rollcall--2020-04-03--Immigration policies may delay help from foreign medical grads

Then , in a March 26 tweet , the State Department encouraged “ medical professionals seeking work in the U.S. on a work or exchange visitor visa ( H or J ) , particularly those working on # COVID19 issues , to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy/ Consulate for a visa appointment.
” The State Department walked back its comments the following day to clarify it was not recruiting foreign residents and would only process applications already in the system .
“ The Department of State stands ready to work with doctors and other medical professionals who are already accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to travel to the United States to work or study , ” William Walters , the deputy chief medical officer for operations in the State Department ’ s Bureau of Medical Services , said at a March 27 news conference .
Neither the State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance on how J-1 visa holders will be affected under current travel restrictions or as the administration continues to adjust policies related to foreign travel .
The U.S. health care system already relies heavily on immigrants , who make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a 2017 Migration Policy Institute study .
Foreign medical professionals also may come to the U.S. under other visas , including the H-1B , which U.S. employers use to temporarily hire foreign nationals in specialty occupations like technology and engineering .
The Department of Homeland Security conducts an annual lottery to determine which employers will be able to petition for those visas .
More than 10,000 medical residents already are in the country on J-1 visas and H-1B visas , according to the Association of American Medical Colleges .

The State Department has sent mixed messages pertaining to J-1 and other visas that allow medical professionals to come to the U.S. In March, the department temporarily closed all foreign U.S. embassies but later said those embassies would continue to process certain visas.
Then, in a March 26 tweet, the State Department encouraged “medical professionals seeking work in the U.S. on a work or exchange visitor visa (H or J), particularly those working on #COVID19 issues, to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy/ Consulate for a visa appointment.” The State Department walked back its comments the following day to clarify it was not recruiting foreign residents and would only process applications already in the system.
“The Department of State stands ready to work with doctors and other medical professionals who are already accepted into existing U.S. programs and otherwise expected to travel to the United States to work or study,” William Walters, the deputy chief medical officer for operations in the State Department’s Bureau of Medical Services, said at a March 27 news conference.
Neither the State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance on how J-1 visa holders will be affected under current travel restrictions or as the administration continues to adjust policies related to foreign travel. The U.S. health care system already relies heavily on immigrants, who make up about 17 percent of all medical professionals, according to a 2017 Migration Policy Institute study.
Foreign medical professionals also may come to the U.S. under other visas, including the H-1B, which U.S. employers use to temporarily hire foreign nationals in specialty occupations like technology and engineering. The Department of Homeland Security conducts an annual lottery to determine which employers will be able to petition for those visas.


rollcall--2020-04-03--Pelosi punts on infrastructure in next coronavirus aid package

Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday backed away from proposals to include a major infrastructure package in a new round of coronavirus-related economic aid , arguing instead for a measure tailored to the immediate needs of individuals and small businesses .
She said the $ 2.3 trillion package signed into law last week was a good model to build on , but that gaps in the legislation need to be filled , such as extending enhanced unemployment insurance and doubling forgivable loans administered by the Small Business Administration .
“ Let ’ s do what we just agreed to [ last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current , ” Pelosi told CNBC ’ s Jim Cramer in an interview .
The California Democrat on Wednesday convened a conference call with House committee leaders to push for a five-year , $ 760 billion infrastructure plan to stimulate the economy .
That was after President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted his desire to see as much as $ 2 trillion in overall infrastructure investment in the fourth bill .
But on Friday , Pelosi acknowledged to Cramer that that plan “ may have to be for a bill beyond this .
@

Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday backed away from proposals to include a major infrastructure package in a new round of coronavirus-related economic aid, arguing instead for a measure tailored to the immediate needs of individuals and small businesses.
She said the $2.3 trillion package signed into law last week was a good model to build on, but that gaps in the legislation need to be filled, such as extending enhanced unemployment insurance and doubling forgivable loans administered by the Small Business Administration.
“Let’s do what we just agreed to [last week], except make it more current,” Pelosi told CNBC’s Jim Cramer in an interview.
The California Democrat on Wednesday convened a conference call with House committee leaders to push for a five-year, $760 billion infrastructure plan to stimulate the economy. That was after President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted his desire to see as much as $2 trillion in overall infrastructure investment in the fourth bill.
But on Friday, Pelosi acknowledged to Cramer that that plan “may have to be for a bill beyond this.”


