Announcements, information and updates from the AG Alliance Members and Associates
May 8, 2020
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As we envision the re-opening of meetings and travel, it is essential for hotels and airports to standardize health and safety initiatives to fight the spread of the coronavirus and other diseases.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) unveiled its
Safe Stay guidelines in pursuit of cleanliness and mental and physical security for all patrons.
The AG Alliance is gearing up to host our 2020 Annual Meeting, scheduled for July 23 - 26 at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and will enact these guidelines, the Broadmoor's list of health and sanitation practices, along with our own measures and protocol.
Please stay tuned as our future roundups will continue to feature travel and meeting best practices during and after the coronavirus.
For all meeting or sponsorship-related
i
nquiries, please contact:
Ale Stephens
303-304-9206
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COVID-19 ROUNDUP: RELIEF EFFORTS
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Editor's Note:
This week's special edition roundup is dedicated to highlighting the unparalleled COVID-19 relief efforts of our private sector partners. We also feature an update on Tribal issues and actions related to federal funds in the wake of COVID-19.
Please read below to find out how companies are using their resources to support financially struggling consumers, victims of domestic abuse, communities and vulnerable populations during and after the pandemic.
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Johnson & Johnson
is committed to bringing an affordable COVID-19 vaccine to the public on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use. Through a $1 billion investment and landmark new partnership with the federal government, J&J is moving on an accelerated timeline toward Phase 1 human clinical trials at the latest by September 2020 and, supported by the global production capability that we are scaling up in parallel to this testing, we expect a vaccine could be ready for emergency use in early 2021.
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Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the first participants have been dosed in the U.S. in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the BNT162 vaccine program to prevent COVID-19.
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1-800 Contacts
has partnered with eye doctors in 31 states to provide a free telehealth solution that can renew a patient’s contact lens prescription without requiring an in-person visi
t.
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VICTIM RELIEF
- To combat the reported surge in domestic violence globally in the last few weeks, Uber continues to partner with domestic violence organizations and local governments in 35 cities across 16 countries to provide 50,000 free rides to shelters and safe spaces, and more than 45,000 free meals.
- In an effort to lend a hand to victims of domestic violence during COVID-19 and after, ADT has released a free version of its mobile safety app, ADT SoSecure, that allows people to silently request help from first responders when they are confined inside with their abusers. This app will remain free for the duration of the national emergency.
COMMUNITY RELIEF
- Alkermes announced that the company is now accepting applications for its newly-established COVID-19 Relief Fund, a special edition of the company's signature Inspiration Grants® program, designed to support COVID-10 related needs of people affected by addiction, serious mental illness or cancer.
- NBWA Beer distributors are working locally and with their state governments to help the community by delivering pallets of hand sanitizer to front line responders, donating refrigerated trucks to food drives, giving water and other non-alcoholic drinks to first responders and other invaluable actions.
CONSUMER RELIEF
- LegalZoom is helping to fund the first national disaster relief pro bono portal. The free portal is a centralized database connecting state hotlines and legal services organizations across the country to attorneys across the country who volunteer their services pro bono
- AT&T continues its pledge to keep Americans connected, including efforts to not terminated unpaid accounts, waiving late fees, and keeping public Wi-Fi hotspots open. AT&T is also joining a global initiative called the Open COVID Pledge to make our patents available free of charge that might aid in the fight against this virus.
- CenturyLink was among the original list of companies that took the Keep Americans Connected Pledge March 13 and now, the company committed to extending it through June 30. The company is also donating internet connections to emergency healthcare facilities for the duration of a field hospital’s operations, and they significantly increased the bandwidth and capacity for hundreds of government and education customers quickly, in many cases in less than 48 hours
- Acxiom has supported the Ad Council’s on-going efforts to ensure the American public is receiving crucial and vetted information through a series of public service announcements (PSAs). The company also played an integral part in the launch of the Ad Council’s first-ever pro bono private marketplace platform (PMP) for social causes, giving publishers and media companies the opportunity to donate digital media inventory in support of the Ad Council’s COVID-19 digital PSAs.
