Announcements, information and updates from the AG Alliance Members and Associates
May 22, 2020
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THURSDAY, MAY 28TH @ 2PM EST
Attorney General Hosts
Phil Weiser, Colorado
Lawrence Wasden, Idaho
Panelists
Registration
Registration is open and available to all interested parties. Please click on the button below to register. For any comments or questions, contact Austin Bernstein at:
abernstein@agalliance.org
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THURSDAY, JUNE 4TH @ 1PM EST
Attorney General Hosts
Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon
Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas
Panelists
Patrick Madigan
, Assistant Attorney General & National Leader of AG Mortgage Group, Iowa Attorney General’s Office
Geoff Walsh
, Staff Attorney & Expert, National Consumer Law Center
Nicole Beattie
, Executive Vice President of Servicing, Quicken Loans/Rock Central
Registration
Registration is open and available to all interested parties. Please click on the button below to register. For any comments or questions, contact Andrea Friedman at:
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COVID-19 ROUNDUP: SUPPLY CHAINS
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Editor's Note:
This week's special edition roundup is dedicated to addressing COVID-19's impact on supply chains.
Over the past few weeks, US retailers and food industry players have been battling to ensure that the food supply chains remain robust in the light of unprecedented demand in recent weeks. The impact of the pandemic in the United States was so severe that it forced governments to impose rigorous lockdowns and travel bans in an effort to flatten the curve. While the coronavirus impact has been felt by all aspects of the economy, the food supply chain is no exception. Experts suggest that the food supply chain is one of the hardest-hit segments in the US and has resulted in acute shortages of certain product categories owing to the wide-spread impact of supply chain disruptions
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Quantzig
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Global supply chains, from food to raw materials to finished products, are experiencing the global economic and financial ramifications of COVID-19 with no end in sight. While COVID-19 may be the catalyst for companies to revisit their global supply chain strategy, short-term actions need to be made to respond to the immediate challenge.
Below, you will find more background information and updates related to COVID impacts on global networks. We hope this overview is helpful in guiding your AGOs on response plans and best practices for regulatory efforts related to supply chains.
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How WHO Is Re-Imagining and Fixing Links in Supply Chains During COVID-19
World Health Organization
May 7, 2020
In normal times, WHO fulfills country requests by placing orders through long-term contracts with vendors who ship cargo via freight forwarders. The COVID-19 pandemic turned the process upside down. Disruptions in Chinese manufacturing fractured global supply chains, creating shortages in the face of soaring demand. Market competition increased, trade restrictions were implemented, and commercial flights were grounded. These challenges created a whole new level of complexity.
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Here's How Global Supply Chains Will Change After COVID-19
World Economic Forum
May, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit global trade and investment at an unprecedented speed and scale. Multinational companies faced an initial supply shock, then a demand shock as more and more countries ordered people to stay at home. Governments, businesses and individual consumers suddenly struggled to procure basic products and materials, and were forced to confront the fragility of the modern supply chain. The urgent need to design smarter, stronger and more diverse supply chains has been one of the main lessons of this crisis.
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ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Mexico's COVID-19 “Traffic Light” System
Mexico's Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministries of Economy and Labor and Social Welfare, as well as with the Mexican Institute of Social Security are
currently trying to preserve the value of three important industries. Their Ministry of Health implemented the first stage of a 3-stage “traffic light” system on May 18th. Construction, mining, and transport manufacturing have re-opened as essential industries and are expected to follow the safety protocols of this system. Red regions, the most restricted, will only allow essential work. Yellow will restrict public spaces with full economic activity and all green regions will return to normal. The system will evaluate each geographical region to determine specific restrictions on the reported COVID-19 cases of those regions. The success of Mexico’s reopening strategy depends on restructuring sanitary procedures and readjusting production processes. Stage 2 will last until May 31st, with a new developed health protocol. Mexico’s last stage will begin on June 1st. This new normal will preserve the value of these essential industries and the health of their criticizes.
- Stage 1.- Starts May 18th, 2020,
- Stage 2.- Between May 18 – 31, 2020, Developed health protocol, training personal, restructuring personnel all to guarantee the safety of the workplace and indiviudals.
- Stage 3.- Beginning June 1, 2020
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USDA, FDA Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Department of Agriculture
May 19, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been working around the clock on many fronts to support the U.S. food and agriculture sector so that Americans continue to have access to a safe and robust food supply. As a next step in carrying out Executive Order 13917, the USDA and FDA today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF, 137 KB) to help prevent interruptions at FDA-regulated food facilities, including fruit and vegetable processing.
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Panic-buying Boosts Profits, Tests Supply Chain At Walmart
Barron's
May 19, 2020
Booming demand for groceries and essential items lifted Walmart's first-quarter profits, even as the company struggled during the coronavirus crisis to replenish key items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, the company said.
Walmart's e-commerce business surged a staggering 74 percent in the quarter ending April 30, with home-bound customers opting for grocery delivery at home or for click-and-pickup options at stores.
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Grocers Fail to Keep Up With Demand as Coronavirus Pandemic Spreads
The Wall Street Journal
May 15, 2020
U.S. grocers are adjusting their operations to try to keep up with customers who are emptying their shelves amid angst over the new coronavirus, even as their own employees face heightened risk of infection.
Publix Super Markets Inc., which operates more than 1,100 stores, said it would shorten store and pharmacy hours to close at 8 p.m. Walmart Inc. said its U.S. stores would close overnight to clean and disinfect surfaces. Wegmans Food Markets Inc. said it would shorten hours, trim options at its hot-food bars and set purchase limits for foods including eggs, frozen vegetables, boxed cereal and rice.
Kroger and Trader Joe's said they were shortening store hours to give workers more time to clean and restock.
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Warehouse Robots Provide Crucial Link In Supply Chain
Forbes
May 20, 2020
Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the e-commerce supply chain – retailers, shippers, third-party logistics operations, fulfillment centers and sortation facilities – delivered. UPS and FedEx drivers came to symbolize a sense of national resiliency. Hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers also stepped up. So did warehouse robots.
Over the past several weeks, warehouses have been relying more on robotics-based solutions as workers fell ill or had to stay home to take care of children no longer in school; or just worried about their safety.
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FIRST RESPONDER PROTECTIONS
- Arizona AG Brnovich announced that the Attorney General's Office awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to community organizations that provide mental health treatment and services to first responders. The organizations will assist firefighters, emergency medical services, and law enforcement across the state.
CONNECTIVITY
- Nebraska AG Peterson has joined 38 attorneys general in urging Congress to help ensure that all Americans have the home internet connectivity necessary to participate in telemedicine, teleschooling, and telework as part of any additional legislation that provides relief and recovery resources related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONSUMER PROTECTION
- Florida AG Moody along with a coalition of 34 attorneys general, today secured an agreement with Santander Consumer USA Inc. that includes approximately $550 million in relief nationally for auto loan borrowers, with even more relief expected in the form of additional deficiency waivers. Complaint // Judgment
- Nevada AG Ford participated in a podcast focused on public health & safety and consumer fraud issues during the pandemic.
- Arizona AG Brnovich is warning businesses that COVID-19 surcharges must be accompanied by disclosures that are transparent, direct, and issued in advance.
- Nevada AG Ford wants Nevadans to be cautious when shopping for a new puppy or pet online.
ELECTION LAW
- Texas AG Paxton commended the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for granting a temporary administrative stay in an unlawful decision by the federal district court in San Antonio that allowed anyone in Texas to vote by mail using protections specifically created to aid those with an actual disability or illness.
ENVIRONMENT
- DC AG Racine announced that Greyhound Lines, Inc. agreed to pay a $125,000 penalty and will be required to make company-wide policy changes to reduce air pollution and will prohibit excessive bus idling nationwide as part of a settlement
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ENERGY
- Tri-State Energy's new "Responsible Energy Plan" to add more solar and wind is commended by industry experts as a 'standout' among similar power providers
CBD REGULATION
- The Consumer Brands Association announced the launch of the Coalition for Smart CBD Regulation, a cross-industry group committed to protecting consumer safety and advocating for necessary resources and uniform federal policies around cannabidiol (CBD).
TECHNOLOGY
- Quicken Loans and Rock Connections set-up and facilitated drive-through testing for COVID-19 in Detroit. Now, they're sharing the technology, processes and infrastructure to other cities and counties.
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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
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nquiries, please contact:
Ale Stephens
303-304-9206
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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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