Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Open Markets Institute: Report - America's Next Rare Earths Crisis Is in Our Medicine Cabinet
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Business] (TNSrpt) -- Open Markets Institute posted the following news release:
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Report - America's Next Rare Earths Crisis Is in Our Medicine Cabinet
The Open Markets Institute released a report on China's global dominance in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and how the U.S. can and must correct its dependency problem.
Just last month, President Trump suffered a serious setback when China was able to avoid concessions to the U.S. after dangling their ability to restrict access to the rare earth elements that are essential inputs
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Business] (TNSrpt) -- Open Markets Institute posted the following news release:
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Report - America's Next Rare Earths Crisis Is in Our Medicine Cabinet
The Open Markets Institute released a report on China's global dominance in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and how the U.S. can and must correct its dependency problem.
Just last month, President Trump suffered a serious setback when China was able to avoid concessions to the U.S. after dangling their ability to restrict access to the rare earth elements that are essential inputsfor industries like semiconductors and defense technology, and which are produced almost exclusively in China.
As with rare earths, China's power in the pharmaceutical sector lies in American dependence on Chinese producers for the basic inputs, or active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), that underpin all other production.
Although the COVID pandemic raised public awareness about pharmaceutical supply chain risks, U.S. dependence on Chinese products has only increased. China is now the U.S.' largest supplier of pharmaceutical products, including both API and finished drugs.
This new report, authored by former National Economic Council policy adviser and Open Markets fellow Garphil Julien and Open Markets industrial policy manager Audrey Stienon, examines these chokepoints and offers an industrial policy roadmap for strengthening U.S. and global production of API.
Next Steps to Reduce Dependency On China for Essential Drugs :
While many initiatives aimed at scaling domestic biomanufacturing have been taken by both the Trump and Biden administrations, further action is necessary to address supply chain fragility and the risk of political coercion.
Among these are:
1. Benchmarks and Transparency: The Trump administration must build on the work initiated during President Trump's first term to map out API supply chains and chokepoint risks. Agencies like the FDA, HHS, and DOD have already provided invaluable information on existing risks, but as demonstrated in this report a lot of uncertainty on the extent of American dependence on Chinese API manufacturers remains.
2. Emergency Preparedness: To limit U.S. vulnerability during the time it will take to reduce dependency on Chinese API producers, the current administration should consider building a stockpile of essential medicines and critical API. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services can bulk purchase items on the essential medicines list, while the DOD and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can purchase drugs on the FDA drug shortage database. The administration can also use Title I and Title III of the DPA to use priority contracts, loans, and purchase agreements to build a stockpile of critical APIs.
3. Building Domestic API Production Capabilities : The U.S. government should shift public demand for pharmaceuticals towards domestic producers in order to incentivize production. The DOD and VA can make guaranteed purchase contracts for domestic producers of API used to produce drugs on the FDA shortage database. Congress should pass the BIOSECURE Act, which aims to restrict public contracts and grants from going to foreign monopolists. To help make domestic API production cheaper and more efficient, the administration can offer manufacturers loans or grants through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This would build on Section 2401 of the December 2023 budget that calls on BARDA to support domestic manufacturing surge capacity and to create "warm base" domestic manufacturing for medical countermeasures.
4. Building Resilient International Supply Chains : The U.S. does not need to become the sole producer of critical API, since this would introduce new resiliency risks. To this end, Congress should pass the bipartisan Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act and incentivize the U.S. to work with foreign government partners to diversify the pharmaceutical supply chain and map, monitor, and strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains.
The U.S. should deepen existing efforts to cooperate with allies in building resilient pharmaceutical supply chains. This includes pursuing the 2024 strategy developed by the Biopharma Coalition (Bio-5), which includes the EU, India, Japan, and South Korea, to diversify API supply chains away from China. Furthermore, the U.S. should work with the Mexican government and Mexican pharmaceutical trade associations (namely the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Laboratories, or AMELAF) to nearshore the production of APIs, especially those used for biosimilar and generic medicines.
