Sen. Hassan Recognizes Robert 'Bob' Wolfe of Concord as March Granite Stater of the Month
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Robert "Bob" Wolfe of Concord as March's Granite Stater of the Month. Since 2000, Bob has welcomed and supported new refugees to Concord, focusing on connecting children with local sports leagues to help them settle into their new community, and also helping connect families with housing and education resources.
Bob was inspired to start working with refugees 24 years ago. Recognizing the extreme culture shock and language barriers that can prevent newly settled
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release:
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Robert "Bob" Wolfe of Concord as March's Granite Stater of the Month. Since 2000, Bob has welcomed and supported new refugees to Concord, focusing on connecting children with local sports leagues to help them settle into their new community, and also helping connect families with housing and education resources.
Bob was inspired to start working with refugees 24 years ago. Recognizing the extreme culture shock and language barriers that can prevent newly settledrefugees from fully adjusting, Bob has assisted refugee families in Concord in many different ways, for example by helping them to find houses and apartments, send their children to college, and get rides to immigration court.
One of the biggest ways that Bob helps refugee children adjust is by connecting them with recreational sports. He assists families in getting the right equipment and finding a sport that they enjoy. Bob has built ties throughout the community over the years to help new refugees feel comfortable in their new home, showing boundless generosity to new Granite Staters.
Senator Hassan launched the "Granite Stater of the Month" initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a "Granite Stater of the Month," constituents can complete the nomination form here.
To read Senator Hassan's statement for the Congressional Record, see below.
I am honored to recognize Robert "Bob" Wolfe of Concord as March's Granite Stater of the Month. Since 2000, Bob has welcomed and supported new refugees to Concord - and he has particularly focused on connecting refugee children with local sports leagues to help them fully immerse themselves into their new community.
Bob was inspired to start working with refugees 24 years ago, after he met a man from Sierra Leone who told him about the violence that he had left behind in his home country. Bob knew that he wanted to help refugees navigate their new country in any way that he could. Recognizing the extreme culture shock and language barriers that can prevent newly settled refugees from fully adjusting, Bob has assisted refugee families in Concord in many different ways, for example by helping them to get houses and apartments, send their children to college, and get rides to immigration court.
One of the biggest ways that Bob helps refugee children settle in is by connecting them with recreational sports. He assists families in getting the right equipment and finding a sport that they enjoy. Although the kids are dealing with a new country, new language, and new way of life, playing a sport is something that everyone can understand and connect over.
Bob has built ties throughout the community over the years to help new refugees feel comfortable in their new home - he is always there to lend his help in whatever way that he can. Bob truly showcases the Granite State spirit of helping your neighbors and building a stronger community. I am proud to recognize Bob's boundless generosity to new Granite Staters.
Reps. Jayapal, Clarke, Horsford Urge Biden Administration to Designate Democratic Republic of Congo for Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news:
U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Steven Horsford (NV-04), are leading 46 of their colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the administration to designate the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as the country faces extreme human rights violations and persistent violence against civilians at the hands of the rebel group, M23. TPS offers temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationals
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news:
U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Steven Horsford (NV-04), are leading 46 of their colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on the administration to designate the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as the country faces extreme human rights violations and persistent violence against civilians at the hands of the rebel group, M23. TPS offers temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationalsalready in the United States who are unable to return safely to their home country.
"The people of the DRC are suffering extreme, horrifying, and irreparable human rights violations. The civilian population have faced decades of violence, arbitrary detention, sexual and gender-based violence, torture, labor trafficking, summary executions, and forced recruitment as soldiers, including children, which are all violations of international human rights treaties," the lawmakers wrote.
More than 6.9 million people in the DRC have been forcibly displaced, one of the largest internal displacements in the world, while the country also hosts more than half a million refugees from neighboring countries. These factors compound, making it more difficult for Congolese people to find a safe country in which to find refuge.
"We urge you to use all available pathways and resources under the law to protect vulnerable Congolese, including a designation of TPS for DRC or a grant of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for DRC nationals, and Special Student Relief (SSR) for Congolese students. Taking any of these steps would ensure that Congolese people currently in the United States can be protected from being sent back to the violence that is running rampant in their home country," the lawmakers concluded.
