Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
World Relief CEO Issues Statement Responding to DHS Proposed Rule Restricting Asylum Seeker Work Eligibility
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 21 -- World Relief issued the following news release:
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World Relief CEO Issues Statement Responding to DHS Proposed Rule Restricting Asylum Seeker Work Eligibility
Following the posting of a proposed new rule in which the Department of Homeland Security would freeze asylum seekers' eligibility for work authorization while an asylum case was pending, World Relief issued the following statement, attributable to Myal Greene, president and CEO:
"Penalizing asylum seekers who are trying to follow the rules by blocking their ability to work legally is not a solution
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 21 -- World Relief issued the following news release:
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World Relief CEO Issues Statement Responding to DHS Proposed Rule Restricting Asylum Seeker Work Eligibility
Following the posting of a proposed new rule in which the Department of Homeland Security would freeze asylum seekers' eligibility for work authorization while an asylum case was pending, World Relief issued the following statement, attributable to Myal Greene, president and CEO:
"Penalizing asylum seekers who are trying to follow the rules by blocking their ability to work legally is not a solutionto a backlogged system. Delaying the ability to work lawfully does not discourage people from working; it just creates a market for unlawful employment. Precisely because the asylum system is so woefully backlogged and cases often take years to process, this will directly impact a significant number of small children who are U.S. citizens. We urge DHS to instead direct resources to make meaningful strides in processing and adjudicating cases and honor the commitment the U.S. has made to offer asylum to those who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution under the terms of U.S. law."
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World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world's greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe.
Since then, for over 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish. Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, as well as community strengthening and resilience.
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Original text here: https://worldrelief.org/pr-world-relief-ceo-issues-statement-responding-to-dhs-proposed-rule-restricting-asylum-seeker-work-eligibility/
[Category: Sociological]
Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation Launch New Grant to Support Clinical Trial for Potential Sarcoidosis Treatment
SANTA MONICA, California, Feb. 21 -- The Milken Institute issued the following news release:
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Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation Launch New Grant to Support Clinical Trial for Potential Sarcoidosis Treatment
Washington, DC -- The Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), in partnership with the Ann Theodore Foundation (ATF), has launched a new funding program to support a future clinical trial in cutaneous sarcoidosis. The program, ATF Sarcoidosis Inhibitor of mTOR (SIM), will award one two-year grant of up to US$575,000 to one or more
... Show Full Article
SANTA MONICA, California, Feb. 21 -- The Milken Institute issued the following news release:
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Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation Launch New Grant to Support Clinical Trial for Potential Sarcoidosis Treatment
Washington, DC -- The Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), in partnership with the Ann Theodore Foundation (ATF), has launched a new funding program to support a future clinical trial in cutaneous sarcoidosis. The program, ATF Sarcoidosis Inhibitor of mTOR (SIM), will award one two-year grant of up to US$575,000 to one or moreindependent biomedical researchers. The funding will support the awardee(s) in designing and conducting a Phase 2 investigator-initiated clinical trial that will assess whether a class of therapeutic called a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor is effective in addressing cutaneous sarcoidosis.
ATF-SIM is the third sarcoidosis-related funding program that the Milken Institute and ATF have launched to support biomedical research focused on the condition. One of the partnership's major aims is to reverse a historical precedent of sparse funding for sarcoidosis research. A debilitating and sometimes fatal inflammatory condition, sarcoidosis is marked by abnormal clusters of immune cells in various organs. The skin is the second-most affected organ after the lungs and is involved in approximately one-quarter of sarcoidosis cases. Sarcoidosis of the skin, or cutaneous sarcoidosis, may involve painful rashes, skin lesions, and subcutaneous growths.
The purpose behind ATF-SIM's dedicated focus on evaluating a specific class of drug in a clinical trial is to validate the therapeutic's recent, preliminary promise in sarcoidosis, which lacks disease-modifying treatments. Currently, the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmaceuticals that are commonly used to treat sarcoidosis are general anti-inflammatory medications that may mitigate symptoms but cannot address the disorder's underlying causes. However, a small 2024 clinical trial indicates that mTOR inhibitors, which target a specific sarcoidosis-related molecular pathway, may have a meaningful effect. Seven of the trial's 10 participants with cutaneous sarcoidosis experienced sustained symptom improvement after completing treatment with the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus, a medication already approved for use in other inflammatory conditions.