Finally, the U.S. should continue efforts to reform the international trade system to prevent similar concentrations of manufacturing capacity from emerging in future. If the international trade system continues to prioritize efficiency over resilience, it will continue to incentivize companies and industries to concentrate their production in countries where they face the lowest costs.
This report builds on the Open Market Institute's long tradition of studying chokepoints in international supply chains that were engineered by corporate monopolists, have created serious fragility issues for the U.S. and other countries, and require government intervention to correct.
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REPORT: https://www.openmarketsinstitute.org/s/Chinas-Active-Pharmaceutical-Ingredient-API-Manufacturing-System-Report-WEB-zbms.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications/chinas-active-pharmaceutical-ingredient-api-system
LCV Statement on Slate of Anti-Environmental Polluter Handouts
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Environment] -- The League of Conservation Voters posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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LCV Statement on Slate of Anti-Environmental Polluter Handouts
Ahead of the House voting on anti-environmental polluter handout bills this week, including the SPEED Act, Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, anti-science wolf de-listing bill (H.R. 845), and two bills to advantage expensive, dirty power plants (H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632), the League of Conservation Voters released the following statement from former EPA scientist and Vice President of Federal Policy,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Environment] -- The League of Conservation Voters posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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LCV Statement on Slate of Anti-Environmental Polluter Handouts
Ahead of the House voting on anti-environmental polluter handout bills this week, including the SPEED Act, Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, anti-science wolf de-listing bill (H.R. 845), and two bills to advantage expensive, dirty power plants (H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632), the League of Conservation Voters released the following statement from former EPA scientist and Vice President of Federal Policy,Matthew Davis :
"Trump and extreme House Republicans are determined to once again prioritize polluter handouts over helping hardworking families who are struggling with skyrocketing energy costs. These bills do nothing to stop the Trump administration's ban on cheaper and faster clean energy. Instead, these bills limit public input on harmful projects and encourage selling off our public lands to billionaire executives. Our communities will be stuck with the price tag and the mess: more toxic mining waste, more years of dirty, expensive coal-fired power plants, and more polluting projects that will impact our public lands, our access to clean air and water, our health, and our pocketbooks. Congress should be focused on stopping Trump's effort to ban clean energy and speeding up the approval of clean energy projects that are cheap and quick to deploy."
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Original text here: https://www.lcv.org/media-center/lcv-statement-on-slate-of-anti-environmental-polluter-handouts/
Federation for American Immigration Reform: Chicago Wants Money for Lawbreaking
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The Federation for American Immigration Reform issued the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Chicago Wants Money for Lawbreaking
FAIR shows city has no standing to object to Trump's funding cutoff
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Chicago, faced with a cut-off of federal funding by the Trump administration because of its sanctuary policies, has brought suit in an Illinois federal district court, demanding that the court order its funding continued even as it continues to pursue noncooperation policies aimed at protecting criminal aliens and illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. On
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 -- The Federation for American Immigration Reform issued the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Chicago Wants Money for Lawbreaking
FAIR shows city has no standing to object to Trump's funding cutoff
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Chicago, faced with a cut-off of federal funding by the Trump administration because of its sanctuary policies, has brought suit in an Illinois federal district court, demanding that the court order its funding continued even as it continues to pursue noncooperation policies aimed at protecting criminal aliens and illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. OnFriday, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) submitted a brief in the case opposing that effort.
FAIR points out in its brief that Chicago has no standing to ask the court to protect its sanctuary policies, because those policies, being in conflict with federal immigration law, violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. Thus, the court does not even have jurisdiction to save the city from the choice Trump has put it to: either lose the funding or cease protecting illegal aliens and criminal aliens from federal law enforcement.
