Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
WildEarth Guardians: Lawsuit Prompts Court to Require Reconsideration of Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Dec. 19 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release:
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Lawsuit Prompts Court to Require Reconsideration of Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service ordered to reconsider 'cattle grazing in general' at Refuge established to protect largest wetlands complex in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
*
MISSOULA, Mont.-- A Montana federal court judge issued a ruling this week granting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to reevaluate its determination justifying livestock grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Dec. 19 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release:
* * *
Lawsuit Prompts Court to Require Reconsideration of Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service ordered to reconsider 'cattle grazing in general' at Refuge established to protect largest wetlands complex in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
*
MISSOULA, Mont.-- A Montana federal court judge issued a ruling this week granting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to reevaluate its determination justifying livestock grazing at Red Rock Lakes National WildlifeRefuge in Montana's Centennial Valley, to reconsider its grazing permit approach, and to reevaluate the environmental impacts of commercial cattle grazing at the Refuge. In response to a legal challenge from conservation organizations over the Service continuing to issue grazing permits that rely on a three-decades-old environmental analysis, the agency vows to collect new data and conduct new analyses, revisiting "cattle grazing in general on the Refuge."
"The Fish and Wildlife Service has a duty to manage Red Rock Lakes to protect and preserve wildlife and habitat, but for decades it allowed ranchers to graze cattle on public land with little oversight and no consideration of the harm that grazing has had on the Refuge's wildlife," said Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney with WildEarth Guardians. "It's unfortunate that it took a lawsuit from conservation organizations to get the Service to acknowledge that it's been derelict in its duty. Now the Service must honor its commitment to the court to reevaluate whether cattle belong on this wildlife refuge and remove them if they don't."
The Refuge was established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 to protect the largest wetlands complex in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It is home to grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, sage grouse, and more than one hundred other species of birds. The Refuge contains one of the last remaining native populations of Arctic grayling in the contiguous U.S. Over the last decade, that population has declined from several thousand fish to just 73 fish in 2022.
At least as far back as 1994, the Service has recognized that livestock grazing poses a significant threat to the Refuge's abundant wildlife. The Centennial Valley is a critical corridor for grizzly bears as they continue their expansion outward from Yellowstone. Despite the risks posed to grizzlies and other wildlife by the presence of livestock and long-standing recognition of grazing's harmful impacts, the Service has continued to renew commercial grazing permits with little meaningful monitoring or analysis.
Represented by Advocates for the West, WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project sued the Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2024 for failing to ensure cattle grazing on the Refuge does no harm to wildlife. The Service admitted during court proceedings that it has never fully implemented the level of annual monitoring, analysis, and adjustments to livestock grazing set forth in its 1994 decision underpinning grazing permit authorizations. As a result, the agency moved to voluntarily revisit its livestock grazing plan for the Refuge.
"Fortunately, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized its failure," said Andrew Hursh, Staff Attorney with Advocates for the West, who is representing the conservation groups. "Unfortunately, it took our lawsuit to get the Service to do the right thing. If the agency thinks it's a good idea to let commercial ranchers run cattle on public lands in the National Wildlife Refuge System--which are set aside expressly for wildlife conservation--then their obligation under law is to adequately justify the need and environmental value of that activity, with accurate, up-to-date information, with scientific rigor, and with on-the-ground commitments to ensure conservation benefit. We'll continue to push the agency to live up to its legal obligations and its own stated promises."
While the Service's decision authorizing the issuance of grazing permits is not vacated as conservation groups sought, through a multi-part plan to address grazing-related concerns on the Refuge, the agency proposes to conduct long-neglected monitoring of existing grazing through new methods, improving the quality of available grazing data and information through the collection and analysis of new data. Further, the Service plans to perform a new environmental analysis and determination of whether livestock grazing is even compatible with the Refuge's purpose prior to the expiration of the current permits in two years, so that the permits may be modified or terminated.
"Despite National Wildlife Refuges being set aside solely for the protection of fish and wildlife, the Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed private, for-profit livestock producers to continually degrade the critically important habitats found across Red Rock Lakes," said Patrick Kelly, Montana & Washington Director with Western Watersheds Project. "The Service's repeated reauthorization of livestock grazing while failing to meet even the basic monitoring requirements necessary to prevent such damage is unacceptable. We will be keeping a close eye on the Service moving forward and will continue to monitor and document conditions on this ecologically unique Refuge."
