Conrad

All domestic actions will go in this forum. Please create a thread titled your nation, in which you will post things like legislative makeups, laws passed and other decisions. Reporting them in your national news will also help. Covert actions should be sent in a PM to myself. Actions on a nation with an advanced intelligence apparatus may find out of this action.

Countries are asked to post their military actions in here - in their own thread. A basic or advanced listing (depending on what you have time for) of your military strengths also helps. Covert actions should be sent in a PM to myself. Actions on a nation with an advanced intelligence apparatus may find out of this action.

Please post a thread which should be called... "Department of State (United States of America)" and post all diplomatic actions within that thread. Please tag the person who controls the nation you are engaging diplomatically with. 

We aren't really looking for reams and reams of writing but we do expect you to give somewhat of an idea to other players what you're doing. At the same time, it is perfectly acceptable for a player controlled country to say they landed on the moon, countries with considerable intelligence apparatus may investigate those claims if they feel necessary, just like in real life. 

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Example:

 

BBC NEWS (posted by the United Kingdom)

 

The Government of the United Kingdom announces the passing of former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. World leaders are invited to attend her funeral.

 

Just like national news, we do not need to be too detailed with respect of world news, short snippets which put across what is happening are sufficient. It will then be up to countries to interpret that news, open dialogue and react accordingly. 

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Example:

 

World Wide News Network

 

A 6.5 Earthquake has hit the Eastern tip of Russia, the Russian Government is expected to respond soon. Reports say thousands left displaced and millions of dollars of damage done to infrastructure.

 

I'll post time updates here, of when we will move into the new year etc. Typically we will spend around two days in one year.

Spend the first day making actions for your nation and the second day responding to actions of other nations or vice versa.

Please use the following to claim a country:

• Country you would like to claim, list here:
• Why would you like to claim the country, what are your plans for it? Obviously no need to give away secret nuke building plans:
• If a G8/UNSC nation, do you commit to being relatively active in order to properly portray that nation?:

Please call your thread topic the name of the country you would like to claim. 

Mr President

The following is presented for your signature or veto.

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Senators Andrew Clarke and John Carlsen, for Senator Fakhouri, Senator James, themselves and others (and with thanks to Sen. Klobuchar), introduced the following bill: 

 

A BILL

To prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, and to prohibit biological product manufacturers from compensating biosimilar and interchangeable companies to delay the entry of biosimilar biological products and interchangeable biological products.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act”.

 

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.

(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

(1) In 1984, the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act (Public Law 98–417) (referred to in this Act as the “1984 Act”), was enacted with the intent of facilitating the early entry of generic drugs while preserving incentives for innovation.

(2) Prescription drugs make up approximately 10 percent of the national health care spending.

(3) Initially, the 1984 Act was successful in facilitating generic competition to the benefit of consumers and health care payers, although 88 percent of all prescriptions dispensed in the United States are generic drugs, they account for only 28 percent of all expenditures.

(4) Generic drugs cost substantially less than brand name drugs, with discounts off the brand price averaging 80 to 85 percent.

(5) Federal dollars currently account for over 40 percent of the $325,000,000,000 spent on retail prescription drugs, and this share is expected to rise to 47 percent by 2025.

(6) (A) In recent years, the intent of the 1984 Act has been subverted by certain settlement agreements in which brand name companies transfer value to their potential generic competitors to settle claims that the generic company is infringing the branded company’s patents.

(B) These “reverse payment” settlement agreements—

(i) allow a branded company to share its monopoly profits with the generic company as a way to protect the branded company’s monopoly; and

(ii) have unduly delayed the marketing of low-cost generic drugs contrary to free competition, the interests of consumers, and the principles underlying antitrust law.

(C) Because of the price disparity between brand name and generic drugs, such agreements are more profitable for both the brand and generic manufacturers than competition and will become increasingly common unless prohibited.

(D) These agreements result in consumers losing the benefits that the 1984 Act was intended to provide.

(7) In 2010, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (Public Law 111–148) (referred to in this Act as the “BPCIA”), was enacted with the intent of facilitating the early entry of biosimilar and interchangeable follow-on versions of branded biological products while preserving incentives for innovation.

(8) Biological drugs play an important role in treating many serious illnesses, from cancers to genetic disorders. They are also expensive, representing more than 40 percent of all prescription drug spending.

(9) Competition from biosimilar and interchangeable biological products promises to lower drug costs and increase patient access to biological medicines. But “reverse payment” settlement agreements also threaten to delay the entry of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products, which would undermine the goals of BPCIA.

(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to enhance competition in the pharmaceutical market by stopping anticompetitive agreements between brand name and generic drug and biosimilar biological product manufacturers that limit, delay, or otherwise prevent competition from generic drugs and biosimilar biological products; and

(2) to support the purpose and intent of antitrust law by prohibiting anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry that harm consumers.

 

SEC. 3. UNLAWFUL COMPENSATION FOR DELAY.

(a) In General.—The Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 26 (15 U.S.C. 57c–2) the following:

“SEC. 27. PRESERVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE GENERICS AND BIOSIMILARS.

“(a) In General.—

“(1) ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING.—The Commission may initiate a proceeding to enforce the provisions of this section against the parties to any agreement resolving or settling, on a final or interim basis, a patent infringement claim, in connection with the sale of a drug product or biological product.

“(2) PRESUMPTION AND VIOLATION.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), in such a proceeding, an agreement shall be presumed to have anticompetitive effects and shall be a violation of this section if—

“(i) an ANDA filer or a biosimilar biological product application filer receives anything of value, including an exclusive license; and

“(ii) the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer agrees to limit or forego research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the ANDA product or biosimilar biological product, as applicable, for any period of time.

“(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the parties to such agreement demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that—

“(i) the value described in subparagraph (A)(i) is compensation solely for other goods or services that the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer has promised to provide; or

“(ii) the procompetitive benefits of the agreement outweigh the anticompetitive effects of the agreement.

“(b) Limitations.—In determining whether the settling parties have met their burden under subsection (a)(2)(B), the fact finder shall not presume—

“(1) that entry would not have occurred until the expiration of the relevant patent or statutory exclusivity; or

“(2) that the agreement’s provision for entry of the ANDA product or biosimilar biological product prior to the expiration of the relevant patent or statutory exclusivity means that the agreement is procompetitive.

“(c) Exclusions.—Nothing in this section shall prohibit a resolution or settlement of a patent infringement claim in which the consideration granted by the NDA holder or biological product license holder to the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer, respectively, as part of the resolution or settlement includes only one or more of the following:

“(1) The right to market the ANDA product or biosimilar biological product in the United States prior to the expiration of—

“(A) any patent that is the basis for the patent infringement claim; or

“(B) any patent right or other statutory exclusivity that would prevent the marketing of such ANDA product or biosimilar biological product.

“(2) A payment for reasonable litigation expenses not to exceed $7,500,000.

“(3) A covenant not to sue on any claim that the ANDA product or biosimilar biological product infringes a United States patent.

“(d) Enforcement.—

“(1) ENFORCEMENT.—A violation of this section shall be treated as a violation of section 5.

“(2) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Any party that is subject to a final order of the Commission, issued in an administrative adjudicative proceeding under the authority of subsection (a)(1), may, within 30 days of the issuance of such order, petition for review of such order in—

“(i) the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit;

“(ii) the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the ultimate parent entity, as defined in section 801.1(a)(3) of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, of the NDA holder or biological product license holder is incorporated as of the date that the NDA or biological product license application, as applicable, is filed with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs; or

“(iii) the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the ultimate parent entity of the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer is incorporated as of the date that the ANDA or biosimilar biological product application is filed with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

“(B) TREATMENT OF FINDINGS.—In a proceeding for judicial review of a final order of the Commission, the findings of the Commission as to the facts, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive.

“(e) Antitrust Laws.—Nothing in this section shall modify, impair, limit, or supersede the applicability of the antitrust laws as defined in subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12(a)), and of section 5 of this Act to the extent that section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition. Nothing in this section shall modify, impair, limit, or supersede the right of an ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer to assert claims or counterclaims against any person, under the antitrust laws or other laws relating to unfair competition.

