Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
U.S. Dept. of Commerce Maintains Firm Opposition to EU's Discriminatory Digital Regulations
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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U.S. Dept. of Commerce Maintains Firm Opposition to EU's Discriminatory Digital Regulations
By Caden Hubbs
At a recent EU meeting, European leaders clashed with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick over growing tension around the EU's digital regulatory regime. Europe's regulatory architecture discriminatorily targets American businesses with unfair compliance costs, burdening the rapidly growing tech sector while straining transatlantic relations. Now, Secretary Lutnick has made clear that any future
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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U.S. Dept. of Commerce Maintains Firm Opposition to EU's Discriminatory Digital Regulations
By Caden Hubbs
At a recent EU meeting, European leaders clashed with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick over growing tension around the EU's digital regulatory regime. Europe's regulatory architecture discriminatorily targets American businesses with unfair compliance costs, burdening the rapidly growing tech sector while straining transatlantic relations. Now, Secretary Lutnick has made clear that any futuretrade must be conducted in the absence of these rules, demanding their immediate repeal in exchange for reductions on steel and aluminum tariffs.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) comprises one of 16 major pieces of legislation constructing one of the world's most stringent regulatory environments--that at best negligently limits Europe's most innovative sector, and at worst actively suppresses American economic activity in Europe. Using arbitrary revenue thresholds and often contradictory terminology, European regulators have had free rein to harness the EU's digital regulations to uniquely target American companies. The cost of compliance adds up. Europe's regulatory demands are estimated to cost American companies operating in Europe on average $430 million annually per company, totaling $2.2 trillion in lost revenue and a $325 billion reduction in R&D by 2030.
Europe's digital regulations have become a lingering sore spot in transatlantic relations. The Trump administration has consistently opposed Europe's discriminatory trade policies but has struggled to achieve real concessions--until recently: In mid-November the European Commission released a proposal for a "Digital Omnibus Package" to simplify requirements and constrain regulators. Shortly after this, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke out against Brussels' overzealous regulation of innovative industries where Europe increasingly falls behind American and Chinese competitors.
The EU's digital regulations have not only caused tension with the U.S. but have increasingly fallen out of favor with European leaders. Secretary Lutnick's pressure, along with broader opposition from the Executive Office, has already played a crucial role in forcing Europe to reverse course on its regulatory regime. Continued support for free and fair-trade practices that demand the end of laws such as the DMA is crucial as the U.S. continues to seek a truly reciprocal trade relationship with Europe that allows mutual prosperity and exchange.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/u-s-dep-of-commerce-maintains-firm-opposition-to-eus-discriminatory-digital-regulations/
[Category: Political]
Senate Majority PAC: Susan Collins Deploys Spin Machine to Distance Herself From 'Multimillion-Dollar Giveaway' in Her Own Bill
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Senate Majority PAC, an organizations that works to elect Democratic senators who are committed to an economy that provides opportunity and security for America's working families and who stand up to protect the rights of all Americans, issued the following news release on Dec. 1, 2025:
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Susan Collins Deploys Spin Machine to Distance Herself from 'Multimillion-Dollar Giveaway' in Her Own Bill
Today, Sen. Susan Collins desperately attempted to distance herself from the controversial amendment included in the government shutdown deal allowing her Republican colleagues
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Senate Majority PAC, an organizations that works to elect Democratic senators who are committed to an economy that provides opportunity and security for America's working families and who stand up to protect the rights of all Americans, issued the following news release on Dec. 1, 2025:
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Susan Collins Deploys Spin Machine to Distance Herself from 'Multimillion-Dollar Giveaway' in Her Own Bill
Today, Sen. Susan Collins desperately attempted to distance herself from the controversial amendment included in the government shutdown deal allowing her Republican colleaguesto sue the federal government for at least $500,000 in taxpayer funds.
After facing bipartisan blowback on the measure, Senator Collins is now claiming she had no hand with the amendment, despite previously taking full credit and celebrating the deal to re-open the government.
"Either Susan Collins thinks Mainers are dumb, or she has zero knowledge of what her office is up to. Either way, it is embarrassing to watch," said Senate Majority PAC Press Secretary Christyna Thompson. "Collins was exposed giving her Senate colleagues a taxpayer-funded payout, and now is trying to clean it up with a desperate op-ed as if that would magically erase the truth."
