Announcements, information and updates from the AG Alliance Members and Associates
January 21st, 2021
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2020 - 2021 CHAIR'S UPDATE |
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We are excited to announce the upcoming release of our Chair's Initiative policy outline, available in the coming weeks. This outline works to present a compilation of policy guidance and thought leadership related to the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Starting in October 2020, the Attorney General Alliance, led by our Chair – North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenejhem – set out to force a dialogue between the state’s best and brightest legal minds and the private sector about issues related to an eventual COVID-19 vaccine. There was no approved vaccine when the project began, and most assumed a vaccine was unlikely to be approved in calendar year 2020. That is, the issue was – and remains – fluid and uncertain. A great deal about a vaccine response to COVID-19 remains a work in progress, and it is begrudgingly accepted that such ambiguity will remain the norm for months (even years) to come. Regardless, state Attorneys General are leaders that citizens turn to for reliable answers during times of insecurity.
The Chair's Initiative will proceed as a bi-monthly working group series via Zoom to address and discuss existing and new topics related to vaccine rollout. Starting next week at 11am PST on January 27th, calls will take place every other Wednesday until June 8th, 2021. Please note this schedule remains a flexible outline – based on substance, we may extend or cut short this proposed end date.
For more information, please contact
David Blake
General Counsel for the AGA
(202) 255-9668
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SOCIAL JUSTICE & EQUITY INITIATIVES |
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IN THE NEWS
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More than a half a century has passed since Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial calling for freedom and equality -- and the fight for social justice appears to be far from over.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
*Please check back for frequent updates
Social Justice Cause Marketing and Consumer Protection
Thursday, February 11th from 2 - 3pm ET
Moderated by Attorney General Clare Connors, Hawaii
Summary: As part of demonstrating their commitment to social justice, many companies are offering consumers an opportunity to donate to social justice causes with every purchase – “buy from us and a percentage of this purchase will go to XX charity.” This “cause marketing” brings up a number of concerns:
- Are companies operating consistently with state charitable solicitation laws?
- What are they representing about HOW MUCH will go to charity (implied claims)? Are companies giving what they SAY they are giving?
- How are consumers assured that their money is going to the designated cause?
- *Discuss examples of companies championing this space and acting according to the law
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HATE Speech and the Internet
Thursday, April 8th from 2 - 3pm ET
Moderated by Attorney General Karl Racine, District of Columbia
Summary: Join AG Alliance Co-Chair Attorney General Karl Racine of Washington D.C. as he facilitates a conversation on HATE and the Internet. Extremism — both online and off — is a major problem. “Today we’ve seen just an extraordinary, exponential increase in hate offenses…” said Racine, recalling mass shootings at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, among others, “…it is literally everywhere.” Topics will include Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act; state expansion and standardization of data collection and reporting; increasing understanding and equipping the Attorney General community to counter hate and hate related violence.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Over the last year, communities across the country have assessed their treatment of minorities and other under-represented populations. In an effort to facilitate dialogue in the Attorney General community, Amazon and the Attorney General Alliance have partnered to create a series of conversations exploring issues around justice and social equity. We are excited to announce 2021 as the inaugural year of this forum and we look forward to providing focused programing aimed at facilitating exploration of these issues. We thank Amazon for their leadership and invite all of our public and private partners join us as we embark on these discussions.
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UPCOMING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS |
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Complete program descriptions will follow in the coming weeks.
*Please note: the Cybersecurity Winter Session is a CLOSED program available to AGOs and group members only.
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The Rural Broadband Challenge and the Promise of 5G Technology
Wednesday, February 3rd from 1-2pm ET
Moderated by Attorney General Phil Weiser, Colorado
Summary: This panel will address a variety of issues and questions surrounding Radio Access Network (RAN) technology and the impact of the rollout of the so-called "5G" wireless telecommunications technology. In particular, the buildout of 5G promises to be game changing, providing Internet access to places that have long struggled to gain robust broadband access. In this panel, we will discuss rural access issues, funding concerns, and the opportunities and challenges related to this technology, including why rural broadband access is important and how the Attorneys General can play a role in encouraging its rollout and adoption.
This session will also touch upon what Attorneys General need to know about rural broadband issues and the applications that can benefit from 5G technology. This discussion will, for example, focus on telehealth, online education opportunities, and economic development. It will also discuss how the government and private firms can work together to advance the rollout of this technology and to address longstanding digital divide challenges.
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Sports Betting Follow-Up
Monday, February 8th from 12 – 1pm ET
Moderated by Attorney General Karl Racine, District of Columbia
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*Cybersecurity Subcommittee Winter Session
Thursday, February 25th from 1-3pm ET
Moderated by Attorney General Sean Reyes, Utah
Current topics include but are not limited to:
- Counterfeiting issues in vaccine distribution, the black market;
- Online fraud and consumer products;
- Unpacking the Solar Winds hack;
- Using AI to defraud unemployment insurance scams
- Big Tech and antitrust
For more information on registration and working group participation, please email Andrea Friedman at AFriedman@AGAlliance.org.
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Organized Retail Theft and the INFORM Act
Thursday, March 9th from 1-2pm ET
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COVID-19 VACCINE
COMBATTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
VICTIM PROTECTION
CONSUMER PROTECTION
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VAPING
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
CYBER SECURITY
SPORTS BETTING
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Missed our live programs? No problem! Follow the button below to visit our Virtual Seminar Library for access to all recordings.
Do you have a webinar topic suggestion? We want to hear from you! Please email ideas to Andrea Friedman at AFriedman@AGAlliance.org. |
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CWAG Executive Committee
- Wayne Stenehjem - Phil Weiser -
- Jason Ravnsborg - Hector Balderas -
AG Alliance Co-Chairs
- Lawrence Wasden - Sean Reyes - Karl Racine -
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