Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
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In response to US and Israel's attacks on Iran, Matt Maiorana, Managing Director of Organizational Strategy at Oil Change International, said:
"Trump once again used illegal force to bolster his imperialist fossil fuel agenda. His attack on Iran threatens lives, adds to regional instability, and risks dragging the United States into another forever war. Working people in the United States demand affordable
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
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In response to US and Israel's attacks on Iran, Matt Maiorana, Managing Director of Organizational Strategy at Oil Change International, said:
"Trump once again used illegal force to bolster his imperialist fossil fuel agenda. His attack on Iran threatens lives, adds to regional instability, and risks dragging the United States into another forever war. Working people in the United States demand affordableenergy, healthcare, and economic security, not another war that costs millions of lives and trillions of dollars.
"Trump's strikes on Iran also threaten to entrench the fossil fuel system that drives the climate crisis. Iran is the fifth largest oil producer [1] and third largest gas producer in the world, and holds vast reserves of both. Non-Iranian oil companies have been mostly barred from access for decades due to nationalization and sanctions. A former national energy advisor in the George W. Bush administration told Politico recently, "You can imagine our industry going back there -we would get a lot more oil, a lot sooner than we will out of Venezuela.
"Decades of repression and violence by Iran's ruling authorities have devastated generations of Iranians, including the women, youth, labor organizers, democracy activists and environmental defenders who risk everything to fight for freedom. Their resistance deserves global solidarity. But Trump uses this history to push his own political interests. He has shown time and again that what he cares about most is profit and power and this action is most likely to benefit U.S. fossil fuel interests rather than the American or Iranian people.
"Iran's future must be decided by the Iranian people, not by Trump, not by Israel, and not by fossil fuel executives."
Note to the editor:
[1] This includes all hydrocarbon liquids, crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Figures based on average production in 2025 in Rystad Energy Ucube database.
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Original text here: https://oilchange.org/news/reactive-trumps-attack-on-iran-threatens-lives-and-advances-fossil-fuel-interests/
National Partnership for New Americans: Sen. Markey and Advocates Unveil Bill to Support Immigration Legal Defense
CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 28 -- The National Partnership for New Americans issued the following news:
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Sen. Markey and Advocates Unveil Bill to Support Immigration Legal Defense
BOSTON, MA - As communities in Massachusetts and nationwide continue to face President Trump's heightened immigration operations, Senator Ed Markey (MA) announced the Senate introduction of the Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act, a bill that would establish a $100 million federal grant program to strengthen legal representation for immigrants and uphold due process nationally.
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 28 -- The National Partnership for New Americans issued the following news:
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Sen. Markey and Advocates Unveil Bill to Support Immigration Legal Defense
BOSTON, MA - As communities in Massachusetts and nationwide continue to face President Trump's heightened immigration operations, Senator Ed Markey (MA) announced the Senate introduction of the Securing Help for Immigrants through Education and Legal Development (SHIELD) Act, a bill that would establish a $100 million federal grant program to strengthen legal representation for immigrants and uphold due process nationally.The SHIELD Act was introduced with the support of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition and the Fairness to Freedom Campaign, led by the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and the Vera Institute of Justice. It will build the long-term infrastructure needed to sustainably scale up legal defense programs across the country in support of due process for all.
The Trump administration's immigration operations have been lawless, violent, and indiscriminate--and people facing detention and deportation are not provided a lawyer if they can't afford one. Legal service providers are stretched beyond their limits, working tirelessly to help people understand and defend their rights, often with limited staff, overwhelming caseloads, and insufficient resources. As of January 2026, 55 percent of people facing deportation in immigration court lack legal counsel, whereas the government is represented by a lawyer every time. And we know that access to a lawyer remains one of the biggest determinants of whether someone will secure their release and assert their rights to remain in the United States, with represented people up to 10.5 times more likely to obtain a successful case outcome than those without.
Said Senator Ed Markey (MA): "Donald Trump and his administration are violating immigrants' civil rights through unlawful detentions and removals. The Department of Homeland Security has been detaining immigrants in horrifying conditions and denying them the due process the law requires. In the face of these attacks, immigrants are being forced to defend themselves in court without a lawyer. There are five-year-old children sitting in courtrooms alone--a burden no child should have to face. Access to legal counsel can be life-changing for the immigrant community. We must pass my SHIELD Act, which invests in immigrant legal defenders and ensures immigrants get the legal assistance they need."
