Also on today’s menu:
Protecting Children
‘Sacred Obligation To Our Nation’s Veterans’
‘The Scream’ Undamaged In Environmental Protest
The New Hampshire Republican caucus has voted unanimously to nominate Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) to be the next senate president.
Saying he was “extremely honored” to be nominated for the 2023-2024 session, Bradley commented, “We had a very successful election victory for Republicans in the state senate because of the hard work and strong agenda of the Republican caucus.
“We hope to build on our record of accomplishments from the past two years and are looking forward to continuing to work for hardworking Granite State families during the next legislative session,” Bradley said.
Protecting Children
While federal regulations have long required child care centers to wait for the results of a background check before allowing new employees to start work, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has provided a waiver that allows new staff members to start work immediately, as long as they are not left alone with children before their background checks are completed.
That will no longer be the case. DHHS sent a letter to child care providers on November 10, informing them that it will not approve any waivers after December 15 in order to comply with federal regulations. Marianne Barter, executive director of Merrimack Valley Day Care Service and head of the New Hampshire Child Care Advisory Council, said it was “devastating” news because background checks can take six weeks or more to process. She said that will make it difficult for child care centers to maintain the staff they need, and could force some of them to close.
DHHS spokesman Jake Leon told the Bulletin that the department faced a $700,000 penalty from federal regulators if it did not comply with the rules. He said the department has switched to a web-based portal for background checks that shortens the process. “Using the NH Connections portal … reduces transcription errors and rejections due to illegibility, so providers can receive results faster,” Leon said.
‘Sacred Obligation To Our Nation’s Veterans’
Since taking office, President Joe Biden Jr. has signed into law more than 25 bipartisan bills that address some of the most important issues facing veterans today, including the landmark PACT Act to address toxic exposures.
Over the last two years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has recorded more than 220 million interactions with veterans, the most for a two-year period in VA history. In 2022, VA processed an all-time record 1.7 million veteran claims, breaking the previous record by 12%. In total, VA delivered $128 billion in earned benefits to 6.1 million veterans and survivors during 2022.
Earlier this week, the VA began screening all veterans enrolled in VA health care for toxic exposures under the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act which makes it easier for veterans to get benefits. Since its enactment, more than 137,000 toxic exposure-related claims have been filed, and 31 new clinical sites will be opened and more providers hired to deliver the care. The Department of Defense also announced updates to its policies related to burn pits to reduce troops’ exposure to toxic chemicals.
‘The Scream’ Undamaged In Environmental Protest
Two environmental activists from the Norwegian organization “Stopp oljeletinga” — Stop Oil Exploration — attempted to glue themselves to Edvard Munch’s 1893 masterpiece “The Scream” at an Oslo museum, but the painting was behind glass and was not damaged. Police said there was glue residue on the glass mount.
It was the latest in a series of protests by environmentalists who argue that saving the planet is more important than preserving art. Oslo authorities said they were alerted by the National Museum of Norway and had three people under their “control.” The third person was filming the pair that tried to affix themselves to the painting.
The museum said that the room where the glass-protected painting is exhibited “was emptied of the public and closed,” and will reopen as soon as possible. The rest of museum remained open.
Giving Tuesday
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