DOCSLIB.ORG

Please Note Due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency State and Federal Actions Have Prohibited Large Meetings Or Gatherings

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Please Note Due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency State and Federal Actions Have Prohibited Large Meetings Or Gatherings Please note due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency state and federal actions have prohibited large meetings or gatherings. Pursuant to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, entitled “CONTINUING TEMPORARY SUSPENSION AND MODIFICATION OF LAWS RELATING TO THE DISASTER EMERGENCY”, a portion of the Open Meetings Law of the State of New York was suspended, and the executive order modified the law to allow meetings to be held telephonically or by other similar means. To comply with this emergency directive of the executive order issued by the Governor of the State of New York on March 12, 2020, the Town of Rotterdam Town Board Meeting will be held electronically via a video conference for the board and conference call for all members of the public. While the meeting is a public meeting, open to the public, persons may attend telephonically. Members of the public may listen to the board meeting by dialing 1 (929) 205-6099, then entering the conference ID no. 867 0373 0307, followed by the pound symbol. Video of the town board meeting will be posted on the Town of Rotterdam website (www.rotterdamny.org) on June 1, 2020. Special Rotterdam Town Board Meeting May 31, 2020 6:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT PROCLAMATION/PRESENTATIONS PUBLIC HEARINGS PUBLIC COMMENT/PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (Those members of the public wishing to address the town board will be asked to sign in before the meeting is called to order on the sign-in sheets being provided. Speakers will be called to the podium in the order of their signing in. Persons recognized by the Chair to speak during privilege of the floor shall direct his/her comments to the town supervisor as Chair of the meeting. Persons granted the privilege of the floor shall first clearly state his/her name and address for the record. Persons so addressing the Chair through the use of a prepared written statement shall submit a copy of the same to the town clerk for the purpose of maintaining clear and accurate official minutes of the town board meeting.) General Rules of Procedure for Public Hearings & Privilege of the Floor: Any person recognized by the town supervisor to speak during privilege of the floor shall direct his/her comments to the town supervisor as Chair of the meeting. Any person granted the privilege of the floor shall first clearly state his/her name and address for the record. The purpose of privilege of the floor shall be for speakers to express their views, thoughts and speak freely. Each speaker, who wishes to address the town board and the public, shall have an equal and reasonable opportunity to be heard by the town board and the public. Each speaker shall be afforded a maximum of four (4) minutes to address the town board and public. INTRODUCTION OF MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS: Res. No. 168.20 The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby adopts policies and procedures in relation to the ongoing state of emergency stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19). COMMITTEE REPORTS MISCELLANEOUS EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT STEVEN A. TOMMASONE, Supervisor Page Break RESOLUTION NO. 168.20 WHEREAS, the State of New York remains under a state of emergency due to the continued threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam wishes to adopt a telecommuting policy and a workplace safety plan that formalizes and communicates the board’s current polices and procedure to all staff and the public, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidance from the State of New York, and WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam wishes to effectively communicate with staff and the public that it will continually update policies and procedures as the state of emergency continues or is terminated, after the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been eradicated; NOW THEREFORE, UPON MOTION OF Councilmember __________________________, seconded by Councilmember ________________________, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN BOARD AS FOLLOWS: TOWN OF ROTTERDAM NOTICE OF PUBLIC (OPEN) MEETINGS SECTION 1. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby adopts the attached “New York Forward Safety Plan” to ensure the health and safety of all employees and visitors to our municipal buildings and work sites. SECTION 2. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby adopts the attached “Telecommuting Policy” to be included in the existing “Town of Rotterdam Employee Handbook, Operation Policies, 522 Telecommuting”. SECTION 3. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby modifies the “Town of Rotterdam Employee Handbook Section 1001, Organization Communications, Methods of Communication” to include the following: During any pending state of emergency, employees should check the town’s website and their email for updates, including but not limited to when or where to physically report to work, and may choose to register to received town related alerts by visiting https://www.rotterdamny.org/communication.aspx. SECTION 4. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam hereby clarifies that to the extent that the “New York Forward Safety Plan” conflicts with the “Town of Rotterdam Employee Handbook”, the safety plan shall be incorporated by reference to the handbook and shall supersede any existing policy that conflicts with the safety plan. SECTION 5. This resolution shall become effective May 31, 2020. DATED: May 27, 2020 NAME AYES NOES ABSTAIN Christou Guidarelli Miller-Herrera Signore Tommasone NY FORWARD SAFETY PLAN TEMPLATE Each business or entity, including those that have been designated as essential under Empire State Development's Essential Business Guidance, must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this template to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection. Business owners should refer to the State’s industry-specific guidance for more information on how to safely operate. For a list of regions and sectors that are authorized to re-open, as well as detailed guidance for each sector, please visit: forward.ny.gov. If your industry is not included in the posted guidance but your businesses has been operating as essential, please refer to ESD's Essential Business Guidance. Please continue to regularly check the New York Forward site for guidance that is applicable to your business or certain parts of your business functions. COVID-19 Reopening Safety Plan Name of Business: Town of Rotterdam Address: John F. Kirvin Government Center, 1100 Sunrise Boulevard, Rotterdam, New York 12306 Contact Information: (518) 355.7575, extension 393, stommasone@rotterdamny.org Owner/Manager of Business: Steven A. Tommasone, Town Supervisor Human Resources Representative and Contact Information, if applicable: Evan Christou, Deputy Supervisor, (518) 355.7575, extension 393 I. PEOPLE A. Physical Distancing. To ensure employees comply with physical distancing requirements, you agree that you will do the following: Ensure 6 ft. distance between personnel, unless safety or core function of the work activity requires X a shorter distance. Any time personnel are less than 6 ft. apart from one another, personnel must wear acceptable face coverings. Tightly confined spaces will be occupied by only one individual at a time, unless all occupants are X wearing face coverings. If occupied by more than one person, will keep occupancy under 50% of maximum capacity. STAY HOME. STOP THE SPREAD. SAVE LIVES. Post social distancing markers using tape or signs that denote 6 ft. of spacing in commonly used X and other applicable areas on the site (e.g. clock in/out stations, health screening stations) Limit in-person gatherings as much as possible and use tele- or video-conferencing whenever x possible. Essential in-person gatherings (e.g. meetings) should be held in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants. X Establish designated areas for pick-ups and deliveries, limiting contact to the extent possible. List common situations that may not allow for 6 ft. of distance between individuals. What measures will you implement to ensure the safety of your employees in such situations? Use of elevators, stairwells, and some hallways, as well as confined spaces and vehicles may not allow for adequate social distancing. All employees have been issued masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), in addition to adequate DOH approved cleaning supplies. Employee may be assigned to work in shifts to further assist in meeting distancing and occupancy requirements. Employees have received and will received ongoing training and guidance regarding face coverings, PPE, handwashing, telecommuting, and occupancy of buildings and other work sites. How you will manage engagement with customers and visitors on these requirements (as applicable)? Non-essential employees, as denoted by Executive Order 202.6, read in conjunction with guidance from Empire State Development (ESD) regarding who is currently essential (available here: https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026) shall continue to work from home until Executive Order 202.34 is rescinded, modified by further executive orders or it expires on June 27, 2020. Visitors are currently not allowed inside municipal buildings and are seen outside the buildings by appointment only. The town is utilizing drop off and pick up measures to ensure safety. The town will provide any future visitors, who enter our municipal buildings, with a face mask if they do not have one, as it shall be mandatory to enter the building, and will require strictly adhereance to the requirement that all employees and visitors wear a face mask at all times.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • COVID-19 Compilation – May 11, 2020 Courtesy of Cornerstone Government Affairs
    COVID-19 Compilation – May 11, 2020 Courtesy of Cornerstone Government Affairs Common Acronyms Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Central Command (CENTCOM), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Washington, D.C. • The White House has directed West Wing staff to wear masks/face coverings after at least two aides tested positive for COVID-19. • Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Drs. Tony Fauci and Robert Redfield, and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn are all self-isolating. Tomorrow's Senate HELP Committee hearing will still take place, but each of the aforementioned individuals will join virtually. • HUD Sec. Ben Carson announced the allocation of $1 billion in CARES Act funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. You can view the allocation formula here. • COVID-19 hearings in Congress this week (memos will be available upon request): o Tuesday (5/12) . 10:00 AM – Senate HELP Hearing: "COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School" . 2:30 PM – Senate Judiciary Hearing: “Examining liability during the COVID-19 pandemic” o Wednesday (5/13) . 10:00 AM – Senate Commerce Hearing: "The State of Broadband Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic" o Thursday (5/14) . 10:00 AM – House Energy and Commerce Hearing: “Protecting Scientific Integrity in the COVID-19 Response” • The CDC remained busy through the weekend, updating and publishing additional documents on its dashboard.
