Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
WE ACT for Environmental Justice Responds to Proposed Changes to New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- We Act for Environmental Justice issued the following news release:
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice Responds to Proposed Changes to New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
ALBANY, NY - Having advocated for an equitable cap and invest program that would require the big businesses polluting our air to pay for the investment needed to meet New York State's pollution reduction goals mandated by its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), WE ACT for Environmental Justice's Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager Eric Walker reviewed
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NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- We Act for Environmental Justice issued the following news release:
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice Responds to Proposed Changes to New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
ALBANY, NY - Having advocated for an equitable cap and invest program that would require the big businesses polluting our air to pay for the investment needed to meet New York State's pollution reduction goals mandated by its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), WE ACT for Environmental Justice's Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager Eric Walker reviewedthe memo released by New York State Energy Research and Development Agency's (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen Harris and issued the following statement:
"Doreen Harris is right about one thing: no one should implement the extreme, unrealistic scenario described in NYSERDA's memo. The cap-and-invest program outlined in NYSERDA's memo is a 'worst case scenario' and has none of the cost-containment tools that have made similar programs work across the country. We wouldn't support it either. But the program outlined in the memo is not the program NYSERDA spent nearly two years developing and promoting. The NYSERDA memo is a red herring.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul inexplicably shelved that program despite the state's own analysis showing most households coming out ahead. We are a community-based organization representing families in what the state describes as disadvantaged communities. They have been waiting the longest for relief from both high bills and polluted air, and they have been paying the highest price in both financial and public health terms - spending a disproportionate amount of their household income on energy costs and burdened with greater adverse health impacts from disproportionate exposure to air pollution. The state is dramatically behind nearly every goal of the transition to clean energy mandated by the CLCPA, yet our energy bills have been steadily increasing. New Yorkers know that it's not clean energy to blame for the high cost of energy, but rather utility infrastructure investments that utility companies make where every dollar spent on infrastructure becomes a guaranteed return, paid for by customers already struggling to keep the lights on. That guaranteed return is driving billions in profits for companies like Con Edison.
Gutting the CLCPA today and continuing to delay the implementation of an equitable and common-sense cap-and-invest program won't lower a single New Yorker's energy bill. And in the wake of the Trump administration's gutting of federal clean air protections, New York cannot afford to retreat or sacrifice the energy savings and health benefits a well-designed cap-and-invest program would deliver to millions of New Yorkers.
The conversation our leaders in Albany should be having is how to uphold the CLCPA and urgently advance a well-designed program that protects environmental justice communities, creates union jobs, and delivers real affordability to the households and small businesses that need it most."
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan-based, membership-driven organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents are meaningfully included in the development of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram. WE ACT's legislative priorities are detailed in our 2026 Policy Agenda.
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Original text here: https://weact.org/updates/we-act-for-environmental-justice-responds-to-proposed-changes-to-new-york-states-climate-leadership-and-community-protection-act/
[Category: Sociological]
VFW Commends VA for Listening to Veterans' Voices and Rescinding Rule
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb. 28 -- The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., a veterans service organization, issued the following news release:
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VFW Commends VA for Listening to Veterans' Voices and Rescinding Rule
Policy change follows 10 days of public outcry from veterans, veteran service organizations and other stakeholders
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) commends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for officially rescinding its interim final rule that would have changed how disability ratings are evaluated, a policy the VFW warned could unfairly reduce benefits for disabled
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb. 28 -- The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., a veterans service organization, issued the following news release:
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VFW Commends VA for Listening to Veterans' Voices and Rescinding Rule
Policy change follows 10 days of public outcry from veterans, veteran service organizations and other stakeholders
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) commends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for officially rescinding its interim final rule that would have changed how disability ratings are evaluated, a policy the VFW warned could unfairly reduce benefits for disabledveterans.
Since VA opened the rule for public comment, more than 20,000 comments have been submitted to the Federal Register urging the department to withdraw the policy.
"These last 10 days prove that when our veterans speak, leaders will listen," said VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore. "We thank Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins for hearing veterans' concerns and taking meaningful steps to reverse an abrupt policy change that could have had far-reaching unintended consequences for veterans whose medication and other treatments allow them to live day-to-day with their service-connected health conditions."
Last week, the VFW publicly demanded VA rescind the rule change, raising "serious concerns" it threatened the benefits veterans earned through their service.
"The VFW has long maintained that no veteran should ever think they could be penalized for seeking the medical care they need," said Whitmore. "We appreciate VA's willingness to engage with veterans on this critical issue."
