<ul class="summary-list"><li>Prominent Democrats released a joint statement on Sunday, calling for the postmaster general and chairman of the <keyword id="195495" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="USPS">USPS</keyword> Board of Governors to testify before the House Oversight Committee on August 24.</li><li>President Donald Trump last week said he would not support a bailout of the USPS <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-admits-he-wants-block-usps-funding-sabotage-mail-voting-2020-8">in an attempt to sabotage mail-in-voting expansion efforts</a>, although he later backtracked and said he wouldn't reject a bill that included aid to the postal service. </li><li>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-postal-service-delay-funding-crisis-mail-election-trump-explainer-2020-8">already cash-strapped agency has struggled further due to the coronavirus pandemic</a>, and the new postmaster general has implemented cost-cutting measures that have slowed USPS delivery in some parts of the country. </li><li>"The Postmaster General and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election," Democrats said in a joint statement. </li></ul>In a joint statement on Sunday, prominent Democrats in the House and Senate announced amped up investigations into recent controversies surrounding the postal service, requesting that officials of the USPS testify before the House Oversight Committee on August 24 at an "urgent" hearing. The presence of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Robert Duncan, the chairman of the USPS Board of Directors were requested for an August 24 hearing, according to a statement from House Speaker <keyword id="128640" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nancy-Pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</keyword>, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, and Senate Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Gary Peters."The hearing will examine the sweeping operational and organizational changes at the Postal Service that experts warn could degrade delivery standards, slow the mail and potentially impair the rights of eligible Americans to cast their votes through the mail in the upcoming November elections," the Sunday statement read.The statement said DeJoy and other USPS leaders "must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election."<h2>Senate Democrats called on Republicans to request USPS leaders testify before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee</h2>The Senate Democrats who signed on to the letter called on Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to also hold a hearing with DeJoy and Duncan "as soon as next week." "As the Chairman of the Committee charged with oversight of the Postal Service, Senator Johnson must ensure that the Senate holds the new Postmaster General accountable for the destructive changes he has directed that are undermining this crucial public service and pillar of democracy that Americans in every corner of our country count on," the letter read.On Friday, Democratic lawmakers sent a <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/sites/speaker.house.gov/files/20200814_Letter_JointPelosiSchumerLofgrenKlobucharCBMPeterstoPMGreElectionPrep.pdf">10-page letter to DeJoy</a>, requiring he provide a host of documents related to the "policies and practices, the specific changes you are proposing, the rationale for those changes, and the potential impacts of those changes" by August 21.DeJoy, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-taps-top-republican-fundraiser-to-lead-us-postal-service-2020-5">a former donor to Republicans, including President Donald Trump, was appointed postmaster general by the USPS Board of Governors earlier this year</a>. Since assuming the position, DeJoy has instituted a number of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/usps-just-made-sweeping-changes-to-the-nations-mail-service-2020-8">cost-cutting measures, including the elimination of overtime</a> and the reassigning or displacing of 23 postal service executives. The changes have reportedly already resulted in delays to mail delivery in some parts of the country. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-postal-service-delay-funding-crisis-mail-election-trump-explainer-2020-8">Yearslong financial struggles of the USPS have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic</a>, creating concerns that the postal system will struggle to handle a surge of mail-in ballots expected in the fall.President Donald Trump made headlines last week for suggesting he was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-admits-he-wants-block-usps-funding-sabotage-mail-voting-2020-8">intentionally withholding funding to bail out USPS in an attempt to sabotage mail-in voting</a>, though he later <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-walks-back-threat-block-covid-relief-over-usps-funding-2020-8">backtracked and said he would support a bill</a> that had funds allocated to the postal service. At a <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> conference Saturday, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-defends-postmaster-general-amid-outrage-over-usps-delays-2020-8">Trump defended DeJoy's leadership</a>.

