rollcall--2020-02-03--House managers, Trump lawyers appeal to the other side in closing arguments

Photojournalists take photos of Ken Starr , a member of President Donald Trump ’ s defense team , as he leaves the Capitol after the conclusion of the Senate impeachment trial proceedings Monday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Attorneys for both sides in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Monday wrapped up their arguments with pleas for bipartisanship ahead of the Wednesday vote to acquit the president .
After House Democrats rehashed their well-known arguments for convicting the president on charges of abuse of power and contempt of Congress , lead House manager Adam B. Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the courage to remove Trump from office .
“ History will not be kind to Donald Trump , ” Schiff told the Senate .
“ If you find that the House has proved its case and still vote to acquit , your name will be tied to his with a cord of steel .
But if you find the courage to stand up to him , to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood , your place will be among the Davids who took on Goliath.
” Schiff argued that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he will cheat in the November election .
Schiff then rattled off some of the president ’ s more contentious moments , such as when he mocked a disabled reporter and the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain .
“ Truth matters to you .
Right matters to you .
You are decent , ” Schiff said looking toward the Republican senators .
“ He is not who you are.
” With the 2020 presidential election nine months away , the White House defense team implored senators to “ leave it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be president .
As he has throughout the trial , Trump lawyer Pat Cipollone framed the effort to impeach and remove Trump as “ an effort to overturn the results of one election and to try to interfere in the coming election that begins today in Iowa.
” The same argument was invoked last week by Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee when he announced that he would stick with his party and opposing hearing from witnesses at the trial .
“ You are being asked to do this when tonight citizens of Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said .
“ The answer is elections , not impeachment.
” Trump ’ s defense team also made a call for a return to bipartisanship .
“ There was a time not that long ago , even within this administration , where bipartisan agreements could be reached , ” Sekulow said .
“ I simply ask this body to stand firm today .
Protect the integrity of the United States Senate .
Stand firm today and protect the office of the president .
Stand firm today and protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the will of the American people and respect their vote.
” Cipollone closed his arguments saying that the decision whether to remove Trump from office or to acquit is one that will test the faith of the American people .
“ So at the end of the day , we put our faith in the Senate , ” Cipollone said .
“ We put our faith in the Senate .
Because we know you will put your faith in the American people .
You will leave this choice to them , where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Senate adjourned as a court of impeachment and reconvened in normal legislative session .
The shift back to normal floor proceedings will allow senators to make floor speeches , which many plan to use to explain their positions ahead of Wednesday ’ s vote .
Trump will almost certainly remain in office as 20 Republican senators would have to vote with Democrats to reach the 67-vote threshold to remove the president .
Schiff acknowledged his efforts to remove Trump likely won ’ t succeed .
But he said he hoped that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convict Trump .
“ Even a single vote by a single member can change the course of history , ” Schiff said .
“ It is said that a single man or woman of courage makes a majority .
Is there one among you who will say ‘ enough ?
’ ” As senators began a series of speeches outlining their own positions , Sen. Joe Manchin III , a West Virginia Democrat , attempted to split the difference between acquittal and conviction .
“ History will judge the Senate harshly , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trail was handled , including the vote to not allow witnesses or documents .
He called the House managers ’ case against the president “ strong , ” and said they effectively showed “ what the president did was wrong.
” Saying he was “ undecided on how I will vote , ” Manchin urged the Senate to censure Trump for his actions and said he believes there is a bipartisan majority to condemn the president ’ s behavior .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone @

Attorneys for both sides in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Monday wrapped up their arguments with pleas for bipartisanship ahead of the Wednesday vote to acquit the president.
After House Democrats rehashed their well-known arguments for convicting the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, lead House manager Adam B. Schiff of California called on Senate Republicans to have the courage to remove Trump from office.
“History will not be kind to Donald Trump,” Schiff told the Senate. “If you find that the House has proved its case and still vote to acquit, your name will be tied to his with a cord of steel. But if you find the courage to stand up to him, to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood, your place will be among the Davids who took on Goliath.”
Schiff argued that if Trump is not stopped by the Senate, he will cheat in the November election. Schiff then rattled off some of the president’s more contentious moments, such as when he mocked a disabled reporter and the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Congress looks at taxes, oversight, crime in fintech bills

Companies that facilitate bitcoin payments , called merchant services providers , received $ 158 billion in bitcoin last year , which was just about 1 percent of the economic activity on bitcoin ’ s blockchain , according to Chainalysis , which analyses such transactions .
( Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images photo illustration ) Cryptocurrencies involve cutting-edge technology , but Congress is aiming at age-old problems when it comes to financial technology legislation : taxation , crime and jurisdiction to set the rules .
A review of the latest fintech-related bills by CQ Roll Call shows lawmakers ’ latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some and making sure the technology isn ’ t abused by others .
A bipartisan bill introduced in January , for example , would remove the tax implications each time cryptocurrency is used to make a purchase .
The bill would exempt transactions of no more than $ 200 from current tax rules .
The IRS now requires taxpayers to report with their annual income tax whether they have profited by buying a cryptocurrency and then used the cryptocurrency to buy goods priced in a fiat currency .
The profit would be treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rep. Suzan DelBene , D-Wash. , and David Schweikert , R-Ariz. , said in a statement that the existing tax code “ makes the everyday use of virtual currency near impossible.
” That ’ s because cryptocurrency used to make a purchase generates a taxable event — based on the difference between its value when it was acquired and the value when spent .
Their bill would treat crypto purchases the same way as small foreign currency transactions , which have the $ 200 exemption .
The legislation would also require the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above that amount .
Schweikert offered similar legislation in the past , but the bill did not advance .
The Blockchain Association , a trade group , strongly supports the bill .
Without changes , the existing tax code could deter use of cryptocurrencies , Executive Director Kristen Smith told CQ Roll Call .
But she noted that the bill has not been “ scored ” by the Congressional Budget Office for the cost to taxpayers .
That alone doesn ’ t kill the bill , but lawmakers in the past have objected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scores .
The taxation issue could become prominent if cryptocurrency use increases .
Companies that facilitate bitcoin payments — called merchant services providers , like BitPay Inc. — received $ 158 billion in bitcoin last year , which was just about 1 percent of the economic activity on bitcoin ’ s blockchain , according to Chainalysis , which analyses such transactions .
That means the vast majority of holders of bitcoin prefer to keep it than spend it .
Overstock.com Inc. is one of the few large retailers accepting bitcoin .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of just $ 2.3 million at June 30 , 2019 .
That pales when compared with the company ’ s quarterly revenue of $ 373.7 million at that time .
Regardless , the IRS is beginning to crack down on reporting .
Its Form 1040 schedule for deductions and adjustments , for the first time , asks taxpayers “ at any time during 2019 , if they received , sold , sent , exchanged , or otherwise acquired any financial interest in virtual currency.
” The agency sent letters to more than 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior tax filings due to virtual currency transactions , and the agency provided additional guidance on cryptocurrencies in October .
This guidance does not go far enough , according to eight members of Congress who sent a letter to the IRS in December .
They want more from the agency on retirement accounts with crypto assets , interest paid on crypto deposits , and crypto futures products .
The Digital Chamber of Commerce , which represents many of the industry ’ s biggest players , also wants more from the IRS on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of that new question on its forms , its chief policy officer , Amy Davine Kim , told CQ Roll Call .
Other lawmakers are moving to settle lingering jurisdictional issues by establishing which digital assets will be deemed securities , which ones will be deemed commodities and how stablecoins , which are linked to more traditional assets , should be regulated .
A draft bill from Rep. Paul Gosar , R-Ariz. , would answer some of these questions .
Any debt , equity or derivative that relies on a distributed ledger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Securities and Exchange Commission jurisdiction only , according to a draft .
Gosar ’ s staff confirmed to CQ Roll Call that he is working on a final version , which may be introduced within weeks .
His bill would also resolve what regulators worldwide say is uncertainty for digital coins backed not by fiat currency but by assets .
Under the Gosar draft , the SEC would have authority over all stablecoins .
Gosar is not a member of the relevant committees overseeing these financial agencies .
The marketplace would benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission , according to Clark Fonda , co-founder of the U.S. Blockchain Advocacy Partners , a trade association whose advisory committee is chaired by former Sen. Mark S. Kirk , R-Ill .
He described the current regulatory environment as the “ Wild West.
” In Fonda ’ s view , the best-case situation is for policymakers to “ choose a lane , ” he told CQ Roll Call .
He said his sense is that Republicans in Congress probably prefer the CFTC over Gosar ’ s choice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , relevant committee leaders of both parties will have to get behind legislation in the Senate and the House , he said .
That could be an issue in a year in which Congress is distracted by an impeachment trial , appropriations matters and a national election .
The House already passed two bills designed to study the use of virtual currency by criminals and terrorists .
One measure calls for the Homeland Security Department to provide a threat assessment of such use .
Another bill would establish a task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virtual currencies by terrorists .
It would also offer rewards for those providing the government with information used to convict criminals involved with virtual currencies .
Those bills ’ fate is unclear in the Senate .