“(f) Penalties.—

“(1) FORFEITURE.—Each party that violates or assists in the violation of this section shall forfeit and pay to the United States a civil penalty sufficient to deter violations of this section, but in no event greater than 3 times the value received by the party that is reasonably attributable to the violation of this section. If no such value has been received by the NDA holder or biological product license holder, the penalty to the NDA holder or biological product license holder shall be sufficient to deter violations, but in no event greater than 3 times the value given to the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer reasonably attributable to the violation of this section. Such penalty shall accrue to the United States and may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Commission, in its own name by any of its attorneys designated by it for such purpose, in a district court of the United States against any party that violates this section. In such actions, the United States district courts are empowered to grant mandatory injunctions and such other and further equitable relief as they deem appropriate.

“(2) CEASE AND DESIST.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission has issued a cease and desist order with respect to a party in an administrative adjudicative proceeding under the authority of subsection (a)(1), an action brought pursuant to paragraph (1) may be commenced against such party at any time before the expiration of 1 year after such order becomes final pursuant to section 5(g).

“(B) EXCEPTION.—In an action under subparagraph (A), the findings of the Commission as to the material facts in the administrative adjudicative proceeding with respect to the violation of this section by a party shall be conclusive unless—

“(i) the terms of such cease and desist order expressly provide that the Commission’s findings shall not be conclusive; or

“(ii) the order became final by reason of section 5(g)(1), in which case such finding shall be conclusive if supported by evidence.

“(3) CIVIL PENALTY.—In determining the amount of the civil penalty described in this section, the court shall take into account—

“(A) the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;

“(B) with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of violations, the ability to pay, any effect on the ability to continue doing business, profits earned by the NDA holder or biological product license holder, compensation received by the ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer, and the amount of commerce affected; and

“(C) other matters that justice requires.

“(4) REMEDIES IN ADDITION.—Remedies provided in this subsection are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedy provided by Federal law. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect any authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.

“(g) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) AGREEMENT.—The term ‘agreement’ means anything that would constitute an agreement under section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1) or section 5 of this Act.

“(2) AGREEMENT RESOLVING OR SETTLING A PATENT INFRINGEMENT CLAIM.—The term ‘agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim’ includes any agreement that is entered into within 30 days of the resolution or the settlement of the claim, or any other agreement that is contingent upon, provides a contingent condition for, or is otherwise related to the resolution or settlement of the claim.

“(3) ANDA.—The term ‘ANDA’ means an abbreviated new drug application filed under section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)) or a new drug application filed under section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(b)(2)).

“(4) ANDA FILER.—The term ‘ANDA filer’ means a party that owns or controls an ANDA filed with the Food and Drug Administration or has the exclusive rights under such ANDA to distribute the ANDA product.

“(5) ANDA PRODUCT.—The term ‘ANDA product’ means the product to be manufactured under the ANDA that is the subject of the patent infringement claim.

“(6) BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT.—The term ‘biological product’ has the meaning given such term in section 351(i)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(i)(1)).

“(7) BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT LICENSE APPLICATION.—The term ‘biological product license application’ means an application under section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)).

“(8) BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT LICENSE HOLDER.—The term ‘biological product license holder’ means—

“(A) the holder of an approved biological product license application for a biological product;

“(B) a person owning or controlling enforcement of any patents that claim the biological product that is the subject of such approved application; or

“(C) the predecessors, subsidiaries, divisions, groups, and affiliates controlled by, controlling, or under common control with any of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) (such control to be presumed by direct or indirect share ownership of 50 percent or greater), as well as the licensees, licensors, successors, and assigns of each of the entities.

“(9) BIOSIMILAR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT.—The term ‘biosimilar biological product’ means the product to be manufactured under the biosimilar biological product application that is the subject of the patent infringement claim.

“(10) BIOSIMILAR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT APPLICATION.—The term ‘biosimilar biological product application’ means an application under section 351(k) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)) for licensure of a biological product as biosimilar to, or interchangeable with, a reference product.

“(11) BIOSIMILAR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT APPLICATION FILER.—The term ‘biosimilar biological product application filer’ means a party that owns or controls a biosimilar biological product application filed with the Food and Drug Administration or has the exclusive rights under such application to distribute the biosimilar biological product.

“(12) DRUG PRODUCT.—The term ‘drug product’ has the meaning given such term in section 314.3(b) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

“(13) NDA.—The term ‘NDA’ means a new drug application filed under section 505(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(b)).

“(14) NDA HOLDER.—The term ‘NDA holder’ means—

“(A) the holder of an approved NDA application for a drug product;

“(B) a person owning or controlling enforcement of the patent listed in the Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (commonly known as the ‘FDA Orange Book’) in connection with the NDA; or

“(C) the predecessors, subsidiaries, divisions, groups, and affiliates controlled by, controlling, or under common control with any of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) (such control to be presumed by direct or indirect share ownership of 50 percent or greater), as well as the licensees, licensors, successors, and assigns of each of the entities.

“(15) PARTY.—The term ‘party’ means any person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity.

“(16) PATENT INFRINGEMENT.—The term ‘patent infringement’ means infringement of any patent or of any filed patent application, extension, reissue, renewal, division, continuation, continuation in part, reexamination, patent term restoration, patents of addition, and extensions thereof.

“(17) PATENT INFRINGEMENT CLAIM.—The term ‘patent infringement claim’ means any allegation made to an ANDA filer or biosimilar biological product application filer, whether or not included in a complaint filed with a court of law, that its ANDA or ANDA product, or biological product license application or biological product, may infringe any patent held by, or exclusively licensed to, the NDA holder or biological product license holder of the drug product or biological product, as applicable.

“(18) STATUTORY EXCLUSIVITY.—The term ‘statutory exclusivity’ means those prohibitions on the approval of drug applications under clauses (ii) through (iv) of section 505(c)(3)(E) (5- and 3-year data exclusivity), section 527 (orphan drug exclusivity), or section 505A (pediatric exclusivity) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(c)(3)(E), 360cc, 355a), or on the licensing of biological product applications under section 351(k)(7) (12-year exclusivity) or paragraph (2) or (3) of section 351(m) (pediatric exclusivity) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) or under section 527 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (orphan drug exclusivity).”.

(b) Effective Date.—Section 27 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as added by this section, shall apply to all agreements described in section 27(a)(1) of that Act entered into after June 17, 2013. Section 27(f) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as added by this section, shall apply to agreements entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

 

SEC. 4. CERTIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS.

Section 1112 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (21 U.S.C. 355note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Certification.—The Chief Executive Officer or the company official responsible for negotiating any agreement under subsection (a) or (b) that is required to be filed under subsection (c), within 30 days after such filing, shall execute and file with the Assistant Attorney General and the Commission a certification as follows: ‘I declare that the following is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge: The materials filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice under section 1112 of subtitle B of title XI of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, with respect to the agreement referenced in this certification—’

“(1) represent the complete, final, and exclusive agreement between the parties;

“(2) include any ancillary agreements that are contingent upon, provide a contingent condition for, or are otherwise related to, the referenced agreement; and

“(3) include written descriptions of any oral agreements, representations, commitments, or promises between the parties that are responsive to subsection (a) or (b) of such section 1112 and have not been reduced to writing.”.

 

SEC. 5. FORFEITURE OF 180-DAY EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD.

Section 505(j)(5)(D)(i)(V) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(5)(D)(i)(V)) is amended by inserting “section 27 of the Federal Trade Commission Act or” after “that the agreement has violated”.

 

SEC. 6. COMMISSION LITIGATION AUTHORITY.

Section 16(a)(2) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 56(a)(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking “or” after the semicolon;

(2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting “or” after the semicolon; and

(3) inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

“(F) under section 27;”.

 

SEC. 7. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

The Federal Trade Commission shall commence any enforcement proceeding described in section 27 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as added by section 3, except for an action described in section 27(f)(2) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, not later than 6 years after the date on which the parties to the agreement file the certification under section 1112(d) of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (21 U.S.C. 355note).

 

SEC. 8. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of such Act or amendments to any person or circumstance shall not be affected.

