Tag Archives : Build House

Portman warns against overlap in government cyber leadership

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on Wednesday said he was worried there are too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to leading the federal government’s cyber security efforts. 

Portman’s remarks came during a nomination hearing for Nathaniel Fick, President Biden’s nominee to be the ambassador at large for a new cyber bureau launched within the State Department in April. 

“What I’m concerned about is that we have overlapping responsibilities and authorities with regard to our cyber defense,” Portman said.

“We seem to keep adding more and more top cybersecurity positions to our government,” he added. 

The State Department bureau was established to deal with international issues related to cyber and emerging technologies. 

Portman said the position that Fick was nominated for seems to overlap with some core functions of the national cyber director at the White House, who also oversees some international components of cybersecurity. Portman then asked Fick how he would address his concern.

Fick said his role would fill an important gap within the government, adding that other key institutions, including the White House and the Department of Defense, have “a strong presence in cyberspace” and that the same is needed within the State Department.

“I believe that diplomacy should be our tool of first resort,” Fick said, adding that if confirmed to lead the bureau he would create clear lines of responsibility.

The bureau currently has three policy units: international cyberspace security, digital freedom, and international information and communications policy.

While introducing Fick to the committee, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) praised the Biden administration for taking the initiative to create the new bureau.

“We want someone who gets up every morning thinking about the international ramifications of cyber and that’s what this office will do,” King said. 

Fick is currently the general manager of the tech firm Elastic. He was previously the CEO of Endgame, a cybersecurity software company. Fick also served in the Marine Corps, with combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Fick laid out to the committee some of his top priorities should be confirmed. He said he would seek to establish a culture within the entire State Department in which expertise in cyber and digital technologies is a must.

“I can imagine a future where any candidate to be a chief of mission is expected to have an understanding of these issues because they’re a substrate that cuts across every aspect of our foreign policy,” Fick said. 

He added he would also focus on international challenges, including Russian cyber threats and the U.S. digital competition with China. 

“Countries such as the People’s Republic of China and Russia have a very different vision for cyberspace and the use of digital technologies, which is why American leadership matters in this arena,” Fick said. 

Fick’s nomination hearing follows the launch of a new cyber bureau in London headed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The agency said the bureau will serve as a focal point for international collaboration between the U.S. and U.K. governments. 

CISA Director Jen Easterly said at the time that “to help build resilience against threats domestically, we must think globally.”

The committee will hold a business meeting at a later date to vote on whether to advance Fick’s nomination to the Senate.

Source: TEST FEED1

Long COVID comes in three forms: study 

There are three different kinds of long COVID all with their own set of symptoms, according to researchers.  

In a new preprint study, which means it has yet to be peer reviewed, on MedRxiv, a site that distributes unpublished research in the health sciences, scientists from King’s College in London analyzed the experiences of thousands of people across the U.K that were infected with the virus.  

Researchers focused on 1,459 people living with post-COVID syndrome— which study crafters defined as having symptoms for at least 12 weeks after being infected with the virus — and were able to place patients into three main “symptom profiles.” 

Our country is in a historic fight against the coronavirus. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

PCS patients — which are also referred to colloquially as long COVID patients — placed in the first group suffered from respiratory symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or palpitations.  

The second group was made up of long COVID patients who experienced neurological symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, poor memory and headaches, which researchers said was experienced most commonly among those that had been infected with the alpha or delta variants, according to the study.  

The third group consisted of people who had an immune-related response, the study says.  

Over 7 percent of all U.S. adults are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID, according to Census Bureau data. But while thousands of people are suffering from the condition not much is known about how to treat it.  

Although more work is needed to confirm the study’s findings, it does offer some insight into the complexities of the virus and its impact on human health. 

“These insights could aid in the development of personalised diagnosis and treatment, as well as helping policymakers plan for the delivery of care for people living with post-COVID syndrome,” the study states.  

READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA

THOUSANDS REPORT CHANGES TO MENSTRUAL BLEEDING AFTER COVID-19 VACCINE, STUDY SHOWS

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW NOVAVAX VACCINE FOR COVID-19

HEALTH EXPERTS URGE PARENTS TRAVELING WITH KIDS TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, CONSIDER NOT TAKING FLIGHTS

OMICRON LASTS LONGER ON SURFACES AND SKIN THAN PREVIOUS VARIANTS: STUDIES

BA.2 OMICRON SUBVARIANT NEARLY 35 PERCENT OF U.S. CORONAVIRUS CASES 

Source: TEST FEED1

Coal industry 'shocked and disheartened' by Manchin climate deal

The West Virginia Coal Association and several other state-based coal industry groups on Wednesday blasted the tax and climate deal that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) agreed to last week, warning it will “severely threaten American coal” and an estimated 381,000 jobs.  

“This legislation is so egregious, it leaves those of us that call Sen. Manchin a friend, shocked and disheartened,” the groups wrote in a blistering statement that accused the West Virginia senator of zigzagging in the energy debate.  

“Sen. Manchin has seemingly fought against numerous climate measures advanced over the past year by the national democratic establishment,” the groups said. “The current Schumer-Manchin draft agreement on climate and energy frankly leaves us questioning the motivation and sincerity of Manchin’s previous stance and his repeated chant: we must ‘innovate not eliminate.’” 

The groups warn the deal Manchin crafted with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) after months of negotiation “will quickly diminish our coal producing operations and all but obviate any need to innovate coal assets.”  

The groups argue the bill — which Democrats have dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act and plan to pass this weekend — will do “nothing for coal or coal generation” and won’t reduce inflation or lower household energy costs. 

“By turbocharging the lofty incentives that already extend to renewable energy, our nation’s baseload (reliable) coal electric generation assets will continue to be devalued and thrust into rapid decline,” the groups warned.  

The statement was signed by Chris Hamilton, the president of the West Virginia Coal Association, as well as the leaders of the Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming mining associations.  

Manchin on Tuesday said he didn’t agree with predictions the bill will lead to coal plants closing in his state.  

“I don’t think that’s the case at all,” he told reporters. “We have to have a vibrant fossil industry. We have a lot of coal plants that have been pretty old.” 

“Coal is going to be needed for the base load that we’re going to have to have,” he said, arguing that coal will continue to generate enough electricity to meet minimum domestic demand.  

Manchin also cited permitting reform, an initiative he is pushing in conjunction with the energy and climate provisions in the budget bill, as something that will also help fossil fuel producers.  

Source: TEST FEED1

Gas nears $4 a gallon, but hurricane season may bring new pain

The average price of gas is approaching $4 a gallon nationwide, part of a nearly 60-day decline from unprecedented spikes earlier this year. 

However, experts say Mother Nature could send prices back up in a hurry as the Gulf Coast’s hurricane season picks up.  

As of Wednesday, the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.163, the latest in a 50-day decline, according to data from AAA. Numerous states, predominantly in the Southeastern U.S., are already below $4, with the lowest average prices — $3.667 — in Texas. 

The decline follows a period earlier this year when average prices reached an all-time high of $5 in June, according to data compiled by GasBuddy. A number of atypical factors, from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to pent-up demand as pandemic restrictions ended, contributed to the price spike. The factors pushing it back down can be hard to predict as well.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, noted that much of the recent decline is likely tied to fears of an economic downturn. “The market oil prices are reflecting the rising risk that if we do see a recession, it’s going to be lower oil consumption,” De Haan said. 

However, he added, “not only that, we have seen some increase in gasoline inventories over the last really six weeks or so. And that’s also maybe contributing to some of the decline.” 

Devin Gladden, AAA National’s manager for federal affairs, said that apart from some spikes around the holidays, the U.S. gas market is “roughly in line” with where it was before the pandemic caused demand to collapse in early 2020. 

Gladden described the downward trend as “a weird case where it’s pretty much trending like it was when we saw severe COVID precautions, and those factors are leading prices to continue to decline.” 

Meanwhile, he added, anxiety about a recession is “having an impact on oil prices, in particular, because there’s a concern that if economic growth stalls or we enter a recession … that could potentially impact global crude demand.” 

“That’s why the market is concerned, because when demand declines, pricing typically follows, and so they’re hedging against potentially lower prices,” he added. 

President Biden, who has seen gas prices drag down his approvals, took a victory lap on Wednesday, tweeting, “More than half of all gas stations across the United States now offer gas for less than $4 a gallon.” 

