Doris O'Brien is a retired college Speech teacher and banker. She has published two books of humor (Up or Down With Women's Liberation and Humor Me a Little) and for many years contributed light verse to the Pepper 'n Salt column of the Wall Street Journal. She is an avid writer of letters to the editors.
Doris celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in the same year she welcomed her first grandchild. She now lives in Pasadena with a great view of the San Gabriel mountains — and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
She can be reached by e-mail: witsendob at (@) gmail.com
National Institutes of Health: Adopting Pediatric Readiness Standards Improves Survival in Hospital Emergency Departments
"Researchers found that more than 1,400 children’s deaths may have been prevented if hospital emergency departments had adopted national pediatric care readiness standards as laid out by the National Pediatric Readiness Project(link is external). The six-year study of 983 emergency departments in 11 states followed nearly 800,000 children." more »
Women's Congressional Policy Institute: Bill to Assist States in Carrying Out Projects To Expand Child Workforce; Joint Resolution Removing Deadline For Ratification of Equal Rights Amendment; Bill to Reserve Access to Abortion
Women's Congressional Policy Institute: "A resolution supporting the observation of National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month to raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery; A bill to amend Family and Medical Leave Act to expand employees eligible for leave and employers subject to leave requirements; A bill to assist states in carrying out projects to expand the child care workforce and child care facilities in the states. . A bill to prohibit the interference, under color of state law, with the provision of interstate abortion services." more »
Rose Madeline Mula Writes: Van Gogh and Me
Rose Madeline Mula Writes, Van Gogh and Me: I knew about Van Gogh's demons. That should have given me a clue that trying to paint will drive you crazy. As we all know, despite Vinny's amazing talent, he became so deranged that he lopped off an ear. I once took a course titled, Watercolor Without Fear. It was wonderful. Following the instructor's excellent guidance I actually produced a fairly respectable painting of a rose that first evening. It was intoxicating! more »
GAO-23-106556: Emergency Relief Funds: Significant Improvements Are Needed to Address Fraud and Improper Payments
"Three programs — SBA's PPP and COVID-19 EIDL program, and DOL's UI program—account for a large portion of COVID-19 relief funding. Based on GAO's findings and other audits, GAO added SBA's emergency loans for small businesses issued under PPP and COVID-19 EIDL, and the UI system to its High-Risk List in March 2021 and June 2022, respectively. This testimony summarizes (1) fraud, improper payments, and accountability deficiencies in COVID-19 relief programs; (2) shortcomings in agencies' fraud risk management practices and internal controls; and (3) the status of recommended actions to improve these practices in the future. GAO reviewed its prior COVID-19 findings and recommendations on internal controls and fraud risk management practices." more »
