Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Statement: Conservation International CEO on the Passing of Jane Goodall
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 2 -- Conservation International issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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STATEMENT: Conservation International CEO on the passing of Jane Goodall
Today, Conservation International released the following statement on the passing of Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist and lifelong conservationist.
Conservation International's interim CEO Dr. Daniela Raik said:
"Jane Goodall forever changed how people think about, interact with and care for the natural world. Her passing is a profound loss for our movement and our planet. Her legacy lives on, not just
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, Oct. 2 -- Conservation International issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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STATEMENT: Conservation International CEO on the passing of Jane Goodall
Today, Conservation International released the following statement on the passing of Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist and lifelong conservationist.
Conservation International's interim CEO Dr. Daniela Raik said:
"Jane Goodall forever changed how people think about, interact with and care for the natural world. Her passing is a profound loss for our movement and our planet. Her legacy lives on, not justthrough memories and accolades, but in the sense of belief she inspired in many: that we can reverse climate change, halt biodiversity loss and repair the natural world. She spent much of her life empowering that belief in young people. Now it's on us to carry it forward."
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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.conservation.org/press-releases/2025/10/01/statement-conservation-international-ceo-on-the-passing-of-jane-goodall
[Category: Environment]
Property Tax Proposal Misses the Mark
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 2 -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, issued the following news release:
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Property tax proposal misses the mark
Poorly targeted bill will harm school districts, leave out property owners who need relief, and benefit some who don't
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Policy Matters Ohio's analysis of Substitute House Bill 186 notes that the proposed legislation could strip nearly $1.7 billion from public schools over three years. Its tax relief measures would benefit property owners in Indian Hill, by some measures Ohio's wealthiest community, while offering no relief to
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 2 -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, issued the following news release:
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Property tax proposal misses the mark
Poorly targeted bill will harm school districts, leave out property owners who need relief, and benefit some who don't
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Policy Matters Ohio's analysis of Substitute House Bill 186 notes that the proposed legislation could strip nearly $1.7 billion from public schools over three years. Its tax relief measures would benefit property owners in Indian Hill, by some measures Ohio's wealthiest community, while offering no relief toproperty owners in many of the state's lowest-income and urban districts.
In written testimony to the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee, Policy Matters tax researcher Aditi Srivastava and research director Zach Schiller urged legislators to defer action on the bill, citing the harm it would do to public schools and its failure to address the real concerns of many Ohio property owners.
"Of Ohio's 609 school districts, 170 districts would lose at least 10% of their property tax revenue in Tax Year 2027, threatening layoffs, larger class sizes, and reduced academic offerings," Srivastava said. "Eight districts would lose more than 20% for that year."
"After the legislature abandoned the Fair School Funding Plan, these additional cuts could be devastating -- and the so-called tax relief they pay for is poorly targeted and irresponsible," Srivastava said. "Property owners in Indian Hill -- where the average income tops $545,000 -- would receive tax cuts, while East Cleveland residents, with a median income of just $28,636, get nothing."
The bill would have no impact on property owners in six of Ohio's ten poorest school districts: East Cleveland, Youngstown, Warren City, Northridge Local, Sandusky City, and Warrensville Heights. Property owners in major urban districts, including Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo are also left out.
The testimony calls for a more targeted solution: a property tax circuit breaker, which refunds property taxes above a set percentage of income, using state funds to ensure school districts and local services don't lose critical funding. Some form of property tax circuit breaker is already used in 29 states. "A circuit breaker would ensure relief goes to those who truly need it, while holding schools harmless," Srivastava added. "Ohioans deserve a targeted solution to rising property taxes. H.B. 186 is not that solution."
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Analysis of Substitute House Bill 186: https://policymattersohio.org/research/hb-186-would-harm-schools-to-pay-for-poorly-targeted-property-tax-reform/
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Original text here: https://policymattersohio.org/news/2025/10/01/property-tax-proposal-misses-the-mark/
[Category: Economics]
Planned Parenthood: Judge Kascmaryk Declines to Dismiss Mifepristone Lawsuit and Instead Sends the Case to Missouri
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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Judge Kascmaryk Declines to Dismiss Mifepristone Lawsuit and Instead Sends the Case to Missouri
On Tuesday night, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk declined to dismiss the federal case that the state attorneys general of Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho are using in an effort to restrict access to mifepristone, and instead transferred the case to the federal district court in Missouri. This is a baseless lawsuit that further threatens abortion access.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson,
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America issued the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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Judge Kascmaryk Declines to Dismiss Mifepristone Lawsuit and Instead Sends the Case to Missouri
On Tuesday night, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk declined to dismiss the federal case that the state attorneys general of Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho are using in an effort to restrict access to mifepristone, and instead transferred the case to the federal district court in Missouri. This is a baseless lawsuit that further threatens abortion access.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson,president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
"Mifepristone is safe and effective -- but that has not stopped abortion opponents from trying to attack it and restrict access through any means possible. This case is a real threat to access to mifepristone while sexual and reproductive health care remains under attack by anti-abortion lawmakers. Everyone everywhere should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures, and Planned Parenthood will continue to fight to make that a reality."