The taxation issue could become prominent if cryptocurrency use increases. Companies that facilitate bitcoin payments — called merchant services providers, like BitPay Inc. — received $158 billion in bitcoin last year, which was just about 1 percent of the economic activity on bitcoin’s blockchain, according to Chainalysis, which analyses such transactions. That means the vast majority of holders of bitcoin prefer to keep it than spend it.
Overstock.com Inc. is one of the few large retailers accepting bitcoin. The company told regulators that it held cryptocurrency assets of just $2.3 million at June 30, 2019. That pales when compared with the company’s quarterly revenue of $373.7 million at that time.
Regardless, the IRS is beginning to crack down on reporting. Its Form 1040 schedule for deductions and adjustments, for the first time, asks taxpayers “at any time during 2019, if they received, sold, sent, exchanged, or otherwise acquired any financial interest in virtual currency.”
The agency sent letters to more than 10,000 taxpayers in July telling them to correct prior tax filings due to virtual currency transactions, and the agency provided additional guidance on cryptocurrencies in October.
This guidance does not go far enough, according to eight members of Congress who sent a letter to the IRS in December. They want more from the agency on retirement accounts with crypto assets, interest paid on crypto deposits, and crypto futures products.


rollcall--2020-02-04--State of the Union: draft after draft

State of the Union: draft after draft

Rep. Josh Gottheimer , D-N.J. , speaks with reporters following the final votes of the week on Dec. 12 , @ @ @ @ @ Roll Call ) Rep. Josh Gottheimer was one of the youngest staffers on the Clinton @ @ @ @ @ team .
“ The good news is I was only 23 so I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ how overwhelmed I should have been by being in the West Wing , ” said @ @ @ @ @ Call the Clinton speech memorabilia adorning his walls .
Watch the New Jersey Democrat recall @ @ @ @ @ how last minute the State of the Union comes together .

Rep. Josh Gottheimer was one of the youngest staffers on the Clinton administration’s speech writing team.
“The good news is I was only 23 so I don’t think I realized just how overwhelmed I should have been by being in the West Wing,” said Gottheimer while showing CQ Roll Call the Clinton speech memorabilia adorning his walls.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Michigan’s moderate Democratic governor gets party’s spotlight

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who won an open race in 2018 by almost 10 percentage points , represents the type of successful candidate Democrats ran in congressional and statewide races that year : a relatively moderate woman who won in an evenly divided state by focusing on issues like health care , education and infrastructure .
( Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images file photo ) Democratic congressional leaders ’ choice of Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer to deliver their response to President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union address signals the party is likely to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 elections across the country .
Whitmer , who won an open race in 2018 by almost 10 percentage points , represents the type of successful candidate Democrats ran in congressional and statewide races that year : a relatively moderate woman who won in an evenly divided state by focusing on issues like health care , education and infrastructure .
Her selection likely shows that Democrats would like to push those issues , against the backdrop of a president involved in a partisan impeachment process , to win back states in the industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Electoral College .
As “ a female , moderate governor in a state that ’ s really going to be integral to the Democratic Party ’ s success of taking the White House in 2020 , ” Whitmer can be seen as “ the face ” of Democratic gains in 2018 , said Aaron Kall , the director of debate at the University of Michigan and editor of a book on State of the Union addresses .
Whitmer ’ s campaign focused on pocketbook issues , including a commercial in which she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fix the damn roads.
” [ Democrats in Governors ’ Races Pounce on Trump ’ s New Health Waiver Rules ] The setting of her response speech , a public high school , also signals Democrats ’ desire to showcase action on issues close to home for most voters .
Whitmer ’ s campaign organization said in a fundraising email to supporters that the speech was a chance to “ show how Democrats are getting things done for working Americans , their families , and our future generations.
” After Trump won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ en route to the White House in 2016 , Democrats are looking to appeal to the Midwest in 2020 .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer told reporters the choice was tied to Whitmer ’ s region and her focus on pocketbook issues .
“ She ’ s from the Midwest , ” the New York Democrat said last week .
“ She speaks to the practical things that working families care about , like ‘ fix the roads.
’ ” Her gender could also highlight a contrast with Republicans .
Democrats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 2018 races showed that gender gap widening , especially in moderate districts and states that flipped from supporting Trump in 2016 to Democrats in 2018 , Kall said .
[ States in the Midwest with outsize roles in the 2020 elections ] Just over a year into her term , Whitmer ’ s home-state record is mixed , Kall said .
As a state senator , she led a bipartisan effort with the last governor , Republican Rick Snyder , to expand health care access .
But legislative Republicans , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her plan as governor to raise fuel taxes in order to pay for increased road funding .
Michigan Republicans sought to use Whitmer ’ s failure to deliver on a key campaign promise , as well as support for an expanded state role in health care , as evidence she ’ s not as effective an administrator as she and Democratic leaders imagine .
“ Whitmer has proved that she is no different than the same out-of-touch liberal Democrats determined to sabotage the American dream , ” Republican Chairman Laura Cox said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pathé contributed to this report .

Democratic congressional leaders’ choice of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to deliver their response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address signals the party is likely to continue the message it rode to victory in 2018 elections across the country.
Whitmer, who won an open race in 2018 by almost 10 percentage points, represents the type of successful candidate Democrats ran in congressional and statewide races that year: a relatively moderate woman who won in an evenly divided state by focusing on issues like health care, education and infrastructure.
Her selection likely shows that Democrats would like to push those issues, against the backdrop of a president involved in a partisan impeachment process, to win back states in the industrial Midwest that will be crucial to winning the Electoral College.


rollcall--2020-02-04--To write a State of the Union for Clinton, you had to do math

Rep. Josh Gottheimer , D-N.J. , walks down the House steps at the Capitol in 2017 .
As a White House speechwriter under President Bill Clinton , Gottheimer worked on several State of the Union addresses .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Bill Clinton was good at keeping track of how many words were in his State of the Union .
It was 1999 , the House had impeached him , a Senate trial was underway , and the president was up late doing math .
As he revised drafts of the annual speech , Clinton wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page — the number of words he ’ d added or subtracted .
A copy of one of those pages , printed at 1:30 a.m. just two days before the speech on Jan. 19 , now hangs in the office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer .
“ President Clinton was always working , he was up , ” Gottheimer said in an interview last week , pointing to the framed page .
The number “ 32 , ” written in blue ink , was meant as a reminder to add something later .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , folks , I could put this in because I removed those words .
So I ’ m even , ’ ” Gottheimer recalled .
When it comes to lengthy SOTUs , Clinton still holds the top two spots .
His 2000 speech clocked in at almost 1 hour and 29 minutes .
( President Donald Trump sits over six minutes back in third . )
If you were one of Clinton ’ s speechwriters , translating ideas into Arkansas-approved colloquialisms — think a turtle on a fence post , or the underbelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job .
Gottheimer , now 44 and a Democratic congressman from New Jersey , was a college undergraduate when he joined the Clinton campaign ’ s “ rapid response ” team in the run-up to the 1996 election .
Back then , rapid response teams were “ the difference between the carriage and the auto , ” he said .
Before livestreams , the campaign got people with clunky , brick-like cellphones to call in from far-flung speeches so the team in Washington could listen to Clinton challenger Bob Dole ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off a rebuttal by email or make a call — and “ there was probably faxing involved.
” By the age of 23 , Gottheimer worked in the White House alongside Terry Edmonds , the first African American chief speechwriter , and Michael Waldman , now president of the law and policy institute Brennan Center for Justice .
Gottheimer , the youngest member of the team , did everything from get lunch to write speeches , he said .
The State of the Union , in which the president shares goals for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always ate up a big chunk of time .
As summer turned to fall , the White House would start getting input from people across the country , from small-town business owners to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey .
Then “ we ’ d sit with the president several times and say , ‘ What do you want to talk about , what do you want to hit on ?
’ ” he said .
The speech would get split up by subject , and a first draft would be ready by Christmastime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s down-home Arkansas dialect .
“ I ’ m from Jersey , he ’ s from Arkansas , so , you have to learn to speak Arkansan , ” Gottheimer said .
“ In fact , my chief of staff now is from Arkansas , so , you know , I ’ m learning to speak Arkansan as best I can.
” The saying “ stuff doesn ’ t just happen , ” for instance , translates from Jersey to Arkansan as “ If you see a turtle sitting on a fence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get there by itself.
” In the days before the speech , Clinton rehearsed in the White House theater with the team , which had lugged in large boxy desktop computers to do on-the-fly editing .
For one State of the Union during Clinton ’ s second term , the speech was still in surgery just moments before Clinton arrived at the Capitol .
Gottheimer had to jump out of the motorcade and run into the building to get the words onto the teleprompter .
“ And that ’ s how close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Gottheimer pointed to the 1999 speech now hanging in his office , he tried to explain how the team attempted to set a new tone amid Clinton ’ s impeachment trial , highlighting a shooting months before in which two Capitol Police officers gave their lives “ to defend freedom ’ s house , ” as Clinton said in his speech .
“ The families were there in the gallery , ” Gottheimer said .
“ And we talked about this , and about civility .
And he says , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit of civility and bipartisanship .
Mr. Speaker , let ’ s do exactly that.
’ ” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Bill Clinton was good at keeping track of how many words were in his State of the Union.
It was 1999, the House had impeached him, a Senate trial was underway, and the president was up late doing math.
As he revised drafts of the annual speech, Clinton wrote a figure on the bottom of each page — the number of words he’d added or subtracted. A copy of one of those pages, printed at 1:30 a.m. just two days before the speech on Jan. 19, now hangs in the office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
“President Clinton was always working, he was up,” Gottheimer said in an interview last week, pointing to the framed page. The number “32,” written in blue ink, was meant as a reminder to add something later.
“He’d say, ‘Hey, folks, I could put this in because I removed those words. So I’m even,’” Gottheimer recalled.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Majority of election sites in battleground states lack validation, McAfee finds