While this reversal is a significant step forward, the VFW will continue to work with Congress, VA, and other stakeholders to ensure that future policy changes are developed with full transparency, genuine veteran input and a steadfast commitment to protecting the benefits and well-being of all veterans.
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Original text here: https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2026/2/vfw-commends-va-for-listening-to-veterans-voices-and-rescinding-rule
[Category: National Defense]
Scouting America Statement Concerning Department of War Announcement
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 28 -- Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026:
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Scouting America Statement Concerning Department of War Announcement
Scouting America issued the following statement today following the Department of War's announcement.
Scouting America is proud to uphold our longstanding commitment to military families across the globe through a renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War. Over several months, we engaged in dialogue with Department leadership to align on how we could deepen our service
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IRVING, Texas, Feb. 28 -- Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026:
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Scouting America Statement Concerning Department of War Announcement
Scouting America issued the following statement today following the Department of War's announcement.
Scouting America is proud to uphold our longstanding commitment to military families across the globe through a renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War. Over several months, we engaged in dialogue with Department leadership to align on how we could deepen our serviceto military families, while making programmatic updates to comply with Executive Order 14173.
Today we are moving forward with implementing new programmatic elements that deliver on that mission: waiving registration fees for military families, launching a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans, and reinforcing our commitment to Scouting's foundational ideas: leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service.
Throughout this engagement, Scouting America held firm on the core commitments that define us. We maintained our name as 'Scouting America' and preserved our service to the more than 200,000 girls who participate in our programs. Girls have been an integral part of Scouting since the 1960s and have served as leaders and program developers for decades. That commitment is unwavering.
Our primary objective throughout this engagement was to maintain support for families who depend on us. Since 1910, more than 130 million Americans have passed through Scouting's ranks. Millions of those alumni have gone on to serve as officers and enlisted leaders in our military, teachers, entrepreneurs and first responders.
Scouting America is one of the most reliable pipelines to the United States Armed Forces our country has ever known. Scouts are significantly more likely to serve in uniform than the general population. Eagle Scouts are heavily represented in ROTC programs, service academies and military leadership tracks. Scouts contribute millions of hours of service to their communities each year. The leadership, discipline and responsibility developed through Scouting translate into adulthood as public service, civic engagement and a readiness to lead.
Tens of thousands of Scouts participate in units that meet on or near military installations in the U.S. and abroad. For children who move frequently, whose parents deploy, and whose lives are shaped by uncertainty, Scouting is often the one constant: a uniform, a community, a set of values that travel with them wherever they go.
Today's affirmation deepens a 116-year partnership that greatly benefits our Armed Forces and our communities. Together, we strengthen military families, support readiness and help raise generations of Americans committed to service. Scouting America looks forward to strengthening a partnership that maximizes impact for America's youth. Scouts will continue to put duty to country above duty to self.
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About Scouting America
Scouting America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be "Prepared. For Life.(R)"
Scouting invites every youth to a safe, fun place to learn, explore, and grow. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding. Currently, nearly 1 million youth are served by almost 500,000 adult volunteers in local Councils throughout the country.
To learn more about Scouting America's mission, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit www.BeAScout.org.
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Original text here: https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scouting-america-statement-concerning-department-of-war-announcement/
[Category: Sociological]
Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
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In response to US and Israel's attacks on Iran, Matt Maiorana, Managing Director of Organizational Strategy at Oil Change International, said:
"Trump once again used illegal force to bolster his imperialist fossil fuel agenda. His attack on Iran threatens lives, adds to regional instability, and risks dragging the United States into another forever war. Working people in the United States demand affordable
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Reactive: Trump's Attack on Iran Threatens Lives and Bolsters Fossil Fuel Agenda
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In response to US and Israel's attacks on Iran, Matt Maiorana, Managing Director of Organizational Strategy at Oil Change International, said:
"Trump once again used illegal force to bolster his imperialist fossil fuel agenda. His attack on Iran threatens lives, adds to regional instability, and risks dragging the United States into another forever war. Working people in the United States demand affordableenergy, healthcare, and economic security, not another war that costs millions of lives and trillions of dollars.
"Trump's strikes on Iran also threaten to entrench the fossil fuel system that drives the climate crisis. Iran is the fifth largest oil producer [1] and third largest gas producer in the world, and holds vast reserves of both. Non-Iranian oil companies have been mostly barred from access for decades due to nationalization and sanctions. A former national energy advisor in the George W. Bush administration told Politico recently, "You can imagine our industry going back there -we would get a lot more oil, a lot sooner than we will out of Venezuela.
