July 2010

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the Seniors Protection Act, introduced today by Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota. The legislation would provide retirees and other beneficiaries a one-time $250 payment if the Social Security Administration announces that there will be no cost of living adjustments for Social Security benefits in 2011: "The Seniors Protection Act provides Social Security recipients with a special payment that will help millions of Americans who rely on Social Security to make ends meet. Our legislation is fiscally responsible-it will be fully paid for, not adding a dime to the deficit-and it deserves bipartisan support from all Members of Congress. Congressional Republicans should stand behind the Seniors Protection Act and abandon their promises to pursue-once again-a risky scheme to privatize and cut Social Security, turning over our seniors' retirements to the whims of Wall Street." Full release.

USAID Administrator Shah released a statement today about the U.S. strategy to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): The Obama Administration's strategy for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), "Celebrate, Innovate, and Sustain: Toward 2015 and Beyond," lays out a determined, strategic and results-focused plan that promises to both reenergize efforts to achieve the MDGs and strengthen the United States' voice in the global development dialogue. This strategy takes a hard look at what needs to happen to put these important goals within reach. We put innovation and sustainability at the heart of our approach and we address these core human development indicators comprehensively in order to leverage their cross-cutting synergies. Full release.

Results from a national media study among 1,019 Americans revealed that the majority of all parties reported that Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York is guilty of the ethics charges brought against him by the House ethics committee. The study was conducted among self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents during July 29-30 by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website, to obtain viewers' perceptions of a video in which Rangel declares his innocence in regard to the ethics charges. To view detailed results and believability curves from the study go to: www.mediacurves.com. After viewing the video, the majority of all parties indicated that Rangel was guilty, including 67% of Democrats, 87% of Republicans and 86% of Independents. In addition, the majority of all parties reported that the Rangel situation will hurt Democrats in the upcoming fall elections. Full release.

Southwest Airlines pilots today applauded House and Senate passage of H.R. 5900, the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010. This bill moves forward key safety provisions that Southwest pilots have long advocated, including higher standards for pilot training, support for safety advocacy programs and a new pilot fatigue rule to help improve safety for our most precious cargo, our passengers. "This important legislation strengthens aviation safety, a longtime priority for SWAPA and Southwest Airlines," said Capt. Carl Kuwitzky, SWAPA President. "We thank the leadership and staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for having the vision to advance these critical reforms in Congress now when we need it most." Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today to mark the 45th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid being signed into law. To mark the anniversary, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a new ad featuring Andy Griffith discussing the Affordable Care Act: "In enacting health insurance reform this year, Democrats in Congress and President Obama followed in the footsteps of the architects of Medicare and strengthened this critical initiative for our country's seniors. The law secures guaranteed benefits under Medicare, and closes the prescription drug 'donut hole,' beginning with $250 checks being sent to beneficiaries this year. Our reforms eliminate co-pays for preventive screenings and provide better-coordinated care among different doctors and health care providers. And we have extended the solvency of Medicare by more than a decade." Full release.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that shipping of the 2010-2011 formulation of its seasonal influenza vaccine Fluzone Influenza Virus Vaccine is underway in the U.S. This first shipment represents the first of more than 70 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine the company plans to deliver to U.S. health-care providers this season. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest supplier of influenza vaccines among the five licensed U.S. manufacturers and the only company producing inactivated influenza vaccine in the U.S. Full release.

Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org, has analyzed the U.S. military exercises off the Korean Peninsula this week . Ellison is one of the top experts in missile defense in the country. His observations are the following: "Off the Korean Peninsula this week our U.S. forces, led by the USS George Washington Battle Strike Group made up of 20 ships, 100 aircraft and 8,000 sailors, made a definitive statement to our ally, South Korea, of extending our military deterrent. This military exercise with Korean forces involved a coordinated and integrated application of both offensive and defensive forces that are required to handle a military crisis in this region of the world." Full release.

"The post-recession rebound is history. We don't foresee a double-dip, but we do expect growth to slow even more markedly, to a 1.6-percent annualized rate in the second half of the year. The expected drop in government spending will be compounded by continued weakness among consumers and business-signaled by both The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the United States and The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index. Such a slower pace is unlikely to sustain strong profit growth, and would also weigh on employment and wages." Full release.