A Board of Elections official places signs around the One Judiciary Square building as District of Columbia residents head to the polls for the first day of early voting in the 2014 general election at the Board of Elections headquarters in Washington on Oct. 20 , 2014 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) A vast majority of election-related websites operated by local governments in battleground states lack a key feature that would help distinguish them from those run by commercial entities or criminal hackers — a site that ends in .gov as opposed to .com or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McAfee .
Of 1,117 counties in 13 key states , which account for 201 of the 270 Electoral College votes that determine the winner of presidential contests , 83.3 percent didn ’ t have the .gov validation , McAfee found .
When government websites operate using .com or other domain extensions , it becomes easy for foreign adversaries to put up fake sites that imitate government websites and to mount disinformation campaigns aimed at misleading voters , said Steve Grobman , McAfee ’ s chief technology officer .
“ If we look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites are still not operating with the level of security we ’ d expect , ” Grobman told CQ Roll Call .
“ We see the vast majority are not using .gov , meaning that normal citizens may not be able to identify if an election website is real or not .
And only half of them use encryption , so information they ’ re transmitting is not secure.
” Attackers trying to mislead voters could set up fake websites ending in .com or .us or other domain extensions , similar to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to distinguish from authentic ones , Grobman said .
If all government websites , from federal agencies to local governments , operated only with a .gov domain , then a nationwide campaign could educate citizens and voters to trust only .gov websites , Grobman said .
[ Russia , China plan to adjust their tactics to hack , influence 2020 elections ] Minnesota was the worst offender , with 95.4 percent of its sites lacking the .gov extension , while Texas , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania and Ohio were among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites had no validation through the .gov extension , McAfee found .
In Iowa and New Hampshire — two key states that hold the first caucus and primary , respectively , to pick a party ’ s presidential candidate — significant majorities of sites lacked the .gov extension , McAfee found .
In Iowa , 88.9 percent operate without .gov , while 90 percent of New Hampshire sites lack one .
More than two-thirds of Arizona ’ s websites had the .gov extension , making it the state with the most validation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s sites lacked the .gov extension , “ hundreds of thousands of voters could still be subjected to disinformation schemes , ” McAfee said .
The Department of Homeland Security ’ s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency , or CISA , and some lawmakers have been urging state and local agencies to boost security measures .
“ We encourage organizations to move to the .gov domain , ” Christopher Krebs , director of CISA , told reporters last week after completing an election security exercise with state and local governments .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , there may be other security measures we can put in place like multifactor authentication on key administrator accounts and ensuring that websites have ‘ https ’ [ prefixes ] .
Ultimately , we ’ d like everyone in government to be on the .gov domain.
” To obtain a .gov extension , local governments have to get permission from the U.S. government .
A bipartisan bill under consideration in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would require CISA to come up with a plan to migrate all government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation is sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters , D-Mich. , and backed by Sens .
Amy Klobuchar , D-Minn. , Maggie Hassan , D-N.H. , Ron Johnson , R-Wis. , Roy Blunt , R-Mo.
, and James Lankford , R-Okla .
The .gov extension is a top-level domain name administered by the General Services Administration and available only for U.S. federal , state and local government agencies .
Domain names for foreign government agencies typically use .gov , followed by an abbreviation of the country name .
Some U.S. federal agencies follow a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Pentagon and military services , for example , use the .mil extension .
Nearly half of the local government election websites also lacked another key security feature that ’ s denoted by “ https ” in front of a website ’ s address , McAfee found .
Instead , 46.6 percent of the local government sites were operating with only an “ http , ” which means that data flows in and out of those websites in an unencrypted form , potentially leaving them vulnerable to manipulation .
In Iowa and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites operate without the https feature , McAfee found .
Top technology companies , including Google , tell developers that all websites should be protected with the https technology .
Without the secure layer , intruders can tamper with communications between users and websites and trick users into giving up sensitive information , Google warned developers last year .
All information that flows between users and websites , including images , cookies , scripts and HTML , can be exploited without https , Google said .

A vast majority of election-related websites operated by local governments in battleground states lack a key feature that would help distinguish them from those run by commercial entities or criminal hackers — a site that ends in .gov as opposed to .com or other extensions, according to cybersecurity research firm McAfee.
Of 1,117 counties in 13 key states, which account for 201 of the 270 Electoral College votes that determine the winner of presidential contests, 83.3 percent didn’t have the .gov validation, McAfee found.
When government websites operate using .com or other domain extensions, it becomes easy for foreign adversaries to put up fake sites that imitate government websites and to mount disinformation campaigns aimed at misleading voters, said Steve Grobman, McAfee’s chief technology officer.
“If we look at the battleground states, the local election websites are still not operating with the level of security we’d expect,” Grobman told CQ Roll Call. “We see the vast majority are not using .gov, meaning that normal citizens may not be able to identify if an election website is real or not. And only half of them use encryption, so information they’re transmitting is not secure.”
Attackers trying to mislead voters could set up fake websites ending in .com or .us or other domain extensions, similar to those used by local agencies, making them hard to distinguish from authentic ones, Grobman said.


rollcall--2020-02-04--For Trump, a State of the Union with nothing to say

Bill Clinton ’ s State of the Union address in 1999 , made in the midst of his impeachment trial , exemplified his ability to compartmentalize , Shapiro writes , but that ’ s a skill Donald Trump doesn ’ t possess .
( Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call file photo ) OPINION — In 1999 , in the midst of his impeachment trial , Bill Clinton delivered a typically verbose State of the Union Address that ran for 78 minutes .
Although it surprised many at the time , Clinton did not display a glimmer of concern about his predicament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even more than most presidents , Clinton had a rare talent to compartmentalize .
But the 1999 State of the Union was more than just an artful performance by a political master of denial .
At the end of his speech , Clinton actually unveiled a new political argument that shaped the final two years of his presidency .
In 1999 , one of the biggest domestic problems facing America was ( nostalgia alert ) what to do with the coming budget surplus .
Anticipating Republican pressure for massive tax cuts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his State of the Union , Clinton said about the surplus , “ I say , we shouldn ’ t spend any of it — not any of it — until after Social Security is truly saved .
First things first.
” That argument gave rise to the Democratic slogan , “ Save Social Security First , ” that prevented any major tax cuts until after George W. Bush was elected in 2000 .
Donald Trump — in case somehow you have failed to notice — lacks the ability to compartmentalize .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to the famous description of the ousted Bourbon monarchy in France : “ They have learned nothing and forgotten nothing.
” All Trump remembers are the grudges and the hatreds while stubbornly refusing to learn from them .
Or even learn that Kansas City is in Missouri .
In theory , on Tuesday night the president should turn into Teleprompter Trump as he turns the other cheek .
While I do not empathize with Trump ’ s White House enablers and lackeys , you can just imagine their frantic efforts to convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State of the Union .
But Trump also knows that he is at his most boring reading off a teleprompter .
And that his hardcore political base ( the only people on the planet that the president even pretends to care about ) craves red-meat rhetoric .
So the State of the Union invariably will become a high-wire act as legislators in the room and viewers at home wonder whether Trump will throw off the restraints that have constrained all other presidents on formal occasions like the State of the Union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at “ Shifty Adam Schiff ” ?
Will Trump wheel around and face Nancy Pelosi eye-to-eye and make some crack about how he won and she lost ?
Will Trump refer to the Salem witch trials more often than Arthur Miller did in his play “ The Crucible ” ?
Unlike Clinton , Trump can never safely take refuge in policy proposals .
It will be hard for the president to brag about his Glorious Wall when The Washington Post reported that key portions of it will have to swing open during summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floods .
A normal president might use the State of the Union to reassure a jittery nation about preparations against the spread of coronavirus .
But Ron Klain , who directed Barack Obama ’ s response to Ebola , pointed out , “ The combination of Trump ’ s paranoia toward experienced government officials … inattention to detail , opinionated rejection of science and evidence , and isolationist instincts may prove toxic.
” Foreign policy is another tricky area for Trump .
This is not exactly the ideal time for the president to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bromance ’ with Kim Jong Un .
And even an inveterate liar like Trump could not pull off claiming that America is doing everything to help Ukraine resist Vladimir Putin ’ s aggression .
Sure , Trump can brag about the economy and say with characteristic understatement , “ The state of the union is better than at any time in human history .
It is even better than Adam and Eve had it in the Garden of Eden.
” But it is hard to concoct a legislative agenda for 2020 when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in session is to rubber-stamp right-wing judges and to refuse to acknowledge the existence of John Bolton .
Unless Trump veers in an unexpected direction ( maybe threatening to nuke Denmark unless they hand over Greenland tomorrow ) , the State of the Union is likely to be a ratings disaster .
Especially compared to the genuine drama of caucus night from Iowa and the historic formality of Wednesday ’ s impeachment verdict .
That is why the congressional Democrats should vow to avoid cheap tricks on State of the Union night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ You lie ” and no mocking laughter .
All the Democrats need to do is to display the mild boredom of an 11-year-old receiving an etiquette lesson from Aunt Sylvia .
If the Democrats are successful in November , this will be Trump ’ s last State of the Union address .
Especially since it is hard to picture a defeated and defanged Trump making a pilgrimage to Capitol Hill next January .
As a result , this may well be the last time for voters to draw a visual contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The best way for the Democrats to win Tuesday night ’ s image war is to come across as the party of dignity and restraint — a party that does not make a mockery of America ’ s patriotic traditions .
Trump revels in any moment when he is the center of attention .
But the State of the Union may be the rare exception , as Trump becomes a president who stands before the nation with absolutely nothing noteworthy to say .