National Wildlife Refuges, unlike National Forests and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, are not managed to favor extractive uses such as mining, logging and livestock grazing. Rather, the Service is required to manage National Wildlife Refuges for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. A commercial use, such as livestock grazing, may be permitted in some cases, but only after a formal determination that such a use is compatible with the mission of a refuge.
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Original text here: https://wildearthguardians.org/press-releases/lawsuit-prompts-court-to-require-reconsideration-of-livestock-grazing-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge/
[Category: Environment]
WildEarth Guardians: Conservation Group Condemns Vote to Strip Protections From Endangered Gray Wolves
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Dec. 19 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025:
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Conservation Group Condemns Vote to Strip Protections from Endangered Gray Wolves
We will continue to fight for this endangered, iconic species
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WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove federal protections for endangered gray wolves (canis lupus) across the country by taking the species off of the Endangered Species List and prohibiting judicial review.
Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, offered the following statement:
"It
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Dec. 19 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025:
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Conservation Group Condemns Vote to Strip Protections from Endangered Gray Wolves
We will continue to fight for this endangered, iconic species
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WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove federal protections for endangered gray wolves (canis lupus) across the country by taking the species off of the Endangered Species List and prohibiting judicial review.
Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, offered the following statement:
"Itis disappointing but unsurprising for this radical Congress to blatantly ignore science on the way to harming wildlife. Gray wolves need federal protections - if the science wasn't clear enough, the ongoing war on wolves in the Northern Rockies is further evidence. We need to let wildlife biologists determine whether a species is endangered or not, not politicians."
"We will continue to fight for this endangered, iconic species."
Leading independent scientists indicate that the gray wolf is not recovered and requires continued protections. It is highly unusual for the legislative branch to delist a species. The bill will next go to the U.S. Senate.
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Original text here: https://wildearthguardians.org/press-releases/conservation-group-condemns-vote-to-strip-protections-from-endangered-gray-wolves/
[Category: Environment]
Western Watersheds Project: Court Approves Plan to Revisit Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
HAILEY, Idaho, Dec. 19 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release:
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Court Approves Plan to Revisit Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service vows to reconsider 'cattle grazing in general' at Refuge established to protect largest wetlands complex in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
*
MISSOULA, Mont.-- A Montana federal court judge issued a ruling this week granting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to reevaluate its determination justifying livestock grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana's
... Show Full Article
HAILEY, Idaho, Dec. 19 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release:
* * *
Court Approves Plan to Revisit Livestock Grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service vows to reconsider 'cattle grazing in general' at Refuge established to protect largest wetlands complex in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
*
MISSOULA, Mont.-- A Montana federal court judge issued a ruling this week granting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to reevaluate its determination justifying livestock grazing at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana'sCentennial Valley, to reconsider its grazing permit approach, and to reevaluate the environmental impacts of commercial cattle grazing at the Refuge. In response to a legal challenge from conservation organizations over the Service continuing to issue grazing permits that rely on a three-decades-old environmental analysis, the agency vows to collect new data and conduct new analyses, revisiting "cattle grazing in general on the Refuge."
"The Fish and Wildlife Service has a duty to manage Red Rock Lakes to protect and preserve wildlife and habitat, but for decades it allowed ranchers to graze cattle on public land with little oversight and no consideration of the harm that grazing has had on the Refuge's wildlife," said Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney with WildEarth Guardians. "It's unfortunate that it took a lawsuit from conservation organizations to get the Service to acknowledge that it's been derelict in its duty. Now the Service must honor its commitment to the court to reevaluate whether cattle belong on this wildlife refuge and remove them if they don't."
The Refuge was established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 to protect the largest wetlands complex in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It is home to grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, sage grouse, and more than one hundred other species of birds. The namesake lakes and their tributaries contain one of the last remaining native populations of Arctic grayling in the contiguous U.S. which reside in lakes and spawn in streams. Over the last decade, that population has declined from several thousand fish to just 73 fish in 2022.
