US NATIONAL NEWS
USA Today (Op-Ed): President Biden: Nursing homes are putting residents at risk. We’re ending the abuse today.
As a country, we’re delivering a clear message to the nursing home industry. If you tell families you’ll take care of their loved ones, then follow through.
It’s one of the most gut-wrenching moments American families face: when a loved one can no longer be cared for at home and needs to move into a nursing home. You lie awake at night wondering: will they receive the care and support they need? How can you be sure they’ll be safe? Are you doing the right thing?
Unfortunately, too many Americans across the country know firsthand how hard it can be to find a nursing home that provides that peace of mind. A woman in Texas, who has changed nursing facilities three times in four years over concerns about care, wrote to me, “we keep looking for someplace that will fulfill the promises they make when you’re admitted.” A daughter in New York, whose mother is in a facility, wrote “it keeps me up at night, when there’s half of what’s needed” to keep her mom safe.
Despite nursing homes receiving nearly $100 billion annually from American taxpayers, too many facilities are understaffed, which can result in severe illness and even death for residents. Those vulnerabilities were exposed during the pandemic, when more than 200,000 nursing home residents and workers died from COVID-19. And in recent years, more private-equity firms have been buying up nursing homes and slashing key staff to cut costs and make bigger profits, endangering the safety of their residents in the process.
In my State of the Union address, I pledged to crack down on nursing homes that put the well-being of their residents at risk. Today, here’s how my administration is following through on this commitment to ensure every nursing home is safe for every resident, and residents get the care they deserve.
We’re proposing minimum staffing requirements for every taxpayer-funded nursing home. Under our new proposed standards, every nursing facility would have to provide a registered nurse on site 24/7 and have enough nurses and nurse aides to provide routine bedside care, among other tasks. Research shows that these staffing levels will save lives, provide residents with a higher quality of life and prevent needless suffering.
Think of it this way: we are working to make sure no nursing home can sacrifice the safety of their residents just to add some dollars to their bottom line. It’s telling that non-profit nursing homes are three times as likely as for-profit facilities to already satisfy the minimum staffing standard we’re proposing today. Some corporate nursing home owners are taking taxpayer dollars while cutting corners on staffing so they can make big payouts to executives and shareholders. It’s wrong.
We’re also supporting the folks who are doing God’s work – the nursing staff who care for so many of our loved ones, but who are over-worked and under-resourced. Nursing home staff describe getting burnt out when they have too many residents to care for in too little time. Many end up leaving the industry. Minimum staffing standards would help them stay in the jobs they love. And we’re doing our part.
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing a new $75 million investment, on top of hundreds of millions of dollars already committed, to recruit, train and retain nurses and other caregivers.
These announcements are the latest in my administration’s effort to make nursing homes safer and to make sure taxpayer dollars are well spent. We’ve increased transparency and accountability for nursing home owners, gone after fraud and abuse and more. We also remain focused on supporting high quality care at home. That’s why in April, I signed an executive order to support caregivers, building on prior actions and investments in home and community-based care.
As a country, we’re delivering a clear message to the nursing home industry: no more padding profits on the backs of residents and nurses. If you tell families you’ll take care of their loved ones, then follow through.
That’s how we build a long-term care system where loved ones can age with dignity, where people with disabilities can receive the care they need in the setting of their choice and where there is a pipeline of health care workers into good-paying jobs – that include the free and fair choice to join a union.
For all you facing that most gut-wrenching of moments, you and your loved ones deserve nothing less than peace of mind and dignity. I have your back.
Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States.
US NATIONAL NEWS
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Clashes with AP Reporter Over Trump’s Tariffs and Taxes
WASHINGTON (FNN) – Tensions escalated between The Associated Press (AP) and Trump’s White House Tuesday during a heated exchange between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and AP reporter Josh Boak.
During the briefing, Mr. Boak questioned President Trump’s economic policies, claiming his proposed tariffs amounted to tax hikes on Americans. However, Ms. Leavitt pushed back on that assertion.
“He’s actually not implementing tax hikes. Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off. Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people,” Ms. Leavitt said firmly.
She further defended President Trump’s economic agenda, emphasizing his commitment to eliminating:
- Taxes on tips
- Taxes on overtime
- Taxes on Social Security benefits
“He is committed to all three of those things, and he expects Congress to pass them later,” she added.
Mr. Boak pressed further, asking, “Have you ever paid a tariff? Because I have. They don’t get charged on companies; they get charged on the imports.”
In response, Ms. Leavitt countered, “And ultimately, when we have fair and balanced trade, which the American people have not seen in decades, revenues will stay here, wages will go up, and our country will be made wealthy again.”
The confrontation revealed the ongoing rift between the White House and the AP, particularly after the AP was barred from some press events for refusing to adopt the White House’s requested terminology of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’ in its widely used AP Stylebook.
