October 2016
Update: Congress Funds Zika Research
After a seven month long stint of bickering Congress allocated $1.1 billion to fund research to fight the devastating Zika Virus. While Congress was arguing over whether or not to defund Planned Parenthood, the Obama Administration had been moving money to keep Zika fighting measures like research and mosquito control going.
This move comes after both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human services released statements saying they would run out of money to continue their efforts if something was not done. This deal, which excludes language that would defund Planned Parenthood, provides funding for mosquito control, vaccine research, and research into better diagnostic techniques as well as specific funding allocated to provide healthcare to those affected in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
After a seven month long stint of bickering Congress allocated $1.1 billion to fund research to fight the devastating Zika Virus. While Congress was arguing over whether or not to defund Planned Parenthood, the Obama Administration had been moving money to keep Zika fighting measures like research and mosquito control going.
This move comes after both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human services released statements saying they would run out of money to continue their efforts if something was not done. This deal, which excludes language that would defund Planned Parenthood, provides funding for mosquito control, vaccine research, and research into better diagnostic techniques as well as specific funding allocated to provide healthcare to those affected in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
School District of Philadelphia to Expand Water Testing Measures
In light of the fears and recent report issued regarding childhood lead exposure, the School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be expanding it’s water testing to include all schools within the district.
In addition to testing every school’s water supply, the school district has also begun to release reports that detail which schools contained contaminated drinking fountains which have all been shut down and are in the process of being replaced. The reports can be found on the School District of Philadelphia’s website.
In light of the fears and recent report issued regarding childhood lead exposure, the School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be expanding it’s water testing to include all schools within the district.
In addition to testing every school’s water supply, the school district has also begun to release reports that detail which schools contained contaminated drinking fountains which have all been shut down and are in the process of being replaced. The reports can be found on the School District of Philadelphia’s website.
US Department of Education Provides Grant to Flint Michigan
In light of the recent fights in Congress over providing additional funding to those affected by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the US Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students has awarded the town with a $400,000 grant. The grant is intended to help restore the learning environment that has been and continues to be disrupted.
With this funding, the school district will be able to pinpoint children who have suffered neurologically due to lead exposure and provide them with adequate health care treatments as well as additional educational interventions to mitigate the effects of exposure to improve the health, wellbeing, and education of the public.
In light of the recent fights in Congress over providing additional funding to those affected by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the US Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students has awarded the town with a $400,000 grant. The grant is intended to help restore the learning environment that has been and continues to be disrupted.
With this funding, the school district will be able to pinpoint children who have suffered neurologically due to lead exposure and provide them with adequate health care treatments as well as additional educational interventions to mitigate the effects of exposure to improve the health, wellbeing, and education of the public.