Hearing every voice
President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos sat down yesterday afternoon with a large group of students, teachers, and community leaders to discuss how America must improve safety at schools across the country.

The meeting drew numerous participants from the Parkland, Florida, community. For much of the afternoon, students led the discussion. Fifteen-year-old Justin Gruber reminded attendees that 19 years ago, one of America’s most high-profile mass school shootings happened at Columbine High School. “I was born into a world where I never got to experience safety and peace,” he said.

That needs to change. President Trump has pledged more than just action—he has committed his Administration to finding real, workable solutions to end the violence. “It’s not going to be talk like it has been in the past,” the President told students and families yesterday. “It’s been going on too long. . . . We’re going to get it done.”

That starts with making sure that every voice is heard.

Learn more: After Parkland, President Trump demands that we get it right.

‘One of the towering figures of the last 100 years’
The Reverend Billy Graham, one of the most influential spiritual leaders in modern American history, passed away yesterday at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. He was 99.

The President and First Lady felt Graham’s passing as a personal loss. “Melania and I were privileged to get to know Reverend Graham and his extraordinary family over the last several years,” President Trump said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for their love and support.”

Billy Graham changed America for the better. “In the wake of the September 11th attacks in 2001, America turned to Billy Graham at the National Cathedral, who told us, ‘God can be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest,’” President Trump’s statement said. “We are thinking of him today, finally at home in Heaven.”

Read President Trump’s full statement on Reverend Graham’s passing.

The Moon, Mars, and worlds beyond
Last fall, President Trump told the Nation that to win the next frontier, America would once again look to send human beings to the Moon—and beyond.

Yesterday, Vice President Pence led the second meeting of the National Space Council at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Space Council had “laid dormant for nearly a quarter-century” before President Trump revived it last year, Vice President Pence noted during his remarks.

“The record is clear: Under President Donald Trump, America is leading in space once again,” the Vice President said.

That leadership is continuing forward on several fronts. Vice President Pence will deliver four recommendations to President Trump to reform the commercial space regulatory environment, including transforming the launch and re-entry licensing regime.

Watch Vice President Pence address the second meeting of the Space Council.

Bonus read: Learn how the Trump Administration plans to win the “next frontier.”

PHOTO OF THE DAY

President Donald J. Trump hosts a listening session with high school students and teachers | February 21, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

POTUS TODAY

This morning, President Trump and Vice President Pence will meet with state and local officials about school safety.

The Vice President is also delivering remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

Clarithromycin (Biaxin): Drug Safety Communication - Potential Increased Risk of Heart Problems or Death in Patients With Heart Disease

AUDIENCE: Health Professional, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Patient

ISSUE: FDA is advising caution before prescribing the antibiotic clarithromycin (Biaxin) to patients with heart disease because of a potential increased risk of heart problems or death that can occur years later. FDAs recommendation is based on a review of the results of a 10-year follow-up study of patients with coronary heart disease from a large clinical trial that first observed this safety issue.

The large clinical trial, called the CLARICOR trial, observed an unexpected increase in deaths among patients with coronary heart disease who received a two-week course of clarithromycin that became apparent after patients had been followed for one year or longer. There is no clear explanation for how clarithromycin would lead to more deaths than placebo. Some observational studies also found an increase in deaths or other serious heart-related problems, while others did not. All the studies had limitations in how they were designed. Of the six observational studies published to date in patients with or without coronary artery disease, two found evidence of long-term risks from clarithromycin, and four did not. Overall, results from the prospective, placebo-controlled CLARICOR trial provide the strongest evidence of the increase in risk compared to the observational study results. Based on these studies, FDA is unable to determine why the risk of death is greater for patients with heart disease.

As a result, FDA added a new warning about this increased risk of death in patients with heart disease, and advised prescribers to consider using other antibiotics in such patients. FDA also added the study results to the clarithromycin drug labels. As part of FDA’s usual ongoing safety monitoring of drugs, we are continuing to monitor safety reports in patients taking clarithromycin.

BACKGROUND: Clarithromycin is used to treat many types of infections affecting the skin, ears, sinuses, lungs, and other parts of the body, including Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, a type of lung infection that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Clarithromycin is not approved to treat heart disease.

