Podcasts about senate help committee

Senate HELP Committee confirmation hearing for Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Senate confirms former Kelly Loeffler as SBA Administrator; President Trump endorses larger House budget resolution over smaller Senate budget resolution; Senate Democrats respond to President Trump's claim he will not cut Medicaid spending to pay for tax cuts; interview with Politico's Megan Messerly on the President's Executive Order bringing independent federal agencies under more presidential control (37); President Trump calls Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator without elections” who "better move fast or he is not going to have a country left."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us. Are you frustrated with the sky-high costs of GLP-1 medications in the U.S.? You're not alone. While many countries offer these life-changing treatments at a fraction of the price, Americans are left grappling with hefty out-of-pocket expenses that can hinder their ability to live healthy, fulfilling lives. In this episode, we sit down with Kim Carlos, host of the Plus SideZ podcast, who is on a mission to change that.Kim opens up about her lifelong battle with weight and the impactful experience that motivated her to travel to Washington, D.C., and advocate for affordable access to GLP-1s at a Senate HELP Committee hearing. Tune in to learn how you can get loud, be part of the movement for accessible healthcare, and join the conversation to make a difference!ReferencesABC Nightline Interview Vote for Anthem Awards by Oct 31st! The Plus SideZ: Cracking the Obesity Code selected in Health - Best Influencer Collaboration: View Anthem Community Voice CategoryThe Plus SideZ: Cracking the Obesity Code selected in Health - Community Space: View Anthem Community Voice CategoryPodcast:YouTubeWebsite Apple Podcasts SpotifyAudio Stamps01:39 - Today's guest, Kim Carlos, host of “The Plus SideZ” podcast, shares her personal struggles with weight since childhood and the life-changing impact of GLP-1 medications in managing her condition.21:35 - Kim highlights Bernie Sanders' acknowledgment of obesity's burden on the healthcare system, praises GLP-1 meds for reversing obesity rates, and advocates for wider access.36:15 - Kim highlights the need for community engagement in addressing obesity as a chronic condition and encourages sharing resources to challenge misconceptions about medication accessibility.Quotes“Why is the United States paying so much for medication and the rest of the world is not?” - Kim Carlos“I don't feel like in society or in the media we are hearing a lot of language outside of our doctors and creators on Tik TOK, that obesity is a disease. It is a chronic disease. There's no cure for it.” - Kim Carlos“Right now, diet culture is dying a beautiful death. And I love it because there are actual solutions to these problems now, and there haven't been before. I just want everybody to have access.” - Kim CarlosAll of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast. If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Chris Manno, an STL8 worker for Amazon joins Megan and Tom with details from a new report from a Senate committee.  Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released initial findings from its year-long investigation into Amazon's injury crisis. The Committee — whose investigation was prompted by organizing among workers at the STL8 fulfillment center since 2022, including multiple visits with Senate HELP Committee staff on Capitol Hill last spring — found evidence that Amazon knows its injury rate is much higher than it has revealed to the public and regulators. In 2019, nearly 45 percent of workers were injured during peak times like Prime Day and holidays, as a result of company management pressuring employees to work at unsafe speeds, according to internal company documents made public for the first time. 

On this episode, Workday's Vice President of Public Policy, Chandler Morse, and Josh Lannin, Vice President of Productivity Technologies at Workday, share insights into Workday's recent testimony before the Senate HELP Committee. Their discussion focuses on the role of AI in shaping talent strategies and the skills-based economy, as well as the challenges it presents and how Workday is addressing them. https://blog.workday.com/en-us/2024/workday-podcast-reshaping-work-ai-skills-responsible-innovation.html

This week on Look Forward, Jay and Brad return for a huge episode that covers just an absolutely bizarre week in American politics: Democrats' Success in Elections Linked to Abortion Issue (New York Magazine): Unfortunately, I couldn't access this specific article. However, based on general trends in recent U.S. elections, it's likely that the article discusses how the abortion issue has become a significant factor in recent elections, potentially influencing voter turnout and preferences, particularly after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.Trump's Georgia Election Racketeering Case: A Georgia judge scheduled an emergency hearing following the release of confidential video evidence in the election-racketeering case against former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors filed an emergency request for a protective order after several videos leaked, detailing evidence provided by former co-defendants who have since pleaded guilty. Trump faces 13 state felony counts in this case, part of 91 total state and federal felony counts he faces in four jurisdictions.Supreme Court Adopts New Ethics Code: The Supreme Court adopted its first code of ethics amidst criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts to some justices. However, the code lacks enforcement mechanisms and doesn't impose significant new requirements, leaving compliance to each justice's discretion.Senator Joe Manchin's Decision Not to Seek Reelection: Senator Joe Manchin III announced he would not seek reelection, complicating Democrats' chances of retaining the Senate. His departure is especially impactful given his role as a conservative Democrat known for bipartisan deal-making.House Vote on Speaker Mike Johnson's Plan to Avert Government Shutdown: The House voted on a plan proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson to prevent a government shutdown. The plan involved a short-term spending bill requiring significant Democratic support due to conservative opposition.Senator Markwayne Mullin's Confrontation with Union Boss: Senator Markwayne Mullin, a former MMA fighter, nearly engaged in a physical altercation with Teamsters President Sean O'Brien during a Senate HELP Committee hearing. The confrontation was defused before it escalated into a physical fight.Representative Tim Burchett Accuses Kevin McCarthy of Physical Altercation: Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of elbowing him in the kidneys during an interaction at the Capitol. The incident reportedly occurred in the context of political tensions within the GOP.Senator Tim Scott Drops Out of 2024 Presidential Race: Senator Tim Scott announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Republican presidential race, making the announcement just months before the Iowa caucuses. His departure was unexpected, given his previous campaign activities.StoriesDems win big on election night and the reason shouldn't surprise anyoneGeorgia Judge Schedules Emergency Hearing in Trump RICO Case Following Video LeaksTrump goes the full AdolfThe Supreme Court's new ethics code is a jokeJoe Manchin will not seek re-electionHouse passes a short-term funding bill...without the Free-dumb Caucus againGOP senator pretends to be a tough guy to a Union BossKevin McCarthy throwing sharp elbows not just politically anymoreTim Scott fails to impress his girlfriend; drops out of Republican raceThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5941717/advertisement

Last night, Vivek went on with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation and went after Fredo. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien challenged each other to a physical fight during the Senate HELP Committee with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) having to step in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Episode of the Steak for Breakfast Podcast, we are covering:    With the House Resolution l to Impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas failing on the floor vote and heading back to committee, Speaker Mike Johnson faces a busy week with pressure to pass another CR through the holidays and juggle the Biden Impeachment Inquiry at the same time President Donald J. Trump held a campaign rally in Claremont, New Hampshire this weekend and we've got all the highlights  We do a little Beltway Roundup and get you up to date with the latest from the investigation into the Biden Crime Family, the near fisticuffs that took place inside of the Senate HELP Committee and the Halls of Congress today and touch on the 2024 campaign trail  Guests: In Order of Appearance    All profile handles are for X (formerly Twitter)  Congressman Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) U.S. House Representative, WI-7   Website: http://tiffany.house.gov/   Caroline Wren (@CarolineWren) Founder, BlueBonnet Fundraising; Senior Advisor, Kari Lake for Senate 2024    Website: https://karilake.com/   Elizabeth Helgelien (@ElizabethForNV) Former Nevada State Senator; Current U.S. House Candidate, NV-3   Website: https://elizabethfornv.com/about/   Subscribe to the show and rate it, don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And find everything Steak for Breakfast at https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast Be sure to listen, like, follow and SHARE our Steak for Breakfast content!   Steak for Breakfast:  SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steak-for-breakfast-podcast/id1498791684   SUBSCRIBE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3MXIB2s8IWLoT4tnBMAH9n?si=izN0KShBSAytW5JBBsKEwQ   email the show: steakforbreakfastpodcast@protonmail.com    Steak for Substack: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.substack.com   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout  Website: https://mystore.com/steak Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak  Via the Phone: 800-658-8045    My Patriot Cigar Co. Enter Promo Code: STEAK  and save 25% http://mypatriotcigars.com/usa/steak   Man Rubs Enter Promo Code: STEAK15 and save 15% https://manrubs.com   Beard Vet Coffee Enter Promo Code: STEAK and save 10%  https://www.beardvet.com/   BattleBorn Coffee Roasters enter promo code: STEAK and save 20% off your first order  https://www.battleborn.coffee   New Hope Wellness use this link or enter promo code: STEAK during intake for free consultation and $100 off your first order https://www.newhopewellness.com/steak Call: 1-800-527-2150  

