Featured Stories
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: $1.5 Billion in Annual Economic Output Generated From Recreational Angling That Involves Atlantic Menhaden as Bait
WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSrpt) -- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership issued the following news release:
* * *
$1.5 Billion in Annual Economic Output Generated From Recreational Angling That Involves Atlantic Menhaden as Bait
As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission prepares to set a new menhaden catch limit and considers whether to initiate a reallocation process among states, a new study shows that recreational anglers rely on this keystone species as one of the most important baitfish
-
Atlantic menhaden are often called the "most important fish in the sea" because of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 25 (TNSrpt) -- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership issued the following news release:
* * *
$1.5 Billion in Annual Economic Output Generated From Recreational Angling That Involves Atlantic Menhaden as Bait
As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission prepares to set a new menhaden catch limit and considers whether to initiate a reallocation process among states, a new study shows that recreational anglers rely on this keystone species as one of the most important baitfish
-
Atlantic menhaden are often called the "most important fish in the sea" because ofthe vital role they play in supporting striped bass, bluefish, tuna, ospreys, and countless other predators. But menhaden are more than a critical forage fish - they are also one of the most important bait sources for recreational and commercial fisheries along the Atlantic.
A new study conducted by Southwick Associates provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of how recreational anglers use Atlantic menhaden and the value they place on access to this critical resource.
The study estimates that recreational Atlantic fishing trips involving menhaden generated approximately $804 million in angler spending and supported more than 7,200 jobs nationwide in 2025. But the economic effects of angler spending extended well beyond direct purchases.
"Atlantic fishing trips involving menhaden generate more than $1.5 billion in annual economic output," said Ben Scuderi, lead economist at Southwick Associates. "That figure represents the full spectrum of spending that occurs for fishing trips where menhaden are used as bait, from direct purchases of equipment, food, fuel, and the many other items needed for a day of fishing, to the downstream effects that spending has on retailers, manufacturers, and countless other businesses."
The report also estimates that recreational anglers used menhaden on 13.9 million fishing days in 2025, demonstrating the species' widespread importance as a bait source throughout the Atlantic Coast. Those fishing days occurred across the region:
* 6.3 million fishing days in the Mid-Atlantic
* 5.1 million fishing days in the South Atlantic
* 2.5 million fishing days in New England
The study showed that menhaden bait supports fisheries targeting some of the Atlantic Coast's most popular recreational species, including striped bass, bluefish, tuna, weakfish, flounder, red drum, and cobia. Researchers also found that anglers depend heavily on access to menhaden products beyond live or dead fish as bait, such as menhaden chum or menhaden-based scent products.
"Together, these findings paint a clear picture. Atlantic menhaden are clearly not a niche bait source used by a small segment of anglers," said Jaclyn Lunaas, forage fish program manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. "They are a foundational component of recreational fishing across much of the East Coast."
The report findings suggest that anglers view menhaden as more than just a single option for bait. The data indicate that for many fishermen, menhaden are a preferred and highly valued tool for pursuing the species they care most about.
The findings come at a pivotal moment for Atlantic menhaden management, as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission prepares to make major decisions about the future of the fishery this fall. In November, the ASMFC's Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is expected to establish a new coastwide total allowable catch (TAC) for Atlantic menhaden for 2027-2028. The Board may also decide whether to formally initiate a process to reallocate state menhaden quotas. Current state allocations are largely based on historical harvest and have remained mostly unchanged, despite major changes in fish availability, bait supply, and public demand for the resource.
"As the ASMFC considers updating the menhaden state allocation system, properly weighing the importance of menhaden as bait in recreational and commercial fisheries is essential," said Mike Waine, Atlantic fisheries policy director for the American Sportfishing Association. "Atlantic tackle retailers, charter businesses, and recreational anglers generate hundreds of millions of dollars through the use of menhaden as bait, but those investments have not resulted in meaningful consideration of the recreational sector's needs."
Virginia currently receives approximately 75% of the coastwide allocation, with most of that harvest supporting a single foreign-owned reduction fishery. In contrast to the economic benefits provided by menhaden as bait for recreational angling, according to the reduction industry, "Omega Protein and Ocean Harvesters together generate over $100 million in economic activity" from their Virginia-based operation.