"People living with sarcoidosis, which can be extremely painful and unpredictable, don't currently have the treatment options they deserve," said Melissa Stevens, executive vice president of strategic philanthropy at the Milken Institute. "In order to advance this potential treatment toward late-stage clinical trials and regulatory approval for use in cutaneous sarcoidosis, researchers must continue to show that an mTOR inhibitor has a significant effect in a new trial with more participants. We're thrilled to work with ATF to ensure that the field accomplishes that next step as soon as possible."
Since 2020, the Milken Institute and ATF have launched two other funding programs, ATF-LOMAS (Learning Opportunities in Medicine and Sarcoidosis) and ATF-BSI (Breakthrough Sarcoidosis Initiative), the latter of which has committed over $11 million to sarcoidosis research to date. They have also published a Giving Smarter Guide that identifies strategic opportunities for philanthropic investment in sarcoidosis.
"At ATF, we believe that we owe it to the sarcoidosis community to support promising research directions across all stages of development, including this timely opportunity to accelerate a potential treatment in the near term," said Lisa Spalding, spokesperson for the Ann Theodore Foundation. "ATF-SIM augments--but does not supplant--our parallel efforts to support early-stage biomedical research and long-term scientific community-building through two other grant programs, which will reap benefits for decades to come. We must take every possible route to improving upon day-to-day symptom management in favor of long-term symptom relief."
The funding program is now accepting applications through Monday, April 20, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time, and grant awardee(s) will be selected in June 2026. For more information, visit: https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/rfps/request-proposals-ann-theodore-foundation-sarcoidosis-inhibitor-mtor-sim-trial.
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About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next.
Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy tackles persistent societal challenges by guiding individuals and foundations with the insights and tools to develop strategies, implement giving programs, and foster collaboration to create a better, more equitable world.
The Milken Institute's Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) works to develop, launch, and lead initiatives that fund medical research and invest to accelerate the development of tools and treatments that will bring better health to millions of people. We partner with philanthropists, leading them through complex medical research and clinical systems.
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About the Ann Theodore Foundation
The Ann Theodore Foundation is a grant-making private foundation that supports a broad range of initiatives, including opportunities for learning and enrichment for young people, food security, climate change mitigation, college access and success, and research towards a cure and improving care for people with sarcoidosis. The foundation's philanthropy is informed by the values of compassion, integrity, respect, and community.
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Original text here: https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/milken-institute-ann-theodore-foundation-launch-new-grant-support-clinical-trial-potential
[Category: Economics]
Job Creators Network Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Trump's Tariffs
ADDISON, Texas, Feb. 21 -- Job Creators Network issued the following statement on Feb. 20, 2026, By CEO Alfredo Ortiz:
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Job Creators Network Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Trump's Tariffs
"The Supreme Court's decision doesn't change the fact that Trump's tariffs achieved what they intended: rebalancing global trade in favor of American manufacturers and small businesses. As a result of these tariffs, the Trump administration has signed dozens of trade deals that benefit America, boosting foreign investment in the country by trillions of dollars, creating countless American jobs.
... Show Full Article
ADDISON, Texas, Feb. 21 -- Job Creators Network issued the following statement on Feb. 20, 2026, By CEO Alfredo Ortiz:
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Job Creators Network Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Trump's Tariffs
"The Supreme Court's decision doesn't change the fact that Trump's tariffs achieved what they intended: rebalancing global trade in favor of American manufacturers and small businesses. As a result of these tariffs, the Trump administration has signed dozens of trade deals that benefit America, boosting foreign investment in the country by trillions of dollars, creating countless American jobs.Despite today's ruling, Trump's trade actions -- in totality with his other pro-growth actions, including tax cuts, deregulation, and low inflation -- have dramatically helped small businesses and the American economy. Together, they set the stage for a significant increase in economic growth and living standards in 2026."