Rich Bucher, one of the co-founders of Turnkey Pharmacy Solutions, makes a long-awaited appearance on the podcast with Greg and Rob.  Rich and Rob share anecdotes from their early days getting involved in external 340B support (23:26).   Rich also shares some thoughts on 340B topics like GPO Prohibition mitigation strategies (39:13), what to make of the FAQ 4301 developments earlier this year (49:58) and opinions on recent state-enacted laws addressing contract pharmacy provisions (57:49). In the intro, Greg, Rob, and Rich get caught up on manufacturer restrictions and react to inquiries sent to 340B hospitals from the Senate HELP Committee. Please email us with questions or suggested podcast topics at 340BUnscripted@spendmend.com. Also, don't forget to register for an upcoming SpendMend webinar focusing on innovative pharmacy supply chain management: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/677788879648187232?source=340B+Unscripted  

Ralph spends the whole hour with Jennifer Vanderbes, author of “Wonder Drug: The Secret History Of Thalidomide In America And Its Hidden Victims.” Thalidomide was never “commercially available” in the U.S., but American doctors handed out samples to patients even though no one could prove the drug was safe. Or could definitively say what the drug did. And by the time thalidomide landed at the FDA for approval, whistleblowers, journalists, doctors, and patients in Germany, Australia, and the UK were sounding the alarm about its shocking side effects.Jennifer Vanderbes is an award-winning novelist, journalist and screenwriter. Her latest book is Wonder Drug: The Secret History Of Thalidomide In America And Its Hidden Victims.It did not shock me researching this story that the pharmaceutical firms operated with a focus on profit, and that allowed for cutting corners. What really did shock me in my research was realizing that the doctors uniformly gaslit these patients. And it was stunning to me that you didn't have any of these physicians who had given the drug to pregnant women who realized.Jennifer VanderbesI was very surprised to be looking through materials that were so at odds with what had been reported. And in many ways this became, to me, a story about what can happen when the media accepts at face value a certain spin on the story. The FDA was very dependent initially on what the drug firms were telling it, and then the press was depending on what the FDA was telling it, and then everybody sort of moved on. It was also a happy story that people wanted to believe: “we were the one wonderful country that had stopped this drug.“Jennifer VanderbesTheir number one tactic is to just not even argue the merits of [thalidomide cases], but get them dismissed on the basis that, “All these people should have known.” And I would say six years of my life—and this book— is really an examination of how incredibly reasonable and understandable it is that these individuals did not know. They were not given the information, and the government was quite complicit.Jennifer VanderbesThe best investigative reporters in America didn't uncover this story, until [Jennifer Vanderbes] put it together in a book. Because it took unbelievable energy, curiosity, travel, interviewing the survivors, going to their homes, and the most recent development— which was really incredible that it didn't get national TV and radio coverage— was the gathering, for the first time, of thalidomide victims in San Diego.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. On July 25th, The Teamsters reported that UPS caved to their demands, narrowly avoiding a massive strike. The wins in the new contract include higher wages, more jobs, ending the two-tier wage system, air conditioning in UPS trucks, part-time Rewards, and drivers getting Martin Luther King Day off. The union has triumphantly declared “We've Changed the Game” If these negotiations had fallen through, 340,000 UPS Teamsters would have gone on strike. Other employers, such as the Hollywood AMPTP, should take notes.2. The Intercept reports that the Sanders-led Senate HELP Committee has passed an amendment to the  Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act allocating $3 million to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to explore new options to pay for developing pharmaceuticals, specifically through public funding or “innovation prizes.” These drugs would then enter the public domain so they could be sold as generic medications. Sanders has made the cost of prescription drugs a high priority during his chairmanship on the committee, and hopefully this effort will bear fruit.3. Following months of protest, CNN reports that Israel has rammed through their controversial judicial reform legislation. This law will limit the independence of the Israeli judiciary, which has been a bulwark against the most extreme Right-wing factions in the country. This measure has sparked a new round of scrutiny regarding the $3.8 billion in military aid the US provides to Israel annually.4. Progressive Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has requested $15 million for a plan to help decarbonize 200 to 350 homes by modernizing heating and insulation for low-income Chicagoans, Gregory Pratt of the Tribune reports. One hopes to see more progressives pushing for these localized and tailored climate change plans.5. Anchor Brewing, a San Francisco institution, has been on a roller-coaster for several years. The workers organized the plant, then it was sold to Sapporo, and now Sapporo is attempting to sell the company for parts. In response, the union is attempting to raise funds to purchase Anchor Brewing and run it as a worker-owned cooperative. More information is available at Vinepair.com.6. In other alcohol related news, the American Prospect reports that Total Wine, the company founded by Rep. David Trone of Maryland – who is currently seeking the open Senate seat in that state – is fighting an FTC antitrust investigation. The agency is investigating the chain for “price discrimination and exclusive dealing arrangements in alcohol markets as part of a broader crackdown that's also charging Pepsi and Coke for similar anti-competitive conduct.” Total Wine has reportedly sought to impede this investigation at every turn, and have succeeded in slowing it down even as the Biden administration seeks to crack down on anti-competitive behavior. It remains to be seen whether this will become an issue in the Senate campaign.7. Following Rep. Jamaal Bowman's boycott of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to Congress, Jewish Insider reports that  AIPAC – among the most powerful Washington lobbies – is pushing for Westchester County executive George Latimer to run a primary challenge against Bowman. Historically, AIPAC has been instrumental in keeping progressive voices, and their criticism of Israel, out of the halls of Congress.8. The German news service DW reports that Ukraine has imposed a “ban on Russian-language culture…such as books, music, plays and concerts.” Whatever one's opinions are on the war in Ukraine, this ban approaches dangerous territory of limiting expression for minority groups in the country and could presage more militarized crackdowns on the Russian minority in Ukraine similar to Japanese-Americans during WWII. All parties must come to the table to negotiate an immediate ceasefire and engage in high-level diplomacy; only that can prevent this war spinning into graver and graver circumstances.9. Finally, on July 20th a super-majority of workers at Grindr, the LGBTQ dating app, voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, per Kim Kelly. This came as a response, in part, to revelations showing Grindr's new CEO had previously voiced support for anti-LGBTQ politicians on Twitter and via political donations. Bring on “Hot Labor Summer.” Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

House Energy and Commerce Committee cleared a PBM bill that seems to contain more transparency loopholes and makes more limited policy tweaks to the drug supply chain middleman than the Senate HELP Committee's bill, but the House-side legislation would pull back the curtain on specialty-drug reimbursement in a way the Senate version does not.  Two titans of PBM Reform join us today, returning guest Antonio Ciaccia with 3 Axis Advisors and Loretta Boesing with Unite for Safe Medications update our PBM Reform Podcast listeners with the latest progression in PBM Reform.  Reference:  PBM Reform: Vertical Integration, Specialty Drug Tracking Among Differences In House v. Senate Bills https://pink.pharmaintelligence.informa.com/PS148320/PBM-Reform-Vertical-Integration-Specialty-Drug-Tracking-Among-Differences-In-House-v-Senate-Bills 

House Energy and Commerce Committee cleared a PBM bill that seems to contain more transparency loopholes and makes more limited policy tweaks to the drug supply chain middleman than the Senate HELP Committee's bill, but the House-side legislation would pull back the curtain on specialty-drug reimbursement in a way the Senate version does not.  Two titans of PBM Reform join us today, returning guest Antonio Ciaccia with 3 Axis Advisors and Loretta Boesing with Unite for Safe Medications update our PBM Reform Podcast listeners with the latest progression in PBM Reform.  Reference:  PBM Reform: Vertical Integration, Specialty Drug Tracking Among Differences In House v. Senate Bills https://pink.pharmaintelligence.informa.com/PS148320/PBM-Reform-Vertical-Integration-Specialty-Drug-Tracking-Among-Differences-In-House-v-Senate-Bills 