    [Show full text]
  • Politics in Healthcare: Cuomo, COVID-19, & Consequences
    Misericordia University Misericordia Digital Commons Student Research Poster Presentations 2021 Student Research Poster Presentations 2021 Politics in Healthcare: Cuomo, COVID-19, & Consequences Anna Carellas carellaa@misericordia.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/research_posters2021 Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Carellas, Anna, "Politics in Healthcare: Cuomo, COVID-19, & Consequences" (2021). Student Research Poster Presentations 2021. 12. https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/research_posters2021/12 This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research Poster Presentations at Misericordia Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Research Poster Presentations 2021 by an authorized administrator of Misericordia Digital Commons. For more information, please contact jluksa@misericordia.edu, mcech@misericordia.edu. Politics in Healthcare: Cuomo, COVID-19, & Consequences Anna Carellas, Student Nurse INTRODUCTION POSITION STATEMENT IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE CONCLUSION At face value, healthcare and politics seem to be two very different Politics has begun to increasingly influence healthcare n the United States, “Health communication is a key and necessary factor in saving lives Although politics and healthcare are not often considered as impacting fields that don’t share much common ground. Under most circumstances, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Accurate….health communication each other, it is clear that there is a direct correlation between the can facilitate how societies handle uncertainty and fear…and meet the medical field strives to distance itself from politics. For example, in of Covid-19 in the United States, political figures – such as New York individuals’ fear and foster hope in the face of a crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • RR Governor Cuomo - Mp3 Audio Draft Page 1 of 11 Transcript by Rev.Com This Transcript Was Exported on Mar 26, 2021 - View Latest Version Here
    Scott Rechler: Welcome to recalibrate reality, the future of New York, I'm Scott Rechler share the regional plan association and CEO and chair of our XR working with the 92nd street. Y we've launched a new conversational series where leading thinkers and decision-makers seek to answer the question. How do we recalibrate reality to create a better and brighter future for New York? This is a first in a series of conversations about the future of New York in a post COVID world. And there is no one better to kick off this series than the chief executive for the state of New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo. Governor Cuomo has been new York's leader since he was elected governor in 2011, but at no other point, has his leadership been more critical than with COVID-19 we've watched the governor and his team operate in real time through the COVID fog of war. And now with the vaccine, we're finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. And so let's recap it reality with governor Andrew Cuomo, governor Cuomo, welcome to recalibrate reality, the future of New York. I really appreciate taking the time to be here today. You know, I can't believe it's almost a year since we began this battle against COVID. I know for me personally, I can't remember a more intense time, so I only can imagine what it must be for you. So, so before we jump into this conversation like this, how are you doing? How are you holding up? How are you staying so energized to this? Governor Andrew Cuomo: Well, first Scott, thank you.
