Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Trump and Cronies Hijack 250th Birthday Bash to Create Hyperpartisan, Corporate-Funded Trump Tribute
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 [Category: Political] -- Public Citizen issued the following news release:
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Trump and Cronies Hijack 250th Birthday Bash to Create Hyperpartisan, Corporate-Funded Trump Tribute
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -The New York Times reported today that Trump allies are soliciting corporate and individual donations for a new group, Freedom 250, which appears designed to hijack the official, bipartisan organization set up to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary and create a financial black box ripe for influence-peddling.
In response, Public Citizen's co-presidents issued the following
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 [Category: Political] -- Public Citizen issued the following news release:
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Trump and Cronies Hijack 250th Birthday Bash to Create Hyperpartisan, Corporate-Funded Trump Tribute
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -The New York Times reported today that Trump allies are soliciting corporate and individual donations for a new group, Freedom 250, which appears designed to hijack the official, bipartisan organization set up to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary and create a financial black box ripe for influence-peddling.
In response, Public Citizen's co-presidents issued the followingstatements:
"Trump and his cronies appear to be diverting taxpayer money and mixing it with corporate donations from ExxonMobil, Deloitte, Palantir, Mastercard and other unknown sources in an off-the-books effort to boost Trump and Trumpism instead of actually celebrating our country's 250th anniversary. Congress must investigate these troubling revelations, including what appears to be a misuse of a congressionally created foundation intended to support our national parks and the potential diversion of taxpayer funds for highly partisan purposes," said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen.
"An official celebration of American history at this milestone moment should celebrate America's actual history, including the role of social movements in driving forward progress against forces of oppression and authoritarianism. It should not elevate religion, let alone a particular religion, nor aim to censor America's true story. Donald Trump and his henchmen have sabotaged what should ben a unifying moment and appear intent on instead creating a highly divisive, corporate-funded, ideologically extremist exercise. Once again, nothing is sacred in the Trump administration, not even the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Everything is for sale to corporate and potentially foreign interests," added Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen.
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Original text here: https://www.citizen.org/news/trump-and-cronies-hijack-250th-birthday-bash-to-create-hyperpartisan-corporate-funded-trump-tribute/
NY Legislators Introduce Strongest Data Center Moratorium Bill in the Country
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 [Category: Science] -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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NY Legislators Introduce Strongest Data Center Moratorium Bill in the Country
Bill Would Pause Data Center Development Pending Statewide Environmental Review
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Albany, NY - Today State Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Anna Kelles introduced legislation (S.9144) to establish a temporary moratorium on the siting and permitting of new data centers in New York State.
Across the United States and increasingly in New York, data-center development has accelerated at a
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 [Category: Science] -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
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NY Legislators Introduce Strongest Data Center Moratorium Bill in the Country
Bill Would Pause Data Center Development Pending Statewide Environmental Review
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Albany, NY - Today State Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Anna Kelles introduced legislation (S.9144) to establish a temporary moratorium on the siting and permitting of new data centers in New York State.
Across the United States and increasingly in New York, data-center development has accelerated at apace that has outstripped existing planning, regulatory, and environmental review frameworks. Large-scale facilities place substantial new demand on the electric grid, driving up electricity costs for residential and commercial ratepayers, increasing reliance on fossil-fuel "peaker" plants during periods of peak demand, and complicating compliance with state greenhouse gas reduction requirements. Many data centers also rely on significant water withdrawals and discharge large volumes of heated or chemically treated wastewater, raising concerns for local water quality and aquatic ecosystems. The rapid turnover of data center equipment is also increasing electronic waste, and with New York already running out of landfill space, this could accelerate capacity loss and drive up trash disposal costs for households and businesses statewide.
The legislation responds to these documented and emerging impacts by creating a temporary, three-year pause on new data-center development while the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) completes a comprehensive environmental impact statement evaluating the industry's current and projected effects on energy use, electricity rates, water resources, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and electronic waste. DEC will also be required to establish regulations to mitigate these negative impacts. At the same time, the bill requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to report on the cost impacts of data centers on all other ratepayers, and issue any orders necessary to ensure those costs are fully borne by data center developers, not regular New Yorkers and other businesses.