Auto safety expert, Byron Bloch, joins us to tell the story of how citizens in conjunction with the Sierra Club defeated a highway widening boondoggle in Maryland. Then we welcome microgrids manager at the Green Justice Coalition, Sari Kayyali, to tell us how microgrids in his community have saved money and the environment. Finally, we catch up with the director of Progressive Democrats of America, Alan Minsky, in Washington DC to talk about high speed rail and the post-Bernie progressive movement.Byron Bloch is an independent consultant and court-qualified expert in Auto Safety Design and Vehicle Crashworthiness. Over the years, he has fought for safer fuel tanks, stronger seats, the need for airbags, better truck underride guards, and has testified on these safety issues at Congressional Hearings, and to NHTSA. He contributed to the Sierra Club's successful campaign to strongly oppose and stop the proposed widening of the 1-270 and Capital Beltway and the scheme to also add privatized toll lanes.What we have to do is refocus and say, “We are a people-oriented nation. Not a vehicle-oriented nation.” And if you look at it in those terms—people-oriented nation— then you say, “Well, what are the economics, what are the health and safety issues that affect people?” But instead, it becomes the almighty vehicle-ization of the nation and that means more lanes, more traffic, more lanes, and then more traffic.Byron Bloch Activist and auto safety expertThe corporate state arrives in different manifestations— the military industrial complex, the Pentagon, and this is what's going on at the state level. It doesn't get many national headlines, but it's the merger of corporations with state government. And there's a lot of secrecy involved, a lot of phony promises, a lot of misleading rhetoric, and the legislators are compromised by the campaign contributions and the pressure from the governor's office.Ralph NaderSari Kayyali is a mechanical engineer and the Microgrids Manager at Microgrids Chelsea and Chinatown Power.The technology around clean electric generation—solar panels and battery storage—are experiencing a revolution. Just in the last decade alone, solar panels have dropped to a third of what they used to cost to manufacture. Battery storage has improved dramatically in terms of energy density, cost, and reliability. And so, a lot of places around the country are looking to these as solutions. Microgrids have been around for a while, they don't necessarily need to use clean technology but specifically clean microgrids are really catching on all around the country, and around the world.Sari Kayyali Microgrids Manager at the Green Justice CoalitionAlan Minsky is a lifelong activist, and Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America. Alan has worked as a progressive journalist for the past two decades, he was Program Director at KPFK Los Angeles from 2009-2018, and he has coordinated Pacifica Radio's national coverage of elections. He is the creator and producer of the political podcasts for The Nation and Jacobin, as well as a contributor to Common Dreams and Truthdig.There's a whole bunch of elements that the progressive movement hasn't been that attentive to. Including things like industrial production and the transformation it requires between business and government to transform American society, so that it's operating on clean energy, so that its industrial manufacturing doesn't have breaks in supply chains… So I got involved with a lot of projects that aren't that common for progressives to be involved in.Alan Minsky, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of AmericaIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. CNBC reports that the FTC is mulling a proposal to bar Meta (formerly Facebook) from monetizing the data of minors. This follows the agency's allegation that the company violated a 2020 privacy order. The FTC quoted an independent assessor who found “several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook's privacy program” that posed “substantial risks to the public.” Hopefully, this action will put other tech companies on notice regarding monetization of children's data.2. Dr. Steve Feldman, a Jewish dermatologist, is being penalized by the state of Arkansas for his refusal to sign a loyalty pledge to the state of Israel, the Arkansas Times reports. After giving a lecture to medical students in Little Rock, he was prompted to check a box agreeing not to boycott Israel, which he refused to do. As a result, the state is withholding his payment for the lecture. The Arkansas Times also refused to sign the pledge. Feldman said “What's nuts is they're asking a newspaper to say they won't boycott Israel, they're asking Americans who have a conscience, who know Israel is keeping Palestinians from their homes.” The ultra-conservative Supreme Court declined to hear the newspaper's legal challenge to the state law, and therefore it is still in place.3. In Rochester, New York, Coca-Cola is building a new facility. The company predicts this development will yield 250 new jobs. However, the Rochester Beacon has broken down the corporate welfare the conglomerate stands to receive in exchange: $41 million in state and local subsidies, or about $164,000 for each job created.4. A stunning expose in the Guardian shines a light on the beef industry, and specifically, their “messaging machine.” “The beef industry has developed a ‘Digital Command Center” that tracks media outlets and social media for more than 200 beef-related topics” Based in Denver, Colorado, the project which “looks like a military operation” is staffed 24/7 with personnel redundancies to “make sure someone's always watching.”5. In another law enforcement bombshell, longtime LAPD SWAT officer, Sgt. Timothy Colomey, has blown the whistle on the reality of the elite unit. According to Sgt. Colomey, LAPD SWAT is controlled by a violent inner circle known as the “SWAT Mafia” which has perpetuated itself using “excessive force...insubordination, sabotage and cover-ups.” Colomey has put his allegations into a detailed new deposition, available at the LA Times.6. The Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has officially opened an investigation into charges that the George Washington University discriminated against Palestinian students, according to the GW Hatchet. Palestine Legal, which filed the complaint on behalf of three GW students, responded to the news by writing “This is an important step that shows the Office of Civil Rights is taking anti-Palestinian discrimination seriously.” Radhika Sainath, a senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal added “Even if pro-Israel groups don't like it and complain, the law is clear – Palestinian students are entitled to the same educational opportunities and services as other students.”7. In other Palestine news Rep. Rashida Tlaib held an event commemorating the Nakba – literally the catastrophe – of May 15th, 1948 when 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homeland. This event was originally slated to be held at the Capitol Visitors Center, but Speaker McCarthy blocked the ceremony, per CNN. Tlaib responded with a statement, saying, “Speaker McCarthy wants to rewrite history and erase the existence and truth of the Palestinian people, but he has failed to do so.” Finally, Bernie Sanders stepped in and facilitated the event in the Senate HELP Committee hearing room.8. AL.com reports that the Democratic Party of Alabama has abolished the DNC-mandated minority caucuses for youth, LGBTQ, and disabled Democrats. Until now, “those caucuses had the power to nominate at-large members to ensure representation proportionate to Alabama Democratic voters.” State party boss Joe Reed had long opposed theses caucuses, which dilute the influence of the state's Black caucus on the executive committee. Former Senator Doug Jones, the only Democratic Senator in Alabama since 1997, is quoted saying “What the leadership of the Alabama Democratic Party did — was to essentially say that we don't represent the Democratic electorate in Alabama anymore.”9. Kimberly Gardner, St. Louis's elected prosecutor, is being forced to resign from her position under threat from the Missouri state government, per the Missouri Independent. Gardner, a reformist prosecutor, has drawn ire from conservatives and the police union in St. Louis since her tenure began; this came to a head when the Republican legislature threatened a state takeover of her office. In her resignation letter, Gardner wrote “I can neither enable nor allow the outright disenfranchisement of the people of the City of St. Louis.”10. The International Committee of the Democratic Socialists of America announced on Twitter that the Washington DC Council has passed a unanimous resolution urging President Biden to “dismantle the US blockade” and remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Sen. Bernie Sanders is launching his latest push as one of the Senate's most powerful committee chairs: to pour nearly $200 billion of new money into the health care system. The new package is Sanders' response to monthslong discussions on the Senate HELP Committee about how to address growing health workforce shortages and financial woes of community health centers. Host Megan Messerly talks with Daniel Payne.

Erin Callahan, Chief Operating Officer for the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition and the Diabetes Leadership Council, recaps what she noticed from the Senate HELP Committee Hearing on PBMs and Insulin; the Senate HELP Committee holds a markup on the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act, where an amendment was offered on step therapy; and Dr. Joanne Kaiser-Smith,  President of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, tells us the importance of the Senate's reintroduction of the Safe Step Act. Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition Webpage Diabetes Leadership Council Webpage News Release: Physicians Wenstrup, Ruiz Lead Reintroduction of Safe Step Act to Improve Patients Access to Treatments News Release: Senator Hassan and Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure That Patients Can Get the Medication They Need  

Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician, explains how Group Purchasing Organizations play a large role in drug and medical supply shortages; the House E&C's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is hosting a hearing about the root causes of drug shortages and supply chain issues; the Senate HELP Committee markup on PBMs is today after being postponed from last week; and Dr. Nikki Johnson, a pediatrician, discusses her personal experience with shortages caused by GPOs. Bloomberg Government News Article: White House Assembles Secret Team to Tackle Drug Shortages, Quality Woes House E&C Oversight & Investigations Subcomittee Hearing: “Examining the Root Causes of Drug Shortages: Challenges in Pharmaceutical Drug Supply Chains” Patients Rising Podcast: GPOs Cause Dangerous Shortages  

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, co-authors a comprehensive report for the Pioneer Institute on the impacts of PBMs and Copay Accumulator programs; the Senate HELP Committee hosts a markup on the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act; Ryan Strik, Rhode Island Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, discusses Copay Accumulator legislation that their organization and dozens of others are trying to pass; and Patients Rising Now releases a Patient Impact Report on Copay Accumulators. Pioneer Health Report: Out-of-Pocket Pirates – Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and the Confiscation of Out-of-Pocket Assistance Programs Global Health Living Foundation Webpage: Impact of Legislation Protecting Patient Assistance Programs on Health Insurance Premiums Senate HELP Committee Webpage: Executive Session Rhode Island Cancer Action Center Webpage Patients Rising Now Patient Impact Report: Copay Accumulator Programs Double-Dip Into Patient Wallets  

This week, the Senate HELP Committee will mark up a bill targeting pharmacy benefit managers' (PBMs) business practices. Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock explain why PBMs are subject to controversy and what to expect from this legislation.