This handout for Republican Senators comes right after Collins voted against extending critical Affordable Care Act tax credits that help everyday families afford their healthcare. Without these protections, more than 70,000 Mainers could see their health insurance premiums skyrocket by an average of $886 a year.
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Original text here: https://senatemajority.com/news/susan-collins-deploys-spin-machine-to-distance-from-multimillion-dollar-giveaway-in-her-own-bill/
[Category: Political]
Save the Sound Disappointed by Decision to Approve Casino License on Public Parkland in the Bronx
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Dec. 2 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release on Dec. 1, 2025:
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Save the Sound disappointed by decision to approve casino license on public parkland in the Bronx
Bally's in line to develop 3 million square foot complex on 17+ waterfront acres of Ferry Point Park
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After a lengthy process that saw Bally's bid to develop and operate a casino and hotel complex in Ferry Point Park in the Bronx rejected at both the community board and City Council levels, Save the Sound expressed its profound disappointment at Monday's decision by the New York State Gaming
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NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Dec. 2 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release on Dec. 1, 2025:
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Save the Sound disappointed by decision to approve casino license on public parkland in the Bronx
Bally's in line to develop 3 million square foot complex on 17+ waterfront acres of Ferry Point Park
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After a lengthy process that saw Bally's bid to develop and operate a casino and hotel complex in Ferry Point Park in the Bronx rejected at both the community board and City Council levels, Save the Sound expressed its profound disappointment at Monday's decision by the New York State GamingFacility Location Board recommending Bally's to receive one of three casino licenses. Two Queens-based projects, Metropolitan Park in Flushing and Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack, also were approved. Both Bally's and Metropolitan Park would negatively impact Long Island Sound.
The approved projects await a final signoff by the New York State Gaming Commission, which is expected to issue the licenses before the end of December.
Save the Sound has argued that Bally's Environmental Impact Statement insufficiently addresses the company's plan to manage the increased volumes of stormwater and wastewater it will create and the additional burden it will place on aging infrastructure; the air quality risks posed by the millions of extra vehicles projected to make their way to Ferry Point Park every year; and the loss of irreplaceable waterfront parkland for the surrounding community. The environmental organization also lobbied against the state's passage of parkland alienation legislation necessary for the Bally's and Metropolitan Park projects to move forward.
"It is extremely disappointing that the State Gaming Facility Location Board has approved Bally's application to develop a massive casino and hotel complex on public parkland without adequately addressing its environmental impact," said David Ansel, vice president of the Center for Water Protection at Save the Sound. "Throughout the process, Save the Sound has warned about the degrading effect this project would have on water quality in Westchester Creek and the upper East River--two impaired waterways in the Western Narrows of Long Island Sound. Without a comprehensive plan for managing stormwater that maximizes green infrastructure benefits, the increased runoff will make it even more difficult to reduce pollution in New York City waters."
"We are very disappointed to see Bally's Corporation rewarded with a casino license after their repeated failures to acknowledge and respond to concerns Save the Sound and community members have raised throughout the City Environmental Quality Review process," said Dara Illowsky, New York staff attorney, Save the Sound. "The Environmental Impact Statement fails to explain how Bally's will avoid environmental impacts such as increased stormwater runoff from large areas of additional impervious surface, loss of at least 17 acres of public parkland, and air pollution from increased traffic, including in state-designated disadvantaged communities." "The Gaming Facility Location Board's decision to move forward Bally's application to build a 3.1 million square foot casino complex at Ferry Point Park is dismaying for the countless Bronx residents who spoke out to defend their public parkland and environmental quality," said David Abreu, clean water advocacy specialist, Save the Sound. "A project that was opposed by the local community board, pushed through the City and State legislatures, and has only vaguely discussed significant environmental concerns should not be considered for licensure. Should Bally's ultimately receive a casino license, Save the Sound will continue to monitor their application to ensure adherence to all city and state environmental regulations and permitting."
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Original text here: https://www.savethesound.org/2025/12/01/press-release-save-the-sound-disappointed-by-decision-to-approve-casino-license-on-public-parkland-in-the-bronx/
[Category: Environment]
Sandia Park Candy Company Pledges No Animal Tests, Earning PETA Praise
SANDIA PARK, New Mexica, Dec. 2 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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Sandia Park Candy Company Pledges No Animal Tests, Earning PETA Praise
Go Max Go Foods, a company that produces vegan versions of classic candy bars, receives kudos from PETA today for signing on to a groundbreaking new Eat Without Experiments program that helps shoppers identify food and beverage companies that don't test on animals.