Said Congressman Robert Garcia (CA): "We've seen the unconstitutional, illegal, and terrifying ways the Trump administration has treated immigrants across this country. We need to be doing everything we can to protect our immigrant communities. The SHIELD Act will help strengthen the rights of those who are most vulnerable, protect due process, and give people the tools and resources they need to get a fair day in court."
Said Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA): "In America, due process should not depend on your income or immigration status. Yet across the Inland Empire and the country, immigrants, including children are forced to navigate immigration court without a lawyer. That is unacceptable. I introduced the Fairness to Freedom Act to guarantee access to counsel, and I'm proud to co-lead the SHIELD Act to strengthen and expand the immigrant legal defender workforce. I'll continue fighting for legal representation for immigrants because this is about fairness, due process, and our Constitution."
Said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL): "The Trump administration's attempts to undermine immigrants' right to representation, coupled with outdated policies and years of under-funding, have created historic court backlogs, strained legal resources, and stripped immigrants of due process. To combat the criminal actions of the administration and ensure a fair, fully functioning system, we must invest and support immigration legal professionals. I'm proud to join the bicameral introduction of the SHIELD Act, a commonsense solution to ensure representation, clear backlogs, keep families together, and protect our communities from Trump and Noem's cruel 'administrative errors'."
Said Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition: "We know, and have consistently witnessed throughout this administration's ongoing attacks on immigrants, that this marginalized population is constantly facing threats to their constitutional rights. Investing in the recruitment and development of legal professionals who can work to defend the rights of our immigrant neighbors will undoubtedly help to protect their rights and hopefully to avoid unnecessary deportations. We are incredibly grateful that Massachusetts has already passed funding for the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which is providing crucial funding to protect the rights of immigrants, and are thankful that Senator Markey is taking action on a national scale to ensure immigrants are protected throughout legal proceedings in a sustainable way."
Said Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans: "From secret police violence in our communities to courthouse arrests, it is clear that immigrant communities--our neighbors--need a last line of defense. Right now, that means having a lawyer by their side. States and local communities know this, as more than 70 jurisdictions nationwide have invested in legal representation programs since 2013, attempting to meet rising demands for deportation defense. This momentum is being fueled by local leaders and service providers from diverse communities taking a stand for their neighbors and their constitutional rights. We need Congress to display the same support for commonsense legislation like the SHIELD Act that defends the freedom of immigrant families and strengthens our systems of due process."
Said Shayna Kessler, director of the Advancing Universal Representation initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice: "Everyone in the United States, no matter their background, is entitled to due process. But there is absolutely no fairness for a person who has to stand alone in court against an administration hell-bent on their detention and removal. Trump has poured billions into ICE for enforcement and detention, the SHIELD Act will bring urgently needed resources to sustain and grow the critical field of immigration legal service providers. We urge Senators to support this bill, to defend due process, and help shield our communities and loved ones as they confront the cruel weight of the president's mass deportation machine."
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Fairness to Freedom: The Campaign for Universal Representation was launched by the National Partnership for New Americans and the Vera Institute of Justice in April 2022 with a coalition of more than 200 organizations and legal service providers. The campaign's goal is to support the passage of the Fairness to Freedom Act to establish a federal right to representation for all immigrants facing deportation.
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Original text here: https://partnershipfornewamericans.org/sen-markey-and-advocates-unveil-bill-to-support-immigration-legal-defense/
[Category: Sociological]
Indiana Chamber: Short But Impactful 2026 Legislative Session
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Feb. 28 -- The Indiana Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026:
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Indiana Chamber: Short But Impactful 2026 Legislative Session
Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders offers closing commentary on the 2026 Indiana General Assembly, which is set to wrap up activity this evening:
"Building on past momentum, this legislative session delivered meaningful policy wins that strengthen Indiana's competitiveness and create new opportunities for businesses and their workers to prosper. Key successes include further advances
... Show Full Article
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Feb. 28 -- The Indiana Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026:
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Indiana Chamber: Short But Impactful 2026 Legislative Session
Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders offers closing commentary on the 2026 Indiana General Assembly, which is set to wrap up activity this evening:
"Building on past momentum, this legislative session delivered meaningful policy wins that strengthen Indiana's competitiveness and create new opportunities for businesses and their workers to prosper. Key successes include further advancesregarding childcare and work based learning, long-sought modernization of local government and tax conformity measures to address what's happened at the federal level.
