January 12, 2010

The National Safety Council announced today that it estimates at least 28% of all traffic crashes -- or at least 1.6 million crashes each year -- are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting. NSC estimates that 1.4 million crashes each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of NSC's call for a ban on all cell phone use and texting while driving. "We now know that at least 1.6 million crashes are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of the National Safety Council. "We know that cell phone use is a very risky distraction and texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use causes many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text," she said. "That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads." "This new estimate provides critical data for legislators, business leaders and individuals to evaluate the threat and need for legislation, business policies and personal actions to prevent cell phone use and texting while driving," Froetscher said. "There was great progress made in 2009, particularly regarding a broad recognition that texting is dangerous. We now need the same broad consensus that recognizes cell phone use while driving causes even more crashes." Full release.

Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the filing of a superseding indictment against Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse. Muse was previously indicted on May 19, 2009, for his alleged participation in the April 8, 2009, hijacking of the Maersk Alabama container ship in the Indian Ocean, and the subsequent taking of the captain of the ship as a hostage. The superseding indictment filed today in Manhattan federal court further alleges that Muse and others hijacked two ships before the Maersk Alabama, the second of which is still being held hostage. Muse was taken into custody by the U.S. Navy on April 12, 2009, while at sea in the Indian Ocean. On the same day, the U.S. Navy rescued the captain of the Maersk Alabama from a life boat in the Indian Ocean where he had been taken hostage by Muse and three other men. On April 20, 2009, Muse was transferred from the custody of the U.S. Navy to the FBI for transport to the Southern District of New York. Full release.

Studying genes that regulate early heart development in animals, scientists have solved a puzzle about one gene's role, finding that it acts in concert with a related gene. Their finding contributes to understanding how the earliest stages of heart development may go awry, resulting in congenital heart defects in humans. Peter J. Gruber, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, led a study published this week in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Occurring in approximately 1 in 200 children, congenital heart defects represent the most common human birth defect. "We uncovered a role for the Gata5 gene, a role that has been unappreciated in vertebrate cardiac development," said Gruber. "Gata5 is a gene that is essential to heart development in other animals, such as frogs and zebrafish, but contrary to expectations, deleting this gene seemed to have no effect on the hearts of mammals. We found, however, that in mice, this gene cooperates closely with other genes to affect heart development. It may work similarly in humans." Full release.

With 2010 Census questionnaires set to arrive in mailboxes across the country by mid-March, the U.S. Census Bureau is preparing to launch a $133 million national advertising campaign to boost participation rates in the once-a-decade population count. For every percentage point increase in the 2010 Census mail-back response rate, the Census Bureau saves $85 million in follow-up with nonresponding households. Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves plans to unveil the national campaign to national and regional partners, advisory committee members and the media during an event hosted by CBS sports broadcaster James Brown. The event will provide an exclusive viewing of the television, radio, print, online and outdoor advertisements, as well as updates on other outreach efforts, such as the Census in Schools program, "Portrait of America" Road Tour, and the national and regional partnership programs targeted at reaching hard-to-count populations. The advertising campaign represents the most extensive and diverse outreach campaign in U.S. history, with advertisements appearing in 28 languages. Full release.

In a move to combat a historical foreclosure crisis, Congress passed legislation the last week of 2009 increasing federal support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest players in the American mortgage industry. While heralded as positive by many in the housing industry, leading real estate foreclosure experts at USHUD.com and its parent company Heavy Hammer, Inc., warn that homeowners should be wary of high-risk loan programs targeting those with poor credit, and homebuyers should follow proven guidelines when purchasing foreclosure properties. Heavy Hammer, Inc., CEO Michael Urbanski said homebuyers are ultimately responsible for recognizing what they can and cannot afford. "To make the best decisions for their families and themselves, homeowners and potential homeowners need to be aware of the hazards that will inevitably present themselves," Urbanski said. "Avoid making the hasty or careless decisions that sent so many other American homebuyers into foreclosure. Exercise personal responsibility, capitalize on available industry intelligence, and seek the advice of experts who can help navigate the challenges and pitfalls of today's real estate foreclosure landscape." Full release.

