Month: March 2021

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) released the following statement today thanking Congresswomen Cynthia Axne (D-IA-03) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03) for introducing the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act in honor of founding DPC Board member and longest-serving president Jack Reynolds. The bill, which was originally introduced last year, would expand Medigap coverage for patients under 65 who suffer from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

“Currently, it’s up to each state to determine whether Medigap plans are sold to the more than 9 million people younger than 65 years old who could qualify because of their kidney illnesses,” Rep. Axne said. “The issue that bothered Jack Reynolds – for whom this bill is named – and what bothers me is that these Medigap plans have an unnecessary age cap despite only being open to those with serious illnesses. Kidney issues can happen at any age. For Jack, he was only four years old when he was injured, and 22 when his kidneys began to fail. The bipartisan legislation I’m leading with Congresswoman Herrera Beutler would make this commonsense fix to enable patients of all ages to get the coverage and care they need.”

“Folks living with end stage renal disease should have access to life-saving medications, dialysis, and kidney transplants needed to treat their illness,” Rep. Herrera Beutler said. “Unfortunately, thousands of Americans under the age of 65 living with ESRD are barred from obtaining a Medigap plan that could help cover the cost of these treatments. I’m proud to partner with my colleague, Congresswoman Axne, on this important legislation to put Medigap plans within reach and thereby ensure patients – regardless of their age – can access the care they need.”

“We commend Representatives Axne and Herrera Beutler for introducing the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act and recognizing the continued need to assist the hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering with kidney disease,” said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling. “By expanding Medigap coverage to ESRD patients under the age of 65, this bill will ensure that dialysis patients can access high-quality, life-saving care that they need to stay alive, while also exponentially increasing their access to a kidney transplant. This legislation is a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of Jack Reynolds, who was a proud lifelong Iowan deeply devoted to helping those with kidney disease. A founding Board member and the longest-serving president of Dialysis Patient Citizens, Jack credited a large part of his longevity during his 45 years on dialysis to the financial security he felt due to having access to Medigap coverage. Jack dedicated his life to empowering kidney patients and educating the public on the needs of the kidney community, and we are thankful that this bill has once again been brought before Congress.”

Background:

• Current law does not ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries, specifically those under the age of 65 such as many dialysis patients, have access to supplemental insurance, also known as “Medigap,” to cover their substantial out-of-pocket costs.
• Medigap policies are standardized, private insurance policies that cover costs not covered by Medicare, such as copayments and deductibles.
• Under federal law, Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older are guaranteed access to Medigap policies, but beneficiaries under age 65, including many with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), do not share this protection.
• Only about half of all states allow Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 to purchase Medigap policies.
• In 2013, 61% of Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD were under age 65, and only 11% had Medigap coverage.
• Of the 91,421 dialysis patients on the kidney transplant list, only 53,745 are listed as active as of January 22, 2021. The inability to cover the 20% coinsurance for the transplant surgery is often a significant barrier for many patients, which Medigap coverage would help address.
• In 2019, (prior to the ongoing pandemic) 5,207 patients were removed from the transplant list for reasons of death. Access to transplant could have saved many of these lives.  

To learn more about Jack Reynolds, please click here for his obituary. You may find a video celebrating Jack’s lifetime of service to the kidney community, prepared by DaVita, by clicking here, and a video honoring Jack as the recipient of the DPC Education Center’s award for Patient Education and Public Service by clicking here.

CONTACT: Hannah Bracamotne, it@dialysispatients.org

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SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — On March 10, the Surfrider Foundation and leaders of the coastal recreation and tourism industry will virtually meet with congressional leaders and White House officials to demand immediate federal action to address climate change. Representing coastal communities across the nation, attendees will meet with more than 150 congressional officials during Coastal Recreation Hill Day to urge comprehensive climate change policies that protect the ocean and coastlines for the future.

“With nearly 40% of Americans living within the coastal zone, this administration and Congress must drastically increase efforts to protect our coastlines from climate change,” said Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation. “Many communities are already experiencing climate change impacts, including extreme weather events, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification. Based on current science, those impacts will only continue to grow, costing Americans billions of dollars and harming our coastal economy.”

Clean water and healthy beaches are critical to the nation’s coastal economies, communities, and recreation industries. In fact, coastal recreation and tourism constitute about 2.4 million jobs and contribute more than $129 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Coastlines also play an essential role in protecting communities from extreme weather events and sea level rise resulting from climate change. In addition, natural marine and coastal environments are some of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, pulling excess carbon out of the atmosphere.

However, the ocean and coasts are increasingly at risk. Warming water and melting glaciers are causing sea levels to rise at an accelerated rate, altering ocean circulation, starving the nation’s waterways of oxygen and changing the ocean’s chemistry. The ocean has already absorbed over 90% of the heat trapped in our atmosphere and nearly 30% of the excess carbon dioxide previously emitted. Scientists estimate that by 2050, 90% of coral reefs will die off from ocean warming and acidification due to climate change. Increased water temperatures are expected to produce more harmful algae blooms, resulting in closed beaches, impacts to marine life, and severe illnesses to surfers and swimmers.

