Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
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WLF Asks Supreme Court to Ensure First Amendment Claims May Be Heard in Federal Court
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2025:
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WLF Asks Supreme Court to Ensure First Amendment Claims May Be Heard in Federal Court
"Federal courts exist to vindicate federal rights. First Choice's First Amendment claim must be heard by a federal judge."
--Zac Morgan, WLF Senior Litigation Counsel
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Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an appellate court decision that denied a nonprofit targeted by a state attorney general from having its First Amendment defense heard in federal court.
The
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2025:
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WLF Asks Supreme Court to Ensure First Amendment Claims May Be Heard in Federal Court
"Federal courts exist to vindicate federal rights. First Choice's First Amendment claim must be heard by a federal judge."
--Zac Morgan, WLF Senior Litigation Counsel
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Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an appellate court decision that denied a nonprofit targeted by a state attorney general from having its First Amendment defense heard in federal court.
Thecase arises from the New Jersey attorney general's investigatory demand for the identities of donors to First Choice, a nonprofit crisis pregnancy center. Donor privacy has been acknowledged as a First Amendment right by the Supreme Court since 1958's NAACP v. Alabama, but the court of appeals barred the federal courthouse door to First Choice's constitutional claim.
As WLF's amicus brief explains, Congress has long provided the federal courts with jurisdiction over these types of cases because it feared state courts would fail to properly vindicate federally protected rights. Yet what happened to First Choice is a widespread problem beyond the nonprofit sector. Business interests deemed unpopular or "on the wrong side" by politically ambitious AGs have also been hit with similarly unconstitutional demands and then shunted to state court--the attorney general's home turf, typically presided over by an elected judge. WLF urges a simple fix: access to the federal courts as Congress intended. As the brief says, "Life-tenured judges appointed by a nationally elected president by-and-with the consent of legislators representing the States are well-positioned to separate good-faith investigatory work from pernicious lawfare."
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2025/08/28/communicating/wlf-asks-supreme-court-to-ensure-first-amendment-claims-may-be-heard-in-federal-court/
[Category: Law/Legal]
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Voters and Markets - Good News From Bolivia
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 29 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Aug. 28, 2025:
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Voters and Markets: Good News from Bolivia
Markets react positively to Bolivia's recent elections.
By Marcos Falcone
It happened in Argentina, and now it is happening in Bolivia. Across Latin America, expelling the left from power brings optimism back to the markets. On August 17, Bolivians went to the polls and delivered a historic blow to Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), the left-wing party that has governed Bolivia during 18 out of the past 19 years. Just a day after
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DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 29 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Aug. 28, 2025:
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Voters and Markets: Good News from Bolivia
Markets react positively to Bolivia's recent elections.
By Marcos Falcone
It happened in Argentina, and now it is happening in Bolivia. Across Latin America, expelling the left from power brings optimism back to the markets. On August 17, Bolivians went to the polls and delivered a historic blow to Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), the left-wing party that has governed Bolivia during 18 out of the past 19 years. Just a day afterthe election, bond prices increased by 5%, and the country's Country Risk Index score fell by 20%, according to JP Morgan. This confirmed the upward trajectory bonds had shown, since they had already risen over 30% this year.
Rodrigo Paz, a centrist candidate who received 32% of the vote, and Jorge Quiroga, a former President and right-wing candidate with 27%, will face each other in the runoff on October 19. But what truly shocked observers was not just that the MAS candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, did not reach the second round; he barely made it to fourth place with only 3% of the vote, just the number of votes they needed for the party to survive. Another centrist candidate, Samuel Doria, took third place.
In this context, it is understandable that current President Luis Arce did not seek reelection. He knew beforehand that voters would repudiate him. Only former President Evo Morales (2006-2020) was bold enough to attempt another run, but the Constitutional Court barred him from seeking a new term. Morales started the vicious circle that has brought the Bolivian economy to its knees over the past two decades, but most of the negative consequences of statism were not experienced until he left office.
The current economic crisis in Bolivia, which has built up over the years, is just another example of the kind of ever-increasing public spending that continues even as revenues stop coming in. First, the Bolivian state nationalized natural resources and, above all, gas, which abounded. Then, it enjoyed high gas prices and spent generously. Finally, when gas prices fell, the system blew up. As there were no spending cuts and deficits soared, reserves fell, inflation appeared, and multiple exchange rates were put in place. Bolivia joined the same trajectory already seen in Venezuela with oil and, to some extent, in Argentina with soybeans.
