Senate

CONSUMER & HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS JOIN FORCES TO ADVANCE INTEGRATION OF MEDICARE & MEDICAID

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Arnold Ventures LLC, Health, Medicare, Organization, Policy, Legislation, Congress, Insurance, MMIA, Medicare Rights Center, Justice, Research, Senate, Health insurance

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A diverse group of national stakeholders launched the Medicare-Medicaid Integration Alliance (MMIA) and announced cornerstone principles as a framework for federal and state policies that better support people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Key Points: 
  • Today's announcement comes ahead of legislation expected in Congress to improve healthcare and services for more than 12 million people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Drawing on decades of research, case work, and advocacy, the consumer and health care organization members of the MMIA have identified the fragmentation of Medicare and Medicaid as a key barrier to care for the Medicare-Medicaid population.
  • "People who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid live in every community across the country.
  • Founding members include Arnold Ventures, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Community Catalyst, Justice in Aging, and the Medicare Rights Center.

News/Media Alliance Applauds Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman for Introducing Journalism Preservation Act

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Online, Big Tech, Illinois Senate, Journalism, Research, News Media Bargaining Code, News, Assembly, Government, Communication, Advertising, Meta, Organization, Legislation, Congress, JCPA, Senate, Music

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The News/Media Alliance applauds Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) for recently introducing the Journalism Preservation Act (SB 3591) in the Illinois Senate, which would require Big Tech platforms such as Meta and Google to pay news publishers a "journalism usage fee" to use local news content. Currently, creators of quality journalism are not adequately compensated for the use of their content – which takes a tremendous investment to produce – leading to layoffs of journalists and, in the worst cases, closure of news outlets completely.

Key Points: 
  • The News/Media Alliance applauds Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) for recently introducing the Journalism Preservation Act (SB 3591) in the Illinois Senate, which would require Big Tech platforms such as Meta and Google to pay news publishers a "journalism usage fee" to use local news content.
  • ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The News/Media Alliance applauds Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) for recently introducing the Journalism Preservation Act ( SB 3591 ) in the Illinois Senate, which would require Big Tech platforms such as Meta and Google to pay news publishers a "journalism usage fee" to use local news content.
  • Senator Stadelman was the Chair of the Illinois Local Journalism Task Force, which recently recommended legislation to counter the decline in sources of local journalism observed in the state.
  • "The future of local journalism is in danger – which is why I have sponsored the Journalism Preservation Act," said Senator Stadelman.

My Code Welcomes New Executive Director of Political

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Voto Latino, Barack Obama, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, American way, Associate, Executive, Black, American Progress, Organization, Policy, Senate

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- My Code, a leading multicultural media and marketing services company, today announced the appointment of Lizet Ocampo as Executive Director, Political. In this new role, Ocampo will spearhead electoral campaign efforts and support campaigns for organizations seeking to connect with diverse audiences through digital political advertising.

Key Points: 
  • SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- My Code, a leading multicultural media and marketing services company, today announced the appointment of Lizet Ocampo as Executive Director, Political.
  • "In anticipation of the pivotal role diversity will play in the 2024 election, we're eager to welcome Lizet and expand our political team at My Code.
  • Ocampo boasts nearly two decades of political experience, most recently holding the role of Executive Director at Voto Latino, an organization dedicated to reaching Latino voters through digital first programming.
  • To learn more about My Code and how it helps brands authentically connect with underrepresented audiences, please visit www.mycodemedia.com .

Florida Sunshine Entertainment Assoc. Says Bills Restrict Rights of 18-to-20-Year-Olds

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Transport, Government, Crime, Florida House, Agriculture, Law enforcement, State government, Marriage, Senate, Drug

TALLAHASEE, Fla., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Sunshine Entertainment Association (FL SEA) opposes Florida House Bill 1379 and Senate Bill 1690, which bans an estimated 300 18-to-20-year-olds from working in the state's 114 legal adult entertainment establishments.

Key Points: 
  • TALLAHASEE, Fla., Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Sunshine Entertainment Association (FL SEA) opposes Florida House Bill 1379 and Senate Bill 1690, which bans an estimated 300 18-to-20-year-olds from working in the state's 114 legal adult entertainment establishments.
  • These bills (1) restrict a legal adult's autonomy concerning employment choices, (2) have little to do with the purported goal of reducing sex trafficking, and (3) represent an unusual amount of government overreach in Florida.
  • As a result, federal and state government data shows that the incident of sex trafficking at legal adult clubs in Florida is less than 1%.
  • "There is no meaningful evidence that banning 18-to-20-year-olds from work at these legitimate businesses reduces trafficking," said Angelina M. Spencer-Crisp, Executive Director for The Florida Sunshine Entertainment Association.