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Original text here: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/job-creators-network-statement-on-supreme-court-striking-down-trumps-tariffs/
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
Indigenous Protesters Intercept Grain Barge, Escalating Demands to Repeal Decree Privatizing Amazonian Rivers
OAKLAND, California, Feb. 21 [Category: Environment] -- Amazon Watch, an organization that says it protects the rainforest and advances the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin, issued the following news release:
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Indigenous Protesters Intercept Grain Barge, Escalating Demands to Repeal Decree Privatizing Amazonian Rivers
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Santarem, Para, Brazil - Today, 400 Indigenous peoples in four boats intercepted a grain barge on the Tapajos River in the city of Santarem (PA). The peaceful action aimed to draw attention from the federal government and the broader public to the impacts
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, Feb. 21 [Category: Environment] -- Amazon Watch, an organization that says it protects the rainforest and advances the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin, issued the following news release:
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Indigenous Protesters Intercept Grain Barge, Escalating Demands to Repeal Decree Privatizing Amazonian Rivers
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Santarem, Para, Brazil - Today, 400 Indigenous peoples in four boats intercepted a grain barge on the Tapajos River in the city of Santarem (PA). The peaceful action aimed to draw attention from the federal government and the broader public to the impactsof transforming Amazonian rivers into export corridors. Indigenous protesters approached the vessel on the urban stretch of the river while it was docked at the multinational commodity trader Cargill's port. The barge is part of the soy supply chain operating through the "Arco Norte" (Northern Arc) logistics corridor. Cargill's grain terminal has been blockaded by Indigenous peoples since January 22 and today's action expanded pressure to its riverside loading facilities.
As the police impeded boats from approaching the grain barge, many protesters jumped into the river and managed to board the massive ship, unfurling signs stating "The Tapajos River isn't for sale" and "Revoke the Decree of Death."
Indigenous protesters are calling for the repeal of Decree 12,600/2025, which included the Madeira, Tapajos, and Tocantins Rivers in Brazil's National Privatization Program, as well as the annulment of immediate plans to dredge the Tapajos River. According to Indigenous leaders, Decree 12,600 opens the door to privatizing "navigation maintenance" on Amazonian rivers, authorizing destructive dredging and structural interventions to accelerate the export of commodities such as soy and corn.
"This river is our road. It is our source of food, the home of our fish, and essential to the balance of the forest and the climate. How can this richness be turned into a corridor for soy? And worse, without listening to the peoples who live in and from it? That is why we are here -because we want Brazil to respect ILO Convention 169 and consult us before decisions are made. This decree was signed first, and now they want to discuss how to consult us? That is not consultation; it is an attempt to legitimize what has already been decided. And decided by whom? For whom? To benefit a handful of foreign companies, like Cargill, that profit from human rights and environmental violations in the Amazon," said Auricelia Arapiuns, a leader from the Lower Tapajos region.
The weeks-long blockade occurs amid the expansion of the Northern Arc logistics corridor, which includes the Ferrograo mega-railway, planned to greatly increase grain exports via the city of Sinop in Mato Grosso state to the Tapajos River ports in Miritituba, Para. The auction of the railway's concession is scheduled for September, despite the project remaining under injunction in Brazil's Supreme Court.
Impacts of the Northern Arc Corridor
Socio-environmental organizations and studies warn that turning the Amazon's major rivers into industrial waterways to increase agribusiness profits carries high costs for traditional territories and communities, biodiversity, and the climate. Among the impacts cited are pressure on Indigenous communities, quilombos, and other local communities; land speculation and land grabbing; soy expansion deeper into the Amazon; water contamination; changes in river flow dynamics; and escalating violence along soy transport routes.
For Alessandra Korap Munduruku, a leader from the Middle Tapajos region, the impacts are already being felt. In front of the Praia do Mangue Indigenous Reserve, irregular ports and soy silos have displaced fish populations and polluted waters used by Munduruku communities.
"With the increase in soy exports through the Tapajos came more dredging, more ports, and heavier barge traffic. We are already seeing fish with abnormalities, fish disappearing, fish contaminated, with their bellies full of grain. While outsiders focus only on the economy, they forget about food security. If this expands, that poison will increasingly enter the food chain of nearby cities," warned the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize winner.