    [Show full text]
  • Ten Coping Strategies for Older Oregonians During COVID-19
    Ten Coping Strategies for older Oregonians during COVID-19 Hello Out There! The words will chill us for the rest of our lives: “social distancing” and “self-isolating.” You may feel as though you already have some experience with this, for instance, you may already spend much of your time alone. Even before the coronavirus, our society has been 5 running a vast experiment in living alone, a model that has not been the norm throughout human history. Health experts in recent years have pointed to an “epidemic of loneliness.” Now Oregon’s stay-at-home directive doubles down on this isolation. A cruel thing about the coronavirus pandemic is that combating it forces us to be separate from each other just when we need each other most. Here are three things you might try to stay connected to people outside your home. You might have to initiate these connections yourself. Could you trade 30 minutes of news viewing to dedicate to making friendly calls by phone or FaceTime? Are you willing to try to master unfamiliar technology? (Or, if you’re already tech wizard, could you help a friend learn Zoom?) Discover a new, free technology From what we hear, the video conferencing software, Zoom, is being used for online meetups, virtual cocktail parties, and book clubs. A free version of Zoom allows three people to gather virtually for 40 minutes at a time. For details of how to set up Zoom calls, go here. New to this? Zoom seems to be the easiest video conferencing to learn, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make sure there are no hammers within reach as you start.
    [Show full text]
  • August 9, 2021 RELIEF RESOURCES and SUPPORTIVE
    September 24, 2021 RELIEF RESOURCES AND SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION1 • Health & Wellness • Housing • Workplace Support • Human Rights • Education • Bilingual and Culturally Competent Material • Beware of Scams • Volunteering • Utilities • Legal Assistance • City and State Services • Burial • Transportation • New York Forward/Reopening Guidance • Events HEALTH & WELLNESS • Financial Assistance and Coaching o COVID-19 Recovery Center : The City Comptroller has launched an online, multilingual, comprehensive guide to help New Yorkers navigate the many federal, state and city relief programs that you may qualify for. Whether you’re a tenant, homeowner, parent, small business owner, or excluded worker, this online guide offers information about a range of services and financial support. o New York City will be extending free tax assistance to help families claim their new federal child tax credit. As an investment in the long-term recovery from the pandemic, the federal American Rescue Plan made changes to the Child Tax Credit so families get half of the fully refundable credit—worth up to $3,600 per child—as monthly payments in 2021 and the other half as a part of their refund in 1 Compiled from multiple public sources 2022. Most families will automatically receive the advance payments, but 250,000+ New York City families with more than 400,000 children need to sign up with the IRS to receive the Credit. The Advance Child Tax Credits payments began on July 15, 2021 and most New Yorkers will receive their payments automatically. However, New Yorkers who have not submitted information to the IRS need to either file their taxes or enter their information with the IRS’ Child Tax Credit Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool For more information about the Advance Child Tax Credit including access to Multilingual flyer and poster—and NYC Free Tax Prep, visit nyc.gov/TaxPrep or call 311.
    [Show full text]
  • August 25, 2021 NEW YORK FORWARD/REOPENING
    September 24, 2021 NEW YORK FORWARD/REOPENING GUIDANCE & INFORMATIONi FEDERAL UPDATES: • On August 3, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an extension of the nationwide residential eviction pause in areas experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels of SARS-CoV-2, which is aligned with the mask order. The moratorium order, that expires on October 3, 2021, allows additional time for rent relief to reach renters and to further increase vaccination rates. See: Press Release ; Signed Order • On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for mask wearing in public indoor settings for fully vaccinated people in areas where coronavirus transmission is high, in response to the spread of the Delta Variant. The CDC also included a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Further, the CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status See: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html • The CDC on Thursday, June 24, 2021 announced a one-month extension to its nationwide pause on evictions that was executed in response to the pandemic. The moratorium that was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2021 is now extended through July 31, 2021 and this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.