 

PES: 

This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to authorize the Federal Trade Commission to initiate proceedings against parties to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug or biological product. Such an agreement, with specified exceptions, is presumed to have anticompetitive effects and violates this bill if the filer of an abbreviated new drug (generic) application or a biosimilar biological product application: (1) receives anything of value; and (2) agrees to limit or forego research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the generic drug or biosimilar biological product for any period of time.

 

Mr President

The following bill is presented for your signature or veto.

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Senator Freeman and Senator Atkins, for themselves, and others (thanks to Mr. Delaney), introduced the following:

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the processing of veterans benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs, to limit the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recover overpayments made by the Department and other amounts owed by veterans to the United States, to improve the due process accorded veterans with respect to such recovery, and for other purposes,

 

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Veteran Debt Fairness Act of 2018”.

 

SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO RECOVER AMOUNTS OWED BY VETERANS TO THE UNITED STATES.

(a) Indebtedness Offsets.—Section 5314 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1) In subsection (a)—

(A) by inserting “Authority To Offset; Limitations.—(1)” before “Subject to”;

(B) by striking “subsections (b) and (d) of this section and” and inserting “paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, subsections (b) and (d) of this section, and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) The Secretary may make a deduction under paragraph (1) only if—

“(A) the indebtedness to the United States described in that paragraph—

“(i) is the result of an error, a misrepresentation, or fraud by the person described in that paragraph;

“(ii) in the case of an error by the person described in that paragraph, is less than five years old;

“(iii) is not in dispute under regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(A); and

“(iv) exceeds $2,500; and

“(B) the Secretary determines that the amount of the indebtedness exceeds the cost to the Department to recover the indebtedness.

“(3) The Secretary may not make a deduction under paragraph (1) to a payment under chapter 11 or 15 of this title that exceeds the lesser of—

“(A) 25 percent of the payment; and

“(B) a percentage that the Secretary determines is the greatest percentage that would not cause a hardship to the recipient.”.

(2) In subsection (b)—

(A) by striking “Deductions may not be made” and inserting “Notice Required.—No deduction may be made”;

(B) by striking “unless the Secretary” and inserting “until after”;

(C) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

“(1) the Secretary has made reasonable efforts to notify the person of the person's right—

“(A) to dispute the existence or amount of such indebtedness under regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(A);

“(B) to request a waiver of such indebtedness under section 5302 of this title; and

“(C) in the case of a payment under chapter 11 or 15 of this title, to request the Secretary make a determination under subsection (a)(3)(B);”; and

(D) in paragraph (2), by inserting “the Secretary” before “has made”; and

(E) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:

“(3) the day that is 90 calendar days after the day the Secretary sends notice to the person of the indebtedness and of the proposed deduction.”.

(3) In subsection (c), by inserting “Inapplicability Of Statutes Of Limitations To Administrative Actions.—” before “Notwithstanding”.

(4) In subsection (d)—

(A) by inserting “Regulations.—(1)” before “The Secretary” ; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) The regulations under paragraph (1) shall include administrative processes by which a person described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) may—

“(A) dispute the existence or amount of indebtedness described in that paragraph; and

“(B) request that the Secretary make a determination under paragraph (3)(B) of such subsection.

“(3) The regulations under paragraph (1) shall direct the Secretary to ensure that each dispute under paragraph (2)(A) is adjudicated not later than 120 days after the initiation of such dispute.

“(4) The regulations under paragraph (1) may not permit the Secretary to submit to any debt collector (as defined in section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a)) any debt in dispute under paragraph (2)(A).

“(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a person from seeking relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.”.

 

(b) Limitations On Interest And Fees Charged During Period Of Dispute.—Section 5315 of such title is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(1), in the first sentence by striking “or (B)” and inserting “(B) for any period during which the existence or amount of the indebtedness is being disputed under regulations prescribed pursuant to section 5314(d) of this title, or (C)”; and

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) by inserting “(1)” before “The administrative”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(2) No administrative costs may be charged under this section with respect to indebtedness described in subsection (a) while the existence or amount of the indebtedness is being disputed under section 5314(d) of this title.”.

 

(c) Limitation On Authority To Sue To Collect Certain Debts.—Section 5316(a) of title 38, United States, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “paragraphs (2) and (3)” and inserting “paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)”;

(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):

“(3) No suit may be filed under this section to recover any indebtedness more than five years old.”.

 

(d) Repair Of Credit.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 53 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

“§ 5320. Correction of erroneous information submitted to consumer reporting agencies

“(a) Correcting Errors By The Department.—In any case in which the Secretary finds that the Department has submitted erroneous information to a consumer reporting agency about the indebtedness of any person who has been determined by the Secretary to be indebted to the United States by virtue of the participation of that person in a benefits program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall—

“(1) instruct the consumer reporting agency to remove such erroneous information from the consumer report of such person or take such other action as may be required to ensure that such erroneous information is not included in the report of such person; and

“(2) transmit to the consumer reporting agency such information as the consumer reporting agency may require to take such appropriate actions.

“(b) Correcting Errors By Debt Collectors.—In any case in which the Secretary finds that a debt collector acting on behalf of the Department has submitted erroneous information to a consumer reporting agency about the indebtedness of any person who has been determined by the Secretary to be indebted to the United States by virtue of the participation of that person in a benefits program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall instruct the debt collector to request the consumer reporting agency remove such erroneous information from the consumer report of such person or take such other action as may be required to ensure such erroneous information is not included in the report of such person.

“(c) Notice.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary issues an instruction under subsection (a)(1) or (b) with respect to a person, the Secretary shall notify the person that the Secretary issued such instruction.

“(d) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) The terms ‘consumer report’ and ‘consumer reporting agency’ have the meanings given such terms in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a).

“(2) The term ‘debt collector’ has the meaning given such term in section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a).”.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 53 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

“5320. Correction of erroneous information submitted to consumer reporting agencies.”.

 

(e) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to deductions made under section 5314 of such title, administrative costs under section 5315 of such title, and suits filed under section 5316 of such title on or after such date.

 

SEC. 3. IMPROVED PROCESSING OF BENEFITS BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall improve the information technology of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including the eBenefits system or successor system) as may be necessary to achieve the following:

 

(1) NOTIFICATION OF DEBTS INCURRED.—The Secretary shall provide a notification to a person who—

(A) is entitled to a payment from the Secretary under a benefits program administered by the Secretary;

(B) incurs a debt to the United States under that benefits program; and

(C) elects to receive such notifications.

(2) REVIEW OF INFORMATION REGARDING DEPENDENTS.—A person entitled to a payment from the Secretary under a benefits program administered by the Secretary may review information relating to dependents of that person.

(3) TRACKING METRICS.—The Secretary shall be able to track—

(A) the number and amount of payments made by the Secretary to a person entitled to a payment from the Secretary under a benefits program administered by the Secretary who incurs a debt to the United States under such program;

(B) the average debt to the United States incurred by a person described in subparagraph (A);

(C) how frequently the Secretary approves and denies applications for relief under section 5302(a) of title 38, United States Code; and

(D) such other metrics the Secretary determines appropriate.

 

SEC. 4. AUDIT OF ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS BY VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION; PLAN OF CORRECTION.

(a) Audit.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete an audit to determine the following:

(1) The frequency by which the Department of Veterans Affairs makes an error that results in a payment to a person by virtue of such person's participation in a benefits program administered by the Secretary that such person is not entitled to or in an amount that exceeds the amount to which the person is entitled.

(2) Whether and to what degree vacant positions in the Veterans Benefits Administration affect such frequency.

(b) Plan.—Not later than 30 days after the completion of the audit under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan and description of resources necessary to align information technology systems to ensure that errors described in subsection (a)(1) are not the result of communication or absence of communication between information technology systems.

 

PES:

This bill limits the ability of the Department of Veterans Affair to recover overpayments of benefits from veterans.

 

RNC Chairman Engages High-Dollar Conservative Donors in Exclusive DC Summit Amidst Recent GOP Turmoil

Against the backdrop of a Republican Party navigating through choppy political waters, the newly minted Republican National Committee Chairman Tarik Lee convened a gathering of influential conservative donors at an upscale hotel in the heart of the nation's capital. The closed-door meeting, characterized by insiders as a crucial moment of strategizing and reassurance, comes at a time when the GOP finds itself reeling from internal divisions and external challenges. Recently, the parties more mainline wing retook control of the leadership.