This pause is intended to ensure that New York fully understands the cumulative impacts of this rapidly expanding industry and can establish clear, enforceable, data-driven standards so that any future development complies with existing environmental and climate law and proceeds in a manner that protects public health and environmental resources, and does not raise energy costs for New Yorkers.
In December more than 50 New York groups joined the call for a full moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers, citing massive and unsustainable energy and water consumption, and skyrocking utility costs for families and small businesses. The effort was coordinated by the environmental group Food & Water Watch, the first organization in the country to call for a full nationwide moratorium.
"Massive data centers are gunning for New York, and right now we are completely unprepared. When one of these energy-guzzling facilities comes to town they drive up utility prices and have significant negative impacts on the environment and the community - and they have little to no positive impact on the local economy. New Yorkers are suffering from an affordability crisis and a climate crisis, and data centers are going to make both of those much harder to deal with. It's time to hit the pause button, give ourselves some breathing room to adopt strong policies on data centers, and avoid getting caught in a bubble that will burst and leave New York utility customers footing a huge bill," said Senator Liz Krueger.
"Data centers are expanding rapidly across the country and in New York, often with significant demands on our electric grid, water resources, and waste systems, and with real consequences for energy bills and climate pollution. New York already has strong environmental and climate laws, but those laws only work if we take the time to understand cumulative impacts and regulate accordingly. This legislation creates a responsible pause so the state can complete a comprehensive assessment and put clear, data-driven standards in place, ensuring that any future development is aligned with our climate goals and the long-term health and economic stability of New Yorkers," said Assemblymember Anna Kelles.
"Data Centers are straining our energy grid, polluting our environment, and abusing our resources without any regulations or oversight. We cannot afford more data centers until we have clear guidelines for energy consumption and a comprehensive understanding of their environmental impacts. I'm proud to co-prime sponsor this legislation with Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Anna Kelles to create a moratorium on new data center construction to protect New Yorkers and our environment," said Senator Kristen Gonzalez.
"As an environmental justice advocate and a member of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, I support the legislation introduced by Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Kelles to establish a statewide moratorium on new data centers in New York. Data centers are being built rapidly and with little meaningful oversight, despite the serious strain they place on our energy system, water resources, and local communities. These facilities increase pollution, drive up electricity costs, and threaten farmland and natural land, while disproportionately impacting low-income communities and Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities that have long faced environmental injustice. New Yorkers deserve accountability and transparency before our climate goals, public health, and quality of life are put at further risk," said Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas.
"We know enough about data centers to be certain that the unfettered expansion of this aggressive industry is one of the biggest environmental and social threats of our generation. This expansion is rapidly increasing demand for dirty energy, straining water resources, and raising electricity rates for families and small businesses. New Yorkers are paying the price while Big Tech rakes in the riches. This strongest-in-the-nation moratorium bill is logical, it's timely, and it will deliver the results we need," said Eric Weltman, senior New York organizer at Food & Water Watch.
"The proliferation of data centers and their insatiable appetite for ratepayer subsidies, excessive water use, noise pollution, and regulatory secrecy, must stop. New York State can show the nation how to regulate data centers in a way that protects consumers' wallets, the public's hearing, and the environment's most precious resource, water. NYPIRG applauds Sen. Krueger and Assm. Kelles for this legislation," said Blair Horner, senior policy advisor at NYPIRG.
"Worldwide, water conservation, energy experts, and ratepayer protection groups are sounding the alarm on data centers - there are massive costs to these facilities, and under the current business-as-usual model, we the people will be footing this bill. And not just financially - we'll be paying for them with our clean air, water, and soil when these facilities drive up gas use, dump their e-waste here, and pollute our water for their cooling purposes. I thank Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Kelles for working to ensure our state has time to enact necessary protections for our communities against the harms that come with rampant extraction," said Avni Pravin-Buck, deputy director of Alliance for a Green Economy.
"The data center build-out represents a massive transfer of New York's land, water, and energy to a handful of tech corporations. While Big Tech uses our resources to build an industry meant to replace human labor, working-class New Yorkers are being forced to foot the bill through higher electric rates and a strained grid. NYC DSA supports this moratorium because we must prioritize human needs and public power over the speculative profits of billionaires. We need a pause to ensure our state's resources are used for the public good, not corporate expansion," said Katherine Jin, organizer with New York City DSA.