"Rather than just comply with federal law and the Constitution, Chicago has run to court to keep the money flowing even as it goes on breaking the law," said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of FAIR. "That's not how this works. You have to be injured to bring a lawsuit, and you're not injured, in any way a court can respect, if what happens to you stems from your deliberate breaking of the law. We hope the court sees that these policies flatly violate the Constitution, and denies relief."
The case is Chicago v. DHS, No. 1:25-cv-13863 (N.D. Ill.).
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Original text here: https://www.fairus.org/press-release/misc/chicago-wants-money-lawbreaking
[Category: International]
Consumer Reports Statement: Product Safety Rules for Water Beads, Neck Floats Will Help Keep Kids Safe Nationwide
YONKERS, New York, Dec. 16 -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Consumer Reports Statement: New Product Safety Rules for Water Beads, Neck Floats Will Help Keep Kids Safe Nationwide
Following years of investigation and advocacy--including by CR and affected parents--the CPSC published final rules to drastically reduce certain child hazards in the home; new rules to take effect in 2026
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Consumer Reports (CR) today welcomed a significant victory for child safety as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published final rules on two products that
... Show Full Article
YONKERS, New York, Dec. 16 -- Consumer Reports posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Consumer Reports Statement: New Product Safety Rules for Water Beads, Neck Floats Will Help Keep Kids Safe Nationwide
Following years of investigation and advocacy--including by CR and affected parents--the CPSC published final rules to drastically reduce certain child hazards in the home; new rules to take effect in 2026
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Consumer Reports (CR) today welcomed a significant victory for child safety as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published final rules on two products thatare tied to serious injuries and deaths of children: water beads and neck floats. The federal agency also approved stronger standards for bassinets, infant sleep products typically used in the first few months of a baby's life.
While the CPSC's commissioners approved the water bead and neck float measures earlier this year, the publication of the final rules in the Federal Register Friday and today marks the end of the rulemaking process and starts the countdown for manufacturers to comply. New water bead toys and neck floats must meet these safety requirements by March and June 2026, respectively.
Consumer Reports has investigated hazards associated with both water beads and neck floats, and advocated for the CPSC to take strong steps that would prevent injuries and tragic deaths. Parent advocates who shared their child's story, like Ashley Haugen, founder and president of That Water Bead Lady, were instrumental in spotlighting product risks and leading the charge for safety rules.
Gabe Knight, senior policy analyst for Consumer Reports, said: "We commend the Consumer Product Safety Commission for taking these vital steps to keep kids safe from dangerous water beads and neck floats. These rules will save lives and help prevent the irresponsible marketing that claimed these products were safe or beneficial to a child's development. We stand together with the courageous parents who have spoken out for change, and we urge the CPSC to enforce these new rules vigorously."
The New Rules: What's Changing
1. Water Beads: Effective March 12, 2026
* CR's Investigation: A 2023 CR investigation sounded the alarm on water beads marketed as toys. They can look like candy to young children, but if swallowed, they expand drastically inside the body, causing life-threatening intestinal blockages that are often invisible to X-rays. CR also found BPA in several brands of beads.
* The New Standard: The rule effectively bans water beads as toys if they expand beyond a specific size. It also sets strict limits on acrylamide, a toxic chemical found in these products. These requirements will apply only to water beads that are designed, manufactured, or marketed as toys.
2. Neck Floats: Effective June 15, 2026
* CR's Investigation: CR warned parents against using these inflatable plastic rings, which are designed to keep a baby or toddler's head afloat while playing in water. Our experts identified them as inherently dangerous products that pose drowning and severe injury risks.
* The New Standard: The rule adds performance requirements to address fatal design hazards posed by products on the market. The CPSC considered a full ban, but determined that one is not necessary, in part because the requirements of this final rule "have been assessed to reduce the risk of injury associated with neck floats and provide the highest level of safety for such products that is feasible."