Democrats are demanding USPS leaders testify before Congress at an 'urgent hearing' next week

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This story was delivered to Business Insider Intelligence Digital Health Pro subscribers earlier this morning.</li><li><a href="https://store.businessinsider.com/products/digital-health-pro-membership?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=content_marketing&amp;itm_campaign=briefing_post&amp;itm_content=top_text&amp;itm_term=bundle_subscription_text_link-nebula-launches-direct-to-consumer-whole-genome-sequencing-test-2020-2">To get this story plus others to your inbox each day, hours before they're published on Business Insider, click here.</a></li></ul>California-based startup Nebula Genomics launched a consumer product that will offer users whole genome sequencing for $299, <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW9iaWhlYWx0aG5ld3MuY29tL25ld3MvbmVidWxhLWdlbm9taWNzLWxhdW5jaGVzLTI5OS1kaXJlY3QtY29uc3VtZXItd2hvbGUtZ2Vub21lLXNlcXVlbmNpbmc/5d233c18f730436f2414784fBe1783a3d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> MobiHealth News.<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dee598efd9db24af95699d3-650/global consumer appetite for genetic testing has ballooned over the past 6 years.png" alt="Global Consumer Appetite For Genetic Testing Has Ballooned Over The Past 6 Years" />The startup differs from other popular direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomics companies because it performs a 30X whole genome sequencing: Many DTC genetic testing products, such as 23andMe's $99 basic service, employ genotyping, which is not as comprehensive as whole genome sequencing, as genotyping only focuses on a snapshot (less than <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9wb3N0L3Zlcml0YXMtc2xhc2hlcy1jb3N0cy10by1iZWF0LWJhY2stcml2YWxzLWxpa2UtMjNhbmRtZS1yZXNlYXJjaGVycy1sZWFuLW9uLWVocnMtdG8taW5mb3JtLWRydWctdXNlLWNhc2VzLWNlZGFycy1zaW5haS1pbmR1Y3RzLWxhdGVzdC1pbmN1YmF0b3ItY2xhc3MtMjAxOS03P2NpZD1zZWFyY2g/5d233c18f730436f2414784fBf637148d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1%</a>) of a person's total genome.The launch of Nebula's whole genome sequencing product comes amid a downturn in the DTC genetic testing market - but the startup is betting on its affordability and emphasis on security.The startup is likely hoping its cheaper whole genome sequencing tests will lure over consumers who have used less comprehensive kits, or those who have been interested in whole genome sequencing, but couldn't afford it. Earlier this month, Ancestry laid off approximately <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9wb3N0LzYwLWhlYWx0aC1zeXN0ZW1zLXNpZGUtd2l0aC1lcGljLWFnYWluc3QtaGhzLWRhdGEtc2hhcmluZy1ydWxlcy1hbmNlc3RyeS1sYXlzLW9mZi0xMDAtZW1wbG95ZWVzLWdvb2dsZS1ib3N0b24tY2hpbGRyZW5zLXVzZS1haS10by1wcmVkaWN0LWx5bWUtZGlzZWFzZS0yMDIwLTI_Y2lkPXNlYXJjaA/5d233c18f730436f2414784fB03b886b3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100</a> employees, and 23andMe laid off <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9wb3N0LzIzYW5kbWUtbGF5cy1vZmYtMTAwLWVtcGxveWVlcy1hbWlkLWRlY2xpbmluZy1zYWxlcy1lcGljLW1heS1zdWUtaGhzLW92ZXItZGF0YS1zaGFyaW5nLXJ1bGVzLXByYWN0aWNlLWZ1c2lvbi10by1wYXktMTQ1bS1pbi1vcGlvaWQta2lja2JhY2stY2FzZT9jaWQ9c2VhcmNo/5d233c18f730436f2414784fB2852c5f3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14%</a> of its workforce amid falling sales figures, highlighting how genetic testing giants are starting to cope with the cool down in the DTC genetic testing market.As part of its efforts to combat waning consumer interest in the space, Nebula has focused on making whole genome sequencing less expensive: In comments made to MobiHealth News, Nebula Genomics cofounder Dennis Grishin noted "... we are twice as cheap as the nearest competitors... right now, the price is about $600 or $700 if you want to buy 30X whole genome sequencing.We are doing it at $299." Given the more comprehensive health insights that can be gleaned from whole genome sequencing, Nebula could still capture customers who have used genetic testing kits from the likes of 23andMe and Ancestry.The startup is also working to address privacy concerns that could be holding some consumers back from using DTC genetic tests. Nebula has also made a point to ease users' privacy concerns, an issue Senator Chuck Shumer (D-New York) <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW9iaWhlYWx0aG5ld3MuY29tL2NvbnRlbnQvc2VuLXNjaHVtZXItY2FsbHMtZnRjLXJlZ3VsYXRlLWNvbnN1bWVyLWRuYS10ZXN0aW5n/5d233c18f730436f2414784fB2ba58ae6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed</a> in 2017 with a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, urging it to ensure genetic testing firms' privacy policies were transparent and fair.The startup is building a secure data management platform that will leverage blockchain technology and "privacy-preserving computing." Blockchain technology has an access control element that tracks permissions users have given to their data - and Nebula will implement this technology to give users greater control over who can access their data, with the hopes of building consumer trust in the process.We've seen other DTC genetic testing firms move away from the DTC space and pursue tie-ups to secure future revenue - and we're skeptical that Nebula's DTC-focused strategy will be viable in the long-run. The cool down in the DTC genetic testing market has led genetic testing firms to up their pursuit of tie-ups with healthcare stakeholders across the ecosystem: For example, genetic testing startup Helix made the strategic shift away from the DTC space last year to focus on provider partnerships like its recent <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9wb3N0L25ldy1hbWF6b24tY2FyZS1oaXJlLXBvaW50cy10by1wdWJsaWMtcm9sbC1vdXQtYWNjb2xhZGUtZ2VhcnMtdXAtZm9yLXBvdGVudGlhbC0yMDIwLWlwby1tYXlvLWNsaW5pYy10YXBzLWhlbGl4LWZvci1nZW5ldGljLXRlc3RpbmctcHJvZ3JhbS0yMDIwLTE/5d233c18f730436f2414784fB4210d767" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tie-up</a> with Mayo Clinic to build a genomic database, and 23andMe <a href="https://e.businessinsider.com/click/19491377.4/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9wb3N0LzIzYW5kbWUtaW5rcy1hLWRlYWwtdG8tYWNjZWxlcmF0ZS1jbGluaWNhbC1yZXNlYXJjaC1yZWNydWl0bWVudA/5d233c18f730436f2414784fB624cce0b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">teamed up</a> with TrialSpark to speed up clinical trial recruitment.But Nebula's rollout of whole genome sequencing to consumers suggests the startup is looking to get its product into the hands of a wider audience. However, we're skeptical that this DTC-centered approach will pay off in the long-term: While Nebula could see early consumer interest in its whole genome sequencing product, the startup could face hurdles sustaining consumer interest down the road once its pricey, single-use product has been used.And while one of Nebula's offerings - the Nebula Research Library - is designed to keep customers engaged with updates on the latest research advancements that might be relevant to their genetic information, I (Dane) don't think this value-add will be enough to convince consumers to buy the whole genome sequencing product or to help Nebula secure long-term revenue after users have completed their initial tests.Want to read more stories like this one? 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Nebula Genomics rolled out a low-cost genome sequencing test to consumers

