Pennsylvania is firing a company that performed COVID-19 contact tracing and exposed the private medical information of tens of thousands of residents. That’s according to the state health secretary. Employees of Insight Global used unauthorized Google accounts to personal information about residents who had been reached for contact tracing. The state had planned to drop Insight Global once its contract expires at the end of the July, but the Health Department told House Republicans on Thursday that it will terminate the contract early, on June 19.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17), a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, was joined by Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) to introduce the Freight Rail Innovation Act.  Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.  The bicameral legislation would establish a Freight Rail Innovation Institute, comprised of a university research partner and locomotive manufacturer, with the goal of developing zero-emission locomotives.

“This legislation is a perfect example of Congress working together with industry and academic leaders to develop new and innovative transportation technologies,” said Lamb.  “This federal funding could be used locally in Western Pennsylvania to accelerate the development of hydrogen-powered locomotives, creating jobs in the energy industry and boosting our local economy.”

“This legislation will invest in alternative energy freight rail technology and lower emissions, incentivize more and longer lasting private investment in energy solutions, contribute to research and development in Pittsburgh and create jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I look forward to seeing its inclusion in future infrastructure legislation,” said Casey.

“Investing in innovative technologies like fuel cell locomotives and more efficient rail operations won’t just make our freight transportation sector the cleanest in the world, it will enable us to move more freight, grow our economy, and create thousands of new good-paying jobs,” said Doyle.

The Freight Rail Innovation Act would carry out a research and development program to:

• Develop technologies necessary for the design, development, manufacturing, and operation of zero-emission battery and hydrogen-powered freight locomotives;
• Develop technologies that enhance freight rail safety, efficiency and utilization; and
• Accelerate the deployment of zero-emission locomotives, including passenger locomotives, as well as support supply chains; advance freight and logistics systems; and related workforce development and education innovations.

The legislation also includes Buy America and Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements for institute grant recipients, and requires a 50% non-federal match.

Visit Lamb’s website to learn more about the Freight Rail Innovation Act.

Pennsylvania reports 50% of adults are fully vaccinated
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is marking a milestone, with 50% of adults statewide now considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Wolf administration says it will lift an order requiring unvaccinated people to wear masks in public once 70% of Pennsylvanians aged 18 and older are fully vaccinated, meaning at least two weeks beyond their last required dose. That percentage stood at 50% on Thursday, according to federal data. The pace of vaccinations has been slowing for weeks. State Health Department data shows Pennsylvania ordered only about a quarter of the vaccine doses to which it was entitled last week, signaling a steep drop-off in demand.

The Veteran’s Break fast Club will be hosting a zoom breakfast with special guests  Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and Congressman Conor Lamb Wednesday June 26, 2021 at 9:00 AM.  Veteran’s will be able to ask any questions they have or issues they’d like them to discuss that are V.a. Related by emailing them to todd@veteransbreakfastclub.org.  You can also email Todd with any questions you have about the event  at todd@veteransbreakfastclub.org and plan to join us on Zoom on the 26^th

U.S. Government Seizes 68 Protected Big Cats and a Jaguar from Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO and EMILY LESHNER Associated Press
Vedika Jawa was 13 when she contacted a San Francisco Bay Area homeless shelter and offered to bake for its residents. They told her to come back when she was older. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, and she went all the way to the shelter’s CEO. That was the start of Bake4Sake, her student-run nonprofit that distributes baked desserts to those in need. During the coronavirus pandemic, her project grew more than ever. The now 16-year-old high school junior has enlisted more than 100 volunteers who work with 15 homeless shelters in 10 locations across the United States.