A group of 72 Iraqi citizens who allege they were tortured while imprisoned at detention facilities across Iraq can continue with their lawsuit against military contractor L-3 Services, Inc. and a former employee, a federal judge in Maryland ruled Thursday. In a 92-page opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte denied the defendants' motions to dismiss the Iraqis' federal and state court claims. He wrote, "On the facts alleged, Defendants' actions arguably violated the laws of war such that they are not immune from suit under the laws of war." The court also rejected claims of government contractor immunity defense. Full release.

Scientists at deCODE genetics and colleagues at Radboud University in the Netherlands today describe how the impact of a single letter variation in the sequence of the human genome (SNP) conferring risk of kidney disease varies with age and with the onset of other diseases. The study provides independent confirmation of the association made in an earlier study between a version of the the SNP, located on chromosome 16p12, and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It also confirmed the link between the SNP and concentrations of serum creatinine (SCr), a key indicator of kidney function. But the deCODE team then used its detailed population-based data in Iceland to go further, demonstrating that the impact of the at-risk version SNP on risk of kidney disease and SCr increases with age and if carriers develop high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the SNP was shown in a large Icelandic and Dutch case-control cohort to protect against the formation of kidney stones. Full release.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement from president and CEO, Peter Groff. This statement is in response to President Obama's remarks to the National Urban League's 100th Anniversary Convention: "The National Alliance applauds President Obama for voicing support for high-quality public charter schools and standing by his education agenda including the Race to the Top competition. His plan to improve public education includes expanding the number of high-quality public charter schools and a campaign pledge to double funding for the Charter Schools Program." Full release.

The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), a partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has won two prestigious awards for groundbreaking work on PEPFAR's Supply Chain Management System (SCMS). A project of PFSCM received the Supply Chain Innovation Award and Best Value Supply Chain Provider Award during the European Supply Chain and Logistics Summit held in Prague. Competitors for the awards included well known private-sector companies. Established in 2005 and administered by USAID, as part of PEPFAR, SCMS provides a reliable, cost-effective and secure supply of high-quality medicines and health products for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. Full release.

Testifying before Congress today, Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA) pledged to play a critical role in the future of housing finance by continuing to enable first-time and lower income families to purchase homes safely and soundly. Testifying on behalf of MICA was Patrick Sinks, President and COO of Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sinks discussed the role of private mortgage insurers during the financial crisis, stating that the industry has "weathered the storm," and is now able to "meet the expanded needs of first-time homebuyers seeking low downpayments on conventional mortgages." Sinks explained that, even in the wake of the nation's mortgage crisis, private mortgage companies are successfully raising billions of dollars in private capital from investors to underwrite new loans, shifting risk away from the government and back on to private investors. Full release.

In a letter addressed to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Ranking Member Ed Whitfield (R-KY), National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President Chris Jahn outlined the Association's concerns with H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act. "NACD has advocated for a workable risk-based system that protects innovation and job creation," said Jahn. "Unfortunately, H.R. 5820 creates a framework that would place an impossible burden of proof on industry, hampering innovation and sacrificing jobs." Full release.

A new study measuring everyday irritations like heat, traffic and household pests ranks major southern cities among the most irritated in the nation. Atlanta (No. 1), Houston (No. 2), Washington DC (No. 3) and Baltimore (No. 4) ranked the highest in irritating factors, while predominantly northern cities like Rochester (No. 50), Milwaukee (No. 49), Minneapolis (No. 48), Buffalo (No. 47), and Tucson (No. 46), the arid outlier, ranked the lowest. Why the geographical divide? According to researchers, irritating factors like pest control, average heat index and overall traffic congestion helped contribute to high irritation scores in the south. Full release.

Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) lent their support today to local elected leaders launching a national campaign to secure ongoing federal investment in local job-creating clean energy initiatives. The campaign launch comes one week after U.S. Senate leadership announced it doesn't have support to pass climate legislation this summer. "The Senate missed an opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign energy and create an ongoing funding source for local job-creating clean energy projects by failing to move climate legislation this summer," stated Andrew Seth, executive director of Climate Communities. Full release.