Sources familiar with the meeting disclosed that the event, hosted at a discreet venue in Washington D.C. was attended by prominent donors whose financial support holds significant sway within conservative circles. Attendees included titans of industry, high-net-worth individuals, and key figures from the conservative political establishment.

The timing of the gathering is noteworthy, as the Republican Party continues to navigate through a series of tumultuous events that have tested its unity and electoral prospects. From internal rifts over policy direction and constant changes of leadership to which the Republican Governors Association had to step in, the GOP finds itself at a critical juncture.

In recent months, the party has grappled with a range of challenges, including contentious debates over its stance on key issues such as right to work and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. Additionally, the amendment of the parties charter to make it easier to vacate the leadership sent the party into disarray.

Against this backdrop, the meeting chaired by the RNC Chairman served as a platform for candid discussions and strategic planning aimed at charting a course forward for the GOP. Attendees reportedly engaged in frank exchanges on a range of topics, including electoral strategies, fundraising efforts and messaging tactics designed to resonate with voters across the political spectrum.

While specifics of the discussions remain confidential, sources close to the RNC indicate that the meeting underscored a shared commitment among conservative donors to rally behind the party and support its efforts to regain momentum heading into the next election cycle.

The closed-door summit in Washington D.C. signals a concerted effort by the Republican Party to regroup and reenergize its base amidst ongoing challenges and uncertainties. 

((No actual dollars were raised, this was simply an in character roleplay action by the GOP.))

Republican Study Caucus Regains Control

The Republican Study Caucus has reclaimed the reins of power within the Grand Old Party after a turbulent period marked by internal strife and ideological clashes. With a resounding resurgence, the study caucus has ousted the Freedom Caucus from its dominant position, reasserting its influence as the primary voice of conservative principles in the Senate, with the help of the Republican Governors Association to solidify the hold by re-affirming the old party charter. They have made clear they will not do this again.

The shift in power comes after a series of tumultuous months during which the GOP found itself embroiled in internal discord and leadership struggles. Following the departure of key moderates and the ascendance of staunchly conservative voices, the balance of power within the party began to tilt towards the Freedom Caucus, traditionally known for its uncompromising stance on fiscal and social issues. Although rather spectacularly, its chairman trying to strike more left wing and centre tones by supporting a what many conservatives call a liberal pick for the Supreme Court and trying to strike a deal with the Teamsters Union. It left many conservatives scratching their heads as well.

However, recent developments have seen the study caucus, which boasts the largest membership among Republican caucuses in the Senate regaining control of the Floor Leader in the US Senate and capturing the Republican National Committee Chairmanship, recently vacated by Tom Donelson. The Republican Party in the Senate is now led by Senator Fleming, who was ousted as Minority Leader a number of months ago under now repealed charter rules.

Resurgence of the study committee to influential positions within the party signals a notable shift in the dynamics for the GOP. The moves hold significant implications for the broader political landscape, particularly as the party prepares for midterm elections. With control of the Senate hanging in the balance, the study committees renewed prominence could galvanize Republican voters and bolster the party's electoral prospects, presenting a formidable challenge to Democratic incumbents. Democrats currently hold a sizeable money advantage over Republicans thanks to recent events over the last number of months. 

The Beltway was not without its comments on the scenario, 

"Despite the Study Caucus regaining control, it's imperative to remain vigilant against the regressive policies they may push forward. How long before they give it up to the loonies again?Their return to power underscores the GOP's continued embrace of extreme conservatism, which threatens the progress we've made on issues like healthcare." - Sarah Smith, Political Analyst, MSNBC. 

"The shift in power within the Senate Republican ranks highlights the ongoing struggle for control between the party's moderate and conservative wings. While the resurgence of the Republican Study Caucus may bring stability to GOP leadership, it also raises questions about the party's ability to navigate internal divisions and work towards bipartisan solutions on pressing national issues." - Jane Kelly, Political Analyst, CNN. 

"The Study Caucus reclaiming leadership signifies a return to principled conservatism within the GOP. With their focus on limited government and fiscal responsibility, they are steering the party back on track towards policies that promote economic growth and individual freedom. You know, those bread and butter issues that have won elections for Republicans time and time again." - John Henry, Conservative Commentator, Fox News

The GOP is poised to flex its muscle in the confirmation process, potentially blocking two of President's cabinet nominees. Amidst Democratic divisions on the issue, the GOP's strengthened position could embolden them to assert greater scrutiny over the nominees in question.

This new (old) leadership is not without its challenges. As the party grapples with evolving demographics and shifting public opinion on key issues, the leadership faces the daunting task of adapting its agenda to resonate with a changing electorate while staying true to its core conservative principles, and also dealing with a tamed freedom caucus, for now. 

With the Republican Study Caucus back at the helm, one thing is clear: the GOP is poised for a new chapter.

Report on the State of the US Economy in the Second Quarter of 2017

The US economy maintained its expansionary course in the second quarter of 2017, but unlike the start of the year, the pace of growth showed signs of slowing. Nonetheless, a combination of encouraging economic indicators and a handful of persistent challenges created an overall outlook of cautious optimism for the months ahead.

Consumer spending, the backbone of the US economy, remained resilient. This was likely due to a tightening labor market, which pushed the unemployment rate down to near 4.3%, and healthy consumer confidence levels bolstered by the overall direction of the economy. Additionally, businesses showed increased willingness to invest.

Following upwardly revised growth of 3.1% in Q1, the US economy expanded at a 2.6% annualized rate in Q2 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

While employment numbers were improving, a persistent concern lay in the lagging wage growth. The lack of significant pay increases put a question mark on the sustainability of consumer spending, which was a primary driver of economic activity.

Inflation continued to be a non-issue for the economy, remaining near the Federal Reserve's 2% target. This allowed historically low interest rates to persist, even with the central bank's gradual rate increases. Low borrowing costs spurred further economic activity, with both consumers and businesses benefiting.

Analyzing specific sectors revealed a mixed picture. Manufacturing hinted at a rebound, spurred by improved global conditions and renewed business optimism. The dominant services sector, benefiting greatly from strong consumer spending, maintained its steady growth trajectory, particularly in areas like healthcare, professional services, and technology. The construction sector, however, was less straightforward. Rising interest rates likely dampened activity in the residential market. However, the potential for a surge in non-residential construction loomed, contingent on the realization of the government's infrastructure spending plans.

The persistent issue of wage stagnation, the need for higher productivity increases to unlock better long-term growth, and uncertainty surrounding policy changes in areas like healthcare and trade tempered outright exuberance about the economy's prospects. Yet, the overall picture remained one of cautious optimism.

While the growth rate may have moderated slightly in Q2, the fact that growth continued provided a platform for potential acceleration in the future. The coming quarters would be critical. Success would hinge on policymakers' ability to address challenges hindering wage growth, stimulate productivity, and provide clarity on policies with significant economic implications.

Senate Introduces I-5 Relief Act to Address American River Bridge Collapse

WASHINGTON D.C. – Senators Everhart and deSonido, alongside other senators, have introduced a bill in the Senate aimed at providing critical relief funding for the aftermath of the American River Bridge collapse on Interstate 5. 

The Act allocates a staggering $4 billion as a grant to the State of California for urgently needed infrastructure development. This substantial funding injection is intended to jumpstart repair efforts and restore the functionality of the affected transportation route. The labelling of the funds as a grant has caused some concern among Republican Senators who have looked to change the funding mechanism to a loan. 

The proposed legislation includes provisions mandating regular reporting from California to the Congress on the utilization of both grant and loan funds. Transparency and accountability measures are emphasized to ensure that funds are effectively and efficiently utilized for their intended purposes. The Secretary of Transportation would be empowered to issue necessary regulations and guidelines to facilitate the rapid implementation of repair and reconstruction efforts.

It has not all been a field full of rosy flowers for the legislation, however as critics point to California's past handling of public funds, citing instances of overspending and inefficiency. "California has a notorious reputation for squandering public money on pet projects and bureaucratic bloat," noted a conservative commentator on FOX News. 

