Trade Associations
Here's a look at documents from national and international trade associations
Featured Stories
MarinHealth Medical Center Nurses Announce One-day Strike for Safe Staffing and Patient Safety
OAKLAND, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Nurses Association issued the following news release:
* * *
MarinHealth Medical Center nurses announce one-day strike for safe staffing and patient safety
Nurses at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, Calif., gave notice to their employer today that they will hold a strike for one day on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to protest the administration's refusal to address RNs' deep concerns about nurse retention, patient care, and safe staffing. The nurses are represented by California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).
CNA represents more
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Nurses Association issued the following news release:
* * *
MarinHealth Medical Center nurses announce one-day strike for safe staffing and patient safety
Nurses at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, Calif., gave notice to their employer today that they will hold a strike for one day on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to protest the administration's refusal to address RNs' deep concerns about nurse retention, patient care, and safe staffing. The nurses are represented by California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).
CNA represents morethan 700 nurses MarinHealth Medical Center. This strike notice, which lets the hospital make alternative plans for patient care, follows the nurses' nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on Jan. 30. The nurses have been in contract negotiations since June 2025 with little to no movement on key issues.
"We always want to give our patients the best care but it is challenging to do that when we are stretched too thin and can't take breaks during our 12-hour shift," said Lynn Warner, RN in the progressive and metabolic care unit at MarinHealth. "We need more resource nurses to ensure patient and nurse safety. We are striking to demand that MarinHealth invest in nurse retention. so we will continue to give our community the care they deserve."
Who: Registered nurses at MarinHealth Medical Center
What: One-day strike for patient safety and a fair contract
When: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7 a.m. to Thursday, Feb. 19, 6:59 a.m.
Where: MarinHealth Medical Center, 250 Bon Air Rd, Greenbrae, Calif.
The RNs urge management to invest in nursing staff and agree to a contract that provides appropriate staffing so nurses can take proper meal and rest breaks, improvements to address recruitment and retention, and affordable health care.
"MarinHealth nurses love their jobs. We are really dedicated to our patients and our community," said Krystle Davis, RN in the emergency department at MarinHealth. "Safe staffing and maintaining our health benefits is the key to retaining and recruiting nurses."
The nurses held an informational picket in December but management has not addressed the patient safety concerns raised by nurses in their proposals.
* * *
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/marinhealth-medical-center-nurses-announce-one-day-strike
[Category: Nursing]
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: Renewable Fuel Producers are Ready, Willing and Able; Need Policy Certainty and New Tools to Unlock Next Wave of Growth
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 7 -- The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Renewable Fuel Producers are Ready, Willing and Able; Need Policy Certainty and New Tools to Unlock Next Wave of Growth
At Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Shaw vows if Congress won't act, E15 fight will continue state-by-state
*
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw told attendees at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit that America's ethanol and biodiesel producers are "ready, willing, and able" to meet demand. However, that growth hinges on opening new markets
... Show Full Article
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 7 -- The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Renewable Fuel Producers are Ready, Willing and Able; Need Policy Certainty and New Tools to Unlock Next Wave of Growth
At Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Shaw vows if Congress won't act, E15 fight will continue state-by-state
*
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw told attendees at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit that America's ethanol and biodiesel producers are "ready, willing, and able" to meet demand. However, that growth hinges on opening new marketsand restoring policy certainty at both the state and federal levels.
"Both state and federal policy must once again embrace the positive power of renewable fuels at work," said Shaw. "Remove barriers and uncertainty. Resist those that would tie our hands behind our backs."
Shaw closed his remarks with a "crystal clear" rallying cry for year-round E15, noting that if President Trump fails to compel Congress to act, the fight for E15 will continue.
"E15 is vital to the future of ethanol, farmers, and rural America," stated Shaw. "Our fight will return to the states, where seven Midwest governors showed us a path forward to year-round E15. It is not our preferred path forward. But it may be our only path. If so, we will accept the challenge. Because we shall never surrender."
Shaw outlined pathways to unlocking new demand beyond E15, including lower-carbon marine fuels, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS).
"If renewable fuels can provide just a portion of their low carbon needs, those markets could drive demand for 20 to 30 years, even when accounting for the increased productivity of American farmers," he noted.
Shaw also highlighted the importance of upcoming policy announcements, such as 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and robust RFS volumes, which he predicted "will bear fruit in 2026."
"We have seen the power of 'Renewable Fuels at Work.' When renewable fuels do well, farmers do well. And when farmers do well, the rural economy does well. And when the rural economy does well, it's good for all of Iowa," Shaw said.
The text of Shaw's full remarks can be found here (https://iowarfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Shaw-Summit-speech.Media_.pdf).