"This case is one of many attacks on medication abortion at the state and federal levels, despite mifepristone's proven safety and efficacy. It has been used by more than 7.5 million people in the U.S. for medication abortion and miscarriage care since it was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago. Medication abortion is essential to protecting abortion access and accounts for 63% of all U.S. abortions. Mifepristone currently remains on the market and accessible in states where abortion is legal.
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Statement from Margot Riphagen, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers:
"For decades, mifepristone has proven to be a safe option for patients in need of abortion or miscarriage care, but anti-abortion lawmakers and regulators have stopped at nothing to keep it from patients who need it most. In Missouri, we are all too familiar with the attacks on medication abortion not grounded in science, and continue to witness the detrimental public health outcomes as a result of politically motivated lawsuits, misinformation, and restrictions. Politicians should not interfere with decisions meant to be between patients and their trusted providers. We will not back down from our commitment to quality, confidential, accessible care in Missouri and southern Illinois."
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Statement from Emily Wales, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains:
"This case has always been about ideology, not patient safety. It's no surprise it has now been transferred to a district where nearly half the bench was elevated to the judiciary after undermining abortion rights at the Missouri attorney general's office. When Missouri voters became the first in the country to end a total abortion ban, they demanded that patient care come first and not junk science."
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Statement from Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK):
"Medication abortion is one of the safest, most common forms of abortion care, and politicians know it. These attacks aren't about health care, they're about control. The Idaho attorney general's crusade to criminalize care shows that banning abortion in Idaho was never enough because they're setting the stage for a nationwide ban. We know the truth: banning abortion doesn't stop it, it just makes it less safe, with the heaviest burden falling on Black, Brown, and Indigenous people, LGBTQ+ communities, rural residents, and those with low incomes. Our patients are our north star, and we will never lose sight of everyone's need for basic, life-saving care."
Read more about mifepristone here (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/e4/9a/e49a60c1-3213-477c-a49d-9d77e7a6726b/0925-c3-mifepristone-fact-sheet-en.pdf).
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Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.
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Planned Parenthood Great Rivers is the leading provider, educator, and protector of sexual and reproductive health care in the St. Louis region, Missouri Ozarks, and beyond, as it has been for more than 90 years. Patients can make appointments online or by phone at 1-800-230-PLAN(7526).
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Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK) is a leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. The organization operates health centers in Alaska, Hawai'i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Western Washington and provides medical services and sexuality education for thousands of people each year. Planned Parenthood is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and relies heavily on charitable donations to ensure our patients' ability to determine their own destinies and receive the health care they need.
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Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) has been a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care for nearly 90 years, serving people in communities across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Each year, PPGP provides quality health care delivered with compassion and integrity to more than 30,000 people in 13 health centers. PPGP believes that every person deserves to have access to the resources, information, and equitable access they need to make decisions about their health and lives.
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Original text here: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/judge-kascmaryk-declines-to-dismiss-mifepristone-lawsuit-and-instead-sends-the-case-to-missouri
[Category: Sociological]
GreenLatinos Reacts to Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, issued the following news release:
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GreenLatinos Reacts to Government Shutdown
Since January, the Trump Administration has consistently sought to dismantle essential government functions--from proposing budgets that slash agency funding and eliminate entire programs, to pursuing legally questionable firings, to pushing a reconciliation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, issued the following news release:
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GreenLatinos Reacts to Government Shutdown
Since January, the Trump Administration has consistently sought to dismantle essential government functions--from proposing budgets that slash agency funding and eliminate entire programs, to pursuing legally questionable firings, to pushing a reconciliationpackage that strips healthcare coverage from millions of Americans. By refusing to negotiate bipartisan agreements and threatening mass firings, this shutdown will leave our Government workers and the most vulnerable Americans at risk.
