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Judy Waxman, National Women’s Law Center


National Women's Law Center
Here are some things we don’t think you should be punished for:

  • Having a chronic disease.
  • Taking care of an elderly parent.
  • Living in a neighborhood where exercising outdoors isn’t safe.

Seems obvious, right? But a loophole in the health care law could do just that.
We need your help to close a loophole in the health care law that could punish low-income women and women with chronic diseases. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released proposed rules on the health care law’s wellness program that would increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs for individuals who do not or cannot participate in certain wellness activities, such as an exercise program. Help us make sure that employer-sponsored wellness programs don’t penalize women and their families.
Programs that increase premiums or out-of-pocket costs for individuals who do not participate in employer-run wellness programs could cause women who hold more than one job, who have childcare or eldercare responsibilities, or health conditions that restrict their ability to participate in program activities to pay more for health coverage or health care. And they ignore other economic and environmental barriers to improving health for low-income women and the fact that women who are pregnant or breast feeding might be medically-advised against participating in certain activities, such as a weight-loss program.
You have less than a week to make your voice heard! The IRS is only taking comments about its proposed rules on the health care law’s wellness program until July 2. That’s why we need you to make your voice heard today.
Going to the gym and eating healthy foods are good goals but easier for some than others. If your neighborhood grocery store doesn’t have fresh vegetables, you have children or elderly family to care for, or your community doesn’t have an affordable gym or sidewalks for you to walk and run on— it may be nearly impossible to be part of a program that requires you to participate to keep your health insurance premiums or out of pocket costs affordable.
Take action now.
Thank you for all you do for women and families.
Sincerely,
Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center
~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – June 2013

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Fda
Fda (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
06/28/2013 02:25 PM EDT
June 26, 2013 – MINNEAPOLIS – In June 2013, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) initiated four medical device notifications to customers worldwide about the SynchroMed Implantable Infusion System. These notifications provide clinicians with information to help identify and manage issues that impact the safe and reliable delivery of therapy using the SynchroMed Implantable Infusion System.
06/28/2013 01:15 PM EDT
Miami, Florida Dolphin Intertrade Corp. is voluntary recalling “JaDera” and “Xiyouji Qingzhi” Weight Loss Supplement. These product have been found to contain undeclared Sibutramine, Sibutramine was a previously approved controlled substance for the treatment of obesity that was removed from the U.S. market in October 2010 for safety reasons, making this product an unapproved new drug.
06/26/2013 09:22 PM EDT
Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon today announced it is voluntarily recalling 5,091 cases (61,092 eight ounce bags) of Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels. Based on an ongoing epidemiological and traceback investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of an illness outbreak, the kernels have the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A virus.
06/25/2013 09:02 PM EDT
Schenectady, NY: Price Chopper Supermarket is voluntarily recalling three varieties of Burst Cookies- Brownie, Almond and Raspberry- a frozen cookie produced by Jacqueline’s Wholesale Bakery and baked off in all of the chain’s in-store bakeries, due to the presence of milk, a known allergen, which was not declared on the ingredient label. The product is not harmful in any way to those who are not allergic to milk products.
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06/22/2013 02:24 PM EDT Beta Labs, LTD (“Beta”), dietary supplement retailer, is recalling Oxyphen XR
Lot #s 200910 and 200911, Phentalene Lot # 58800512, Phen FX Lot # 1205129, and Red Vipers Lot # 1205128 (hereinafter referred to as the “Products”). The recall was initiated on June 15, 2013, after a review of recent FDA communications related to 1,3 dimethylamylamine (“DMAA”). The Products contain DMAA.
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06/21/2013 01:58 PM EDT
Taylor Farms New Jersey, Inc. of Swedesboro, NJ is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Black Forest Ham and Cheese on a Pretzel Roll with Swiss Cheese and Country Dijon Honey Mustard because they have the potential of containing an undeclared tree nut allergen. People who have severe sensitivity or allergies to tree nuts may run the risk of a serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
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06/19/2013 05:27 PM EDT
Holtsville, NY, Advance Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced that this firm is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall to the user level of the over-the-counter drug product, Rugby label Enteric Coated Aspirin Tablets, 81 mg, Lot 13A026. Advance Pharmaceutical Inc. first initiated the recall on June 17, 2013, after receiving a complaint about a bottle labeled as Enteric Coated Aspirin Tablets, 81 mg, actually containing Acetaminophen 500 mg tablets
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06/19/2013 05:24 PM EDT
Garden-Fresh Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited number of packages of Archer Farms Smoked Salmon Dip that may contain undeclared allergens, fish and egg. Some of Archer Farms Smoked Salmon Dip may have inadvertently been filled in a limited amount of Bacon Parmesan Dip containers.
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06/18/2013 06:54 PM EDT
OSKRI Corp. of Lake Mills, WI is recalling “Coconut Bar Dark Chocolate”, “Coconut Bar Dark Chocolate Minis”, “Fig Dark Chocolate Bars” and “Almond Dark Chocolate Bars” because the dark chocolate contains milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
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06/18/2013 01:58 PM EDT
Natura Pet Products is voluntarily recalling specific lots of dry pet food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
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06/14/2013 09:16 PM EDT
See’s Company of San Francisco is recalling all Milk and Dark Raisins because it may contain undeclared tree nuts and eggs. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts (e.g.: almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews) and/or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products
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06/14/2013 08:13 PM EDT
OSKRI Corp. of Lake Mills, WI is recalling “Coconut Bar Dark Chocolate”, “Coconut Bar Dark Chocolate Minis”, “Fig Dark Chocolate Bars” and “Almond Dark Chocolate Bars” because the dark chocolate contains milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
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06/14/2013 09:57 AM EDT
Lipari Foods of Warren, MI is recalling Raw Sunflower Seeds, Roasted Sunflower Seeds and Snack Mixes, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
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06/13/2013 09:04 PM EDT
Sequel Naturals Ltd. Dba “Vega” is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of nutrition bars due to finding trace amounts of milk in some lot codes
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

