Public Policy
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations whose goal it is to influence the debate Washington.
Featured Stories
Parents Television and Media Council Applauds Rosenworcel and Sohn FCC Nominations
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Parents Television and Media Council issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2021:
The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) is applauding the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel as the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Gigi Sohn as an FCC Commissioner.
"Today we acclaim the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel not only as the first female Chair of the FCC, but as the first FCC Chair who is also a mom. I've had the pleasure to know and work with Jessica for many years, and her grasp of our nation's communications policies
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Parents Television and Media Council issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2021:
The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) is applauding the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel as the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Gigi Sohn as an FCC Commissioner.
"Today we acclaim the nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel not only as the first female Chair of the FCC, but as the first FCC Chair who is also a mom. I've had the pleasure to know and work with Jessica for many years, and her grasp of our nation's communications policiesis extraordinary - second to none. She has been a powerful and positive force at the FCC for parents and families, and a framed copy of the Child Safe Viewing Act even adorns her office wall. I look forward to working closely with Chairwoman Rosenworcel and her team in our mutual goal of helping parents to be better parents," said PTC President Tim Winter.
"The PTC also applauds the nomination of Gigi Sohn as an FCC Commissioner. Gigi has built a well-deserved reputation as one of the most knowledgeable, most respected, voices on communications issues in all of Washington DC. We look forward to working with Commissioner Sohn to improve the media environment for children and families."
"We call on the Senate to swiftly confirm both nominees with broad and bipartisan support."
[Category: Sociological]
New Translational Genomics Research Institute Study to Combat Pancreatic Cancer: 'Arming the Immune System to Recognize Foreign Invaders'
PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 27 (TNSGra) -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2021:
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, has launched a new study intended to discover how to use the body's immune system to treat patients with pancreatic cancer.
The study is being funded with a $1 million grant by the Seena Magowitz Foundation of which $200,000 has been initially released to kick-off the study.
"Pancreatic cancer is notoriously known to be resistant to treatments, including resistance to immune
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 27 (TNSGra) -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2021:
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, has launched a new study intended to discover how to use the body's immune system to treat patients with pancreatic cancer.
The study is being funded with a $1 million grant by the Seena Magowitz Foundation of which $200,000 has been initially released to kick-off the study.
"Pancreatic cancer is notoriously known to be resistant to treatments, including resistance to immunetherapies," said Haiyong Han, Ph.D., a Professor in TGen's Molecular Medicine Division.
Deep within the body, pancreatic cancer tumor cells create their own microenvironment that shields the cancer from being attacked and killed by the patient's immune system, Dr. Han explained, "We are investigating new therapeutic approaches that can modulate the pancreatic tumor microenvironment and render the tumor vulnerable, or responsive, to treatment by immunotherapies."
Proteins found on the surface of tumor cells bind to proteins on the surface of cancer-killing immune cells, including T cells. This binding creates an "immune checkpoint," preventing the T cells from attacking the patient's cancer.
Treatments involving antibodies that block the immune checkpoints, known as "checkpoint inhibitors," have worked on other tumors, most notably in lung and melanoma cancers. But they have so far proven unsuccessful in pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Han's study will look at using immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as antibodies against PD-L1, PD-1, and CTLA-4. These antibodies can undo the immune checkpoint, thereby allowing the T cells to kill the tumor cells.
"Checkpoint inhibitors have shown dramatic activity in defeating some types of cancer. One of the main reasons for the inactivity of checkpoint inhibitors in pancreatic cancer is due to this malignancy's unique tumor microenvironment, which is void of cancer-killing immune cells known as infiltrating lymphocytes, including T cells," explained Dr. Han. "We are testing agents that target gene regulatory elements, known as super-enhancers, to disrupt the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, making the cancer vulnerable again to the immune system."
Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, M.D., TGen Distinguished Professor who is designing the clinical trials that will be based on this work, puts the study into perspective: "Based on preliminary laboratory work done by Dr. Han and his team, we are very excited that this approach will further 'arm' a patient's immune system (their T cells) so they do their job - killing the cancer cells."
Roger Magowitz, who founded the Seena Magowitz Foundation in memory of his mother who died of pancreatic cancer, said he is excited about this new phase of TGen research in immunotherapy.
"Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult-to-treat of all cancers, and we are pleased to contribute to the potential scientific breakthroughs being pursued by TGen," Magowitz said.
Funds for the study were generated by an extremely successful annual golf tournament organized over the past two decades by the Magowitz Foundation. However, because of the COVID pandemic, the tournament had to be indefinitely postponed in 2020 and 2021.