A lawsuit filed last week in Federal District court in the Southern District of New York alleges that the Board of Elections in the City of New York discriminates against registered voters with mobility and vision disabilities, because it fails to ensure that polling places are accessible on Election Day. The lawsuit, which seeks no damages, aims to end New York's systemic failure to provide access to polling sites for disabled voters. Ramps at New York City polling places are commonly inaccessible, and sometimes there are no ramps at all. Even when people with disabilities can enter a site, all too often they face additional barriers inside that prevent voters from getting to voting machines to cast a vote. Full release.

The oil spill ravaging the Gulf of Mexico has inflicted widespread psychological distress among coastal residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, etching scars even deeper than those whipped by Hurricane Katrina, according to a survey by Ochsner Health System, a nonprofit, academic healthcare delivery system. The survey of the four-state area, the first to measure mental health impacts after the explosion aboard BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the Louisiana coast on April 20, found three in every 10 people surveyed (30 percent) suffer from "probable serious" or "probable mild-moderate" mental illness, based on the K6 psychological distress scale. The percentage of those suffering from serious mental illness varied, depending on location. Full release.

Today the House Committee on Financial Services took a critical step forward in passing Internet gambling legislation by voting to approve the Internet Gambling Regulation and Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267), legislation introduced by Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). The legislation, which passed by a 41-22 vote would regulate Internet gambling activity in the U.S. and require licensed operators to put in place safeguards to protect against underage and problem gambling. "The Committee's bi-partisan vote to approve Chairman Frank's legislation is nothing short of historic," said Michael Waxman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. Full release.

The following statement of the Attorney General was released today by the U.S. Department of Justice: "I congratulate the House of Representatives on today's passage of the Fair Sentencing Act. The bill greatly reduces the unwarranted disparity in sentences for crack and powder cocaine offenses, and will go a long way toward ensuring that our sentencing laws are tough, consistent, and fair. By sending the bill to the President, the House has taken an important step toward more just sentencing policies while enhancing the ability of law enforcement officials to protect our communities from violent and dangerous drug traffickers." Full release.

Congress has amended the language of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 to allow for benefit claims by first responders and other World Trade Center Disaster Site clean up workers who have settled their litigation claims against the City of New York, its contractors and other defendants. The amendment to the bill's original language now provides that any person who has settled a civil litigation claim that was commenced after December 22, 2003 and settled and released all claims before the final enactment of the Zadroga bill will be permitted to file a claim for benefits under the Zadroga bill. "Enactment" of a Bill means that the bill has been finally approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and signed by the President. Full release.

Many countries are facing a shrinking pool of their working-age populations, often considered to be ages 15 to 64, to support the population ages 65+, jeopardizing pension guarantees and long-term health care programs for the elderly. Worldwide in 1950, there were 12 persons of working age for every person age 65 or older. By 2010, that number had shrunk to 9. By 2050, this elderly support ratio, which indicates levels of potential social support available for the elderly, is projected to drop to 4. The Population Reference Bureau's 2010 World Population Data Sheet and its summary report offer detailed information on 19 population, health, and environment indicators for more than 200 countries. Full release.

A new report released today on the 100th day of the BP oil disaster details short- and long-term strategies for the Obama administration to make coastal Louisiana less vulnerable to future oil spills and hurricanes, including negotiating with BP for a $5 billion down payment on expected payments for natural resource damages. The report by Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation, "Common Ground: A Shared Vision for Restoring the Mississippi River Delta," outlines the necessary steps to restore and rebuild an ecosystem that has lost more than 2,300 square miles of wetlands-an area larger than the state of Delaware-since the 1930s. Full release.

Although the amazing geological features, interesting wildlife and natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park get most of the attention, the world's first national park also has more than 460 miles of roads to maintain and approximately 3 million visitors to welcome each year. As the official tire of the Yellowstone Park Foundation (YPF), Michelin is helping the park achieve its goal to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the park by 30 percent by the year 2016 by providing its green, energy-saving tires for the park fleet. "Since Michelin became the official tire of the Yellowstone Park Foundation in 2009, the park's fleet managers have reported fuel savings on the first seven vehicles of as much as 20 percent compared to the previous tires," said Don Baldwin, product category manager for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. Full release.