OPINION — In 1999, in the midst of his impeachment trial, Bill Clinton delivered a typically verbose State of the Union Address that ran for 78 minutes. Although it surprised many at the time, Clinton did not display a glimmer of concern about his predicament or allude to impeachment in any way.
Even more than most presidents, Clinton had a rare talent to compartmentalize. But the 1999 State of the Union was more than just an artful performance by a political master of denial. At the end of his speech, Clinton actually unveiled a new political argument that shaped the final two years of his presidency.
In 1999, one of the biggest domestic problems facing America was (nostalgia alert) what to do with the coming budget surplus. Anticipating Republican pressure for massive tax cuts, Clinton concocted a devilishly clever response.
In his State of the Union, Clinton said about the surplus, “I say, we shouldn’t spend any of it — not any of it — until after Social Security is truly saved. First things first.”


rollcall--2020-02-04--Capitol Ink | Heckler in Chief

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rollcall--2020-02-04--State of the Union: An impeached president goes before his accusers

President Donald Trump is seen in the House chamber during his State of the Union address along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence on Feb. 5 , 2019 .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) President Donald Trump will kick his reelection campaign into high gear Tuesday in perhaps the most awkward of places : Inside the Democratic-controlled House , where he became only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached .
The 45th chief executive formally launched his bid for a second term last summer with a rally in Florida .
But his fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and third State of the Union — will put him face-to-face with the House Democratic caucus that rebuked him , guaranteeing a made-for-television clash that seems a fitting Season 4 premiere for a presidency that continues to operate stunningly like a reality television show .
Seated over Trump ’ s left shoulder will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat who decided she had no choice but to launch an impeachment inquiry after concluding he had gone too far with Ukraine ’ s new president .
Also expected to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager in the Senate trial , House Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff , also a California Democrat .
The president ’ s chief defenders — GOP Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio , along with Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — will provide fodder for split-screen reactions to capture all the partisan grins and growls .
The spectacle , also coming one night after the Iowa caucuses officially kicked off the Democratic presidential contest , provides the president the opportunity to do in person what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been doing with Democrats since he was sworn in : Fight back .
Unlike Bill Clinton , who delivered his 1999 State of the Union in the midst of his impeachment trial — and made no mention of it — Trump is expected to hit the subject head-on .
“ I think it ’ ll be more than just a passing reference — this is another one of his perceived high points , ” said William L. Rosenberg , a political science professor at Drexel University .
How the speech resonates with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusations and investigations of Trump play out .
“ In some respects that ’ s going to develop based on other things that are going to come out ” about Ukraine and other inquiries , said Donna Hoffman , a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa .
A senior administration official previewing the address said “ it ’ s never safe to assume anything , ” when asked how impeachment might factor into Trump ’ s comments .
The official said an upbeat speech of “ relentless optimism ” will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , trade victories with China and the new pact with Mexico and Canada .
Health care will be a key part , too .
Experts are split on whether the president will try to appeal to moderate voters as he seeks a second term .
But they agree tensions will be high as the impeached chief executive stares down his political foes and they have a chance to jeer him on live television .
During his previous appearances in the chamber , the president has avoided using his favorite terms to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left Democrats.
” But he has used that term for months to hammer Pelosi ’ s caucus over impeachment , adding a new charge at a recent campaign rally in Toledo , Ohio , after he ordered a drone strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani .
Democrats , he claimed , “ have expressed outrage over the termination of this horrible terrorist.
” “ You are going to have the clear contrast in the views of the powers of the presidency and Congress hanging over the entire thing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government professor .
“ I don ’ t think the president will address those differences clearly , but I anticipate his views about the powers of his office will be there , in so many words .
It ’ s the night after Iowa .
Normally , a president wouldn ’ t mention that in his message , but with this one , you just never know.
” The “ contrast ” stems from not just impeachment but Trump ’ s reelection bid .
“ To my knowledge this will be a first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Union to the Congress , [ who is ] beginning his reelection campaign , in a House that has voted recently on his articles of impeachment , ” said G. William Hoagland , a former aide to then-GOP Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee .
“ I expect it to be a very tense and even more cantankerous audience than normal , divided between the Republicans and Democrats , ” Hoagland said .
All eyes , at first , will be on the usual handshake between the president and speaker as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a penchant for needling the president , who often reacts with rants and attacks her as “ Nervous Nancy.
” He ’ s unlikely to repeat that inside the House chamber , but the odds are high he will use a favorite rally line , that Democrats are “ wasting everybody ’ s time ” with impeachment and are beholden to socialists .
The speaker gives as good as she gets .
During a Jan. 15 news conference announcing House impeachment managers , Pelosi underscored the significance of the moment with references @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Thomas Paine ’ s description of “ the times that try men ’ s souls.
” “ It ’ s always about marking history , using time , ” Pelosi said .
“ On Dec. 18 , the House of Representatives impeached the president of the United States , an impeachment that will last forever.
” Such comments appear to rile the president .
“ In a certain way , they are traitors , when you think about it , ” Trump said during a Jan. 14 Milwaukee rally .
Previous presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States of the Union to extend an olive branch .
“ The question is do you at least see some effort to work together , ” said Cody Keenan , a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and visiting professor at Northwestern University .
“ If he had one grace note , one moment of benevolence and charity , that helps him exponentially , and that ’ s something people would be talking about , ” Keenan said .
In early 2012 , Obama drew a standing ovation from both sides of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how Washington works .
That was similar to President Bill Clinton ’ s 1996 reelection year address , when he declared , “ The era of big government is over.
” “ The president ’ s best strategy is to go big .
Talk about what he ’ s accomplished , ” said Michael Steel , a former adviser to then-Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio and former Florida Gov .
Jeb Bush ’ s 2016 White House bid .
“ He should lay out a positive agenda for the future.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could “ make Washington Democrats look petty and small.
” He expects Trump to preview policies likely to appear in his budget request the following week that are politically popular : tax cuts , infrastructure spending and construction of a border wall .
Hoagland anticipates Trump will emphasize deregulation and regulatory changes , particularly on prescription drugs .
White House aides would not rule out a pitch for tax cuts tailored to the middle class .
Trump ’ s Milwaukee speech may have offered a preview , as he characterized the Democrats as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When asked about a payroll tax cut and an expanded earned income tax credit , which generally benefits lower income individuals , National Economic Council Director Lawrence Kudlow said tax cuts to help middle-class economic growth are “ still our goal , ” but any reductions may depend on GOP control of the House .
“ It ’ ll come out some time later during the campaign .
No discussions of specifics , ” Kudlow said in a Jan. 15 interview on CNBC .
Kudlow said a proposal might be unveiled “ later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would carry echoes of a similar proposal floated ahead of the 2018 midterm elections , when Republicans lost the House .
Because the president ’ s policy decisions often are driven by the priorities of his conservative base , going “ big ” could also involve promises with those voters in mind .
When addressing conservative audiences over the past year , the president has repeatedly returned to anti-abortion messaging .
“ Virtually every top Democrat also now supports late-term abortion , ripping babies straight from the mother ’ s womb right up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rally last month .
It ’ s probably easier to guess what won ’ t be in the speech , said American University ’ s Thurber .
“ There won ’ t be any talk of balanced budgets , the deficit , or the debt , ” he said .
“ And I don ’ t think he can talk about draining the swamp like he did in 2016 , because of the number of people he ’ s hired that lobbied the agencies they ’ re now working for.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , added to that list .
“ I doubt we will hear about ‘ repeal and replace , ” he said , referring to the Affordable Care Act that Republicans tried but failed to terminate in 2017 .
Nixing the law and replacing it with a yet-to-be-crafted GOP alternative , Hoagland said , “ is not polling so well these days.
” And on what might be a scant legislative year , Trump will look “ backward and forward , ” said Georgetown University ’ s Mark Rom , an associate professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of accomplishments , plus outlining “ the dystopian hell certain if any of his Democratic opponents are elected.
” Niels Lesniewski and Mike Magner contributed to this report .

President Donald Trump will kick his reelection campaign into high gear Tuesday in perhaps the most awkward of places: Inside the Democratic-controlled House, where he became only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
The 45th chief executive formally launched his bid for a second term last summer with a rally in Florida. But his fourth address to a joint session of Congress — and third State of the Union — will put him face-to-face with the House Democratic caucus that rebuked him, guaranteeing a made-for-television clash that seems a fitting Season 4 premiere for a presidency that continues to operate stunningly like a reality television show.
Seated over Trump’s left shoulder will be Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who decided she had no choice but to launch an impeachment inquiry after concluding he had gone too far with Ukraine’s new president. Also expected to be in the chamber is the lead House impeachment manager in the Senate trial, House Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff, also a California Democrat.
The president’s chief defenders — GOP Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio, along with Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — will provide fodder for split-screen reactions to capture all the partisan grins and growls.
The spectacle, also coming one night after the Iowa caucuses officially kicked off the Democratic presidential contest, provides the president the opportunity to do in person what his aides and surrogates claim he’s been doing with Democrats since he was sworn in: Fight back.


rollcall--2020-02-04--Wall Street czar Linda Lacewell takes on regulation

When it comes to regulating Wall Street , perhaps no one person is more important than Linda Lacewell , the @ @ @ @ @ s Department of Financial Services .
On her one year anniversary in office , she @ @ @ @ @ changes to the BitLicense , the Apple Pay card and her 2020 priorities .
• @ @ @ @ @ guidance , setting value of cryptoassets Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call @ @ @ @

When it comes to regulating Wall Street, perhaps no one person is more important than Linda Lacewell, the superintendent of New York’s Department of Financial Services. On her one year anniversary in office, she talks with Fintech Beat about changes to the BitLicense, the Apple Pay card and her 2020 priorities.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-03-30--FDA is pushed to further loosen hand sanitizer guidelines

Although the Food and Drug Administration has loosened its guidance for the second time in a week regarding the liquor @ @ @ @ @ produce hand sanitizer , which is in short supply across the country , the industry @ @ @ @ @ .
And those concerns were backed up in a letter Friday from 87 members of @ @ @ @ @ Hahn to allow the liquor industry to use its undenatured alcohol in the emergency production @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization , the FDA requires alcohol used in hand sanitizer to be @ @ @ @ @ to have chemicals added to the formulation to make it more or less undrinkable .
@ @ @ @ @ of extremely drinkable alcohol that they want to use .
“ We strongly urge the @ @ @ @ @ to recognize the use of undenatured alcohol … and work with industry on reasonable safeguards @ @ @ @ @ of the hands of children , ” the members ’ letter said , citing the @ @ @ @ @ with making changes .

