Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Success at FFD4: Transparency, Open Data and Interoperability Firmly on the Financing for Development Agenda
NEW YORK, July 4 -- The International Aid Transparency Initiative, a voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative that works with donors, partner countries and civil society organizations to make information about aid spending easier to access and use, issued the following news:
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Success at FFD4: Transparency, Open Data and Interoperability firmly on the Financing for Development Agenda
IATI is recognised in a major international commitment as partners launch new transformative initiative to drive data interoperability.
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IATI participated in the Fourth International Conference on Financing
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NEW YORK, July 4 -- The International Aid Transparency Initiative, a voluntary, multi-stakeholder initiative that works with donors, partner countries and civil society organizations to make information about aid spending easier to access and use, issued the following news:
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Success at FFD4: Transparency, Open Data and Interoperability firmly on the Financing for Development Agenda
IATI is recognised in a major international commitment as partners launch new transformative initiative to drive data interoperability.
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IATI participated in the Fourth International Conference on Financingfor Development (FFD4), held in Sevilla from 30 June to 3 July 2025. The conference marked an important milestone for the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) and the global movement for transparency and open data.
Adopted: Sevilla Outcome Document recognises IATI
At the start of the conference, UN Member States formally adopted the Compromiso de Sevilla for Action outcome document, which formally recognises IATI. The inclusion of IATI in the FFD4 Outcome Document (Para 40d. iv) reaffirms the initiative's role in "fostering transparency of development cooperation". This recognition reaffirms IATI's place at the heart of global efforts to make development finance more effective, accountable and accessible.
A High-Level Dialogue on the Future of Interoperability
IATI was proud to co-host Data as Dialogue: Unlocking Interoperability for Financing Sustainable Development with the Governments of Australia, Germany, Nigeria, and the Lowy Institute. The side-event brought together ministers, senior officials, and research leaders to explore how open data and interoperability can improve coordination, trust and results across development cooperation.
Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific; Minister for Small Business; Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Government of Australia underscored that "data is power--but only when it is usable, inclusive, and connected." She highlighted that interoperability is not just a technical fix but a political choice to reduce reporting burdens and ensure data empowers governments rather than overwhelms them.
Dr Tony Swan, Director of the Development Economics Section at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, also contributed, highlighting that Australia's 2023 International Development Policy puts transparency at the centre of Australia's approach.
Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Federal Republic of Germany reflected on Germany's role as a founding IATI member and shared that Germany has published data on more than 30,000 development projects since 2013. She emphasised that open data is critical for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and for showing clearly where resources are going.
Ambassador Adam Umar Bako, Director, Second United Nations Division, International Organisations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria, called for collective action from all stakeholders--including donor governments, multilateral institutions, private financiers, and South-South partners--to publish quality data to the IATI Standard and invest in national data systems. He stressed that development finance must be "truly effective--traceable, impactful, and accountable."
Henry Asor Nkang, Country Manager for Nigeria's Aid Information Management System (AIMS) also shared Nigeria's experience using IATI data to inform national budgets, coordinate partners and monitor aid flows.
Alexandre Dayant, Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre at the Lowy Institute, demonstrated their Pacific Aid Map, showing how combining IATI, OECD, and open-source data contributes to a more complete picture of aid flows in the region. He highlighted the Lowy Institute's work on mapping resources from both traditional and non-traditional donors across the Indo-Pacific.
At the start of the conference, UN Member States formally adopted the Compromiso de Sevilla for Action outcome document, which formally recognises IATI.
The inclusion of IATI in the FFD4 Outcome Document (Para 40d. iv) reaffirms the initiative's role in "fostering transparency of development cooperation" and places the initiative at the heart of global efforts to make development finance more effective, accountable and accessible.
Launching a New Global Initiative on Interoperability
A significant outcome was the launch of the Bridging Data Systems for Financing for Development initiative under the Sevilla Platform for Action. Co-led by IATI alongside the International Forum on TOSSD, OECD, and the UN CEB Secretariat, this new partnership aims to reduce reporting burdens and improve interoperability across international data systems.
