U.S.A.'s interesting news

Results drown out spin  On January 11, less than three weeks after President Donald J. Trump signed the most sweeping tax overhaul in American history, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) labeled the benefits that American workers are seeing as “crumbs.” That comment hasn’t aged well. According to a New York Times poll conducted by SurveyMonkey this month, a majority of Americans approve of the tax law signed by President Trump in December. There is little mystery why. As of this week, 377 companies have announced worker bonuses, raises, or 401(k) boosts as a result of tax cuts, according to the nonprofit Americans for Tax Reform. Even some Democrats are breaking from Rep. Pelosi’s line. “I wouldn't say a couple thousand dollars a year is ‘crumbs,’” Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) said. He’s exactly right. More Democrats should take note: On tax cuts, Americans believe results more than spin. Watch President Trump speak live at CPAC at 10:05 a.m. ET  The Trump Administration is making a strong showing this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference’s 2018 annual meeting. The lineup includes Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, and other senior Administration officials. Today, President Trump joins that list with a keynote address to the conference. “I stand here today with profound gratitude to say that because of all of you, because of the conservative majorities in Congress that you helped elect, and because of the strong leadership of the President you put in the White House, 2017 was the most consequential year in the history of the conservative movement,” Vice President Pence told CPAC attendees yesterday. “And tomorrow, you’ll hear firsthand from the man who galvanized that movement.” Watch President Trump’s CPAC speech live at 10:05 ET. Bipartisan support builds for the President’s infrastructure plan  Two senators from opposite sides of the aisle—Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)—took to The Wall Street Journal this week to join the President’s call for a bipartisan infrastructure bill. “During his State of the Union address, President Trump called for a broad bipartisan infrastructure package, pledging to improve the nation’s infrastructure and invest in the future,” the pair wrote. “We know that it can, and will, happen.” The senators are right—and most Americans agree. According to a new Rasmussen Reports poll, 65 percent of likely voters favor President Trump’s bold plan to rebuild American infrastructure. That plan starts with getting Washington out of the way.“Americans should welcome news that President Trump has included regulatory streamlining in his infrastructure proposal,” the editorial board of The Oklahomanwrites. Learn more: Support continues to build for President Trump’s infrastructure plan. PHOTO OF THE DAY President Donald J. Trump meets with state and local officials to discuss school safety | February 22, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) POTUS TODAY This afternoon, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mrs. Turnbull of Australia to the White House. The two leaders will meet before participating in a working lunch, and later hold a joint press conference. In the afternoon, the President will meet with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Today, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady will host a luncheon for members of the National Governors Association. The Vice President will later participate in a meeting with Prime Minister Turnbull. ====================== WASHINGTON—The H-1B visa program generally allows a foreign employee to work for a specific sponsoring American employer. As is true in many employment situations, the location of work can change. USCIS has published a policy memorandum making clear that USCIS may request detailed documentation to ensure a legitimate employer-employee relationship is maintained while an employee is working at a third-party worksite. In publishing this policy, USCIS clarifies existing regulatory requirements relating to H-1B petitions filed for workers who will be employed at one or more third-party worksites. This policy memorandum makes clear that employers must provide contracts and itineraries for employees who will work at a third-party location.     The guidance, effective Feb. 22, 2018, explains that, in order for an H-1B petition involving a third-party worksite to be approved, the petitioner must show by a preponderance of evidence that, among other things: The beneficiary will be employed in a specialty occupation; and The employer will maintain an employer-employee relationship with the beneficiary for the duration of the requested validity period. When H-1B beneficiaries are placed at third-party worksites, petitioners must demonstrate that they have specific and non-speculative qualifying assignments in a specialty occupation for that beneficiary for the entire time requested on the petition. While an H-1B petition may be approved for up to three years, USCIS will, in its discretion, generally limit the approval period to the length of time demonstrated that the beneficiary will be placed in non-speculative work and during which the petitioner will maintain the requisite employer-employee relationship. The updated policy guidance aligns with President Trump’s Buy American and Hire American Executive Order and the directive to protect the interests of U.S. workers. Employment-based petitioners who circumvent the worker protections outlined in the nation’s immigration laws not only injure U.S. workers (e.g., their wages and job opportunities), but also the foreign workers for whom they are petitioning. