December 30, 2009

Former 9/11 Commission Co-Chairmen Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton, co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center's National Security Preparedness Group, issued the following statement regarding the recent attempted terrorist attack: "The attempted terrorist attack on Christmas day underscores that the threat of international terrorism remains strong. The 9/11 Commission recommended a Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in part, to facilitate the sharing of vital national security information. This episode shows the need to support and strengthen the DNI's authority. Reforming U.S. intelligence is a multi-year process requiring sustained support from the White House and the Congress." The Bipartisan Policy Center's National Security Preparedness Group (NSPG), which is co-chaired by Congressman Lee Hamilton and Governor Tom Kean, is a successor to the 9/11 Commission. The NSPG has been conducting a five-year review of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act and the effectiveness of the DNI. The study is ongoing. Congressman Hamilton and Governor Kean have accepted an invitation to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on intelligence reform in February. Full release.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced a two-phase rollout of eTrace 4.0, the newest version of ATF's web-based firearms tracing software, to the governments of Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The bilingual edition, commonly called Spanish eTrace, will allow law enforcement agencies in those countries to easily capitalize on the full benefits of eTrace in Spanish or English, and will provide data conventions in accordance with international standards. The first phase of the rollout is a live release of the software, in limited deployment to Mexico and the two Central American governments, in order to gauge system performance in a real-world user environment and to address user feedback. The second phase will entail full deployment to other international partners in Spanish-speaking nations. (A full news conference and demonstration of the new system is being planned at ATF headquarters as part of the second phase deployment.) "Spanish eTrace marks the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between ATF and its international partners," said ATF Deputy Director Kenneth E. Melson. "It will strengthen our efforts as we stand together at the frontlines against gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking. We must identify those who put guns in the hands of criminals, and comprehensive tracing of all recovered crime guns is the first step by law enforcement in stopping the violence that plagues many communities inside and outside the United States." Full release.

A new research program called the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program (MEPREP) will fund research to study the effects of prescription medications used during pregnancy. The program is a collaboration among the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and researchers at the HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERT), Kaiser Permanente's multiple research centers and Vanderbilt University. About two-thirds of women who deliver a baby have taken at least one prescription medication during pregnancy according to a journal article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. There are very few clinical trials that test the safety of medications in pregnancy due to concerns about the health of the mother and child. "This program is a great example of FDA and the private sector working together to improve the health of pregnant women and their children," said Margaret Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs. "These data will guide regulatory policy and influence medical practice." Full release.

National Institute For Alcohol Recovery (NIFAR®) is unveiling a new online program, Youth Awareness, a practical tool to help concerned parents and educators prevent teen alcohol and drug use. This endeavor is one of several new programs launched by NIFAR, a progressive organization dedicated to alcohol prevention and recovery programs for home use. Currently, alcohol use is widespread among youth. Surprisingly, 62% of high school seniors report they have been drunk -- and 31% say they have had five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks[1]. Concurrently, each day young people are injured or fatally killed in alcohol-related incidents. Further, a survey of female college students found a significant relationship between the amount of reported weekly drinking and experiences of sexual victimization[2]. Youth Awareness explains what alcohol and drugs are and how they can impact a young person's future. The program is designed to be fun as well as informative. "Today's teens don't want to be lectured. They just want the info so they can make up their own minds", said Kamran Loghman, Executive Director of NIFAR. Further, the program is available at Nifar.com via high-speed streaming audio and downloads for an iPod® or mp3 player -- a modern format kids know and love. Full release.

First it was insurance companies, then it was banks and that was followed by auto companies. Now, the federal government is putting U.S. taxpayers and utility customers at new risk under a controversial U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee program that is slated to award $18.5 billion, with Atlanta-based Southern Company predicted to be first on the list for program funds to build two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia. Ironically, the DOE's "top choice" for the nuclear reactor loan guarantees, which are backed by U.S. taxpayers in the event of defaults, is the very same Plant Vogtle that helped to kill the previous nuclear power boom in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Huge cost overruns at the original Plant Vogtle - which escalated from $660 million for four reactors to a whopping $8.87 billion for two - likely played a role in putting the brakes on nuclear expansion plans pursued decades ago in the United States. Will history repeat itself on Plant Vogtle cost overruns? Full release.

The Teamsters Union announced that it will postpone a protest planned today at the headquarters of Brigade Capital Management in New York after conversations with Brigade that the hedge fund does not currently own any YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: YRCW) bonds. In addition, UBS has indicated they have tendered their bonds in the exchange. The Teamsters will continue to monitor the situation and will plan future protests at these institutions and others if contrary evidence surfaces. All bondholders need to understand what is at risk if they do not participate in YRCW's debt exchange. The company has extended the bond exchange deadline to 11 p.m. EST Dec. 30. "There is too much at risk for bondholders to sacrifice the livelihood of 30,000 workers for the marginal profits they might realize by their continued inaction," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "It's a simple choice -- help a good, U.S. company recover and protect 30,000 jobs or allow our struggling economy to take another devastating hit. I think the choice is clear -- bondholders must now do their part." Full release.

Idaho consumers whose health insurance companies refuse to pay the bill for necessary health and medical services will have a new tool on their side in their coming year. Under the Health Carrier External Review Act, starting January 1, the Idaho Department of Insurance will review denied health insurance claims to help ensure consumers aren't wrongfully denied coverage. The act was signed into law by Governor 'Butch' Otter in April and sponsored by Senator Dean Cameron and Representative Russ Mathews. "Too often consumers have to battle with their insurance companies to get the care and the coverage they need," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. "AARP commends Governor Otter for his leadership on this issue and Senator Cameron and Representative Mathews for providing Idaho consumers with a new resource to make sure their health care claims are not wrongfully denied." Full release.

The President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has extended by four months an independent investigation into allegations made by the U.S. State Department, in a paper entitled 'Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka.' The extension will allow the committee to thoroughly investigate and respond to all allegations in the report to Congress, as well as advise the government on the action to be taken on the recent query by Mr. Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur regarding remarks by the country's former army chief Sarath Fonseka. The Committee was established in November 2009 by President Rajapaksa to investigate allegations in the report, including the use by LTTE (Liberation Tamil Tigers Eelam) terrorist organization of children in armed conflict, harm brought to civilians during the war, the killing of captives seeking to surrender, disappearances and a lack of humanitarian conditions. Full release.

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero announced today the establishment of the National Declassification Center (NDC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. The creation of the NDC is specified in the new Executive Order on Classified National Security Information signed by President Obama on December 29, 2009. Specifically, the NDC is charged with streamlining declassification processes, facilitating quality assurance measures, and implementing standard training for declassification reviewers. In making the announcement, Mr. Ferriero said, "The Federal government has reached a watershed moment in records declassification. The current backlog is so huge that Americans are being denied the ability to hold government officials accountable for their actions. By streamlining the declassification process, the NDC will usher in a new day in the world of access, allowing the National Archives to make more records available for public scrutiny much more quickly." Full release.

Martin Luther King Jr. weekend marks the kick-off of the Black AIDS Institute's National Trump AIDS Bid Whist Tournament in Atlanta, GA. Trump AIDS provides a platform to mobilize Black communities and serves as a vehicle to raise funds and build awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Participants are encouraged to get involved with ending the AIDS epidemic in the Black community while having fun and potentially winning guaranteed cash Tournament prizes. There are several local qualifying tournaments to participate in from January 15 to the weekend of August 27, 2010. Visit www.trumpaids.org for a complete list of cities hosting events. The Tournament will culminate at the Trump AIDS nationals November 2010. Full release.

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