Podcasts about know act

Colorado will now make Catholic hospitals say what services they won't provideThe Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on October 1, 2024https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/colorado-will-now-make-catholic-hospitalsColorado has passed a new law requiring all hospitals to disclose any procedures they won't perform due to non-medical reasons. The "Patients Right to Know Act" ensures transparency, especially targeting Catholic hospitals that follow religious doctrine rather than medical expertise in determining the services they offer. Many Catholic hospitals, instead of being clear about their religious affiliations, use generic names like “Mercy Hospital,” hiding their policies from the public. This legislation aims to solve that, allowing patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare based on the services the hospitals offer or refuse. Catholic hospitals, governed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, refuse to provide services like abortions, sterilizations, and gender-affirming care, as they are considered to violate Catholic doctrine. These policies put patients, particularly women and transgender individuals, at risk when seeking crucial medical treatments. The new law will require such hospitals to list non-medical reasons for refusing procedures on a state website. However, hospitals are not required to display this information on their own websites, creating a loophole. Many patients may not check the state site, and by the time they realize a procedure isn't available, it could be too late, especially in emergency situations. The controversy centers on whether religious hospitals should be able to refuse care based on faith when operating as medical institutions. Many argue that religious beliefs should not influence healthcare decisions, which should be grounded in medical science and patient needs. It is raised that if organizations choose to provide healthcare, they should abide by the standards of the medical profession, not their religious dogma. This concern has been illustrated with hypothetical comparisons: it's like a church-run car dealership deciding not to install steering wheels because they believe “Jesus takes the wheel.” This is especially relevant in rural areas, where Catholic hospitals may be the only available option. Here, patients are left with no alternative care options, and doctors working in these hospitals might not be allowed to perform certain procedures even if they personally want to, limiting their experience and growth as medical professionals. Lastly, while some think this law may encourage alternative healthcare providers to fill in the gaps left by religious hospitals in rural areas, others are skeptical that this would happen on a significant scale. The Catholic Church, with its influence and deep financial resources, is unlikely to reconsider its policies, leaving patients vulnerable unless further reforms are introduced. Colorado will now make Catholic hospitals say what services they won't provide.The Non-Prophets, Episode 23.41.1 featuring Infidel64, Stephen Harder , Aaron Jensen, and AJ.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

On Our Watch was made possible by the passage of a groundbreaking law enforcement sunshine bill in 2018. Today we talk to California State Senator Nancy Skinner, who co-authored the state's “Right to Know Act," about the legacy of her landmark bill, ongoing obstacles to transparency, and the need for accountability in California prisons. Learn more about Sen. Skinner's work on law enforcement transparency, including The Right to Know Act (SB 1421) and SB 16, by visiting her webpage. The California Reporting Project, a coalition of newsrooms, provides insights into how these open-records acts are being implemented. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Las Vegas Teen's Death: A 17-year-old, Jonathan Lewis Jr., was beaten to death by fellow classmates from Rancho High School. Parents, not only is it a right to guide the education and upbringing of our children, but more importantly, it is a responsibility. This horrific incident is a prime example of what happens when you don't take on that responsibility. Las Vegas teen dies after group attacks him near high school: police"Parents' Right to Know Act": Congressman Matt Gaetz's "Parents' Right to Know Act," a legislative response to the Biden administration's guidance limiting parental access to student health records without the student's consent. Gaetz's bill seeks to grant parents access to their children's medical and counseling records, subject to certain state protective order limitations. This development raises key questions about student privacy versus parental rights in education. Congressman Matt Gaetz Introduces “Parents' Right to Know ActCalifornia's New Parents' Rights Policy: a new policy adopted by Roseville high schools in California, which is framed as a 'balanced' approach to parents' rights, particularly around gender identity issues. This policy only requires parental notification if a student visits the wellness center during class hours, leaving parents uninformed about visits at other times. Critics argue that the policy falls short of truly balancing parents' rights with students' rights, suggesting that it's more of a symbolic gesture rather than a practical solution. The policy raises questions about the balance of rights and responsibilities between parents and educational institutions. Roseville high schools pass new ‘balanced' parents' rights policy, skirting gender identityIn today's episode, we focus on Gail Grobey, an English teacher in Newberg, Oregon, and her alignment with the NEA, highlighting the tension between teacher autonomy and parental expectations. Grobey's stance, especially against the school board's efforts to minimize political influences, raises significant questions.We also discuss the broader educational landscape, with insights into how Progressive ideologies, especially in Portland, Oregon, impact school curriculums. A key topic is Inquiry by Design (IBD), a curriculum Grobey introduced, which is widely used but controversial in its content and methodologies.The episode urges parents and allies to critically evaluate school curriculums and offers resources to combat woke indoctrination. We conclude with insights from a parent in Grobey's class, shedding light on the real-world implications of such educational approaches. Tune in for an engaging conversation on the role of activism in education and the complex dynamics within our classrooms.Support the showDONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today is a Holy Day of Obligation. Make sure to go to Mass today to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Pope Francis' prayer intention of the month of November is for himself — the pope. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255877/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-november The US bishops recently renewed their call for peace in the Holy Land as the Israel-Hamas war moves toward its second month and the casualties of the conflict continue to grow. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255874/us-bishops-renew-call-for-peace-in-the-holy-land The Vatican's Dicastery for the Clergy has agreed to review the mergers of two Archdiocese of Saint Louis parishes, which Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski had decreed in May as part of a major pastoral planning initiative affecting parishes and priests in the archdiocese. Rozanski received correspondence this week informing him that the dicastery has accepted petitions for recourse against decrees related to two parishes: Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish in Saint Louis, and Saints Philip and James Parish in River aux Vases, Missouri. Saint Elizabeth and Saints Philip and James were just two of several parishes with parishioners who sought recourse from the Vatican against Rozanski's decrees, beginning this summer. There is no specific timeline for the Vatican's review of the decrees, but a decision could take several months, the archdiocese said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255876/vatican-agrees-to-review-the-closures-of-two-st-louis-parishes-amid-archdiocesan-restructuring A judge in Kansas this week blocked several state-level pro-life laws there, claiming the measures are prohibited by the state's constitution. District Judge K Christopher Jayaram said in his Monday ruling that portions of the “Woman's Right to Know” Act and the state Medication Abortion “Reversal” Amendment would be subject to temporary injunctions pending a trial in June 2024 on the merits of a lawsuit against the state filed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The group Kansans for Life said the judge's ruling left Kansas women “even more vulnerable to a predatory abortion industry.” The state suffered a pro-life defeat last year when a pro-life ballot initiative to reverse the 2019 court ruling by amending the state's constitution was defeated by a wide margin. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255879/kansas-judge-blocks-several-state-pro-life-laws-ahead-of-2024-trial Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. It was instituted to honor all of the saints, both known and unknown, and, according to Pope Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-saints-day-40