Maria Leusa Munduruku highlighted the natural limits of Amazonian rivers, which she says are being disregarded by dredging operations that alter their natural flow. "The river has its own timing -its flood season and its dry season. When they deepen, widen, and force navigation year-round, they break that cycle. Our people have always taught that we must respect the river's limits. When those limits are ignored, extreme droughts and imbalance follow. And in this case, it is not only the Tapajos that suffers, but the entire region," she said.
"It is essential to take a critical look at the cumulative impacts of the Northern Arc project. Ferrograo, the expansion of private grain ports, and the Tapajos waterway together could increase soy volumes by five to seven times, intensifying pressure on traditional territories. The consequences go beyond impacts on the Tapajos River, driving further deforestation and threatening Brazil's own climate commitments to reduce forest loss," said Renata Utsunomiya, transportation policy analyst at GT Infraestrutura, a coalition of civil society organizations.
Peoples from the Madeira, Tocantins, and Xingu Basins
This week the Cargill blockade, led by Indigenous peoples from the Tapajos River, gained reinforcements from Kayapo and Panara contingents that traveled from the Xingu River basin in Mato Grosso and Para, bolstering their numbers to 1,200 and broadening the representation of the region's Indigenous peoples. The mobilization is also backed by Indigenous peoples and social movements from the Madeira and Tocantins, whose rivers are also threatened by Decree 12,600.
The presence of peoples from the Xingu underscores that this conflict extends beyond the Santarem blockade. In Mato Grosso, there is growing concern over soy expansion near Indigenous territories, especially following the recent slashing of the Amazon Soy Moratorium. The Panara people also carry the historical trauma of the Cuiaba-Santarem highway construction, which led to the death of 66% of their population, according to Brazil's National Truth Commission.
"We are not here only for the Tapajos, but against the privatization of Amazonian rivers. The soy advancing around Capoto-Jarina territory is pushed along the BR-163 highway and down the Tapajos. If the government privatizes these rivers, it accelerates the same machinery that threatens our territories. That is why we have come to stand with the Tapajos," said Takakpe Mektutire of the Raoni Institute.
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Original text here: https://amazonwatch.org/news/2026/0219-indigenous-protesters-intercept-grain-barge-escalating-demands-to-repeal-decree-privatizing-amazonian-rivers
Earthjustice: EPA Dismantles Protections for Mercury and Air Toxics From Power Plants
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 21 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2026:
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EPA Dismantles Protections for Mercury and Air Toxics From Power Plants
Advocates warn of more toxic pollution, asthma attacks, and premature deaths, especially in communities living near coal plants.
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Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today finalized a repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) -- a move that will allow coal- and oil-fired power plants to emit more brain-damaging mercury, other harmful heavy metals, and dangerous soot. Those
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Feb. 21 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2026:
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EPA Dismantles Protections for Mercury and Air Toxics From Power Plants
Advocates warn of more toxic pollution, asthma attacks, and premature deaths, especially in communities living near coal plants.
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Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today finalized a repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) -- a move that will allow coal- and oil-fired power plants to emit more brain-damaging mercury, other harmful heavy metals, and dangerous soot. Thoseemissions put the public at greater risk of heart and lung disease, cancer, and premature death.
EPA also eliminated a common-sense requirement that power plants install cost-effective systems to continuously monitor the amount of pollution they emit -- depriving communities of a powerful tool for ensuring power plants comply with air pollution standards and provide real-time data on their emissions.
"Trump's EPA is making an attack on public health with the repeal of the 2024 MATS," said Earthjustice attorney Nicholas Morales. "This unlawful repeal will result in higher levels of mercury, soot, and other hazardous pollution into our air and communities. With this move, the Trump administration is wiping out health protections critical for protecting children from toxins like mercury just to save the coal industry some money."
The repeal of MATS follows a two-year exemption the Trump administration granted to some of the nation's dirtiest power plants, many of which had demonstrated their ability to meet the updated 2024 standards. In June 2025, community and environmental groups represented by Earthjustice and other counsel sued the Trump administration over this unlawful decision. The exemptions, issued in April and July, allow 71 coal power plants to release more mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that tighter limits are achievable and would protect children, pregnant people, and people with chronic heart and lung disease from toxic air pollution.