The U.S. Senate HELP Committee on Wednesday voted to send President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Department of Labor to the Senate for consideration. The lawmakers voted in favor of Julie Su, who served as deputy secretary for the Department of Justice under the Biden administration. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/america-in-focus/support

The Senate HELP committee announced earlier this week that it will consider a set of bills next week aimed at enhancing access to generic drugs and medications for rare diseases. The package also includes a 91-page bill targeting pharmacy benefit managers and their business practices — likely to bring ire from the industry. Megan R. Wilson talks with host Katherine Ellen Foley about the bills under consideration. 

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified before the Senate HELP Committee on Wednesday. Lawmakers questioned him about the coffee chain's union-busting activities that have been recorded and reviewed by the National Labor Relations Board over the past several months.The Senate voted 66-30 across party lines to repeal authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq. The vote follows the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Iraq invasion, and its repeal would prevent presidents, current and future, from taking military action abroad without Congressional approval.And in headlines: Pope Francis was hospitalized with a respiratory infection, the Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump will go on a one-month hiatus, and the FDA approved the over-the-counter sale of Narcan.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday 

✦ ABOUT ✦The Valley Labor Report is the only union talk radio show in Alabama, elevating struggles for justice and fairness on the job, educating folks about how they can do the same, and bringing relevant news to workers in Alabama and beyond.Our single largest source of revenue *is our listeners* so your support really matters and helps us stay on the air!Make a one time donation or become a monthly donor on our website or patreon:TVLR.FMPatreon.com/thevalleylaborreportVisit our official website for more info on the show, membership, our sponsors, merch, and more: https://www.tvlr.fmFollow TVLR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheValleyLab...Follow TVLR on Twitter: @LaborReportersFollow Jacob on Twitter: @JacobM_ALFollow TVLR Co-Creator David Story on Twitter: @RadiclUnionist✦ CONTACT US ✦Our phone number is 844-899-TVLR (8857), call or text us live on air, or leave us a voicemail and we might play it during the show!✦ OUR ADVERTISERS KEEP US ON THE AIR! ✦Support them if you can.The attorneys at MAPLES, TUCKER, AND JACOB fight for working people. Let them represent you in your workplace injury claim. Mtandj.com; (855) 617-9333The MACHINISTS UNION represents workers in several industries including healthcare, the defense industry, woodworking, and more. iamaw44.org (256) 286-3704 / organize@iamaw44.orgDo you need good union laborers on your construction site, or do you want a union construction job? Reach out to the IRONWORKERS LOCAL 477. Ironworkers477.org  256-383-3334 (Jeb Miles) / local477@bellsouth.netThe NORTH ALABAMA DSA is looking for folks to work for a better North Alabama, fighting for liberty and justice for all. Contact / Join: DSANorthAlabama@gmail.comIBEW LOCAL 136 is a group of over 900 electricians and electrical workers providing our area with the finest workforce in the construction industry. You belong here. ibew136.org Contact: (205) 833-0909IFPTE - We are engineers, scientists, nonprofit employees, technicians, lawyers, and many other professions who have joined together to have a greater voice in our careers. With over 80,000 members spread across the U.S. and Canada, we invite you and your colleagues to consider the benefits of engaging in collective bargaining. IFPTE.org Contact: (202) 239-4880THE HUNTSVILLE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD is a union open to any and all working people. Call or email them today to begin organizing your workplace - wherever it is. On the Web: https://hsviww.org/ Contact: (256) 651-6707 / organize@hsviww.orgENERGY ALABAMA is accelerating Alabama's transition to sustainable energy. We are a nonprofit membership-based organization that has advocated for clean energy in Alabama since 2014. Our work is based on three pillars: education, advocacy, and technical assistance. Energy Alabama on the Web: https://alcse.org/ Contact: (256) 812-1431 / dtait@energyalabama.orgThe Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union represents in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to retail, grocery stores, poultry processing, dairy processing, cereal processing, soda bottlers, bakeries, health care, hotels, manufacturing, public sector workers like crossing guards, sanitation, and highway workers, warehouses, building services,  and distribution. Learn more at RWDSU.infoThe American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union proudly representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas. Learn more at AFGE.orgAre you looking for a better future, a career that can have you set for life, and to be a part of something that's bigger than yourself?   Consider a skilled trades apprenticeship with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Learn more at IUPAT.orgUnionly is a union-focused company created specifically to support organized labor. We believe that providing online payments should be simple, safe, and secure.  Visit https://unionly.io/ to learn more.Hometown Action envisions inclusive, revitalized, and sustainable communities built through multiracial working class organizing and leadership development at the local and state level to create opportunities for all people to thrive. Learn more at hometownaction.orgMembers of IBEW have some of the best wages and benefits in North Alabama. Find out more and join their team at ibew558.org ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/07/3-early-takeaways-new-dominion-fox-lawsuit-documents/?https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/28/murdoch-fox-dominion-lawsuit/Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has finally agreed to testify before the Senate HELP Committee.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plEcfhexzEw&t=360sDefend the Right of Workers to Organizehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmMrHnn9DK8  Support the show

On this episode of the Policy Matters Podcast, Seyfarth Senior Counsel Scott Hecker and Counsel Scott Mallery discuss the Senate HELP Committee's recent inability to advance U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Administrator nominee Jessica Looman out of committee, this time due to a procedural hiccup that will likely be remedied. The Scotts discuss what this means for Looman's nomination specifically, as well as the general implications for Article I and Article III nominations during this Congressional term.

In this episode, Rob and Greg catch up on recent 340B developments, including the 3rd Circuit Court ruling on one of the contract pharmacy cases and the subsequent changes to some manufacturer's policies (1:36), how the new shape of the Senate HELP Committee may influence 340B legislative debate, and why a renewed focus on advocacy might be helpful (9:39) and what the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) might mean for 340B Program operations (15:54). Later, Rob and Greg are joined by colleague Riley Protz (25:24), and they discuss the latest challenges with manufacturer restrictions in the 340B contract pharmacy space.  They'll recap the most up-to-date manufacturer policies, address the many difficulties with uploading data to 340B ESP, and highlight how the SpendMend pharmacy team has been supporting covered entities in navigating the issue.   Senate HELP Committee Membership: https://www.help.senate.gov/about/members  

Welcome back to The Bar! After the midterm elections and a helping of turkey, Congress returns for some lame duck! Topics for this lame duck session include: extending telehealth benefits in Medicare recipients and (maybe) HDHPs: the potential for mental health legislation; new leaders on the Senate HELP Committee (and the possible return of Larry David to SNL!), and the upcoming health plan transparency deadline. And in Last Call, Kerri toasts a hardwood dynasty off to yet another amazing start!