Laurent Sarazin, Co-Chair of the International Forum on TOSSD, presented the initiative at IATI's co-hosted side event. Initiatives under the Sevilla Platform for Action aim to mobilise alliances to implement specific actions of the Compromiso de Sevilla for Action, and their implementation will form part of the Financing for Development follow-up process
Looking ahead: Financing for Development follow-up
Looking ahead, IATI looks forward to working with all partners to ensure that Financing for Development follow-up processes prioritise transparency, open data, and interoperability. Together, we can turn global commitments into practical action that delivers real results.
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Original text here: https://iatistandard.org/en/news/iati-success-at-ffd4/
[Category: Sociological]
LIBRE Applauds the U.S. House for Advancing Trump Tax Cuts To The President's Desk
ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 4 -- LIBRE Initiative issued the following news release on July 3, 2025:
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LIBRE Applauds the U.S. House for Advancing Trump Tax Cuts To The President's Desk
Today, The LIBRE Initiative, the country's largest center-right Latino advocacy group, issued a statement in support of the U.S. House of Representatives voting to advance legislation extending the Trump Tax Cuts. The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump's desk.
For months, The LIBRE Initiative has been leading the fight among Latino groups in support of the Trump Tax Cuts through a campaign titled:
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 4 -- LIBRE Initiative issued the following news release on July 3, 2025:
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LIBRE Applauds the U.S. House for Advancing Trump Tax Cuts To The President's Desk
Today, The LIBRE Initiative, the country's largest center-right Latino advocacy group, issued a statement in support of the U.S. House of Representatives voting to advance legislation extending the Trump Tax Cuts. The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump's desk.
For months, The LIBRE Initiative has been leading the fight among Latino groups in support of the Trump Tax Cuts through a campaign titled:"Protecting Prosperity." The campaign included digital ads, in-person events, and earned media efforts.
Daniel Garza, President of The LIBRE Initiative, issued the following statement:
"On behalf of millions of Latinos who support extending tax relief to middle-class families and job creators, we commend the U.S. House of Representatives for approving the extension of the Trump Tax Cuts. LIBRE unabashedly supports extending tax relief because the Latino community benefits, in the form of increased economic opportunity, when we keep taxes low.
We look forward to President Donald Trump signing this bill into law, making it the law of the land. When this happens, the Latino community can look forward to a growing economy and increased opportunity and prosperity for all."
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Original text here: https://thelibreinitiative.com/press-releases/libre-applauds-the-u-s-house-for-advancing-trump-tax-cuts-to-the-presidents-desk/
[Category: Sociological]
Immigration Equality Raises Alarms Over Trump Spending Bill's Impact on LGBTQ Immigrants
NEW YORK, July 4 -- Immigration Equality issued the following news release:
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Immigration Equality Raises Alarms Over Trump Spending Bill's Impact on LGBTQ Immigrants
New York, NY (July 3, 2025) -- Immigration Equality condemns the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress today as the most extreme expansion of immigration enforcement in modern U.S. history. The bill will supercharge detention and deportation while imposing unprecedented financial and legal barriers on LGBTQ and HIV-positive people seeking protection.
This bill will funnel $150 billion into immigration enforcement
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NEW YORK, July 4 -- Immigration Equality issued the following news release:
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Immigration Equality Raises Alarms Over Trump Spending Bill's Impact on LGBTQ Immigrants
New York, NY (July 3, 2025) -- Immigration Equality condemns the budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress today as the most extreme expansion of immigration enforcement in modern U.S. history. The bill will supercharge detention and deportation while imposing unprecedented financial and legal barriers on LGBTQ and HIV-positive people seeking protection.
This bill will funnel $150 billion into immigration enforcement-- including $45 billion to expand ICE detention, $59 billion for Border Patrol and a border wall, and $12 billion to hire 18,000 new ICE and Border Patrol agents. It also provides sweeping funds to deputize state and local law enforcement as federal immigration agents and empowers the military to participate in immigration raids and detentions.