The U.S. has accepted more refugees from the DRC than any other country, a clear recognition of the dire situation. There are approximately 2,000 Congolese citizens in the United States who could immediately benefit from a TPS designation. Roughly 6,000 American citizens live with Congolese nationals who would be eligible for TPS, meaning the designation would ensure these families are not forced to separate.
Along with Jayapal, Clarke, and Horsford, today's letter was signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Ph.D, Nanette Barragan, Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Cori Bush, Andre Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Emanuel Cleaver II, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Raul M. Grijalva, Jonathan Jackson, Sheila Jackson Lee, Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, James P. McGovern, Grace Meng, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, David Trone, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Nydia M. Velazquez, and Frederica Wilson.
Reps. Gottheimer Issues Statement on MTA Vote Moving Forward With Congestion Tax, Despite Significant Public Opposition
NORTH JERSEY, New Jersey, March 28 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 27, 2024:
* * *
Today, March 27, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement on the latest Congestion Tax announcements from the MTA:
"Today's vote was just a rubber stamp on the MTA's unprecedented cash grab. It just proves what we knew all along -- the MTA doesn't care about less traffic, helping the environment, or supporting families. They will do anything to cover their historic mismanagement -- and the billions of dollars they bleed out every
... Show Full ArticleNORTH JERSEY, New Jersey, March 28 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on March 27, 2024:
* * *
Today, March 27, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement on the latest Congestion Tax announcements from the MTA:
"Today's vote was just a rubber stamp on the MTA's unprecedented cash grab. It just proves what we knew all along -- the MTA doesn't care about less traffic, helping the environment, or supporting families. They will do anything to cover their historic mismanagement -- and the billions of dollars they bleed out everyyear. Today, they ignored the voices of tens of thousands of families who begged them to do the right thing.
From the NAACP to nurses to teachers to law enforcement to small businesses, families from across the Tri-state area have spoken in unison: please don't raise our taxes. Please don't pollute our children. Please don't force through the Congestion Tax. MTA CEO Janno Lieber and the MTA had one response: go fly a kite. Well, Janno, we're not backing down. Buckle up for the lawsuits and the public outrage, because no one messes with Jersey."
Whether it's losing $700 million to fare skippers or spending a whopping $1 billion unnecessarily for a poorly designed subway station, the MTA clearly has no regard for the taxpayer dollars it's been entrusted to use wisely. Instead, the MTA decided to raise money on the backs of hard-working commuters and families.
Instead of whacking Jersey families with the Congestion Tax, they should first clean up their black box of endless spending & mismanagement."
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson Announces $2,688,078.95 Awarded to State of Mississippi
BOLTON, Mississippi, March 28 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, issued the following news release on March 27, 2024:
Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $2,688,078.95 to the State of Mississippi for Southern Pine Electrical Power Association (SPEPA).
This award provides federal funding to the Southern Pine Electrical Power Association for damages to their power distribution systems because of FEMA-DR-4727-MS (Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes). The damages sustained to the power
... Show Full ArticleBOLTON, Mississippi, March 28 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, issued the following news release on March 27, 2024:
Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $2,688,078.95 to the State of Mississippi for Southern Pine Electrical Power Association (SPEPA).
This award provides federal funding to the Southern Pine Electrical Power Association for damages to their power distribution systems because of FEMA-DR-4727-MS (Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes). The damages sustained to the powerdistribution system include 229 poles, 108 transformers, 117 ground rods, 100,741 conductors, six (6) plate poles, 165 anchors, 66 arrestors, 1169 insulators, and 73 cut outs.
During the incident period, severe storms, wind and tornadoes caused widespread and prolonged electrical power outages in 10 counties within the service area of the Southern Pine Electrical Power Association (SPEPA). The counties affected were Copiah, Covington, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith. SPEPA, is one of the largest critical facilities that provides power service to more than 69,400-meter customers which include over 10,500 miles of energized line.