Some conservative commentators advocate for exploring alternative solutions, such as public-private partnerships "Rather than relying solely on government handouts, we should incentivize private sector involvement and explore innovative financing mechanisms," suggested conservative analyst, Sarah Thompson.  

The act however seems it will pass as it has met no real opposition from Senate Republicans. 

Fort Bragg, North Carolina - In a significant development following the tragic helicopter crash at Fort Bragg, new details have emerged from a preliminary investigation conducted by the DoD Criminal Investigative Division. These revelations shed light on the events leading up to the crash and raise serious concerns about the conduct of Chief Warrant Officer Robert Johnson, the pilot in command.

The incident, which occurred during a routine night-time training exercise in a mountainous region, resulted in the loss of the aircraft and all six servicemen aboard. Initial findings suggest that Chief Warrant Officer Johnson's judgment may have been impaired, potentially contributing to the fatal outcome.

Eyewitness accounts from ground controllers indicate that Chief Warrant Officer Johnson displayed uncharacteristic behavior during the mission. Despite warnings about entering a high-risk canyon known for strong downdrafts, Johnson reportedly insisted on continuing deeper into the dangerous terrain. Subsequent toxicology reports found traces of prohibited substances in his system, which may have influenced his decision-making and motor skills.

The investigation uncovered prior concerns about Chief Warrant Officer Johnson's performance and potential substance abuse issues. This raises serious questions about the military's protocols for detecting and addressing such problems among its personnel, particularly those in safety-critical roles.

As the investigation continues and more details emerge, the Fort Bragg community and the nation as a whole mourn the loss of the servicemen and await further action from military leadership and government officials to address the systemic issues highlighted by this tragic event.

Bridge Repair Costs Estimated at $4 Billion, Cleanup Progressing

SACRAMENTO, California – As the aftermath of the devastating bridge collapse on Interstate 5 near Sacramento unfolds, authorities have announced staggering estimates for the repair costs, reaching approximately $4 billion. However, amidst the financial projection, there's a glimmer of progress as most of the initial damage from the collapse has been cleared up.

The collapse, which occurred on the critical northbound section of I-5 near the American River Bridge, has left a profound impact on the region, with a death toll of eight and 287 individuals suffering injuries of varying degrees.

Addressing the nation and the people of California, Senator Camilo deSonido delivered a speech reflecting on the tragedy and calling for unity and action, "Ladies and gentlemen, today I find myself consumed by a range of emotions—anger, sorrow, and yet, amidst it all, gratitude," Senator deSonido said "My heart, first and foremost, goes out to the families who have suffered unimaginable losses and to those who are grieving the hurt or loss of loved ones due to today's tragic bridge collapse. You are in my every thought and prayer during this deeply difficult time." the Senator went onto thank the local and state official for their quick work.

He also called for bipartisan cooperation in addressing systemic issues. "To my colleagues across the aisle, particularly to Jason Roy and the Republican party, the message is one word: Repent," Senator deSonido urged. "Turn from the sin of hatred and embrace a path of love and cooperation." it was interesting to hear a Senator from California be so pious in a speech, remarked some political analysts. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been involved to assess the damage and provide financial assistance for the repair and recovery efforts. 

While federal assistance has covered a significant portion of the repair costs for the collapsed bridge,  it's unlikely that all costs will be met by the Federal Government. CNN estimates that the state has been left with a a 25% portion of the repair costs. Governor Brown has called on the federal government to do more. 

FREEDOM CAUCUS BACKROOM DEAL TO END RIGHT TO WORK REVEALED

General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters James P. Hoffa has told POLITICO that a member of the Freedom Caucus, Senator David Stewart had met him with a proposition that has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. The deal purportedly involved the Republican seeking Hoffa's public opposition against Republican candidate for Wisconsin Senate Governor Scott Walker in exchange for supporting national right-to-unionize legislation.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the Republican made a direct plea to Hoffa, emphasizing the potential benefits of his opposition to Governor Walker.

The crux of the deal centered around Stewart's commitment to backing legislation aimed at establishing a national right-to-unionize policy, effectively ending right-to-work. In exchange, the Republican sought Hoffa's vocal disapproval of the Republican Senate candidate, a move that would carry significant weight within union circles but of course given Walker's record as Governor, it was likely a position Hoffa was already going to take. 

The union leader, known for his steadfast advocacy for workers' rights, maintained that his focus remains on advancing policies that benefit working-class Americans, irrespective of party lines.

Reacting to the news, political analysts and commentators have expressed astonishment at the audacity of the proposed deal. The revelation of this clandestine negotiation has sparked a debate within Republican circles and some have even called it a clear betrayal of Republican values. This entire saga underscores the lengths to which some politicians are willing to go to secure support or gain a strategic advantage in electoral battles.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina - Grief shrouds Fort Bragg this morning after a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down during a routine training exercise, killing all six servicemen aboard. Details surrounding the crash remain scarce, with officials citing an ongoing investigation by the Army Combat Readiness Center (USACRC). However, a Fort Bragg spokesperson confirmed the tragic loss of life.

"This is a devastating blow to the Fort Bragg community," said Colonel Lawrence Milton, Public Affairs Officer. "Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen soldiers in this time of unimaginable grief. They served our country with honor, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten."

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with USACRC officials tight-lipped on any potential mechanical failures or pilot error. Military aviation experts have begun speculating on potential causes, with some citing the Black Hawk's complex maintenance requirements and others pointing to the inherent dangers of night-time training exercises.

This incident marks the deadliest helicopter crash at Fort Bragg since 2012, when a CH-47 Chinook went down during a night-time training mission, killing three soldiers. Fort Bragg, home to the XVIII Airborne Corps, is one of the largest military installations in the world. The base has implemented a 24-hour support center for the families of the deceased, offering counselling and assistance during this difficult time.

Military aviation safety is sure to be a focal point in the coming days. General Thomas Marks, Commanding Officer of Fort Bragg, is expected to hold a press conference later today to address the incident and offer condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers. The US Army is likely to face intense scrutiny in the wake of this tragedy, with questions arising about training protocols, safety procedures, and the maintenance of its helicopter fleet.

In the meantime, the Fort Bragg community mourns the loss of its servicemen. Flags are flying at half-staff across the base, and a memorial service is being planned for the coming days.

Johannesburg, South Africa - China has further solidified its economic and strategic ties with Africa by signing a significant agreement to finance the construction of a major new port in Tanzania, named Port Asaba. It is expected that the port will have capability for deepwater and military use. The deal, valued at an estimated $10 billion, marks a critical development in the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and underscores China's expanding influence on the continent.

The project, to be undertaken by Chinese state-owned construction firm China State Construction Engineering, will see the creation of a deep-water port capable of handling the world's largest cargo vessels. With a projected completion timeframe of a number of years, the initiative is expected to generate substantial job opportunities within Tanzania.

For the African nation, the new port presents a significant opportunity to bolster its trade potential. The enhanced capacity will facilitate more efficient import and export of goods, potentially driving economic growth. However, concerns have emerged regarding the long-term implications of China's growing presence in Africa.

"While this agreement offers ostensible mutual benefit," stated Dr. Abena Kwaw, Professor of Economics at the University of Ghana, "Tanzania gains much-needed infrastructure, and China secures access to a strategic location. It is crucial to maintain vigilance regarding potential debt traps and a lack of transparency within these projects."

This agreement aligns with China's BRI, a comprehensive infrastructure development program aiming to establish a network of land and maritime routes connecting China to the global stage. Africa has become a key focus of the BRI, with China channelling billions of dollars towards port, railway, and other infrastructure projects across the continent.

While some consider China's involvement a positive catalyst for development, others raise concerns about potential neocolonial practices. Critics cite instances where African nations have struggled to repay Chinese loans, leading to anxieties about China gaining undue control over their economies.

The construction of this new port is likely to be closely monitored by the international community. The project's outcome will be instrumental in determining whether it serves as a catalyst for economic growth in Tanzania or signifies another instance of China's growing dominance in Africa.