Meanwhile, Congress is paying for this by stripping nutrition, health care, and tax support from immigrant families and children. The bill eliminates access to the Child Tax Credit for over 2 million children whose parents lack a Social Security number, and blocks many refugees, asylees, and survivors of violence from programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.
Among the most dangerous provisions impacting LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants:
A $100 asylum fee for an application that has historically been free, with an additional $100 annually for every year a case is pending
A $550 fee for work permits, which asylum seekers rely on to support themselves while their cases are adjudicated, often over many years
A massive expansion of ICE detention, which will disproportionately harm LGBTQ and HIV-positive people who face high rates of sexual violence, denial of medical care, and solitary confinement
Broader deportation powers and fast-track removals, with limited due process and minimal oversight
Bridget Crawford, Immigration Equality's Director of Law and Policy, stated:
"This bill is a roadmap to suffering. It turns asylum into a luxury, punishing LGBTQ and HIV-positive people fleeing persecution. LGBTQ people cannot wait out violence and discrimination in their home countries--and now they are being told safety in the U.S. comes with a price tag. Asylum is a legal right, not a privilege. Rushing this bill through Congress today, before July 4, in the name of so-called patriotism, is a betrayal of this country's core values. Instead of offering protection, America will be locking the door to asylum seekers behind a paywall."
Immigration Equality will continue its work to defend the dignity, safety, and legal rights of LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants in the face of this harmful legislation.
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Original text here: https://immigrationequality.org/immigration-equality-raises-alarms-over-trump-spending-bills-impact-on-lgbtq-immigrants/
[Category: International]
Giffords: Republicans Attack Gun Safety, Put Americans at Risk
WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Giffords, an organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence, issued the following news release on July 3, 2025:
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Republicans attack gun safety, put Americans at risk
WASHINGTON -- GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement today after the House passed President Trump's partisan "Big, Beautiful Bill" with only Republican votes. The bill includes a radical provision that will make it easier to acquire gun silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
For nearly a century, these
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WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Giffords, an organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence, issued the following news release on July 3, 2025:
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Republicans attack gun safety, put Americans at risk
WASHINGTON -- GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a statement today after the House passed President Trump's partisan "Big, Beautiful Bill" with only Republican votes. The bill includes a radical provision that will make it easier to acquire gun silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
For nearly a century, theseparticularly dangerous weapons have been regulated through the National Firearms Act (NFA), which requires a thorough background check, tax and registration. By eliminating the tax, Republicans say they are attempting to gut the NFA's safeguards that have kept silencers and short-barreled firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
"Today's vote was a gift to Donald Trump's gun lobby donors--and a betrayal of public safety," said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. "Almost 100 years of precedent has kept silencers and short-barreled firearms out of easy reach for criminals. But with this bill, Republicans are laying the groundwork to gut safeguards that stopped criminals from getting these deadly weapons. This vote is proof that the 'law and order' rhetoric Donald Trump has pushed for years rings hollow. In siding with the gun industry CEOs, he has handed criminals a win, and communities will suffer the deadly consequences."
Until now, silencers and most short-barreled firearms other than handguns have rarely been used in crimes because current law has successfully stopped them from falling into the wrong hands. Because of these protections, the shooters in the 2022 Tops Friendly Market massacre in Buffalo, New York, and the 2023 shooting in Lewiston, Maine, were unable to access silencers. A silencer was used in a 2019 Virginia Beach mass shooting that killed 12 innocent people, slowing law enforcement and the crowd's ability to react to gunfire. This provision could ultimately make it easier for violent criminals to escape or secretly bring dangerous guns into crowded areas, putting both law enforcement and civilians at greater risk.
