ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who represents Newtown in Congress, on Thursday was the latest lawmaker to introduce a bill aimed at curbing gun deaths. Flanked by several House colleagues from Nevada, Esty on Thursday condemned congressional inaction at a press conference organized to introduce her legislation, called the Keep Americans Safe Act, which would limit high-capacity ammunition magazines. (Radelat, 10/12)

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating how HHS prepared for and responded to recent hurricanes that ravaged several states and territories in recent weeks. In a letter to HHS dated Wednesday, the committee specifically asked the agency how it provided aid to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Some congressional lawmakers have worried that the territories received different treatment than Texas, Florida and other states in the South in the wake of the storms. The committee requested that HHS send any documents or communications related to threat assessments, mitigation measures, emergency preparedness or other contingency plans in the case of a hurricane striking Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands from before Sept. 5. (Dickson, 10/12)

Federal funding for community health centers remains in limbo, and local centers say they are already having trouble retaining staff who are worried about potential cuts. The health centers’ funding expired on Sept. 30, along with funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and a host of other health programs. Without a funding renewal, community health centers stand to lose 70 percent of their federal grant money within months. (Raman, 10/13)