The administration has frequently emphasized the role the invasion of Ukraine played in the price hikes, branding it “Putin’s price hike,” as well as castigating the oil industry for the number of unused leases it currently owns on federal lands. 

However, De Haan said a number of factors could lead to a rebound in prices.

“The underlying question is, is Mother Nature going to turn up Category 4 or 5 hurricane into the Gulf of Mexico?” De Haan said. Gulf hurricanes have “time and time again” taken platforms and refineries out of commission for as long as four to six weeks, he noted.  

Gladden was more sanguine on the dangers of hurricane season, saying the industry is “hoping for the best during hurricane season, but obviously we’re prepared.”  

However, he added, “the thing to remember is that even just the threat of a hurricane can cause crude oil production to shut down, particularly on the Gulf Coast. And so even just shutdowns or preventative measures can also restrict supply and cause prices to rise.” 

Another factor that could cause prices to increase again, De Haan noted, is the relative lack of action from OPEC to increase supply. 

Earlier Wednesday, OPEC announced it would increase production only slightly, with 100,000 more barrels a day. The announcement came shortly after Biden met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and appealed for the kingdom’s help in stabilizing global oil markets. 

There’s also the possibility that fears of a recession don’t materialize. 

“If we don’t see an economic slowdown and we see better economic news, we could see oil prices going right back up,” De Haan said. Meanwhile, he added, diesel supplies could also take a hit moving into fall and winter as demand spikes. 

“As agricultural consumption goes up and people start filling their heating oil tanks, then diesel could see pretty apocalyptic numbers later this year if things don’t go well,” he said.  

However, during the same period, the downward trend is likely to persist on the gas side of the equation,  De Haan said.  

“Gasoline may see lower prices into the fall if we can avoid things like hurricanes or other unexpected outages with refiners and things like that.”

Source: TEST FEED1

Capitol Police arrest men accused of armed carjackings

U.S. Capitol Police arrested two armed alleged carjackers Tuesday after an intense car chase in downtown Washington, D.C. 

Maryland 19-year-old Mekhi Staton and D.C. 18-year-old George Turrentine were found with a 9mm self-assembled gun known as a “ghost gun.”  

“When officers attempted to stop the stolen Mercedes, the sedan sped away. The car blew through stop signs and red lights. It even went the wrong way down a one-way street and clipped a car before it crashed into parked cars near 12th Street and Independence, SE, where the stolen car stopped,” the Capitol Police announced in a Wednesday release. 

Once the vehicle was stopped, Capitol Police report that Staton reached for the ghost gun before officers intervened. 

The weapon reportedly had “a high capacity feeding device” that could hold 31 rounds of ammunition.

The Biden administration has been trying to crack down on ghost guns — unserialized, untraceable weapons that can be bought in parts without a background check and privately assembled by the user.

Staton, the driver, was arrested on a variety of charges related to evading law enforcement, using a stolen vehicle, and possessing a “ghost gun” without a license and with unregistered ammunition.

Turrentine is facing just one charge related to being a passenger in the stolen vehicle.  

Capitol Police say the two men are suspects in a series of armed carjackings throughout the city. 

Carjackings in D.C. have nearly tripled in the past two years, according to recent reports, but a majority of these crimes are committed by juvenile offenders, which complicates prosecution.

Source: TEST FEED1

GOP Rep. Jackie Walorski dies in car accident in Indiana

Rep. Jackie Walorski, a Republican representing Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, died in a car accident on Wednesday.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) confirmed the news in a statement from Walorski’s office announcing the congresswoman’s death.

“Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband, was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon,” the statement reads.

— Developing

Source: TEST FEED1

Post Roe: Women still have the right to emergency medical treatment

The recent overturn of Roe v. Wade took away a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. But it didn’t take away her right to life-preserving health care, or my right as a physician to provide that care. Pregnancy is a medical condition. As an emergency room physician, I see medical complications that women endure throughout their pregnancies including serious and life-threatening bleeding and ruptured ectopic pregnancies, as well complications around childbirth like high blood pressure, seizures, heart problems and infections, all of which can pose serious threats to a woman’s life. Pregnancy can also result in lost work and pay for women when complications force them to remain on bed rest, unable to go to work let alone care for other family members.