rollcall--2020-04-03--Coronavirus Special Report: Exclusive with James Clyburn

We talk to House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn , D-S.C. , about why there is a need for an @ @ @ @ @ stimulus package and what comes next for the country .
• State requests for more @ @ @ @ @ leverage ’ for a phase four stimulus , Pelosi says • New election security funds @ @ @ @ @ for hard-hit states

We talk to House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., about why there is a need for an oversight panel for the COVID-19 stimulus package and what comes next for the country.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-04-03--Then and now: Washington becomes a ghost town amid coronavirus pandemic

Politics is an inherently social pursuit , and Washington , D.C. , and Capitol Hill is the hub of our @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic dramatically curtailing our social interactions , the people and places we cover @ @ @ @ @ .
The photographs that follow comprise our favorite photos of the recent past , and @ @ @ @ @ now : Absence of baseball fans .
Absence of senators , of representatives , of @ @ @ @ @ or deputy attorneys general .
Absence of tourists , of fellow journalists , of staffers @ @ @ @ @ , of the silly .
Absence of Jon Stewart .
Absence of a giant stuffed @ @

Bill Clark, Tom Williams, Caroline Brehman, and Jason Dick

Politics is an inherently social pursuit, and Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill is the hub of our political world. But with the coronavirus pandemic dramatically curtailing our social interactions, the people and places we cover are now defined by absence.
The photographs that follow comprise our favorite photos of the recent past, and what those places look like now: Absence of baseball fans. Absence of senators, of representatives, of presidents, of vice presidents or deputy attorneys general. Absence of tourists, of fellow journalists, of staffers. Absence of the profound, of the silly. Absence of Jon Stewart. Absence of a giant stuffed moose.


rollcall--2020-04-03--Trump picks inexperienced 37-year-old Kentuckian for influential DC court

President Donald Trump on Friday announced he would pick a young and inexperienced judge from Kentucky for an open seat @ @ @ @ @ court in Washington , D.C. , that decides some of the nation ’ s most @ @ @ @ @ .
Justin Walker , 37 , of Louisville became a judge in October , when @ @ @ @ @ confirm him to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky .
[ @ @ @ @ @ for America ’ s poor ] Now , six months later , Trump has nominated @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit .
The court hears cases of @ @ @ @ @ labor , immigration and other policy issues ; it has been known as a steppingstone @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court .
He is the youngest nominee to the D.C .
Circuit in a @ @ @ @ @ , the founder and president of The Article III Project , which works to support @ @ @ @ @ s judicial picks .

President Donald Trump on Friday announced he would pick a young and inexperienced judge from Kentucky for an open seat on the influential federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., that decides some of the nation’s most important regulatory and constitutional cases.
Justin Walker, 37, of Louisville became a judge in October, when the Senate voted 50-41 to confirm him to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
[Coronavirus could overwhelm legal help for America’s poor]
Now, six months later, Trump has nominated Walker to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The court hears cases of national importance on environmental, labor, immigration and other policy issues; it has been known as a steppingstone to a seat on the Supreme Court.
He is the youngest nominee to the D.C. Circuit in a generation, said Mike Davis, the founder and president of The Article III Project, which works to support the confirmation of Trump’s judicial picks.


rollcall--2020-04-03--Schumer, Wyden push for faster unemployment checks, new Obamacare enrollment window

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and Finance ranking member Ron Wyden are pushing the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ checks get out within two weeks .
The Democrats suggested they may seek to use @ @ @ @ @ enrollment period for the health insurance exchanges established under the 2010 health care law if @ @ @ @ @ act , in continuing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` It 's something @ @ @ @ @ , very important .
People need health care .
There are lots of people who @ @ @ @ @ , many of whom would qualify for the ACA , and we should open it @ @ @ @ @ .
The New York Democrat , joined by Wyden , D-Ore. , held a conference @ @ @ @ @ the massive increases in jobless claims .

