bill would solve this problem by making the authority a law.

Kilmer Bill Helps Federal Workers Who Started in Temporary Role
Press release issued 3/ 27/ 18
Shared news story on Kilmer's page from the Kitsap Sun
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kilmer-bill-helps-federal-workers-who-started-in-temporary-role
Allen Hodge will be ready to retire after working at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for almost three decades, but a wrinkle in the federal retirement system could force him to work years longer before he's eligible for a full retirement.
Hodge, 54, was hired as a temporary employee at the shipyard's paint shop in 1989. He was converted into a full-time, permanent position five years later after being laid off and furloughed a few times in between.
Today, he is a manager in the same shop where his career began all of those years ago.
Hodge planned to retire in 2020 at the age of 57, after reaching the required 30 years of service for a federal employee to retire with full benefits before reaching the age of 62.

"I've done my time here," he said. "It's time for the changing of the guards."
But when he started to plan for retirement, he learned the years that he worked as a temporary employee didn't count toward it because of a change in the federal system that went into effect the year he was hired at the shipyard.
Under the new system, employees who transitioned into full-time positions could no longer retroactively contribute to their retirements for the time they worked as temporary employees, although they had been able to do so under the previous system. 
As a result, Hodge is now witnessing other employees retire who were hired at the shipyard as permanent employees after he started there. He must either work longer or retire early by the government's standards with penalties to his benefits.
"It's hard to keep a good attitude, but as a manager I do it," Hodge said. "We're starting to see more people leave and it's very frustrating."
After seeking out other avenues for assistance without result, Hodge and a few other shipyard workers sought help from U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer.

After learning about the complexities of Hodge's case, Kilmer said he saw an opportunity to right what he says is a wrong.
"This is an issue that impacts the largest employer in our area — the federal government," Kilmer said. "We know there are a lot of workers in our area that are really affected by this."
The shipyard, which is Bremerton's largest employer, currently has about 13,700 employees, said shipyard spokesman J.C. Mathews.
About 950 shipyard employees are eligible for retirement. Some of those employees could immediately start receiving annuity payments, while others would have to wait some time to receive their full benefits, Mathews said.
Within the next five years, more than 2,300 shipyard employees will be eligible for retirement.
Kilmer introduced the bipartisan Federal Retirement Fairness Act on March 22, which would allow employees to retroactively contribute toward their retirement for time spent as temporary employees. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-North Carolina.
When the federal government's new retirement system came into effect, Kilmer said the new rules inexplicably did not give employees the option to contribute for time worked with a temporary status. As members of the first generation of federal workers under the new system get ready to retire, they're starting to notice the impact of that decision.
"Now those employees may be in the position of having to work years longer or making the decision to retire with less," Kilmer said. "That’s why this bill matters."
Under the proposed legislation, employees would be able to make catch-up payments with interest toward their retirement, but they'll have to cover the government's contribution as well to minimize the hit to the federal budget, Kilmer said.
Although that means more money out of pocket up front for federal employees, it will give them the opportunity to be able to receive a full retirement for all of the years they worked for the government. 
"I think that part of that would increase the likelihood we could get this passed and move it forward," Kilmer said.
Hodge estimated it could cost him some $50,000 to cover both his retirement contributions and the government's contributions, which would have to come from his retirement savings account and a reduction of contributions into his thrift savings plan.

"It would kill my bank account," Hodge said.
While the upfront cost would come with a hefty price tag if the bill is passed, Hodge said the opportunity to retire with full benefits would be worth it as well as the chance to finally be able to definitively plan for his future.
"How can I plan my life for retirement when I don't even know when I can retire?" Hodge said.



WORLD NEWS HEADLINES FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER & OTHER SOURCES
Their 15-year mission a success, UN peacekeepers depart a stable and grateful Liberia.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia will formally cease operations on Friday after aiding the West African nation’s transition from ravaging civil war to a hopeful era of peace.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/03/1006221

Yemen: UN Security Council condemns Houthi missile attacks targeting Saudi cities
Reiterating the need for warring parties in Yemen to resume dialogue, the Security Council has condemned the latest missile attacks by the Houthi rebels targeting several cities of Saudi Arabia, including its capital, Riyadh.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/03/1006211

Unrealistic demands on UN peacekeeping costing lives and credibility – Guterres
As the United Nations continues to send peacekeepers to difficult or war-torn environments like Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, those ‘blue helmets’ will need more and better coordinated support among the actors who authorize and deploy them, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/03/1006181

UN receives nearly $1 billion from Saudi Arabia and UAE for humanitarian response to Yemen crisis
Ahead of the upcoming international fundraising conference for Yemen, the United Nations has received nearly $1 billion contributions from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and urged other donors to follow suit and help tackle the world’s worst humanitarian crisis there.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/03/1006131




IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

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