* * *
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 5 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 8 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 4108 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://iowarfa.org/2026/02/renewable-fuel-producers-are-ready-willing-and-able-need-policy-certainty-and-new-tools-to-unlock-next-wave-of-growth/
[Category: Energy]
In Joint Amicus Briefs, FTA and AFC Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Financial Technology Association issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
In Joint Amicus Briefs, FTA and AFC Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans
The Financial Technology Association (FTA) and the American Fintech Council (AFC) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc., outlining how Earned Wage Access (EWA) is a consumer-friendly financial tool that is distinct from a loan and provides workers access to their already
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Financial Technology Association issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
In Joint Amicus Briefs, FTA and AFC Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans
The Financial Technology Association (FTA) and the American Fintech Council (AFC) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc., outlining how Earned Wage Access (EWA) is a consumer-friendly financial tool that is distinct from a loan and provides workers access to their alreadyearned wages. The trade groups urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse flawed district court decisions that mischaracterize EWA as extensions of credit, potentially jeopardizing access to this valued financial product.
"Earned wage access frees workers from an arbitrary and rigid payroll cycle that doesn't meet their financial needs," said Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. "These products are not loans and should be regulated in a way that reflects their unique characteristics. We respectfully urge the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to follow the text of the law and protect access to these valued financial tools."
"EWA allows workers to access wages they've already earned from work they've already done, serving as an important alternative to high-interest predatory loans," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "When courts misapply lending laws to non-loan products, they risk cutting off access to safe, transparent financial tools and putting consumers toward harmful alternatives. We encourage the court to recognize the nuances of EWA products and ensure the regulatory structure reflects how these products truly work."
EWA allows workers to obtain a portion of their earned wages ahead of the regular payroll schedule, empowering them to use their own wages to cover regular expenses and emergency needs. These products offer a safe and easy-to-use alternative to high-interest loans or predatory payday lending. Critically, EWA does not charge interest, late fees, or penalties, and there is no recourse.
In both Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI Inc., district courts held that the plaintiffs had plausibly alleged violations of the Truth in Lending Act and the Military Lending Act. However, those decisions are severely flawed because those laws only apply to credit products, and they define "credit" as the right "to incur debt and defer its payment." But EWA users incur no debt because they have no obligation to repay a transfer. Furthermore, optional expedited transfer fees are not finance charges, because they are optional fees selected by users, not mandatory fees imposed by EWA providers.
Federal courts should not disrupt the ongoing, nationwide EWA policymaking process by applying ill-fitting laws designed for credit to EWA products. EWA is classified as a service distinct from loans in 11 states, and Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to regulate EWA and appropriately recognize it as such. In 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an Advisory Opinion that similarly recognized EWA as a product separate from extensions of credit.
Read the joint trades' full amicus briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. (https://www.ftassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FTA-AFC-Amicus-Brief-Vickery-v-Empower.pdf) and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc. (https://www.ftassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FTA-AFC-Amicus-Brief-Moss-v-Cleo.pdf) To learn more, read "Just the Facts: Earned Wage Access (https://www.ftassociation.org/just-the-facts-earned-wage-access/)."
* * *
ABOUT FTA
The Financial Technology Association (FTA) is a network of fintech leaders shaping the future of finance. We champion the power of technology-driven financial services to catalyze innovation and advocate for modernized policies and regulations that reflect the digital transformation.
* * *
ABOUT AFC
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of over 150 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved customer segments and geographies.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ftassociation.org/in-joint-amicus-briefs-fta-and-afc-urge-ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-to-appropriately-recognize-earned-wage-access-as-a-service-distinct-from-loans/
[Category: Financial Services]
California Chamber of Commerce: Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
Early momentum and broad coalition reflect strong voter support for reducing our cost of living by cutting red tape and building essential projects faster
*
Sacramento, CA--Today, the Building an Affordable California Act campaign notified the California Secretary of State that it has surpassed the 25% signature threshold required
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 7 -- The California Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
Building an Affordable California Act Hits Key 25% Signature Threshold Ahead of Schedule as Diverse Coalition Lines Up to Support Measure
Early momentum and broad coalition reflect strong voter support for reducing our cost of living by cutting red tape and building essential projects faster
*
Sacramento, CA--Today, the Building an Affordable California Act campaign notified the California Secretary of State that it has surpassed the 25% signature threshold requiredto qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot--reaching the milestone weeks ahead of schedule.