"Decades of repression and violence by Iran's ruling authorities have devastated generations of Iranians, including the women, youth, labor organizers, democracy activists and environmental defenders who risk everything to fight for freedom. Their resistance deserves global solidarity. But Trump uses this history to push his own political interests. He has shown time and again that what he cares about most is profit and power and this action is most likely to benefit U.S. fossil fuel interests rather than the American or Iranian people.
"Iran's future must be decided by the Iranian people, not by Trump, not by Israel, and not by fossil fuel executives."
Note to the editor:
[1] This includes all hydrocarbon liquids, crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Figures based on average production in 2025 in Rystad Energy Ucube database.
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Original text here: https://oilchange.org/news/reactive-trumps-attack-on-iran-threatens-lives-and-advances-fossil-fuel-interests/
Anti-Defamation League, Academic Engagement Network Commend International Studies Association on Rejecting BDS
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release:
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Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) Commend the International Studies Association (ISA) on Rejecting BDS
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) commend the International Studies Association (ISA) for the recent Governing Council vote rejecting the harmful and divisive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 -- The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-hate organization that aims to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all, posted the following news release:
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Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) Commend the International Studies Association (ISA) on Rejecting BDS
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) commend the International Studies Association (ISA) for the recent Governing Council vote rejecting the harmful and divisive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)resolution by a 57-38 percent vote and for reaffirming the association's core scholarly mission. We are also heartened that the Governing Council approved a counter-resolution, affirming the association's commitment to its core principles, by a 50-43 percent vote.
Our organizations work closely with faculty, university and college leaders, and professional academic associations to advance academic freedom, protect open inquiry, and ensure that scholars of all backgrounds can fully participate in the intellectual life of their fields. We believe strongly that scholarly associations function best when they foster rigorous debate grounded in evidence, uphold viewpoint diversity, and maintain environments in which members feel welcome regardless of their national origin, religion, identity, or political perspective.
The ISA leadership's decision reflects a clear commitment to those principles. By declining to adopt the BDS measure calling for the adoption of an academic boycott of Israel, ISA has upheld the association's longstanding role as a forum for rigorous, pluralistic scholarship rather than political advocacy.
This outcome is significant. Academic associations across disciplines are increasingly confronting pressures that risk pulling them away from their scholarly purposes and into polarizing and divisive campaigns. ISA's vote helps prevent the association from going down a slippery slope that could have undermined intellectual diversity, marginalized dissenting members, and compromised the association's credibility as an inclusive professional body.
We hope the association will continue to prioritize processes that protect member inclusion, safeguard academic freedom, and ensure that ISA remains a welcoming home for the full diversity of its scholarly community, including Jewish and Zionist scholars, whose perspectives are an important part of the field's intellectual pluralism.
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Original text here: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/anti-defamation-league-adl-and-academic-engagement-network-aen-commend
[Category: Political]
Americans for Tax Reform: Mamdani Uses New Yorkers as Leverage to Get His Tax Hikes
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary on Feb. 27, 2026, by Donald Webster III:
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Mamdani Uses New Yorkers as Leverage to Get His Tax Hikes
In 2013, the New York City budget was finalized at $70 billion. In 2026, Mamdani proposed a budget of $127 billion, a 55% increase from 2013. This includes a $5.4 billion dollar budget gap, which will increase to $7 billion in the next year. Mamdani's solution? Raise taxes.
Mamdani has put forth two plans to deal with the massive budget deficit:
* First proposal would see the Albany raise the corporate and
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary on Feb. 27, 2026, by Donald Webster III:
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Mamdani Uses New Yorkers as Leverage to Get His Tax Hikes
In 2013, the New York City budget was finalized at $70 billion. In 2026, Mamdani proposed a budget of $127 billion, a 55% increase from 2013. This includes a $5.4 billion dollar budget gap, which will increase to $7 billion in the next year. Mamdani's solution? Raise taxes.
Mamdani has put forth two plans to deal with the massive budget deficit:
* First proposal would see the Albany raise the corporate andindividual income tax rate to 2% for individuals making over $1 million dollars
* The Second proposal is to raise the property taxes in New York City by 9.5%
Both choices have been met with backlash from Albany and NYC City Council.
The First Option is viewed as making upstate New York pay for the follies of New York City. Increasing the income tax statewidewould put an unwanted burden on upstate New Yorkers by forcing them to pay for a situation they did not create, and for a mayor they did not elect. It is an overreach of Mamdani's power to expect the rest of the state to cover New York City's bill.