David Simas, The White House


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The carbon pollution that causes climate change isn’t a distant threat, the risk to public health isn’t a hypothetical, and it’s clear we have a moral obligation to act.

The 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15 years, and 2012 was the hottest one we’ve ever recorded. When carbon pollutes the air, the risk of asthma attacks increases. When the Earth’s atmosphere fundamentally changes, we see more heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods.

These events also create an economic imperative to act. When farms wash away and crops wilt, food prices go up. Last year, we saw 11 different weather disasters that each cost the United States more than $1 billion.

And confronting this challenge isn’t just about preventing disaster — it’s also about moving America forward in a way that creates hundreds of thousands of good, new, clean energy jobs. It’s about wasting less energy, which saves money for every business and every family in America.

So the debate’s over. It’s time for action. 

Here’s what President Obama is announcing today. Check it out, then help to spread the word.

First, he’s laying out a plan to cut carbon pollution in America — by working to cut pollution from power plants, protect the health of our kids, boost clean energy, and revamp our transportation sector for the 21st century. Second, he’s preparing the United States for the impacts of these changes — by building stronger, safer communities and developing resources to make our country more resilient. And finally, he’s leading international efforts to combat global climate change.

We’ve put together a graphic that breaks this all down — from the effects we’re already seeing to the specific actions we’re going to take to lead this fight.

No single step can reverse the effects of climate change, but that’s no excuse for inaction. We have a moral obligation to leave our kids a planet that’s not broken and polluted.

So here’s what we’re going to do:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/climate-action-plan

Share President Obama’s plan to make sure people in your community understand why we’re taking these steps and what comes next.

Thanks!

David

David Simas Deputy Senior Advisor White House

Visit WhiteHouse.gov
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

75 years later

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NWLCHands-Circle-180“A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work”—that was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s goal when he signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 75 years ago today, establishing a federal minimum wage. It was a wonderful start—and now it’s time to make sure the minimum wage works for the 21st century.
TAKE ACTION: Urge your Senators and Representative to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 will provide a much-needed update to the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour for almost four years — and at that rate, a woman working full time, year round earns just $14,500: nearly $4,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. The bill will gradually raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, and index it to inflation in order to keep up with the rising cost of living. It will also increase the minimum cash wage for tipped workers to 70 percent of the regular minimum wage — because right now the federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers is only $2.13 per hour.
ACT NOW: Tell your Members of Congress that it’s time for minimum-wage workers to get a raise!
Need a reason to act? How about five:

  1. Women represent nearly two-thirds of minimum-wage workers and workers in tipped occupations.
  2. Women are the majority in the 10 largest occupations that pay less than $10.10 per hour (and seven of these occupations have two-thirds or more women workers).
  3. Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 would boost annual earnings by $5,700—enough to pull a family of three out of poverty.
  4. Raising the minimum wage will boost earnings for more than 30 million workers—generating additional economic activity and creating jobs as workers spend this income quickly to make ends meet.
  5. Raising the minimum wage would help close the gender wage gap, and would be especially helpful to women of color, who are disproportionately represented among female minimum-wage workers.

Minimum-wage workers across the country can’t afford to wait for a raise any longer. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the minimum wage by taking action!
Thank you for all you do for women and families.
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher  Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center    

P.S. States can set a higher minimum wage — and some states have done so just this year! Find out how your state is doing by checking out our interactive map.