It’s kind of like they’re making bootleg hand sanitizer.
Although the Food and Drug Administration has loosened its guidance for the second time in a week regarding the liquor industry’s rush to produce hand sanitizer, which is in short supply across the country, the industry says it still has concerns.
And those concerns were backed up in a letter Friday from 87 members of Congress urging FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn to allow the liquor industry to use its undenatured alcohol in the emergency production of hand sanitizer.
Unlike the World Health Organization, the FDA requires alcohol used in hand sanitizer to be denatured, that is, to have chemicals added to the formulation to make it more or less undrinkable. Distillers have a ready supply of extremely drinkable alcohol that they want to use.
“We strongly urge the agency to update its guidance to recognize the use of undenatured alcohol … and work with industry on reasonable safeguards to keep hand sanitizer out of the hands of children,” the members’ letter said, citing the FDA’s chief concern with making changes.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Coronavirus renders U.S. Capitol a ghost town through most of April

The halls of the U.S. Capitol — usually teeming with lawmakers , staff , press and visitors — will remain @ @ @ @ @ three weeks as health officials continue to urge Americans to take personal steps to fight @ @ @ @ @ Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer advised members Monday that they should not expect to be @ @ @ @ @ April 20 at the earliest .
Senate Republican leaders have indicated that they do not @ @ @ @ @ until sometime after the Easter recess .
And the Capitol will remain closed to visitors @ @ @ @ @ Senate and House sergeants-at-arms announced in a joint statement Monday .
The sergeants-at-arms first temporarily @ @ @ @ @ Capitol because of the health crisis on March 12 .
Members , staff , credentialed @ @ @ @ @ still have access to the Capitol and Senate and House office buildings .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the @ @ @ @ @ said in a joint statement .

The halls of the U.S. Capitol — usually teeming with lawmakers, staff, press and visitors — will remain mostly empty over the next three weeks as health officials continue to urge Americans to take personal steps to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer advised members Monday that they should not expect to be called back to Washington until April 20 at the earliest. Senate Republican leaders have indicated that they do not plan to return to Washington until sometime after the Easter recess.
And the Capitol will remain closed to visitors through May 1, the Senate and House sergeants-at-arms announced in a joint statement Monday. The sergeants-at-arms first temporarily banned public access to the Capitol because of the health crisis on March 12.
Members, staff, credentialed press and official business visitors still have access to the Capitol and Senate and House office buildings.
“We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public,” the sergeants-at-arms said.


rollcall--2020-03-30--A children’s book that Trump would love

A children’s book that Trump would love

This is the fifth “ Help !
Mom !
” book .
Past volumes have included “ There are Liberals Under My Bed !
” which detailed two brothers ’ attempts to run a lemonade stand and “ The 9th Circuit Nabbed the Nativity !
” DeBrecht says the book , which sells for $ 19.95 and is available for pre-order , is for those aged 1 to 92 .
She says she hopes the book “ gives a laugh ” to people “ instead of getting so angry , ” though the narrative seems geared toward hardcore Trump fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convincing .
She acknowledges that liberals are unlikely to be big fans of the book .
“ The left is just so easily offended now.
” When asked whether she believes the conspiracy theory that the Clintons had something to do with the death of Foster , a deputy White House counsel who committed suicide in 1993 , she says , “ I don ’ t know that for sure .
I just think there ’ s a lot of weird things that have gone on with the Clintons .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @

This is the fifth “Help! Mom!” book. Past volumes have included “There are Liberals Under My Bed!” which detailed two brothers’ attempts to run a lemonade stand and “The 9th Circuit Nabbed the Nativity!” DeBrecht says the book, which sells for $19.95 and is available for pre-order, is for those aged 1 to 92.
She says she hopes the book “gives a laugh” to people “instead of getting so angry,” though the narrative seems geared toward hardcore Trump fans who probably don’t need much convincing. She acknowledges that liberals are unlikely to be big fans of the book. “The left is just so easily offended now.”
When asked whether she believes the conspiracy theory that the Clintons had something to do with the death of Foster, a deputy White House counsel who committed suicide in 1993, she says, “I don’t know that for sure. I just think there’s a lot of weird things that have gone on with the Clintons. I’m not accusing them of anything.”


rollcall--2020-03-30--Coronavirus funding slight emboldens DC statehood fight

In what seems like a lifetime ago — February — D.C. Del .
Eleanor Holmes Norton attended trivia night at @ @ @ @ @ celebrating the House Oversight Committee ’ s approval of a bill to make the District @ @ @ @ @ .
Just a few long weeks later , that brewery is selling beer only online @ @ @ @ @ Because of the coronavirus pandemic , non-essential D.C. businesses have shut down , the Metro @ @ @ @ @ and nine district residents have died as of Sunday night .
Late last week Congress @ @ @ @ @ that provides millions less in funding to D.C. than states , because the district was @ @ @ @ @ than states .
“ This is why you ’ ve seen me pressing so hard @ @ @ @ @ of Columbia , ” Holmes Norton told CQ Roll Call in a video interview Thursday @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m going to get it fixed in the next bill , and mind @ @ @ @ @ to be a next coronavirus bill , ” Holmes Norton said .

In what seems like a lifetime ago — February — D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton attended trivia night at a crowded local brewery, celebrating the House Oversight Committee’s approval of a bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st state.
Just a few long weeks later, that brewery is selling beer only online for delivery or pickup. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, non-essential D.C. businesses have shut down, the Metro is running reduced service, and nine district residents have died as of Sunday night.
Late last week, Congress passed a coronavirus relief package that provides millions less in funding to D.C. than states because the district was grouped with federal territories rather than states.
“This is why you’ve seen me pressing so hard for statehood for the District of Columbia,” Holmes Norton told CQ Roll Call in a video interview Thursday.
“Hear me, I’m going to get it fixed in the next bill, and mind you, there is going to be a next coronavirus bill,” Holmes Norton said.


rollcall--2020-03-30--The virus is bad enough without the bias

American schools are working to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus , but they ’ re also struggling to stop the spread of something else — racism .
On March 16 , the Department of Education published detailed guidance for the protection of student civil rights amid a pandemic that has shuttered schools and forced instruction online — including specific direction on how to protect student health and safety without discriminating against students .
“ School officials may not rely on assumptions or stereotypes related to race , color , or national origin in identifying students who may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread transmission of coronavirus or who may otherwise be at risk of coronavirus infection , ” the guidance said .
And earlier in March , the department wrote a letter to schools noting an “ increasing number of news reports regarding stereotyping , harassment , and bullying directed at persons perceived to be of Chinese American or , more generally , Asian descent , including students.
” At Bolsa Grande High School in California , school officials condemned an online video of two students harassing Vietnamese classmates and shouting “ coronavirus.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16-year-old student was assaulted over coronavirus fears .

American schools are working to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus, but they’re also struggling to stop the spread of something else — racism.
On March 16, the Department of Education published detailed guidance for the protection of student civil rights amid a pandemic that has shuttered schools and forced instruction online — including specific direction on how to protect student health and safety without discriminating against students.
“School officials may not rely on assumptions or stereotypes related to race, color, or national origin in identifying students who may have recently traveled to a country with widespread transmission of coronavirus or who may otherwise be at risk of coronavirus infection,” the guidance said.
And earlier in March, the department wrote a letter to schools noting an “increasing number of news reports regarding stereotyping, harassment, and bullying directed at persons perceived to be of Chinese American or, more generally, Asian descent, including students.”
At Bolsa Grande High School in California, school officials condemned an online video of two students harassing Vietnamese classmates and shouting “coronavirus.” In Los Angeles County, authorities reported a 16-year-old student was assaulted over coronavirus fears.


rollcall--2020-03-30--DOJ examining Sen. Richard Burr for stock dump

Stock transactions Sen. Richard Burr made after private congressional briefings and before the coronavirus pandemic sent the markets plummeting are being examined by the Department of Justice as part of a broader probe into additional lawmakers .
The inquiry , first reported by CNN , is being conducted in concert with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation .
Burr , a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , dumped between $ 628,000 and $ 1.72 million in his securities holdings on Feb. 13 , after the committee began receiving daily coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that story , NPR obtained a recording in which Burr offered a bleak , private evaluation of the grave economic impact the coronavirus would bring on Feb. 27 .
That analysis was a contrast from his previous , more upbeat public comments on the matter .
Burr said he used public information to make his trades , but still asked the Senate Ethics Committee to look into his situation after the public outrage that erupted from the appearance of him trading on inside information .
A request for comment to Burr 's congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alice Fisher of Latham & Watkins , which is advising Burr :