"For years, Indiana employers have identified childcare access and affordability as one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation and productivity. By passing several policies that increase childcare supply, reduce regulatory friction and encourage employer investment, lawmakers took important steps toward removing a critical constraint on Indiana's labor force and unlocking long term economic growth potential for Hoosier families and their employers.
"Our township government has remained largely unchanged for generations, which has led to duplication, inefficiencies and inconsistent fiscal oversight. Senate Bill 270 marks a significant effort to modernize this system of local government in a way that improves accountability, reduces unnecessary costs and creates a more predictable, transparent environment for all taxpayers. This has been a longtime priority of the Indiana Chamber, and we consider this a major victory for improving communities across the state.
"The 2026 session also set the stage for significant future progress on tort reform. While the shortened timeline made it difficult to fully align stakeholders and lawmakers, legislation aimed at curbing frivolous lawsuits against businesses advanced to the final week, sparking productive dialogue on next steps. Given its critical role in economic development and competitiveness, tort reform will remain a top focus during the interim."
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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors - representing over four million Hoosiers - to achieve the mission of "cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity."
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Original text here: https://www.indianachamber.com/indiana-chamber-short-but-impactful-2026-legislative-session/
[Category: Business]
First Focus on Children Tells Supreme Court: Ending Birthright Citizenship Would Irreparably Harm Every Baby Born in America
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- First Focus on Children, an advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families the priority in federal policy and budget decisions, issued the following news release:
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First Focus on Children Tells Supreme Court: Ending Birthright Citizenship Would Irreparably Harm Every Baby Born in America
National child advocacy organization files amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara, urging the Court to affirm birthright citizenship as a fundamental constitutional right.
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First Focus on Children has filed an amicus curiae brief in Trump v. Barbara (No. 25-365), urging
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- First Focus on Children, an advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families the priority in federal policy and budget decisions, issued the following news release:
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First Focus on Children Tells Supreme Court: Ending Birthright Citizenship Would Irreparably Harm Every Baby Born in America
National child advocacy organization files amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara, urging the Court to affirm birthright citizenship as a fundamental constitutional right.
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First Focus on Children has filed an amicus curiae brief in Trump v. Barbara (No. 25-365), urgingthe U.S. Supreme Court to affirm that birthright citizenship is a fundamental constitutional right guaranteed to every baby born in the United States. The brief, filed yesterday alongside leading child advocacy organizations and nationally recognized experts in child health, psychology, and rights, makes clear that President Trump's Executive Order 14160, which purports to end birthright citizenship for hundreds of thousands of children born each year, would cause immediate, irreparable, and lasting harm to babies and children across America.
"This isn't just an immigration case -- it's fundamentally a case about babies and children," said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children. "The Fourteenth Amendment's focus is on the child, not the parents. What's at stake here is whether babies born in America will have the health, safety, security, and dignity of citizenship -- or whether they will be punished for circumstances entirely beyond their control."
Read the full brief (https://firstfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25-365-Amicus-Brief.pdf)
What the Brief Argues
The brief presents three core arguments on behalf of America's children:
* Every baby would be harmed -- not just those targeted by the Order. Implementation of the Executive Order would subject every single child born in the United States to new paperwork burdens, bureaucratic delays, and complex documentation requirements. Nearly 21 million Americans lack ready access to the documents this Order would require. Families facing poverty, language barriers, same-sex partnerships, IVF conception, surrogacy arrangements, or homelessness would face impossible obstacles, even when their baby is fully entitled to citizenship. Babies are the group targeted for harm under this Order.