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Original text here: https://giffords.org/press-release/2025/07/republicans-attack-gun-safety-put-americans-at-risk/
[Category: Political]
Foreign Policy for America: Firing Diplomats Weakens America
WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Foreign Policy for America issued the following news release on July 2, 2025:
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Firing Diplomats Weakens America
Foreign Policy for America strongly opposes the Trump administration's reckless plan to fire thousands of nonpartisan diplomats and other foreign policy professionals. These dedicated public servants keep Americans safe, promote U.S. businesses abroad, and advance American interests on the global stage. At a time when the United States faces so many unprecedented crises around the world, we cannot afford to weaken our diplomatic corps.
If the administration
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WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Foreign Policy for America issued the following news release on July 2, 2025:
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Firing Diplomats Weakens America
Foreign Policy for America strongly opposes the Trump administration's reckless plan to fire thousands of nonpartisan diplomats and other foreign policy professionals. These dedicated public servants keep Americans safe, promote U.S. businesses abroad, and advance American interests on the global stage. At a time when the United States faces so many unprecedented crises around the world, we cannot afford to weaken our diplomatic corps.
If the administrationmoves forward with this plan, our competitors and adversaries will work to fill the void that our withdrawal from the world creates. As we consider cutting our diplomatic corps, China expands its own--deepening relationships, shaping global institutions, and presenting itself as an upholder of a rules-based order. China's global diplomatic presence now exceeds that of America's.
Congress must exercise its oversight authority to demand answers. The administration's proposed layoffs would further weaken our national security, erode our global influence, and damage our ability to lead with principle.
"There's not one bit of evidence these cuts will make our country stronger or safer at a time when China is ramping up its diplomatic engagement around the world," said Andrew Albertson, Executive Director of Foreign Policy for America. "The folks Trump is planning to fire are dedicated public servants who help stop conflicts before they spin out of control, respond to global emergencies, and open doors for U.S. businesses. Who wins when you gut the State Department? It's not Americans."
"In almost 40 years at the State Department, I have never seen cuts that were so damaging to the U.S. national interest or so non-strategically and callously decided," said Ambassador Laura Kennedy, FP4A Foundation Board member and former Ambassador to Turkmenistan.
"This plan pushes aside the people who've spent their careers building strong ties with other countries and standing up for America around the world," said Brian Volsky, Policy Director at Foreign Policy for America. "It will take years for us to recover from the consequences of this decision, which I suspect the administration will come to regret once it realizes it doesn't have the people or expertise necessary to implement its priorities."
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Original text here: https://www.fp4america.org/2025/07/02/firing-diplomats-weakens-america/
[Category: Law/Legal]
Center for Responsible Lending: Congress Passes Bill That Will Financially Devastate Many Americans
DURHAM, North Carolina, July 4 -- The Center for Responsible Lending issued the following news release:
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Congress Passes Bill that will Financially Devastate Many Americans
Responding to Congress passing and sending to President's Trump's desk H.R. 1, legislation with gargantuan consequences for America, Center for Responsible Lending President Mike Calhoun issued the following statement:
For many people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, this will be a financially devastating law. This act of Congress will take critical resources away from people with the least wealth, making it more likely
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DURHAM, North Carolina, July 4 -- The Center for Responsible Lending issued the following news release:
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Congress Passes Bill that will Financially Devastate Many Americans
Responding to Congress passing and sending to President's Trump's desk H.R. 1, legislation with gargantuan consequences for America, Center for Responsible Lending President Mike Calhoun issued the following statement:
For many people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, this will be a financially devastating law. This act of Congress will take critical resources away from people with the least wealth, making it more likelythey will go bankrupt. Alongside steep cuts to health insurance coverage and food assistance, it will nearly halve available funds for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, making it easier for predatory financial firms to cheat people out of their money. At the earliest opportunity, federal lawmakers should repeal this legislation to halt this approaching catastrophe.