At least as far back as 1994, the Service has recognized that livestock grazing poses a significant threat to the Refuge's abundant wildlife. The Centennial Valley is a critical corridor for grizzly bears as they continue their expansion outward from Yellowstone. Despite the risks posed to grizzlies and other wildlife by the presence of livestock and long-standing recognition of grazing's harmful impacts, the Service has continued to renew commercial grazing permits with little meaningful monitoring or analysis.
Represented by Advocates for the West, WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project sued the Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2024 for failing to ensure cattle grazing on the Refuge does no harm to wildlife. The Service admitted during court proceedings that it has never fully implemented the level of annual monitoring, analysis, and adjustments to livestock grazing set forth in its 1994 decision underpinning grazing permit authorizations. As a result, the agency moved to voluntarily revisit its livestock grazing plan for the Refuge.
"Fortunately, the Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized its failure," said Andrew Hursh, Staff Attorney with Advocates for the West, who is representing the conservation groups. "Unfortunately, it took our lawsuit to get the Service to do the right thing. If the agency thinks it's a good idea to let commercial ranchers run cattle on public lands in the National Wildlife Refuge System--which are set aside expressly for wildlife conservation--then their obligation under law is to adequately justify the need and environmental value of that activity, with accurate, up-to-date information, with scientific rigor, and with on-the-ground commitments to ensure conservation benefit. We'll continue to push the agency to live up to its legal obligations and its own stated promises."
While the Service's decision authorizing the issuance of grazing permits is not vacated as conservation groups sought, through a multi-part plan to address grazing-related concerns on the Refuge, the agency proposes to conduct long-neglected monitoring of existing grazing through new methods, improving the quality of available grazing data and information through the collection and analysis of new data. Further, the Service plans to perform a new environmental analysis and determination of whether livestock grazing is even compatible with the Refuge's purpose prior to the expiration of the current permits in two years, so that the permits may be modified or terminated.
"Despite National Wildlife Refuges being set aside solely for the protection of fish and wildlife, the Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed private, for-profit livestock producers to continually degrade the critically important habitats found across Red Rock Lakes," said Patrick Kelly, Montana & Washington Director with Western Watersheds Project. "The Service's repeated reauthorization of livestock grazing while failing to meet even the basic monitoring requirements necessary to prevent such damage is unacceptable. We will be keeping a close eye on the Service moving forward and will continue to monitor and document conditions on this ecologically unique Refuge."
National Wildlife Refuges, unlike National Forests and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, are not managed to favor extractive uses such as mining, logging and livestock grazing. Rather, the Service is required to manage National Wildlife Refuges for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. A commercial use, such as livestock grazing, may be permitted in some cases, but only after a formal determination that such a use is compatible with the mission of a refuge.
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Original text here: https://www.westernwatersheds.org/2025/12/court-approves-plan-to-revisit-livestock-grazing-at-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge/
[Category: Environment]
Night Waking Impacts Cognitive Performance Regardless of Sleep Duration
BRONX, New York, Dec. 19 -- The Albert Einstein College of Medicine issued the following news release:
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Night Waking Impacts Cognitive Performance Regardless of Sleep Duration
Older Adults Who Were Awake More During the Night Performed Worse on Cognitive Tests the Next Day, No Matter How Long They Slept
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When it comes to sleep, traditional advice has focused on the number of hours a person sleeps. But for older adults, the quality of sleep may affect cognitive performance the following day, regardless of the quantity of sleep according to a new study by researchers from Albert Einstein
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Dec. 19 -- The Albert Einstein College of Medicine issued the following news release:
* * *
Night Waking Impacts Cognitive Performance Regardless of Sleep Duration
Older Adults Who Were Awake More During the Night Performed Worse on Cognitive Tests the Next Day, No Matter How Long They Slept
*
When it comes to sleep, traditional advice has focused on the number of hours a person sleeps. But for older adults, the quality of sleep may affect cognitive performance the following day, regardless of the quantity of sleep according to a new study by researchers from Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine and the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.
In a study published today in Sleep Health, the researchers found that the quality of a night of sleep--rather than the length of the night of sleep--predicted how quickly older adults processed information the next day. The researchers evaluated sleep quality based on how much time someone was awake between when they first went to sleep and when they rose in the morning.
"Anyone who has stayed up too late knows that sleep can affect your cognition the next day," said Orfeu Buxton, Ph.D., professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State and lead author of the study. "In this study, we wanted to identify which aspects of sleep health impact daily cognitive functioning so that people know how to improve their sleep. When it comes to 'getting a good night's sleep,' it would appear that quality matters in the short term for older adults."