Host Beth Garner talks to Norma Sharara, Managing Director, National Tax Office — Compensation & Benefits at BDO regarding the SECURE 2.0 Act of the House, the RISE & Shine Act of the Senate HELP Committee, and the as-yet-unnamed bill from the Senate Finance Committee, all aiming to supply greater access to workplace retirement. Beth and Norma discuss some of the provisions of each bill and how they differ, including a SECURE 2.0 provision for student loan debt.Listen in to get information on bipartisan supported expected improvements to workplace retirement plans.Key Takeaways:[1:07] On March 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Secure 2.0 with a vote of 414-5. [2:48] The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) passed the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement to Supplement Healthy Investments for the Nest Egg Act (RISE & SHINE Act).[4:34] The Senate Finance Committee is considering over 1,000 changes to the House Secure 2.0.[7:44] The original SECURE Act became law in December 2019, before COVID-19. It was the biggest change to retirement plan law since the Pension Protection Act of 2006. SECURE 2.0 seeks to add enhancements to the 2019 act.[8:36] One change is increasing access to workplace retirement plans. Norma explains the differences in the House and Senate bills on mandatory enrollment. Another hot topic is emergency savings. SECURE 2.0 does not have a provision for emergency savings but RISE & SHINE allows a sidecar 401(k) account to build up for emergency use.[10:10] Norma discusses changing the Required Minimum Distributions from starting at age 72 to rising to start at age 75. There are other provisions like allowing additional catch-up contributions, for those close to retirement age and making all contributions after-tax Roth.[10:52] Other possible provisions are allowing employees to have their matching contribution be Roth, to pay tax on the matching contribution up front, and not at the withdrawal, electronic plan administration through email, Savers' Credit being refundable to encourage people to save, and some additional tax credits for small businesses to offset startup costs.[12:44] SECURE 2.0 (but not RISE & SHINE) allows you to treat student loan payments as elective deferrals for purpose of matching contributions. Students are graduating with too much debt and too few job opportunities.[14:39] Another SECURE 2.0 provision, not in RISE & SHINE, is a government-run “Lost & Found” for retirement plan assets of people leaving jobs behind.Resources:BDO.comBDO's ERISA Center of ExcellenceBDO.com/talksERISAEmail: bdotalkserisa@bdo.comHouse Bill Secure 2.0, “Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022”Senate RISE & SHINE ActNovember 2022 ElectionSECURE Act of 2019Pension Protection Act of 2006Quotes:“[There are] all sorts of things [in these bills] to encourage people to save more and to really help people have an idea about their retirement.” — Norma Sharara“It's very nice to see that there is broad bipartisan support for these rules and it's exciting to see what comes out of it.” — Beth Garner“The best parts of RISE & SHINE and SECURE 2.0 and whatever the Senate Finance is going to call their bill, hopefully, that will move and we'll see even greater access to workplace retirement savings.” — Norma Sharara

The Senate bipartisan gun violence prevention framework and continued Senate HELP Committee work on User Fees is the primary focus this week on The Hill. Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock team up to explore the week ahead in the Senate.

BRN Sunday | A look at the Senate HELP committee's RISE & SHINE bill to improve retirement and enhancing savings; the Senate Finance committee looks at other provisions like CITs in 403b plans, tech company layoffs swell and an NFL streaming + / prime service?| David Levine, Kevin Walsh & Daniel Kline | Visit http://www.broadcastretirementnetwork.com

Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama, discusses Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer moving forward with an elections takeover bill and drastically altering the filibuster, and gives an update on new COVID information including Dr. Fauci's testimony before the Senate HELP Committee. Mary Miller, U.S. Representative for the 15th District of Illinois, talks about a newly released email showing that Education Secretary Cardona solicited the NSBA letter comparing parents who spoke out at school board meetings to domestic terrorists. Rep. Kevin Brady, U.S. Representative for the 8th District of Texas, shares the implications of inflation rising to the highest level since 1982. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Katherine Johnson, FRC's research fellow for legal and policy studies, discusses the U.S. Supreme Court blocking Biden's OSHA vaccine mandate for businesses but allowing the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to go into effect. Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator from Iowa, talks about Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer moving forward with votes on an elections takeover bill and radically altering the filibuster, and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Biden's vaccine mandates. Todd Rokita, Indiana Attorney General, gives an update on his lawsuits against the Biden Vaccine mandates and discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Biden's vaccine mandates. Mike Braun, U.S. Senator from Indiana, comments on the Senate HELP Committee voting to advance Robert Califf's nomination to head the Food and Drug Administration. J. Christian Adams, President and General Counsel of Public Interest Legal Foundation, responds to Senator Schumer's claim that the GOP is passing voter suppression laws at the state level and gives update on election integrity efforts in the states. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

Karen Kerrigan, SBE Council, on Senate HELP Committee's hearing on the PRO Act; will Democrats break their pledge to not raise taxes on small biz?; a recap of SBE Council's "State of Small Business and Startups in the Digital Economy" briefing.

Isabelle is the National Women's Health Network's (NWHN) Senior Policy Manager, where she is responsible for developing and leading their women's health and consumer safety policy efforts, with a particular focus on historically marginalized communities. Isabelle actively lobbies, at the grassroots and federal level, on women's health and cosmetics policy and has provided expert testimony before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration. Her advocacy has been recognized by Democracy Now!, PBS NewsHour, Good Morning America, NBC News and a host of other publications and networks. Over the course of her career, Isabelle has held clerkships with government, labor unions, and nonprofit organizations including, AFL-CIO, National Education Association, National Lawyers Employment Association (as a Peggy Browning Fellow), and Congress. Prior to NWHN, Isabelle served as a law clerk for the Senate HELP Committee, and as an Associate Staff Counsel at the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Isabelle earned a J.D. with distinction in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Howard University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and is currently an LL.M. candidate in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law. She also serves as a Board Member for Women's Voices for the Earth.

Vivek Murthy and Rachel Levine, nominees for two of the Biden administration's top health posts, told senators they would follow scientific recommendations and ensure health equity if given the opportunity to help lead the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. CQ Roll Call reporter Ariel Cohen reports on the top issues brought up by members of the Senate HELP Committee.

Vivek Murthy and Rachel Levine, nominees for two of the Biden administration’s top health posts, told senators they would follow scientific recommendations and ensure health equity if given the opportunity to help lead the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. CQ Roll Call reporter Ariel Cohen reports on the top issues brought up by members of the Senate HELP Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Nathan Fellow Rebecca Natow joins host, Alex Morse, to discuss her latest analysis examining the retirement of US Senator and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Lamar Alexander, the role of the HELP Committee in setting congressional agendas and actions in higher education, and the likely choice for next Senate HELP Committee chair in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Today we continue the Congressional COVIDCalls with my guest, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey.U.S. Senator Bob Casey fights every day for Pennsylvania families. He is a strong advocate for policies that improve the health care and early learning of children and policies that will raise wages for the middle class. Senator Casey serves on four committees including the Senate Finance Committee and Senate HELP Committee. He is also the highest ranking Democrat on the Special Committee on Aging, where his agenda is focused on policies that support seniors and individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey and his wife Terese live in Scranton and have four adult daughters.