RECOMMENDATION: Healthcare professionals should be aware of these significant risks and weigh the benefits and risks of clarithromycin before prescribing it to any patient, particularly in patients with heart disease and even for short periods, and consider using other available antibiotics. Advise patients with heart disease of the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular problems, regardless of the medical condition for which you are treating them with clarithromycin.

Patients should tell your healthcare professionals if you have heart disease, especially when you are being prescribed an antibiotic to treat an infection. Talk to them about the benefits and risks of clarithromycin and any alternative treatments. Do not stop taking your heart disease medicine or antibiotic without first talking to your healthcare professionals. Doing so could be harmful without your health care professionals’ direct supervision. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, pain or weakness in one part or side of your body, or slurred speech.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch Safety Alert, including a link to the FDA Drug Safety Communication, at:

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm597862.htm

Market of Choice Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in Sezam Kale Salad

Market of Choice of Eugene, Oregon is recalling Sezam Kale Salad because it may contain undeclared EGG. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Egg run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

Sezam Kale Salad was sold in the Deli cases between February 14, 2018 and February 20, 2018 at the following Market of Choice retail stores in Oregon:

Market of Choice 2580 Willakenzie Avenue Eugene, OR 97401
Market of Choice 1960 Franklin Blvd Eugene, OR 97405
Market of Choice 1060 Green Acres Road Eugene, OR 97408
Market of Choice 67 West 29th Avenue Eugene, OR 97405
Market of Choice 6639 Hood Street Eugene, OR 97068
Market of Choice 250 NW Lost Springs Terrace Portland, OR 97229
Market of Choice 1475 Siskyou Blvd Ashland, OR 97520

Snyder’s Lance Announces Voluntary Recall of a Limited Amount of 6.5 oz Emerald® Glazed Walnuts Due to Potential Presence of Undeclared Peanuts, Almonds, Cashews and Pecans

Emerald® Nuts is initiating a voluntary recall for a limited amount of its 6.5oz Glazed Walnuts product, distributed nationwide, due to the potential presence of undeclared peanuts, almonds, cashews and pecans in the product. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

While no illness has been reported, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution after receiving consumer complaints.

The voluntary recall is limited to only the specific production codes listed below. To locate the production code on the package, consumers should look next to the nutrition facts panel. No other production codes, sizes or varieties of Emerald® products are affected by this recall.

Allergy Alert Issued by Sunneen Health Foods for Undeclared Pecan in Vegan Buffalo Chicken Bites

Sunneen Health Foods is voluntarily recalling mislabeled Whole Foods Market Vegan Buffalo Chicken Bites sold at 13 Whole Foods Market stores in New York and New Jersey because the products contained tree nut (pecan) allergens that were not listed on the product label. The issue was discovered at the distribution center. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pecans run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

No allergic reactions have been reported to date. All affected products have been removed from store shelves.

The products were sold in 9 oz. containers labeled as “Whole Foods Market Vegan Buffalo Chicken Bites.” They can be identified by UPC codes 636910500059 and expiration dates of 2/27/2018.

FTC Provides Tips for Using VPN Apps

The Federal Trade Commission has new tips for consumers on what to look for when shopping for a virtual private network (VPN) app that can help secure information sent over a public Wi-Fi network.

The FTC has long cautioned consumers about the potential risks of using free public Wi-Fi networks, which are often insecure. To help address this problem, some consumers have started using VPN apps that can help shield personal information sent over a public, open Wi-Fi network.

In a new blog post, the FTC provides information about what consumers should consider when deciding whether to use a VPN app. These include researching the app before you obtain it, reviewing the app’s permission requests, ensuring that the app encrypts your information, and checking to see if the app shares your information with third parties.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC Challenges Schemes That Target or Affect Senior Citizens

The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action against two deceptive schemes that targeted or affected senior citizens with phony sweepstakes offers and bogus computer technical support services that tricked consumers out of tens of millions of dollars.

The two cases were brought in conjunction with an enforcement sweep led by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at stopping illegal schemes that exploit older Americans.

In the first case, the FTC and the State of Missouri charged two men and their sweepstakes operation with bilking tens of millions of dollars from people throughout the United States and other countries.