At last, the public reacted. But the Bolivian reaction seems bolder than Argentina's, where the left still received 44% of the vote in the 2023 runoff, or even Venezuela, where dictator Maduro is believed to have received about one third of the vote in the 2024 fraudulent election, according to the opposition's count. At least across Latin America it is hard to find precedents of a party that, having dominated elections for almost 20 years, suddenly plunged to 3%.
Markets certainly welcome this result. Improving expectations are already making credit access easier for Bolivian companies. They may also enable higher investment during a future post-MAS administration, provided that it can stabilize the economy, uphold the rule of law, and respect private property. Nationalizations and capital controls have driven away investors in recent years, but without them it will be impossible for Bolivia to prosper.
It is usually said that markets like certainty. Curiously, though, the fact that centrist Paz is now the front-runner was not forecast, as polls suggested that he would end up in third place. This means that all it took for investors to react positively to the first round was simply MAS's exit from power, despite the remaining uncertainty about who will actually be President. The legislative results also reinforce the message: MAS, once dominant in the Bolivian Senate, will now have no Senators. In the House, MAS only won 15% of all seats.
None of this--the election, the knowledge of the two remaining candidates, or the reaction of voters--means that Bolivia's crisis will be over anytime soon. Any future government will need the support of the public in what will certainly be difficult years of fiscal adjustment. According to the IMF, the deficit has recently hit 10% of GDP. Year-on-year inflation is higher than in Argentina, which is still recovering from near-hyperinflation. Bolivia, once a gas exporter, mismanaged the resource so badly that it now imports gas.
Can a right-wing President fix any of this? Can a centrist survive? Can they finally enact the reforms that Bolivia needs? Those are still open questions, whose answers also depend on international factors beyond anyone's control. For the time being, voters and markets seem aligned. This may not be a sufficient condition, but it is definitely a necessary one.
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Marcos Falcone
Marcos holds an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago and a BA in Political Science from Torcuato di Tella University.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/voters-and-markets-good-news-from-bolivia/
VICTORY! University of North Texas system lifts drag 'pause' after FIRE/ACLU of TX letter
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Aug. 28 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release:
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VICTORY! University of North Texas system lifts drag 'pause' after FIRE/ACLU of TX letter
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DENTON, Texas, Aug. 28, 2025 --The University of North Texas system confirmed that it has lifted its "pause" on drag performances across its campuses, in response to a demand letter from civil liberties organizations informing the school that it was violating its students' First Amendment rights.
On March 28, UNT System Chancellor Michael Williams issued a system-wide
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PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Aug. 28 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release:
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VICTORY! University of North Texas system lifts drag 'pause' after FIRE/ACLU of TX letter
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DENTON, Texas, Aug. 28, 2025 --The University of North Texas system confirmed that it has lifted its "pause" on drag performances across its campuses, in response to a demand letter from civil liberties organizations informing the school that it was violating its students' First Amendment rights.
On March 28, UNT System Chancellor Michael Williams issued a system-widedirective announcing an immediate "pause" on drag performances on campus. Williams' directive came days after a similar drag ban from the Texas A&M University System was blocked by a federal judge following a lawsuit from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
On Aug. 14, FIRE and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas sent a letter informing Williams that his "pause" violated the Constitution for the same reasons.
"UNT cannot justify banning an entire class of protected expression from campus performance venues on the basis that such expression might cause offense," the letter read. "In the same way that some people may not appreciate UNT allowing students, staff, or visitors to engage in prayer on campus or wear t-shirts supporting rival universities, the fear that such speech may be 'offensive' to some is not a constitutionally permissible reason to ban it."
Yesterday, the UNT Office of General Counsel responded to the FIRE/ACLU-TX letter and announced that in light of a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocking yet another drag ban in Texas -- this time at West Texas A&M University -- "the UNT System's temporary pause on drag performances has ended."
"If campus officials can silence expression simply because some find it 'offensive,' no one's speech will be safe," said FIRE Strategic Campaigns Counsel Amanda Nordstrom "Today it's drag shows, but tomorrow it could be political rallies, art exhibits, or even bake sales. From West Texas to North Texas and any direction you look, the message is clear: drag is protected expression, and the show must go on."