When elected officials aren't prioritizing the needs of their constituents, voters can make their voices heard on a state and local level through ballot initiatives.  In this episode of Democracy Decoded, host Simone Leeper breaks down the power of ballot initiatives, showcasing how everyday citizens can use this tool of direct democracy to bring about significant change. She speaks with advocates, politicians and experts who have had first-hand experience in crafting and enacting these ballot measures. This episode serves as an inspiring reminder that through the ballot initiative process, ordinary people have the ability to make an impact in their community.Simone talks to Micheal Davis Jr., the Executive Director of Promote The Vote, about the ballot initiatives in Michigan that have expanded voting access. She then brings in Lata Nott, Senior Legal Counsel of Voting Rights at Campaign Legal Center, who explains how ballot initiatives allow voters to circumvent their state legislatures when they feel that they are not being truly represented. Simone then turns to Arizona, where former Attorney General of Arizona Terry Goddard and CLC Senior Legal Counsel for Campaign Finance Elizabeth Shimek discuss Proposition 211, also known as the Voters' Right to Know Act, an initiative designed to help shine light on the original sources of secret campaign spending in Arizona and ensure voters know who is spending big money to influence their ballots. Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at CLC, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. Prior to arriving at CLC, Simone was a law clerk in the office of Senator Ed Markey and at the Library of Congress, Office of General Counsel. She received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016.Micheal Davis, Jr is Executive Director of Promote the Vote Michigan. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Sociology, Micheal has led statewide electoral operations and coordinated advocacy campaigns, locally and across the country for the last 15+ years. Micheal previously worked for Ann Arbor's Community Action Network and the AmeriCorps VISTA, where he served with the Youth Empowerment Project. He then joined State Voices, supporting efforts to increase civic engagement on a national level. In the decade since, Micheal has been active in advancing workers' rights, including electoral campaigns within the labor movement, serving as the Political Director for the Michigan AFL-CIO and leading the outreach and expansion of its organizing department. Micheal is thrilled to lead the Promote the Vote team and to continue the fight to ensure fair democratic elections and practices in Michigan for years to come.Lata Nott is Senior Legal Counsel, Voting Rights at Campaign Legal Center. Before joining CLC, Lata was the Deputy Director of Policy for State Voices, where she provided state-based organizations with legal, legislative, and strategic support for voting rights, voter protection, and redistricting programs.  Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the First Amendment Center at the Freedom Forum; she remains a fellow at the Freedom Forum, serving as a subject matter expert on First Amendment and free expression issues and regularly speaking to the media, policymakers, and the general public about the implications that existing laws, proposed legislation, and tech company policies have for free expression and civic engagement. Terry Goddard served as Arizona Attorney General from 2003 to 2011. He focused on protecting consumers and fighting trans-national organized crime. He led the Arizona effort against international money laundering and the polygamous sects in Northern Arizona and Utah. In 2010, he received the Kelly-Wyman Award, the highest recognition given by the state attorneys general. Terry also served as Mayor of Phoenix from 1984 to 1990.  He was elected President of the National League of Cities and named Municipal Leader of the Year in 1988. Since 2016, Terry led an initiative effort to stop anonymous political contributions in Arizona elections. After 3 unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the ballot, on the fourth try 72% of Arizona voters approved the Stop Dark Money initiative. Terry currently teaches at Arizona State University College of Law.  Elizabeth Shimek is Senior Legal Counsel, Campaign Finance at Campaign Legal Center. Prior to joining CLC, Elizabeth worked as Chief of Staff for Wisconsin State Representative Greta Neubauer, where she worked with policymakers and stakeholders to develop innovative public policy, increase public engagement in the legislative process, and push back against efforts to undermine our democratic systems. Elizabeth has served as an advisor to state-level political campaigns and caucuses and previously worked as an attorney specializing in political and government law at Maistelman & Associates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Links:Arizona Leads on Stopping Secret SpendingMidterm Ballot Initiatives Strengthening the Freedom to Vote Win BigProposal 2: Voting rights proposal approved in MichiganStates are Making it Harder for Ballot Initiatives to Pass About CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization which advances democracy through law at the federal, state and local levels, fighting for every American's right to responsive government and a fair opportunity to participate in and affect the democratic process.Learn more about us.Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. We want to hear from you! Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete our survey. Your feedback helps understand what you love about Democracy Decoded and how we can make it even better. To show our thanks, you'll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card. We appreciate your time! 

As the garden's designer Declan Mc Kenna discusses with Derek Mooney on tonight's programme, the planting scheme includes a colourful palette of low toxicity plants.

Shedding Light on Dark Money:  How NY, AZ & MN are Fighting Back Against the Influence of Anonymous Campaign CashToday's LinksArticles & Resources:BallotPedia - Arizona Proposition 211, Campaign Finance Sources Disclosure Initiative (2022)Stop Dark Money AZ - Voters' Right to Know InitiativeNew York Assembly - S. 1101/A 776 LLC Disclosure Bill Democracy Docket - Minnesota's Democracy for the People Act UnpackedMinnesota Legislature - HF3 Democracy for the People Act Status National Conference of State Legislatures - State Campaign Contribution LimitsGroups Taking Action:Stop Dark Money AZ,  Fair Elections NY, Common Cause NY,  People for the American Way, We Choose Us MNToday's Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) You're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.Our series this week on Dark Money showed how operatives use nonprofit organizations and Limited Liability Corporations to funnel anonymous cash into our elections.  We know it's bad, but what's being done about it?In November, Arizona voters passed the Voters' Right to Know Act by a 72% vote.  It requires groups or corporations spending money over a certain threshold in local or statewide elections to disclose donors over $5,000.   As we've reported, Americans for Prosperity is challenging it in federal court, and other groups in state court.In 2019, New York enacted a bill, which requires member shareholders of LLCs making political donations to disclose their names, and apply that amount to the individual's campaign donation limits.   But until 2023, it had not been enforced, and as we reported, those rules may have been ignored in the 2022 governor's race.Twenty-two states have banned any corporate contributions DIRECTLY to a candidate.   But five states allow UNLIMITED contributions, and most remaining states still allow corporations to donate at the individual's limit.    The Minnesota legislature is considering the Democracy for the People Act, a sweeping voting access and anti-corruption package, which includes disclosure measures similar to NY and Arizona.  And the re-introduction of the federal Freedom to Vote Act is expected in the coming weeks.   Exposing Dark Money can't come soon enough.We have articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I'm Brian Beihl.Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org#Democracy  #DemocracyNews

The Granddaddy of Dark Money Groups - Americans for Prosperity - Goes After Arizona's New Dark Money Disclosure ActToday's LinksArticles & Resources:The New Yorker - A Rare Win in the Fight Against Dark MoneyArizona Mirror - Claiming a First Amendment right to anonymity, lawsuit aims to strike down ‘dark money' propAZ Central - (Op-ed) Dark money groups now fighting Arizona's new disclosure law. Shocker.Open Secrets - ‘Dark money' groups aligned with party leadership steer hundreds of millions of dollars into 2022 federal electionsOpen Secrets - Reports on Americans for ProsperityBrennan Center for Justice - Explainer on Dark MoneyGroups Taking ActionVoters Right to Know,  Stop Dark Money, Issue One, Campaign Legal Center, Today's Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) Remember last fall when Arizona voters approved a citizen ballot initiative requiring disclosure of donors to Dark Money groups?   The granddaddy of Dark Money groups is now suing to overturn it:  Americans for Prosperity.The Proposition 211 Voters' Right to Know Act made it to the ballot last November, and 72% of the Arizona voters approved it.  It requires any person or entity spending $50,000 or more on a statewide campaign, or $25,000 on a local campaign, to disclose any original donor source over $5,000 dollars. The Arizona Mirror reports that groups opposed to the measure, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Center for Arizona Policy, filed a state suit in December, claiming it, quote, "... violates Arizonans' right to speak freely by chilling donors from supporting causes they believe in and wish to support, lest their charitable giving become public knowledge." Last week, the granddaddy of Dark Money, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, filed a lawsuit of its own, this time a federal lawsuit, claiming that Prop 211 violates the First Amendment right to free speech by disclosing contributions made by donors to nonprofits.  Dark Money entities include 501c nonprofits and Limited Liability Corporations,  and OpenSecrets.org estimates $295 Million dollars was spent by these groups influencing the 2022 midterms – that we know of. We have articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org,   I'm Brian Beihl.