The early achievement reflects strong voter support for fixing California's outdated project approval system, where long delays drive up costs that are ultimately passed on to renters, homebuyers, families paying electricity and water bills, and taxpayers. By modernizing the approval process, the measure helps California address our high cost of living by delivering essential projects faster--including housing, clean energy, water infrastructure, transportation, and schools--while keeping strong environmental and labor protections fully intact.
"Californians have too long paid the price for bureaucratic red tape and delays, and they're ready for solutions," said Jennifer Barrera, President & CEO, California Chamber of Commerce. "Reaching this milestone early shows voters are eager to modernize the project approval process so we can build what we need, bring costs down, and make California more affordable. We can protect the environment and good-paying jobs while delivering the essential projects California urgently needs."
The campaign is supported by a broad and growing coalition of affordable housing advocates, civil-rights leaders, clean energy advocates, health care providers, water providers, agricultural groups, and business organizations united around a shared goal: lowering the cost of living and delivering the basics Californians depend on.
"Unnecessary permitting delays drive up costs and slow the delivery of critical water infrastructure Californians depend on every day. The Building an Affordable California Act modernizes the process, providing clear timelines and accountability so we can focus investing in delivering clean, reliable water without sacrificing environmental or community protections," said Jennifer Capitolo, Executive Director, California Water Association.
"High costs disproportionately harm Black & Brown families and communities of color. By accelerating essential infrastructure, the Building an Affordable California Act helps lower costs and make sure communities get the basic services they deserve," said Rick Callender, President, NAACP California/Hawaii Conference.
"Building clean energy faster means lower bills, cleaner air, and more reliable power. The Building an Affordable California Act delivers real benefits for Californians while keeping the state on track to meet its climate goals," said Alex Jackson, Executive Director, American Clean Power - California.
"California's housing shortage is one of the biggest drivers of our affordability crisis, and project delays only make it worse. The Building an Affordable California Act cuts unnecessary delays so homes can be built faster and at lower cost--helping more families find housing they can afford," said Dan Dunmoyer, President & CEO, California Building Industry Association.
"We are proud to support the Building an Affordable California Act--it cuts permitting red tape, delays, and bureaucracy so we can build the housing we need and lower rent and mortgage costs for Californians," said Corey Smith, Executive Director, Housing Action Coalition.
"Water is essential in producing a healthy and affordable food supply. The Building an Affordable California Act helps improve access to water by reducing delays and costs of our vital water projects so our family farms can keep food more cost effective for California families and continue feeding the nation and the world," said Emily Rooney, President, Agricultural Council of California.
BACKGROUND: The Building an Affordable California Act modernizes California's project approval and permitting process for essential projects--including housing, water infrastructure, clean energy, transportation infrastructure, hospitals and health care facilities, schools and educational facilities, broadband, and wildfire prevention and resilience projects--by establishing clear timelines, improving accountability, and reducing unnecessary delays, while preserving strong environmental, labor, and tribal cultural resource protections.
* * *
Original text here: https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2026/02/06/building-an-affordable-california-act-hits-key-25-signature-threshold-ahead-of-schedule-as-diverse-coalition-lines-up-to-support-measure/
[Category: Business]
Banks Caution Against Relaxing Standards for Fed Account Access to Preserve Financial Stability
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Bank Policy Institute issued the following news release:
* * *
Banks Caution Against Relaxing Standards for Fed Account Access to Preserve Financial Stability
*
Washington, D.C. - The Bank Policy Institute, Financial Services Forum and The Clearing House Association responded today to the Federal Reserve's request for input on a special-purpose payment account, sometimes referred to as a "skinny master account." This proposal would relax Federal Reserve master account access standards by introducing a new type of account aimed at payments
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 [Category: Financial Services] -- The Bank Policy Institute issued the following news release:
* * *
Banks Caution Against Relaxing Standards for Fed Account Access to Preserve Financial Stability
*
Washington, D.C. - The Bank Policy Institute, Financial Services Forum and The Clearing House Association responded today to the Federal Reserve's request for input on a special-purpose payment account, sometimes referred to as a "skinny master account." This proposal would relax Federal Reserve master account access standards by introducing a new type of account aimed at paymentscompanies. The associations warned that granting direct access to the Fed's payment infrastructure to lesser-regulated institutions without sufficient guardrails could increase payment system risks and undermine financial stability.
" The United States' payment system is based on the core principles of trust, security and resiliency," the associations wrote. "We support innovation in the payments ecosystem that consistently upholds these principles and appropriately limits systemic and operational risks."
A "master account" serves as a bank account for banks. It allows financial institutions to clear and settle transactions on behalf of their customers. The Federal Reserve Board has adopted rigorous account access guidelines for master accounts, which historically have been granted primarily to insured depository institutions and other depository institutions engaged in low-risk activities. This creates a safer and more efficient payment system because all participants within this system are vetted and generally subject to robust, ongoing supervision.