"UNT repealed its drag ban following public backlash and legal pressure," said ACLU of Texas Attorney Chloe Kempf. "As we and the courts have repeatedly made clear, banning drag is plainly unconstitutional. Drag is a cherished source of joy and liberation for the LGBTQIA+ community -- and this reversal ensures students can once again freely express and celebrate their identities on campus."
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought--the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation's campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.
CONTACT:
Alex Griswold, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@thefire.org
Kristi Gross, Press Strategist, ACLU of Texas: media@aclutx.org
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Original text here: https://www.thefire.org/news/victory-university-north-texas-system-lifts-drag-pause-after-fireaclu-tx-letter
Gold Standard In Public Retirement System Design Series
LOS ANGELES, California, Aug. 28 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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The Gold Standard In Public Retirement System Design Series
Best practices and recommendations to help states move into a more sustainable public pension model for employees and taxpayers.
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Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project Gold Standard in Public Retirement System Design series reviews the best practices of state-level public retirement systems and provides a design framework for states struggling with post-employment benefit debt and retirement security risks.
The series offers recommendations
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LOS ANGELES, California, Aug. 28 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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The Gold Standard In Public Retirement System Design Series
Best practices and recommendations to help states move into a more sustainable public pension model for employees and taxpayers.
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Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project Gold Standard in Public Retirement System Design series reviews the best practices of state-level public retirement systems and provides a design framework for states struggling with post-employment benefit debt and retirement security risks.
The series offers recommendationsto help states design effective retirement systems that meet the needs of both employees and taxpayers.
The Gold Standard in Public Retirement System Design Series includes:
* Best practices in the design and utilization of defined contribution plans
* Best practices in incorporating risk sharing into defined benefit pension plans
* Best practices for cost-of-living adjustment designs in public pension systems
* Best practices in hybrid retirement plan design
* Best practices for pension debt amortization
* Best practices in optional defined contribution plans for public workers
* Best practices in cash balance plan design
* Designing an optimized retirement plan for today's state and local government employees
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email the Reason Pension Reform Help Desk at pensionhelpdesk@reason.org.
The Pension Integrity Project at Reason Foundation offers pro-bono consulting to public officials and other stakeholders to help them design and implement pension reforms that improve plan solvency and promote retirement security.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/policy-brief/gold-standard-in-public-retirement-system-design-series/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Czech Republic's Stand Against Communism
DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 28 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on Aug. 27, 2025:
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The Czech Republic's Stand Against Communism
A nation's scars shape today's laws.
By Fabricio Antezana Duran
While visiting Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, I was intrigued and surprised by the amount of art and public displays commemorating communism and the Soviet era. These weren't honorary tributes to "golden times," but rather pieces honoring those who suffered under the regime; reminders never to forget, and never to return to, those dark times.
These
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DETROIT, Michigan, Aug. 28 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on Aug. 27, 2025:
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The Czech Republic's Stand Against Communism
A nation's scars shape today's laws.
By Fabricio Antezana Duran
While visiting Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, I was intrigued and surprised by the amount of art and public displays commemorating communism and the Soviet era. These weren't honorary tributes to "golden times," but rather pieces honoring those who suffered under the regime; reminders never to forget, and never to return to, those dark times.
Thesedisplays range from the John Lennon Wall, where young Czechs expressed their discomfort and protested against the Soviet regime, to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, a striking display of bronze figures progressively melting and disfiguring, representing the mental and physical degradation of those who suffered between 1948 and 1989. Soviet-backed communist rule was characterized by censorship, persecution, economic decay, and a lack of freedom. Czechs know, and they remember: communism and all its cousins (socialism and fascism) are deeply harmful and dangerous to society.
This conviction was recently brought into the legislature. On July 17, 2025, Czech President Petr Pavel signed a new law prohibiting communist propaganda, equating the promotion of communism with the already illegal Nazi ideology. The law allows prison sentences of up to five years for anyone who "establishes, supports, or promotes Nazi, communist, or other movements which demonstrably aim to suppress human rights and freedoms or incite racial, ethnic, national, religious or class-based hatred." In more severe cases, such as organized activity, sentences may reach ten years.