FEMA obligates funding for these projects directly to the State. It is the State's responsibility to ensure that the eligible sub-recipients receive these awards. Following the State's review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, they will provide funds to the sub-recipients on a reimbursable basis.
House Oversight & Accountability Subcommittee Issues Testimony From Infectious Diseases Society
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic issued the following testimony by Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health and infectious disease at the Stanford Medicine Children's Health, on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, involving a hearing on March 21, 2024, entitled "Assessing America's Vaccine Safety Systems, Part 2":
* * *
Chairman Wenstrup, Ranking Member Ruiz and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify at today's hearing, "Assessing America's Vaccine
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 28 -- The House Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic issued the following testimony by Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health and infectious disease at the Stanford Medicine Children's Health, on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, involving a hearing on March 21, 2024, entitled "Assessing America's Vaccine Safety Systems, Part 2":
* * *
Chairman Wenstrup, Ranking Member Ruiz and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify at today's hearing, "Assessing America's VaccineSafety Systems, Part 2." I am a pediatric infectious diseases physician, and my research has focused on the epidemiological aspects of viral vaccine development. I led the COVID-19 response at my institution, including scaling up testing capacity and clinical trials for vaccines and therapeutics as well as caring for thousands of seriously ill patients. A large body of data demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in greatly reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from the virus. That is why I recommend COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals who are eligible to receive them.
The decision to use any medical product, including vaccines, is essentially a risk-benefit analysis. Decades of data underscore the enormous benefits of vaccines, which have significantly increased our life expectancy. Early in my career I routinely saw children dying or suffering from severe, life-long health problems such as neurological and developmental challenges, hearing loss and blindness, due to infectious diseases for which we now have vaccines. We no longer see this very often thanks to the broad adoption of vaccines. We are now several decades removed from the realities I faced early in my career, and as a result some individuals may take the benefits of vaccines for granted. But vaccines remain critically important to protect individual and public health.
Any medical product carries some level of risk, and it is critical to have well-funded, robust surveillance systems in place to monitor for any potential adverse events and to have well-resourced, meaningful compensation programs for individuals who are harmed. Ensuring these programs function properly is an important component of extremely important broader efforts to boost vaccine confidence. The Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) is explicitly designed to cast a very broad net to capture all potential adverse events that may occur following a vaccine. As such, it is critical to remember that most severe events captured through VAERS are ultimately found to be unrelated to the vaccine. In other words, correlation does not equal causation, and severe adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines are rare.
I look forward to exploring further how we can boost vaccine confidence and vaccine uptake, not only for COVID-19 vaccines, but for all medically recommended vaccines that play a crucial role in protecting individual and public health.
* * *
COVID-19 Vaccines are Safe and Effective
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and provide protection against hospitalization and death. Numerous studies have demonstrated their benefit throughout the pandemic, as they continued to prevent hospitalization and death as variants as emerged and subsided. In addition to their impact during acute disease, studies demonstrate that they reduce the risk of post-infectious manifestations of acute COVID-19, including long COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Vaccination benefits individuals who have immunity from prior COVID-19 infection by adding protection to residual infection-induced immunity against additional COVID-19 infection, hospitalizations and death./1,2,3,4
In addition to providing protection for individuals, COVID-19 vaccination has had tremendous societal benefits. COVID-19 vaccines have been central in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations, preserving our health systems' capacity to care for patients with a wide array of health care needs and protecting our health care workers from burnout. Vaccines have been a key factor in facilitating a return to normalcy, including participating in routine activities that support our economy and lives, such as going to work and school, eating in restaurants and patronizing other local businesses./5,6
COVID-19 vaccines also improved the overwhelming depression and anxiety experienced by many during the pandemic, by decreasing fear of COVID-19 hospitalization and death and by facilitating safe interactions with one another, decreasing loneliness and isolation./7,8
More than 5 billion people around the world (or 3 out of 4 people globally) have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. I would like to help dispel some myths about their safety. mRNA vaccines do not contain live virus and they do not alter a person's DNA. Instead, they are made of messenger RNA, which teaches your cells how to make an important piece of the coronavirus. After the mRNA delivers these instructions, our cells break down the mRNA and get rid of it. If we are exposed to the real virus later, our bodies will be better able recognize the virus and be better prepared to fight it off.