    [Show full text]
  • The Honorable Andrew Cuomo Chair, National Governors Association 444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267 Washington, DC 20001 Dear G
    The Honorable Andrew Cuomo Chair, National Governors Association 444 North Capitol Street, Suite 267 Washington, DC 20001 Dear Governor Cuomo: On behalf of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and our member podiatrists, I commend you and our nation’s governors for demonstrating strong, consistent leadership during the COVID-19 global health crisis. As the nation turns to our respective governors for their management of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, APMA writes in support of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation for allocating initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine and urges states to implement these recommendations. Podiatrists, also known as podiatric physicians and surgeons or doctors of podiatric medicine (DPM), have seen the devastation of this disease up close with their own patients and staff, and especially at hospitals and nursing homes and long-term care settings where they are on staff. As recommended by the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Infectious Practice (ACIP), vaccines should be distributed in phases, and phase 1a includes health-care personnel (HCP)1 and we believe this is a prudent step. APMA also supports the ACIP’s broad definition of HCP to include: [P]aid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, including body substances (e.g., blood, tissue, and specific body fluids); contaminated medical supplies, devices, and equipment; contaminated environmental surfaces; or contaminated air.2 While vaccine supplies are limited, the phase 1a approach ensures that physicians, including podiatric physicians, and other HCP, obtain early access to a vaccine.
    [Show full text]
  • March 11, 2019 the Honorable Phil Murphy, Chairman the Honorable Andrew Cuomo the Honorable Tom Wolf the Honorable John Carney
    March 11, 2019 The Honorable Phil Murphy, Chairman The Honorable Andrew Cuomo The Honorable Tom Wolf The Honorable John Carney Commissioners, Delaware River Basin Commission Delaware River Basin Commission PO Box 7360 West Trenton NJ 08628-0360 Dear Chairman Phil Murphy and Commissioners Andrew Cuomo, Tom Wolf, and John Carney, The Concerned Health Professionals of New York and the Physicians for Social Responsibility released the Fifth Edition of The Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking (“the Compendium”) in March 2018. The Fifth Edition of this authoritative report, started in 2014, examines the impacts of fracking on the environment and public health. The findings are highly relevant to the DRBC’s consideration of a permanent ban on fracking and its associated activities throughout the Delaware River Basin, including a ban on wastewater storage, processing and discharges in the Basin, and a ban on water exports from the watershed for use in fracking elsewhere. The Compendium was submitted to the Delaware River Basin Commission during the public comment period regarding the Commission’s draft natural gas regulations in 2018. Numerous comments by the public based on the findings and reports contained in the Compendium regarding the health effects of fracking and its related activities were submitted to the DRBC’s record as well. The Compendium analyzed over 1,200 peer reviewed research articles on the impacts of fracking. Many of the reports included in the Compendium document harms to the health of people who live in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region, the same formation underlying the much of the Delaware River Basin and the likely source of wastewater that would be imported for disposal, if the DRBC does not prohibit the activity.