3. Bassinets and Cradles: Effective February 21, 2026
* CR's Investigation: Through safety testing and analysis of incident data, CR identified stability issues in certain bassinets--particularly those with cantilevered designs--and products with non-flat surfaces that could pose suffocation risks.
* The New Standard: This update recognizes stronger stability requirements from an ASTM International standard (ASTM F2194-25) and adopts them as mandatory. While Consumer Reports continues to advocate for the highest possible bar for all infant sleep products, this rule is a meaningful step forward that closes loopholes regarding product stability and a safe sleeping surface for babies.
What Consumers Should Do Now
The effective dates of these rules are set for 2026, meaning non-compliant products may still be for sale online and in stores, or in homes today. Consumer Reports urges parents to:
* Stop using water beads and neck floats immediately. Do not donate them; dispose of them safely so they are not used by anyone else.
* Check your bassinet. Ensure it has not been recalled and check it for stability.
* Check the manufacture date. Even after the rules go into effect, retailers may still sell older inventory. Check if the product was manufactured after the rule went into effect to ensure it meets the newest safety standard.
* Report incidents. If a product has a safety issue or creates a risk of injury, report it to SaferProducts.gov.
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Original text here: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/consumer-reports-statement-new-product-safety-rules-for-water-beads-neck-floats-will-help-keep-kids-safe-nationwide/
[Category: Business]
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Milestones for the Bacolod Philippines Temple, and Temples in California and Texas
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 16 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Milestones for the Bacolod Philippines Temple, and Temples in California and Texas
The Bacolod Philippines Temple will be the second of two temples in the Philippines to be dedicated in May 2026
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The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for the open house and dedication of the Bacolod Philippines Temple.
A media day will be held April 13, 2026, and invited guests will tour the temple April 14-15. The public is invited
... Show Full Article
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 16 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Milestones for the Bacolod Philippines Temple, and Temples in California and Texas
The Bacolod Philippines Temple will be the second of two temples in the Philippines to be dedicated in May 2026
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The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for the open house and dedication of the Bacolod Philippines Temple.
A media day will be held April 13, 2026, and invited guests will tour the temple April 14-15. The public is invitedto attend an open house from April 16 to May 2 (excluding Sundays).
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the temple dedication, held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 10 a.m. (rebroadcast: 2 p.m.). The dedicatory session will be broadcast to all units in the Bacolod Philippines Temple district.
This house of the Lord was announced by President Russell M. Nelson in October 2019.
"As the Church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life," he said then. "We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church."
Nearly 900,000 Latter-day Saints in around 1,325 congregations call the Philippines home.
The Bacolod Philippines Temple is one of two temples in the Philippines to be dedicated in May 2026. The Davao Philippines Temple will be dedicated on May 3. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication.
Operating temples in the country are in Cebu City, Manila and Urdaneta. Temples are under construction in Alabang, Bacolod, Cagayan de Or, Davao and Tacloban, and announced in Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, San Jose del Monte, Santiago and Tuguegarao City.
San Jose California Temple Will Be Known as the Sunnyvale California Temple
The First Presidency has announced that the San Jose California Temple will be renamed as the Sunnyvale California Temple.
As previously announced, this temple will be built on a 4.73-acre site at 771 West Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale, California. Plans call for a single-story 30,000 square-foot temple and an accompanying distribution center.
California is home to nearly 730,000 members of the Church, meeting in almost 1,100 congregations.
Including the Sunnyvale temple, there are 12 temples operating, under construction or announced in the state. Additional temples in California include the Bakersfield, Feather River, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, Newport Beach, Oakland, Redlands, Sacramento, San Diego and Yorba Linda temple
Preliminary Work to Begin on the Fairview Texas Temple
Preliminary infrastructure work will begin soon on the eight-acre Church-owned property at 681 East Stacy Road in Fairview, Texas, where a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be built.
Dates for a groundbreaking service or the start of building construction have not been set. The Church is grateful for the cooperation of the Town of Fairview as we move forward with the permitting on this project.
