February 23, 2009

The following is a statement from Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., Chairman/Founder of Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths: Americans need to know how the health provisions hidden in the recently enacted stimulus package will affect them. To inform the public about these provisions and the dangers, especially for seniors, I wrote an analysis for Bloomberg.com on February 10th. Lori Robertson, an employee of FactCheck.org, challenged the accuracy of my analysis in her February 20 critique posted on Newsweek.com. Readers of Robertson's critique should consider these facts. Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the Congressional delegation to Afghanistan and Italy held a press conference today. Below are the Speaker's opening remarks: Good afternoon. Last evening, we returned from a trip to visit our troops. As Speaker and as leader, my first trip every year is to visit our men and women in uniform to thank them for their courage, their patriotism, the sacrifices that they and their families are making for our country. Full release

Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court wrote Google's CEO Eric Schmidt today questioning the company's priorities following efforts by one of Google's top executives to dissuade a charitable foundation from supporting the nonpartisan group's privacy efforts. "We have tried to constructively engage Google on its privacy problems for about six months now," Court wrote. "So it's remarkable that Google's most rapid and substantive response to our privacy concerns is a letter from your director of Corporate and Policy Communications to the charity funding our work seeking an end to its support. Full release

The world is quickly approaching tipping points for abrupt climate changes, perhaps even within a few years, according to the United Nation's Environmental Program's (UNEP) just-released Year Book 2009. The UN agency warns that urgent action is needed to avoid catastrophic climate events such as major food and water shortages, shifts in weather patterns, and "[destabilization of] major ice sheets that could introduce unanticipated rates of sea level rise within the 21st century." Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke this morning at the National Clean Energy Project Roundtable, held at the Newseum and hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and chaired by Senate Majority Harry Reid. Other speakers included former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Congressman Edward Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming. The forum discussed policies and strategies to build a clean energy smart grid and expand the use of domestic alternative fuels. Below are the Speaker's remarks as prepared: "I would like to thank the Center for American Progress Action Fund for hosting the National Clean Energy Project Roundtable and to thank the chair of this event and one of America's boldest leaders in creating a clean energy future, my friend Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid." Full release

The Supreme Court announced today that it will hear the case regarding the Mojave Desert Cross, a memorial to World War I veterans that has been declared unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In November of 2008, Liberty Legal Institute filed an amicus brief asking for certiorari on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), The American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California, and American Ex-Prisoners of War (AXPOW). Full release

The following is a statement by the American Small Business League: Since 2003, over a dozen federal investigations have found billions of dollars in government small business contracts have been diverted to many of the largest companies in the United States and Europe. Full release

The following was released today by the Republican National Committee: Today, President Obama Will Hold A Fiscal Responsibility Summit To Address Concerns Over Debt And Deficits: President Obama Will Hold A Fiscal Responsibility Summit Today. "President Obama and Vice President Biden plan to convene a White House 'fiscal responsibility' summit Monday afternoon to launch a national conversation on how to put the nation on sounder financial footing." (Ceci Connolly and Lori Montgomery, "Obama 'Fiscal Responsibility' Summit Set For Monday," The Washington Post's "44" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 2/20/09) Full release

Amid initial indications that the administration's first budget will flat-line funding for global health, the Global AIDS Alliance is calling on President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to keep their campaign commitments to scale up the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and accelerate efforts to ensure every child around the world gets a free basic education. Full release

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