Biden’s pick to lead FAA withdraws:
Phillip Washington, President Biden’s pick to run the FAA, has withdrawn his nomination after he failed to gain enough support in the closely divided Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
President Joe Biden’s choice to run the Federal Aviation Administration has withdrawn his nomination. This is due to Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington’s nomination lacking support in the closely divided Senate. Republicans unitedly opposed Washington, calling him unqualified due to his limited aviation experience. Democrats and allied independents could still have pushed the nomination through, but lacked support from key senators on their side. The White House will likely address this by seeking assurances of support from moderates such as Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Jon Tester of Montana. The FAA has lacked a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 2022. The agency is trying to reassure Americans that air travel is safe despite a surge in close calls between planes this year. The agency is being led by an acting administrator, Billy Nolen, a pilot who has held safety jobs at three airlines and the FAA. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who led opposition to Washington, said Nolen could win bipartisan support.
California picks generic drug company Civica to produce low-cost insulin:
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the selection of Utah-based generic drug manufacturer Civica to produce low-cost insulin for California. This unprecedented move makes good on his promise to put his state’s government in direct competition with the brand-name drug companies dominating the market. The contract, with an initial cost of $50 million approved by Newsom and his fellow Democratic lawmakers last year, is expected to make the lifesaving drug available to any Californian who needs it regardless of insurance coverage. If this proves successful then the state will also look to produce the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone. California’s move, though never been tried by a state government, could be blunted by recent industry decisions to lower insulin prices. In March, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi vowed to cut prices, with Lilly offering a vial at $25 per month; Novo Nordisk promising major reductions to bring the price of a particular generic vial to $48; and Sanofi also slashing prices, with one vial pegged at $64.
After years of stalled talks, Canada and US reach border deal on irregular migrants: sources:
A family of asylum seekers from Colombia is met by RCMP officers after crossing the border at Roxham Road into Canada on February 9, 2023. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
Canada and the United States have reached an irregular migration deal. The deal changes how the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States is applied. It would close a loophole in the agreement, which came into force in 2004 and currently prevents Canadian law enforcement from turning back asylum seekers who enter Canada from the US at border locations that are not official ports of entry. Progress on a new border agreement between the two countries accelerated in the run-up to US President Joe Biden's first official visit to Canada. Several officials involved in the discussions had said talks had been lagging for months. The United States previously had not deemed a border deal with Canada a priority as it managed a migration surge on its southern border.
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Biden's pick to lead FAA withdraws
California picks generic drug company Civica to produce low-cost insulin