Historically, Atlantic menhaden management discussions have focused on stock assessments, harvest levels, commercial landings, and ecological reference points, all critically important and central to management decisions.
"What has often been missing, however, is a coastwide understanding of how recreational anglers use menhaden and the role the species plays in supporting recreational fisheries," said Lunaas. "This study helps fill that gap."
Allocation decisions are ultimately about determining how access to a public resource is shared among competing user groups. To make those decisions effectively, managers require a clear understanding of the benefits the resource provides across all sectors. This new research could provide important information about recreational use that has historically been absent from allocation discussions at the ASMFC.
While the study does not prescribe a specific allocation outcome, it demonstrates that recreational anglers are a major stakeholder group whose reliance on Atlantic menhaden in different regions deserves consideration as ASMFC evaluates whether the current allocation system still reflects use of the resource.
"This study reinforces the enormous economic value that recreational fishing brings to our coastal communities, but it also highlights something that is often overlooked: the importance of menhaden as the foundation of both healthy fisheries and healthy recreational and commercial fishing businesses," said David Sikorski, executive director of CCA Maryland and CCA Virginia. "This key information should now help shape decisions that support the broader ecosystem, the anglers and watermen who depend on it, and the coastal economies that benefit from bait to fuel fishing opportunity."
* * *
REPORT: https://www.trcp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Atlantic-Menhaden-Fishing-Report-FINAL-6-22-26.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://www.trcp.org/2026/06/24/1-5-billion-in-annual-economic-output-generated-from-recreational-angling-that-involves-atlantic-menhaden-as-bait/
[Category: Environment]
Protect Borrowers: Bipartisan Discharge Petition Forces a Reckoning on Student Loan Interest
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) issued the following news release:
* * *
A New Bipartisan Discharge Petition Forces a Reckoning on Student Loan Interest
Bipartisan Bill Would Cap Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans at 2%
-
As federal student loan payments are set to hit new highs for millions of Americans on July 1 thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, a new discharge petition has been filed in the U.S. House of Representatives to force a floor vote on a bipartisan effort to cap federal student loan interest rates at 2 percent.
In
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) issued the following news release:
* * *
A New Bipartisan Discharge Petition Forces a Reckoning on Student Loan Interest
Bipartisan Bill Would Cap Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans at 2%
-
As federal student loan payments are set to hit new highs for millions of Americans on July 1 thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, a new discharge petition has been filed in the U.S. House of Representatives to force a floor vote on a bipartisan effort to cap federal student loan interest rates at 2 percent.
Inresponse, Protect Borrowers Executive Director Mike Pierce released the following statement:
"One year ago, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was rammed across the finish line gutting the financial support millions of families depend on to pay for college. Since then, costs keep climbing and a decent life has slipped further out of reach for working class and middle class families--including the nearly 9 million student loan borrowers who have fallen behind under Trump's watch.
"This bipartisan effort to deliver student debt relief recognizes this new economic and political reality: families are under extreme financial pressure and something has to give. Making sure student loan borrowers are not being gouged on interest rates while the system is in chaos is the bare minimum."
* * *
About Protect Borrowers
Protect Borrowers (formerly Student Borrower Protection Center) is a nonprofit organization led by a team of experts, lawyers, and advocates fighting to build an economy where debt doesn't limit opportunity. We investigate financial abuses, take predatory companies to court, and push for policies to protect working people from debt traps. We aim to deliver immediate relief to families while building power, driving systemic change, and fighting for racial and economic justice.
* * *
Original text here: https://protectborrowers.org/new-bipartisan-discharge-petition-forces-a-reckoning-on-student-loan-interest/
[Category: Financial Services]
Operation Homefront Welcomes New Chief Impact Officer
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 25 -- Operation Homefront issued the following news release:
* * *
Operation Homefront(R) Welcomes New Chief Impact Officer
National military nonprofit Operation Homefront(R) has named Meredith Lozar as its Chief Impact Officer. In this capacity, Lozar will lead the organization's impact strategy, aligning programs, partnerships, measurement, and service delivery to strengthen outcomes for military and veteran families and ensure Operation Homefront continues delivering measurable, mission-driven results.
