A. Congress

  1. The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis launched an investigation into One Medical's COVID-19 vaccine-distribution practices. In a letter, Subcommittee Chair James Clyburn (D-SC) highlighted the need for prioritizing vaccine distribution to high-risk Americans and said, "reports indicate that One Medical has repeatedly and intentionally disregarded vaccine eligibility requirements in multiple cities and states over the past two months - diverting vital vaccine doses away from vulnerable populations to benefit wealthy concierge clients and friends and family members of your company's executives who are not eligible under state and local guidelines."
  2. House Democratic leaders wrote a letter to the Biden Administration urging the CDC and OSHA to update ventilation and respiratory-protection guidance and standards to address aerosol transmission of the coronavirus. They are seeking standards that would require the use of respirators such as N95s by workers at increased risk of contracting the coronavirus.
  3. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have warned the Federal Reserve and other U.S. regulators that it would be a "grave error" to extend looser capital requirements that were introduced for U.S. banks at the start of the pandemic. The intervention from the two senators has intensified a political battle over the more lenient rules, which are due to expire at the end of the month.
  4. On March 2, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Health and Safety Protections for Meatpacking, Poultry, and Agricultural Workers, which focused on efforts to protect workers from COVID-19.

B. Executive Agencies

  1. A woman in Houston has been charged with bank fraud, making false statements, and money laundering stemming from allegations that she submitted two fraudulent applications for PPP loans. She received $3.6 million, none of which was used for any legitimate business purchase. Instead, the indictment alleges that she used the funds to purchase two homes, a 2020 Land Rover, $63,000 worth of Chanel jewelry, and $50,000 worth of goods from Neiman Marcus.
  2. The Labor Department's Office of the Inspector General released a report on Tuesday, March 2, heavily criticizing OSHA for failing to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report cited a 15% increase in worker-safety complaints at the same time that inspections were down 50% last year. The OIG also criticized OSHA's enforcement efforts, given that OSHA issued fewer than 1/5 as many citations as corresponding state agencies did during the same period.

C. State Attorneys General

  1. Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro and US Attorney Scott Brady announced the indictment of the former administrator of the Mount Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, a nursing home that is part of a broader network of facilities in Pennsylvania. The federal charges, which arose from a joint federal-state investigation, allege that the administrator directed employees to falsify records related to the facilities' compliance with federal and state staffing requirements.
  2. Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and Virginia AG Mark Herring separately announced settlements with travel agency Voyageurs International related to music tours sold to high school students. The tours were canceled due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota settlement requires the company to pay $665,000 in refunds to the families of 344 students. The Virginia settlement requires the company to pay $313,000 in refunds to the families of 165 students. Missouri and Kentucky previously announced similar settlements with Voyageurs.
  3. New York AG Letitia James announced the resolution of the lawsuit she filed against Town Sports International, the parent company of New York Sports Club and Lucille Roberts, alleging that the gyms unlawfully charged dues to members to access facilities that had been closed due to the pandemic and prohibited consumers from canceling their memberships. Under the settlement, Town Sports, which has filed for bankruptcy, has agreed to forfeit a $250,000 bond, which General James's office will use to provide restitution to gym members.

D. Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR)

No updates this week.

E. Pandemic Recovery Accountability Committee (PRAC)

No updates this week.

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