"Communities across New York are being inundated with data centers at a faster pace than we can imagine. These facilities pose a real threat to the environment and public health of residents, especially when communities are denied the transparent information and resources they need to understand the risks and protect themselves. I commend Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Kelles for listening to New Yorkers. This bill not only safeguards our shared future here in New York, but sets a powerful precedent for states across the nation," said Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian.
"At a time when New York State should be leading the rapid transition to solar and wind energy generation while also ending further buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure, the permitting of data centers with massive energy needs will only feed into the fossil fuel industry's narrative that to keep this technology running we have to put a pause on dealing with climate change for now. The pause should be the one put on the data centers - not renewable energy projects," said Michael Richardson, campaigns director at Third Act New York.
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Original text here: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/02/06/ny-legislators-introduce-strongest-data-center-moratorium-bill-in-the-country/
LULAC CONDEMNS RACIST HATE SPEECH BY DONALD TRUMP, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND NATIONAL REJECTION OF BIGOTRY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued the following news release:
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LULAC CONDEMNS RACIST HATE SPEECH BY DONALD TRUMP, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND NATIONAL REJECTION OF BIGOTRY
Nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization calls out dehumanizing rhetoric, rejects "humor" as a pretext for racism, and urges Americans to speak out against hate.
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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) unequivocally condemns the vile and racist social media post circulated by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obama
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued the following news release:
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LULAC CONDEMNS RACIST HATE SPEECH BY DONALD TRUMP, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND NATIONAL REJECTION OF BIGOTRY
Nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization calls out dehumanizing rhetoric, rejects "humor" as a pretext for racism, and urges Americans to speak out against hate.
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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) unequivocally condemns the vile and racist social media post circulated by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obamaand former First Lady Michelle Obama in dehumanizing, offensive imagery. This act was not satire, humor, or political commentary. The content was hate speech, plain and simple, intended to demean, degrade, and inflame. Such conduct from the highest elected leader in the United States represents a dangerous erosion of moral character and further normalizes racism as acceptable public discourse. Sharing offensive content is beneath the dignity of the president, reflects upon the American people, and is an insult to every person who believes in basic decency.
"There is no joke here, no ambiguity, and no excuse," said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "This was a deliberate act of racial provocation, and the effort by Trump allies and surrogates, including the disgraceful attempt to rationalize this at a White House press briefing, only compounds the harm. Passing hate along as 'humor' does not absolve responsibility; it spreads it." LULAC calls on the American public to reject this poison unequivocally and to contact their elected officials to demand accountability and condemnation of racist rhetoric in all its forms. Silence enables hate. Leadership requires confronting it. This moment demands that we, as Americans, speak out, clearly, publicly, and without apology, against racism masquerading as political speech.
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About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.
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Original text here: https://lulac.org/news/pr/LULAC_CONDEMNS_RACIST_HATE_SPEECH_BY_DONALD_TRUMP_DEMANDS_ACCOUNTABILITY_AND_NATIONAL_REJECTION_OF_BIGOTRY/
[Category: Political]
FFRF Action Fund Blasts Outrageous S.D. Prayer Resolution to 'the Lord Most High'
MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 7 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news:
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FFRF Action Fund blasts outrageous S.D. prayer resolution to 'the Lord Most High'
The FFRF Action Fund is upbraiding South Dakota lawmakers for a recent prayer resolution that they passed urging all state residents to "seek the Lord Most High for His healing presence and mercy upon South Dakota."
The outrageous measure passed without
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 7 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news:
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FFRF Action Fund blasts outrageous S.D. prayer resolution to 'the Lord Most High'
The FFRF Action Fund is upbraiding South Dakota lawmakers for a recent prayer resolution that they passed urging all state residents to "seek the Lord Most High for His healing presence and mercy upon South Dakota."
The outrageous measure passed withoutany chance for public input, bypassing committee hearings in both chambers. While largely symbolic, the resolution blatantly crosses the constitutional line separating state and church. The Legislature has no authority to address a supernatural authority (in this case, clearly a Christian god) or to promote a specific religious observance, much less to direct constituents to pray to this particular deity, even instructing them about what to pray for.
