US Senate seeks to add expanded compensation for nuclear radiation victims to tax bill
The language added Thursday to the Senate version of the massive tax bill would overhaul the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which was originally enacted in 1990 and expired about a year ago. The law compensated people in about a dozen western states who developed serious illnesses from nuclear testing and manufacturing stemming from World War II-era efforts to develop the atomic bomb.
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Medscape
16 minutes ago
- Medscape
IDSA Experts Weigh Potential Vaccine Access Impact
Vaccine access and uptake will be affected by the recent actions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), but the extent remains unclear, according to experts in a press briefing sponsored by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). 'I watched with absolute horror as the 17 members of ACIP were summarily fired and replaced with seven members who had limited expertise [in relevant areas],' Andrew T. Pavia, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, said in the briefing. Vaccines aren't perfect, but one of the fundamental benefits of a functional ACIP is that physicians can watch the deliberations take place and look at the same data that ACIP has reviewed in making recommendations, he said. Without the careful review and debate of evidence, insurers and clinicians alike face uncertainty, he said. Fortunately, ACIP voted to recommend a second monoclonal antibody for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus in infants and recommended that the second product would be added to the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines to approximately half of all children in the United States, Pavia noted. Lack of Vote Adds to Uncertainty Despite much time dedicated to discussion of COVID-19, no vote occurred with recommendations for vaccination for the coming season, said Angela Branche, MD, an associate professor of medicine and infectious diseases specialist and researcher at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, in the briefing. Despite evidence presented by CDC experts that young children and pregnant women remain at risk, the lack of a vote leaves clinicians 'operating blind for the coming season as to what to do,' she said. Although ACIP recommended universal flu vaccination, the accompanying restrictions on use of multi-dose vials for flu vaccine may pose access challenges, especially in rural and underserved communities, said Branche. Community clinics in these areas are often pop-ups, and vaccine campaigns tend to be brief, Branche said in the press conference. The use of the now-recommended single-dose flu vaccine vials may be impractical because of the expense of storage and material needed for single-dose injections, she said. Consequently, in terms of vaccine access, communities that are already disadvantaged may be even more so, she emphasized. More Questions as Fall Approaches The reconstituted ACIP also stated intentions to revisit the current recommended childhood vaccine schedule, which could reduce vaccine access for children across the United States, Pavia said. Regarding the current schedule, 'there is no evidence that we are giving too many vaccines to children or too many vaccines close together,' he said in the briefing. If ACIP decided to eliminate any recommended vaccinations from the schedule, the implications are unclear, but insurers might no longer cover them and clinicians might be less inclined to promote them, Pavia said. Currently, vaccine infrastructure of the United States includes nonpartisan, expert review of the science and the clinical recommendations for each vaccine, and many insurers look to ACIP for guidance on coverage, he added.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump: Fed's Powell 'should resign immediately'
President Trump said Jerome Powell 'should resign immediately' in a Truth Social post Wednesday night, increasing a White House pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve chairman that is intensifying this week. Trump started the week with public criticisms of the Fed and Powell for not lowering rates, posting a note he sent to Powell telling the Fed chair "Jerome—You are, as usual, 'Too Late'" and arguing that he has "cost the USA a fortune." His press secretary held up the note at the White House on Monday so reporters could see it. His Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then in separate TV interviews compared the Fed to an old person who is afraid of falling after having stumbled once and — referring to concerns Powell and other Fed officials have voiced about inflation from Trump's tariffs — said "I guess this tariff derangement syndrome happens even over at the Fed." When Trump used Truth Social Wednesday night to urge Powell's resignation, referring to him again with the nickname 'Too Late,' he linked to a news story that detailed calls made by yet another member of his administration — Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte — for Congress to investigate Powell over statements made to Senate lawmakers about renovations to the Fed's headquarters. Pulte has also called on Powell to resign. 