The FTC and Missouri allege that the defendants, doing business under dozens of different names, sent tens of millions of personalized mailers falsely indicating that the recipient had won or was likely to win a substantial cash prize, as much as $2 million, in exchange for a fee ranging from $9 to $139.99.

The defendants distribute three types of phony mailers:

notices such as “Congratulations, You Have Just Won $1,230,946.00,” when the consumer hasn’t actually won anything;
fliers that claim the recipient can win a substantial cash prize by answering a simple arithmetic question and paying a registration fee, but that don’t disclose that there are multiple rounds to the “game of skill,” that the consumer will have to pay additional fees to advance to each round, and that in order to win, the consumer will have to answer a final, complex puzzle that few people, if any, can solve; and
mailers that appear to be notices that the consumer has won a prize of $1 million or more, but that are really just newsletter subscription solicitations.

Many people, including seniors, pay the fees several times before realizing they have been deceived. Since 2013, consumers have lost more than $110 million to the defendants’ scheme.

In the second case, the FTC alleges that the defendants worked with Indian telemarketers to trick older Americans into buying bogus technical support services. Specifically, the defendants set up business accounts for the telemarketers, collected and deposited consumer payments, and provided a gloss of legitimacy to the scheme.

The telemarketers, claiming to be from well-known technology companies, told people that hackers would soon break into their computers and rob their bank accounts, and that they should act right away by purchasing expensive security software. According to the FTC, the telemarketers claimed that the software was affiliated with the U.S. government, but in reality it was worthless or old, and available elsewhere for free or at a much lower cost.

While remotely connected to consumers’ computers, purportedly to install security software, the telemarketers also took consumers’ personal information, the FTC alleges. They charged up to tens of thousands of dollars, and later concocted additional phony reasons why the consumers needed more software to avoid new cyberthreats. Several people paid more than $50,000, and one person paid almost $400,000 during a period of several years, often utilizing accounts set up by the defendants.

The defendants in the first case are Kevin R. Brandes; William J. Graham; Next-Gen Inc., also doing business as Award Notification Services, Cash Claim Advisors, Central Award Distribution, International Award Services, National Award Commission, Prize Notification Services Foundation, and Security Dispatch Ltd.; Westport Enterprises Inc., also d/b/a Award Prize Advisory, Award Review Board, Cash Claim Advisors, National Awards Commission, and Security Dispatch Ltd.; Opportunities Unlimited Publications Inc., also d/b/a Entertainment Awards Center, International Award Payment Center, North American Awards Center, and Puzzle Mania; Opportunities Management Co., Summit Management Team LLC, Contest America Publishers Inc., also d/b/a Entertainment Award Company and International Awards Payment Center; Reveal Publications LLC, also d/b/a National Research Company, Fortune Research Bureau and Financial Report Services; AOSR Corporation, formerly known as Subscription Reporter Corporation, f/k/a Sweepstakes Reporter Co., Inc., also d/b/a American Sweepstakes Publisher and National Bureau; Lighthouse FLA Enterprises LLC; and Gamer Designs LLC. They are charged with violating the FTC Act and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

The FTC appreciates the assistance of these entities in this case: the Better Business Bureau of Greater Kansas City, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.K. National Trading Standards Scams Team, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, and the Utah Attorney General’s Office.

The defendants in the second case are Parmjit Singh Brar, Genius Technologies LLC, and Avangatee Services LLC. They are charged with violating the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and proposed temporary restraining order against the Next-Gen defendants was 2-0. The documents were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Western Division, on February 20, 2018.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint against Parmjit Singh Brar, Genius Technologies, LLC, and Avangatee Services, LLC was 2-0. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, on February 21, 2018.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court.

You've probably heard about tax ID theft—when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job—but there's a new twist on this scheme. Staying on top of the new ways scammers try to get your personal information and money is as important as knowing how to file your tax forms. Learn about a new scam involving a bogus tax return and your refund for this year.

You may have seen recent news about the new budget for the federal government. Every year, Congress must pass a budget to fund the government.

Learn the Process Behind the U.S. Federal Budget

Even if you didn't apply for disaster relief, a scammer may still call pretending to be FEMA to steal your personal information. Find out how to make sure your identity isn't stolen by a scammer, and what to do if you're a victim of disaster-related identity theft.