Later this month and in November (Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month), and continuing into December 2021, the Seena Magowitz Foundation will hold several virtual fundraisers. Details of the virtual events can be found at https://seenamagowitzfoundation.org/events, or its Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/Seena.Magowitz.Foundation. For more information, contact Miranda Wainberg at miranda@seenamagowitzfoundation.org or call 936-635-0753.
[Category: Medical]
NARAL Reminds Voters: Sen. Paul Betrayed Kentuckians By Voting to Confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- NARAL Pro-Choice America issued the following statement on Oct. 26, 2021:
* * *
Today marks one year since Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted to confirm anti-choice, anti-freedom ideologue Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today's anniversary comes at a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom.
Sen. Paul's vote for Amy Coney Barett helped cement a Supreme Court supermajority hostile to reproductive freedom that will soon have an opportunity to dismantle the constitutional right to abortion. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- NARAL Pro-Choice America issued the following statement on Oct. 26, 2021:
* * *
Today marks one year since Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted to confirm anti-choice, anti-freedom ideologue Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today's anniversary comes at a critical moment in the fight for reproductive freedom.
Sen. Paul's vote for Amy Coney Barett helped cement a Supreme Court supermajority hostile to reproductive freedom that will soon have an opportunity to dismantle the constitutional right to abortion. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral argumentsin Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization--a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade--all eyes are on the senators who voted to confirm Trump's anti-choice Supreme Court justices.
NARAL Pro-Choice America Acting President Adrienne Kimmell released the following statement:
"By voting to confirm Amy Coney Barrett--a justice openly hostile to reproductive freedom--to the Supreme Court, Sen. Rand Paul put our right to abortion care at risk like never before. With access to abortion under unprecedented threat, it's time to demand accountability from politicians like Sen. Paul, who put politics ahead of our freedom. On Election Day, voters won't forget who jeopardized their freedom to make their own decisions about their families and their futures."
In September, the anti-choice supermajority that Barrett's confirmation cemented on the Court allowed Texas' vigilante-enforced ban on abortion (SB 8), to go into effect. By refusing to block this ban, a majority of the justices, including Justice Barrett, allowed Texas to render Roe essentially meaningless in the state. Last Friday, the Court announced that it will hear oral arguments in two cases regarding Texas' ban on abortion on November 1, allowing the draconian law to remain in place in the meantime.
Just a few weeks after those arguments, the Court will hear Jackson Women's Health Organization on December 1--a case that directly challenges Roe and threatens the constitutional right to abortion. This summer, Sen. Paul joined 227 other anti-choice members of Congress to sign an amicus brief in the Jackson Women's Health Organization case calling on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.
The threat to the future of Roe comes as anti-choice state lawmakers have already introduced, advanced, or passed more than 330 bills attacking abortion access in 2021. This year, 106 restrictions on abortion access have been enacted at the state level, making it the worst year for abortion rights since Roe was decided.
Barrett has a proven track record of opposing reproductive freedom. Barrett suggested that Roe is an "erroneous decision" and signed onto an ad (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/01/amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court-roe-v-wade) calling the landmark ruling "barbaric." Another anti-choice ad Barrett signed onto called (https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-amy-coney-barrett-judiciary-f5aef27e3e63599b9355f2e94b29ee8d) "for the unborn to be protected in law." During her confirmation process, Barrett flat out refused to answer questions (https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Barrett%20Responses%20to%20QFRs.pdf) about whether states could make seeking abortion care a felony if Roe is overturned or punish people seeking abortion care with the death penalty. She also refused to answer whether states could prosecute people for using contraception if Roe is overturned. Barrett has aligned with the most extreme elements of the anti-choice movement, sided with states trying to restrict abortion access, and joined anti-choice groups in voicing opposition (https://afjactioncampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Barrett-Fact-Sheet.pdf) to the Affordable Care Act's birth control benefit. She's even connected to a group that calls for criminalizing abortion providers and common aspects of in vitro fertilization.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its 2.5 million members are actively fighting back, running a national electoral program designed to reach, persuade, and mobilize key voters to hold Sen. Paul and other politicians accountable for their unyielding attacks on reproductive freedom.
[Category: Political]
Manhattan Institute: New Issue Brief - Motivating the Unmotivated Among Law Enforcement
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (TNSRes) -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following news release:
In the wake of viral use-of-force incidents, cities often see police retreat from discretionary activity, with stops and arrests declining - and murders and shootings rising. Public calls to "defund the police" have only contributed to this dangerous reduction in proactive policing. But while policymakers are aware of the de-policing trend, less attention has been given to the question of what to do about it.