Stock transactions Sen. Richard Burr made after private congressional briefings and before the coronavirus pandemic sent the markets plummeting are being examined by the Department of Justice as part of a broader probe into additional lawmakers.
The inquiry, first reported by CNN, is being conducted in concert with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Burr, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, dumped between $628,000 and $1.72 million in his securities holdings on Feb. 13, after the committee began receiving daily coronavirus briefings, ProPublica reported. Prior to that story, NPR obtained a recording in which Burr offered a bleak, private evaluation of the grave economic impact the coronavirus would bring on Feb. 27. That analysis was a contrast from his previous, more upbeat public comments on the matter.
Burr said he used public information to make his trades, but still asked the Senate Ethics Committee to look into his situation after the public outrage that erupted from the appearance of him trading on inside information.
A request for comment to Burr's congressional office was returned with a statement from Alice Fisher of Latham & Watkins, which is advising Burr:


rollcall--2020-03-30--Witness stirs painful memories for two lawmakers

When Lawson ran for Congress in 2016 , his campaign ads told voters about the fire that burned down his @ @ @ @ @ , and going to work in the tobacco fields at 8 , but they didn @ @ @ @ @ years without a permanent — or proper — roof over his head .
“ My @ @ @ @ @ up at night , and I could see the stars , ” Lawson told CQ @ @ @ @ @ was in poor condition .
… For a while , I felt really ashamed.
” @ @ @ @ @ term in Virginia seat gets tougher ] On the campaign stump , Riggleman talks about @ @ @ @ @ , but not that he raised his own kids on them , back when his @ @ @ @ @ his monthly paycheck was just $ 913 .
“ Here I am , sitting in @ @ @ @ @ when my wife and I were in line , using food stamps .
The people @ @ @ @ @ us , ” he said .

Both have found success in business and politics, but the feelings they had growing up — ashamed of their circumstances and proud of their parents for clawing their way, in time, out of them — never left.
So when Jeffrey Williams, a security guard from Richmond, Virginia, testified before the House Financial Services Committee in January about his own homelessness, and the humiliation he felt, the memories came flooding back.
‘Feel like a failure’
“My son one day asked me — and I’ll never forget it … he was 9 at this point — asked me, ‘Dad, can I help you work to put a roof over my family’s head?’” Williams told the committee, his voice cracking with emotion.
“When you do all you can as a father, as a husband, as a provider, you feel like a failure,” he said.
Williams spoke at a hearing on affordable housing and homelessness. The Housing and Urban Development Department’s last point-in-time survey counted 560,000 homeless Americans, and 1.4 million Americans sleep at least one night in shelters over the course of a year. Williams’ family spent three years living out of their car and in motels, meeting the federal definition of homeless, after they were evicted in 2016. Williams was one of the 3.7 million renter households evicted that year.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Housing insecurity — Lawson’s lived it and wants to give back

Fire took Rep. Al Lawson 's home as a child , and his family spent years recovering .
The loss @ @ @ @ @ and the insecurity that came along with that gave the Florida Democrat a unique perspective @ @ @ @ @ a House Financial Services hearing on Jan. 14 .
Tenant advocate Jeffrey Williams spoke of @ @ @ @ @ homelessness at the hearing , which addressed the affordable housing crisis .
Lawson sat down @ @ @ @ @ about his story and how it has shaped his view .
`` My father always @ @ @ @ @ living by what you make , but you make a life by what you give @ @ @ @ @ `` So I always wanted to be a giver . ''

Fire took Rep. Al Lawson's home as a child, and his family spent years recovering.
The loss of a house and possessions and the insecurity that came along with that gave the Florida Democrat a unique perspective as he heard testimony at a House Financial Services hearing on Jan. 14.
Tenant advocate Jeffrey Williams spoke of his family's struggle with homelessness at the hearing, which addressed the affordable housing crisis.
Lawson sat down with Jim Saksa to talk about his story and how it has shaped his view.
"My father always told me you make a living by what you make, but you make a life by what you give," Lawson said. "So I always wanted to be a giver."


rollcall--2020-03-30--Stimulus bond fix may boost local governments more than cash

While they face drastic fiscal challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic , local governments hope a provision in the stimulus bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on Friday will help them shore up one oft-used financial tool .
A section in the bill allows the Federal Reserve Board to buy municipal bonds , which advocates for local governments say could restart the market for such bonds .
Demand for the tax-exempt instruments — normally considered one of the finance world ’ s safest investments — that cities and counties depend on to raise money for projects like sewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the economic fallout from the virus .
Any period of a lack of demand for municipal bonds cripples local governments ’ ability to raise money for needed projects .
With costs skyrocketing to mitigate the pandemic and revenues falling due to the economic nose dive , access to cheap lending is more important than usual for states and local governments .
State and local leaders have said the $ 139 billion in direct cash assistance the new law provides to reimburse coronavirus-related costs is just a start .
A fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial , said Matthew Chase , executive director of the National Association of Counties .
“ At the end of the day , this might be the most important provision for state and local , this Federal Reserve piece , ” he said .

While they face drastic fiscal challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, local governments hope a provision in the stimulus bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on Friday will help them shore up one oft-used financial tool.
A section in the bill allows the Federal Reserve Board to buy municipal bonds, which advocates for local governments say could restart the market for such bonds. Demand for the tax-exempt instruments — normally considered one of the finance world’s safest investments — that cities and counties depend on to raise money for projects like sewer systems and highways froze up last week as part of the economic fallout from the virus.
Any period of a lack of demand for municipal bonds cripples local governments’ ability to raise money for needed projects. With costs skyrocketing to mitigate the pandemic and revenues falling due to the economic nose dive, access to cheap lending is more important than usual for states and local governments.
State and local leaders have said the $139 billion in direct cash assistance the new law provides to reimburse coronavirus-related costs is just a start. A fix for the bond market might prove more crucial, said Matthew Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties.
“At the end of the day, this might be the most important provision for state and local, this Federal Reserve piece,” he said.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Hotels see gap in rescue, seek Fed commercial mortgage bond aid

Even as the president signs the largest economic assistance package in U.S. history into law , industry groups are saying more needs to be done .
Before the House cleared the $ 2.3 trillion bill Friday , the American Hotel & Lodging Association urged Congress to expand its forgivable loan provisions , saying the funds wouldn ’ t be enough to keep empty hotels alive during the widespread shutdown caused by the coronavirus .
While Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has already laid out her priorities for a “ Phase IV ” contagion response bill , some Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T. McHenry , R-N.C. , say they want to see how the measure works before returning to the drafting table .
The law gives the Small Business Administration $ 377 billion , earmarking $ 349 billion of that sum for emergency loans to small businesses — 500 employees or fewer per location — to cover payroll , rent , utilities and debt service payments .
If companies use the loans for those fixed costs , then they don ’ t have to pay them back .
To the extent firms cut staff or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt decreases .
The loans are capped at 2.5 times a company ’ s monthly payroll .
The AHLA says that ’ s not enough .

Even as the president signs the largest economic assistance package in U.S. history into law, industry groups are saying more needs to be done.
Before the House cleared the $2.3 trillion bill Friday, the American Hotel & Lodging Association urged Congress to expand its forgivable loan provisions, saying the funds wouldn’t be enough to keep empty hotels alive during the widespread shutdown caused by the coronavirus.
While Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has already laid out her priorities for a “Phase IV” contagion response bill, some Republicans, like House Financial Services ranking member Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., say they want to see how the measure works before returning to the drafting table.
The law gives the Small Business Administration $377 billion, earmarking $349 billion of that sum for emergency loans to small businesses — 500 employees or fewer per location — to cover payroll, rent, utilities and debt service payments. If companies use the loans for those fixed costs, then they don’t have to pay them back. To the extent firms cut staff or their pay, the amount of forgivable debt decreases.
The loans are capped at 2.5 times a company’s monthly payroll. The AHLA says that’s not enough.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Sen. Cory Booker wrote a coronavirus poem

Cory Booker has written a poem about the coronavirus .
“ Some late night writing , ” the senator from @ @ @ @ @ attaching the result .
The time was 10:36 p.m. , and Booker kept it relatively @ @ @ @ @ 14 lines , arranged in seven non-rhyming couplets .
Part Maya Angelou , part Albert @ @ @ @ @ of isolation , solidarity and resilience .
That it also acts as a throwback to @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t come as a surprise : Booker has been quoting ( and writing @ @ @ @ @ , including on the campaign trail , where he cited girlfriend and actress Rosario Dawson @ @ @ @ @ inspirations .
Dawson returned the favor this week , sharing his coronavirus poem in an @ @ @ @ @ a separate plug for artists in general .
She reupped a meme that has been @ @ @ @ @ If you think artists are useless try to spend your quarantine without music , books @ @ @ @ @ paintings and porn .
”

Cory Booker has written a poem about the coronavirus. “Some late night writing,” the senator from New Jersey tweeted Sunday, attaching the result.
The time was 10:36 p.m., and Booker kept it relatively brief. The poem is 14 lines, arranged in seven unrhymed couplets. Part Maya Angelou, part Albert Camus, it explores themes of isolation, solidarity and resilience.
That it also acts as a throwback to his recent Democratic presidential bid shouldn’t come as a surprise: Booker has been quoting (and writing) poetry for years now, including on the campaign trail, where he cited girlfriend and actress Rosario Dawson as one of his biggest inspirations.
Dawson returned the favor this week, sharing his coronavirus poem in an Instagram story, after offering a separate plug for artists in general. She reupped a meme that has been making the rounds: “If you think artists are useless try to spend your quarantine without music, books, poems, movies, paintings and porn.”


rollcall--2020-03-30--CBO: Trump budget would add trillions more to deficit than estimated

The Trump administration ’ s fiscal 2021 budget request would add $ 5.4 trillion more to the cumulative 10-year deficit than the White House originally estimated , according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released Monday .
That would mean increased deficits during the next decade to roughly $ 11 trillion , though neither the budget proposal nor CBO ’ s analysis of the request takes into account the roughly $ 2.5 trillion in new spending enacted during the last month to address the coronavirus .
That spending will add substantially to the deficit , although no CBO score is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to provide financial assistance to the health care sector to aid workers struggling to absorb the spike in patients with COVID-19 .
The packages also includes expanded food aid , free testing , small business loans , expanded unemployment insurance and direct payments to Americans .
Members of Congress are already working on a fourth bill in an effort to reduce economic fallout from the virus and to continue bolstering a health care sector struggling to keep up with a wave of patients .
That too will add to the deficit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early February , shortly after congressional briefings on the virus began and two weeks before the Trump administration submitted a $ 1.25 billion supplemental spending request to Congress — a drop in the bucket compared to what has since been appropriated to address the virus .