Temples differ from the Church's meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies that unite families forever.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/milestones-for-the-bacolod-philippines-temple-and-temples-in-california-and-texas
[Category: Religion]
Center for a Humane Economy: House Action Ends the 'Cow's Milk Mandate' in School Lunch Program, Sending Measure on to President Trump
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Animals] -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release:
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House Action Ends the "Cow's Milk Mandate" in School Lunch Program, Sending Measure on to President Trump
The new law will allow schools to offer plant-based milks to all kids and to require plant-based options for kids who formally request it
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Animal Wellness Action, the Center for a Humane Economy, and Switch4Good today celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of S. 222, a bipartisan bill that incorporates core provisions of the Freedom in the School Cafeterias
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Animals] -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release:
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House Action Ends the "Cow's Milk Mandate" in School Lunch Program, Sending Measure on to President Trump
The new law will allow schools to offer plant-based milks to all kids and to require plant-based options for kids who formally request it
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Animal Wellness Action, the Center for a Humane Economy, and Switch4Good today celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of S. 222, a bipartisan bill that incorporates core provisions of the Freedom in the School Cafeteriasand Lunches (FISCAL) Act into a milk policy bill and fundamentally modernizes national school milk policy for the first time in generations.
With today's vote, Congress has dismantled an outdated federal mandate requiring cows' milk on every tray in the National School Lunch Program, expanded access to non-dairy alternatives, and restores flexibility and choices at the lunch counter. President Trump is expected to sign the measure. Animal Wellness Action, the Center, and Switch4Good built coalition of more than 200 animal welfare, medical, nutrition, and child-advocacy organizations supporting the FISCAL Act and urged that its core provisions be added to the original version of S. 222, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C., led the FISCAL Act, H.R. 2536, in the House, while Senators John Fetterman, D-Pa., John Kennedy, R-La., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., launched the Senate companion. The Senate bill leaders succeeded in inserting key FISCAL Act provisions into S. 222.
"After its 80-year run, the cow's milk mandate in the National School Lunch Program will end and kids will finally have the choice of selecting a nutritious beverage that they can safely consume," said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. "With perhaps 40 percent of kids in the lunch program showing some degree of lactose intolerance, the long-standing federal policy put millions of kids in a terrible position - drink a beverage that makes them ill or go without any drink and toss the milk in the trash."
"This is a watershed moment and a tremendous win for our kids, our planet, and the future of school nutrition," Dotsie Bausch, the founder and executive director of Switch4Good, said. "By supporting the inclusion of plant-based milk in the school lunch line, the House has shown that progress, compassion, and science can triumph together. As an Olympic athlete, I've spent my life fighting for what fuels health and human potential, and giving children access to healthier options is a victory that will ripple for generations. This is more than policy; this is a powerful step toward a healthier world."
"It is abundantly clear that the current milk substitute system that USDA employs is delivering detrimental impacts on students, especially for students of color who are much more likely to be lactose intolerant. Too many children who cannot safely or comfortably consume dairy are being forced to accept containers of cow's milk on their lunch trays. My wife and children are all lactose intolerant, so I know just how uncomfortable consuming dairy milk can be for someone who cannot process it. I'm proudly supporting the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act because it contains provisions that allow for better access to milk alternatives. This ensures the health and nutritional needs of all our nation's students are met," said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
A Long-Overdue Correction to Federal School Lunch Policy
Roughly one in three Americans is lactose intolerant, with rates far higher among Blacks, Latino, Native Americans, Ashkenazi Jews, and Arabs. For these students, mandatory distribution of milk to them often meant daily discomfort, wasted food, or exclusion from full participation in school meals.
Yet federal rules long left schools with little flexibility, forcing them to place milk on trays even when students could not or would not drink it. According to USDA data, nearly 30 percent of milk cartons are discarded unopened each year, resulting in massive milk wastage, squandered taxpayer dollars, and a disregard for the labors of cows who endured the rigors of production only to see their milk thrown in the trash.