In this episode Harriett tells you about 4 need to know laws and how to act on them.

Paul Bredwell, executive vice president of regulatory programs for USPOULTRY focuses on the needs of poultry industry members and providing guidance on what could be the next regulations from state or federal officials. The association is currently looking at the remand of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and how it affects a variety of poultry operations around the country. The EPCRA requires reporting of releases of hazardous substances that meet or exceed reportable quantities within a 24-hour period. The purpose of the notification is for federal, state, tribal, and local officials to evaluate the need for an emergency response to mitigate the effects of a release to the community. For this podcast, Paul examines the EPCRA and how it falls into similar categories of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Bredwell describes how companies, state agencies and federal regulators work when it comes to these emergency planning issues. USPOULTRY is also monitoring the issue of responding to emergencies and non-emergencies at poultry operations. Lastly, Bredwell discusses his work with USPOULTRY over the last 15 years and how he researches various rules and regulations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/meatpoultry-podcast/message

Today, you'll learn about how some cleaning products in your kitchen may be terrible for the environment even though they're labeled “green,” hot blobs of iron playing games with Earth's magnetic field and how some far-out theories in physics predict there are infinite versions of you.Your green cleaning products may not actually be so clean OR green. How do household cleaning products affect the environment? by Alexandra Franklin-Cheunghttps://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-do-household-cleaning-products-affect-the-environment/Household Cleaning Products Market by Precedence Researchhttps://www.precedenceresearch.com/household-cleaning-products-marketAre your cleaning products really green? Here's how to tell. by Shaena Montanarihttps://www.popsci.com/story/environment/sustainable-cleaning-products/EPA.govIdentifying Greener Cleaning Productshttps://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/identifying-greener-cleaning-productsEPA Safer Choice-Certified Product Searchhttps://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/productsEPA DfE-Certified Product Searchhttps://www.epa.gov/pesticide-labels/dfe-certified-disinfectantsThe Effects: Dead Zones and Harmful Algal Bloomshttps://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/effects-dead-zones-and-harmful-algal-bloomsHow to find ‘green' cleaning products that get the job done by Laura Dailyhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/choosing-green-cleaning-products/2021/08/23/e7a20ba4-fea2-11eb-ba7e-2cf966e88e93_story.htmlMicroplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful? By XiaoZhi Limhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01143-3Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2021 by Breast Cancer Prevention Partnershttps://www.bcpp.org/resource/cosmetic-fragrance-and-flavor-ingredient-right-to-know-act-of-2021/Hot blobs of iron playing games with Earth's magnetic field. The Magnetic North Pole Is Rapidly Moving Because of Some Blobs by Jennifer Lemanhttps://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a32496561/why-magnetic-north-pole-moving/The north magnetic pole is leaving Canada for Siberia. These 'blobs' may be the reason why. by Laura Geggelhttps://www.livescience.com/magnetic-north-pole-to-siberia.htmlFact check: A compass is oriented to the Earth's magnetic field lines, doesn't prove flat earth by Kate S. Petersenhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/02/22/fact-check-compass-works-globe-because-magnetic-field-lines/6848272001/Strong planetary magnetic fields like Earth's may protect oceans from stellar storms by Royal Astronomical Societyhttps://phys.org/news/2019-03-strong-planetary-magnetic-fields-earth.htmlOrigins of Earth's magnetic field remain a mystery by Jennifer Chuhttps://news.mit.edu/2020/origins-earth-magnetic-field-mystery-0408When north goes south: Is Earth's magnetic field flipping? by Chris Holthttps://astronomy.com/news/2021/09/when-north-goes-south-is-earths-magnetic-field-flippingFlip Flop: Why Variations in Earth's Magnetic Field Aren't Causing Today's Climate Change By Alan Buis, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratoryhttps://climate.nasa.gov/ask-nasa-climate/3104/flip-flop-why-variations-in-earths-magnetic-field-arent-causing-todays-climate-changeHow some far-out theories in physics predict there are infinite versions of you. Parallel Worlds Exist and Interact With Our World, Say Physicists by Bryan Nelsonhttps://www.treehugger.com/parallel-worlds-exist-and-interact-with-our-world-say-4863488Do parallel universes exist? We might live in a multiverse. by Vicky Stein and Daisy Dobrijevichttps://www.space.com/32728-parallel-universes.htmlThe Real Science of the Multiverse by Jess Romeohttps://daily.jstor.org/the-real-science-of-the-multiverse/What is multiverse theory by Paul Sutterhttps://www.livescience.com/multiverseAre Many Worlds and the Multiverse the Same Idea? by Sean Carrollhttps://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/are-many-worlds-and-the-multiverse-the-same-ideaThe weirdest idea in quantum physics is catching on: There may be endless worlds with countless versions of you. By Corey S. Powellhttps://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/weirdest-idea-quantum-physics-catching-there-may-be-endless-worlds-ncna1068706Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.

Some experts argue that the first and most important place for congressional reform is its power of the purse. With regular order a distant memory, annual budget proceedings failing to live up to the basic framework of the 1974 Budget Act, the ever-expanding role of the president in spending decisions, and regular threats of federal government shutdowns, some fear the legislative branch has lost its ability to oversee and control our nation's finances.Senator James Lankford joined us to discuss these issues and some of his specific solutions including the recently passed bipartisan "Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act" and his proposed "End Government Shutdowns Act." Thereafter, our panel of experts discussed those ideas and much more.Featuring:- Hon. James Lankford, United States Senator from Oklahoma- G. William Hoagland, Senior Vice President, Bipartisan Policy Center- Matthew B. Lawrence, Associate Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law- Molly Reynolds, Senior Fellow - Governance Studies, Brookings Institution- Moderator: Ilya Shapiro, Vice President and Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute

Watch out, Nomads, the Heat could be right around the corner. Listen in as the boys discuss the movie Heat which Dave thinks is practically where GTA 5 got its characters and plot from. Also in this episode, Eric talks about finishing 12 Minutes, Dave finally beat Hades, and Brandon checked out an old-ass game called Quake on Game Pass.Stick around to the end and listen to Brandon host a round of "You Don't Know Act-ors"!Safe travels, Nomads!

Nomads, you made it?! You escaped the deep bowels of Hades it appears! Or are you here to listen to tales of torture, of splendor, of frustration, of... well you'll just have to stay and listen for awhile.Before The Nomads share their stories of Hades, they also do a mini first-impression review of 12 Minutes which came out a day before recording this episode.Stick around till the end and join us as Brandon and Dave go against each other in Eric's new game of You Don't Know Act-ors!Safe travels, nomads.

In this episode we give you details on the recently introduced Women's Right to Know Act in the Michigan Legislature, and mention the unborn child tax credit that recently passed the Michigan House, plus pro-abortion McCarthyism in Argentina; coming to a country near you?