Despite this strained relationship, Ms. Leavitt still called on the wire service during Tuesday’s press briefing, which led to the fiery exchange.
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What’s Next for AP?
The AP has yet to respond to the White House’s renewed pressure on terminology changes. Media analysts predict the standoff could intensify as the administration continues its push to redefine traditional media language.
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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
WASHINGTON (FNN) – President Donald Trump has signed a new Executive Order aimed at restoring the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the White House announced Friday. The order outlines key changes to the program, particularly restricting forgiveness for individuals employed by organizations deemed to engage in activities that threaten national security, public safety, or violate U.S. law.
Background on PSLF Reform
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, established by Congress in 2007, was designed to encourage Americans to work in public service by forgiving student loans after ten years of qualifying employment and payments. However, the Trump administration argues that the previous administration’s handling of the program resulted in misuse of taxpayer funds, with loan forgiveness being granted prematurely and in ways that do not align with the program’s original purpose.
According to the Executive Order, certain nonprofit organizations have received PSLF benefits despite engaging in activities that allegedly harm national security, facilitate illegal immigration, or violate state laws. The administration asserts that such misuse of PSLF funds has led to increased tuition costs, financial instability for students, and misallocation of federal resources.
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Key Provisions of the Executive Order
Under the new order, the Department of Education will propose regulatory revisions to ensure that PSLF eligibility excludes organizations engaging in illegal or harmful activities. Specifically, individuals working for entities involved in the following activities will no longer qualify for loan forgiveness:
- Aiding or abetting violations of U.S. immigration laws (e.g., supporting illegal immigration).
- Supporting terrorism or criminal organizations, including cartels.
- Engaging in child abuse, including medical procedures related to gender identity in minors.
- Participating in illegal discrimination practices.
- Violating state laws on trespassing, vandalism, or public disturbances.
The administration argues that excluding these organizations from PSLF eligibility will redirect taxpayer funds toward legitimate public service sectors, such as law enforcement, healthcare, and education.
Takeaways from the Executive Order
- The PSLF program will continue for eligible public service workers but with stricter oversight.
- Organizations found to engage in criminal or illegal activities will no longer be eligible for PSLF benefits.
- The Department of Education will work with the Treasury Department to revise regulations under 34 C.F.R. 685.219.
- The Executive Order emphasizes national security and public safety concerns as a key justification for the policy shift.
What Happens Next?
The Department of Education will begin drafting regulatory changes to reflect the new PSLF guidelines, which may require public comment and legal review before final implementation. Advocacy groups and public service organizations are expected to challenge these restrictions, potentially leading to legal disputes over the scope of PSLF eligibility.
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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
US NATIONAL NEWS
House Hearing Erupts as Rep. Maxwell Frost Calls Trump “Grifter-in-Chief,” Refers to Elon Musk as “President Musk”
WASHINGTON (FNN) – A House Oversight Committee hearing descended into chaos Tuesday when Chairman James Comer (R-KY) threatened to have Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) forcibly removed for calling President Donald Trump a “grifter” and referring to Elon Musk as “President Musk.”
During his speaking time, Frost labeled Trump the “grifter-in-chief” and accused both him and Musk of using their positions to “enrich themselves to the tune of billions of dollars.”
“So if we wanna look at waste, fraud, and abuse — which I’m down to do — why is there complete silence on the other side of the aisle about looking at the complete grifter that is the President of the United States,” Frost said. “And the richest man on the Earth, which is looking into things like social security and different things like that? Why don’t we investigate the real corruption?”
The hearing became heated as multiple committee members talked over one another. Comer restored order and asked Frost to “revise” his remarks, asserting that Frost had “improperly” identified Trump.
Frost doubled down by referring to the two men as “President Musk” and “grifter-in-chief Trump.” The comment led to more cross-talking and outrage among committee members, with Comer demanding decorum.
Frost then clarified his remarks: “President of the United States Donald Trump, who’s engaged in grifting of the American people.”
Comer cited a “pending motion for disparaging the president” as Frost continued his accusations.
“I can say that Trump is grifting!” Frost asserted. “What I will withdraw is calling him ‘grifter-in-chief.’ That is what I will withdraw.”
Comer ordered Frost’s comments to be “stricken from the transcript” and barred him from speaking for the rest of the hearing.
When Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) attempted to defend Frost, Comer interrupted her, shouting “Skip her! Go to the next one!”
Frost, later allowed to speak again, criticized the committee’s efforts to silence him, calling it “despicable.” As his microphone was cut off, Frost gathered his belongings and continued speaking.
Comer issued a stern warning: “Mister ranking member, I am going to have the sergeant at arms remove him if he doesn’t refrain!”
Frost’s defiance and Comer’s reaction highlighted the stark partisan divide within the committee and underscored the intense scrutiny surrounding Trump and Musk’s influence.
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