Bovine Encephalopathy Outbreak in Iowa: Authorities Enforce Herd Cull

GREENFIELD, IOWA - A shroud of confusion and controversy hangs over Iowa's agricultural heartland following the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DoA) authorization to cull a cattle herd in Greenfield. The culprit was Bovine Encephalopathy, a previously unidentified viral illness exhibiting troubling neurological effects in infected animals.

The DoA, working alongside the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is scrambling to investigate the cause and potential transmission methods of the virus. Initial reports from local veterinarian Dr. Evan Blake paint a bizarre picture: heightened intelligence and atypical vocalisations in affected cows.

"The safety of Iowa's livestock industry is paramount," said DoA Secretary, Bill Northey, in a press release that sent shockwaves through the agricultural community. "While the decision to cull is never easy, we must prioritize the containment of this outbreak to prevent further economic hardship for our farmers."

Northeys statement acknowledged the growing protests from animal rights groups like the Iowa Farm Animal Coalition (IFAC). IFAC spokesperson, Ms. Sarah Carter, expressed outrage at the DoA's decision. "These are sentient beings, not commodities! We urge the department to explore all other options, including quarantine and further research."

The DoA, however, maintains its stance. "We understand the emotional impact on those connected to these animals," Northey conceded. "However, the DoA is committed to upholding public health standards and protecting the state's agricultural future. A full-scale cull is necessary to prevent the spread of this potentially devastating virus."

Researchers at Iowa State University are working around the clock to identify the virus and develop a treatment plan. Dr. Amelia Lawson, head virologist at the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, shared some preliminary findings. "The virus appears to target the central nervous system, causing a unique mutation that enhances cognitive function. The atypical vocalisations are still under investigation, but they could be a form of echolocation or heightened communication."

Lawson's findings add another layer of complexity to the situation. The ethical implications of culling potentially intelligent cows have sparked national debate. Meanwhile, the DoA has imposed a strict quarantine around the affected farm, and officials are urging other farmers to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms in their herds.

It is understood that the Department of Agriculture in Washington is also monitoring the situation carefully. 

California in Gridlock After Major Bridge Collapse on I-5 near Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, California – A critical section of Interstate 5 near Sacramento collapsed this afternoon, bringing rush hour traffic to a standstill and raising concerns about potential injuries. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has confirmed multiple vehicles were involved in the collapse, but the extent of injuries remains unclear at this time. Emergency responders are on the scene and have begun a search and rescue operation.

The collapse occurred on the northbound side of I-5 near the American River Bridge, a vital artery connecting Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest. The cause of the bridge failure is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest structural damage may have been exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall. A report by the USACE had flagged the bridge as deficient and urged repairs.

“This is a major transportation crisis,” said local officials at a press conference this evening. “Our top priority is the safety of those involved in the collapse. We are working tirelessly with emergency responders to locate and rescue anyone who may be injured.”

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has advised motorists to avoid the area entirely. Major traffic arteries throughout Sacramento are experiencing gridlock as drivers attempt to reroute. Commuters are urged to use public transportation if possible.

The full extent of the damage remains unknown. Engineers are on-site assessing the situation and formulating a plan for recovery. However, officials warn it could take days or even weeks to reopen the crucial stretch of I-5.

“This collapse will have a significant impact on the state’s economy and our way of life,” said an official. “We are committed to rebuilding the bridge as quickly and safely as possible, but this will be a long and complex process.”

California residents are bracing for a period of transportation disruption as authorities grapple with the aftermath of the bridge collapse. The coming days will be critical for determining the extent of injuries and the path forward for reconstruction.

The economic impact of the bridge closure is expected to be significant. The disruption of the vital trade corridor between Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest could lead to shortages and price hikes for goods transported by truck. Local businesses in Sacramento are also likely to suffer as commuters avoid the area.

Local officials are urging residents to remain calm and to come together in support of those affected by the disaster.

Rising Cyberattacks Strain US Infrastructure

Companies across the United States are facing a growing threat from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, straining the nation's critical infrastructure. From power grids and water treatment facilities to transportation networks and financial institutions.

Experts warn that the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks are on a sharp rise. Malicious actors, ranging from state-sponsored groups to criminal organizations, are employing a wider range of tactics. These include ransomware attacks, which encrypt data and demand payment for its release, as well as data breaches aimed at stealing sensitive information like intellectual property or personal data.

A recent high-profile example was the December 2016 cyberattack on the Ukrainian power grid. This incident, just a year after a previous successful attack, targeted the Pivnichna substation near Kyiv. Unlike the 2015 assault that caused blackouts lasting several hours, the 2016 attack aimed for more lasting damage. It employed a new malware variant called Industroyer, designed not just to disrupt operations but to potentially cause physical harm to electrical equipment. Thankfully, due to a combination of quick response by Ukrainian operators and the malware's own limitations, the attack resulted in a power outage lasting just over an hour. Despite not being in the United States, it highlights the need for preparedness.

Despite not being in the United States, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics of cyber attackers and the potential consequences for critical infrastructure. 

The strain on US infrastructure is compounded by two significant factors: the aging of many systems and a shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has repeatedly issued failing grades to US infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, there's a growing cybersecurity workforce gap, leaving many systems understaffed and potentially exposed.

"We're facing a cyber war, and our defenses are woefully inadequate," according to Professor James Whitmore, a leading voice on cybersecurity issues. "Congress needs to act with urgency to provide the resources and authorities necessary to secure our critical infrastructure. We can't afford to wait for the next major attack."

The government should begin to actively address these issues, is the call from many experts. Increased resources should be allocated to improve cyber defenses, with a focus on threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management. 

However, some experts warn that these measures may not be sufficient. They advocate for stricter regulations on data security, particularly for companies entrusted with sensitive personal information. Additionally, increased funding for cybersecurity research and development is seen as critical to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.

The battle against cyberattacks is a continuous one, with the stakes constantly rising. The United States faces a critical challenge in securing its infrastructure and protecting its citizens from the ever-evolving threat of cyberwarfare.

Report on the State of the US Economy in the First Quarter of 2017

The first quarter of 2017 witnessed a continuation of the economic momentum from the previous year, with several key indicators reflecting overall stability and moderate growth in the US economy.

GDP growth during the first quarter remained relatively modest, with the economy expanding a rate of approximately 1.2%. This growth was partly attributed to factors such as consumer spending and inventory adjustments by businesses.

Job growth in the first quarter of 2017 remained robust, although at a slightly slower pace compared to the latter part of 2016. Nonfarm payrolls expanded by an average of around 193,000 jobs per month during this period. The unemployment rate remained relatively stable, hovering around 4.7%, reflecting a healthy labor market overall.

The labor market continued to show signs of strength, with solid job gains across various sectors. However, wage growth remained moderate, and underemployment persisted as some workers remained in part-time or low-paying jobs despite seeking full-time employment. Nevertheless, labor force participation edged up slightly, indicating growing confidence among job seekers.

Consumer spending, a key driver of economic activity, saw modest growth during the first quarter. While consumer confidence remained relatively high, uncertainties surrounding policy changes under the new Congress, particularly regarding healthcare and tax reform, may have tempered spending to some extent.

Inflationary pressures remained subdued during the first quarter, with both consumer and producer prices showing modest increases. The Federal Reserve closely monitored inflation indicators as it assessed the appropriate path for monetary policy in the coming months. 

The Federal Reserve maintained a cautious stance during the first quarter, keeping interest rates unchanged at its March meeting. The Fed continued to emphasize a gradual approach to monetary policy normalization, taking into account both domestic economic conditions and global uncertainties.

International trade remained a topic of discussion, with the new administration signaling potential changes to trade policies. However, the impact of any policy shifts on trade dynamics was not immediately apparent during the first quarter.

In summary, the US economy in the first quarter of 2017 exhibited signs of stability and moderate growth, with solid job gains, steady consumer spending, and relatively low unemployment rates. While some uncertainties persisted, particularly regarding policy changes, overall economic conditions remained favorable, laying a foundation for continued growth in the quarters ahead.

VIRTUAL GOVERNMENT SIMULATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD MEMBERS ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Owner: Conrad

• Oversees the entire game, sets the vision, and coordinates the administrative team. These duties are passed to the lead administrator when the owner is in an "inactive" period. During an active period, the Lead Administrator is formally subordinated to the Owner. 