Biden Nukes Gun Crimes, Kamala Beats Trump to Border, “World Deserves to Know” COVID Bill​President Biden addresses gun violence with Attorney General Merrick Garland and we review the Administration's plan. The Biden Administrations terminates the head of Border Patrol and Kamala races down to the border to beat Trump. Dr. Fauci out with a new message about the COVID-19 Delta variant and address America on Biden's twitter account.​And more! Join criminal defense lawyer Robert F. Gruler in a discussion on the latest legal, criminal and political news, including:​

Today we are joined by Claudia Zavala. Claudia is a reproductive justice advocate based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.Show Notes:What is the “Woman's Right to Know Act?” | Unrestrict MinnesotaThe Governor Of Texas Has Signed A Law That Bans Abortion As Early As 6 Weeks | NPRTexas Senate approves bill to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned | The HillThe Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime Over the Last Two Decades | Becker Friedman InstituteSupreme Court to Hear Abortion Case Challenging Roe v. Wade | New York TimesState Partisan Composition | National Conference of State LegislaturesFertility rate: 'Jaw-dropping' global crash in children being born | BBC NewsAbortion restrictions put women's health, safety and wellbeing at risk | Bixby Center for Global Reproductive HealthDo You Know the Abortion Laws in Minnesota? | UnRestrict MinnesotaGovernor Newsom Previews $1 Billion in Budget Proposal to Jump-Start New Homeless Fund | Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

With the introduction of A Woman's Right to Know Act this week, Dr. Grazie Christie and Maureen Ferguson speak with Senator Marsha Blackburn about why this bill is so important plus the Senator talks about her recent book, 'The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country.' Plus, with the Special Olympics being drastically impacted by the COVID lockdown, Suann Maier joins with a very personal story and what she's doing to revive this very important outlet for those with special needs. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily. Make sure to catch the show every Saturday at 7am ET/5pm ET on EWTN radio!

Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee, on the annual report released by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and on her introduction of the “Woman's Right to Know Act,” which protects the health of pregnant women and unborn children by requiring adequate medical information and counseling to be given before an abortion so a patient can give informed consent. Jason Johnson, former Deputy Police Commissioner for Baltimore and President of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, on the verdict in the Chauvin case and the implications that has for law enforcement and crime across the nation. Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky, on the letter he and a group of GOP senators sent to the Department of Justice and the Small Business Administration urging an investigation into Planned Parenthood fraudulently taking money from the Paycheck Protection Program, and on the reintroduction of Green New Deal legislation. John McLaughlin, Pollster for McLaughlin and Associates, on his survey showing that 78% of all voters support voter ID requirements in elections and only 42% support Major League Baseball’s decision to move the All Star game out of Atlanta. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Today's show features: Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee, on the annual report released by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and on her introduction of the "Women Right to Know Act," which protects the health of

H.R. 5687 – Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act, 2020 (Rep. Lowey – Appropriations) H.R. 3830 – Taxpayer Right-to-Know Act, as amended (Rep. Walberg – Oversight and Reform) H.R. 2474 – Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 (Rep. Scott (VA) – Education and Labor) (Subject to a Rule) S. 394 – Presidential Transition Act Enhancement Act of 2019 (Sen. Johnson – Oversight and Reform) H.R. 1494 – Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Partnerships Act, as amended (Rep. Thompson (MS) – Homeland Security) S. 2107 – Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019 (Sen. Peters – Homeland Security) H.R. 5273 – Securing America’s Ports Act (Rep. Torres Small – Homeland Security) H.R. 3413 – DHS Acquisition Reform Act of 2019 (Rep. Crenshaw – Homeland Security) H.R. 504 – DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act, as amended (Rep. Bacon –   Homeland Security) H.R. 2932 – Homeland Security for Children Act, as amended (Rep. Payne – Homeland Security) H.R. 4737 – Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act, as amended (Rep. Clarke – Homeland Security) H.R. 4432 – Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act (Rep. Richmond – Homeland Security) H.R. 4753 – Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act (Rep. Crenshaw – Homeland Security) H.R. 2546 – Protecting America’s Wilderness Act of 2019 (Rep. DeGette – Natural Resources) (Subject to a Rule) H.J.Res. 79 – Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment (Rep. Speier – Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule) H.R. 1980 – Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act (Rep. Carolyn Maloney – House Administration) S.J. Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress).  Support the show.

Strangers in a Strange Land. Abby Alton and Ed Kowalski, the leaders of the Internet Giant Talking & Shopping, have come to Washington like castaways on a distant shore.   They know that they have to build better relationships with the National Government.   They have no idea how to do it.  None at all.  … Continue reading What Big Tech Doesn’t Know [Act I] →

Support us and More Banana Podcasts! In this episode, Jessy and Rebekah talk to the Founder and CEO of The Bloomi, Latinx Sexologist Rebecca Alvarez Story! 02:00: Jessy’s video about wet vaginas!04:30: Here’s an interview with The Real Capitalist!06:00: This is an article re: the lack of regulation around “female hygiene products.” It notes “because the FDA classifies menstrual products like tampons and pads as medical devices, there’s currently no legal requirement for manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in these products. As a result, women rarely have access to a full list of ingredients.” Here’s a bill put forward by Rep Grace Meng (D-NY)  called The Menstrual Hygiene Product Right to Know Act of 2017 (HR 2416) which requires menstrual hygiene products classified as medical devices have their ingredients listed on the packaging. 11:45: The Bloomi’s blog 14:00: We actually didn’t know what a “pain point” was but then we read this blog post 26:30: Goop. 27:30: As for the yoni (jade) egg. As of now, there isn’t enough science to back up claims about the effectiveness of jade eggs for your sex life or as a way to strengthen your pelvic floor. Definitely don’t put anything in your vagina that you haven’t cleaned properly because it can increase risks of vaginosis.32:00: Here is  the Kinsey Institute.33:00: The Bloomi blog.  US!Email: welcometomyvagina@gmail.comInstagram: @welcometomyvaginaTwitter: @welcometomyvagJessy’s YouTube videos! Welcome to My Vagina HQRebekah’s blog!Our producer Cait and all the other projects by morebanana_

In this episode, Kelsey and Becca talk all about why you should work towards a zero-waste and toxin-free menstrual cycle. They also share their favorite zero-waste options for feminine items, like absorbable undies and the menstrual cup, and how to use them. Show Notes: Positive News: Green Waste Recycling is turning green waste into greener fields Study on how synthetic fibers mess with our bacterial environment Study on how those undisclosed chemicals are absorbed from tampons and pads Study on how pesticide residue from cotton tampons is present A great video of Andrea Donsky burning a conventional pad next to an organic one Detox The Box Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), the Menstrual Products Right to Know Act of 2017 (H.R. 2416) Products Mentioned: Natracare Lena's Small & Large Menstrual Cup Combo Bloody Buddy Diva Cup Compostable baby wipes THINX cotton line Luna Undies of Lunapads (a B Corp) Hesta Organic Cotton reusable pantiliners Reusable zippered wet/dry bags  

In this episode, we are speaking with Alicia Ozenberger, the deputy director of ACT Missouri.  ACT Missouri is a private not-for-profit corporation established in 1991 to promote drug and alcohol awareness throughout Missouri. They work with great community groups across the state to spread the message about making healthy choices. Act Mo also partner with national organizations like SADD and The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. They also have a network of Regional Support Centers and community coalitions that we support, serving as a communication hub. They also collaborate with other statewide agencies like the Missouri Pharmacy Association, Missouri Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, Missouri Department of Transportation, and Missouri Juvenile Justice Association in joint efforts to produce healthy, drug-free communities.   ** For more information on ACT Missouri, visit  https://actmissouri.org/ 