Few studies have examined how poor sleep impacts cognitive functioning the following day, according to Carol Derby, Ph.D., professor in the Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology and the Louis and Gertrude Feil Faculty Scholar in Neurology at Einstein, and senior author of the study.
"Understanding the nuances of how sleep impacts older adults' cognition and their ability to perform daily activities may indicate which individuals are at risk for later cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Derby, who is also professor of epidemiology & population health.
Measuring Sleep and Cognitive Performance
The study analyzed data from 261 participants who were part of the Einstein Aging Study, a multiyear study of aging and cognitive health. Participants -- all over the age of 70 -- lived in the community in Bronx County, New York.
For 16 days, participants wore devices similar to Fitbits or smart watches that tracked their sleep. They also completed cognitive assessment "games" six times a day on a smart phone --when they woke up, before they went to bed and four randomly selected times throughout the day. The games, which took roughly four minutes to complete each time, measured different aspects of cognitive performance, including visual working memory, visuospatial memory and processing speed. At the study's conclusion, the researchers had collected a total of 20,532 cognitive assessments from the participants.
On average, participants slept 7.2 hours each night and spent just over one hour awake during a given night of sleep. Additionally, participants took an average of 0.4 naps each day, which is two naps every five days.
When the researchers analyzed each participant's day-to-day cognitive performance, they found that when an individual was awake for 30 minutes longer during the night than their average amount, their processing speed was slower than usual the next day. Napping the previous day, bedtime and quantity of sleep showed no effect on processing speed or any other aspects of cognitive performance.
When the researchers compared performance on cognitive tests not just to participants' own performance but across participants in the entire study sample, they found that older adults who, on average, spent more time awake during their night's sleep performed worse on three of the four cognitive tests. In addition to slower processing speed, participants with more wake time after falling asleep performed worse on two tests of visual working memory.
"Repeatedly waking after you've fallen asleep for the night diminishes the overall quality of your sleep," said Dr. Buxton, associate director of both the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Penn State Social Science Research Institute and an investigator in the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging. "We examined multiple aspects of sleep, and quality is the only one that made a day-to-day difference in cognitive performance."
What Should Older People Do If They Have Sleep Problems?
Nearly half of older adults report some type of sleep disruption. Over time, sleep problems are associated with higher rates of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, according to the researchers.
To promote healthy sleep, people should go to bed at a consistent time each night, aiming for a similar length of sleep in restful circumstances, Buxton continued.
"When it comes to sleep, no single night matters, just like no single day is critical to your exercise or diet," Dr. Buxton said. "What matters is good habits and establishing restful sleep over time."
For older adults who have sleep problems, the researchers recommended evaluating their sleep environment -- including avoiding screens before bed and sleeping in dark, quiet conditions at a consistent time.
If problems persist, the researchers encouraged people to talk to their medical providers about cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been proven to be a safe and effective way to address sleep-related issues. In contrast, the researchers said that medication is not a good solution for many older adults because sleep medication can increase the risk of falling.
Sleep Health and Alzheimer's Disease
Ultimately, the goal of this research is to support healthy cognitive aging, the researchers said, particularly factors that could prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. While there is extensive research evidence linking sleep and dementia, it is not yet clear whether poor sleep is a risk factor or a consequence of Alzheimer's disease.
"The work demonstrating the day-to-day impact of sleep quality on cognition among individuals who do not have dementia suggests that disrupted sleep may have an early impact on cognitive health as we age," said Dr. Derby. "This finding suggests that improving sleep quality may help delay later onset of dementia."