"Military families face unique challenges throughout every
... Show Full Article
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 25 -- Operation Homefront issued the following news release:
* * *
Operation Homefront(R) Welcomes New Chief Impact Officer
National military nonprofit Operation Homefront(R) has named Meredith Lozar as its Chief Impact Officer. In this capacity, Lozar will lead the organization's impact strategy, aligning programs, partnerships, measurement, and service delivery to strengthen outcomes for military and veteran families and ensure Operation Homefront continues delivering measurable, mission-driven results.
"Military families face unique challenges throughout everystage of service and transition, but they also possess tremendous resilience and potential. I am honored to join Operation Homefront and help advance a strategy that combines innovative programs, meaningful partnerships, and measurable impact so more families can build strong, stable, and secure futures," said Lozar.
Lozar is a mission-driven executive and recognized thought leader in the military and veteran family space, with more than 15 years of experience leading national program portfolios, cross-sector partnerships, and strategic growth across nonprofit, corporate, and government environments.
Lozar is recognized for aligning mission strategy with measurable outcomes, building high-impact partnerships, and helping organizations scale programs that are sustainable, data-informed, and responsive to community needs.
Throughout her career, Lozar has led national programs and partnerships focused on workforce development, military family well-being, economic opportunity, and systems-level change. Her experience spans executive leadership roles with Hiring Our Heroes, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Blue Star Families, National Military Family Association, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, where she has guided large-scale initiatives, expanded strategic partnerships, and strengthened organizational impact.
A military child and active-duty Marine Corps spouse, Lozar brings both professional expertise and personal connection to the work. She is deeply committed to advancing solutions that help military and veteran families build greater stability, opportunity, and long-term well-being. Her lived experience continues to shape her leadership and reinforces her commitment to expanding effective, innovative support for the military community.
"We are thrilled to welcome Meredith to Operation Homefront as our Chief Impact Officer," said Rear Admiral (ret) Alan Reyes, President and CEO of Operation Homefront. "As a military spouse, her personal understanding of military family life combined with her strategic expertise, will bring increased strength and resilience for the families we serve, as we continue enhancing programs that deliver meaningful impact."
Lozar served as past President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education, is a member of the Board of Directors for Child Care Aware of America, and as a member of the Alzheimer's Association Workplace Advisory Council. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, summa cum laude, from Purdue University and her Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. She is also a graduate of Brown University's Executive Leadership and Performance Coaching Program. Meredith lives in Georgia with her husband, Nick, and their daughter, Clara.
* * *
About Operation Homefront:
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive - not simply struggle to get by - in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 85 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing, and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America's military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://operationhomefront.org/oh-welcomes-new-chief-impact-officer/
[Category: Sociological]
Northwell Cancer Institute Opens $5.8M Queens Radiation Center in Forest Hills
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, June 25 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
Northwell Cancer Institute opens $5.8M Queens Radiation Center in Forest Hills
Top oncologists, facility upgrades and breakthrough technology offer patients access to world-class care in Queens
-
The Northwell Cancer Institute today announced the opening of its newly renovated Queens Radiation Center in Forest Hills. Following a $5.8 million investment in facility upgrades and cutting-edge technology, it represents a major breakthrough in precision radiation therapy, delivering diagnostic-quality
... Show Full Article
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, June 25 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
Northwell Cancer Institute opens $5.8M Queens Radiation Center in Forest Hills
Top oncologists, facility upgrades and breakthrough technology offer patients access to world-class care in Queens
-
The Northwell Cancer Institute today announced the opening of its newly renovated Queens Radiation Center in Forest Hills. Following a $5.8 million investment in facility upgrades and cutting-edge technology, it represents a major breakthrough in precision radiation therapy, delivering diagnostic-qualityimaging and treatment with unprecedented accuracy for cancer patients throughout Queens and surrounding communities.