Background on MATS
Before MATS was established in 2012, there were no federal limits on how much mercury and toxic air pollution coal and oil -fired powered plants could emit. The standards led to a 90% reduction in mercury emissions, 80% drop in other metals, and helped save up to 11,000 lives each year. In 2024, the EPA strengthened MATS, building on what has become one of its most effective air pollution rules.
EPA's own analysis of the 2024 rule found:
* $33 million in annual health benefits
* Minimal impact on electricity reliability, with no expected retirements
* Only 33 plants required upgrades to meet non-mercury metal standards
For many coal plants, the 2024 standards simply require tuning up existing pollution controls already in place, and most covered facilities had met or were on track to meet the tighter limits. By scrapping those stronger safeguards and reverting to outdated standards, EPA is giving a lifeline to some of the dirtiest power plants in the country at the expense of public health.
The following are reactions from our clients and the coalition
"This announcement really hits home for us here in the Houston area where one of the nation's largest and dirtiest coal fired power plants remains fully operational," says Jennifer Hadayia, executive director at Air Alliance Houston. "The danger of coal plants like W.A.Parish (owned by NRG) are not theoretical; they have real quantifiable harms on people's quality of life and health. Repealing the rules that curtail coal plant pollution means that mercury, soot, arsenic, and other harmful substances will continue to be in our air at unhealthy levels. And for what reason? Most of the remaining coal plants in the U.S. were already on track to meet the stronger standards. This repeal is a dog whistle to a dying industry and won't make anyone healthier. Those of us working to truly protect public health from the harms of air pollution will continue to push for stronger protections from coal pollution."
"This rollback is one more example of the Trump administration putting fossil fuel interests ahead of the American people," said Anne Havemann, deputy director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. "The 2024 MATS rule created meaningful gains in public health at minimal cost. That's environmental protection at its best."
"For decades, Montanans have breathed toxic pollution from the dirtiest power plant in the nation," said Anne Hedges, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center. "The outdated, unreliable Colstrip plant has the highest rate of toxic air pollution of any similar coal plant in the nation. It is the only one of its kind that hasn't installed modern pollution controls. People living downwind shouldn't have to pay the price of this administration's reckless disregard for human life through high medical bills and lower quality of life to treat health problems that are completely preventable. It's heartless."
"Repealing the 2024 MATS rule is the latest example of the Trump administration serving the fossil fuel industry instead of protecting public health. The excessive emissions of arsenic, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals cause the most harm to the people most in need of protection, including children, who are being exposed to these toxins during critical developmental windows," said Lawrence Hafetz, legal director of Clean Air Council, headquartered in Pennsylvania, a state containing nine coal plants that would have been subject to improved standards.
"The Trump EPA's decision to repeal the mercury standards is a direct attack on the health of Americans," said Laurie Williams, Beyond Coal Campaign director of Sierra Club. "For years, these lifesaving safeguards have slashed the amount of toxic pollution coal plants dump in our air and water, keeping millions of Americans safe from heart attacks, asthma and premature deaths. Now, the president that promised to make Americans healthy again is deliberately weakening those protections and families will suffer preventable illness simply because he wants to give the coal industry another handout at the expense of our health. Americans deserve public health standards that are designed to protect people, not pad the profits of a dying industry that can't compete with less expensive coal plants that rampantly pollute our air. But Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin have made their choice: help their buddies in the coal industry cut corners rather than prioritize the health and safety of our communities. The Sierra Club will fight this decision with everything we have to defend our communities from this dangerous and deadly rollback."
"The coal industry is in decline, and dismantling clean air protections won't bring it back," says John Walke, senior attorney for NRDC. "It will only lead to more asthma attacks, more heart problems, and more premature deaths, especially in communities living in the shadow of coal plants. We have a right to breathe clean air, and we will fight for that right even if Trump's EPA refuses to."