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook (/uscis). - USCIS – Bella all Natural Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Diet Capsules Labeled as Bella, Due to Presence of Sibutramine Bella All Natural is voluntarily recalling its Diet Capsules labeled as Bella, Lot Number MFD:10.15.2017 EXP: 10.14.2019, to the consumer level. This recall has been initiated due to presence of sibutramine. Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant that was withdrawn from the U.S. market in October 2010 due to safety concerns. N-Desmethyl sibutramine is an active metabolite of sibutramine. Sibutramine and its active metabolites substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present significant health risks including heart attack, arrhythmia, and stroke. The company has not received any reports of adverse events or injuries.The product is used as a diet pill and is packaged in a plastic bottle, with 30 pills, and with the Lot Number MFD:10.15.2017 EXP: 10.14.2019. Bella was distributed in California via internet and retail. Hospira Issues A Voluntary Nationwide Recall For Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP, Due To The Potential Of Cracked Glass At The Rim Surface Of The Vials Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer company, is voluntarily recalling 3 lots of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 100 mg/20 mL Vial (NDC 0409-2267-20), and one lot of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP, Novaplus® (NDC 0409-2267-25) to the hospital/institution level. Hospira, Inc. initiated this recall due to the discovery of cracks on the rim surface of vials for these lots, which is covered by the stopper and crimp seal. Cracked vials may result in a lack of sterility assurance for the product. Use of or exposure to a non-sterile product may be associated with adverse events such as fever, chills, sepsis or invasive systemic infections in patients. To date, Hospira, Inc. has not received any reports of adverse events associated with this issue for these lots. La Pasta Inc/Heinen’s. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Product Heinen’s Potato Gnocchi UPC# 02060141062 La Pasta Inc. of Silver Spring, Maryland is recalling the private label Potato Gnocchi manufactured for Heinen’s supermarkets because it may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Product was distributed throughout Heinen’s stores in OH and IL. Heinen’s Potato Gnocchi is sold in 9 oz. clear film plastic trays with Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection by Hospira: Recall - Potential For Cracked Glass At Rim Surface Of Vials AUDIENCE: Pharmacy, Risk Manager, Nursing ISSUE: Hospira is voluntarily recalling 3 lots of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 100 mg/20 mL Vial (NDC 0409-2267-20), and one lot of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP, Novaplus (NDC 0409-2267-25) to the hospital/institution level. Hospira, Inc. initiated this recall due to the discovery of cracks on the rim surface of vials for these lots, which is covered by the stopper and crimp seal. Cracked vials may result in a lack of sterility assurance for the product. Use of or exposure to a non-sterile product may be associated with adverse events such as fever, chills, sepsis or invasive systemic infections in patients. Product was distributed nationwide to wholesalers / retailers / hospitals in the United States and Puerto Rico from April 2017 to August 2017. BACKGROUND: Labetalol Hydrochloride is an adrenergic receptor blocking agent indicated for the control of blood pressure (BP) in severe hypertension. It is administered by repeated intravenous (IV) injections or by slow IV infusion. RECOMMENDATION: Hospira, Inc. has notified wholesalers/retailers/hospitals by recall letter to arrange for return of any recalled product. Wholesalers/retailers/hospitals/institutions with an existing inventory of the lots subject to this recall should stop use and distribution of the remaining units and quarantine immediately. Healthcare Professionals in your organization should be informed of this recall. If you have further distributed the recalled product, to the wholesale or retail level, please notify any accounts or additional locations which may have received the recalled product from you. For additional assistance, call Stericycle at 1-800-805-3093 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. 