Chemical storage facilities exist all over the country and one of them recently caught fire, poisoning the residents Houston, Texas for three days. In this episode, learn about a Department of Homeland Security program - the CFATS program- designed to protect us from terrorist attacks on dangerous chemical storage facilities like the one in Texas and also discover what needs to be done to ensure that CFATS actually protects us from the threats these chemical facilities pose. There is still work to be done. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! House Homeland Security Committee Committee Members How to Contact: For Senators: firstname_lastname@lastnameofsenator.senate.gov (underscore between first and last) For Representatives: firstname.lastname@mail.house.gov Hearings Securing Our Nation's Chemical Facilities: Stakeholders Perspectives on Improving the CFATS Program, House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, March 12, 2019. YouTube 370 views Witnesses: John Morawetz: Health and Safety Representative ICWUC Health and Safety Representatives International Chemical Workers Union Council Dr. Mike Wilson, Ph.D, MPH: National Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Program, BlueGreen Alliance Pamela Nixon: President, People Concerned About Chemical Safety Kirsten Meskill: Director, Corporate Security, BASF Sound Clips: 13:00 Chairman Cedric Richmond (LA): Since CFATS was established, the number of ‘high risk’ chemical facilities has dropped by half. 13:10 Chairman Cedric Richmond (LA) I believe - and DHS agreed - that there is an opportunity to take the data on how facilities are reducing risk and use it to develop voluntary best practices that other facilities could use to reduce risk. 13:20 Chairman Cedric Richmond (LA) Also, it is not clear to me that CFATS facilities are including employees in the development of site security plans, vulnerability assessments, or inspections – as they are required to by law. 13:30 Chairman Cedric Richmond (LA) Finally, if CFATS is going to be successful, we need to be sure that the program is taking all relevant factors into account to assess risk. Otherwise, we can’t trust that CFATS is truly capturing the nation’s highest risk facilities. For example, right now, DHS does not consider whether the facility is located near a hospital, a school, a residential area, a military base, a power plant, or close to other chemical facilities. Any of these factors could make a facility a more attractive target, or make an event even worse for the surrounding community. 21:00 Dr. Mike Wilson: In the area of emergency response, CFATS gives authority to the secretary to provide information to local governments and I quote "to help ensure that first-responders are properly prepared and provided with the situational awareness needed to respond to security incidents at covered chemical facilities," endquote. This is useful but it's not sufficient if the objective is to give firefighters the ability to respond effectively to an industrial chemical incident. As we know from the experience of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, or EPCRA, firefighters need much more than chemical information. They need to talk to the people who run the facilities in their jurisdiction. They need to get inside those facilities regularly to see how chemicals are stored and processed in order to imagine what could go wrong. They need to train side by side with facility operators. This is pre-fire planning and it's crucial to a safe and effective response and it requires an ongoing commitment by industry. That commitment however needs to be explicitly required under CFATS, more so than what is currently recommended within the non mandatory risk based performance standards because the fact is that except in an emergency, many facilities are reluctant to invite firefighters and other responders in to look around their property, let alone to pull out their equipment and conduct training. I speak to this based on my own 13 years of work as a professional firefighter, EMT, and paramedic. During which time I responded to about 10,000 emergency calls including to industrial chemical releases and fires. I can tell you that to do their job, firefighters need both information and access, and they're like, they're more likely to get these if facilities are required to provide them on a routine basis under CFATS. 22:30 Dr. Mike Wilson Our second recommendation pertains to the role of frontline workers in site security. The existing CFATS language on employee input is helpful but too generic to be effective. Depending on the inclinations of the facility, the term employee input can mean everything from a manager checking the box to get workers sign off on a fully executed site security plan, or it could mean a real seat for workers at management's decision making table. In any case, the right of workers to participate meaningfully in site security decision making needs to be explicit in CFATS because just as they are reluctant to give routine access to firefighters, many facilities are reluctant to seriously involve frontline workers in decision making and yet industry itself recognizes that workers have a great deal of knowledge and experience to contribute. We suggest that you consider language from the 2017 process safety management regulations in California, which require oil refineries to involve workers throughout all phases of process safety decision making. If adopted by CFATS this type of language will help ensure that the insights of frontline workers are genuinely integrated into site security. 23:15 Dr. Mike Wilson Finally, our third recommendation pertains to risk reduction. CFATS is based on a risk management framework, which assumes that dangerous chemicals used at a facility cannot be reduced or eliminated, so they have to be surrounded by layers of protection. Industry is far more innovative and clever than this, of course, and DHS has reported that under CFATS, thousands of facilities have voluntarily taken action to reduce their use of dangerous chemicals by consolidating them from multiple sites into one or two sites, replacing a hazardous chemical with a less hazardous one, reducing the total quantity held on site, or switching to a less concentrated form. These approaches can make a facility much safer, and they have the effect of reducing the desirability of the facility as a target of opportunity. CFATS could do more to encourage or require facilities to implement these types of approaches, and we encourage you to make these changes during reauthorization. 36:45 Kirsten Meskill Over the past four years, the Department of Homeland Security has significantly improved it's administration of the CFATS program and has had a positive impact on enhancing security at chemical facilities. 37:30 Kirsten Meskill While industry was pleased that Congress passed the short term extension in January to avoid a complete shutdown of CFATS, I think we all agreed that it is not the best solution going forward. Longer authorization periods provide important stability for planning security investments and allow DHS to operate the program efficiently and effectively. 38:30 Kirsten Meskill Recently, DHS has been implementing a risk based performance standard at 200 high risk facilities, those that are at tiers one and two. This requires facility operation operators to collect sensitive personal information from thousands of employees and contractors for DHS to vet against the terrorist screening database. DHS is now planning to extend the program to an additional 3000 low risk tier three and four facilities. This will expand vetting to tens of thousands of more employees and contractors. ACC and its members are concerned that was such an expansion is unnecessary and will put personal information at risk. Furthermore, it is unclear what benefit is associated with the additional vetting given the cost. 58:30 Kirsten Meskill At BASF, and I think at many of the companies of our size, many of our facilities, we have worked to reduce our risk. And so we are now down to either three or four tier levels. And so, as I mentioned earlier, this is an enormous number of folks that we have to do the additional screening on, but perhaps the more complicated would be the contractors and visitors that we have on site. And that's where it gets a little bit, a lot more complicated to ensure that all those individuals that are coming onto our site day in, day out, have gone through the screening process. And it's costly. It's very expensive, needless to say for us, as well as for the contractors that support us. 1:07:30 Kirsten Meskill: Our concerns are exposing personal data of thousands more thousands and thousands and thousands of employees and contractors for this terrorist database screening. And whether the value actually is there for the cost and for the, the potential risk of exposing this personal data to cybersecurity risks. Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY): But don't you think that's one of the core ways to ensure security at these facilities? Meskill: Well, we are conducting our own background screening anyway, which includes, you know, criminal background checks also. So it seems duplicative. Yes. Rep. Rice: So have you communicated that? Meskill: Yes. Rep. Rice: And are there any questions that they include in their review or their background check that you do not? Meskill: I cannot answer that question. I don't know the answer to that. Rep. Rice: Okay. Thank you. Mr Chairman. Security Our Nation's Chemical Facilities: Building on the Progress of the CFATS Program, House Committee on Homeland Security, February 27, 2019. YouTube 649 Views Witnesses: David Wulf: Director, Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security Nathan Anderson: Acting Director, Homeland Security & Justice, US Government Accountability Office Sound Clips: 2:30 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): Through CFATS, DHS works with chemical facility owners and operators to make sure they have safeguards in place to prevent a bad actor from gaining access to dangerous chemicals stored onsite. In the past, this program has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support on and off the Hill. Officials in the Bush Administration, including former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, were among the first to call for a federal rule to secure chemical facilities. And, officials from the Trump Administration are among the most recent. Last November, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote to Congress urging us to reauthorize CFATS: “[W]e continue to face one of the most serious terrorist threat environments since 9/11. Foreign terrorist organizations are urging recruits to use simple weapons, including toxic chemicals, to target public spaces and events.”Clearly, this threat has not abated. Yet, the Department’s authority to carry out CFATS came very close to lapsing last month that caused this Committee to pass a short-term bill extending the program until 2020. For eight years, CFATS was tied to annual appropriations cycles. Lacking the certainty of a multi-year authorization, DHS struggled to keep staff, develop long-term policies, and work with a regulated community that did not know if the rules would apply the following year. In 2014, Congress worked on a bicameral, bipartisan basis to finally put an end to this pattern by passing a multi-year authorization. I had hoped to work collaboratively in the last Congress, as we did in 2014, to give CFATS a long-term reauthorization. Unfortunately, that did not come to pass, and we once again found ourselves with no alternative but to pass another short-term extension. As Chairman, I do not intend to let that happen again. 5:30 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): Six years ago, there was a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas that caused catastrophic damage and took the lives of first responders who had been called to the scene. On the screen above you is a picture of that scene where volunteer firemen went to that location not knowing what they were going to and they lost their lives. So we need to close that loophole because as a volunteer fireman myself, those public spirited first responders did not know what they were going to until it was too late. So if CFATS had been in place those individuals probably, given the information available, would not have approached it in the same light. 