"For over a decade, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have protected Americans from mercury and other dangerous pollutants emitted by coal plants, but now Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin are recklessly attacking these protections so their coal buddies can make a few more bucks," said Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp. "This is the complete opposite of making Americans healthy. By rolling back this commonsense, lifesaving protection, the Trump administration is making Americans sicker and unnecessarily exposing families and children to more dirty pollution that causes heart disease, cancer, and developmental disabilities. This is despicable and reckless, and we will continue to defend our communities from these health hazards caused by coal plants."
"With so many of the nation's coal plants concentrated in the Midwest, this decision sends an unmistakable signal that our communities are expendable," said Brian Lynk, Environmental Law & Policy Center senior attorney. "Rolling back protections from toxic mercury pollution sacrifices public health to prop up a declining industry, even though it won't change the fundamental economics driving coal's decline. This administration is sticking its head in the sand while the rest of the world moves forward toward more affordable and less toxic energy sources."
"This repeal is an unprecedented, unlawful, and unjustified reversal that flies in the face of congressionally mandated efforts to reduce hazardous air pollution from industrial facilities," said Hayden Hashimoto, attorney at Clean Air Task Force. "EPA's repeal puts polluters' interests over public health by loosening the limits on emissions of air toxics from power plants, which the agency has previously recognized as the largest domestic emitter of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. Allowing more emissions of air toxics puts Americans at greater risk for the benefit of a small number of particularly dirty coal plants."
"Repealing these protections will allow coal plants to pour more mercury and toxic pollution into our air, which will then get into our water, food, and ultimately our children's bodies. It's a needless cruelty when modern pollution controls can provide greater safety," said Surbhi Sarang, senior attorney at Environmental Defense Fund. "The Trump administration is willfully ignoring evidence that coal plants can reduce their pollution in readily available ways for reasonable cost - and American families will be the ones paying the price."
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Additional Resources
* Related case documents & news (https://earthjustice.org/library?_case=air-toxics-mercury-power-plants)
* About the Washington, D.C. Office (https://earthjustice.org/office/washington-dc/)
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/epa-dismantles-protections-for-mercury-and-air-toxics-from-power-plants
[Category: Environment]
As USDA Moves to Address Puppy Mill Cruelties, Humane Advocates Push for Stronger Standards of Care at Commercial Dog Breeding Facilities
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Humane World Action Fund (formerly the Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following news release:
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As USDA moves to address puppy mill cruelties, humane advocates push for stronger standards of care at commercial dog breeding facilities
Progress should include more veterinary oversight, exercise and housing requirements to ensure humane treatment of dogs
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Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, are encouraged to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Humane World Action Fund (formerly the Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following news release:
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As USDA moves to address puppy mill cruelties, humane advocates push for stronger standards of care at commercial dog breeding facilities
Progress should include more veterinary oversight, exercise and housing requirements to ensure humane treatment of dogs
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Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, are encouraged to see the U.S. Department of Agriculturetake steps to improve the standards of care at USDA-regulated dog breeding facilities. In response to a recent announcement by USDA, the groups offer the following statements and background for media to use in their reporting on this issue.
John Goodwin, senior managing director, puppy mills and equine at Humane World for Animals:
"A national discussion about updating standards of care for dogs in commercial breeding facilities is especially welcome, and we are hopeful that the USDA's announcement brings that about, because the truth is that even if every facility were 100% compliant with current standards, many dogs would still be living in subpar, miserable conditions. Mother dogs in puppy mills are often confined to small cages, bred until their bodies wear out, and denied adequate socialization and enrichment--these are conditions that no dog lover would ever consider humane. We would like to see the USDA use this moment to lead a comprehensive overhaul of the standards of care for these breeders, not just make minor tweaks. Whether federally regulated or overseen by state departments of agriculture, we must raise the baseline so that compliance truly means humane treatment."
Naomi Maxwell, regulatory specialist at Humane World Action Fund:
"We're encouraged to see the administration taking a more coordinated, multi-agency commitment to addressing puppy mill cruelty. Updating and strengthening standards of care for breeding dogs in federally licensed facilities, especially around veterinary oversight, as well as looking at the exercise and socialization needs of all dogs, is essential. Real progress will come from turning these commitments into actionable policy reforms that make humane treatment the rule, not the exception."