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and Finance ranking member Ron Wyden are pushing the Trump administration to make sure unemployment insurance checks get out within two weeks.
The Democrats suggested they may seek to use legislation to force a special enrollment period for the health insurance exchanges established under the 2010 health care law if the Trump administration does not act, in continuing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[Coronavirus creates funding time bomb for public schools]
"It's something that we feel is very, very important. People need health care. There are lots of people who don't have health care, many of whom would qualify for the ACA, and we should open it," Schumer said Friday.
The New York Democrat, joined by Wyden, D-Ore., held a conference call with reporters to discuss the massive increases in jobless claims.


rollcall--2020-04-03--Pressed to fix oil markets, Trump makes no public promises

America ’ s position as a global oil and gas powerhouse is under threat as cheap oil floods the market @ @ @ @ @ the economy and myriad jobs at risk , Republican members of Congress told President Donald @ @ @ @ @ meeting Friday .
At the meeting , also attended by oil industry executives , the @ @ @ @ @ of challenges and policy fixes , prodding Trump to take a hard line against foreign @ @ @ @ @ no specific promises from the president , according to the transcript .
The oil industry @ @ @ @ @ for stating their backgrounds and thanking Trump .
Since the early days of his administration @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas companies and touted the U.S. as the No .
1 energy producer @ @ @ @ @ like former Energy Secretary Rick Perry , talked up so-called “ freedom gas ” ( @ @ @ @ @ ) as a way to reach “ energy dominance , ” a maxim of the @ @ @

America’s position as a global oil and gas powerhouse is under threat as cheap oil floods the market, placing gaping chunks of the economy and myriad jobs at risk, Republican members of Congress told President Donald Trump in a White House meeting Friday.
At the meeting, also attended by oil industry executives, the lawmakers laid out a list of challenges and policy fixes, prodding Trump to take a hard line against foreign oil powers, but received no specific promises from the president, according to the transcript.
The oil industry executives fell largely silent except for stating their backgrounds and thanking Trump.
[Oil purchase to fill strategic reserve dropped from stimulus]
Since the early days of his administration, Trump has praised domestic oil and gas companies and touted the U.S. as the No. 1 energy producer globally. Cabinet members, like former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, talked up so-called “freedom gas” (domestic natural gas sold abroad) as a way to reach “energy dominance,” a maxim of the White House.


rollcall--2020-04-04--Government plans to pay hospitals for COVID-19 care for uninsured

The Trump administration said Friday evening that officials plan to reimburse hospitals and health care providers for uncompensated care given to COVID-19 patients who do not have health insurance .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at a White House press briefing that hospitals and health care providers would be reimbursed at Medicare rates for the treatment of uninsured patients .
Providers would be banned from balance billing patients or sending them a surprise medical bill to make up the difference in costs not covered by the government .
The announcement comes after about 10 million Americans filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late March .
Many workers who lost their jobs also would have lost employer-sponsored health insurance coverage during the pandemic .
The Trump administration declined to open a special enrollment period for people to sign up for insurance on the federal exchange set up by the 2010 health care law .
People who lose their employer-sponsored health insurance already qualify under existing rules for a special enrollment period , which Azar noted from the briefing room podium , but other people who did not lose their coverage but had been uninsured or are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan on HealthCare.gov .

The Trump administration said Friday evening that officials plan to reimburse hospitals and health care providers for uncompensated care given to COVID-19 patients who do not have health insurance.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at a White House press briefing that hospitals and health care providers would be reimbursed at Medicare rates for the treatment of uninsured patients. Providers would be banned from balance billing patients or sending them a surprise medical bill to make up the difference in costs not covered by the government.
The announcement comes after about 10 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits over two weeks in late March. Many workers who lost their jobs also would have lost employer-sponsored health insurance coverage during the pandemic. The Trump administration declined to open a special enrollment period for people to sign up for insurance on the federal exchange set up by the 2010 health care law.
[States reopen insurance enrollment as coronavirus spreads]
People who lose their employer-sponsored health insurance already qualify under existing rules for a special enrollment period, which Azar noted from the briefing room podium, but other people who did not lose their coverage but had been uninsured or are underinsured would not be able to purchase a plan on HealthCare.gov.