Culture and Arts

"The game was developed in 1965 by a former Washington state congressman, Joel Pritchard. He and a friend were looking to play badminton, but unable to find a full set of rackets they improvised, playing with wooden ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.""  more »

"The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue and prosecute groups that target elderly and vulnerable Americans through extortion, fraud, and impersonating their loved ones.""The department’s extensive and broad-based efforts to combat elder fraud seek to halt the widespread losses seniors suffer from fraud schemes. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves."  more »

As of August 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to improve access to hearing aids which may in turn lower costs for millions of Americans. This action establishes a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, enabling consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam, prescription or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist. The rule is expected to lower the cost of hearings aids, furthering the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of expanding access to high-quality health care and lowering health care costs for the American public. It is designed to assure the safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids, while fostering innovation and competition in the hearing aid technology marketplace. more »

Introduced August 22: A bill to establish a program of research regarding the risks posed by the presence of dioxins, phthalates, pesticides, chemical fragrances, and other components of menstrual products and intimate care products. Previously Intrduced: A bill to prohibit the implementation of the proposed rule entitled "Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities." The proposed rule would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex and other characteristics in certain health programs. A resolution expressing support for the designation of November 20, 2022, through December 20, 2022, as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month." The resolution finds that more than half of women who are victims of homicides are killed because of intimate partner violence. A bill that would expand Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) eligibility for members of the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan. more »