The law, influenced by institutions like the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, passed with little resistance. Parties in the center-right spectrum framed it as a matter of justice. Totalitarian ideologies, they said, have no place in Czech society. MP Michael Zuna of the TOP 09, a liberal-conservative political party, declared it "a symbolic act of justice for victims of the Communist regime (1948-1989), which executed people and imprisoned dissidents including the late Vaclav Havel."
This consensus extends to the public. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, the direct successor of the pre-1989 ruling party, failed to secure any parliamentary seats in 2021, winning just 3.6% of the vote. Though they called the new law "politically motivated" and "discriminatory," the party is now forced to distance itself from its own history and ideology. Overt praise of the old regime's slogans and symbols is now punishable, and society itself has moved on: by 2023, only 17% of Czechs believe that their current situation is worse than before 1989.
The strength of this anti-communist sentiment comes from lived experience. In 1948, the Communist Party seized power, transforming Czechoslovakia, the region's last democracy, into a one-party dictatorship aligned with Moscow.
What followed were four decades of repression. Industries were nationalized, agriculture collectivized, and central planning imposed. Political opposition was crushed: by 1960, an estimated 150,000-160,000 people had been sentenced for political reasons, with at least 248 executed. Tens of thousands passed through forced labor camps, and thousands more died behind bars under brutal conditions. The regime staged infamous show trials, such as that of Milada Horakova, executed in 1950 on fabricated charges of treason. Dissidents like Vaclav Havel, later president, were jailed for their writings. Ordinary citizens lived under censorship, surveillance, and the ever-present fear of the secret police.
In 1968, an effort to reform communism into "socialism with a human face" was crushed by a Soviet-led invasion. About 108 people were killed, 500 injured, and a wave of emigration followed. The subsequent "normalization" re-imposed hardline rules, leading to purges, exile, and blacklisting. At least 276 citizens were killed attempting to flee across the Iron Curtain.
For many families, the scars remain personal--lost relatives, confiscated property, careers denied. By 2019, surveys showed that only 10% of Czechs had a positive view of the communist coup, and 73% agreed that the 1989 democratic revolution had been worth it.
Anti-Soviet sentiment intensifies considering the Czech Republic's boom after communism. The Velvet Revolution of November 1989 toppled the regime peacefully and returned freedom to the Czechs after four decades of dictatorship. By 1990, free elections were held, and by 1993, the Czech Republic emerged as an independent state after its split from Slovakia. What followed was a rapid embrace of democracy and markets. Reforms included privatization, economic liberalization, and integration into the world economy. The adjustment was difficult, initial output fell, and uncertainty was widespread, but in the long run, reforms unleashed productivity and entrepreneurial energy.
Anchored by NATO membership in 1999 and EU accession in 2004, the Czech Republic firmly joined the West. Economically, the transformation has been remarkable. Once stagnant under central planning, the Czech Republic is now one of post-communist Europe's greatest success stories. Its GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, has surpassed Spain's. Unemployment in recent years is among the lowest in Europe, around 3%, and public debt remains modest. The Fraser Institute ranks the Czech Republic 22nd in economic freedom, and the Legatum Institute places it 25th in prosperity.
As early as 2009, 79% of Czechs supported the shift to a free market economy, the highest rate among former Eastern Bloc nations. Younger generations have grown up with prosperity, openness, and opportunities that their parents were denied.
Even though departing from the Soviet model brought prosperity, Czechs must not forget that freedom of speech, association, and political plurality are healthy for a society, as they allow consensus to prevail and new ideas to emerge. The Czech Republic's government holds strong views against certain ideas, deeming them a danger and threat to society. However, categorizing certain ideas as "threats" can take a back-turn and open to broader censorship under the flag of "protection."
The Czech Republic's message is clear, not only through this recent law, but also through the monuments of Prague, the memories of families, and the successes of a free economy: totalitarian ideologies, whether communist or fascist, will never find fertile ground here. This shared sentiment is valid, but should it go as far as to justify censorship?
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Fabricio Antezana Duran
Fabricio Antezana Duran is a Social Media Associate at the Foundation for Economic Education.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/the-czech-republics-stand-against-communism/
Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan Empowers Self-Care and Reduces Health Care Costs
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Aug. 28 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issued the following news release:
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NEW: Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan Empowers Self-Care and Reduces Health Care Costs
AAFA leads research on serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis
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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) announces the availability of the first validated food allergy anaphylaxis action plan (https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-treatments/anaphylaxis-action-plan/), including versions for children under age 3 and children age 3 and up - available in English, Spanish, and
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Aug. 28 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issued the following news release:
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NEW: Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan Empowers Self-Care and Reduces Health Care Costs
AAFA leads research on serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis
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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) announces the availability of the first validated food allergy anaphylaxis action plan (https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-treatments/anaphylaxis-action-plan/), including versions for children under age 3 and children age 3 and up - available in English, Spanish, andseveral other languages. The plan helps you assess signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and make decisions on what steps to take next.