* Children's health and well-being would suffer immediately and for life. The threat of ending birthright citizenship is already causing documented harm, driving immigrant mothers away from prenatal care and hospital births. The brief draws on groundbreaking research showing that chronic, early-life stress from immigration enforcement, which the Order would dramatically intensify, dysregulates children's developing brains, elevates cortisol levels over time, and causes lasting impairments in emotional regulation, memory, and cognitive development. Children denied citizenship also face loss or delay of access to Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and food programs at birth -- the most critical and vulnerable moment in one's life -- with compounding consequences throughout their lives.
* Many babies would be rendered stateless -- with nowhere to go. Children born to parents from nations that do not recognize birthright citizenship by blood, or whose parents' home countries are too dangerous to return to, would be left with no nationality and no country willing to claim them. The brief emphasizes that no federal law defines or protects stateless persons, leaving these children exposed to detention, deportation, and a lifetime of institutional exclusion.
A Coalition Speaking for Children
First Focus on Children is joined on the brief by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Children Now, the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, and four nationally recognized scholars and clinicians in child health and psychology: Dr. Lisa Fortuna (UC Riverside), Dr. Hector Adames (The Chicago School), Warren Binford (University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine). Dr. Nayeli Y. Chavez-Duenas (The Chicago School), and Dr. Maryam Jernigan-Noesi (Jernigan & Associates Consulting, Inc.). The brief was authored by Mary Kelly Persyn of Persyn Law & Policy, who served as counsel of record, and was filed as the Supreme Court prepares to hear argument in one of the most consequential children's rights cases in a generation.
"Citizenship is not just a legal status -- it is, as the Supreme Court has said, 'the right to have rights,'" Lesley added. "Strip that away, and you create a permanent underclass of children condemned to live in the shadows, not for anything they did, but for being born. That is not who we are. That is not what the Constitution allows."
The brief is informed, in part, by First Focus on Children's advocacy and published analysis on birthright citizenship, including Do No Harm: Why Ending Birthright Citizenship Puts ALL Babies and Children at Risk and From Cradle to Limbo: The Immediate and Long-Term Dangers of Repealing Birthright Citizenship for Children.
The Case
Trump v. Barbara reaches the Supreme Court after federal courts at every level blocked the Executive Order from taking effect. The case presents the Court with the question of whether President Trump's executive order lawfully reinterprets the Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause to deny citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are undocumented or hold only temporary legal status. The brief urges the Court to affirm the decision below and hold that all babies born in the United States are citizens by birthright -- of equal status, inherent worth, and full dignity.
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Original text here: https://firstfocus.org/news/first-focus-on-children-tells-supreme-court-ending-birthright-citizenship-would-irreparably-harm-every-baby-born-in-america/
[Category: Sociological]
Anti-Defamation League, Academic Engagement Network Commend International Studies Association on Rejecting BDS
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release:
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Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) Commend the International Studies Association (ISA) on Rejecting BDS
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) commend the International Studies Association (ISA) for the recent Governing Council vote rejecting the harmful and divisive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release:
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Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) Commend the International Studies Association (ISA) on Rejecting BDS
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) commend the International Studies Association (ISA) for the recent Governing Council vote rejecting the harmful and divisive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)resolution by a 57-38 percent vote and for reaffirming the association's core scholarly mission. We are also heartened that the Governing Council approved a counter-resolution, affirming the association's commitment to its core principles, by a 50-43 percent vote.
Our organizations work closely with faculty, university and college leaders, and professional academic associations to advance academic freedom, protect open inquiry, and ensure that scholars of all backgrounds can fully participate in the intellectual life of their fields. We believe strongly that scholarly associations function best when they foster rigorous debate grounded in evidence, uphold viewpoint diversity, and maintain environments in which members feel welcome regardless of their national origin, religion, identity, or political perspective.
The ISA leadership's decision reflects a clear commitment to those principles. By declining to adopt the BDS measure calling for the adoption of an academic boycott of Israel, ISA has upheld the association's longstanding role as a forum for rigorous, pluralistic scholarship rather than political advocacy.
This outcome is significant. Academic associations across disciplines are increasingly confronting pressures that risk pulling them away from their scholarly purposes and into polarizing and divisive campaigns. ISA's vote helps prevent the association from going down a slippery slope that could have undermined intellectual diversity, marginalized dissenting members, and compromised the association's credibility as an inclusive professional body.
