Money and Computing
Women's Congressional Policy Institute: Weekly Legislative Update September 13, 2021: Bringing Women Policymakers Together Across Party Lines to Advance Issues of Importance to Women and Their Families
A bill to permit leave to care for an adult child, grandchild, or grandparent who has a serious health condition, and for other purposes. A bill to transition the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and for other purposes. A bill to modify the employer credit for paid family and medical leave. Bringing women policymakers together across party lines to advance issues of importance to women and their families. A bill to enhance criminal penalties for health related stalking. proposals related to the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice. annual report on veteran access to gender specific services under community care contracts.
Weekly Legislative Update
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Adrienne G. Cannon Writes: Those Lonely Days
Adrienne Cannon writes: I am thinking of the various trips I have taken as a solo traveler when I awaken in a strange location with no companion to talk to. Then I learned to quietly observe life around me (often quite different to my “American” background) even though I wasn’t part of it. Instead of feeling sad about my solitary state I began to treasure those calming moments of contemplation and observation. When I had to schedule appointments during pandemic lockdown and I was one of the few people in a pool, in a class, in the locker room or other places where few people were admitted at the same time, I began to understand that being solitary is not the same as being sad or lonely. In the past, I have made friends on those solo trips by reaching out after too much solitude. And so it seems during those lonely days I have made new acquaintances. They are often a little younger than I am and I happily call on them to join me in my active hours that sometimes outstrip the energies of many of my contemporaries. more »
A Study: Wildfire Smoke Can Trigger a Host of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Symptoms, Ranging From a Runny Nose and Cough To a Potentially Life-threatening Heart Attack or Stroke
To conduct the study, the team examined data from more than 8,000 visits to dermatology clinics by both adults and children between October of 2015, 2016 and 2018 and each February of the year that followed. They found that, during the Camp Fire, clinic visits for atopic dermatitis and general itch increased significantly in both adult and pediatric patients. “Fully 89% of the patients that had itch during the time of the Camp Fire did not have a known diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, suggesting that folks with normal skin also experienced irritation and/or absorption of toxins within a very short period of time,” Wei said. more »
From the US Justice Department: A Florida Man Pleaded Guilty in the Southern District of Florida For His Role in a $73 Million Conspiracy to Defraud Medicare
"The Fraud Section leads the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 federal districts, has charged more than 4,600 defendants who have collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers for approximately $23 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers." "On May 17, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus." more »