The Queens Radiation Center features the Varian Halcyon linear accelerator with HyperSight advanced imaging technology. The system also includes PerfectKinetix Dynamic Couch, the table patients lay on during radiation treatment, which is designed to make patient positioning more comfortable. This novel positioning system allows clinicians to treat complex cases with greater accuracy, requiring fewer patient repositions, faster treatment times, and less time on the table.
Cutting-edge technology powers local, equitable treatment
The advanced radiation system and imaging technology provides high-quality, daily pre-treatment imaging in a single six-second breath hold, enabling radiation oncologists to clearly visualize and precisely target tumors with exceptional accuracy.
"The opening of our Queens Radiation Center reflects Northwell's deep commitment to health equity and community investment," said Richard Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief and executive director of the Northwell Cancer Institute. "By bringing state-of-the-art radiation technology and renowned clinical experts to Forest Hills, we're ensuring that our diverse Queens communities receive the same precision care available anywhere in the world."
"The center's new technological advancements show that Northwell's radiation oncology program remains steadfast in its mission to provide the most up-to-date, highest quality, cutting-edge care to our cancer patients," said Louis Potters, MD, senior vice president and deputy physician-in-chief of radiation oncology at the Northwell Cancer Institute. "The opening of our Queens Radiation Center represents our commitment to expanding access to advanced cancer care throughout New York. Patients no longer need to travel to Manhattan or elsewhere for world-class radiation therapy--they can receive it right here in their community."
Bhupesh Parashar, MD, PhD, chairman of the Queens Radiation Center and vice chair of research for the Department of Radiation Medicine at Northwell Health, explained how the new radiation oncology technology works. "The integration of HyperSight technology represents a transformational advancement in how we deliver cancer care," he said. "It enables us to target tumors with extraordinary precision while getting patients in and out quickly -- with the average on-table time in just 10 minutes or less. Combined with the unique design of the table and its novel positioning system, we are offering patients access to the most advanced imaging and treatment technology available anywhere in the world."
Comprehensive, accessible cancer treatment
The Queens Radiation Center treats patients with prostate, breast, gynecologic, lung, brain, and head and neck cancers, among others. The center's experienced radiation oncologists work closely with cancer surgeons and medical oncologists to ensure patients receive comprehensive, coordinated cancer care at Northwell Health hospitals -- Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park and Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.
Dr. Parashar directs radiation medicine services at the new center with Roberto Lipsztein, MD, a radiation oncologist at Northwell Health. Both physicians are board-certified radiation oncologists with extensive experience in treating complex cancer cases. In addition, the center has multilingual staff members who speak Spanish, Russian, Hindi, French, and Portuguese, with translation services available, ensuring every patient receives personalized, culturally sensitive care.
As part of Northwell Health's Department of Radiation Medicine, Dr. Parashar noted that patients receive personalized care through its Smarter Radiation Oncology(R) program, a unique quality assurance process where radiation oncologists 'round,' or collaborate, daily before treatment planning--not after--to optimize every patient's care plan.
"Additionally, the Forest Hills location is critically important to the communities we serve," said. Dr. Parashar. "Many of our patients require daily treatment over weeks. By bringing this cutting-edge technology and expertise to Queens, we are making world-class individualized cancer care accessible to the diverse populations we serve--where our patients live and work."
Together with the Queens Radiation Center, patients can access a full spectrum of outpatient cancer care nearby at the Northwell Health Cancer Center in Rego Park.
The Northwell Cancer Institute Queens Radiation Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and is part of Northwell Health's Department of Radiation Medicine, a national leader in radiation oncology quality and safety. The center offers a comprehensive range of advanced treatments including: image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT); intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT); stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The center also provides low-dose radiation therapy for benign conditions such as osteoarthritis, keloids, or other disorders.
Meeting the growing need for radiation therapy in cancer care
Radiation therapy is used in approximately 50 percent of all cancer cases, either as a primary treatment or in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, according to the American Cancer Society. Rising cancer rates in an aging population, coupled with improved survival outcomes, are driving increased demand for radiation therapy. Radiation can cure cancer, control its growth, or alleviate symptoms, making it an essential component of cancer care. Many radiation therapy regimens require daily treatment over several weeks, making accessible, convenient care close to home essential for patients.