Some people have concerns that mRNA vaccines cause heart problems. Early in the pandemic, there were rare instances of teenage boys and younger men experiencing heart inflammation, which happened about as frequently as being struck by lightning (about 1 in 10,000 vaccinations)./9
Most of these people responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly./10
This small risk is even less now that we have safety recommendations like spacing out vaccines for young men and women. It is important to recognize that COVID-19 infection is much more likely to cause heart damage and other severe events than the vaccine./11
Myocarditis and pericarditis associated with COVID-19 in the United States became 15 times more frequent compared with pre-COVID levels./12
A study of over 20 million people published this month found that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced post-COVID-19 cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, heart attack and stroke./13
COVID-19 vaccines were studied in large, multi-center clinical trials through which scientists were able to gather significant safety and efficacy data across populations. Researchers took great care to ensure that clinical trial participants came from a wide array of communities that reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. COVID-19 vaccines were rigorously evaluated by the FDA, CDC and both agencies' independent advisory bodies before being rolled out to the public. Health care workers like myself were among the first to be vaccinated - demonstrating that medical and scientific experts across the country had a high level of confidence in the vaccines' safety and effectiveness.
* * *
Vaccine Safety Systems
Sometimes, rare events may occur after vaccination that are too rare to be identified within clinical trials. These could include outcomes such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, stroke or myocarditis. Because background rates of these outcomes are very low, the only way to appropriately assess differences in risks of these outcomes is to measure relative risks in large populations. Therefore, vaccines continue to be assessed for safety in much larger populations (millions or tens of millions of people) after they are authorized or licensed for use. There are several infrastructures in place to investigate vaccine safety outcomes after vaccine authorization or licensure in the US, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Additional safety investigations and considerations are performed by FDA's BEST system and by using information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
VAERS is an open database that collects reports of adverse events following vaccination. Health care providers are required to report certain COVID-19 vaccine safety outcomes to VAERS, but anyone can report events to VAERS, including care providers, child care professionals and individual patients/laypeople. VAERS is not structured to formally investigate causal relationships between vaccines and potential safety outcomes (Dusto, May 2022). Instead, it is an early warning system used to generate hypotheses about vaccine safety that are then more thoroughly investigated.
VSD is composed of several large managed-care organizations in the U.S. Information from the electronic health records of individuals at these managed-care organizations is combined to investigate formally hypothesized relationships between vaccines and specific safety outcomes. These hypotheses may come from VAERS or medical literature.
Since June 2020, ACIP has convened 23 public meetings to review data on the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the use of COVID-19 vaccines. The ACIP COVID-19 Vaccines Work Group, comprising experts in infectious diseases, vaccinology, vaccine safety, public health, and ethics, has held weekly meetings to review COVID-19 surveillance data, evidence for vaccine efficacy and safety, and implementation considerations for COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, the COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Technical Work Group (VaST), consisting of independent vaccine safety experts and established to provide expert consultation on COVID-19 vaccine safety issues, has reviewed safety data from the COVID-19 vaccination program during weekly meetings.
It is important to remember that just because a health event occurs after a vaccination, a report to VAERS in no way indicates that the event was caused by vaccination. Correlation through VAERS does not equal causation. This is why additional investigations are critical, and those investigations have consistently found that serious adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccination are rare.
When investigations indicate a serious risk associated with a vaccine, and vaccine policies and recommendations are updated accordingly, this indicates that our vaccine safety systems are working effectively. For example, in April 2021, CDC and FDA recommended a pause in use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine after reports of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare condition. ACIP rapidly convened two emergency meetings to review reported cases of TTS and issued a warning regarding clotting events after vaccination, particularly in women ages 18-49. Through ongoing safety surveillance, including reviewing reports from VAERS, additional cases of TTS following vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine were identified. In December 2021 ACIP held another emergency meeting and made a recommendation for the preferential use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the Janssen vaccine./14
In the rare event when an individual is harmed by a vaccine or other medical countermeasure, it is important that they have the opportunity to receive compensation, which is the purpose of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) and the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). COVID-19 vaccines are currently covered by the CICP, which has been underfunded as compared the VICP. Bipartisan legislation has been proposed to move COVID-19 vaccines to the VICP and strengthen the federal response for the rare instances in which individuals are harmed.
Some individuals have criticized federal vaccine safety and vaccine injury compensation systems. I agree that we must ensure our vaccine safety and injury compensation systems are robust. Their ability to function optimally helps reassure the public of vaccine safety and is a critical component of a broader and necessary effort to boost vaccine confidence. Unfortunately, in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, our public health system was chronically underfunded, which has negative repercussions across public health, including vaccine safety monitoring. While Congress appropriated significant and critically needed emergency funding to support the COVID-19 response, it is equally critical to prepare for the next public health event. Providing adequate funding for public health before an emergency occurs is critical to ensure we have a sufficient trained workforce and infrastructure in place for a successful response. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and applying this lesson now will help us ensure a more efficient and equitable response to future outbreaks and pandemics.
* * *
Boosting Vaccine Confidence and Uptake
Since the COVID-19 vaccines first became available, health care professionals and our public health partners have worked together on multifaceted campaigns to boost vaccine confidence and uptake. In my own community I was proud to be part of highly collaborative efforts to educate individuals throughout the community about the high benefits and low risks associated with vaccination and the data underpinning the vaccines' use. As an ID physician, I had the opportunity to educate many of my health care professional colleagues about COVID-19 vaccines, and together we counseled our patients and the public.
* * *
14 Use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine: Updated Interim Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices -- United States, December 2021 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
* * *
Among the tools used earlier in the pandemic to boost vaccination rates were vaccine requirements for certain populations. Requirements for influenza vaccines among healthcare workers and for routine childhood vaccines in order to attend school have long been in effect and have been very successful at rapidly boosting vaccination rates. COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health care workers, emergency first responders, federal workers, school staff, university students and staff, and other groups have garnered high levels of compliance and boosted COVID-19 vaccine uptake./15
Among U.S. adults vaccinated from June to September 2021, 35% reported that a major reason they got vaccinated was to participate in recreational activities that required proof of vaccination, and 19% said their employer's requirement was a major reason./16
Mandates contributed to increased vaccine uptake, easing the pressure on our health care facilities, enabling us to provide the best care to our patients at the time of greatest risk from COVID-19 disease. As the pandemic evolved, policies have changed accordingly. At this time, most of the public has some level of immunity to COVID-19--due to vaccines, prior infection, or both--and therapeutic options help reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in higher risk patients. Widespread COVID-19 vaccine requirements are no longer appropriate and no longer in place.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to be significant, though uptake of the updated vaccine has lagged. Similarly, rates of routine childhood immunizations are dropping. In the 2019-2020 school year, 95% of children had received vaccinations for MMR, DTaP, polio, and varicella. In the 2020-2021 school year, that number decreased to 94%, and it decreased again in 2021-2022 to 93%. While pandemic-related disruptions in access to routine care are likely responsible for some of the initial decreases, it is very distressing that vaccination rates are not fully rebounding now that the public has largely resumed pre-pandemic activities. So far in 2024, the US has seen 58 measles cases in 17 jurisdictions, according to the CDC -- the same number of cases seen in all of 2023 -- and some were spread locally. In fact, the US is in danger of losing its measles elimination status, which we have held for more than 20 years. This is important because measles, a disease that many physicians and members of the public have never seen, is highly contagious and can cause severe complications.
Measles and other vaccine preventable diseases are just that--preventable. In a nation as highly resourced as the US, we have no excuse to allow a resurgence of measles nor preventable hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19, influenza or other vaccine preventable diseases. We must work together to boost vaccine confidence by investing in our health care and public health systems, including our vaccine safety systems.