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 press release, at: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm598114.htm FTC Posts Agenda for March 7 Workshop Examining the Contact Lens Marketplace and Proposed Changes to the Commission’s Contact Lens Rule The Federal Trade Commission today posted the agenda for its upcoming workshop on the contact lens marketplace and proposed changes to the agency’s Contact Lens Rule. The event is on Wednesday, March 7, in Washington, DC, and is free and open to the public. It will be held at the FTC’s Constitution Center building, 400 7th St., SW, Washington, DC, from 7:45 am (registration opens) to 5:00 pm. As the Commission noted when it announced the workshop, it will explore issues regarding competition in the contact lens marketplace, consumer access to contact lenses, prescription release and portability, and related subjects. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the Commission’s regulatory review of the Contact Lens Rule. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NRPM) was issued in December 2016 announcing proposed changes to the Rule. This event will be webcast. On the day of the event, the webcast link will appear at the top of the workshop home page, which also has a link to the agenda. The FTC also welcomes written comments on the issues to be discussed at the workshop. Interested parties may file a comment online through April 6, 2018, at: https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/contactlensworkshop. FTC Challenges Wilhelmsen Maritime Services’ Proposed Acquisition of Competitor Drew Marine Group Complaint alleges that merger will harm competition in global market for marine water treatment chemicals and services The Federal Trade Commission has issued an administrative complaint [a public version of which will be linked to this news release shortly] charging that Wilhelmsen Maritime Services’ proposed $400 million acquisition of Drew Marine Group would violate the antitrust laws by significantly reducing competition in an important market for marine water treatment chemicals and services used by global fleets. Marine water treatment chemicals and services are used by tankers, container ships, bulk carriers, cruise ships, and military support vessels to maintain critical on-board equipment. The complaint alleges that customers for these products, owners and operators of global fleets of these vessels, will be harmed by the proposed acquisition. The FTC also authorized staff to seek in federal court a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent the parties from consummating the merger, and to maintain the status quo pending the administrative proceeding. Wilhelmsen, based in Norway, is the world’s largest supplier of water treatment chemicals and services to global fleets, and New Jersey-based Drew is the second-largest. The complaint alleges that the companies are each other’s closest competitors on numerous competitive dimensions that are important to customers, including product scope, quality and consistency; technical service capability; and global distribution footprint. According to the complaint, head-to-head competition between Wilhelmsen and Drew provides substantial benefits to global fleets in the form of lower prices and better service. The FTC alleges that if consummated, the merger would result in a company controlling at least 60 percent of the global marine water treatment chemical and service market. The next closest competitor represents an inferior choice for global fleets, and would control less than 5 percent of the market according to the complaint. The complaint notes that other marine water treatment chemical suppliers are even smaller and face significant disadvantages when competing for global fleets as compared to Wilhelmsen and Drew. As a result of their various limitations, the FTC alleges that local and regional suppliers have very modest overall sales of these products today, and have significantly smaller shares of sales to global fleets than either Wilhelmsen or Drew. According to the complaint, which also names Wilhelmsen owner Wilhelm Wilhelmsen and several companies affiliated with Drew as defendants, marine water treatment chemicals prevent corrosion, remove impurities, and enhance the operation of a vessel’s operational systems – primarily the vessel’s boiler water and engine cooling water systems. Both companies also provide related technical services, such as on-board technical visits, training, water testing kits, software to log and analyze test results, and sophisticated and reliable global logistics capable of taking orders from global fleets and supplying marine water treatment chemicals and services to ports around the world. The complaint alleges that new entry or expansion by existing producers would not be timely, likely, or sufficient to counteract the anticompetitive effects of the acquisition. To replace the competitive significance of Drew in the marketplace, a potential entrant would need to establish a worldwide distribution network, with the ability to provide consistent, high-quality products, obtain necessary equipment manufacturer approvals along with relevant regulatory and safety approvals, and build a reputation for strong technical and customer service capabilities. Throughout the investigation, Commission staff cooperated with staff of the antitrust agencies in Singapore and the United Kingdom. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint was 2-0. The administrative trial is scheduled to begin on April 24, 2018.