    [Show full text]
  • North American COVID-19 Policy Response Monitor: United States
    North American COVID-19 Policy Response Monitor: United States December 23, 2020 What is the North American COVID-19 Policy Response Monitor? The North American COVID-19 policy monitor has been designed to collect and organize up-to-date information on how jurisdictions are responding to the crisis. It summarizes responses of health systems as well as wider public health initiatives. The North American policy monitor is an offshoot of the international COVID-19 Health System Response Monitor (HSRM), a joint undertaking of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Commission and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Contents List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................. 2 1. Preventing Transmission ........................................................................................................................... 3 2. Ensuring sufficient physical infrastructure and workforce capacity ....................................................... 12 3. Providing health services effectively....................................................................................................... 17 4. Paying for services .................................................................................................................................. 20 5. Governance ............................................................................................................................................. 23 6. Measures
    [Show full text]
  • June 15, 2020 the Honorable Phil Murphy Governor of New Jersey Office of the Governor P.O. Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625 Dear Govern
    June 15, 2020 The Honorable Phil Murphy Governor of New Jersey Office of the Governor P.O. Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625 Dear Governor Murphy: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the elderly, especially those living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. We write seeking information, at a granular level, about the science and information used to inform your decision to mandate nursing homes and long-term care facilities admit untested and contagious COVID-19 patients from hospitals. This decision likely contributed to the thousands of elderly deaths in New Jersey. Thank you for your attention and prompt response to this important inquiry. On March 13, 2020, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance “For Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes.”1 This guidance is a blueprint for individual states to follow when determining how to best control outbreaks of COVID-19 in nursing homes and long term care facilities. This guidance does not direct any nursing home to accept a COVID-19 positive patient, if they are unable to do so safely. In fact, it says “nursing homes should admit any individual that they would normally admit to their facility, including individuals from hospitals where a case of COVID-19 was/is present” only if the nursing home can follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) quarantining guidance.2 CMS Administrator Seema Verma said, “[u]nder no circumstances should a hospital discharge a patient to a nursing home that is not prepared to take care of those patient’s needs.”3 CMS did not mandate COVID-19 positive patients back to nursing homes but, instead, stated that a COVID-19 case at a hospital does not preclude the nursing home from accepting a COVID-19 negative patient.
    [Show full text]
  • H Ealth Policy Briefing
    House to Vote on E-Cig Legislation This Week he House of Representatives plans to vote this week on legislation (H.R. T2339) that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, while providing for a narrow pathway for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve such products if they reduce smoking rates. It would also ban the online sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco products. The bill, sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), aims to reduce youth vaping rates. The Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act may combined with legislation (H.R. 4742) to assess an excise tax on tobacco alternatives equal to that of the $1.01 federal levy per cigarette pack. It is not clear whether the legislation will be brought for a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. Grassley Continues to Push Drug Pricing Bill Among GOP Colleagues en. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has announced her support for the Senate Finance SCommittee’s bipartisan drug pricing legislation, making her the 12th GOP senator to endorse the bill. Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has stated that he needs 25 Republican members to convince Senate leadership to allow a vote on the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, which already has the support of President Trump. Sen. Grassley has also said that he expects Inside other Senate Republicans to announce their support for Lawmakers Consider Potential Drug Shortages the bill in the coming days. Stemming from Coronavirus...........................................2
    [Show full text]
  • July 24, 2020 the Honorable Larry Hogan the Honorable Andrew Cuomo Chairman Vice Chairman National Governors Association Nation
    July 24, 2020 The Honorable Larry Hogan The Honorable Andrew Cuomo Chairman Vice Chairman National Governors Association National Governors Association 100 State Circle New York State Capitol Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Albany, NY 12224 Dear Governors Hogan and Cuomo: As Governors, you have had to take the lead in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Your leadership is critical now more than ever as we seek to address this ongoing national public health and economic crisis. We know that effective testing and contact tracing strategies must be a top focus as we work together in the months ahead to mitigate the impacts of this pandemic. We, the undersigned organizations, call on our nation’s governors to lead this effort to develop consistent protocols for testing and tracing across our 50 states to save lives and reopen our economy. Partnering with safety, public health, health care and industry leaders, we can create a commonsense approach that uniformly implements known best-practices. With up to 80% of people who are infected with COVID-19 being asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, knowledge that people are infected is key. State leadership is needed to expand testing systems, collect community results and data in a manner that maximizes safety and health, and organize contact tracing crews. Working directly with employers will drastically increase the speed and efficiency of these efforts. Additionally, your leadership is needed to establish clear and consistent guidance that aligns with public health recommendations on wearing facial coverings, not only in business settings but also in all public settings. Facial coverings are shown to limit exposure to the coronavirus from asymptomatic people.
    [Show full text]