The Second option is not wanted by anyone. A 9.5% increase on property taxes would not only give businesses more of a reason to leave New York City, but it would also hurt working New Yorkers the hardest. It could affect more than 3 million single-family homes, condos, and over 100,000 commercial buildings, an unsustainable policy that would ruin the city. Mamdani says that this option could raise $3.7 billion for the cities' deficit, but that still leaves another $1.7 billion unaccounted.
Governor Hochul has already said she would assist New York City by providing $1.5 billion in state funds for the next two years:$1 billion in 2026, and $500 million in 2027. However, she stressed that Mamdani needs to make cuts where they can be made.While the $1.5 billion is already more than Albany should be doing for New York City, Mamdani is still not satisfied with the money he is receiving.
Mamdani's ultimatum holds New Yorkers hostage in a spree to waste more money.
Mamdani's campaign ran on a platform of returning affordability to New York City, but an increase on property taxes would do just the opposite. Even many NYC Democrats have come out against the idea, such as the City Comptroller Marke Levine, who remarked that property taxes are a highly regressive and disproportionately affect poorer communities more than wealthierones.
These two options put forward by Mamdani do not take into consideration the most obvious option to fix a deficit: spend less money.
If New York wants to get out of its fiscal deficit, then Mamdani must commit to cutting costs where needed. Identifying areas where budget cuts can be made and committing to austerity measures is the only way to pull New York out of this deficit.
While Mamdani tries to hold New Yorkers' hostage, it is important that Albany stands up to his absurd policies and say no to his tax hikes.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/mamdani-uses-new-yorkers-as-leverage-to-get-his-tax-hikes/
[Category: Political]
AJC Statement on U.S.-Israel Military Action Against Iran
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 [Category: Religion] -- The American Jewish Committee posted the following news release:
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AJC Statement on U.S.-Israel Military Action Against Iran
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American Jewish Committee stands with the United States and Israel as they undertake targeted military action to stop the Iranian regime's global terror campaign. The world will be a safer place when the threat of the Iranian regime's illicit nuclear and missile programs, along with the IRGC, is dismantled once and for all. We hope today's military action is a decisive step toward fulfilling that vital mission.
The Iranian
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 28 [Category: Religion] -- The American Jewish Committee posted the following news release:
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AJC Statement on U.S.-Israel Military Action Against Iran
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American Jewish Committee stands with the United States and Israel as they undertake targeted military action to stop the Iranian regime's global terror campaign. The world will be a safer place when the threat of the Iranian regime's illicit nuclear and missile programs, along with the IRGC, is dismantled once and for all. We hope today's military action is a decisive step toward fulfilling that vital mission.
The Iranianregime has, for decades, pursued policies that threaten U.S. interests, endanger Israel and our Arab partners, destabilize the broader Middle East, and undermine global security. Its relentless advancement of a nuclear program in defiance of international obligations, combined with its ballistic missile proliferation, sponsorship of terrorist proxies, and violent repression at home, has brought the region to this perilous moment.
AJC has supported the Trump administration's numerous attempts to reach a diplomatic solution and is grateful for the President's ironclad commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The regime, however, has repeatedly demonstrated that rather than engaging in good faith, it remained committed to pursuing its decades-long ambition to develop weapons of mass destruction. Such a capability would pose an existential threat not only to Israel, but to the entire Middle East, Europe, and the broader international order.
In addition to its nuclear ambitions, this regime has amassed a ballistic missile arsenal that it has repeatedly deployed - and has unleashed today - against Israel and our partners in the Gulf. Tehran has for decades been unwilling to curb its missile activity or seriously address this issue in previous negotiations.
Today's military action follows years of Iranian escalation, deception, and refusal to meet its international commitments -including the most recent inconclusive negotiations in Geneva. The responsibility for this crisis lies entirely with Tehran.
Let us not forget that the Iranian regime has continued to brutalize its own people during months of deadly response to those bravely raising their voices against repression. AJC stands in unwavering solidarity with the Iranian people in their desire for freedom.
The ultimate goal of today's action and what follows must remain unchanged: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, constraining its destabilizing regional activities, and advancing a future in which diplomacy -grounded in accountability and verification -can succeed where past efforts have failed.
The Iranian people deserve a government that prioritizes their welfare over confrontation and repression. The international community must remain focused not only on nuclear constraints, but also on Iran's ongoing human rights abuses and support for terror.
This is a sobering moment. The stakes for regional security, global nonproliferation, and civilian lives are extraordinarily high. AJC's thoughts and prayers are with U.S. and allied military personnel, American and allied civilians serving abroad, and with innocent civilians across the region who may now face heightened risk.
About American Jewish Committee (AJC)
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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Original text here: https://www.ajc.org/news/ajc-statement-on-us-israel-military-action-against-iran