The Fed's proposal would open the door to the payment system for institutions that do not have federal deposit insurance and are not subject to comprehensive prudential regulation and supervision. The proposal identifies a few important safeguards to address the risks presented by these applicants, such as prohibiting overdrafts, discount window access and interest on account balances. The associations support these protections but encourage the Fed to go further.
In addition to the protections currently being considered, the associations recommend the Federal Reserve:
* Require applicants to demonstrate at least 12 months of safe and sound operations before applying;
* Set strict balance and transaction limits and limit access to payment rails with final settlement and real-time monitoring;
* Subject all account holders to strict BSA/AML requirements to help prevent illicit finance;
* Prohibit pass-through use, sponsorship and other arrangements that primarily benefit affiliates or third parties that would not otherwise be eligible for an account of their own;
* Conduct ongoing monitoring of these accounts for compliance with all laws, regulations and commitments; and
* Publish applications for these accounts for public comment.
The associations also emphasized that a payment account should not be treated as a stepping-stone to a master account. Applicants seeking a master account should apply for a master account, and those applications should be reviewed under the Fed's existing access guidelines.
To access a copy of the letter, please click here.
About Bank Policy Institute.
The Bank Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy, research and advocacy group that represents universal banks, regional banks and the major foreign banks doing business in the United States. The Institute produces academic research and analysis on regulatory and monetary policy topics, analyzes and comments on proposed regulations, and represents the financial services industry with respect to cybersecurity, fraud, and other information security issues.
Media Contact
Austin Anton
austin.anton@bpi.com
***
Original text here: https://bpi.com/banks-caution-against-relaxing-standards-for-fed-account-access-to-preserve-financial-stability/
American Fintech Council and Financial Technology Association Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
American Fintech Council (AFC) and Financial Technology Association (FTA) Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and the Financial Technology Association (FTA) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The American Fintech Council, an organization that says it promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system, issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
American Fintech Council (AFC) and Financial Technology Association (FTA) Urge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to Appropriately Recognize Earned Wage Access as a Service Distinct From Loans in Joint Amicus Briefs
The American Fintech Council (AFC) and the Financial Technology Association (FTA) today submitted joint Amicus Briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI,Inc., outlining how Earned Wage Access (EWA) is a consumer-friendly financial tool that is distinct from a loan and provides workers access to their already earned wages. The trade groups urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse flawed district court decisions that mischaracterize EWA as extensions of credit, potentially jeopardizing access to this valued financial product.
"EWA allows workers to access wages they've already earned from work they've already done, serving as an important alternative to high-interest predatory loans," said Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council. "When courts misapply lending laws to non-loan products, they risk cutting off access to safe, transparent financial tools and pushing consumers toward harmful alternatives. We encourage the court to recognize the nuances of EWA products and ensure the regulatory structure reflects how these products truly work."
"Earned wage access frees workers from an arbitrary and rigid payroll cycle that doesn't meet their financial needs," said Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. "These products are not loans and should be regulated in a way that reflects their unique characteristics. We respectfully urge the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to follow the text of the law and protect access to these valued financial tools."
EWA allows workers to obtain a portion of their earned wages ahead of the regular payroll schedule, empowering them to use their own wages to cover regular expenses and emergency needs. These products offer a safe and easy-to-use alternative to high-interest loans or predatory payday lending. Critically, EWA does not charge interest, late fees, or penalties, and there is no legal obligation to repay a transfer. If a user declines to repay, the only effect is that they cannot obtain further transfers until they repay the current transfer.
In both Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI Inc., district courts held that the plaintiffs had plausibly alleged violations of the Truth in Lending Act and the Military Lending Act. However, those decisions are severely flawed because those laws only apply to credit products, and they define "credit" as the right "to incur debt and defer its payment." But EWA users incur no debt because they have no obligation to repay a transfer. Furthermore, optional expedited transfer fees are not finance charges, because they are optional fees selected by users, not mandatory fees imposed by EWA providers.
Federal courts should not disrupt the ongoing, nationwide EWA policymaking process by applying ill-fitting laws designed for credit to EWA products. EWA is classified as a service distinct from loans in 11 states, and Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to regulate EWA and appropriately recognize it as such. In 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an Advisory Opinion that similarly recognized EWA as a product separate from extensions of credit.
Read the joint trades' full amicus briefs in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc. To learn more, read "Just the Facts: Earned Wage Access."