The Northwell Cancer Institute Queens Radiation Center is strategically located in Forest Hills to serve the people living in Queens and the surrounding communities. At 106-14 70th Avenue, the center offers unparalleled accessibility. It is within walking distance of the Forest Hills/71st Avenue subway station; adjacent to the Long Island Railroad Forest Hills station; has direct Q60 bus service; and has parking nearby.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.northwell.edu/news/the-latest/northwell-cancer-institute-opens-queens-radiation-center-forest-hills
[Category: Health Care]
CAIR Says U.N. Report Documenting Israel's Deliberate Targeting of Children Should Lead to U.S. and Global Sanctions
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Says U.N. Report Documenting Israel's Deliberate Targeting of Children Should Lead to U.S. and Global Sanctions
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that sanctions on Israel, not just an end to western military aid, should follow a United Nations commission of inquiry reporting that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, actions the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Says U.N. Report Documenting Israel's Deliberate Targeting of Children Should Lead to U.S. and Global Sanctions
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that sanctions on Israel, not just an end to western military aid, should follow a United Nations commission of inquiry reporting that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, actions thecommission said amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
According to the report by the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, children accounted for roughly 30 percent of Palestinians killed in Gaza during the period examined. The commission concluded that Israeli forces engaged in a pattern of conduct that included the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children and that these actions continued even after a ceasefire in late 2025.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"Every child killed, maimed, starved, traumatized, or orphaned in Gaza is a devastating reminder of our nation's failure to uphold the most basic principles of human rights and international law. The findings of U.N. experts reinforce what humanitarian organizations, medical professionals, and human rights advocates have been documenting for years: Palestinian children have been subjected to unimaginable suffering on a massive scale.
"The international community must not turn away from these findings or treat them as just another headline. Congress, the Trump administration, foreign governments, international institutions, and civil society must act to end the slaughter, ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and protect the lives and future of Palestinian children. Ending unconditional aid to Israel should only be the first step. Sanctions should be imposed on this rogue government until it ends its crimes against humanity, including children."
Yesterday, CAIR called on Congress to condemn Israel's murder of a teenage girl as she walked to school to take an exam in Gaza City.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also joined the call for urgent international intervention to secure the immediate release of three pregnant Palestinian women currently detained in Israeli prisons.
Last year, CAIR welcomed findings by the International Court of Justice that recognized the plausibility of genocide claims brought against Israel and has consistently urged U.S. policymakers to support measures that protect civilian lives and uphold international law.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-says-u-n-report-documenting-israels-deliberate-targeting-of-children-should-lead-to-u-s-and-global-sanctions/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Letter Urges House to Strike U.S.-Israel Military Merger and Anti-Boycott Amendment From NDAA
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Letter Urges House to Strike U.S.-Israel Military Merger and Anti-Boycott Amendment from NDAA
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed Amendment #2 to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), submitted by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
The bipartisan amendment
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Letter Urges House to Strike U.S.-Israel Military Merger and Anti-Boycott Amendment from NDAA
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed Amendment #2 to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), submitted by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).
The bipartisan amendmentwould strike Section 219, formerly Section 224, the "United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative," which would expand U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation, research partnerships, intelligence coordination, and military-industrial integration.
CAIR also called on the House Rules Committee to reject Amendment 151, which would expand federal anti-boycott restrictions to boycotts promoted by international governmental organizations (IGOs), including bodies such as the United Nations, and Amendment 362, which would require the Secretary of Defense to certify that Department of Defense contractors do not participate in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. Both amendments raise serious concerns about free speech and First Amendment protections.
Earlier today, CAIR submitted a letter to the House Rules Committee urging members to support Amendment 2 and oppose Amendments 151 and 362. Next week, the committee will consider all amendments to the House's version of the NDAA. CAIR is urging every American to take action by sending a message to members of Congress to strike Section 219 to stop American military merger with the Israeli government.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw said:
"Americans should never be asked to surrender their First Amendment rights to protect the political interests of a foreign government. Amendment 151 would further expand anti-boycott laws that chill peaceful political expression, while Amendment 362 would impose an ideological litmus test on federal contractors based on their participation in a constitutionally protected form of political advocacy.