Go Max Go is one of many companies--including Ferrero International, Bacardi Limited, Amy's Kitchen, Heineken, and Unilever--that have already
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SANDIA PARK, New Mexica, Dec. 2 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
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Sandia Park Candy Company Pledges No Animal Tests, Earning PETA Praise
Go Max Go Foods, a company that produces vegan versions of classic candy bars, receives kudos from PETA today for signing on to a groundbreaking new Eat Without Experiments program that helps shoppers identify food and beverage companies that don't test on animals.
Go Max Go is one of many companies--including Ferrero International, Bacardi Limited, Amy's Kitchen, Heineken, and Unilever--that have alreadysigned PETA's Eat Without Experiments pledge.
"Go Max Go's statement of assurance will give it a leg up with caring consumers who want to support transparent, eco-and-animal-friendly businesses," says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. "PETA now calls on Oreo-maker Mondelez International to take inspiration from this conscientious company and end cruel and deadly tests on animals."
Customers spend money according to what a company represents. According to global market research, companies that don't align with customer beliefs pay the price, because 42 percent of consumers walk away, and one in five never return. A survey of 30,000 consumers found that 74 percent crave greater transparency regarding companies' stances on important issues such as animal testing. Companies signing PETA's pro-animal pledge forward their brands in the minds of a new wave of ethics-conscious consumers.
Visitors to the Eat Without Experiments website can take action urging Oreo-maker Mondelez International--which also owns Cadbury, Honey Maid, and several other well-known brands--to stop tormenting and killing animals in tests that do not apply to human health. Mondelez misleads consumers by claiming it doesn't test its products on animals, but neglects to say that it does fund basic and deadly "nutritional science" experiments on animals, which aren't required by any regulatory agencies.
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PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to experiment on"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/sandia-park-candy-company-pledges-no-animal-tests-earning-peta-praise/
[Category: Animals]
Open House and Dedication Dates for Temple in the Philippines
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 2 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Open House and Dedication Dates for Temple in the Philippines
Elder Dale G. Renlund will preside at the dedication
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The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the open house and dedication dates for the Davao Philippines Temple.
A media day will be held Monday, March 23, 2026. Invited guests will tour the temple on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24-25, 2026. The public open house will take place Thursday, March 26, through Friday,
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 2 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Open House and Dedication Dates for Temple in the Philippines
Elder Dale G. Renlund will preside at the dedication
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The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the open house and dedication dates for the Davao Philippines Temple.
A media day will be held Monday, March 23, 2026. Invited guests will tour the temple on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 24-25, 2026. The public open house will take place Thursday, March 26, through Friday,April 10, 2026 (excluding Sundays). The dedication ceremony will be held Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 10 a.m. (Rebroadcast: 2 p.m.).
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication. It will be broadcast to all units in the Davao Philippines Temple district.
First announced by President Russell M. Nelson in October 2018, the Davao Philippines Temple will be the fifth operating temple in the country following the dedication of the Alabang Philippines Temple in January 2026.
"Building and maintaining temples may not change your life, but spending your time in the temple surely will," President Nelson said following the Davao Temple announcement.
Operating temples are in Cebu City, Manila and Urdaneta Philippines. Temples are under construction in Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban, and announced in Iloilo, Laoag, Naga, San Jose del Monte, Santiago and Tuguegarao City.
Nearly 900,000 Latter-day Saints, meeting in around 1,400 congregations, reside in the Philippines.
Latter-day Saints consider each temple a house of the Lord and the most sacred place of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Church's meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/open-house-and-dedication-dates-for-temple-in-the-philippines
[Category: Religion]
Alianza Americas: Cruel and Unnecessary - Additional Screening for Refugees in the U.S.
CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 2 -- Alianza Americas, a transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations, issued the following news release:
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Cruel and unnecessary: additional screening for refugees in the U.S.
Alianza Americas rejects the Trump administration's persistent actions against people seeking humanitarian protection. This month, the administration has announced several efforts to undermine the refugee resettlement program. The latest attempt is an internal memo directing officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to once again interview around
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 2 -- Alianza Americas, a transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations, issued the following news release:
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Cruel and unnecessary: additional screening for refugees in the U.S.