The Trump administration's fiscal 2021 budget request would result in $5.4 trillion larger deficits over the next decade than the White House originally estimated, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released Monday.
The president's budget would still cut deficits by $2.1 trillion over 10 years compared to the CBO's "baseline" forecast, or what would occur if Trump's spending cuts and other proposals aren't enacted. But Trump's policies would mean deficits during the next decade totaling roughly $11 trillion, the agency said, or nearly double what the White House budget office estimated in February.
Neither the budget proposal nor the CBO's analysis of the request takes into account the roughly $2.5 trillion in new spending and tax cuts enacted during the last month to address the coronavirus.
That legislation will add substantially to the deficit, although no CBO score is available yet. The new laws are designed to provide financial assistance to the health care sector to aid workers struggling to absorb the spike in patients with COVID-19. The packages also includes expanded food aid, free testing, small business loans, expanded unemployment insurance and direct payments to Americans.
Members of Congress are already working on a fourth bill in an effort to reduce economic fallout from the virus and continue to bolster a health care sector struggling to keep up with a wave of patients. That too will add to the deficit.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Coronavirus Special Report: Evening update, 3/30

We ’ re taking you behind the scenes of what it was like in the Capitol and at the White @ @ @ @ @ and historic weeks .
Three CQ Roll Call reporters sit down with Jason Dick to @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
• Coronavirus renders US Capitol a ghost town through most of @ @ @ @ @ to further loosen hand sanitizer guidelines

We’re taking you behind the scenes of what it was like in the Capitol and at the White House the last two hectic and historic weeks. Three CQ Roll Call reporters sit down with Jason Dick to share their perspectives on covering the coronavirus pandemic.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-03-30--Watchdog seeks probe of campaign spending by Mississippi Rep. Palazzo

A watchdog group is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Rep. Steven M. Palazzo over the Mississippi Republican ’ s spending of more than $ 180,000 in campaign funds to rent a farm he owns and to pay an accounting firm that he founded and is now run by his former wife .
From 2018 to 2019 , Palazzo ’ s campaign account paid $ 60,000 in rent to his farm , Greene Acres LLC , according to complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center .
The farm is in Perkinston , Mississippi , a rural location more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee address in Gulfport , where Palazzo lives .
Under House Rules , members of Congress may lease property to their campaigns , but there must be a bona fide campaign need for the space , and the campaign must not pay more than fair market value .
“ The public record establishes that Representative Palazzo did not use the property for the 2020 primary campaign even though FEC reports beginning in December 2018 described the rent as for ‘ 2020 primary ’ use , ” the Campaign Legal Center ’ s complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 3,000 a month , “ Palazzo for Congress has paid more for rent over the same period than the three other members of the Mississippi House delegation combined .
”

A watchdog group is asking the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate Rep. Steven M. Palazzo over the Mississippi Republican’s spending of more than $180,000 in campaign funds to rent a farm he owns and to pay an accounting firm that he founded and is now run by his former wife.
From 2018 to 2019, Palazzo’s campaign account paid $60,000 in rent to his farm, Greene Acres LLC, according to complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center. The farm is in Perkinston, Mississippi, a rural location more than 30 miles away from his campaign committee address in Gulfport, where Palazzo lives.
Under House Rules, members of Congress may lease property to their campaigns, but there must be a bona fide campaign need for the space, and the campaign must not pay more than fair market value.
“The public record establishes that Representative Palazzo did not use the property for the 2020 primary campaign even though FEC reports beginning in December 2018 described the rent as for ‘2020 primary’ use,” the Campaign Legal Center’s complaint states.
The complaint also says that at $3,000 a month, the 4th District congressman’s campaign “has paid more for rent over the same period than the three other members of the Mississippi House delegation combined.”


rollcall--2020-03-30--Rep. Velázquez diagnosed with ‘presumed coronavirus infection’ just days after House vote

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez announced Monday that she has been diagnosed with a “ presumed coronavirus infection , ” just three days after the New York Democrat joined scores of House lawmakers for a vote on the $ 2 trillion stimulus package and a signing ceremony with top leaders .
Velázquez said she first started feeling sick “ in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
” “ I developed the abrupt onset of muscle aches , fevers , nasal congestion and stomach upset .
I noticed that I could no longer smell my perfume or taste my food .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was diagnosed with presumed coronavirus infection , ” she said in a statement .
Velázquez was one of the more than 200 House lawmakers who rushed back to Washington to vote on the coronavirus package after Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie said he planned to try to force a recorded vote on the bill .
A quorum of more than 216 members convened in the House chamber to defeat Massie ’ s opposition and pass the bill .
[ Planes , pains and automobiles : How half the House made it to @ @ @ @

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez announced Monday that she has been diagnosed with a “presumed coronavirus infection,” just three days after the New York Democrat joined scores of House lawmakers for a vote on the $2 trillion stimulus package and a signing ceremony with top leaders.
Velázquez said she first started feeling sick “in the wee hours of Sunday morning.”
“I developed the abrupt onset of muscle aches, fevers, nasal congestion and stomach upset. I noticed that I could no longer smell my perfume or taste my food. After speaking with The Attending Physician by phone, I was diagnosed with presumed coronavirus infection,” she said in a statement.
Velázquez was one of the more than 200 House lawmakers who rushed back to Washington to vote on the coronavirus package after Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie said he planned to try to force a recorded vote on the bill. A quorum of more than 216 members convened in the House chamber to defeat Massie’s opposition and pass the bill.
[Planes, pains and automobiles: How half the House made it to the stimulus vote]


rollcall--2020-03-30--Pentagon watchdog to oversee coronavirus spending

Glenn Fine , the Pentagon ’ s acting inspector general , will head a newly created team of IGs charged @ @ @ @ @ fair implementation of a new $ 2.3 trillion measure aimed at bankrolling the national fight @ @ @ @ @ Horowitz , the Justice Department ’ s inspector general and chairman of an interagency body @ @ @ @ @ Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency , announced the appointment on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ required that the council of IGs create the pandemic accountability committee .
The committee ’ @ @ @ @ @ says , is to “ detect and prevent fraud , waste , abuse , and @ @ @ @ @ risks that cut across programs and agency boundaries.
” [ Planes , pains and automobiles @ @ @ @ @ made it to the stimulus vote ]

Glenn Fine, the Pentagon’s acting inspector general, will head a newly created team of IGs charged with ensuring the effective and fair implementation of a new $2.3 trillion measure aimed at bankrolling the national fight against the coronavirus.
Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department’s inspector general and chairman of an interagency body of federal IGs called the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, announced the appointment on Monday.
Fine will lead the council’s newly created Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
The new coronavirus aid law required that the council of IGs create the pandemic accountability committee. The committee’s function, the law says, is to “detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement; and identify major risks that cut across programs and agency boundaries.”
[Planes, pains and automobiles: How half the House made it to the stimulus vote]


rollcall--2020-03-30--House Armed Services delays NDAA markup amid coronavirus pandemic

The House Armed Services Committee has indefinitely postponed its markup of the fiscal 2021 defense authorization due to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Smith , the panel ’ s chairman , said Monday that the cancellation of the @ @ @ @ @ to comply with the 30-day extension of the Trump administration ’ s guidance on social @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
The committee will announce a new date for the markup at @ @ @ @ @ The House Armed Services Committee has been , and will continue to be , in @ @ @ @ @ we have received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the Sergeant at @ @ @ @ @ Attending Physician , ” Smith said .

The House Armed Services Committee has indefinitely postponed its markup of the fiscal 2021 defense authorization due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington Democrat Adam Smith, the panel’s chairman, said Monday that the cancellation of the April 30 markup was necessary to comply with the 30-day extension of the Trump administration’s guidance on social distancing to stop the spread of the virus. The committee will announce a new date for the markup at a later time.
“The House Armed Services Committee has been, and will continue to be, in strict compliance with the guidance we have received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Sergeant at Arms, and the House Attending Physician,” Smith said.


rollcall--2020-03-30--‘Dreamers’ fear loss of legal status as USCIS offices stay closed

For tens of thousands of immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , the coronavirus pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. legally .
Adrian Escarate , a 31-year-old “ Dreamer ” from Chile @ @ @ @ @ DACA status before it expires in June .
After sending his application in February , @ @ @ @ @ with an appointment when he could provide his fingerprints and other biometric information to a @ @ @ @ @ Service office near his San Francisco Bay Area home .
Then , on March 18 @ @ @ @ @ field offices amid the coronavirus crisis .
Escarate , whose appointment was scheduled the following @ @ @ @ @ punch to the stomach.
” The cancellation was another reminder that Dreamers “ have to @ @ @ @ @ live a normal life , he said .
Escarate is among roughly 62,000 DACA recipients @ @ @ @ @ expire in the next few months before the Supreme Court can weigh in on the @ @ @ @ @ according to estimates by the Center for American Progress .