Leaders from Across Friends of the Children's National Network Meet with Members of Congress to Advocate for Professional Mentoring for Youth Facing Adversity

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024
Dream, The New York Times, Life, Face, House, Vanity Fair, School, CNN, Legislation, Friends, Congress, Representative, Workforce, GED, Housing, Senate, Nursing

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends of the Children leaders from 36 communities representing youth from more than 650 schools descended upon Capitol Hill last week to deliver one message: put children first. Leaders from Friends of the Children chapters across the country called on members of Congress to prioritize investment in paid, professional mentoring for children who have immense potential and face immeasurable obstacles.

Key Points: 
  • Leaders from Friends of the Children chapters across the country called on members of Congress to prioritize investment in paid, professional mentoring for children who have immense potential and face immeasurable obstacles.
  • "Every child deserves the chance to reach their inherent potential," said Terri Sorensen, national CEO of Friends of the Children.
  • These professional mentors, called Friends, walk alongside youth and their families from kindergarten through high school—12+ years, no matter what.
  • During their visits, Friends of the Children leaders asked Members of Congress to support increased long-term professional mentoring for youth including:
    The demonstrated return on investment ($7 to $1) of the Friends of the Children professional mentoring model.

IonQ Opens Doors to First Dedicated Quantum Computing Manufacturing Facility in the U.S.

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Technology, Engineering, Automotive Manufacturing, Other Energy, Manufacturing, Alternative Energy, Energy, Other Technology, Software, Internet, Hardware, Other Manufacturing, Semiconductor, Data Management, CHIPS, Cloud, Google Cloud, Research, Multimedia, Pacific Northwest, API, Computer, Azure, Air Force Research Laboratory, GE Research, Organization, Ecosystem, AFRL, Hyundai Motor Company, United, Science, Microsoft, Laboratory, Senate, Partnership

IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, today announced the opening of the United States’ first quantum computing manufacturing facility, located in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.

Key Points: 
  • IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, today announced the opening of the United States’ first quantum computing manufacturing facility, located in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240215594253/en/
    IonQ Opens Doors to First Dedicated Quantum Computing Manufacturing Facility in the U.S. (Photo: Business Wire)
    The facility will be IonQ’s second quantum data center providing cloud access to IonQ customers, and the primary production engineering location in the U.S.
  • “The Seattle facility represents a tangible realization of IonQ’s commitment to commercializing quantum and getting quantum computers into the hands of customers,” said IonQ CEO Peter Chapman.
  • To learn more about how you can get started on an IonQ system today, please contact us directly at: https://ionq.com/get-ready .

Competitive Markets Groups Announce Congressional Award Winners, Legislator of the Year

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
D-NV, R-SC, Competition (economics), Daily, Courage, Human, House, Organization, Legislation, USDA, Victoria Spartz, Grain, Federation, Radio, Chinese Communist Party, United States farm bill, EATS, Congress, Agriculture, CMA, Senate, Fairness, Ranking, Competition, Language, Committee on Agriculture, Safety, Corporate farming, Work, OCM, Government, Letter, Corruption, Policy, Capitol South station, Food, Virginias

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA), publicly announced the recipients of their 2023 Congressional Leadership Awards and their Competitive Markets Legislator of the Year Award recipient, U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-WV.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA), publicly announced the recipients of their 2023 Congressional Leadership Awards and their Competitive Markets Legislator of the Year Award recipient, U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-WV.
  • Rep. Alex Mooney, R-WV, was selected as the Competitive Markets overall Legislator of the Year for 2023.
  • Quotes from the Members of Congress:
    “I’m honored to be named the Competitive Markets Legislator of the Year in Congress.
  • The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Research espionage is a real threat – but a drastic crackdown could stifle vital international collaboration

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
University, Hearing, Thousand Talents Plan, Education, Government, Risk, Burgess, Guideline, Intellectual property, ASIO, G8, Research, Theft, Senate, Medical device

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has publicly tabled an “awareness” of various attempts to compromise the sector.

Key Points: 
  • The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has publicly tabled an “awareness” of various attempts to compromise the sector.
  • On the contrary, Australia’s flexible and proportionate response to the threat of foreign interference manages the risks without hampering the international collaboration that is essential to research in the 21st century.

Laggards or leaders?

  • In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry in late 2020, ASIO contended that the research sector does not face a unique level of risk.
  • Australia is generally ahead of the curve when it comes to identifying and managing this risk.

A changing landscape

  • He said they had asked directly whether there was “any hard evidence” that foreign interference in universities was happening.
  • The landscape has changed sharply since then.

A collaborative taskforce

  • In 2019, the Universities Foreign Interference Taskforce was set up as a collaboration between government agencies and research institutions.
  • The taskforce has crafted best-practice guidelines for managing the risks.
  • Two months later, in another Estimates hearing, he commended universities for having been “very cooperative and collaborative working with government”.

A proportionate response

  • The report “confirmed an understanding of the threats posed by foreign interference, and progress in implementing advice in the Guidelines”.
  • The core principle behind the guidelines was to take “a sensible approach that is proportionate to risk”.

Essential collaborations

  • What’s more, it may well have stunted Australia’s capacity for innovation in the process.
  • They should not get in the way of the international collaboration that is essential for research institutions to perform their role.
  • In many sectors where Australia has grand ambitions, such as the extraction and processing of critical minerals, China is the technology leader.


James Laurenceson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

US Senate passes US$95 billion aid package for Ukraine – what this tells us about Republican support for Trump

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Betrayal, GOP, Hamas, Republican, Freedom Caucus, House, House of Representatives, Policy, Democrat, Veteran, Congress, Representative, Interview, Comment, Senate

After months of wrangling, the US Senate has finally passed Joe Biden’s US$95 billion (£75 billion) foreign aid package.

Key Points: 
  • After months of wrangling, the US Senate has finally passed Joe Biden’s US$95 billion (£75 billion) foreign aid package.
  • Ukraine is the destination for almost two-thirds of the aid, with US$14 billion set aside to assist Israel’s war against Hamas, and US$10 billion destined for humanitarian aid in conflict areas, such as Gaza.
  • But two Democrats and Bernie Sanders, the independent senator for Vermont, voted against the bill because of its support of Israel.
  • McConnell has always been supportive of Ukraine, claiming it is in the US interest to support Ukraine.
  • But, as with his position on the Ukraine aid package, not all Republicans support his views.

Now for the House

  • In an interview with US politics website Politico, McConnell asked Johnson to “allow the House to work its will on the issue of Ukraine aid”.
  • House Republicans have called the bill a “waste of time” and “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber.
  • House support for the war in the Ukraine has fallen, especially as Republicans have begun to scrutinise the details of US assistance to Kyiv.
  • This is a mechanism by which matters can be brought before the House without the sponsorship of the majority leadership.


Dafydd Townley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Ukraine recap: prospect of renewed US funding a boost for beleaguered Zelensky

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
University, Weapon, Violence, Maga, Pressure, Intelligence, Republican, Senate, City, Trump, Culture, United States Senate, Alexander Lukashenko, Democrat, Government, Conversation, White, Human, House, Make America Great Again, Nazism, University of London, World war, Sciences Po, Eyebrow, Family, Friends, Fox News, Slavic, Politics, Democracy, Representative, Interview, Propaganda, The Conversation

We had just published a piece by two security analysts from the Paris-based research university Sciences Po, who had outlined three possible scenarios for the 12 months ahead.

Key Points: 
  • We had just published a piece by two security analysts from the Paris-based research university Sciences Po, who had outlined three possible scenarios for the 12 months ahead.
  • The first two options were major military setbacks for Russia or Ukraine, with major losses of troops and territory.
  • Months of bitter, attritional fighting resulted in few Ukrainian gains at a significant cost in terms of both manpower and precious materiel.
  • But, as Stefan Wolff and Tetyana Malyarenko point out, Syrskyi is also associated with the defence of Bakhmut, a battle that consumed so many lives on either side.
  • But fresh supplies of weapons and ammunition from the EU and the US began to dry up in 2023, seriously hamstringing the Ukraine army’s ability to gain the initiative on the battlefield.
  • You can also subscribe to our fortnightly recap of expert analysis of the conflict in Ukraine.
  • After months of bitter debate the bill finally passed the senate this week.
  • Read more:
    Ukraine war: what the US public thinks about giving military and other aid

Friends and enemies

  • One of Trump’s greatest allies in the media, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, sat down with Putin for a two-hour interview last week.
  • Inderjeet Parmar, an expert in US politics at City, University of London, watched the interview and gives us his verdict.
  • He concludes: “Putin’s early history of Ukraine is part of a Russian imperialist story that has been told for centuries.
  • He says more than 7,000 criminal cases have been opened accusing Ukrainians of giving aid to the enemy.
  • Others are less so: people who continued to do their jobs after their town was occupied: local government officials, garbage collectors and the like.