Following the lapse in government appropriations, GreenLatinos Founding President & CEO Mark Magana releases the following statement:
"Congress must act in a bipartisan manner to end fiscal uncertainty, restore confidence in the democratic process, and ensure funding for the nation's most pressing needs. Equally important, Congress must safeguard appropriated funds from so-called 'pocket rescissions' from the Executive branch that undermine the constitutional power of the purse and weaken the ability of public agencies to carry out their missions.
For Latino communities, the consequences of a shutdown are particularly severe. It threatens public health by disrupting access to healthcare and weakening protections against environmental hazards. As seen in 2019, the shutdown also poses a risk for our public lands, which are vital spaces for recreation, cultural connection, and economic activity. It also undermines environmental justice efforts by stalling the agencies responsible for protecting vulnerable communities from toxic pollution, extreme heat, and climate impacts that disproportionately affect people of color.
Failure to protect both the appropriations process and the integrity of congressionally-directed funds places the Latino community at ongoing risk of losing the social safety net and the agencies that safeguard our health, environment, and public lands.
We must fund the important functions of the federal government at needed levels as soon as possible, but without needed safeguards, we enter uncharted territory where Constitutional rules and norms are upended for generations to come."
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
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Original text here: https://www.greenlatinos.org/greenlatinos-reacts-to-government-shutdown/
[Category: Environment]
Families USA Statement on Congressional Republicans Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits for Millions of Americans, Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Families USA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, issued the following news release:
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Families USA Statement on Congressional Republicans Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits for Millions of Americans, Government Shutdown
Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, today released the following statement as Congressional leadership failed to keep the government open and extend enhanced tax credits for the more than 22 million Americans who buy coverage in the health insurance marketplaces. With Open Enrollment just weeks away, millions
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- Families USA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, issued the following news release:
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Families USA Statement on Congressional Republicans Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits for Millions of Americans, Government Shutdown
Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, today released the following statement as Congressional leadership failed to keep the government open and extend enhanced tax credits for the more than 22 million Americans who buy coverage in the health insurance marketplaces. With Open Enrollment just weeks away, millionsof Americans now face huge spikes in their premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs.
"We shouldn't need a shutdown to prevent a massive spike in health insurance premiums. After an election on affordability, Republican leaders are betraying their own voters with their willingness to shut down the government to avoid extending tax credits that help more than 20 million working-class Americans afford health care. When Republicans in Congress passed huge, permanent tax credits for billionaires and big corporations this summer, they blocked multiple attempts and amendments to similarly extend the tax credits that help working families pay their health insurance premiums.
"President Trump and members of Congress promised to take action to lower costs on day one, and yet nearly one year in, the biggest cost impact will be premium spikes that they could have easily prevented. Congress must act now to make good on their promise to lower costs immediately and make these enhanced health care tax credits permanent.
"People have been rightfully demanding lower costs for groceries, but the average premium increase of over $1,000 will far exceed what most people pay for eggs in an entire year. Health care consumers will face major sticker shock as their monthly health care expenses rise by hundreds or even thousands of dollars and millions will fall off coverage. Congress must come together to open the government and pass a permanent extension of the enhanced tax credits, period."
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Reporters seeking information or interviews about the impact of premium increases on specific populations, state-by-state fact sheets, or stories of those affected can contact Families USA's experts for comment and resources.
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Original text here: https://familiesusa.org/press-releases/families-usa-statement-on-congressional-republicans-refusal-to-extend-health-care-tax-credits-for-millions-of-americans-government-shutdown/
[Category: Sociological]
Environmental Justice Leaders Submit Joint Opposition to EPA's Methane Rule Delay
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, posted the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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Environmental Justice Leaders Submit Joint Opposition to EPA's Methane Rule Delay
GreenLatinos, WE ACT, Climate Justice Alliance, and 106 EJ and Tribal Organizations File Comment Letter Against EPA's Interim Final Rule Extending Section 111 Methane Deadlines
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Today, GreenLatinos,
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, posted the following news release on Oct. 1, 2025:
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Environmental Justice Leaders Submit Joint Opposition to EPA's Methane Rule Delay
GreenLatinos, WE ACT, Climate Justice Alliance, and 106 EJ and Tribal Organizations File Comment Letter Against EPA's Interim Final Rule Extending Section 111 Methane Deadlines
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Today, GreenLatinos,WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Climate Justice Alliance, together with 106 partner organizations -- primarily environmental justice and Tribal organizations -- submitted formal comments (https://www.greenlatinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GL-OilandGas-Reconsideration-2025-Comment-.pdf) opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to delay compliance deadlines under the Section 111 Methane Rule.
The coalition's letter urges EPA to abandon the delay, warning that the rule is unjustifiable, unlawful, and would have devastating consequences for frontline communities, public health, and our collective ability to confront the climate crisis.