The decades-old federal milk mandate has also imposed real and overlooked costs on animals. By requiring dairy milk on every tray regardless of student demand, with no practical opportunity for non-dairy options, the policy incentivized overproduction in the dairy sector, subjecting millions of cows to intensive, high-output production systems designed to meet government-driven volume rather than actual consumption. Dairy cows are routinely bred, confined, and pushed for maximum milk yield through repeated pregnancies and physically taxing production cycles--only to see a substantial share of that milk discarded unopened.
"Each cow is now producing about 25,000 pounds of milk a year, and so much of that output is headed straight for the trash bin because many kids know it makes them sick," said Pacelle. "It's not fair to the kids for so many reasons or to the cows who endure many physical hardships during production for no good reason."
What the Final Legislation Does
As approved by both chambers of Congress, S. 222 amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to deliver practical, commonsense reforms, including:
* Allowing schools to offer dairy-free milk options--such as soy, oat, or almond milk--as part of their regular cafeteria offerings.
* Requiring schools to provide a nutritionally sound non-dairy beverage to lactose-intolerant students with a simple note from a parent, guardian, or licensed physician.
* Allowing schools to offer whole and 2% milk, in addition to 1% or no-fat milk.
USDA estimates that discarded milk costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. By reducing waste and aligning offerings with student needs, the legislation represents a win not only for students and families, but also for fiscal stewardship.
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Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter
Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all.
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Original text here: https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/house-action-ends-the-cows-milk-mandate-in-school-lunch-program/
Center for a Humane Economy: Animal Wellness Action Offers $2,500 Reward for Lead-Poisoned Pelican in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Animals] -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Animal Wellness Action Offers $2,500 Reward for Lead-Poisoned Pelican in Wisconsin
ANTIGO, WI -- Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the poacher responsible for shooting an American white pelican now in recovery at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, Wisconsin.
Earlier this month, REGI admitted a severely injured pelican suffering from
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 [Category: Animals] -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release on Dec. 15, 2025:
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Animal Wellness Action Offers $2,500 Reward for Lead-Poisoned Pelican in Wisconsin
ANTIGO, WI -- Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the poacher responsible for shooting an American white pelican now in recovery at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, Wisconsin.
Earlier this month, REGI admitted a severely injured pelican suffering froma gunshot wound, lead poisoning, frostbite, and profound emaciation. This pelican is the seventh brought to REGI this year with suspected or confirmed gunshot injuries -- a disturbing pattern pointing to repeated, illegal attacks on federally protected migratory birds.
"Pelicans are protected under federal laws, and the of shootings of these migratory birds is deeply disturbing and a case of serial poaching," said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. "That the treated bird has been diagnosed with lead poisoning reminds us that Wisconsin still allows this toxic metal in hunting, and lead dispersal from hunting is a needless risk to wildlife and hunting families consuming game meat."
Investigators and wildlife rehabilitators indicate that embedded lead fragments from the gunshot contributed to the bird's critical condition, causing systemic poisoning while the wounded pelican struggled to survive in freezing conditions.
Animal Wellness Action is urging anyone with information about the shooting of this pelican -- or similar recent incidents in Wisconsin -- to contact law enforcement immediately.
"These are senseless acts of cruelty toward protected wildlife, and we are offering this reward to help ensure these crimes do not go unanswered," said Paul Collins, Wisconsin state director of Animal Wellness Action.
Individuals with information can contact: Wisconsin DNR TIP Line: 1-800-847-9367.
To find out more about Animal Wellness Action's "Soaring Not Suffering" campaign please visit here (https://animalwellnessaction.org/soaring-not-suffering/).
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Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter
Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all.
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Original text here: https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/animal-wellness-action-offers-2500-reward-for-lead-poisoned-pelican-in-wisconsin/