"Congress was right to reject this anti-boycott proposal in committee last week, and it should reject this latest attempt to revive the same policy through the NDAA amendment process.
"At the same time, Section 219 would take the extraordinary step of further binding the United States and Israel through deeper military, intelligence, technological, and defense-industrial integration at a moment when the Israeli government stands accused of genocide, apartheid, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. As disturbing reports continue to emerge of torture, abuse, and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, Congress should not be creating new mechanisms for military and technological integration that risk further implicating the United States in these abuses rather than helping bring them to an end.
"We urge every member of the House Rules Committee to reject Amendments 151 and 362, make Amendment 2 in order, and send a clear message that the constitutional rights of the American people, the principles of accountability, and the interests of our nation come before the demands of any foreign government."
The proposed expansion of U.S.-Israel defense cooperation comes at a time when the Israeli government faces allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, apartheid, and genocide, as well as documented reports of abuse and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, including children. Deepening military, intelligence, and technology integration under these circumstances risks further entangling the United States in actions that much of the international community has condemned and undermines efforts to secure accountability for violations of international law.
CAIR noted that last week, Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY), who is sponsoring the IGO Anti-Boycott Act provision, was forced to withdraw the amendment before consideration by the House Foreign Affairs Committee following outreach from CAIRand other civil liberties advocates.
That earlier proposal sought to revive the controversial IGO Anti-Boycott Act by extending federal anti-boycott restrictions to boycotts associated with international governmental organizations such as the United Nations. For the past two years, CAIR has warned members of Congress that the measure threatened constitutionally protected political speech and advocacy and welcomed its withdrawal before last week's markup.
* * *
INFODOC: https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CAIR-Letter-to-House-Rules-6-24-2026.pdf
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-letter-urges-house-to-strike-u-s-israel-military-merger-and-anti-boycott-amendment-from-ndaa/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Condemns Speaker Johnson for Inciting Anti-Islam Hate Weeks After San Diego Shooting
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Condemns Speaker Johnson for Inciting Anti-Islam Hate Weeks After San Diego Shooting
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for inciting anti-Muslim hate weeks after the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Responding to a question about the Trump administration's challenge to birthright citizenship contrasted with the celebration
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on June 24, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Condemns Speaker Johnson for Inciting Anti-Islam Hate Weeks After San Diego Shooting
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for inciting anti-Muslim hate weeks after the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Responding to a question about the Trump administration's challenge to birthright citizenship contrasted with the celebrationof U.S. National Team player Folarin Balogun, who was born in the country but spent much of his youth in Nigeria, Speaker Johnson said that "we celebrate legal immigration" and "expect that people will come, they will follow the spirit and the letter of the law, they will assimilate into our country and not try to transplant Sharia law and all these other things."
WATCH THE VIDEO (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC8fbqgpQTw)
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
"Just weeks after anti-Muslim extremists murdered three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego, Speaker Johnson is inciting anti-Muslim hate using some of the same talking points the shooters used in their manifesto. When American Muslims pray five times a day, fast in Ramadan, and give in charity, they are following the rules of sharia, which is analogous to halacha in Judaism and canon law in Catholicism. The idea that American Muslims following the rules of their faith pose a threat to American culture is a hateful remark that Speaker Johnson would never tolerate or express regarding Jewish or Christian Americans. We urge Speaker Johnson to apologize for this false and dangerous implication."
Washington, D.C., based CAIR's latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 - the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
Last month, CAIR commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on "Sharia law." CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
CAIR previously designated the so-called "Sharia-Free America Caucus" organizing the hearing as an anti-Muslim hate group after multiple caucus members publicly called for banning the practice of Islam, expelling Muslims from the United States, or targeting mainstream Muslim organizations and communities.
Community members who experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or bias targeting Muslims or other marginalized groups are encouraged to report incide
* * *
CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-condemns-speaker-johnson-for-inciting-anti-islam-hate-weeks-after-san-diego-shooting/
[Category: Sociological]