'I am asking Congress to investigate Chairman Jerome Powell, his political bias, and his deceptive Senate testimony, which is enough to be removed 'for cause,'' Pulte said Wednesday in a post on X. When Powell testified before Senate lawmakers last month, Republican senators asked him about media reports that described the expenses and features of the Fed renovation project in Washington, D.C., and Powell said the reports were 'misleading and inaccurate in many, many respects.' Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis said in a statement to Yahoo Finance that 'This is the Federal Reserve, not a modern-day Palace of Versailles, and it's clear his inability to set aside his own biases in favor of sound policies proves it's time for new leadership at the Fed,' echoing a statement she also posted on X. 'I am happy President Trump is considering new leadership at the Fed.' There is now a short list of people who could succeed Powell as the next Federal Reserve chair when his term is up next May, according to people close to the administration. They include former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, former World Bank president David Malpass, and current Fed governor Christopher Waller. Trump told reporters Tuesday that "I have two or three top choices," roughly a week after saying "I know within three or four people who I'm going to pick." Powell has said that his removal from the job before his term is up next May is not permitted by law, and that he intends to serve out the full time. Trump has delivered mixed messages about whether he would try to remove him, saying in an April 17 post that 'Powell's termination cannot come fast enough!' before saying April 22 that he had 'no intention of firing him.' When asked Tuesday during a monetary policy conference in Portugal if Trump's attacks made it more difficult for Powell to do his job, the Fed chairman said, "I'm very focused on just doing my job." He added that "the things that matter are using our tools to achieve the goals that Congress has given us — maximum employment, price stability, financial stability — and that's what we focus on 100%." Powell's response was met with applause from other participants on the panel and the audience in the room. He also said on Tuesday, 'I want to hand over to my successor an economy in good shape. That's what keeps me awake at night.' When asked if he would serve out his term as a Fed governor until 2028, he declined to say: 'I have nothing for you on that today." On Tuesday, Powell didn't rule out an interest rate reduction at the Fed's next meeting on July 28-29, but he noted the central bank would have cut rates by now if not for the tariffs introduced by the Trump administration. "We went on hold when we saw the size of the tariffs and essentially all inflation forecasts for the United States went up materially as a consequence of the tariffs," he said. The Fed lowered rates by a full percentage point in 2024 but has held rates steady so far in 2025 as it waits to see if inflation will pick up this summer due to the tariffs. "I wouldn't take any meeting off the table or put it directly on the table," Powell said when asked about the possibility of a cut in July. "It's going to depend on how the data evolved." Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Anniston council certifies unopposed candidates, hears concern over wildlife response
ANNISTON — In a brief meeting Tuesday evening, the City Council passed several resolutions certifying the election of three candidates running unopposed in the upcoming municipal elections. Mary L. Harrington and Dottie Rimpsey were certified for seats on the Anniston City Board of Education, while Joe Harrington was certified as the Ward 3 councilman. Under Alabama election law, unopposed candidates are declared elected without appearing on the ballot. The municipal election is scheduled for Aug. 26. The council also approved a resolution appointing Skyler Bass, the city's current clerk and interim city manager, as the city's election manager. During the public comment period, Wenonah Bryant raised concerns about the city's lack of response protocol for erratic wildlife after encountering a raccoon behaving unusually in her neighborhood. 'A couple of weeks ago I had an incident with a raccoon who was behaving erratically,' Bryant said. 'And in the midst of all of this, I found that we don't have any protocol to deal with our wildlife if there is a problem.' Bryant explained that she contacted the police and was referred to private wildlife trackers. 'I was told that our animal control does not deal with wildlife — only with dogs,' she said. 'Fortunately, my daughter was able to get in touch with somebody who was willing to come out … and fortunately, it was not rabid.' Bryant said the process took more than 24 hours. She stressed that the delay could have endangered residents, especially children. 'There were children telling their parents, 'Oh, there's a raccoon out there.' It could have very easily been detrimental,' Bryant said. 'Especially with us opening up the Ladiga Trail, we really need to have something in place.' After the meeting, Harrington spoke privately with Bryant. She described him as kind and concerned, saying, 'He said he would get back with me.' During council comments, Councilman Demetric 'DD' Roberts praised the recent Heritage Festival at Zinn Park, calling it a wonderful event and noting the large turnout. 'We've pretty much outgrown the park,' Roberts said. The council's next regular meeting is scheduled for July 15.