Lead Administrator: DMH

• Oversees the entire game, sets the vision, and coordinates the administrative team when the owner is not in an "active" period. 

Domestic News and Policy Administrator: Conrad

• Manages in-game news updates for the domestic side, creates engaging content, and keeps players informed about in-game events.

Foreign News and Policy Administrator: DMH

• Manages in-game news updates for the foreign policy side, creates engaging content, and keeps players informed about in-game events.

Economics News and Policy Administrator: Bruce

• Manages in-game news updates regarding the economy, creates engaging content, and keeps players informed about in-game events.

Political News and Policy Administrator: Ollie

• Manages in-games news updates regarding Congress, fundraising and elections (except where not otherwise delegated).

Administrative Support: Bruce

• Handles general administrative tasks, player inquiries, and supports other team members as needed.

General Game Rules

Please take note that this thread lays out the general rules for playing the Virtual Government Simulation (VGS), which is the main game hosted on this website. The Terms of Service regulate general activity on this website; this thread solely contains the rules of the governmental simulation itself. 

Table of Contents

WINNING AND LOSING 

A ROLE-PLAYING GAME 

CHARACTER RULES 

CHARACTER MULTI RULES 

ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS

IN-CHARACTER FORUMS 

IN-CHARACTER COMMUNICATIONS 

MEDIA 

PARTIES/WHIP CARDS

MECHANICS IN GENERAL 

PUBLIC ACTIVITY MECHANICS 

LEGISLATIVE MECHANICS 

EXECUTIVE MECHANICS 

GENERAL CONDUCT 

FUNDRAISING

LOBBYING 

ELECTION RULES 

ADMIN TEAM

VIOLATIONS 

WINNING AND LOSING.

The administrators of VGS seek to provide a compelling, realistic simulation of United States politics. Just as there is no set definition of winning in politics, there is no set definition of winning on VGS. You can define victory for yourself -- perhaps through being elected president, becoming the most well-known journalist, or just getting a certain policy enacted. Just as there is no defined way to win, there is no way to definitively lose. Indeed, many in politics will seemingly return from the dead - the only way to lose is to give up.

A ROLE-PLAYING GAME.

The Virtual Government Simulation is a role-playing game, where players sign in characters that compete with others for power and influence. Due to the inherently competitive nature of politics, other characters may betray, backstab, attack, and otherwise horribly treat your character. Yet it is important to remember that you are not your character, and that such nefarious conduct is expected by characters in politics. You should not blame another player for having a brutal, conniving, terrible character; such persons exist in politics, and you should instead thank that player for creating such a great antagonist for your character to fight. Remember, it isn’t personal, it's just business.

You are strictly prohibited from lobbying the administrators of this game to enact policy solely because those policies will favor your character – you may advocate on behalf of your interests, but any suggested changes in rulings or decisions should primarily be driven by the idea of bettering the game and the community. As a player, you are expected to promote a robust, healthy community that plays an excellent simulation. You should not sacrifice that merely because your character might be more successful.

CHARACTER RULES.

A player may create one of each of the following types of characters: Please See Here for More on Character Creation

1- A United States Senator. Depending on which Party you’re representing you will have a variety of States to choose as your home district. It is important to remember that you need to keep the people back home happy and represent their interests and values. If you become popular enough you might even run for President or Vice President.

2- A journalist or the operator of a media outlet (Please see the Player Media Rules). To create a character, post a thread in the character creation forum containing the biography of the character. Every character must abide by the biography guidelines and must be approved by the Administrative Board. Every character that a player creates must be a member of the same political party as every other character that said player has created. The accepted major parties are the Democrats and Republicans and Independents.

A player may stop playing a character at any time, but it is at the sole discretion of the Administrative Board to explain the sudden absence of that character. You as a player cannot decide that your character is retiring for health reasons, as an example.

A player may change character and/or switch parties after 60 days have passed from their original sign-in, a total of (2) times per round, which means your original round sign-in character plus two more at most. Players, Media, and Game Immersion and Experience stand to benefit from continuity of characters, and it is the policy of the AB to strongly encourage against character changing when not needed. The Administrative Board reserves the right to temporarily waive this rule for the community or an individual to jumpstart community activity, balance and participation.

If a player wishes to switch to the opposite party, they may do so. Upon switching parties, they may not do so again for a period of 90 days, even if they completely leave the game during that period. The Administrative Board reserves the right to temporarily waive this rule for the community or an individual to jumpstart community activity, balance and participation.

You may simulate the actions of your character and, to a limited extent, your character's staff. You cannot simulate the actions of anyone other than your character and your character's staff including other characters, random persons, crowds, and so on. What's more, your simulation of the actions of your character's staff should be limited to the very reasonable things that they would do in the ordinary course of their work, such as sending a letter on your character's behalf or introducing your character at a townhall. The sole exception to this rule is that at a press conference or town hall meeting, any player may post a question as a random reporter or townsperson, but only if such post is realistic and reasonable.

MULTI RULES.

A multi is a secondary character which you control. As a Senator you may work your way into a situation where you are asked to serve on the White House Cabinet. In that case you can create a multi to work in the White House while your primary character remains in the Senate.

If you are elected to be Vice President, you may create a Senate character as well. If you are the President, you are not allowed to have a multi at all. But don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of things to keep you busy.

Anyone is allowed to create and operate a player media character. 

ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS.

You must participate regularly in gameplay for your character to remain in the game. The definition of regular participation is an in-character post here on the boards. The Administrative Board will automatically sign out your Congressional or media character after three weeks of inactivity, and/or your Executive character after 10 days of inactivity, if you are not on an announced leave of absence. Leaves of Absence can be announced within the respective thread in the Information Center on the boards. You may return to the game at any time after going inactive and reclaim a media character, you may rejoin as a Congressional character as long as no one has signed into your seat since you left, and you may rejoin the Executive Branch only through election or appointment.

IN-CHARACTER FORUMS.

Each forum located in the Fourth Estate, Capitol Hill, White House, and Elections categories is an in-character forum and any statement made in this forums should be made in-character. Posts in these forums will be considered to be in character statements by one of your characters, including when the post takes the form of a press release, tweet, bill submission, or other clearly different in-character act. If you have multiple characters, and it is unclear from context which character is speaking or acting, you should specify. The Administrative Board will, in the case of a dispute, determine which of your characters was speaking or acting and decide based upon an analysis of the totality of the circumstances.

You may only make out-of-character comments in an in-character forum when there is a compelling justification for that out-of-character comment. Please mark the comment in some fashion as clearly OOC, as for example, as follows: ((OOC: Comment.)).

Generally, you should not edit any in-character post. We understand that coding issues or typos happen, but the risk of someone making a gaffe in-character and trying to retract it requires posts to remain unedited. If you do have a coding or typo issue, ask an administrator to fix it for you.

IN-CHARACTER COMMUNICATIONS.

Players may engage in in-character communications outside the in-character forums via any medium including personal message, Discord, and posts in the party headquarters. Communications through Discord is considered out of character unless otherwise specified, as is communication via private message. However, the Administrative Board reserves the right to revoke this assumption and make communications in character if the Administrative Board identifies a compelling interest for these communications to be considered in character for the game. This power will be used sparingly and within reason.

The Administrative Board treats in-character communications differently depending on the medium. In-character communications via personal messenger are treated as formal, written communications between characters if both parties agree to the communication being in character. Generally, you may edit a personal message for only five minutes after making that message. In-character communications via other mediums including Discord, third-party instant messengers, and the party headquarters are treated as informal, verbal, unrecorded conversations between characters that cannot be verified. Your character can say whatever s/he wishes about such a conversation but cannot provide any verification that either the confirmation occurred or that certain words were spoken during the conversation. Your character cannot post a transcript of the conversation. The media and public may or may not believe your character's claims that a conversation occurred, or that certain things were said in that conversation; ultimately, it will be a matter of spin.

To communicate with the public, you can consult the communication rules.

PARTIES.

There are two major parties in the United States, the Democratic and Republican Parties. To play a member of Congress or the Executive Branch, one must be affiliated with one of the two major parties, either directly or as an independent aligned with one of the two.