Other contributors to this research include Qi Gao and Cuiling Wang at Einstein; Jonathan Hakun and Martin J. Sliwinski at Penn State; Linying Ji of the Montana State University; Alyssa Gamaldo of the Clemson University; Suzanne Bertisch at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
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Original text here: https://montefioreeinstein.org/news/2025/12/18/night-waking-impacts-cognitive-performance-regardless-sleep-duration
[Category: Health Care]
CIRES and CU Boulder Engineering Researchers Team Up to Better Test and Measure Indoor Air Quality in Local Home
BOULDER, Colorado, Dec. 19 -- The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences issued the following news:
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CIRES and CU Boulder engineering researchers team up to better test and measure indoor air quality in local home
The extended campaign tested new instruments in real time--the first study of its kind
*
Last summer, CU Boulder Engineering Professor Marina Vance took scientific field research to a new level: she moved her family out of their home in Boulder for seven weeks to make room for a group of 20 researchers and dozens of instruments. The goal was to simulate
... Show Full Article
BOULDER, Colorado, Dec. 19 -- The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences issued the following news:
* * *
CIRES and CU Boulder engineering researchers team up to better test and measure indoor air quality in local home
The extended campaign tested new instruments in real time--the first study of its kind
*
Last summer, CU Boulder Engineering Professor Marina Vance took scientific field research to a new level: she moved her family out of their home in Boulder for seven weeks to make room for a group of 20 researchers and dozens of instruments. The goal was to simulatea real-world environment where scientists could measure and analyze indoor air quality.
The campaign, the CLEAN Home Field Study, is a collaboration among CU Boulder Mechanical Engineering, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and CIRES researchers from Jose Jimenez and Joost de Gouw's labs. The research team, including CIRES chemistry PhD student Rebecca Mesburis, introduced environmental pollutants--smoke and ozone--into Vance's home and observed how they interacted with daily activities like cooking and using cleaning products.
Mesburis will present preliminary results today at the 2025 AGU Annual Meeting.
Researchers investigated SOA (secondary organic aerosol) formation from the use of cleaning products inside a real home. Preliminary results found that the buildup of cooking oils and other materials on indoor surfaces may form SOA at levels ten times higher than those found outdoors. SOAs are particulate matter that is harmful to human health.
"Doing this research in real time in a real home helped us better understand which activities contribute the most to indoor air pollution and how we can make changes in our homes to protect and improve human health," said Mesburis, who led data collection for the Jimenez group.
Throughout the summer, researchers investigated different combinations of these pollutants and products in Vance's kitchen while monitoring the results on the slew of instruments set up in her garage. To measure the formation of particle pollution from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), gas-phase pollutants introduced by day-to-day activities inside homes, they sprayed surfaces with various cleaning products.
Mesburis collected data using an oxidation flow reactor (OFR), a chemistry instrument that measured the potential to form SOA. CU Boulder's Mechanical Engineering team and an NCAR researcher conducted measurements with several mass spectrometers (to measure VOCs) and particle instruments (to measure SOAs). As a team, they will piece together the pollution and air quality impacts from cooking, cleaning techniques, and germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light.
The continuous monitoring of the study was time-intensive--Mesburis visited the research site daily. The research team performed different daily activities as experiments in the kitchen by using cleaning products twice a day, morning and afternoon, and monitored background levels of indoor pollution overnight.
The Jimenez group is sifting through preliminary results with plans to publish a paper next year.
"While we're still analyzing results, we can be sure that indoor air quality is compromised by the use of VCPs indoors," Mesburis said. "People can buy unscented products, cook with the range hood on, and open windows when possible to improve the air quality inside their home."
Click here (https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1925434) to learn more about Rebecca Masburis's 2025 AGU presentation.
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Original text here: https://cires.colorado.edu/news/cires-and-cu-boulder-engineering-researchers-team-better-test-and-measure-indoor-air-quality
[Category: Environment]
Blood Community Unites to Thank America's Volunteer Blood Donors as National Blood Donor Month Approaches
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The American Red Cross issued the following news release:
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Blood Community Unites to Thank America's Volunteer Blood Donors as National Blood Donor Month Approaches
Urge all eligible individuals to make an appointment to donate
*
America's Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), and the American Red Cross are joining together to thank America's volunteer blood donors nationwide and encourage all eligible individuals to donate blood especially during National Blood Donor Month in January, and to make appointments to donate
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The American Red Cross issued the following news release:
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Blood Community Unites to Thank America's Volunteer Blood Donors as National Blood Donor Month Approaches
Urge all eligible individuals to make an appointment to donate
*
America's Blood Centers, the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), and the American Red Cross are joining together to thank America's volunteer blood donors nationwide and encourage all eligible individuals to donate blood especially during National Blood Donor Month in January, and to make appointments to donateagain later in the year. Organizations and individuals who are unable to donate can support the effort by hosting blood drives. The blood community invites current and potential donors to learn more about this month and access key resources at www.BloodDonorMonth.org.