For tens of thousands of immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the coronavirus pandemic has created additional challenges to staying in the U.S. legally.
Adrian Escarate, a 31-year-old “Dreamer” from Chile, needs to renew his DACA status before it expires in June. After sending his application in February, he received a standard response with an appointment when he could provide his fingerprints and other biometric information to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office near his San Francisco Bay Area home.
Then, on March 18, USCIS shut down all field offices amid the coronavirus crisis.
Escarate, whose appointment was scheduled the following week, felt a “punch to the stomach.” The cancellation was another reminder that Dreamers “have to jump through hoops” to live a normal life, he said.
Escarate is among roughly 62,000 DACA recipients whose status is set to expire in the next few months before the Supreme Court can weigh in on the program later this spring, according to estimates by the Center for American Progress.


rollcall--2020-03-30--CBP turns back unaccompanied children, citing COVID-19 fears

Children declared exempt from the order will be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services , as regular procedure dictates , the agency added .
[ US sends 160 troops to border over ‘ Remain in Mexico ’ ruling ] Leading Democrats in the House and Senate Judiciary panels sent a letter Monday to Homeland Security authorities arguing that the move violates the Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act , which specifically lays out how unaccompanied children must be processed and cared for upon arrival at the border .
`` Children do not have to be put in harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , '' wrote the lawmakers , including Rep. Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , who chairs the House Judiciary Committee , and Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , the ranking member of her chamber 's Judiciary Committee .
`` DHS has the ability and capacity to protect both these children and the public . ''
Monday 's announcement , which was first reported by The New York Times , comes as the conditions in which unaccompanied children currently held in government custody have come under additional scrutiny .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought a temporary restraining order on behalf of children in government facilities , arguing that `` large congregate facilities '' do not allow for social distancing .
Holding children in such an environment violates a 1997 court settlement that sets welfare standards for migrant children , the lawyers argued .

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday that it would deport unaccompanied immigrant children apprehended at the border as a step to avoid further spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The practice would be a major departure from current policy, but Trump administration officials said it reflected the full implementation of travel restrictions announced March 20 for the U.S. northern and southern borders. The administration also announced a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order on the same day that allows border officers to bar from entry any migrant without proper documents, including asylum seekers.
CBP clarified Monday that the travel restrictions also pertain to children who come to the border alone.


rollcall--2020-03-30--Economic rescue package stretches jobless benefits

Economists who follow unemployment issues gave Congress high marks for the economic rescue package passed last week , although they @ @ @ @ @ fix expires at the end of the year .
In the law enacted March 27 @ @ @ @ @ additional workers under the employment insurance umbrella that lawmakers effectively transformed the state-based program into @ @ @ @ @ support system , the economists say .
“ I think they are , in this @ @ @ @ @ a UI system , but more generally as an income transfer program to all working @ @ @ @ @ said Christopher J. O ’ Leary , an economist at the Kalamazoo , Michigan-based W.E @ @ @ @ @ Research .
O ’ Leary and another Upjohn economist , Stephen A. Wandner , made @ @ @ @ @ benefits as the public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic intensified .
The law addresses @ @ @ @ @

Corrected, March 31, 2020, 3:20 p.m. | Economists who follow unemployment issues gave Congress high marks for the economic rescue package passed last week, although they foresee challenges when the short-term fix expires at the end of the year.
In the law enacted March 27, Congress brought so many additional workers under the employment insurance umbrella that lawmakers effectively transformed the state-based program into something resembling a general income support system, the economists say.
“I think they are, in this sense, using it as a UI system, but more generally as an income transfer program to all working households in America,” said Christopher J. O’Leary, an economist at the Kalamazoo, Michigan-based W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
[States expecting big revenue hit as COVID-19 slows the economy]
O’Leary and another Upjohn economist, Stephen A. Wandner, made several recommendations for adapting unemployment benefits as the public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic intensified. The law addresses most of their recommendations.


rollcall--2020-03-31--Coronavirus could overwhelm legal help for America’s poor

These groups now face an unprecedented crunch from all sides as the nation ’ s poor take the brunt of the faltering economy and skyrocketing unemployment numbers .
The closure of businesses for social distancing will not only increase the number of people with those legal problems but also increase the number of people who qualify as low-income .
Civil legal aid attorneys already could meet only a fraction of the needs for those in poverty .
COVID-19 threatens to overwhelm them and leave hundreds of thousands more , if not millions more nationwide , without legal help when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , safety or economic security .
Residents who lost the ability to pay rents or mortgages because of the virus in New York City , where there is currently a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures , will face lawsuits almost immediately when it lifts , said Raun Rasmussen , executive director of Legal Services NYC .
That could double the number of housing cases in New York City , he said , at a time when legal aid groups already could meet only about a third of the demand for all services statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in New York City and elsewhere around the state , hundreds of thousands of people that need help and won ’ t be able to get it , ” Rasmussen said .
“ In addition to those who previously were unable to get help.
” And there will be novel issues : In Louisiana , parents who have joint custody of a child already called for help because a parent pointed to the shelter-in-place order as a reason not to follow a joint custody agreement , Tuggle said .

These groups now face an unprecedented crunch from all sides as the nation’s poor take the brunt of the faltering economy and skyrocketing unemployment numbers. The closure of businesses for social distancing will not only increase the number of people with those legal problems but also increase the number of people who qualify as low-income.
Civil legal aid attorneys already could meet only a fraction of the needs for those in poverty. COVID-19 threatens to overwhelm them and leave hundreds of thousands more, if not millions more nationwide, without legal help when it comes to basic needs such as shelter, safety or economic security.
Residents who lost the ability to pay rents or mortgages because of the virus in New York City, where there is currently a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, will face lawsuits almost immediately when it lifts, said Raun Rasmussen, executive director of Legal Services NYC. That could double the number of housing cases in New York City, he said, at a time when legal aid groups already could meet only about a third of the demand for all services statewide.
“I think there will be, in New York City and elsewhere around the state, hundreds of thousands of people that need help and won’t be able to get it,” Rasmussen said. “In addition to those who previously were unable to get help.”
And there will be novel issues: In Louisiana, parents who have joint custody of a child already called for help because a parent pointed to the shelter-in-place order as a reason not to follow a joint custody agreement, Tuggle said.


rollcall--2020-03-31--Blockchain could transform supply chains, aid in COVID-19 fight

Companies that specialize in moving goods from one place to another are starting to use the technology that powers cryptocurrency to streamline their work , and they say it could help hospitals stay stocked and staffed during pandemics like the one caused by COVID-19 .
Blockchain technology , as it 's called , is already being adopted in the movement of goods from producers to suppliers , to stores , and to consumers .
The technology is a form of distributed ledger , which stores encrypted information accessible to users .
It can be public , as with cryptocurrencies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only to network members that want to see it .
Data kept on a blockchain , which is stored and verified by users across the network , ca n't be changed or destroyed .
Those working with the technology see it 's potential to quickly locate vital supplies , the importance of which is being shown by shortages in protective equipment facing hospitals across the world .
While the technology is best known for its role powering cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin , its characteristics make it an apt tool in supply chain management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who runs the University of Arkansas Blockchain Center of Excellence .
In addition to moving goods and services , supply chains move information about those goods , which is where blockchain comes in , Lacity told CQ Roll Call in an interview .
In traditional logistics systems , every link in the chain records and stores its own information on a separate system — meaning everyone has his or her own version of the truth , she said .

Companies that specialize in moving goods from one place to another are starting to use the technology that powers cryptocurrency to streamline their work, and they say it could help hospitals stay stocked and staffed during pandemics like the one caused by COVID-19.
Blockchain technology, as it's called, is already being adopted in the movement of goods from producers to suppliers, to stores, and to consumers. The technology is a form of distributed ledger, which stores encrypted information accessible to users. It can be public, as with cryptocurrencies, or permissioned, where information is visible only to network members that want to see it. Data kept on a blockchain, which is stored and verified by users across the network, can't be changed or destroyed.
Those working with the technology see it's potential to quickly locate vital supplies, the importance of which is being shown by shortages in protective equipment facing hospitals across the world.
While the technology is best known for its role powering cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, its characteristics make it an apt tool in supply chain management, said Mary Lacity, a professor who runs the University of Arkansas Blockchain Center of Excellence.
In addition to moving goods and services, supply chains move information about those goods, which is where blockchain comes in, Lacity told CQ Roll Call in an interview. In traditional logistics systems, every link in the chain records and stores its own information on a separate system — meaning everyone has his or her own version of the truth, she said.


rollcall--2020-03-31--How will fintechs survive a new financial crisis?

Fintech Beat sits down with Jonah Crane to discuss how important ( or not ) is size in surviving the @ @ @ @ @ firms and customers can transition regulatorily and technologically in time to protect themselves .
• @ @ @ @ @ local governments more than cash • Fintech in the UK after Brexit

Fintech Beat sits down with Jonah Crane to discuss how important (or not) is size in surviving the economic slowdown, and whether firms and customers can transition regulatorily and technologically in time to protect themselves.
Show Notes: