Cabbage News Network Week #37

We're mostly skipping the two weeks I was in Ireland. Of note:

• Aid to Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria still moving at a snails pace: status of infrastructure rebuilding.
  
• DJT waives Jones Act for Puerto Rico, a week after the hurricane hit, and after saying that he wouldn't. The Act was preventing International aid from reaching Puerto Rico and is routinely waived immediately after disasters (source).
  
• Venezuela preparing for war with the U.S. (source).
  
• DJT seems to be vying for some sort of record on how many times he can insult Puerto Rico.

Friday 9/29

• HHS secretary Tom Price resigns (source).
  
• Rick Perry proposes hand out to coal and nuclear industries (a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/29/rick-perry-proposes-sweeping-new-moves-to-support-coal-and-nuclear-plants/">source), not surprisingly everyone else is opposed to this (source).
  

Monday 10/2

• Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump using private e-mail accounts for White House business (source).
  
• Hurricane relief for Puerto Rico very slowly making its way through Congress (source).
  
• Investigation into Ryan Zinke's use of taxpayer-funded private air travel (source).

Tuesday 10/3

• Tillerson vs DJT spat over non-existent talks with North Korea (source).
  
• Authorization for the Children's Insurance Program has expired (source).
  
• Congress holds hearing on Equifax breach (source).
  
• U.S. expels Cuban diplomats (source).
  
• House has no plans on moving on silencer bill (source).
  
• Scott Pruitt's calendar, mostly meeting with energy company CEOs (source).
  
• EPA misses deadline for smog report (source).
  
• IRS awards fraud prevention contract to Equifax (source).
  
• House passes anti-abortion bill, doesn't appear likely to pass the Senate though (source).

Wednesday 10/4

• Tillerson's days appear to be numbered (source).
  
• White House asks Congress for more relief for Puerto Rico (source).

Thursday 10/5

• House adopts a budget resolution, this is a procedural move allowing FY 2018 bills involving taxes or the budget to bypass filibuster threats, similar to what the House attempted for their health care repeal efforts. (source, resolution summary, full text).
  
• Reminder that the Senate investigation regarding Russia and the election is still ongoing (source).
  
• DJT to abandon Iran nuclear deal (source).
  
• White House continues doing what it can to undermine health care, DJT personally intervenes in Iowa to prevent 20,000 from getting health coverage. (source).
  
• HHS to remove birth control mandate from health care plans, likely to be challenged in court (source).
  
• Status of various environmental rules, I've reported on many of these individually, but this is a nice summary (source).
  
• DoJ claims the Civil Rights Act does not protect transgender employees (source).
  
• Dept. of Interior to throw out sage-grouse conservation plan (source).
  
• Dept. of Interior to suspend system for collecting royalty payments from energy companies (source).
  
• Zinke attended fundraiser while on government travel (source).
  
• Congress confirms Randal Quarles, a Wall St. banker, for the Federal Reserve (source).

Friday 10/6

• Many of those environmental roll-backs mentioned above are being challenged in court (source).
  
• Federal leadership positions still largely vacant (source).
  
• FDIC had 54 security breaches in 2015-2016 (source).

Legislative action this week (plus the weeks I skipped)

• Legislation signed into law
  
  • Bill restricting the use of Social Security numbers on mailed documents https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr624
    
  • Two disaster relief bills https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3823 and https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1866
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • A bill regarding FEMA reporting requirements https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1117
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • 2018 budget resolution https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hconres71
    
  • Bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr36
    
  • Bill reauthorizing the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s782
    
  • Renewal of law promoting democracy in North Korea and helping North Korean refugees https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2061
    
  • Bill giving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority over self driving cars https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3388
    
  • Bill restricting IRS use of civil asset forfeiture https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1843
    
  • Bill to allow publicly traded companies to use SEC crowdfunding rule https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2864
    
  • Authorization bill for CIA and other intelligence activities https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3180
    
  • DoD appropriations bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3219
    
  • Dept. of Interior appropriations https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3354
    
  • 282 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • DoD Authorization bill for FY 2018 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2810
    
  • 64 other minor bills
  
  
• Upcoming legislation
  
  • ADA reform bill that would essentially gut the ADA https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr620 (Editorial on how horrible this bill is)
  
  
  Maps of the week
  
  • Crowdsource map of Puerto Rico damage and recovery
    
  • Before and after light map of Puerto Rico