We also have to invest in our health care workforce, as local physicians and other community-based health care professionals are trusted messengers for reliable vaccine information. Unfortunately, far too many people in the US still do not have access to a primary care physician. Primary care physicians frequently rely upon infectious diseases (ID) clinicians to provide expert information on ID issues, including vaccination. This is particularly true for newer vaccines and during outbreaks or pandemics. Unfortunately, nearly 80% of US counties do not have a single ID physician, and pediatric ID physicians are even more scarce. Even worse, ID recruitment is lagging. In 2023, only 50.8% of ID physician training programs filled, while most other specialties filled all or nearly all of their training programs.
Many medical students and residents consistently report interest in a career in ID, but high medical student debt consistently drives more new physicians to more lucrative specialties. ID is the 4th lowest compensated specialty, as their services are poorly valued by payers (including Medicare) and much of their work is not billable. IDSA urges Congress to improve ID physician reimbursement and fully fund the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, which will reduce the financial barriers to ID recruitment and retention to help ensure we have the workforce necessary to address the current and future ID needs. These steps will help ensure the US has the workforce we need to provide education and programs to boost vaccine confidence and prepare for and respond to future outbreaks and pandemics.
* * *
Conclusion
I greatly respect the important role of this subcommittee to review our nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to testify. We must critically assess our COVID-19 response so that we can improve our public health infrastructure and ensure our readiness for the next pandemic. Vaccines are one of the greatest tools we have to protect public health from COVID-19 and other preventable diseases, and we must all work together to boost vaccine confidence to ensure that the benefits of vaccination can be fully realized.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman McCaul on Deteriorating Condition of Taliban Prisoner Ryan Corbett
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on March 27, 2024:
Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement on Ryan Corbett, an American citizen taken hostage by the Taliban. The Biden administration has done little to secure Ryan's release despite continued reports of his deteriorating health while held in deplorable conditions.
"The Biden administration must stop ignoring requests to meet with Ryan Corbett's family and take urgent action to secure
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on March 27, 2024:
Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement on Ryan Corbett, an American citizen taken hostage by the Taliban. The Biden administration has done little to secure Ryan's release despite continued reports of his deteriorating health while held in deplorable conditions.
"The Biden administration must stop ignoring requests to meet with Ryan Corbett's family and take urgent action to securehis release from the Taliban.
"Ryan's worsening condition is a tragic yet predictable consequence of the administration's disastrous withdrawal - Americans becoming collateral damage and victims of the Taliban monsters. Ryan must be released immediately."
House Energy Committee Members Rodgers, Duncan Condemn DOE New Building Codes That Will Worsen Housing Affordability Crisis
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release:
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm regarding the Department's recent announcements to push for the adoption of expensive new energy codes. Rather than improve people's lives and the environment, this latest rush-to-green policy is being implemented by the Biden
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release:
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC) sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm regarding the Department's recent announcements to push for the adoption of expensive new energy codes. Rather than improve people's lives and the environment, this latest rush-to-green policy is being implemented by the Bidenadministration to appease its radical environmental allies and will only increase housing prices and utility bills for millions of American.
BACKGROUND:
* On September 19, 2023, DOE announced a $400 million program to implement new building energy codes.
* On December 18, 2023, DOE announced another new $530 million program to implement new building energy codes.
* The Biden administration has repeatedly advanced efforts to impose burdensome energy efficiency standards that would raise costs for Americans.
* "Zero energy" building codes, which the grants may support, would force buildings to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in favor of more expensive, but less reliable electric options.
KEY EXCERPTS:
"In the U.S., building codes are predominately and appropriately regulated by State and local jurisdictions - not the Federal government. In recent years, activist environmental groups have begun pressuring international organizations, Federal agencies, States, and local jurisdictions to develop and enforce 'model' building energy codes that mandate expensive, one-sized-fits-all construction requirements and restrict fuel choices, even when it is not technologically feasible or cost-effective for the homeowner or tenant.
"State and local governments should not be forced to adopt international energy codes that set efficiency requirements, ban the use of natural gas, or require expensive electrification retrofits for appliances and electric vehicle charging. We are concerned that the DOE's building codes grant programs will exacerbate the current housing affordability crisis and limit energy choices for the American people by encouraging the adoption of such one-sized-fits-all building codes that are not appropriate or cost-effective for all income levels and regions of the country."