  Bio David J. Johns is known for his passion, public policy acumen and fierce advocacy for youth. He is an enthusiast about equity—leveraging his time, talent and treasures to address the needs of individuals and communities often neglected and ignored. A recognized thought leader and social justice champion, David’s career has focused on improving life outcomes and opportunities for Black people. On September 1, 2017, David Johns began his next life chapter as the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)—a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. NBJC’s mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ bias and stigma. In 2013, Johns was appointed as the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans (Initiative) by President Barack H. Obama and served until the last day of the Obama Administration in January, 2017. The Initiative worked across federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education and workforce development programs for African American students of all ages. Under his leadership, the Initiative studied the experiences of students—leveraged a partnership with Johnson Publishing Company (EBONY Magazine) to produce a series of African American Educational Summits (AfAmEdSummits) at college campuses throughout the country, where the only experts who sat in front of the White House seal were students as young as elementary school. The recommendations that students made at AfAmEdSummits have been used to improve policies, programs and practices, including curriculum, designed to ensure that students thrive—both in school and in life. Prior to his White House appointment, Johns was a senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) under the leadership of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). Before working for the Senate HELP Committee, Johns served under the leadership of the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Johns also was a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow in the office of Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY). Johns has worked on issues affecting low-income and minority students, neglected youth, early childhood education, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). His research as an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow served as a catalyst to identify, disrupt and supplant negative perceptions of black males—both within academia and society. Johns is committed to volunteer services and maintains an active commitment to improve literacy among adolescent minority males. Johns has been featured as an influential politico and advocate by several publications and outlets, including TheRoot.com, NBC, EBONY and The Washington Post.  Johns is a prominent strategist who offers commentary for several media outlets including BET, CNN, EducationPost and TV One. David is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in sociology and education policy at Columbia University. Johns obtained a master’s degree in sociology and education policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he graduated summa cum laude while simultaneously teaching elementary school in New York City. He graduated with honors from Columbia University in 2004 with a triple major in English, creative writing and African American studies. Johns was named to the Root100 in both 2013 and 2014, selected as a member of the Ebony Power 100 in 2015, and received an early career award from Columbia University, Teachers College in 2016. He has also served as an adjunct professor at American University. Resources National Black Justice Coalition Johns, D., 2020. Don’t Make the Internet Unwelcome to Diverse Communities, Especially Black and Latinx LGBTQ People. [Blog] Morning Consult, Available at: [Accessed 11 November 2020]. Related Episodes ‘Social media policy: It's the moderation, stupid!’ with Chris Lewis Ep. 232(Opens in a new browser tab) Intro JOE: Hey everybody. So here we are on the other side of the election. They're still counting the votes. But this thing looks over. Even in the face of several lawsuits, President Trump has brought to challenge the election results, Biden's win is only becoming more decisive. The president-elect is on track to win by over 5 million popular votes, bringing his total to more than 80 million, more than any presidential candidate in history, and he still has another 75 likely electoral votes outstanding in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. So ... we're pretty much done here.  Hit me up. (866) 482-3898. Leave your thoughts! Maybe we’ll use them in a future episode. (866) 482-3898. What tech policy issues should the Biden administration and Congress focus on? Let us know. (866) 482-3898. Save it to your contacts. So, you know, I don’t have to say the number over and over again. Like a ShamWow commercial. So that brings us to -- what will the next 4+ years look like in terms of tech policy? Obviously, China will be a major issue, and particularly Huawei. It will be interesting to see whether the Biden administration continues its ban of U.S. companies doing any business with Huawei whatsoever. Key allies haven’t supported the Trump administration’s ban, citing their reliance on Huawei technology. Outside of technology, what are the chances of war with China over the coming years, as China has continued to object to the U.S. presence in the South China Sea? What happens there directly affects the tech markets--war would certainly have a major impact on the supply chain. So that is definitely something to watch out for. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which states that platforms aren’t legally responsible for the content their users post, has been an issue, as you know, with the Trump administration attempting to get the FCC--an independent agency, no less -- to use Section 230 to rein in what some conservatives see as an “anti-conservative bias” on platforms like Twitter. I’d be very surprised to see the Biden administration continue down that path.  It’s just a huge waste of administrative, legislative and judicial resources for a policy that, I believe, would ultimately lose on First Amendment grounds once it hit the Supreme Court. Republicans and some Democrats could certainly purse reforming Section 230. But we’ll have to see if Josh Hawley is as passionate about illegal sexual content, and sex trafficking, as he says he is, and pursues Section 230 as vigorously as he has up until now.  And another issue, I think, that we haven’t heard a lot about but probably should since we saw growth among Latino and Black working-class voters voting for Trumpism, is the Future of Work. What does the future of work look like for Americans in a tech sector that hasn’t done anything meaningful, other than releasing diversity reports, to improve diversity and inclusion -- nothing observable, I should say, because we can’t see everything that’s going on--all we see are the numbers which are pretty sad--they don’t look anything like the U.S. population. And you have companies like IBM already lobbying the Biden administration to fill the government skills gap by working with these same companies. The same companies hiring from the same 5 schools. We have over 5,000 colleges in the United States, many of which offer amazing programs -- since they’re accredited, right? -- they have amazing programs but don’t have the endowments--they don’t have the marketing budgets--for various, historical reasons we don’t need to get into. We hear a lot about recruiting from HBCUs. That’s great! But we have many many state and local colleges with incredible diversity -- Minority Serving Institutions -- with Black, Latino, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Native American students -- that don’t get much advocacy at all. Why is that?  So those are just 3 areas I’m certainly going to be watching. There are many, many others, we’ll get to them on future episodes …  Let’s get into Section 230 -- David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, and someone I greatly, and many, greatly respect and admire this man for his sheer intellect and incredible interpersonal skills. He is an enthusiast about equity—leveraging his time, talent, and treasures to address the needs of individuals and communities often neglected and ignored. A recognized thought leader and social justice champion, David’s career has focused on improving life outcomes and opportunities for Black people. David Johns.

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging: An Interview with Senator Bob Casey One of the most substantial contributions that I've made to policy development amid the COVID-19 crisis is two bills focused on seniors and people with disabilities." — Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Minority Leader, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Policy is the key to making positive changes in our communities. We need policies that secure the health and economic well-being of older adults and people with disabilities. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and two 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellows who served in his office. Part One of ‘Senate Special Committee on Aging: An Interview with Senator Bob Casey’ "Policy is the key to making positive changes in our community. We need policies that secure the health and economic well-being of older adults and people with disabilities." - Lieke van Heumen, PhD Melissa starts the conversation with an interesting question. “What has been the impact of your placement with Senator Casey’s office and the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging on your career?” Lieke van Heumen shares, “This year has been very impactful on me, both personally and professionally. First, it has been a privilege to experience Senator Casey's leadership and to get to work with and learn from such an incredible group of disability and aging policy experts who are so passionate about improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities. It's that same passion that has led me to where I am in my life and my career. I started as a gerontologist, working with older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and then pursued a doctorate in disability studies, and research on aging and disability. I realized that I needed to gain experience and exposure to policymaking to contribute to that and to see those improvements in our communities.” “During my training that I received this year, it allowed me to improve my knowledge and skills in aging and disability policy. I learned how to translate an idea into a policy context, how to brainstorm policy solutions. What steps are involved in writing a good policy? How to solicit the experiences of stakeholders directly impacted by the policy, the complexities of that process, and how it can be better navigated. I now understand better what policymakers need from researchers, what effective advocacy looks like, and how I can be more effective in utilizing my expertise to impact policy. I believe that because of the opportunity to work in Senator Casey's office my future work will be more meaningful and more impactful. I'm very grateful for that.” Lieke added. Thomas says, "It inspired me to see their hard work and understand the small steps that we take in the long game that is policymaking. The office was so great and fully immersed us into the operations. I learned that I love the work. I love the public service aspect, speaking to the constituents, hearing what their concerns are, how that comes to and through the office, and drives the policy. That all comes from Senator Casey himself and his passions. That's what I realized is my calling as well. And I'm going to do my best to stick around and try to stay on the Hill. Then, we'll see what happens.” Part Two of ‘Senate Special Committee on Aging: An Interview with Senator Bob Casey’ Melissa asks Senator Casey, “Your office has a long history of placing fellows. From your perspective, what value do Fellows bring to your office and to your work?" “Our Health and Aging Policy Fellows became integral to the operations of the committee work that we do.” — Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) “Fellows are of great value to any Senate office, regardless of the subject matter, regardless of the issues or the policy work that you are doing. With Lieke and Thomas, their contributions have been in the context of the Special Committee on Aging. We have to do all that we can; we have an obligation to protect seniors and people with disabilities. And you have to have a team to do that. Senators are only as good as their staff. That may be a well-kept secret, but I think it is the truth. We are only as effective as the team we build around us. And we have so many challenges right now, especially with the onset of the virus and the destruction that came from that as well as the conflicts in Washington, which make policy development and the advancement of policy much more difficult. So, the environment is, in one sense, policy starved, but in another sense, it is politically more difficult to achieve policy gains. The core of that is not simply having a strategy to pass a bill. You have to get the policy right. You need the subject matter expertise that surrounds you. And in this case, our Health and Aging Policy Fellows became integral to the operations of the committee work that we do. These Fellows bring both knowledge and  skills, and they have the opportunity to learn how to implement the depths of their policy knowledge into the reality of legislating and moving legislation through the United States Senate.” “People with disabilities have huge challenges that we have got to be responsive to.” —  Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) The challenges probably have never been more significant, but it is particularly difficult for certain Americans, depending on where you are in life. Certainly if you are a senior, it has been particularly challenging and even deadly. We know that from the numbers of people who have contracted the virus and have had problems just surviving. People with disabilities also have huge challenges that we have got to be responsive to.  I often remind our team it has never been more difficult in some sense, or at least in one sense, to be in government, in the federal government. But it's also never been more stimulating; more challenging. And therefore, the policy gains that you make are much more consequential. I think that when you consider the work that both Thomas and Lieke have done, you can see the benefit of that work, in several different contexts; and legislation is essential.” One of the singular or the most substantial contributions that Senator Bob Casey made to policy development amid the COVID-19 crisis are two bills that focus on seniors and people with disabilities.  S.3544 - Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act  S.3740 - COVID-19 Recovery for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act  Lieke, Thomas, or Samantha: Please clarify that parts of these two bills were rolled into the CARES Act that was signed into law? Senator Casey adds, “But we have a lot more to do. We have a lot more progress to make, especially when it comes to advancing funding for, and having a policy focus on issues that relate to people with disabilities, especially for example, with regard to home and community-based services. There is a preference for that kind of care setting - to be at home or in a community-based setting. We have a waiting list that exceeds more than eight hundred thousand Americans still waiting for those kinds of services. We need them now more than ever because of the concern about folks being in congregate settings, as opposed to a home or community-based setting. But we have got a lot more work to do - even absent the virus and now evermore so. I was blessed to have a great Health and Aging team, a full-time staff, and particularly blessed to have the expertise, the dedication and the passion that both Thomas and Lieke have brought to their work.” About Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)  U.S. Senator Bob Casey fights every day for Pennsylvania families. He is a strong advocate for policies that improve the health care and early learning of children and policies that will raise wages for the middle class. Senator Casey serves on four committees including the Senate Finance Committee and Senate HELP Committee. He is also the highest ranking Democrat on the Special Committee on Aging, where his agenda is focused on policies that support seniors and individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey and his wife Terese live in Scranton and have four adult daughters. About Lieke van Heumen, PhD Dr. Lieke van Heumen is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research expertise is aging of adults with lifelong disabilities, specifically intellectual and developmental disabilities. She holds a PhD in Disability Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received both her undergraduate and master degrees in psychology with a specialization in gerontology from the Radboud University in the Netherlands. Before moving to Chicago she worked as a direct support professional and later as a psychologist in several Dutch group homes for older individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is a 2019-2020 American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow and 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow. About Thomas Eagen, PhD, MPH Dr. Thomas Eagen is a 2019-2020 American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow and 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow. He received his PhD in Rehabilitation Science and MPH in Health systems and Policy at the University of Washington in Seattle. His research expertise is the intersection between aging and disability, with a focus on older adults aging with physical disabilities. He previously worked as a personal trainer, specializing in exercise modifications for older adults and people with disabilities. About Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (‘96) and Master of Science in Nursing (‘00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I truly enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home and office visits) then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Nursing and a post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing (’11) and then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the faculty at George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor where I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities. Find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Four health officials from the Trump Administration testified in front of the Senate HELP Committee earlier today on the battle against COVID-19. Lee will review what was asked and the most interesting answers given. Lee also breaks down Sen. Mitt Romney's line of questioning at the hearing. 

