Bioterrorism Poses Serious Threat For America's Future, Says Retired Colonel

At a briefing Wednesday afternoon, retired Air Force Colonel Randall Larsen expressed his concerns regarding the notion that many senior leaders are oblivious to the serious threat posed by bioterrorism today.

“The serious threats that we will face in the coming decade are not going to come from bullets, tanks and missiles. They’re going to come from infectious disease,” Larsen told the Senate Appropriations Committee. “They are going to come from mother nature - we know that for a fact.”
 
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that they have further invested in an ongoing national cooperative agreement with World Health Organization to support preventive measures for a global influenza pandemic.

“We must develop faster diagnostic capabilities,” said Larsen. “These will be no regret investments.” 

Anti-Outsourcing Bill Falters In The Senate

By AJ Swartwood

Senate Democrats failed to advance the “Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act” Tuesday after falling 7 votes short of the 60-vote minimum needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. 

The final vote came in at 53-45, with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) siding with the Republicans.

Supporters said the legislation, aimed at eliminating tax breaks for American companies that outsource their jobs, would spur job creation in the U.S.

“One of the major reasons why the middle class in this country is disappearing and the working class is being decimated, and why real wages are going down for millions of workers, is that for a number of years we have been hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs, ” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said during a press conference prior to the vote. “This bill uses the tax code to begin to bring more manufacturing jobs back to America.”

When asked by a reporter for his thoughts on the Manufacturer’s Union and Chamber of Commerce’s objection to the bill, Sanders replied that he was not surprised.

“They much prefer paying people in Vietnam 20 cents an hour then American workers a living wage,” Sanders said.

GOP leaders have accused Democrats of bringing up the bill to simply play politics in the run-up to the midterm elections.

Hoyer Promotes Dems' Manufacturing Initiative

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) promoted his party’s manufacturing initiative “Make It In America” Tuesday during remarks before the Conference on the Renaissance of American Manufacturing in Washington, D.C.

“At a time when America cries out for unity and purpose, this agenda offers it,” Hoyer said. “[The] work begins with restoring America’s role as a nation that makes things. It begins with producing here in America products that are invented in America.”

Hoyer, who appeared with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also said that if given a fair chance, America can compete with any nation in the world. The Maryland Democrat noted that this can be done by putting a tariff on products manufactured in China. 

“It is an issue of making the playing field level and fair,” Hoyer said.

Jimmy Carter Hospitalized

Former President Jimmy Carter has been hospitalized in Cleveland, Ohio, according to CNN.

The hospitalization is based on an unknown health issue. 

Update: CNN follows up that Carter is in the hospital resting comfortably.

Rahm Emanuel May Leave White House By End Of Week

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel may announce his departure from the Obama administration as soon as Friday, according to a report in Politico.

Emanuel is expected to return to Chicago where he will run for mayor in the wake of Richard Daley’s retirement plans. When in Congress, Emanuel’s district, Illinois’ fifth, contained part of the city.