Parties expressly have the right, for any reason, to deny membership or ban any player from their Party Headquarters on the forums and Discord channels; in addition, parties may refuse any independent from joining their coalition unless that independent has refused to side with a coalition and has been automatically assigned to the minority. Party bans last a reset and may be renewed if the party deems it appropriate.

Parties must elect a Party Chair and their leaders in Congress. It is heavily suggested they also elect a Whip though it is not mandatory. They must also have a Charter approved by at least half of their active membership. Charters may also be carried over from past resets but must be re-approved by a vote of the party membership at the beginning of the next reset.

You may post a leave of absence if you are expecting to be unable to play the game for a brief period for out-of-game reasons. During a posted leave of absence, days of absence will not be counted towards the activity requirements above, and your characters will not be penalized in-game for any inaction on any subject. There is generally a one-week limit on leaves of absence, meaning the longest you will receive the benefits of this protection is for seven days. However, the Administrative Board reserves the right to waive this rule in reasonable circumstances. Furthermore, if you take an unreasonable number of leaves of absence during a round, your executive character may be signed out to ensure the game continues operating during your time away.

WHIP CARDS

Whip Cards are used in the event that a member of a party breaks with a whip issued by Congressional leadership. The Republican or Democratic Leader may use a Whip Card on any Senator during any vote to reduce their total vote in the IVS to 1.  

Each Republican and Democratic Congressional Leader will receive four Whip Cards per in-game year. You may not carryover unused Whip Cards into the next year and totals reset to four apiece at the start of each in-game year. Player characters lose all Whip Cards upon leaving leadership. Furthermore, in order for a Whip Card to be used, Congressional Leadership must issue a party whip a minimum of 12 hours before the vote in question closes. Whip Cards may be used at any time until the final vote concludes.

MECHANICS IN GENERAL.

You principally play the game by having your character seek to influence the world around him/her to pursue the goals that you have set for him/her. A character can do this through public activity, and legislative activity if a member of Congress, executive activity if a member of the executive branch, and media activity if a media character. To facilitate this work, a non-media character can engage in fundraising. A player will also be able to influence elections through election mechanics as outlined in the appropriate forum and rules thread.

The Administrative Board will simulate the response to player activities through in-game news articles, providing information to player media outlets so they can write in-game news articles, publishing of the approval ratings of Congressional and Executive branch characters, and posting direct non-player-character responses. We'll do our best to provide a truly immersive simulation where you can understand what is happening in the world in which your character lives. Yet we may miss some things; if you ever wonder if a real-life event occurred in-game, please feel free to ask about it in the appropriate thread. Please be mindful that except as otherwise indicated (including in player biographies), all historical events occurring before the in-game start date occurred in real life.

Please be mindful that the approval ratings noted above are incredibly important in terms of game play. The Administrative Board produces approval ratings by analyzing the activities of your character with an emphasis on public activity. You'll need to have your Congressional or Presidential character regularly engage in public activities to achieve and maintain a high approval rating; some acclaim can be gained solely through legislative or executive activity, but most voters will know what your character is doing only if your character tells them. There are of course some extraneous factors beyond your character's direct control that will impact your character's approval rating -- the public's view on your character's party, the public's view on the state of the nation, and much more. But your character can impact it, and you should -- because public opinion is amongst the most important things for an elected official to track.

PUBLIC ACTIVITY MECHANICS.

There are numerous ways that your character can influence the public. You should create a press office thread for your Congressional character in the Character Activities forum and post press releases on that thread to sway the mass media. You should also create a public activities thread for your Congressional character in the character activities forum and post events that your character attends and hosts in that thread, along with any speeches given (you may post talking points in place of a speech).

You can create new threads for your character to hold town hall meetings and press conferences in the character activities forum, seeking to sway the public and the media in an interactive environment. Finally, as a member of the Executive branch, subject to the president's approval, you can post press releases and hold press conferences in the 

White House Press Briefing Room. Take advantage of these resources to make sure as a politician that the American people share your values and views.

EXECUTIVE MECHANICS

The President of the United States of America holds immense political power and Virtual Government Simulation extensively simulates this influence, generally providing the President the same powers as the president possesses in real life. The president is allotted an entire category for his or her work including the President’s Desk forum (where executive orders are issued, bills are submitted, and other formal actions are taken), the Roosevelt Room forum (a password-protected forum for use in holding bipartisan negotiations), the West Wing forum (containing several sub-forums in which the president discusses issues with advisers and makes key decisions), and the Press Briefing Room. The Vice President also automatically receives access to each of these forums including an office in the West Wing in which the Vice President can engage in his or her own activities. In the case that the President resigns, goes inactive, or is removed from office, the real-life line of succession is employed to determine the new President with the exception that the Speaker of the House which is admin- controlled, is skipped and the succession goes directly to the Senate President Pro Tempore.

The President possesses the power of appointment as in real life, though the exercise of this authority is truncated to an extent to facilitate game play. The President appoints Cabinet-level officials, Supreme Court Justices, the Federal Reserve Chair, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and appointment-oriented scenarios created by the Administrative Board. These appointments take the form of nominations subject to Senate approval. All nominations are assumed confirmed unless the Senate Leader indicates a desire to contest a nomination, in which case the nomination requires confirmation via Senate vote. The Administrative Board will, where necessary, select a non-player character to fill some appointed offices, basing the selection on the president's simulated appointments. A President may nominate other players to serve in their Cabinet or act as their Chief of Staff. The President may not appoint a player character to any other position. There is no simulation of recess appointments in the game.

The Director of the FBI and CIA are reserved to the Administrative Board to advise the President on Domestic and International affairs.

The President also possesses the power of the veto as in real life. When the Congress passes a bill in-game, the Speaker or the President Pro Tempore will present the bill to the President, who can then either sign or veto it. The President only has five real-life days to either sign or veto the legislation. All bills that are not signed within those five days are considered pocket vetoed.

The President is also required to post an inaugural address upon taking office and the State of the Union address twice in his term. The opposition party must in each year in which a State of the Union address is delivered select a player-character to provide a formal response to the State of the Union address.

ELECTION RULES

Please see here for the Presidential Election Rules: click here.

Please see here for the Congressional Election Rules: click here.

FUNDRAISING

CPAC and Netroots Nation will be held at the beginning of every Congressional session.  Speakers target a specific group  and make promises to these groups for the party's agenda in the upcoming session.  These will be set events and will be listed on the Game Calendar. 

Once per Congressional Cycle Parties may hold a Gala dinner to raise money. The party will be expected to organize these events themselves before the end of each in-game year.

Background fundraising will be released perodically throughout each in-game year by the Administrative Board for parties and players based on your parties and characters performance, approval rating, and other factors. 

Before elections both Parties may make an application for funding from two PACs. These will not be public. For players, see this guideline for how to interact with PACs/K-Street; click here.

Funding earned by individual candidates cannot be given to other candidates.  You may transfer your bank account to your party at a 90% penalty.

ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD GUIDELINES

All Administrators agree to abide by the following guidelines:

• Administrators are to treat all players with fairness.

• Administrators are tasked with creating a nurturing, collaborative environment.

• Administrators are tasked with making decisions that perpetuate play and participation.

• Administrators are not to provide IC information to a player that said player would not otherwise have access to unless it is in the process of fulfilling their duties as members of the Administration.

• Administrators are not to access the private accounts of players, specifically private messaging, unless they are acting in their formal duties as an Administrator or have received the permission of the player in question to do so.

• Administrators are to maintain a reasonable level of activity and participation in the community.

• Administrators are expected to refer to players respectfully in execution of their duties, both publicly and privately.

• Administrators are to respond to questions or concerns of players in a timely and helpful manner, unless deemed abusive or the Administration had previously answered to said player or answered in a publicly accessible manner.

Administrators may elect to join the game at large after resigning from the Administrative Board. However, there are certain restrictions that apply to their membership in the game. They cannot become party, committee, congressional leadership, or part of the Executive Branch until two weeks have elapsed between their sign in and the assumption of the new office. Additionally, no Administrator can join a party until two weeks after an election result is announced.

 If an Administrator participated in or graded a Presidential election, they are restricted from joining said Administration in any form.