"A serious allergic reaction triggered by food allergies can be a scary, stressful event," said AAFA Chief Medical Officer Matthew Greenhawt, MD. "Having a clear action plan provides a source of calm and stability in a challenging time where minutes matter. This new plan is based on the latest guidance and research from the Allergy Joint Taskforce on Practice Parameters and designed with direct patient input to provide flexible options on how to manage a reaction. We encourage parents and caregivers of kids with food allergies to use this 'decision aid' approach."
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be triggered by food allergens as well as by insect stings or bites, latex, and some medicines. It progresses rapidly and may involve multiple body organ systems. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. On average, it is estimated that anaphylaxis results in 45,000-50,000 emergency room visits in the United States each year, with food being the most common trigger.
Following joint development by investigators and patients, leading anaphylaxis experts and researchers tested and validated AAFA's anaphylaxis action plan in a first-of-its-kind research study. This plan, the first to use the updated 2023 anaphylaxis guidelines, provides language for age-specific symptoms, and offers medication options which cover all current forms of epinephrine as well as rescue asthma inhalers containing formoterol (e.g. SMART therapy).
AAFA's Food Allergy Emergency Care Plan provides information and instructions on how to manage an allergic reaction. It includes:
* Symptoms to watch in infants/toddlers or people ages 3 and older (including children, teens, and adults)
* Instructions for using epinephrine
* How to decide when emergency medical care is needed
"Many people hesitate to use the appropriate treatment (epinephrine) for anaphylaxis for different reasons," said Melanie Carver, Chief Mission Officer at AAFA. "Previous guidance told people that anaphylaxis always required a 911 call. Evidence shows that when treated promptly, the symptoms often resolve and many people do not need additional medical care. This plan now follows the updated guidelines from the allergy professional societies and helps people observe their symptoms, use their epinephrine, watch for the treatment response, and decide when they need to seek emergency care."
Why the Change?
Prior research found the typical advice to "always" call 911/EMS and seek emergency care after epinephrine use less cost-effective when compared to an approach where EMS is only called if the reaction fails to start to resolve after a few minutes of watching. Fewer than 10% of patients require an additional dose of epinephrine, meaning most patients are OK on arrival at the emergency room, and do not need further care once in the emergency room. Worse, research suggests patients are hesitant to administer epinephrine, a decision that some may make to avoid costly emergency room visits and ambulance rides. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this "watchful waiting" approach demonstrated success as a way to avoid potential COVID exposure in busy emergency rooms and prioritize sicker patients receiving care. This new plan allows caregivers and patients to choose which path they prefer. For those who prefer to still call EMS, that remains an option. But patients and caregivers who do not prefer to do so now may choose the option of watching at home. This plan provides a guideline as to when this option is more or less appropriate, based on the patient's symptoms.
The Bottom Line
Anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis should receive epinephrine right away. The medicine works quickly to resolve symptoms. After administering epinephrine, patients/caregivers can use AAFA's Allergy Emergency Care Plan to help determine if they should watch and wait or proceed to call 911.
Download a copy of the plan at aafa.org/allergyplan. It is currently available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, Indonesian, Korean, and Portuguese, with additional languages coming soon.
About the Research
AAFA conducted this research and developed the action plan in collaboration with allergy experts and co-authors listed below. An educational grant provided a portion of the project funding. The funder played no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or the development of the action plan. AAFA and the authors retained full editorial control over the content.
Between August 2023 and November 2024, AAFA and allergy experts developed the allergy action plan and improved it over several stages of feedback. The action plan includes a "watchful waiting" approach, the addition of a new nasal epinephrine option, and age-specific anaphylaxis symptoms. AAFA assessed the action plan in collaboration with a team of allergy experts and patient advocates. Initial assessment focused on medical accuracy, readability, clarity, and bias. AAFA then conducted a validation study to assess decisional acceptability, conflict, and self-efficacy among 229 individuals at risk of anaphylaxis or caregivers of children at risk of anaphylaxis. The results showed the final action plan had good acceptability, high decisional self-efficacy, and moderate decisional conflict.