As the winter months bring colder weather, the celebration of holidays, severe storms, illnesses, and increased travel, donor turnout is often lower, even as patient needs remain constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States requires a blood transfusion, with more than 42,000 units of red cells, platelets, and plasma used by patients every single day. These donations are essential for patients facing trauma, surgeries, childbirth complications, cancer treatments, chronic conditions and many other medical needs.
"This National Blood Donor Month, we celebrate the extraordinary generosity of the nearly seven million Americans who donate blood each year. Their decision is more than an act of kindness, it is a lifeline for patients facing emergencies, chronic conditions, and serious health challenges. We urge all eligible individuals to make time to donate blood in January and throughout the year to help ensure patients have the blood products they need, when they need them," said Kate Fry, chief executive officer, America's Blood Centers."
"National Blood Donor Month is an important time to remember the life-saving power of blood donation. This month and every month, AABB is proud to join our partners across the blood community in thanking and honoring the many blood donors who provide this essential resource. Because of their selfless generosity, optimal care is available for countless patients," said Debra BenAvram, chief executive officer of AABB.
"We honor the incredible generosity of the millions of individuals who roll up their sleeves to give blood. Our dedicated blood donor community proves every day that extraordinary impact can come from an ordinary act of generosity--changing and saving lives with just an hour of their time. This National Blood Donor Month we encourage more individuals to join our national blood donor community to help trauma patients and moms welcoming newborns to individuals battling cancer and sickle cell disease," said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Biomedical Services.
January was first declared National Blood Donor Month by President Richard Nixon in 1969 to honor the selfless contributions of volunteer blood donors and encourage lifesaving donations during a time when supplies traditionally decline. This month continues to be celebrated each year.
The blood community encourages eligible Americans to donate blood during National Blood Donor Month and to make regular donation appointments throughout the year. Organizations and those unable to donate are urged to host blood drives to help support the blood supply as well. Please contact one of the following organizations to find a local blood collection site and to schedule an appointment:
* AABB: www.WhereToDonateBlood.org; +1.301.907.6977
* America's Blood Centers: www.AmericasBlood.org; +1.202.393.5725
* American Red Cross: www.RedCrossBlood.org; +1.800.RED CROSS (+1.800.733.2767)
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America's Blood Centers: Founded in 1962, America's Blood Centers (ABC) is the national organization bringing together community-based, independent blood centers across North America. These organizations operate in more than 1,100 communities and provide close to 60 percent of the U.S. and a quarter of the Canadian blood supply. ABC member organizations serve more than 150 million people and provide blood products and services to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities. All ABC U.S. members are 501(c)(3) organizations are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. For more information, visit www.AmericasBlood.org.
AABB: AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies) is an international, not-for-profit organization representing individuals and institutions involved in the fields of transfusion medicine and biotherapies. The Association works collaboratively to advance the field through the development and delivery of standards, accreditation and education programs. AABB is dedicated to its mission of improving lives by making transfusion medicine and biotherapies safe, available and effective worldwide.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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Original text here: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2025/blood-community-unites-to-thank-america-s-volunteer-blood-donors.html
[Category: Health Care]
Americans for Tax Reform: Trump Accounts - List of Companies and Individuals Providing Additional Contributions
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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Trump Accounts: List of Companies and Individuals Providing Additional Contributions
Trump Accounts were enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut. In addition to the $1,000 per child provided by the U.S. Treasury, private individuals and companies have also announced additional contributions to the accounts.
Americans for Tax Reform is tracking these announcements below - the list will be updated on a rolling basis:
BlackRock (New York, New York) - Matching
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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Trump Accounts: List of Companies and Individuals Providing Additional Contributions
Trump Accounts were enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut. In addition to the $1,000 per child provided by the U.S. Treasury, private individuals and companies have also announced additional contributions to the accounts.
Americans for Tax Reform is tracking these announcements below - the list will be updated on a rolling basis:
BlackRock (New York, New York) - Matchingthe $1,000 dollar government contribution for eligible US employees:
"Today, BlackRock announced it will offer an employee match to the U.S. government contribution of $1,000 for all eligible U.S. employees to Trump Accounts, also known as Section 530A Accounts - new dedicated child savings accounts for eligible children.