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5464d03a6da8116b053f3295-1176-882/elizabeth-warren-29.png" border="0" alt="elizabeth warren">REUTERS/Jason Reed</img></div></div></div>Rumours are circling that Wall Street's least favorite politician could get a promotion today, says Politico's .
Senate minority leader Harry Reid (NV) is in private talks with Elizabeth Warren ahead of closed-door leadership elections set for this afternoon.
Everyone already <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/12/politics/warren-senate-leadership-post/index.html?hpt=hp_t4">expects</a> that Reid, Dick Durbin (IL), Chuck Shumer (NY), and Patty Murray (WA) will take the top leadership positions in the new Senate minority. But now pundits are saying a new post could be created for the Massachussetts populist.
No one knows much about the potential new position, but any promotion for Warren would help define the now-minority Democrats' new attitude as an increasingly left-wing caucus.
It could also signal a shift toward heightened partisanship, <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/elizabeth-warren-harry-reid-senate-leadership-112847.html">Politico reported</a>.
We'll find out.

You Searched For "chuck shumer" and got 3 results

Democrats are demanding USPS leaders testify before Congress at an 'urgent hearing' next week

Connor Perrett

Nebula Genomics rolled out a low-cost genome sequencing test to consumers

Dane Finley

Elizabeth Warren Could Become A Lot More Powerful Today

Portia Crowe