- Quicken Loans is extending through the end of May operations at its call center where it schedules COVID-19 tests at the former Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Quicken's sister company, Rock Connections, operates the call center with 40 full-time employees 10 hours per day, seven days per week. The contributions represent an in-kind donation of more than $700,000.
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TRIBAL ISSUES AND UPDATES
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CDC is taking a multifaceted approach to allocate COVID-19 funding to Indian Country. This approach aims to get public health resources out quickly during this declared emergency and enable broad access to the opportunity for COVID-19 resources across all tribal nations.
- In an example of coordinated effort, AGA member tribe Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and other regional tribes work with their local government to seek support of local tribal economic development. This week, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said $4.8 billion, or 60% of the total $8 billion initially set aside, will begin hitting tribes' bank accounts. The money will be distributed based on population size, with the largest tribes receiving the biggest shares of money.
- In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Cherokee Nation Businesses suspended the operations of its casinos on March 16. Although many employees of those businesses are unable to work because of the pandemic, Cherokee Nation Businesses made a commitment to continue paying the salaries of regular full-time and part-time employees through May 15.
- As more states begin to ease stay-at-home orders, a desperate attempt to halt coronavirus cases is underway on the country’s largest reservation, the Navajo Nation, which spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. President Trump announced that The Navajo Nation soon will receive more than $600 million and the Gila River Indian Community will receive $40 million in initial CARES Act funds.
- The Otoe-Missouria Tribe signed a new gaming compact with Governor Kevin Stitt and the State of Oklahoma Tuesday, April 21, promising new gaming activities at their casinos and more revenue to the tribe for tribal operations.
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ACCOUNTABILITY
Facebook revealed the first 20 members of an oversight board that will hold the company accountable in content moderation decisions.
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CONNECTIVITY
In addition to amplifying the #
PlayApartTogether initiative to spread key messages from the World Health Organization,
Entertainment Software Association members and the video game industry are responding to COVID-19 in many ways, outlined on their response page.
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- The Federal Trade Commission announced it has sent 45 more letters warning marketers nationwide to stop making unsubstantiated claims that their products and therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Several of the letters announced target other “treatments,” including Chinese herbal medications, music therapy, homeopathic treatments, and even shields claimed to boost the immune system by protecting the wearer from electromagnetic fields
CONSUMER PROTECTION
- California AG Becerra issued an alert warning consumers to beware of scams related to the federal government’s economic impact stimulus payments.
- Michigan AG Nessel and a bipartisan coalition of 52 attorneys general, sent a letter to USTelecom and its Industry Traceback Group (ITG), asking they continue collaboration with state attorneys general by bolstering technological capabilities to improve enforcement against illegal robocallers.
- Texas AG Paxton warned Texans that scammers have been spotted posing as state agencies to solicit money from hardworking consumers. Government agencies do not email or call individuals with financial solicitations
- North Dakota AG Stenehjem and the Attorneys General from ten other Midwestern states are urging the Department of Justice to pursue a federal investigation into suspected national price fixing by meat packers in the cattle industry. In a letter to US Attorney General William Barr, the Attorneys General expressed concern over the likelihood of manipulation of the market for processed beef
- New York AG James issued guidelines to protect New Yorkers using funeral homes and reminded funeral homes that the office will take action against any entity that violates consumer rights. Other AGs have followed suit this week for their states.
COMBATTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
- Texas AG Paxton announced that his office, leading the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council, released Phase I of a five-year strategic plan to halt and prevent human trafficking in Texas
OPIOID CRISIS
- Oklahoma AG Hunter filed separate lawsuits against three leading opioid distributors for their alleged role in the ongoing opioid crisis.
ELECTION LAW
- Texas AG Paxton issued a letter to Texas county judges and election officials, providing guidance that, under the Texas Election Code, Texans may not claim disability based on fears of contracting COVID-19 and receive a ballot to vote by mail in upcoming elections.
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CWAG Executive Committee
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Hector Balderas -
Mark Brnovich
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- Wayne Stenehjem -
Phil Weiser
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AG Alliance Co-Chairs
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Lawrence Wasden - Sean Reyes - Karl Racine
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