BlackRock has long championed early childhood savings accounts and supported the policies that make them possible. (...) The Trump Account program was designed to help more Americans put money aside for future goals and milestones and created through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Helping people invest better to live better is core to BlackRock's purpose. BlackRock's commitment today will help employees and their families foster strong financial habits early, encourage long-term planning, and invest in the potential of the next generation." - BlackRock announcement December 17, 2025
Ray and Barbara Dalio -- $250 dollar contributions to 300,000 children in Connecticut:
"My wife, Barbara, and I believe strongly in the importance of equal opportunity. I have been fortunate to live the American Dream. At an early age I was exposed to the stock market, and it changed my life. Over the last two decades, Barbara has devoted herself to helping at-risk and disconnected youth in Connecticut, supporting youth-serving organizations, teachers, and public schools, while working in a bipartisan way with our state and with local municipalities. Barbara has seen firsthand the spirit of our youth, and many have a lot stacked against them. We believe these young people deserve a better chance for success.
That is why @DalioDotOrg is proud to join @MichaelDell & Susan Dell in seeding an expanded number of the new Trump Administration investment accounts, matching their $250 contribution per child for approximately 300,000 children in our home state of Connecticut.
By providing children with savings accounts that compound over time we are providing them with early insights into financial literacy and a path towards financial independence. I applaud President Trump, @SecScottBessent, the Dell Family and many others who have spearheaded this initiative.
We are hopeful other philanthropists and leaders will join this effort by contributing to similar initiatives in their home states, and we hope this catalyzes Secretary Bessent's "50 State Challenge." As we enter the holidays, I can think of no better gift than the gift of opportunity." - X post December 17, 2025.
Bank of New York Mellon (New York, New York) - $1,000 contributions into the accounts of employees' children:
Bank of New York Mellon is joining the Trump administration's new investment initiative for babies -- and doubling the federal contribution for its U.S. employees' children.
BNY is the first major financial institution to publicly get behind the "Trump accounts," the investment vehicle established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
"By matching the government's contribution, we're helping our employees give their children a head start toward a stronger financial future," BNY CEO Robin Vince said.
The bank will match the government's $1,000 seed payment for eligible babies born between 2025 and 2028, giving employees' newborns $2,000 to start once accounts are opened and verified.
"For more than two centuries, BNY has supported our nation's financial ecosystem and the people who power it, including our own employees. This initiative advances that mission in a meaningful way. By matching the government's contribution, we're helping our employees give their children a head start toward a stronger financial future," - CEO Robin Vince. Citations: Dec. 11, 2025 Axios exclusive and Dec. 11, 2025 BNY press release.
Michael and Susan Dell -- $6.25 billion donation for Trump accounts for 25 million children:
Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion Tuesday to provide 25 million American children 10 and under an incentive to claim the new investment accounts for children created as part of President Donald Trump's tax and spending legislation.
The historic gift has little precedent, with few single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion. Announced on GivingTuesday, the Dells believe it's the largest single private commitment made to U.S. children.
Its structure is also unusual. Essentially, it builds on the " Trump Accounts " program, where the U.S. Department of the Treasury will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts it sets up for American children born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028. The Dells' gift will use the "Trump Accounts" infrastructure to give $250 to each qualified child under 11.
"We believe that if every child can see a future worth saving for, this program will build something far greater than an account. It will build hope and opportunity and prosperity for generations to come," said Michael Dell." - Dec. 2, 2025 Associated Press
Charter Communications (Stamford, Connecticut): Matching contributions:
Charter said the matching contribution further strengthens "its commitment to its 100% U.S.-based employee workforce." Charter will also "offer employees additional ways to direct their own pay into their children's Invest in America Trump Accounts."
"When employees know their children have a pathway to financial security, it shapes how they view their future and their place at Spectrum - that's good for customers and our communities, and that's good business," said CEO Chris Winfrey. "This initiative helps nurture future prosperity, supporting our employees and their families as we grow together." Charter said its participation in the new accounts builds on its broader commitment to employee financial security, and specifically, its frontline, U.S.-based sales and service workforce."- July 21, 2025 Deadline article.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/trumpaccounts/
[Category: Political]