The five-page proclamation, which cobbles together a laundry list of unrelated assertions and unctuous religious entreaties, calls on cooperating citizens to "join us annually during the month of July, for a time of prayer and fasting ... that we may be awakened to our need and hunger for God, humbling ourselves before Him, prayerfully seeking His face, asking for His forgiveness, forsaking all wickedness, and begging Him to bestow His healing, blessing, grace, and mercy upon us, so that we, our communities, our state, and our nation will be transformed into a people fit to be His own." It quotes the bible and employs fundamentalist Christian language, referring to "our sins," "our fallen nature" and crediting "the omnipotent Lord of all creation" for peace and prosperity.
The resolution perpetuates myths about the nation's founding and miscontextualizes the role of religion in our founding. SCR 604 baselessly states that "we know that these men and women [Founders] founded the United States upon the Judeo-Christian values articulated by Sacred Scripture." In fact, many of the most influential founders, such as Madison and Jefferson, were Deists in the classical Enlightenment sense. Regardless of their personal views, the Framers were first among nations to adopt a secular Constitution that deliberately omitted any reference to deity and barred religious tests for public office. Their vision clearly was to create a nation free from state-sponsored religion, as the later adoption of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights shows, barring the government from establishing religion.
The resolution cites a quote by John Adams to justify its promotion of state-sponsored Christianity: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." The authors of SCR 604 are omitting important context. Adams did not believe or say that the Constitution establishes Christianity, requires religious belief or authorizes the government to promote religion. In the same letter, Adams emphasized that the Constitution relies on voluntary civic virtue, not religious enforcement by the state. Indeed, a staunch advocate for religious freedom, Adams strongly opposed the official establishment of any religion. If there remains any question as to Adams' take on the role of religion in the Constitution, his remarks in the Treaty of Tripoli, which he signed, make that clear: "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."
In addition to the falsehoods espoused in SCR 604, this legislation is unacceptable as public policy, since it impermissibly promotes Christianity using the power of government. Resolutions urging a public prayer, particularly a sectarian one, are in express violation of South Dakota's Bill of Rights, which notes: "No person shall be compelled to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship." The state Constitution also advises that "the dictates of conscience shall never be infringed."
Furthermore, the resolution marginalizes nonbelievers and religious minorities. Two percent of South Dakota residents are non-Christian believers and 18 percent are religiously unaffiliated, including atheists, agnostics or those who are "nothing in particular." It's incumbent upon South Dakota lawmakers to represent all of their constituents, not just those who may share their personal religious beliefs.
Wasting legislative time on measures like this one diverts attention and resources away from the real, urgent issues lawmakers are elected to address. While religious resolutions may offer political theater to appease a theocratic constituency, they do nothing to improve matters that affect everyday South Dakotans. Instead, they misuse the machinery of government to advance sectarian messages, invite legal and ethical concerns and divide constituents along religious lines.
The substance of the resolution is dismaying, but the process that the Legislature took in getting this resolution passed in stealth, without going through committee or involving public debate, is equally troubling.
"This resolution sounds like a sermon from an evangelical Christian church," comments FFRF Action Fund President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "If it were -- that would be fine, but instead this is the official message of the South Dakota Legislature. The state Legislature is not a church."
Adds Gaylor, "We invite those who care about our secular democracy, equal protection under the law and true religious freedom to join us in vigorously condemning this unconstitutional and coercive legislative overreach."
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FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/ffrf-action-fund-blasts-outrageous-s-d-prayer-resolution-to-the-lord-most-high/
[Category: Sociological]
Elder Nash Joins International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 7 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Elder Nash Joins International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington
Senior leader tells faith leaders that religious freedom will bless nations
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Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told hundreds of global faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 2, 2026, that protecting religious freedom will help nations flourish.
"There's a mountain of evidence that shows the power of religious
... Show Full Article
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 7 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Elder Nash Joins International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington
Senior leader tells faith leaders that religious freedom will bless nations
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Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told hundreds of global faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 2, 2026, that protecting religious freedom will help nations flourish.
"There's a mountain of evidence that shows the power of religiousfreedom in building families, communities and nations," Elder Nash told hundreds of faith leaders attending the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit during a Church-sponsored luncheon.