In this week's Podcast from Washington, Government Affairs team member Ian Goldstein discusses tobacco legislation advanced by the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee that would raise the federal tobacco purchasing age to 21, ban flavored tobacco products, and require face-to-face sales. He also discusses the Senate HELP Committee hearings on vaping, and the continuing resolution to fund the government, which runs out on November 21. Later in the program, Emily Yox, NACCHO's program analyst for global health, sits down with Dr. Lee Smith, the Executive Director and County Health Officer of Monongalia County Health Department in West Virginia. In their discussion, Dr. Lee describes how his county is using the popular dating app Grindr to share information and encourage testing for syphilis, after an outbreak that started primarily among MSM in early 2019. Smith drew inspiration for this program from a South African presentation he attended a decade earlier on the value of cell phone data, and was able to adapt those ideas into an initiative that addressed a specific community need.

Federal legislators and policymakers continue to try to work through policy and legislative changes that will have significant impacts on higher education. These include efforts by the U.S. Department of Education to alter rules developed during the Obama Administration. In addition, Congress continues to focus on trying to come up with a workable plan to update the Higher Education Act. Regulatory Activity The Department of Education has been attempting to make a number of revisions to rules created during the Obama Administration. Most recently, the Department made a seismic shift on gainful employment on June 28. The department soft-launched a final rule that overturns the 2009-2010 regulations as well as the 2014 regulations, including Subpart Q and R, and drops the mandated reporting requirements, student warnings for programs that were deemed failing and any further notification or follow-up of pending appeals with the department. Because of the master calendar, the full rescission was to be effective on July 1, 2020; however, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos used her authority to allow institutions to begin to follow this new rule after it was published in the Federal Register. The Department did attempt to fill the void in accountability after rescinding the rules. The Department plans to make significant changes to the College Scorecard by adapting much of the previously required information and create additions that would address disclosures. This change would offer transparency by allowing students to see this information (although it doesn’t address programs that are performing at a “lesser than” level). Some people have expressed frustrations and concerns about these changes but it’s good to remember that over the years, educational policymakers and stakeholders have learned a lot. Therefore, this approach to disclosure may be better than using a guillotine on institutions. Moving forward, policymakers and institutions can continue to learn more about improving institutional assessment using the three-legged stool: accreditation’s oversight of curriculum; state review of institutions based on their role and responsibilities; and the Department of Education’s focus on oversight and financial aid. Additionally, more changes are expected on the regulatory side. The Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations have been approved to go forward, although they are expected to be subject to court challenges once published. They are now with the Office of Management and Budget and should be published in the near future. In addition, three packages that were part of the most recent round of federal negotiation and rulemaking on accreditation and innovation were approved by consensus. The Department published a notice in May/June that the first of those packages was subject to notice of proposed rulemaking so that interested parties could review. That feedback was due by July 12. The other two packages still have to come out. Because there was consensus, these packages are on their way to final rule by Nov. 1. However, there are three major areas where disagreements still continue. These areas includes institutional eligibility and accountability, Title IX/Cleary and loan repayment. The concerns about Title IX/Cleary are at the forefront of the Senate HELP Committee’s discussion about reauthorization. These final rules probably won’t be agreeable to both parties. Democrats are concerned about protecting the interest of the victims while Republicans are focused on providing protection to the accused. Thus, the Senate committee is having difficulty finding a balance between offering protections to both parties. Upper-level legislative staff are currently in dialogue to try to find common ground. Concerns also exist about loan repayment. These include the opportunity for public service loan forgiveness, other types of loan forgiveness and the reduction of overall repayment plans. Higher Education Act With a short timeline available in the legislative process before the election cycle takes over, it’s becoming less likely that the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act will take place. Sen. Alexander, Sen. Murray and staff continue to hold weekly meetings as well as have discussions with members of their respective parties to see if they can come up with a comprehensive bill. There are pieces of reauthorization that everyone can come to terms with because they are much needed and in the best needs of students. These areas include student loan interest rates, financial literacy, loan repayment and simplification of the FAFSA. Sen. Alexander is focused on his burnishing his legacy by trying to pass revisions to the Higher Education Act. The question becomes whether he will be able to negotiate a bill that Democrats agree with or will end up crafting one that is specific to the Republican agenda. He also may focus on developing smaller bills that are bipartisan in nature that move smaller chunks through the legislative process. Discussions already have begun about alternate plans in case a comprehensive bill is not agreed upon. In the House, Chairman Scott has completed five bipartisan hearings that he and ranking member Fox agreed to. The committee will have one more hearing on apprenticeships. There remains a question about whether the House would take up the Higher Education Act in different forms, such as the piecemeal version mentioned earlier. Some insiders suggest that Chairman Scott is only interested in taking up a comprehensive bill. As we enter the second half of 2019, there is a lot of movement going on in the Congress -- and no assurance as to how things will play out. Netting will be surprised if reauthorization is completed this year. The Democrats probably won’t have time to put together a comprehensive bill unless they simply use the AIM Higher Act. However, that act has major issues from a scoring perspective and would need to be trimmed to make it fiscally palatable to Republicans. Trying to find middle ground going into an election year makes it tough. However, history shows that this type of collaborative effort can happen in an election year. Higher education—especially in areas such as student cost, student debt and academics--has changed significantly since the last authorization in 2008. Therefore, college students and the higher education system deserve a more timely authorization process. Recommendations for Higher Education Leaders: Keep an eye on what is happening on the regulatory front. This could especially impact the functions of the financial aid office, human resources office and law enforcement office. Take the opportunity to make comments about proposed rules. Higher education leaders’ comments need to come from a holistic institutional perspective. Watch for a Senate bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act moving forward between July and the end of September. If legislation doesn’t start moving in September, the chance that Congress will pass legislation will start dwindling as the election cycle approaches. Review the College Scorecard and the proposals in relation to it for the upcoming changes. Bullet Points The U.S. Department of Education continues to revise and reverse rules created during the Obama Administration. The most recent revision involves gainful employment. This revision drops the reporting requirements. The department plans to include some of these deleted reporting elements in the College Scorecard. The Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations have been approved to go forward. These are now with the Office of Management and Budget and should be published in the near future. Three packages that were part of the most recent round of federal negotiation and rulemaking on accreditation and innovation were able to achieve consensus. Major disagreements still are evident in the rule-making process for institutional eligibility and accountability, Title IX/Cleary and loan repayment. With the election cycle on the horizon, it’s becoming less likely that Congress will complete the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Therefore, there may be an effort to offer piecemeal solutions to areas where Republicans and Democrats can find common ground. These areas include student loan interest rates, financial literacy, loan repayment and simplification of the FAFSA. Lamar Alexander Patti Murray Congressman Bobby Scott Virginia Foxx 2019 Negotiated Rulemaking process Neg Reg list of participants Department of Education Guests Social Media Links: Tom Netting LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-netting-9214755/ CSPEN LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6954716/ Tom Netting Twitter - @t_netting The Change Leader’s Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdrumm/ Twitter: @thechangeldr Email: podcast@changinghighered.com

President Trump signed an executive order this week to increase healthcare price and quality transparency. The order will begin the regulatory process for federal agencies to help consumers better understand healthcare charges and their overall cost of care. Meanwhile, the Senate HELP Committee advanced their comprehensive lower healthcare costs bill with key provisions on surprise billing and broker compensation disclosure. On this week's episode, NAHU's Marcy M. Buckner and John Greene break down the executive order and NAHU's views on the initiative. They also provide a recap of the Senate hearing and how NAHU worked with lawmakers and their staff to ensure that the surprise billing and broker disclosure measures were written in the best interest of consumers and our members.