The Washington AIDS Partnership today announced that the second phase of an innovative campaign to increase awareness and use of the female condom as a tool for HIV prevention will launch across the District this week. The DC Doin' It! campaign will kick off Thursday with the rollout of 460 Metro bus ads and the distribution of branded posters and brochures through community partners. It will also premiere a dedicated Web site-www.DCDoinIt.com-that will provide information on locations where District residents can obtain free female condoms, as well as get pointers on how to use the female condom and how to discuss it with sexual partners. Full release.

The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage homeowners who are struggling with their monthly mortgage payments to learn about the Making Home Affordable Program. While over one million homeowners have already received assistance from the program, the national campaign encourages other struggling homeowners who may be eligible for assistance to reach out for the help they need through free resources made available by the Federal Government. The PSAs direct homeowners to visit MakingHomeAffordable.gov or call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to see if they may be eligible for assistance to make their mortgage payments more affordable and to understand options they may have to avoid foreclosure. Full release.

comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a global report on women's online usage titled, Women on the Web: How Women are Shaping the Internet, which provides an in-depth analysis of the female Internet user, highlighting key trends by Internet activity, worldwide region and digital channel. Among its results, the report found that social networking sites reach a higher percentage of women than men globally, with 75.8 percent of all women online visiting a social networking site in May 2010 versus 69.7 percent of men. To download a copy of Women on the Web: How Women are Shaping the Internet, please visit: www.comscore.com/WomenOnTheWeb Full release.

Senator Reid is on track to release the details of his new, pared-down energy plan today. In addition to some other energy-related provisions, the plan is expected to provide tax breaks for natural gas vehicles and infrastructure. But advocates of propane Autogas, an alternative vehicle fuel widely used by public and private vehicle fleets, are pushing the Senate to include Autogas along with natural gas in the vehicle and infrastructure incentive provisions. "The majority of propane Autogas is derived from the refining of natural gas," says Stuart Weidie, director of industry coalition Autogas for America. "Autogas has similar environmental benefits to natural gas and about 90% of it is produced here in America. There's no logical reason this bill should exclude propane Autogas but include natural gas." Full release.

A significant majority of Americans are troubled by recent revelations that Google's Street View cars gathered communications from home WiFi networks, and they want stronger legal protection to preserve their online privacy, according to a national opinion poll released today by Consumer Watchdog.While Google received an overall 74% favorable rating, nearly two-thirds of those polled (65%) say the Wi-Spy scandal is one of the things that "worries them most" or a "great deal" with another 20% saying it "raises some concern" when considering Internet issues. Full release.

The American Legion testified to Congress today that while veterans service organizations disseminate information about Gulf War illnesses, VA must improve its outreach efforts to thousands of veterans who suffer from such maladies. Testifying before a House subcommittee, American Legion panelist Ian de Planque said in his written statement that "VA has moved forward to some extent with increased internal education of their medical and benefits-related staff. "However, the mission of increasing understanding of the medical factors involved for the actual veterans who have served still lags far behind what is necessary," he told the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Full release.

Several cases of dengue fever, a potentially fatal viral disease transmitted by the bite of urban dwelling Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, have recently been reported in the continental United States. Prevalent in Central America and the Caribbean, dengue fever's most common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and body aches lasting several days. The disease's more threatening form, dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause internal bleeding, loss of blood pressure, and death. Over the past five years, outbreaks of both forms of the disease have been reported in Texas and Florida. Full release.