6:45 Rep. Mike Rogers (AL): Now, before I begin, I would like to express my extreme disappointment that the majority staff denied the minority's requests for a witness at today's hearing. Under rule 11 of the rules of the house, the minority is afforded at least one witness at each committee hearing. If denied a witness, the minority is entitled to a separate hearing to take testimony from its witnesses. So pursuant to rules of the house, I'm providing the chairman with a letter signed by the Republican members of the community, formerly invoking our right to a separate hearing of the full committee to hear from minority witnesses. 8:40 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): Consistent with the rules that we adopted for this committee, similar to the rules we've had before, we offered a government witness to this government panel and from my understanding, that was not accepted. But you could have had a government witness and we will respond in writing, but the rules we apply are the same rules that this committee has always operated under. 18:30 Nathan Anderson: I will speak first to the department's efforts to identify high risk chemical facilities. Just identifying the universe of facilities that should even be regulated under CFATS has been and may always be a huge challenge. There's no one complete data source of facilities that have chemicals. In 2014 we found that DHS used self reported and unverified data to determine the risk of facilities holding toxic chemicals that could threaten surrounding communities if released. We recommended that DHS should better verify the accuracy of facility reported data. Dhs implemented this recommendation by revising its methodology so it now calculates the risk of toxic release rather than relying on facilities to do so. 20:15 Nathan Anderson: A key quality assurance function involves actions to ensure compliance. And in 2015 we reported that DHS had conducted compliance inspections at 83 of the roughly 1700 facilities with approved security plans. At that time, we found that nearly half of the respective facilities were not fully compliant with their approved security plans and the DHS did not have documented procedures for managing facilities compliance. We recommended that DHS document procedures for managing compliance. As a result, DHS revise CFATS procedures, which we are currently reviewing to determine if they sufficiently document the processes being used to track on compliant facilities and ensure facilities implement plan measures as outlined in their security plans. On a positive note, DHS recently told us that they have conducted more than 2000 compliance inspections. 23:00 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): You saw the picture on the screen earlier about the 12 first responders in West, Texas who unfortunately lost their lives because they were basically responding to an incident that we could possibly cover under CFATS. Now the law requires DHS to share such information as is necessary so Mr. Anderson, you indicated in your testimony that GAO surveyed first responders and emergency planners last year about whether such critical information is getting shared. Tell us what you found in that survey. Nathan Anderson: Of course. As part of our work, we looked at 13, or interviewed 13 or 15 local emergency planning committees. These committees cover about 373 high risk facilities. And 13 of those 15 local emergency planning committees did not have access to the information in CFATS that could potentially be useful to first responders and emergency planners. 27:30 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): So the majority of the information that was available just was not being shared. Nathan Anderson: I think it's a situation of access. DHS has stood up something called the IP Gateway, which is a forum and a vehicle for communicating that kind of information to first responders. I think this is a situation where the first responders either did not have access or were not familiar with how to use the IP Gateway system. Rep. Thompson: So Mr. Wulf, can you provide the committee with, what do you see as the way forward in this respect? David Wulf: Absolutely, Mr Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity. So obviously, sharing of information with first responders is of the utmost importance and it's something that we highly prioritize as a result. Those who may be called upon to respond to incidents at facilities, high risk facilities or other facilities holding chemicals, need information about those facilities. They need information about the chemical holdings so they know what they are walking into when they attempt to save lives and property. So we have redoubled our efforts over the past couple of years to reach to local emergency planning committees. In fact, in 2018 we visited more than 800 of those local emergency planning committees and we are right now in the midst of a push to reach committees, emergency planning committees, associated with the highest populations CFATS covered facilities in the various counties, the top 25% of those counties across the country. I think another important thing to remember is that CFATS and our chemical security inspectors across the country promote sharing of information with first responders and do that in a way that connects them directly with the facilities. So one of the CFATS risk based performance standards, RPBS nine, was focused on response and it requires that every high risk facility reach out to make contact with their local first responders. And in many cases, our inspectors - our CFATS team - facilitates that contact and that communication. So I think that is another important way in which we are continuing to get the word out and we're pushing, as well, information about that IP Gateway and signing more and more folks up every day to give them access to the portal. Rep. Thompson: Before I lose my time, you know, there was this requirement that at least 25% that you referenced in your comments would be done by the end of March. Where are you percentage wise with hitting that target? Wulf: We're on track to have that done by the end of March. Rep. Thompson: And after that, what's the next target? Wulf: We will continue, you know, circling back and we have, we have met with literally thousands of local emergency planning committees and we're committed to continuing to, to ride that circuit and to ensure that relevant folks, those who have a need to know information about chemical facilities and chemical holdings because they may be called to run into those facilities, have the information. Rep. Thompson: Well, the reason I say that, as I look at the membership of the committee present, a lot of us represent volunteer fire departments in our respective districts. So I think it's really incumbent upon us to push this information out to those departments so that those first responders - who are unpaid doing their civic duty - would not be put at risk simply because the information that's available is not being shared. Can you give the committee some kind of a guesstimate as to when the process can be completed? Wulf: Well, I would say that it's going to be an ongoing, kind of continuing effort. I don't think we will ever stop the outreach, but we will get through those 25%, sort of highest density counties in the next month. I would, I would suspect that, you know, toward the end of this calendar year, we will have gotten to most of the other LEPCs across the country as well. 45:00 Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (NM): In the questions that Chairman Thompson asked, we, I'm glad to hear the DHS is on track for the March 2019 a deadline for doing the outreach to the, uh, high risk chemical facilities. Does that information sharing, uh, include the specific chemical holdings stored, uh, on the sites that the first responders will be responding to? David Wulf: Yes, it does. So first responders who have a facility in their sort of area of jurisdiction can have access and we want them to have access to that information. 47:30 Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (NM): We also discussed a little bit the outreach that's done to employees of facility plans, so the training and exercise and drills that are done, but also limiting access on a need to know basis. I'd like to know a little bit about the input requirement, that there's a requirement to get input from at least one employee, where applicable, or a labor union representative in forming the facility plan. Do inspectors confirm that that input requirement has been complied with? David Wulf: Inspectors will raise that issue during an inspection and will hear from facilities to what extent they have involved employees and or as, as kind of relevant, resident bargaining unit members in the process. So, yup, those discussions happen during inspections. Rep. Torres Small: Are inspectors required to speak with those employees or union representatives? Wulf: It is not a requirement. Rep. Torres Small: And if it is determined, even if they're not speaking with the employees or labor unions that there was not an employee or labor union representative consulted, does that result in disapproving of the security plan? Wulf: It does not. It does not. We sort of leave to the discretion of those who are responsible for the security of the facility, the extent to which it actually is practical to involve, you know, however many employees in the process. Rep. Torres Small: Even though the CFATS Act requires that input? Wulf Well, the CFATS Act talks about involvement to the extent practical. Rep. Torres Small: Thank you. 55:00 Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI): I'm from Michigan and we have a large number of these facilities including two in my district and then just outside my district, in Detroit, we had a big chemical fire in years past. So this one's really of interest to my community. I'm guessing my first question, Mr. Wulf is just on accountability. So how would a member of Congress know after March whether the facilities in his or her district have communicated effectively with local law enforcement that there's a shared understanding of kind of the risks? Like how would I know that after March? David Wulf: Are you talking about the communication with the first responders? Rep. Slotkin: Yeah. Because we had this Detroit fire years ago, years ago, but my understanding is we did not have full awareness by the first responders and we didn't lose anyone, but it certainly was a potential risk. So how would I feel comfort that my local responders have been informed with what they need? Wulf: So I think, um, I can tell you with confidence that all facilities within the CFATS program, all facilities covered by CFATS, will have made connections with their relevant local first responders. It is a, it is a requirement of the of the program. It is the focus of one of our risk based performance standards - number nine of 18. It is something that we verify and facilitate, so you can rest assured that that is happening across the 3,300 highest risk chemical facilities and their relevant first responders across the country. 59:30 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): Mr. Wulf, can you provide the committee with how many actions you've brought on facilities inspected that have been found in noncompliance? David Wulf: Sure. And I guess it's kind of a two part answer because of the way the CFATS program and our enforcement processes work. Of course, you know, we strive to work with facilities to bring them into a compliance and by and large facilities have done a good job and are in compliance with their plans. In upwards of 80 cases we have had to resort to our enforcement authorities and to issue, um, a, an administrative order that per the law, um, gives facilities a certain amount of time, um, to get their act together and, and, uh, alleviate whatever the issue might be. We've gotten to the point with five facilities where we have had to issue a civil monetary penalty. Uh, and that has proven in those cases to be the additional impetus facilities needed to come into compliance. Rep. Thompson: So everybody's in compliance. Wulf: Everybody is currently in compliance. We have, you know, it's, this is a dynamic population, right? So facilities are in different stages of perhaps working on their site security plans, getting them to approval. But facilities against which we have been forced and issued civil penalties have come into compliance. 