SYRACUSE, New York, April 4 -- Rep. John Katko, R-New York, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. John Katko (NY-24) and Stephanie Murphy (D, FL-07) introduced the National Commission on COVID-19 Act, legislation that creates a bipartisan commission to assess the United States' preparation for and response to pandemics. Modeled after the 9/11 Commission, the COVID-19 Commission would be comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, appointed by the President and congression more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-California, issued the following news release: Representatives Tony Cardenas (CA-29) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) introduced H.R. 6432, legislation to address the physician shortage in the United States by taking the first step in removing unnecessary barriers for doctors trained abroad who now reside in the U.S. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a task force to examine the shortage situation, deter more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news: U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), the lead sponsors of H.R. 1384, the Medicare for All Act of 2019, wrote to President Donald Trump requesting a virtual meeting to discuss proposals for immediately expanding health insurance coverage to uninsured Americans. The lawmakers' letter follows comments made by the President during yesterday's White House press briefing that signal more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release on April 2: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad more

BRUNSWICK, Maine, April 4 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator joins colleagues in urging for adequate connectivity to ensure all students can continue education online as school shutdown is prolonged * * * U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of colleagues in a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing more

NEW DELHI, India, April 4 -- The World Bank issued the following news release on April 3: The Government of India and the World Bank signed a fast-track $1 billion India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help India prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. This is the largest ever health sector support from the Bank to India. This new support will cover all states and Union Territories across India  more

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 4 -- The European Commission issued the following news release on April 3: The European Commission has adopted an amendment extending the Temporary Framework adopted on 19 March 2020 to enable Member States to accelerate the research, testing and production of coronavirus relevant products, to protect jobs and to further support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.The amended Temporary Framework complements the many other possibilities already availab more

CANBERRA, Australia, April 4 -- The Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science's Minister for Industry, Science and Technology issued the following news release: CSIRO's work to better understand the virus that leads to COVID-19 and test potential vaccines is being given a substantial boost with a $220 million upgrade of its high containment biosecurity research facility in Geelong. The facility, formerly known as the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), has also been ren more

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 4 -- The European Commission issued the following news release: The European Commission has approved a PLN 22 billion (approximately Euros4.8 billion) Polish aid scheme to support the Polish economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework adopted by the Commission on 19 March 2020, as amended on 3 April 2020. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "This PLN 2 more

CLAYTON, Australia, April 4 -- The Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation issued the following news release: $220M directed to support expanded animal and human health remit Facility renamed Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. With the increasing threat of diseases spreading from animals to humans, including COVID-19, $220m will be directed to upgrading the high containment biosecurity research facility in Geelong, currently testing vaccines to combat t more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to play a critical role in accelerating medical countermeasures to treat and prevent COVID-19. As part of the response to this pandemic, the agency is taking the lead on a national effort to facilitate the development of, and access to, two investigational therapies derived from human blood. These are called conv more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Administrative Conference of the United States issued the following news release: The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) is pleased to announce the launch of a new webpage to help federal agency adjudication offices navigate challenges posed by the ongoing national emergency surrounding COVID-19. The new webpage compiles relevant orders, policies, news releases, and other statements related to federal agencies' responses to the ongoing situation. I more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on April 2 by Chairman Ajit Pai: * * * - Adopts Long-Term Connected Care Study * * * Re: Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers, WC Docket No. 18-213; COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket No. 20-89. Almost two years ago, former FCC Chairman Newt Minow and I advocated for telemedicine as "a critical tool for making Americans healthier," and called for forward-thinking policies that could "bri more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: This morning, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler hosted an interactive telephone call with U.S. retailers and third-party marketplace platforms to discuss imposter disinfectant products and those that falsely claim to be effective against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. Through tips, complaints, and research, the agency is learning of the a more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic: * The FDA announced that it is leading an effort, working collaboratively with government, industry and academic partners, to develop and implement a protocol that will provide convalescent plasma to patients in need across the  more

SANTA MONICA, California, April 6 -- RAND issued the following commentary by Kathryn A. Edwards, associate economist, Pardee RAND Graduate School, Associate Economist Melanie A. Zaber and Richard S. Girven, director, cyber and intelligence policy center senior international/Defense Research Analyst: As social distancing becomes the new norm, so too does telework. Such is the case for potentially tens of thousands of employees of federal agencies who, up until about a month ago, spent most of th more

SANTA MONICA, California, April 6 -- RAND issued the following commentary by Susan L. Marquis, dean, Pardee RAND graduate school vice president, innovation distinguished chair in policy analysis: In the COVID-19 pandemic, we're all coming to recognize a new class of essential first responders: those who keep the supply chains going. In the food supply, farmworkers are these first responders. The federal government officially declared them to be part of the "critical infrastructure workforce" w more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Freedom House issued the following joint statement: * * * - Countries' efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of greatly expanded systems of invasive digital surveillance. * * * The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency that requires a coordinated and large-scale response by governments worldwide. However, States' efforts to contain the virus must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of grea more