In light of the new census data which reports a huge growth in Hispanic-owned businesses, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), which represents more than 200 local chambers and serves as the national advocate for nearly three million Hispanic-owned businesses across the country, is pleased to announce the overwhelming support that some of America's leading corporations are providing for our entrepreneurs nationwide. For example, Visa Inc., a global payments technology company, and the USHCC have formed a new strategic alliance to provide Hispanic-owned merchants with an array of tools to help them improve cash flow, manage payment acceptance costs, streamline operations and grow their businesses. Additionally, USHCC members will receive customized access to Visa's suite of small business solutions and educational resources. Full release.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), award-winning author Gail Sheehy, UCLA Geriatrics Division Chief David Reuben, journalist and activist Jonathan Rauch, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Director of Delivery System Reform Peter Lee will join patients, caregivers, health care providers and experts at the Building Better Care Forum: Improving the System, For Delivering Health Care to Older Adults and Their Families. The interactive forum will feature speakers from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and the Washington, D.C. area. It is sponsored by the Campaign for Better Care, a multi-year initiative working to improve health care quality, coordination and communication for older patients with multiple health problems and their family caregivers. Full release.

Leading boomers (aged 63-64) want to continue working, but three times as many are unemployed today as were two years ago. They face high unemployment, unwanted early retirement, and early draws on Social Security, meaning less retirement income. This critical finding is from Deft Research's just-released Age-in Study 2010. Using a combination of population demographics and Deft's primary research, this study shows how age 65 has now become irrelevant to boomers' retirement plans. Instead, this population wants to maintain their lifestyles as long as possible, with an increasing need for earned income to make this possible. This report shows changing trends in working that are boomers' response to the need to stretch financial resources over a longer period of time, as health status improves and life expectancy increases. The health system's performance in providing wellness and chronic care management that allows older persons to work is important to this age group's ability to live a desired lifestyle. Full release.

The "Earnings Suspense File" (ESF), used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to track names and Social Security numbers that do not match government records, has tripled over the past decade. The chief cause of growth in the file is unauthorized work by non-citizens, according to SSA Inspector General Patrick P. O'Carroll. Under an immigration amnesty plan, millions of today's illegal workers would be eligible for hundreds of billions in Social Security dollars, as evidenced by the dramatic growth of the Earnings Suspense File. Full release.

The more people used an interactive weight management website, the more weight loss they maintained, according to a Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study published online today in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The National Institutes of Health-funded study evaluated an Internet-based weight maintenance intervention involving 348 participants. Consistent website users who logged on and recorded their weight at least once a month for two-and-a-half years maintained the most weight loss, the study found. "Consistency and accountability are essential in any weight maintenance program. The unique part of this intervention was that it was available on the Internet, whenever and wherever people wanted to use it," said study lead author Kristine L. Funk, MS, RD, a researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore. Full release.

Today, as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law that revolutionized life for those of us with disabilities, we have even more reason to celebrate. This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass H.R. 3101, the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. This measure updates our nation's communications laws to ensure that new technologies are accessible to people with disabilities and gives individuals with vision or hearing loss improved access to television programming, smart phones, the Internet, menus on DVD players and cable TV, and more. Full release.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) strongly condemned reported vandalism found on the building and property of B'nai Shalom Synagogue in Olney, MD. The vandalism reportedly included several swastikas, the words "Seig Heil" and "Death 2 Zionists". "This crude and bigoted attack on a Jewish house of worship is despicable and must be recognized as an attack on the entire community," said Sophie Dornstreich, ADL Assistant Regional Director. "When found, the perpetrators of these cowardly acts should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." ADL commends the Montgomery County Police Department for their fast response and vigorous investigation of the incident as a presumed hate crime. Full release.

Citysearch, a CityGrid Media property and operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), today announced a completely new version of its Mobile by Citysearch application for BlackBerry. The new version of the app offers more simplified browsing, one-touch capabilities, GPS enhancements, in addition to enhanced versions of its already made popular features, including the ability to Tweet, review, map and search for restaurants, bars, and spas in your current location. The ultimate urban companion, the new Mobile by Citysearch BlackBerry app helps you find the hottest places to eat, drink, shop, and relax wherever you are. Full release.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has received a letter signed by 75 Members of Congress urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow limited planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa. The bipartisan group supports action by USDA that would allow farmers to plant seed that's being held in inventory while the Department completes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to the product. The letter was supported by a coalition of agriculture groups that have encouraged timely completion of the EIS process on this biotech alfalfa variety. The groups include the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Land O'Lakes also supported the letter. The cooperative's subsidiary Forage Genetics International developed Roundup Ready alfalfa in conjunction with Monsanto. Full release.