In a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) today, Consumer Watchdog called for strengthened oversight of the health insurance industry and greater affordability protections for consumers in negotiations with the U.S. Senate on final health reform legislation. In the letter, Consumer Watchdog wrote: "With the public option apparently off the table, thanks to a single Senator allied with the insurance industry, it is more important than ever for the House to insist on comprehensive regulation of the industry to ensure affordability and accountability for Americans who will now be required to buy private insurance." Download the letter here: http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org/resources/PelosiLetter.pdf Consumer Watchdog called on Pelosi to make eight affordability and accountability changes to the health reform legislation before it is sent to President Obama. Full release.

The American Jewish Committee condemned the latest inflammatory statements issued against Israel by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At a joint press conference in Ankara with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Erdogan lashed out at Israel, asking rhetorically "What is your excuse this time?" when addressing last week's Israeli air strike on Gaza, which came in response to Hamas rocket and mortar attacks on communities in southern Israel. Erdogan also criticized international efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program, saying that similar efforts were not directed at Israel. "Prime Minister Erdogan should know that Israel's 'excuse' is its obligation to defend its citizens from bombardment by Hamas terrorists," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "He should also know that -- unlike Iran -- Israel has never threatened its neighbors with annihilation." During Israel's defensive operation against Hamas in January 2009, Erdogan figured prominently among a handful of world leaders, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who joined the chorus of vicious condemnation directed at Israel. At the World Economic Forum's Davos Summit, Erdogan angrily quoted the words of an obscure anti-Semitic writer before storming off a platform he was sharing with Israeli President Shimon Peres. Full release.

In his annual State of American Business address, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue called upon leaders in government, business, labor, and across society to unite around the ambitious goal of creating 20 million jobs over the next decade. "Our nation faces many big challenges, but no priority is more important than putting jobless Americans back to work," Donohue said. "Over the long term, only a strong private sector -- backed by sensible government policies with rational levels of regulation and taxation and a reasonable degree of certainty -- can create 20 million jobs." Donohue covered five key areas where both government and business can work to achieve economic growth and job creation. Full release.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today unveiled the first phase of its Transparency Initiative, which is designed to explain agency operations, how it makes decisions, and the drug approval process. During an online presentation, the chair of the FDA's Transparency Task Force, Principal Deputy FDA Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, described a Web-based curriculum called "FDA Basics," aimed at helping the public better understand what the agency does. The curriculum is accessible via a link on the FDA Web site. In addition, senior officials from FDA product centers and offices will answer questions on various topics during future online sessions. Each of these sessions will be announced on the FDA Web site. In one of her first acts after assuming the office last spring, FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., announced the formation of an internal task force to develop recommendations for enhancing the transparency of the FDA's operations and decision-making processes. The Transparency Initiative was launched in response to the Obama Administration's commitment to an unprecedented level of openness in Government and with the strong support of the Department of Health and Human Services. "This initiative will make information about the FDA more user-friendly and accessible to the public," said Dr. Hamburg. "It fosters a better understanding about what we do." Full release.

In recognition of multiple studies connecting ALS to military service, the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, signed by President Obama on December 22, 2009, provided for the grant of $1.6 million for research and development of potential therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). Deemed a "service-related disorder" by the Veterans Administration (VA) in July of 2008, ALS affects approximately 30,000 Americans at any given time. With no robust therapeutics currently available, those afflicted survive on average only 36 months from diagnosis. The funding approved will be sent to the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a non-profit, independent research center devoted to the development of therapeutics that slow and stop progression of the fatal neurodegenerative disease. "This grant from the [Department of Defense], bringing their total spent on ALS research at our Institute alone to nearly $5.5 million over a period of five years, shows their commitment to our veterans. It is unacceptable that those stricken by the disease, for whatever reason, including our servicemen and servicewomen returning from war, do not have therapeutic options available. We must move faster toward providing truly efficacious interventions for all those living with ALS today," said Steve Perrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer and chief scientific officer at ALS TDI. Full release.

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