Dr. Lorna Grande, program director at Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance, the veterinary division of Humane World for Animals:
"As a veterinarian, I know firsthand the consequences of what happens to dogs who are bred in conditions that prioritize profit over welfare. Breeding females should be examined by a licensed veterinarian before each breeding attempt, and dogs shouldn't spend their lives in cages only six inches longer than their bodies with minimal to no daily exercise or enrichment. Our federal regulations must reflect scientifically grounded welfare standards that give every dog a chance at a healthy life."
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Background for media
Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund have decades of legal, investigative, legislative and enforcement expertise in dismantling the puppy mill industry from every angle. We have led efforts to expose cruelty through undercover investigations and large-scale rescue responses, used consumer protection laws to hold pet stores accountable in court, and helped pass and defend state and local laws. As of the end of 2025, eight states and more than 500 communities banned the sale of puppy mill puppies in pet stores.
At the federal level, we have championed reforms to strengthen standards of care under the Animal Welfare Act, increase USDA inspection funding, and advance bipartisan legislation such as the Puppy Protection Act and the Better CARE for Animals Act to improve enforcement and interagency coordination.
Our annual Horrible Hundred puppy mill report, which details violations or concerns at a sampling of 100 problem puppy mills across the country, educates the public about conditions in large breeding operations and has frequently inspired policy makers at the state, local and federal levels to help to take concrete steps to end the cruelty of puppy mills nationwide.
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Original text here: https://humaneaction.org/press-release/2026/02/usda-moves-address-puppy-mill-cruelties-humane-advocates-push-stronger
[Category: Political]
Animal Welfare Leaders Welcome Multi-agency Government Strategy to Combat Animal Cruelty
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Humane World Action Fund (formerly the Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following news release:
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Animal welfare leaders welcome multi-agency government strategy to combat animal cruelty
Sustained collaboration and shared resources are necessary to deliver lasting protection for animals, say Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund
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Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, are encouraged to see the U.S. Department of Justice announce a new
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- Humane World Action Fund (formerly the Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following news release:
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Animal welfare leaders welcome multi-agency government strategy to combat animal cruelty
Sustained collaboration and shared resources are necessary to deliver lasting protection for animals, say Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund
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Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, are encouraged to see the U.S. Department of Justice announce a newmulti-agency plan to prioritize animal welfare enforcement cases. Law enforcement plays a vital role in responding to animal crimes and keeping communities safe, and these groups offer the following statements on the intersection of public safety, animal protection and actions government policy makers can take to strengthen this work.
Kitty Block, president and CEO, Humane World for Animals:
"Ending animal cruelty requires strong, trusted relationships with law enforcement at every level, from local sheriffs to federal agencies. In 2025, we worked alongside local authorities in Florida, South Carolina and Indiana to rescue nearly 200 dogs from suspected dogfighting operations--crimes that often intersect with illegal drugs, weapons and other violence. And in 2022, we worked with the Agriculture and Justice departments on the historic rescue of over 4,000 beagles from a facility breeding dogs for laboratories in Virginia. We see firsthand the benefits when animal protection organizations and law enforcement collaborate in sharing intelligence, strengthening reporting systems and coordinating rescues. This allows us to not only save animals from horrific abuse but also helps make communities safer. These partnerships are indispensable to dismantling cruelty networks and holding perpetrators accountable."
Sara Amundson, president, Humane World Action Fund:
"To get to the root causes of animal cruelty, we advocated for the passage of the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act and the PACT Act, which was signed during the first Trump Administration. Today, we applaud the Justice Department for championing a truly coordinated approach with the Agriculture Department to crack down on the perpetrators of the worst forms of animal abuse. Our assistance with providing care for animals from these federal cases has been critical, and our policy work is to ensure no animal ever languishes in an animal fighting ring, a bad breeding facility or roadside zoo again. Now, for real change to occur, DOJ, alongside its federal, state and local partners must ensure the efforts outlined in this new plan translate into lasting protection for animals."
Read more from Kitty Block and Sara Amundson on the momentum happening this year for animal protection and stopping animal cruelty at the local, state and federal level.
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Original text here: https://humaneaction.org/press-release/2026/02/animal-welfare-leaders-welcome-multi-agency-government-strategy-combat-animal
[Category: Political]