“Climate change represents perhaps the greatest single threat to the survival of our industry and a way of life enjoyed by millions of people,” said Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). “SIMA and the surf industry join the Surfrider Foundation in demanding that federal leaders take action on the climate crisis.”

The coastal recreation industry will demand federal action to help communities prepare for climate change impacts through shoreline planning and coastal adaptation. They will also urge Congress to enact laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ban new oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters, and promote renewable energy development.

Specifically, the Surfrider Foundation recommends: 

• Reinstituting the congressional and executive moratoriums on offshore drilling. 
• Passing Ocean Climate Solutions legislation that will leverage the ocean’s potential in the fight against climate change by protecting coastal and marine habitats and safeguarding communities from sea level rise.  
• Encouraging Congress to authorize $3 billion to support shovel-ready coastal restoration projects with priority given to projects that help to stimulate the economy, and assist communities of color, as well as low-income, tribal, and rural communities.
• Urging Congress to authorize $100 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the nation’s failing wastewater infrastructure to stop sewage spills at the source and enhance resilience to flooding and climate change impacts.

In addition to climate change, the Surfrider Foundation will elevate the voices of the coastal recreation community to demand action on clean water, public health and plastic pollution reduction in 2021 and beyond.

For more information or to get involved, visit Surfrider.org.

About the Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over one million supporters, activists and members, with more than 170 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs in the U.S., and more than 700 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at surfrider.org. 

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SOURCE Surfrider Foundation

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MONTRÉAL, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Resolute Forest Products Inc. (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced its commitment to reduce absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 30% against 2015 levels by 2025. This new target builds on the company’s 83% reduction in absolute GHG emissions from year-2000 levels, two-thirds of which reflect reductions in emission intensity. By achieving its target, the company will have reduced its emissions by nearly 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalents per year compared to its 2015 level.

“Resolute was an early adopter of climate action as a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy,” said Remi G. Lalonde, president and chief executive officer. “Setting this new target is among my first actions as CEO, demonstrating our continued focus around this important issue. Our commitment to renewable energy is good for the environment and it’s good for the bottom line. Three-quarters of our total energy needs come from renewable sources such as hydroelectricity and carbon-neutral biomass, and more than 80% of our fuel energy comes from biomass. We’ve been scope 1 coal-free since 2014.”

Some of the more recent projects on which the company is relying to achieve its commitment include:

• an efficiency enhancement at the Saint-Félicien (Quebec) pulp mill to improve production capacity and reduce fossil-fuel use by up to 20%;
• a modernization of the cogeneration turbine at the Coosa Pines (Alabama) pulp mill to reduce purchased electricity use by 6%; and
• the installation of a sophisticated heat recovery unit at the Thunder Bay (Ontario) pulp and paper mill to recover waste heat and, as a result, decrease the use of fossil fuels by over 20%.

The company also announced commitments to:

• include the previously excluded wood products facilities’ GHG emissions in its GHG inventory by 2022;
• continue to report climate change data and management practices to CDP’s climate change program, including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions; and
• further integrate sustainability practices in its supply chain by working with suppliers and related stakeholders to develop scope 3 GHG emission reduction commitments.

Resolute’s sustainability strategy is based on a balanced approach to environmental, social and economic performance, designed to enhance the company’s competitive position. As an industry leader, the company is committed to maintaining effective sustainability oversight, governance and management practices, and has moved beyond already rigorous regulatory compliance and environmental incident management to commit to transparency and annual sustainability reporting.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this press release that are not reported financial results or other historical information of Resolute Forest Products Inc. (“Resolute” or “we“) are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include, for example, statements relating to our expectations to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and other targets and commitments relating to climate change, as well as strategies for achieving our goals generally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “see,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “attempt,” “focus on,” “improve,” “challenge,” “position,” “maintain,” “strive,” “trend,” “strategy,” “seek,” “vision,” “commit,” “develop,” “project,” “progress,” “build,” “pursue,” “plan,” “grow,” “reduce,” “move” and other terms with similar meaning indicating possible future events or potential impact on Resolute’s business or its shareholders.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions, beliefs, and expectations, all of which involve a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance to differ materially. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause Resolute’s actual future financial condition, results of operations, performance and targets to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, the potential risks and uncertainties set forth under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of Resolute’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or, the “SEC“) on March 1, 2021 which have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, including related governmental responses and economic impacts, market disruptions and resulting changes in consumer habits.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred above and in Resolute’s other filings with the SEC and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Resolute disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products and papers, which are marketed in over 50 countries. The company owns or operates some 40 facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada. Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices. Visit www.resolutefp.com for more information.

To learn more about Resolute’s climate initiatives, visit www.resolutefp.com/Sustainability. 

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SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.