* * *
ABOUT AFC
A standards-based organization, the American Fintech Council (AFC) is the largest and most diverse trade association representing financial technology (fintech) companies and innovative banks. On behalf of over 150 member companies and partners, AFC promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system by supporting responsible innovation in financial services and encouraging sound public policy. AFC members foster competition in consumer finance and pioneer products to better serve underserved consumer segments and geographies.
* * *
ABOUT FTA
The Financial Technology Association (FTA) is a network of fintech leaders shaping the future of finance. We champion the power of technology-driven financial services to catalyze innovation and advocate for modernized policies and regulations that reflect the digital transformation.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fintechcouncil.org/press-releases/american-fintech-council-afc-and-financial-technology-association-fta-urge-ninth-circuit-court-of-appeals-to-appropriately-recognize-earned-wage-access-as-a-service-distinct-from-loans-in-joint-amicus-briefs
[Category: Financial Services]
AAPS Expands Lawsuit Against the Biden Administration and Specialty Boards
TUCSON, Arizona, Feb. 7 -- The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
AAPS Expands Lawsuit Against the Biden Administration and Specialty Boards
Update 2/6/2026
AAPS Educational Foundation Files Reply Brief of Appellants with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-02-06-2026.pdf
Update 12/2/2025
AAPS Educational Foundation Files Brief of Appellants with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-12-2-2025-brief.pdf
Record Excerpts
... Show Full Article
TUCSON, Arizona, Feb. 7 -- The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons issued the following news release on Feb. 6, 2026:
* * *
AAPS Expands Lawsuit Against the Biden Administration and Specialty Boards
Update 2/6/2026
AAPS Educational Foundation Files Reply Brief of Appellants with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-02-06-2026.pdf
Update 12/2/2025
AAPS Educational Foundation Files Brief of Appellants with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-12-2-2025-brief.pdf
Record Excerpts- https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-12-2-2025-record-excerpts.pdf
Update 5/2/2025
AAPS Educational Foundation Filed Brief in Opposition to the Department of Homeland Security Motion to Stay Discovery - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-5-2-2025.pdf
Update 4/17/2025
AAPS Educational Foundation Filed Brief in Opposition to the Department of Homeland Security Motion to Dismiss - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-dhs-04-17-2025.pdf
Update 4/4/2025 - AAPS Educational Foundation Filed the Following Briefs in Opposition to Motions to Dismiss:
Opposition to ABIM Motion to Dismiss - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-reply-brief-4-4-2025.pdf
Opposition to ABOG Motion to Dismiss - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abog-reply-brief-4-4-2025.pdf
Opposition to ABFM Motion to Dismiss - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abfm-reply-brief-4-4-2025.pdf
Update 1/29/2025 - AAPS Educational Foundation Files Amended Complaint - https://aapsonline.org/judicial/aaps-v-abim-1-29-2025.pdf
*
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Educational Foundation ("AAPS") filed on Monday an expansion to its federal lawsuit against the Biden Administration and board-certifying organizations that threatened to, and sometimes have, revoked board certifications of physicians based on their outspokenness on matters of public policy.
Physicians who advocated using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 have, for example, been retaliated against by revocation of their board certifications. In addition, a board-certified witness was testifying against abortion at a congressional hearing when she was threatened with retaliation against her board certification, the Amended Complaint states.
The lawsuit has been joined by three physicians victimized by such retaliation.
"Using nearly identical terminology and timing, Defendants have acted in an apparently coordinated manner to attain their common objective of censorship based on viewpoint," AAPS states in its Amended Complaint. Defendants are the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ABOG), the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and the Biden Administration.
In this precedent-setting lawsuit, AAPS seeks to establish that ABIM, ABOG, and ABFM have engaged in "state action" in threatening or revoking physicians' board certifications, which are necessary to practice medicine in most hospitals. AAPS sets forth in its court filings multiple ways in which these board-certifying organizations should be deemed to be state actors, and thus prohibited by the First Amendment from discriminating based on viewpoint.
"This new form of censorship is more dangerous than prior infringements on freedom of speech," AAPS's attorney Andrew Schlafly observes. "The Biden Administration has also wrongly caused social media platforms to take down postings and videos."
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled on June 3 in this case that there is a constitutional right to hear which is fully protected by the First Amendment. "When physicians are silenced by threats to revoke their board certification, that infringes on the constitutional right to hear what they have to say," Mr. Schlafly added.
AAPS Educational Foundation's lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court in Galveston, No. 3:22-cv-240.
* * *
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Educational Foundation sponsors conferences and subsidizes students' attendance.
* * *
Original text here: https://aapsonline.org/aaps-expands-lawsuit-against-the-biden-administration-and-specialty-boards/
[Category: Medical]