Anagnostou, A., Abrams, E. M., Anderson, W. C., Carver, M., Eftekhari, S., Golden, D. B., Jaffee, H., Lieberman, J. A., Mack, D. P., Mustafa, S. S., Shaker, M. S., Spergel, J. M., Stukus, D. R., Wang, J., & Greenhawt, M. (2025). Development of a Validated, Updated North American Pediatric Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Management Plan. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2025.03.027
About AAFA
Founded in 1953, AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease for people with asthma, allergies, and related conditions through research, education, advocacy, and support. AAFA offers extensive support for individuals and families affected by asthma and allergic diseases, such as food allergies and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Through its online patient support communities, network of regional chapters, and collaborations with community-based groups, AAFA empowers patients and their families by providing practical, evidence-based information and community programs and services. AAFA is the only asthma and allergy patient advocacy group that is certified to meet the standards of excellence set by the National Health Council. For more information, visit: aafa.org and kidswithfoodallergies.org
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Original text here: https://aafa.org/new-food-allergy-emergency-care-plan-empowers-self-care-and-reduces-health-care-costs/
As National Debt Surpasses $37 Trillion, Voters Want Congress to Improve Fiscal Outlook
NEW YORK, Aug. 28 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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As National Debt Surpasses $37 Trillion, Voters Want Congress to Improve Fiscal Outlook
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Americans are deeply concerned about the country's fiscal condition after the national debt surpassed $37 trillion this month. With the debt now growing at the rapid rate of a trillion more debt every five months, the U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index is 49 (100 is neutral), indicating that voters are calling for their elected leaders to address the debt and budget outlook.
The latest monthly survey commissioned
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Aug. 28 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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As National Debt Surpasses $37 Trillion, Voters Want Congress to Improve Fiscal Outlook
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Americans are deeply concerned about the country's fiscal condition after the national debt surpassed $37 trillion this month. With the debt now growing at the rapid rate of a trillion more debt every five months, the U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index is 49 (100 is neutral), indicating that voters are calling for their elected leaders to address the debt and budget outlook.
The latest monthly survey commissionedby the Peter G. Peterson Foundation shows that 79% of voters are increasingly concerned about the national debt, with the same percentage urging leaders to spend more time addressing our fiscal outlook. Additionally, 75% of U.S. voters agree the debt should be a top-three priority for the president and Congress, including 68% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 85% of Republicans.
"Today's new survey shows widespread concern about the $37 trillion and growing national debt," said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation. "Across party lines, voters understand that high and rapidly rising debt threatens our economy because it puts upward pressure on interest rates and inflation, while harming jobs, wages and growth. When lawmakers return from recess in September, they will face a government funding deadline, and voters are seeking fiscally responsible budgetary leadership."
The Fiscal Confidence Index measures public opinion about the national debt by asking six questions in three key areas:
* CONCERN: Level of concern and views about the direction of the national debt.
* PRIORITY: How high a priority addressing the debt should be for elected leaders.
* EXPECTATIONS: Expectations about whether the debt situation will get better or worse in the next few years.
The survey results from these three areas are weighted equally and averaged to produce the Fiscal Confidence Index value. The Fiscal Confidence Index, like the Consumer Confidence Index, is indexed on a scale of 0 to 200, with a neutral midpoint of 100. A reading above 100 indicates positive sentiment. A reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment.
Fiscal Confidence Index Key Data Points:
* The August 2025 Fiscal Confidence Index value is 49. (The July value was 45. The June value was 50.)
* The current Fiscal Confidence Index score for CONCERN about the debt is 45, indicating deep concern about the debt. The score for debt as a PRIORITY that leaders must address is 26, indicating that Americans want elected leaders to make addressing long-term debt a high priority. The score for EXPECTATIONS about progress on the debt is 77. The Fiscal Confidence Index is the average of these three sub-category scores.
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation commissioned this poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. This online poll surveyed 1,001 registered voters nationwide between August 18 and August 20, 2025. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
Detailed results can be found online at www.pgpf.org/FiscalConfidenceIndex.
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Original text here: https://www.pgpf.org/press/2025-08-fci-press-release/
