HHS

Donna Strong seeks Republican nomination in House District 49

Donna Strong is touting her experience as an educator in her bid to win the Republican nomination for Alabama House District 49 special election. Strong is a veteran educator with 31 years of teaching experience at the middle, high school and college levels. She hopes to bring that experience and educational knowledge to the Alabama … Continued

July 30, 2020

Trump signs executive orders on drug pricing

President Donald Trump on Friday took executive action to deliver lower prescription drug prices to American patients. The president, joined by doctors, patients, state and local officials, and other invites guests, signed four executive orders on drug pricing. The executive orders direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, to take several steps … Continued

July 27, 2020

Administration starts initiative for more, faster testing in nursing homes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced large-scale procurement of FDA-authorized rapid, point-of-care diagnostic test instruments and tests to be distributed to nursing homes in COVID-19 hotspot geographic areas in the United States. This initiative is a one-time procurement of devices and tests targeted to facilitate on-site testing among nursing home residents and … Continued

July 20, 2020

Jones introduces bills to strengthen telemedicine amid COVID-19 crisis

U.S. Senator Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Thursday announced that he and a bipartisan group of colleagues introduced legislation meant to bolster telemedicine in Alabama and across the country. The legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study telehealth programs and learn how they can be better used in future health emergencies. … Continued

June 18, 2020

Alabama House District 49 major party candidate qualifying is closed

Tuesday, the Alabama Republican Party closed its candidate qualifying period for the Alabama House of Representatives District 49 special primary election. The following individuals have qualified to run as Republicans for the District 49 seat: Russell Bedsole, James Dean, Chuck Martin, Jackson McNeely, Mimi Penhale, and Donna Strong. The Alabama Political Reporter talked Wednesday to … Continued

June 4, 2020

April Weaver gets appointment as Regional Director for HHS Region IV

Monday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region IV announced that former State Representative April Weaver (R-Briarfield) was appointed by President Donald J. Trump (R) to serve as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Region IV. As a presidential appointee, Ms. Weaver provides regional executive … Continued

May 19, 2020

Brooks urges COVID-19 antibody tests

Congressman Mo Brooks joined a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services as well as the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority urging that HHS rapidly deploy COVID-19 antibody testing. “Americans must work for the good of their families, our economy, and our country,” Brooks said. “At the same … Continued

April 6, 2020

Senate passes $8.3 billion in funding to deal with coronavirus

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby on Thursday applauded the Senate’s passage of an emergency supplemental funding package to deal with the coronavirus. The legislation provides $8.3 billion in total resources to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 strain coronavirus. “I am pleased Congress has swiftly passed this emergency supplemental to combat the dangerous Coronavirus,” … Continued

March 6, 2020

Senate Health Committee updated on coronavirus crisis

Wednesday, Alabama Public Health Officer Scott Harris told the Alabama Senate Health Committee, “We have no cases in Alabama,” referring to the new strain of the coronavirus – COVID-19. The Chairman of the Senate Health Committee is Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville). McClendon asked Dr. Harris to update the Committee on the threat from the coronavirus. … Continued

March 5, 2020

Shelby: Administration is “lowballing” the cost of the coronavirus

Tuesday, the Trump Administration asked the Congress for an additional $2.5 billion for planning for a possible coronavirus outbreak in the United States. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) accused the administration of “lowballing” the actual cost. Shelby is the Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. “It seems to me at the outset that this … Continued

February 26, 2020