By taking away a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy, our country is not only forcing women who may not want or be able to bear a child to do so — we are putting those same women at risk of pregnancy-related medical problems whose consequences can range from lost wages to death. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country, more than double that of most other high-income countries. Non-Hispanic Black women have three times this risk, and women over age 40 have almost 8 times the risk of women who are under 25. Maternal death rates in the U.S. have been rising since 2018, and it is within this context that our country will now also become the only country to restrict, not increase, access to abortion apart from Nicaragua.

Fortunately, one thing all women do have a right to under federal law is to seek emergency medical treatment. The federal emergency medical treatment and labor act (EMTALA) means that all people — including pregnant women — have the right to a medical screening exam, which includes stabilizing treatment, in an emergency department. Our job as physicians is to provide the highest quality emergency care for all of our patients, and in this age of restricted access to abortion, we anticipate that more women will come to us not only with complications stemming from illegal abortions, but also seeking care after unprotected intercourse, sexual assault and to evaluate early pregnancies.

Patients should have a right to privacy when undergoing medical treatment based on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which is supposed to protect sensitive patient health information from disclosure without the patient’s consent. Yet, since Roe v. Wade was overturned, pregnant women – in states that have allowed trigger laws to take effect have been forced to continue their pregnancies even when their lives have been in grave danger. Disturbingly, the doctors’ determination that their patient was facing a life-threatening situation wasn’t good enough for their laws to permit termination — instead, the opinions of hospital administrators and lawmakers uninvolved with the patient’s care were sought out, seemingly in violation of HIPAA’s patient privacy laws.

On July 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified that EMTALA overrides state laws related to the medical screening examination, stabilizing treatment and transfer requirements. Under EMTALA, if a physician believes that an abortion is needed to stabilize a patient with an emergency medical condition, this treatment must be provided regardless of state law. It also states that the physician or other qualified medical personnel determines what is and is not an emergency medical condition. EMTALA also protects physicians who perform an abortion in order to treat a pregnant woman’s emergency medical condition from legal action by the state. Unfortunately, EMTALA does not protect against a hospital or physician being sued, and in the state of Texas, a lawsuit has already been filed that challenges EMTALA’s protections for abortion care.

To be sure, emergency physicians are not abortion providers, and we will rely on our OB/GYN colleagues to work with us when the life of a pregnant woman is in danger. Physicians and their hospitals must fight to assure that EMTALA continues to offer the protections it was designed to provide. For politicians and lawmakers who propose to deny care for gravely ill pregnant women in need of emergency abortions, or who try to persecute treating physicians who are simply doing their job, the courts must make it clear that EMTALA is pre-emptive over state laws that may be more restrictive.

Patients have a right to privacy under HIPAA, and physicians have not only a right, but an obligation, to provide unrestricted emergency medical care under EMTALA. If you’d like to weigh in further, go to medical school.

Dr. Maria C. Raven (MD, MPH, MS, FACEP) is a practicing emergency physician and the chief of emergency medicine at UCSF Medical Center. She is professor and vice chair in the UCSF Department of Emergency Medicine. She researches the intersection of medical, behavioral and social needs in the emergency department.

Source: TEST FEED1

Buttigieg proposes stronger airline refund rules

The Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed a new rule on Wednesday that clarifies when airlines owe passengers refunds. The regulation is the department’s latest move to strengthen refund enforcement amid re-surging flight demand that has left the industry scrambling and sent passenger complaints soaring.

Existing regulations guarantee refunds if a flight is canceled or experiences a “significant delay” and the passenger chooses not to travel, and the proposal would define that threshold to include when the departure or arrival time changes by at least three hours for a domestic flight and at least six hours for an international flight.

Passengers would also be entitled to refunds if airlines change the departure or arrival airport, increase the number of connections or alter the type of aircraft if it causes a “significant downgrade” to the air travel experience.

“When Americans buy an airline ticket, they should get to their destination safely, reliably and affordably,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a release. “This new proposed rule would protect the rights of travelers and help ensure they get the timely refunds they deserve from the airlines.”

The move comes as demands for flights surge higher than any other point since the start of the pandemic. 

But airlines have struggled to accommodate the growing number of passengers after downsizing their staffs near the start of the pandemic.

The problem has led to a chaotic summer travel season and increased industry scrutiny as passengers grapple with high levels of cancellations, delays and schedule changes.