Alianza Americas rejects the Trump administration's persistent actions against people seeking humanitarian protection. This month, the administration has announced several efforts to undermine the refugee resettlement program. The latest attempt is an internal memo directing officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to once again interview around200,000 refugees who have already entered the country and passed rigorous screening during the prior administration. Additionally, earlier this month, the administration decreased the annual refugee admissions cap to 7,500, indicating it would prioritize admissions for white South African applicants, a move that is clearly racially discriminatory and in alignment with their white supremacist agenda.
There is no basis for another screening of 200,000 individuals who were carefully vetted over 18 - 24 months before they arrived in the U.S. This is just another attempt by the administration to cast doubt on its predecessor's actions and to delay permanent residence processing for many refugees. Admitted refugees should not need to prove once more that they met the definition under the Immigration and Nationality Act. There is no legal basis for these actions. Such an unfounded requirement only deepens the anxiety felt by refugees and undermines the very purpose of the U.S. refugee protection system.
This is another failed political maneuver. The numbers and the actions speak for themselves. This administration has undermined the international refugee system with funding cuts and its anti-refugee and asylee rhetoric and actions. There is no justification for the wealthiest country in the world to close its doors and deny the possibility of safety and dignity to those who have fled persecution and need to rebuild their lives. The U.S. has lost its ability to exert global soft power through measures like this one. This is a loss that hurts us all.
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Alianza Americas is a transnational network of migrant-led organizations in the United States. We advocate for social justice, equity and human rights in the Americas.
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Original text here: https://www.alianzaamericas.org/post/cruel-and-unnecessary-additional-screening-for-refugees-in-the-u-s
[Category: Political]
AHRC Welcomes Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Lebanon, Expresses Hope for Peace in Lebanon and the Region
DEARBORN, Michigan, Dec. 2 -- The American Human Rights Council issued the following news release:
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AHRC Welcomes Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Lebanon, Expresses Hope for Peace in Lebanon and the Region
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the Lebanese people and all peace-loving communities worldwide in welcoming Pope Leo XIV's historic visit to Lebanon during this time of regional turmoil.
The Pope's visit comes amidst ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire reached on November 27, 2024, with more than 10,000 breaches documented by UNIFIL and Lebanese officials within one
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DEARBORN, Michigan, Dec. 2 -- The American Human Rights Council issued the following news release:
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AHRC Welcomes Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Lebanon, Expresses Hope for Peace in Lebanon and the Region
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the Lebanese people and all peace-loving communities worldwide in welcoming Pope Leo XIV's historic visit to Lebanon during this time of regional turmoil.
The Pope's visit comes amidst ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire reached on November 27, 2024, with more than 10,000 breaches documented by UNIFIL and Lebanese officials within oneyear! The Pope's visit highlights the urgency of peace and stability in the region.
This marks Pope Leo's first visit to the Middle East, and Lebanon in particular, arriving at a moment of heightened tension as threats of widened Israeli military attacks loom over Lebanon. These threats aim to target wide areas across Lebanon, extending beyond the South.
During his visit, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of Lebanon's unity and stability, calling for lasting peace in the region. Despite widespread despair and anxiety over the possibility of war, the Lebanese people welcomed the Pope with unity, appealing for his support during these most challenging times.
The Pope also reaffirmed his principled stance on the Palestinian issue, declaring that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to peace. His call for an end to war and conflict resonated deeply with the people of Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
AHRC-USA hopes that the Pope's visit will serve as a catalyst for peace, helping Lebanon avoid further aggression from Israel and sparing innocent lives from more devastation inflicted by the extremist Netanyahu government whose program is ever more land grabs and open- ended wars.
"Lebanese from all religious backgrounds welcomed the visit of Pope Leo, it was impressive," said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. "Lebanon is a troubled land that is eager for peace and justice, and the visit of Pope Leo put the international spotlight on Lebanon, a country that has been victimized by Israel for many years," added Hamad. "The Pope does not have an army but has great moral authority and we hope that powerful countries listen to the Pope's call for peace and justice," concluded Hamad.
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AHRC Mission:
The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The AHRC was formed to protect these rights and advocate for anyone whose rights are being violated or denied. To that end, the AHRC will build a tenacious, objective, and carefully guided advocacy program that will serve to defend individual human rights, whenever and wherever they are being infringed upon. NGO in Consultative Status with the Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC)-United Nations
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Original text here: https://ahrcusa.org/ahrc-welcomes-pope-leo-xivs-visit-to-lebanon-expresses-hope-for-peace-in-lebanon-and-the-region/
[Category: Sociological]