More than 90 organizations representing 30 faith traditions gathered at the Washington Hilton for the two-day annual event to discuss how to advance international religious freedom.
"Religious freedom is in peril in many places around the world," Elder Nash said. "To the degree religious freedom is embraced, it will bless the peoples of the earth and their nations."
Event organizers report that nearly 80% of people around the world live in countries with high levels of restrictions on religion.
"The topic of religious freedom is personal for me. Several of my ancestors suffered for their religious beliefs," Elder Nash told the audience.
He recounted the story of Christian J. Larsen, his third great-grandfather, who faced severe persecution for his faith in Denmark and Norway. He was one of the first to join the Church of Jesus Christ in Denmark in 1850.
He quoted the Church's 11th Article of Faith: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
"We all want the world to be a better place, a place of peace, human dignity, a place of hope where humankind can flourish," Elder Nash stated.
He added, "Religious freedom is our first, last, and always best hope of cultivating good and worthy principles in the minds and souls of the people, so that we learn to act together, to learn to differ without demonizing, disagree without being disagreeable -- to work with others with opposing views to forge common ground instead of seeking to dominate."
This is the second year in a row that a senior Church leader has participated in the IRF Summit. Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed the group in 2025.
Global Faith Forum
On Tuesday, February 3, Elder Nash joined a panel discussion led by Baptist pastor Bob Roberts Jr. of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, which was held on stage at the Global Faith Forum.
"[Pastor Roberts] has learned to listen, to get to know people and to see people of different faith backgrounds, such as Muslim and Jew, to see people who are Christian, but with different perspectives on doctrine, and realize that there's good in all of them, and that it really makes no sense for us to be at each other when we could be with each other," Elder Nash said.
Other panelists included Dr. Miroslav Volf, director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture; Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, president of Zaytuna College; His Excellency, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Naimi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar and chair of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue; Diana Aviv, CEO of Partnership for American Democracy; and His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche of the Universal Peace Sanctuary.
"It's a privilege to engage in the Lord's work. It's a privilege to engage with our fellow brothers and sisters, and to have dialogue and work together to forge that common ground, because a lot of good happens as we do," Elder Nash said.
"The only real way for this to occur is for us to listen to one another, work to bridge the gap with shared values, repair the breach, and then work together," he concluded. "In essence, we are to be peacemakers."
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-nash-joins-international-religious-freedom-summit-washington
[Category: Religion]
Clean Air Task Force: U.S. Lawmakers Urge EU to Maintain Strong Methane Import Standards
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 7 -- Clean Air Task Force, an organization that says it works to safeguard against the impacts of climate change by catalyzing the development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies, issued the following news:
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U.S. lawmakers urge EU to maintain strong methane import standards
A group of U.S. Members of Congress has urged the European Union to preserve its Methane Regulation, showing strong support for new rules slated to reduce global emissions.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Energy
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 7 -- Clean Air Task Force, an organization that says it works to safeguard against the impacts of climate change by catalyzing the development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies, issued the following news:
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U.S. lawmakers urge EU to maintain strong methane import standards
A group of U.S. Members of Congress has urged the European Union to preserve its Methane Regulation, showing strong support for new rules slated to reduce global emissions.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EnergyMinisters of EU Member States, the lawmakers argue that the EU should not grant undue exemptions for U.S. operators if U.S. methane standards fall short in accuracy or enforcement, and don't meet the standards set in the EU. They also call on the EU to retain the regulation's current timelines, scope, and penalties for noncompliance, and to avoid blanket grandfathering of U.S. contracts.
Under the EU Methane Regulation, imported oil and gas must meet transparency and performance requirements. Granting regulatory equivalency would determine whether U.S. exporters can rely on domestic rules instead of complying directly with EU standards.
Jonathan Banks, Global Director, Methane Pollution Prevention at Clean Air Task Force, said:
"This letter underscores a growing transatlantic and global consensus that maximizing methane reductions demonstrates the kind of action that global consumers increasingly are factoring into their purchasing decisions.
U.S. companies that have already invested in methane measurement and emissions management have a competitive advantage that many are seeking to highlight. Strong, enforceable standards like the EU Methane Regulation reward that investment and provide the certainty serious producers need."