"Methane is a super-pollutant more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and delaying protections means millions of tons of methane and toxic co-pollutants will continue poisoning our air," said Meisei Gonzalez, Climate Justice and Clean Air Advocate with GreenLatinos.
Black, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income communities live closest to oil and gas infrastructure, breathe higher levels of air pollution, and face disproportionate health risks, including asthma, cancer, and premature death. EPA's own data show that every year of delay could lead to thousands of avoidable asthma attacks, premature deaths, and billions in health costs.
Yosef Robele, Federal Policy Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, shared, "With this action, along with other attempted rollbacks, EPA is failing to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment. There are tangible human costs to these actions. The methane standards are projected to prevent 1,500 premature deaths and 100,000 asthma attacks every single year. Each year of delay is another year that communities must endure the public health and environmental burdens from oil and gas pollution. Compounding this, our communities are on the frontline of an intensifying climate crisis, further necessitating the expedient deployment and enforcement of this emission-cutting regulation. The EPA, with this delay, continues to pursue a polluter-first agenda, putting short-term profits over our communities as well as the public's health and interests. "
The coalition emphasizes that methane mitigation is already technologically feasible and economically beneficial, creating thousands of good-paying jobs across the country. Major oil and gas companies have publicly supported strong methane regulation, making the EPA's rationale for delay even weaker.
"The EPA was created to protect our environment and our health, not to delay lifesaving protections while communities get sicker," said Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director with Climate Justice Alliance. "Methane drives extreme heat, fuels dangerous air pollution, and worsens the climate disasters we experience every day. In frontline communities-whether Indigenous, poor white, Black, and Brown communities, or working families-this delay means more children missing school because of asthma attacks, more parents missing work while trying to make ends meet, and more families struggling under the weight of mounting medical bills. EPA's proposal is unjustifiable, unlawful, and a direct betrayal of the agency's mission. Our future can't be left on the back burner while polluters' pockets are filled.
The groups are calling on EPA to immediately enforce the full and timely implementation of the 2024 methane standards, reinstate compliance deadlines for new and existing oil and gas facilities, and fully launch the Super Emitter program to detect and reduce major leaks.
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
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About WE ACT for Environmental Justice
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan-based, membership-driven organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents are meaningfully included in the development of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.
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About Climate Justice Alliance
CJA is a growing member-based organization of nearly 100 urban and rural frontline and Indigenous communities, organizations, and supporting networks working to build a Just Transition away from the extractive economy and toward a more regenerative one. Visit our website at climatejusticealliance.org and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky.
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Original text here: https://www.greenlatinos.org/environmental-justice-leaders-submit-joint-opposition-to-epas-methane-rule-delay/
[Category: Environment]
AFPI Opposes Government Shutdown, Supports Clean Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- America First Policies issued the following news release:
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AFPI Opposes Government Shutdown, Supports Clean Continuing Resolution
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) opposes the government shutdown and supports a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the federal government.
AFPI agrees with President Donald Trump's call for a responsible approach that ends the shutdown while rejecting the Democrats' push for nearly $1.5 trillion in new deficit spending and putting non-citizens and able-bodied nonworking adults on taxpayer-funded healthcare.
"Americans
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- America First Policies issued the following news release:
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AFPI Opposes Government Shutdown, Supports Clean Continuing Resolution
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) opposes the government shutdown and supports a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the federal government.
AFPI agrees with President Donald Trump's call for a responsible approach that ends the shutdown while rejecting the Democrats' push for nearly $1.5 trillion in new deficit spending and putting non-citizens and able-bodied nonworking adults on taxpayer-funded healthcare.
"Americansdeserve a government that works without shutting down, but they also deserve fiscal responsibility--after all, it's their money," said Greg Sindelar, AFPI's Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. "We support a clean CR to fund essential government functions while preventing reckless spending that further burdens taxpayers."
The Trump administration has already shut down illegal immigration, passed enormous tax cuts for Americans, ended seven major foreign conflicts, and pushed down the price of oil by nearly 20 percent--but now bad actors in Congress have shut down the government to stop this progress.
A clean CR--funding government operations at current levels without partisan riders or new spending--will keep the government open while avoiding over $1 trillion in new deficit spending Democrats have proposed.
"The choice is clear: reopen the government without adding unnecessary debt," Sindelar added. "That is the path the American people expect from their leaders."
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Original text here: https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-opposes-government-shutdown-supports-clean-continuing-resolution
[Category: Political]
