May 27, 2010

Early reports indicate the 2010 hurricane season may see three to seven major storms, and the American Red Cross is getting prepared with the help of the corporations that are members of the organization's Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). Members of the ADGP pledge donations on an ongoing basis, in advance of major disasters. These companies understand that proper supplies and systems have to be in place to respond effectively. With pre-positioned supplies ready, the Red Cross can immediately take action when disasters, such as hurricanes, strike. Full release.

With only 70 percent of American students receiving a high school diploma, and 53 percent of those who make it to college requiring remedial help, McGraw-Hill Education and its Center for Digital Education hosted a daylong symposium this week to identify ways to improve college and career readiness for all U.S. citizens. Opening the first College and Career Readiness Symposium, Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies, discussed the economic ties to education, noting, "At the end of the day, college and career readiness is all about American competitiveness. Without properly preparing our students for their paths, academic or otherwise, we'll only exacerbate our economic problems." Full release.

Today Mothers Against Drunk Driving was proud to support Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) on the passage of the ROADS SAFE Amendment as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The amendment was approved by voice vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "MADD is grateful to Congressman Sarbanes for his leadership to eliminate drunk driving," said MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney. "Because of this amendment, the elimination of drunk driving will truly be possible." MADD also would like to thank Chairman Henry Waxman, Chairman Bobby Rush, and Chairman Emeritus John Dingell for their work on this legislation. Full release.

AJC criticized Middle East coverage in today's New York Times. Specifically, the global advocacy group called attention to a large photograph, by Said Khatib of AFP, and the accompanying headline and caption, in the middle of p. A10. The headline read "Airstrikes Hit Two Towns In Gaza Strip." The full caption stated: "Palestinians inspected the wreckage of a disused airport on Wednesday after an overnight Israeli airstrike in Rafah, a town in the southern Gaza Strip. No one was wounded, emergency services officials said. A second overnight Israeli airstrike, in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, left two people seriously wounded, according to Palestinian medical officials." Full release.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has retired its 2010 policy statement on female genital cutting (FGC). The AAP Board of Directors has approved the following as AAP policy on FGC: "The AAP reaffirms its strong opposition to FGC and counsels its members not to perform such procedures. As typically practiced, FGC can be life-threatening. Little girls who escape death are still vulnerable to sterility, infection, and psychological trauma. The AAP does not endorse the practice of offering a 'clitoral nick.' This minimal pinprick is forbidden under federal law and the AAP does not recommend it to its members. The AAP is steadfast in its goal of protecting all young girls from the harms of FGC." Full release.

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, in a congressional hearing today, took a critical first step toward combating tobacco product smuggling and the tax evasion and public health harms it produces. The smuggling of cigarettes and other tobacco products is a serious problem that undermines efforts to reduce tobacco use and save lives, funds criminal activity and costs federal and state governments substantial sums of revenue. Full release.

Marilyn Heiman, director of the Pew Environment Group's U.S. Arctic Program, released the following statement in response to the Obama administration's expected announcement today that any applications for exploratory drilling in the Arctic will be suspended until 2011. "We are very pleased with the President's decision to suspend Arctic exploration drilling this summer. A delay until 2011 will provide the affected communities and agencies the opportunity to further study proposed drilling technology, oil spill response capabilities and the effects of oil drilling in the sensitive Arctic marine environment. Full release.

Sunday, May 30, 2010 marks the first Sunday of The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's (The National Coalition) month-long push to encourage hard-to-reach residents in the black community to participate in the 2010 Census. The National Coalition's Unity Diaspora Coalition (UDC) has partnered with the National African American Clergy Network for the "Count on Me – Count Me In Census Campaign," a national initiative to stress the importance of participating in the census and urge church congregants who have not filled out a Census form to cooperate with census takers or call in their census forms immediately. Full release.

To mark World MS Day, today the National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced the culmination of the We Keep Moving journey, a 10-week reality road trip across America to chronicle the extraordinary lives of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) told by a documentary crew who have MS themselves. The Society initiated this campaign to capture unique personal stories of perseverance and triumph with the goal of uniting millions of people affected by MS and inspiring the general public with stories about people who might not ordinarily appear on their daily radar screens. Full release.

The average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a new record low this week, inching to 4.92 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.42 discount and origination points. The average 15-year fixed mortgage held steady this week at 4.34 percent, as did the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate at 5.75 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages rose this week, with the average 3-year ARM climbing to 4.52 percent and the 5-year ARM rising to 4.26 percent. Full release.

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