Buttigieg’s department has made enforcing federal refund policies a cornerstone of DOT’s response, making Wednesday’s announcement the department’s latest move to increase airlines’ accountability.

DOT received more than 4,300 complaints about airline service in May, which was 237 percent above pre-pandemic levels, and complaints about refunds were the most frequent topic.

The federal government has blamed airlines for the snafus after they received billions of dollars in stimulus funds to keep employees on their payrolls and still cut staffing levels. Trade groups representing the airlines have said the funds weren’t sufficient to maintain their entire pre-pandemic staffs.

The proposal would require airlines and ticket agents to issue flight credits or vouchers that do not expire if passengers are unable to fly for pandemic-related reasons, like travel bans, closed borders or health advisories recommending against travel.

But for those airlines that receive significant government assistance related to a pandemic, the rule would require them to offer refunds rather than credits or vouchers.

The rule-making process allows 90 days for public comment.

When reached for comment, Airlines for America (A4A) — a trade group that represents major airlines — noted that U.S. airlines have issued $21 billion in cash refunds since the start of the pandemic.

“A4A member carriers comply with federal laws and regulations regarding cash refunds,” an A4A spokesperson said. “Carriers strive to provide the highest level of customer service and are committed to working with travelers to address their individual circumstances.”

Some lawmakers have put forth separate legislative proposals in response to consumers’ complaints.

A group of Democratic lawmakers on Monday introduced a bill that would codify DOT’s existing regulation mandating cash refunds. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in late June proposed imposing fines on airlines for significant delays. Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman similarly called for the Biden administration to impose fines on airlines for scheduling flights they know they cannot staff.

Source: TEST FEED1

Biden: Kansas abortion vote sends 'powerful signal' about elections this fall

President Biden on Wednesday called Kansas’s vote in favor of abortion rights a “powerful signal” about elections ahead of November’s midterms, as Democrats look to harness energy sparked by the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

“The voters of Kansas sent a powerful signal that this fall the American people will vote to preserve and protect the rights, and refuse to let them be ripped away by politicians,” Biden said in remarks at the opening of his administration’s task force meeting on reproductive health care.  

The president called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade.

“If Congress fails to act, the people of this country need to elect senators and representatives who will restore Roe and protect the right to privacy, freedom and equality,” he said, seeking to highlight the stakes of the midterm elections.  

The decisive victory for abortion rights supporters against an amendment to remove abortion protections from the Kansas Constitution on Tuesday has given Democrats new hope about the electoral power of the issue heading into the fall.  

Unlike in the single-issue Kansas vote, midterm voters this November will be deciding on lawmakers based on a range of factors, including inflation, that could drag down Democrats.  

But facing a tough midterm landscape, Democrats hope that the abortion issue provides a boost.  

Biden made the remarks as he also signed an executive order to explore using Medicaid to help pay for women to travel across state lines for abortions.  

Attorney General Merrick Garland, speaking at the task force meeting Wednesday, also said the Department of Justice would be moving to dismiss a Texas lawsuit against the administration’s guidance that reminds health providers that federal law requires abortions to be provided in medical emergencies.  

Garland said the administration would “vigorously litigate this suit.” 

Source: TEST FEED1

Nashville council votes down draft agreement to host Republican convention

Nashville city council members have voted down a draft agreement to host the 2024 Republican National Convention, effectively handing the event to Milwaukee, Wis.

The Tennessean reported Wednesday that a progressive majority council voted down hosting the event, 10-22, with the rest of the 40-member council abstaining or not present. The naysayers reportedly cited concerns about security and the cost of hosting.

Milwaukee is the only other city seeking to host.

The two cities became finalists in March, after the Republican National Committee (RNC) received bids from several cities, including Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh, according to a representative.

In mid-July, a panel of the RNC voted to recommend Milwaukee over Nashville. 

Milwaukee was set to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the event online.

The city pitched again last year to host the Democrats’ 2024 convention, as well as making a pitch this year for the 2024 RNC convention.

If selected, Milwaukee would become the first city to host consecutive national conventions since the 1976 and 1980 Democratic National Conventions, both held in New York City.

The Hill has reached out to the Republican National Committee and the city of Milwaukee for comment.

Source: TEST FEED1