June 01, 2010

The following are the remarks as prepared for delivery by Attorney General Eric Holder on the Gulf oil spill: "Good afternoon. This morning, I surveyed just one small portion of the damage caused by what is now the largest oil spill in American history. I was briefed by Coast Guard officers involved in the massive response effort and also surveyed the famed Louisiana Delta, where the early signs of oil intruding into the ecosystem are all too evident. This afternoon, our team from Washington met with Attorneys General and U.S. Attorneys for the states and districts whose coast lines and citizens have been impacted by this disaster to discuss how we can work together to respond to this tragic spill." Full release.

Net Impact today announced the finalist universities for a case competition with International Paper (NYSE: IP), a global leader in the paper and packaging industry, and Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS), the world's largest office products company. The innovative collaboration between International Paper, Staples and Net Impact, teamed up MBA students from the Net Impact network to identify recycling solutions to help improve each company's environmental performance and bottom line. "Our partnership with International Paper and Staples is a win-win," said Liz Maw, executive director, Net Impact. "While Net Impact student members are helping IP and Staples come together to uncover environmental opportunities, we are helping build environmentally responsible future business leaders." Full release.

Proposed legislation to tax customer service calls forwarded overseas would burden already-struggling American businesses and would decrease U.S. exports, the CEO of TollFreeForwarding.com warned today. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is proposing a new law that would require American businesses to notify callers that their call was being forwarded overseas and add a $.25 tax to each call. "It is nearly impossible to tax a non-U.S. company, so this will be a tax on American businesses who will pass the increased cost on to their U.S. customers. Businesses already considering moving their operations overseas will be even more incentivized to do so if this proposal were to become law. This proposal is protectionism at its finest, and very short-sighted," said Travis May, CEO of TollFreeForwarding.com. Full release.

Qorvis and General Sentiment today released a media analysis of the online presence of 11 top ranking Republican and Democratic congressional leaders, demonstrating that politicians on both sides of the aisle are prone to large swings in sentiment that are directly correlated to political events and discussions. Qorvis, one of the fastest-growing integrated communications firms in the U.S., and General Sentiment, a new technology company that specializes in producing comprehensive research products to evaluate performance in the media, collaborated on the research as part of an ongoing study of the use of social media in public affairs. Full release.

Healthcare reform-and the many options for fixing a broken system-have appeared in the news headlines for months. According to an article in the June issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), Medicare patients-many who suffer from disabling arthritis of the hip and knee, among other age-related ailments-may end up facing an accessibility crisis to medical care. "This is not a just a crisis that is unique to orthopaedics or the field of musculoskeletal medicine," stated lead author orthopaedic surgeon Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Core Faculty of the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco. "The challenges faced by the Medicare program are impacting everyone who provides or receives care through this vehicle." Full release.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) expresses sincere regret at the violence and loss of life during the attempt by Israeli forces on 31 May 2010 to take control of a ship that had broken Israel's legally sanctioned naval blockade in international waters heading for Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on 27 May 2010. Israel had issued repeated warnings to prevent conflict. It had neither sought nor provoked such an outcome. The WJC simultaneously deplores the rush to condemn Israel in the media and in much of the international community before all of the facts are known. It is known, however, that the organizers of the so-called "Freedom Flotilla" deliberately sought confrontation with Israel. "Peace activists" attacked Israeli soldiers with iron bars and other potentially lethal implements including axes, knives and handguns, thus initiating the violence. Full release.

The hopes of thousands of families are carried every day and seen by millions through a partnership that celebrates its 25th anniversary today. Valassis, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the U.S. Postal Service have been working to reunite missing children with their families through the Have You Seen Me? program and the power of the U.S. mail since 1985. As a direct result of leads generated by this program, 149 children have been safely returned to their families. Photos are one of the most effective tools to help recover a missing child because they empower the American public to join the search. Full release.

The latest Harris Poll finds modest improvements in public expectations for the economy and perceptions of the job market compared to similar surveys conducted between January and April. It also shows a modest improvement in President Obama's rating on the economy-but it is still overwhelmingly negative. A large number of people still expect to cut spending and save more money. There are green shoots, but they are small ones. Full release.

Healthcare facilities sometimes lack the appropriate equipment and supplies to successfully manage an emergency in their facility in a timely manner, according to data released today by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and published in the June Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory. The Authority conducted a data review over a 12-month reporting period (2008) identifying 56 reports that highlighted emergency or rapid response situations in which supplies or equipment were missing or outdated. Full release.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants celebrated the role of physician assistants in transforming health care delivery at its 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday with its presentation of the 2010 PAragon Awards. "As the face of health care changes in this country, PAs continue to play a critical role in ensuring that every patient has access to the quality care we need to be healthy," said Stephen Hanson, MPA, PA-C, AAPA President. "Each of the PAs whom AAPA honored with a PAragon Award this year has gone far beyond the what is required to bring that quality care to the patients who need it most, whether those patients live in rural Southeast Asian villages, are serving our country at war and at home, or are suffering from life-altering disease. Their commitment to their profession, their patients and their communities is unmatched." Full release.

ShareThis

Archive of Previous Posts