We hope the association will continue to prioritize processes that protect member inclusion, safeguard academic freedom, and ensure that ISA remains a welcoming home for the full diversity of its scholarly community, including Jewish and Zionist scholars, whose perspectives are an important part of the field's intellectual pluralism.
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Original text here: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/anti-defamation-league-adl-and-academic-engagement-network-aen-commend
[Category: Political]
Ambassador of Estonia Meets With Church Leaders
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 28 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Ambassador of Estonia Meets with Church Leaders
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed His Excellency Kristjan Prikk, the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, and his wife, Liis, in Salt Lake City on Friday, February 27, 2026.
President Dallin H. Oaks, President Henry B. Eyring, President D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, whom Ambassador Prikk first met in 2021, were in
... Show Full Article
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 28 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Ambassador of Estonia Meets with Church Leaders
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed His Excellency Kristjan Prikk, the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, and his wife, Liis, in Salt Lake City on Friday, February 27, 2026.
President Dallin H. Oaks, President Henry B. Eyring, President D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, whom Ambassador Prikk first met in 2021, were inattendance.
While in Utah, Ambassador Prikk spoke at the Ambassadorial Lecture Series at Brigham Young University in Provo and met with its president, C. Shane Reese. He and his wife also toured Welfare Square, which highlighted the Church's efforts in food sustainability and well-being.
The Church was officially recognized by the Government of Estonia in 1990. To read more about the history of the faith in Estonia, click here.
Recent visits to the country include a ministry tour from Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in May 2024.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-ambassador-of-estonia-meets-with-church-leaders
[Category: Religion]
ADC Condemns Unauthorized U.S. War on Iran.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Sociological] -- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued the following news release:
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ADC Condemns Unauthorized U.S. War on Iran.
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Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | February 28, 2026 - The decision to follow orders from Prime Minister Netanyahu to plunge the United States into war with Iran is reckless, unnecessary, and exactly the kind of action that will drag Americans into another forever war in the region. American tax dollars must not be used to advance Israel's political and foreign policy agenda. There is absolutely no justification
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Sociological] -- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued the following news release:
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ADC Condemns Unauthorized U.S. War on Iran.
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Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | February 28, 2026 - The decision to follow orders from Prime Minister Netanyahu to plunge the United States into war with Iran is reckless, unnecessary, and exactly the kind of action that will drag Americans into another forever war in the region. American tax dollars must not be used to advance Israel's political and foreign policy agenda. There is absolutely no justificationfor what is unfolding.
These actions will cost lives across the region, destabilize it, and fuel economic shocks. It will also displace civilians, forcing them to flee in search of safety from bombing and aggression. The blowback will return home, hurting ordinary Americans while enriching the people and industries that profit from endless war.
President Trump ran on the promise of putting America First and ending all wars. This decision is not America First. It is Israel First. This is another war fought for Israel and falsely sold to the public as "security" and paid for with American taxpayer dollars.
Congress must act immediately to end this unauthorized war. Congressional leaders have already moved toward a War Powers Resolution to block or halt U.S. strikes and force a vote. That action must proceed without delay, and every member of Congress must go on record: either you defend the Constitution, or you enable another endless war.
We know what comes next here in the U.S., because we've seen it before: war abroad leads to oppressive domestic policies. Israel-First lawmakers will push and promote anti-Arab, anti-Iranian, and anti-Muslim hate, and are already pushing repressive policies designed to criminalize free speech, punish protest, expand blacklists, and label dissent as "extremism." ADC is actively fighting these efforts and will continue to do so-in legislatures, in courtrooms, and in public.
Officials use overseas conflict as an excuse to expand surveillance, silence dissent, build watchlists, and criminalize protest while due process and basic freedoms are quietly pushed aside. These crackdowns never stay "targeted." Once emboldened, this playbook will expand until everyone feels it.
ADC will fight against any domestic crackdown tied to this war, publicly and in court. No intimidation, no profiling, no censorship, no targeting of Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, Iranian, or South Asian communities, or anyone who speaks out. No new wars. No Israel-first foreign policy. No surrender of our rights at home.
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Original text here: https://adc.org/adc-condemns-unauthorized-u-s-war-on-iran/