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Original text here: https://www.responsiblelending.org/media/congress-passes-bill-will-financially-devastate-many-americans
[Category: Financial Services]
'Big, Beautiful Bill' Balloons Deficit, Harms Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Small Business Majority issued the following statement on July 3, 2025:
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'Big, Beautiful Bill' Balloons Deficit, Harms Small Businesses
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Statement from Small Business Majority Founder & CEO John Arensmeyer explaining why the latest version of the reconciliation bill would undermine small business growth
"Small businesses are sounding alarm bells over the enormous new debt at the core of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' because America's entrepreneurs fear that this increased spending would create an environment in which it is much harder for their businesses to succeed.
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WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Small Business Majority issued the following statement on July 3, 2025:
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'Big, Beautiful Bill' Balloons Deficit, Harms Small Businesses
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Statement from Small Business Majority Founder & CEO John Arensmeyer explaining why the latest version of the reconciliation bill would undermine small business growth
"Small businesses are sounding alarm bells over the enormous new debt at the core of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' because America's entrepreneurs fear that this increased spending would create an environment in which it is much harder for their businesses to succeed.Small Business Majority's research found that as the national deficit grows, most small businesses worry they would face increased inflation, devastating federal budget cuts in the future, and higher interest rates and borrowing costs. And what does the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' offer small businesses in return for $4 trillion in debt and a more challenging economic landscape? Devastating cuts to critical healthcare programs, and doubling down on tax policies skewed to the wealthiest businesses and individuals that would barely make a dent in what most Main Street small businesses owe each year.
Small businesses' additional concerns about the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' include:
* Among the 17 million individuals projected to lose healthcare coverage as a result of the legislation, primarily due to deep Medicaid cuts, small business owners, their employees and their families would likely be disproportionately impacted. A new analysis from Small Business Majority and Georgetown University found that one-third of all people enrolled in Medicaid nationwide are connected to small businesses. In total, more than 21 million small business owners, employees and their dependents rely on Medicaid for affordable healthcare coverage, and in 2023, nearly half of working Medicaid recipients were employed at small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
* The 'Big, Beautiful Bill' also allows for the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) that have made healthcare more affordable for those who purchase plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. The ACA is critical to small businesses: More than half of all ACA Marketplace enrollees are small business owners, self-employed entrepreneurs or small business employees. That high percentage is one reason three-quarters (74%) of small businesses favor extending the credits rather than letting them expire, according to Small Business Majority's research.
* The 'Big, Beautiful Bill' also makes permanent the current 20% deduction for pass-through entities under Section 199A. Although many have argued that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would help average Americans, 74% of the current Section 199A pass-through tax deduction benefit flows to the wealthiest 5% of businesses, while increasing the deficit by $737 billion. And while the highest earning pass-through entities claimed an average deduction of over $1 million in 2021 because of Section 199A, pass-throughs with adjusted gross incomes below $100,000 took home an average deduction of just $1,997. That's why most small businesses support an amendment championed by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (Wisc.-04) and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (N.M.) known as the Mom and Pop Tax Relief Act, which would reform Section 199A to permit pass-through entities to deduct the first $25,000 in qualified business income from their annual tax obligations.
The 'Big Beautiful Bill' is now headed for the president's desk without any policies that would benefit most Main Street small businesses and contains provisions that would harm numerous small firms. When this legislation leads to an uptick in small business closures and a slowdown in small business hiring in the coming years, lawmakers cannot say they weren't warned. In their rush to cut taxes for the wealthy, Congressional leaders have made a grave mistake. The 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is nothing short of a disastrous ticking debt time bomb and a morally bankrupt policy failure. America's small businesses will pay the price."
About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business organization that empowers America's diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy. We engage our network of more than 85,000 small businesses and 1,500 business and community organizations to advocate for public policy solutions and deliver resources to entrepreneurs that promote equitable small business growth. Our deep connections with the small business community along with our scientific research enable us to educate the public about key issues impacting America's entrepreneurs, with a special focus on advancing the smallest businesses and those facing systemic inequalities. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Original text here: https://smallbusinessmajority.org/press-release/big-beautiful-bill-balloons-deficit-harms-small-businesses
[Category: Business]