President Trump signed an executive order this week to increase healthcare price and quality transparency. The order will begin the regulatory process for federal agencies to help consumers better understand healthcare charges and their overall cost of care. Meanwhile, the Senate HELP Committee advanced their comprehensive lower healthcare costs bill with key provisions on surprise billing and broker compensation disclosure. On this week’s episode, NAHU’s Marcy M. Buckner and John Greene break down the executive order and NAHU’s views on the initiative. They also provide a recap of the Senate hearing and how NAHU worked with lawmakers and their staff to ensure that the surprise billing and broker disclosure measures were written in the best interest of consumers and our members.

Congress continued its round of hearings on surprise billing and single-payer healthcare this week, adding to the outsized attention that these two issues have generated already in this legislative session. On this week's episode, NAHU's Chris Hartmann and John Greene unpack this week's hearings and the key takeaways as lawmakers seek to advance surprise billing legislation in the coming weeks and Democrats looks for common ground in a health reform strategy. The episode also includes a discussion of the newest coalition effort that was formed this week by NAHU and other key stakeholders to tackle the topic of surprise billing, as well as an update on the timeline for considering legislation to repeal the ACA's Cadillac Tax and the Senate HELP Committee's discussion draft that would require broker compensation disclosure. Editorial Note: This week's podcast was recorded prior to the release of the health reimbursement arrangement final rule. NAHU will provide an in-depth discussion of the final rule on next week's podcast episode.

Congress continued its round of hearings on surprise billing and single-payer healthcare this week, adding to the outsized attention that these two issues have generated already in this legislative session. On this week’s episode, NAHU’s Chris Hartmann and John Greene unpack this week’s hearings and the key takeaways as lawmakers seek to advance surprise billing legislation in the coming weeks and Democrats looks for common ground in a health reform strategy. The episode also includes a discussion of the newest coalition effort that was formed this week by NAHU and other key stakeholders to tackle the topic of surprise billing, as well as an update on the timeline for considering legislation to repeal the ACA’s Cadillac Tax and the Senate HELP Committee’s discussion draft that would require broker compensation disclosure. Editorial Note: This week’s podcast was recorded prior to the release of the health reimbursement arrangement final rule. NAHU will provide an in-depth discussion of the final rule on next week’s podcast episode.

The Senate HELP Committee's discussion draft legislation remains a top priority for NAHU as we formally submitted feedback to their proposal to require broker compensation disclosure and options for addressing surprise billing disputes. That legislation comes as lawmakers from both parties put forth competing ideas on how to fix balance billing, with Congress aiming to pass a consensus bill before their August Recess. On this week's episode, NAHU's Marcy M. Buckner and Chris Hartmann discuss these legislative efforts and the comments that we submitted to the committee for incorporation into the updated version that is expected to be released ahead of the Independence Day holiday. They also give an update on the status of several other issues that continue to move through Congress, including an update on Medicare-for-All and where state efforts stand to implement single-payer or similar programs.

The Senate HELP Committee’s discussion draft legislation remains a top priority for NAHU as we formally submitted feedback to their proposal to require broker compensation disclosure and options for addressing surprise billing disputes. That legislation comes as lawmakers from both parties put forth competing ideas on how to fix balance billing, with Congress aiming to pass a consensus bill before their August Recess. On this week’s episode, NAHU’s Marcy M. Buckner and Chris Hartmann discuss these legislative efforts and the comments that we submitted to the committee for incorporation into the updated version that is expected to be released ahead of the Independence Day holiday. They also give an update on the status of several other issues that continue to move through Congress, including an update on Medicare-for-All and where state efforts stand to implement single-payer or similar programs.

The Senate HELP Committee released a discussion draft for their Lower Health Care Cost Act last week that included several provisions NAHU is closely following. These include proposals to require the disclosure of broker compensation, potential options for addressing surprise medical billing, reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals, and several other healthcare cost provisions. On this week's episode, On this week's episode, NAHU's Marcy M. Buckner, Chris Hartmann and John Greene review this legislation, our concerns, and the next steps as these ideas are debated in Congress.

The Senate HELP Committee released a discussion draft for their Lower Health Care Cost Act last week that included several provisions NAHU is closely following. These include proposals to require the disclosure of broker compensation, potential options for addressing surprise medical billing, reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals, and several other healthcare cost provisions. On this week’s episode, On this week’s episode, NAHU’s Marcy M. Buckner, Chris Hartmann and John Greene review this legislation, our concerns, and the next steps as these ideas are debated in Congress.

Listen NowWhile coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare and Medicaid enjoy, deservedly, a great deal of discussion and debate, employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) insures approximately 55% of the non-Medicare eligible population, or approximately 152 million Americans.  (Medicaid insures 19.5% of the population and Medicare 16%).  Larger employers, or those with over 500 employees, are moreover (82%) self insured, 26% of smaller employers are as well.  What we know about ESI and what further we can learn is therefore of substantial importance.   During this 25 minute conversation among other comments Mr. Brennan outlines HCCI's research, he explains what drives ESI spending growth, what employers are doing to control prices, he provides an overview of his recent testimony before the Senate HELP Committee and makes comment on data transparency and the employer health insurance tax exclusion. Mr. Niall Brennen is the President and Executive Director of the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) since June 2017.  Immediately previously, he served as the Chief Data Officer at CMS.  He has also worked at the Brookings Institution, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Urban Institute and Price WaterhouseCoopers.  He has published widely in leading academic journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and Health Affairs.  Mr. Brennan received his MPP from Georgetown University and his BA from the University College Dublin, Ireland.   For more on HCCI go to: http://www.healthcostinstitute.org/.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

Congress is taking the first steps in reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. Learn how this legislation can help banks finance the education goals of their customers from CBA’s Education Funding Chair John Vidovich, Vice President of Business Development with Discover Financial, and Vice Chair Christine Roberts, Head of Student Lending at Citizens Bank. You can also read CBA’s statement on the House of Representatives’ PROSPER Act here: https://bit.ly/2Fao6R6 and CBA’s letter to the Senate HELP Committee here: https://bit.ly/2Hjus6G.

Even though the Council boasts more than 7,300 members from 440 companies worldwide, the Council staff itself is only 15 individuals strong. The latest addition to the Council family is Ilyse Schuman, the Council’s new senior vice president, health policy. Ilyse succeeds the previous VP, Katy Spangler, and now directs the development and advocacy of all health policy priorities. In this episode of the American Benefits Podcast, host Jason Hammersla learns about Ilyse’s origin story, her tenure with the Senate HELP Committee and her breakroom snack preferences – and enjoys a friendly game of word association.

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Professor of Economics at Temple University, Dr. Doug Webber, Ph.D about student loan debt from a macro level. Doug is one of the nicest and brightest people I have had the pleasure of talking with. He has been published in FiveThirtyEight.com and has such an incredible perspective about higher education policy. Have you ever wondered where all of that tuition money goes to? Are colleges and universities just pocketing huge sums of money? How can we curb the amount of student loan debt from an institutional level? I ask Doug all of these questions and more in this episode. About Dr. Doug WebberDr. Doug Webber, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Economics Department at Temple University and a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). His main areas of interest are labor economics and the economics of higher education. He provided his testimony to the Senate HELP Committee on risk-sharing and student loan policy in May of 2015. You can find out more about Doug through his website, doug-webber.com Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougwebberecon Show Notes: Doug's background and how he became interested in studying higher education policies The history behind why student loans were created in the first place in America Doug explains the difference between the "cost" of higher education and the "price" of higher education Where does your tuition money go? The role marketing plays into driving up the "price" of higher education Doug addresses why public universities are receiving less and less funding from the state level Doug speaks about the future of student loans and his thoughts on the benefits and downfalls of higher education

On this week's podcast, The Gray Sheet team discusses recent actions in the Senate HELP Committee, including committee passage of a breakthrough device bill. We also talk about the case of a novel fecal-incontinence device, which gained unanimous support from an FDA panel just days before the parent company announced plans to shut down the unit that makes the device, and we look at how device cybersecurity is addressed in Europe versus the US.