1:00:15 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): Those two facilities in Ms. Slotkin's district, is there a directory that she can go to or is there a way that she can get with you and you can say these two facilities are compliant? David Wulf: Yes, absolutely. If they're CFATS facilities we're glad to sit down and talk through what exists. Rep. Thompson: That was really what she was trying to get to. Wulf: We're glad to get you that information and talk. Rep. Thompson: Thank you. 1:04:00 Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX): Director Wulf, back to you. Should the risk based performance standards be modified to reflect the evolving threat from drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles? David Wulf: Yeah, so the, uh, the drones question, uh, is a, is an important one for sure. And it is a continually evolving sort of threat vector. Uh, I think as they stand the risk based performance standards, uh, account for and we certainly engage with facilities, um, on the reporting of significant incidents. Uh, and we do take in, um, you know, a decent number of reports associated with overflight or flights nearby, high risk chemical facilities of unmanned aircraft aircraft system. So I think we have the tools in place from an incident reporting standpoint. Um, our counterparts at the Federal Aviation Administration I know are working toward a broader framework, uh, and we are working with them on that for critical infrastructure. Rep. Crenshaw: Because it's prohibited under federal law to, to, to interfere with the operation of a drone right now. So is that, is that part of the conversation? I mean, to allow essentially facilities to defend themselves. Is that conversation ongoing?. Wulf: That is probably a part of the broader conversation for sure. And you know, it's, it's an issue that, um, that we had the department are, um, are looking at, not just from a chemical facility angle, but across all critical infrastructure, uh, infrastructure sectors. 1:08:30 Rep. Val Demings (FL): Mr. Wulf, my questions are for you. When DHS is considering whether a facility is high risk, do you include in that methodology or whatever process you use, would you factor in if the facility would be located to a elementary school for example, or a nursing home or hospital? David Wulf: Yes, so we factor in - it's a good question - we tier for a couple of major different threat streams, one of which focused on theft and diversion of chemicals, the other which is focused on facilities where there could be a release into a surrounding community. In those cases of release, we absolutely factor in the surrounding population. One of the things we were able to make some significant headway on, as we kind of basked in the stability that was afforded by long term authorization, was a complete retooling of our risk assessment methodology. So we're now more accurately able to model those surrounding populations and tier more accurately. Rep. Demings: Also studies show that chemical facilities tend to be concentrated in low income and minority communities. In determining facility risks, does DHS consider whether a facility is in close proximity to other chemical facilities that could exacerbate the impact of an attack on an already vulnerable population? Wulf: We certainly consider what is in the surrounding area by way of, by way of population as we do our tiering. Rep. Demings: And so when you consider the proximity to those populations, those low income already very vulnerable areas, what do you factor into? What is it exactly that you were considering or looking at? Wulf: Well, we are considering where the population is located in proximity to a facility and we are kind of modeling, you know, were there to be an incident that caused a release of chemicals, what part of that population would be impacted and what number of fatalities could potentially occur as we're thinking about the tiering. Rep. Demings: Okay. So when you say where the population is located, what exactly does that mean? Could you help me with that? Wulf: It means like how many people are located either, you know, during the day or at night in their homes and their businesses and in the schools and how close they are to the facility and then we look at what type of chemical we're talking about, what quantities of chemicals we're talking about, what the prospect is for release of those chemicals, what quantity could be released. And then there's sort of a plume modeling effort designed to get us to a place where we can kind of model what the consequences would be of a release of chemicals caused by a terrorist. 1:30:30 Rep. Max Rose (NY): Moving on in terms of the voluntary participation of the private sector, it seems as if this is actually a great case in which we have been very successful in that regard. What type of lessons learned can we draw out of this to transfer it to issues of cybersecurity, general counter terrorism.... Where we have to involve the private sector but we're often struggling to get them to come forward? What type of lessons learned can we glean from this? David Wulf: In this case, we do have a regulatory framework, so there's, you know, there's an obligation for facilities and companies that operate facilities that have threshold quantities of chemicals of interest in our regulation to report information to us and if they're assessed as high risk, to be part of the program, to develop site security plans and be subjected to inspections. But I would say that on a purely voluntary basis, the chemical industry writ large, and that cuts across a variety of critical infrastructure sectors, has been fully committed and bought in to this program and has helped us to drive forward key improvements to the program. So one of the ways that happens is through something we call the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council Framework. So we bring together, sector councils, of chemical industry or as the case may be, oil and natural gas industry folks, to talk about ways in which we can continue to enhance our respective critical infrastructure protection and or chemicals security efforts and I do think that is a good model and it's one that the department is also using on the cybersecurity front and across other… Rep. Rose: I take it that the best model in this case was that this was mandatory with private sector involvement. That was the pathway to success then. Wulf: The regulatory framework I think has, has helped for sure. Rep. Rose: Thank you. 1:40:30 David Wulf: CFATS is focused, you know, I think appropriately as a risk based program, and it's targeted at America's highest risk facilities. So those facilities at the highest risk of terrorist attack or or exploitation, that's less than 10% of the facilities that submit top screens for risk assessment by us. 1:42:00 David Wulf: Well, you know, CFATS is a non prescriptive program. We can't require any specific measures. 1:48:30 Rep. Al Green (TX): The CFATS Act of 2014, which requires DHS to create an experimental new program. DHS has performed diligently and the program has been implemented and it seems that as of June 2018 only 18 facilities have taken advantage of this program. And my query is, does it make good sense to keep a program that appeals to 18 facilities? I'm sure that there are some other projects that merit our attention. There are some other goals that we should review in the area of Cybersecurity, first responder outreach, and DHS probably has a lot of energy that it has put into this, that may have been used otherwise. So quickly, if you would please give me some sense of why a program that has accommodated 18 facilities at some, some great expense should be maintained. David Wulf: I appreciate the remarks and that is a fair question. You're referring to the expedited approval program that enables, on an expedited basis, the certification of facility security plans where those facilities adhere to a prescriptive list of security measures. I think it is fair to say, as you noted, that a very small number of facilities have taken advantage - have availed themselves of the program. Rep. Green: If I may, just so that we may understand the size of the language. When you say "small", how many could have taken advantage of it and juxtapose that to the number that have. Wulf: Yeah. So it applies to three, tier three and four facilities, so that would be 90% of our regulated universe could have taken advantage. So upwards of 2,500 facilities could have. Rep. Green: And of the 2,500, 18…? Wulf: 18 have. Yes. I think some of that owes itself to the fact that most facilities were well through the process of developing their site security plans a through the normal process at the time the expedited approval program was rolled out, though we certainly, you know, did our best to publicize it's availability and the fact that most facilities appreciate the contact that they're able to have with inspectors throughout the normal process of developing their site security plan. It tends to improve those plans. So, you know, although we've had a few additional facilities since the reach hearing of facilities occurred within the last couple of years that have availed themselves of the program, the overall number is very small. And the fact of the matter is that our online system through which facilities develop their SSPs is now significantly more streamlined, significantly more user friendly, so this is certainly less incentive to use this other program. Rep. Green: I don't mean to be rude and unrefined but I have to ask him because I have another question. Is it time to review this other program so that we can ascertain whether or not it is something that we should continue with? Wulf: I would say yes, certainly time to, to take a hard look at it. Green: Okay. 1:51:30 Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO): Because the EPA no longer updates a list of the locations these facilities, chemical facilities, it's difficult for me to just pinpoint exactly where they are. 1:57:45 Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS): A couple of takeaways. Mr. Wulf, I think based on what I heard, I think it would help us if you could provide us a with a master list of the facilities that have been regulated. I think that would help a lot. Sound Clip Sources Article: The day after Mueller, The Intercept, March 27, 2019. News Report: Timeline: ITC chemical tank fire in Deer Park, KHOU 11, March 25, 2019. News Release: Statement from the US Chemical Safety Board on recent tank fires in Deer Park, TX, CSB, March 21, 2019. News Report: Manifold leak blamed as initial cause of massive storage tank fire in Deer Park, KHOU 11 Investigates, March 19, 2019. Video: West TX plant explosion, KTBC Fox 7 Austin, April 18, 2013. Video: West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion with FD EMS PD Radio Traffic, Alertpage, YouTube, April 18, 2013. Music Video Clip: Can I Get a Witness by Marvin Gaye, Vlipsy. Additional Reading Report: Regional emphasis program for fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate (FGAN) and agricultural anhydrous ammonia facilities, OSHA Regional Notice, U.S. Department of Labor, October 1, 2018. Article: Remembering, healing together: Five years after blast, West is rebuilt but emotional tripwires remain by J.B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald, April 16, 2018. News: CFATS personnel surety program expanding to tier 3 and tier 4 high-risk chemical facilities, Roberts Law Group News, Chemical Security Gropu LLC, December 27, 2017. Report: West Fertilizer Explosion and Fire: Final Report, CSB, January 29, 2016. Article: Former Oregonian Mariano Saldivar, killed in Texas plant explosion, will be laid to rest Monday by Stuart Tomlinson, The Oregonian/Oregon Live, April 25, 2013. Report: Death toll in West, Texas, fertilizer explosion rises to 15 by Bill Chappell, NPR, April 23, 2013. Resources BASF: Statement of Income, BASF Report 2018 H.R.251: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act H.R.4007: Sponsor and co-sponsors of the CFACTS Act of 2014 Homeland Security: CFATS and the Executive Order 13650 Homeland Security: CFATS Expedited Approval Program Homeland Security: CFATS Tiering Methodology Homeland Security: Risk-Based Performance Standards (RBPS) Homeland Security Publication: Risk-Based Performance Standards Guidance: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, May 2009. GovInfo.gov: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Register, December 27, 2017. LinkedIn Profile: David Wulf, Director, Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Website: CSB.gov Community Suggestions See Community Suggestions HERE. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