The European Union is one of the world's largest importers of fossil fuels. Roughly 85.6 percent of natural gas consumed in the EU was supplied by imports in 2024, almost half of which originated in the United States, by far the leading supplier of LNG to the EU. That gives the EU significant influence over methane management practices across global energy supply chains.
Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, trapping more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide during its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Because it is short-lived, reducing methane emissions delivers climate benefits quickly. Available technologies can substantially reduce methane from oil and gas operations, making methane mitigation one of the fastest opportunities to slow near-term warming while reducing waste of natural gas.
The EU Methane Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1787) entered into force in 2024. It establishes binding requirements for methane measurement and reporting, leak detection and repair, limits on routine venting and flaring, and transparency obligations for oil and gas placed on the EU market, including imports. The full legal text is available here (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1787).
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organisation working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalysing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 30 years of internationally recognised expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
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INFODOC: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/c/1/c1ea370d-d5e5-4e7a-84d6-c534abecdb27/3278E7269337FD3E7EFE33E872B4F6387B0A7D755B4AC32414DCE819540896BA.26.02.05-bicameral-eu-methane-emission-regulation-letter-final.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.catf.us/2026/02/u-s-lawmakers-urge-eu-to-maintain-strong-methane-import-standards/
[Category: Environment]
Americans for Tax Reform: Trump Accounts to Be Featured in Super Bowl Pregame Commercial
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary on Feb. 5, 2026:
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Trump Accounts to be Featured in Super Bowl Pregame Commercial
Sean Rowen
A commercial promoting Trump Accounts for kids will air this Sunday during the Super Bowl pregame broadcast. Trump Accounts were enacted into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut.
The ad will likely help drive further private individual and corporate announcements of Trump Account contributions. Americans for Tax Reform has been tracking such announcements and other
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary on Feb. 5, 2026:
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Trump Accounts to be Featured in Super Bowl Pregame Commercial
Sean Rowen
A commercial promoting Trump Accounts for kids will air this Sunday during the Super Bowl pregame broadcast. Trump Accounts were enacted into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut.
The ad will likely help drive further private individual and corporate announcements of Trump Account contributions. Americans for Tax Reform has been tracking such announcements and othergood news arising from OBBBA here (https://atr.org/trumpaccounts/) and here (https://atr.org/list/).
The 30 second spot was paid for by Invest America, the organization founded by Trump Account champion Brad Gerstner. It is scheduled to run immediately before kickoff of the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
Invest America released an early preview of the commercial on X ahead of the broadcast.
The ad features children speaking directly to the camera about Trump Accounts and highlights the $1,000 contribution provided through the program. The commercial emphasizes early investing and frames the accounts as a way for children to begin building savings from birth.
The featured children say:
"Dear America,
If I start investing when I am sixteen. Nine. Seven.
It could change my future.
All our futures.
I want to be a nurse.
Go to college.
Be a businesswoman.
I can save for a house.
With a trampoline.
Two trampolines.
This year every American child gets an investment account.
And millions will be pre-funded.
That's free money.
We can all expand the American Dream.
Sign me up."
For the accounts that will be pre-funded, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides a $1,000 Treasury contribution for eligible children born in 2025 through 2028 when parents opt in. All Americans under 18 can set up an account, with parents as the custodian. The official U.S. government Trump Accounts website is here (https://atr.org/trumpaccounts).
In addition to the federal contribution, companies and individuals have announced private contributions to support the accounts. A full list is available here.
Senator Ted Cruz (R - Texas) led the congressional effort to get Trump Accounts across the finish line.
The Super Bowl pregame placement represents the highest profile promotion of Trump Accounts to date.
See also:
Full Business Expensing Testimonials (https://atr.org/expensing/)
No Tax on Tips Testimonials (https://atr.org/tips/)
No Tax on Overtime Testimonials (https://atr.org/overtime/)
Death Tax Relief Testimonials (https://atr.org/bbbdeathtax/)
Trump Accounts (https://atr.org/trumpaccounts/)
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Original text here: https://atr.org/trump-accounts-to-be-featured-in-super-bowl-pregame-commercial/
[Category: Political]