Today, as the nation recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Sutter Health marks a two-year milestone in its renewed commitment to quality, accessible health care. In 2008, Sutter Health adopted comprehensive plans for improved access under the ADA, making the network a leader in disability access in the health care industry. Sutter has invested tens of thousands of hours and millions of dollars over the past two years to improve access to medical services by patients with disabilities. Full release.

A national survey of adults aged 65 and older for the National Council on Aging (NCOA) finds that most seniors are still confused or unaware of important aspects of health reform, or the Affordable Care Act, including its impact on their own Medicare coverage, the growth of Medicare, and the budget deficit. NCOA identified the top twelve facts that every senior should know about the health reform law. The "Straight Talk" poll reveals that only 17% of seniors knew the correct answers to more than half the factual questions posed about these key aspects of new law and only 9% knew the correct answers to at least two-thirds of the questions. None of the 636 older adults interviewed for the poll knew the correct answers to all twelve of the factual questions. Full release.

To coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today, President Obama is joining the Ad Council and the American Association of People with Disabilities to launch a new series of television and radio public service advertisements (PSAs). The ads, which feature the President, celebrate the progress that has been made during the last two decades and remind the public that there is still a lot of work to do so that all Americans have equal opportunity and full participation in this country. The Ad Council is distributing the PSAs to media outlets nationwide today. Full release

Amnesty International today welcomed the guilty verdict by a Dutch court against the multinational company, Trafigura, for delivering hazardous waste to Amsterdam while concealing its true nature and for then exporting the waste to the Ivory Coast. Full release

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's book about the global economic crisis will be published by Simon & Schuster worldwide in November 2010. The book will be published by the company's Free Press imprint in the U.S., in the United Kingdom by Simon & Schuster UK, and by the company's publishing units in Canada and Australia. Full release

In response to the Department of Education issuing a "Gainful Employment" rule today that would make certain career college programs ineligible for Title IV financial aid and effectively eliminate the opportunity for lower-income students to attend career colleges, Harry Alford, president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement. "Gainful Employment will disproportionately harm low-income and minority populations by discriminating against students who must borrow the needed tuition to attend college. Without financial aid, access to higher education will be limited for thousands of students." Full release

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus, issues the following statement concerning Senate action on a $30 billion amendment to authorize loans for small business: "The Senate is to be commended for taking a significant step toward loosening credit and spurring recovery for small businesses nationwide. As part of the broader small business bill, senators moved ahead Thursday to authorize $30 billion in loans that essentially mean Main Street bankers helping Main Street businesses." Full release

The Latino Policy Coalition, a national non-partisan, non-profit consortium of the country's leading Latino research organizations, issued the following statement today concerning the U.S. Justice Department's suit challenging the legality of the state of Arizona's recently enacted law – SB 1070. "We are pleased and proud that the U.S. Department of Justice has asserted its right to challenge the constitutionality of Arizona's discriminatory SB 1070 law. SB 1070 in effect is a hate crime masquerading as an official act," said Latino Policy Coalition Chairman Jim Gonzalez. Full release

Disability Power and Pride (DPP), with support from AT&T, is hosting Apps4Access on Capitol Hill, an event highlighting the important role that applications play in improving accessibility. Apps4Access, hosted in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC, will showcase applications, across a variety of platforms, that are designed to improve accessibility. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how innovations improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Representatives from a range of companies will demonstrate apps and discuss the bright future that apps will bring for improved accessibility. Full release.

Fox News yesterday aired an interview of Jane Harman regarding her concerns of a "dirty bomb" threat, yet as the preeminent "conservative" news network, failed to corner Harman on the recent press statements concerning calls for Jane Harman to divest in Harman Intl shares as their wholly-owned company has business in Iran. Fox News believed that the hardcore follow-up segment on security and the Jane Harman interview was a story relating to a World-Record Blue Catfish caught in the Missouri River and not Harman's silence on her financial ties to Iran business and the recent intel investigative report this week in The Washington Post. Full release.

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