On this week's Beltway Beef podcast, NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager issues a Halloween warning about the Zombie WOTUS stalking 22 states. He also provides an update on changes to EPCRA - the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. To view the Zombie WOTUS video discussed in the podcast, visit: https://www.facebook.com/BeefUSA/videos/2150809811904613/

On this week's Beltway Beef podcast, NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager issues a Halloween warning about the Zombie WOTUS stalking 22 states. He also provides an update on changes to EPCRA - the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. To view the Zombie WOTUS video discussed in the podcast, visit: https://www.facebook.com/BeefUSA/videos/2150809811904613/

In the spirit of the Mid-term Elections, I bring you Pussy Politics! I featured some show favorites, including Demetrius Walker, who is running for Texas Representative of District 138. We discuss Donald Trump, grabbing women by the Pussy & what one Female Representative, Jessica Farrar, proposed at the Texas House of Representatives to grab the men by the balls, with the "Man's Right to Know Act!" Now if you care about Pussy GO VOTE!!!!

On this week's episode of The Womb Happy Hour host, Lorraine Giordano, will chat about The Menstrual Products Right to Know Act, play a game related to sex and blend these topics together to highlight the importance of self-care. Self-care is one of the most buzzed about terms these days and it's often tied with consuming a product – a spa day, a new outfit, a green juice. During this week's womb chat we'll get into how self-care related to feminine hygiene products is often over looked and critically important these days. We'll also dig a bit deeper and go down there, not in a bikini wax kind of way, but discuss a unique perspective on enhancing your sacral chakra energy center to boost your relationships and passion in life.

House bill 1599, which opponents have dubbed the DARK (Denying Americans the Right to Know) Act, would prohibit states to implement their own food labeling laws.  Activists visited Congressman Sam […] The post The D.A.R.K. Act and Local Teacher Makes Good appeared first on KKFI.