In a new Manhattan Institute issue brief, Robert VerBruggen reviews the relevant academic literature
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NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (TNSRes) -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following news release:
In the wake of viral use-of-force incidents, cities often see police retreat from discretionary activity, with stops and arrests declining - and murders and shootings rising. Public calls to "defund the police" have only contributed to this dangerous reduction in proactive policing. But while policymakers are aware of the de-policing trend, less attention has been given to the question of what to do about it.
In a new Manhattan Institute issue brief, Robert VerBruggen reviews the relevant academic literatureand compiles insights from original interviews he conducted with police officers, law-enforcement officials, and criminal-justice experts. His insights offer constructive solutions to motivate cops despite temptations to pull back from the type of proactive police work that is proven to reduce violence.
VerBruggen's suggestions for reversing the trend of de-policing fall into three broad categories. Leaders and policymakers can:
* Avoid making de-policing official policy;
* Assure officers they will be treated fairly in the event they need to use force;
* Take concrete steps to promote healthy, proactive policing.
The city of Chicago recently took steps to formally limit foot chases, and the state of Washington recently passed a law hindering cops' abilities to pursue suspects. These types of policies restrict cops' discretionary functions; an officer's ability to listen to his or her instincts is vital for responding to dangerous situations and keeping communities safe.
With each viral incident, elected officials, police chiefs, and officers face pressure from the public. But provided they have the will and the necessary political support, leaders can assure officers they will be treated fairly in the event they need to use force. While there is no easy solution, cities that cultivate a sense of organizational justice and avoid policies that encourage de-policing will help to ensure that police are motivated to keep our communities safe.
Report link: https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/sites/default/files/MI-VerBruggen-depolicing.pdf
[Category: Sociological]
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: Senate Confirms Exceptional Voting Rights Attorney Myrna Perez to U.S. Court of Appeals
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement:
* * *
The U.S. Senate confirmed seasoned voting rights lawyer Myrna Perez to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday. Her confirmation is historic as Perez becomes the only Latina now serving on that court and only the second to ever do so, more than a decade after then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, president and executive director with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following statement:
* * *
The U.S. Senate confirmed seasoned voting rights lawyer Myrna Perez to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday. Her confirmation is historic as Perez becomes the only Latina now serving on that court and only the second to ever do so, more than a decade after then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, president and executive director with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights UnderLaw:
"We applaud the Senate's confirmation of Myrna Perez. She is extraordinarily qualified to serve as a federal appellate judge and brings much-needed racial and ethnic diversity to the Second Circuit, as only the second Latina since then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on that court. She also brings professional diversity as a civil rights lawyer who has devoted her career to defending voting rights. She is one of our nation's finest lawyers, having litigated some of the most complex and challenging voting rights cases alongside our organization and others. Her career is a testament to her commitment to helping our society reach the goals of equality, fairness, and justice for all.
"With voting rights under attack in communities across the country, the confirmation of judges like Myrna Perez is critical to providing the expertise-driven leadership that our federal bench critically requires. In a political landscape too often influenced by anti-democratic forces, our courts will benefit significantly from a jurist equipped to protect the voices and interests of people who have faced unjust treatment and discrimination in voting.
"This historic confirmation by the U.S. Senate also sends a clear message to the American people that integrity, intellect, and impact still matter for our judicial system. Communities of color and their voices are a critical part of what makes democracy fundamental in our march towards equality for all."
[Category: Law/Legal]
Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Welcomes Sohn Nomination to FCC
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society issued the following statement on Oct. 25, 2021:
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President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Gigi Sohn for commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission. When confirmed, Sohn will be one of five commissioners on the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America's communications law and regulations. Since 2018, Sohn has served as the Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (TNSPol) -- The Benton Institute for Broadband and Society issued the following statement on Oct. 25, 2021:
* * *
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Gigi Sohn for commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission. When confirmed, Sohn will be one of five commissioners on the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America's communications law and regulations. Since 2018, Sohn has served as the Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive DirectorAdrianne B. Furniss:
"In nominating Gigi Sohn to the Federal Communications Commission, the President has made a wise choice for America's broadband future. Sohn has long been at the forefront of helping advance pragmatic policies that help improve the lives of everyday Americans. She's not only a broadband and telecommunications policy expert, but is expert at mastering complex policy issues, bringing disparate voices together to find common purpose, and pursuing the public interest. We are excited that such a smart, committed, and capable leader will help guide the nation's communications future at such a pivotal time in history.
"Gigi is a leader that listens. I've seen firsthand how effective she is as a leader who identifies, organizes, and partners with public interest groups; philanthropy; bipartisan federal, state, and local representatives; academics; and companies large and small. In short, she does the hard work of finding consensus and articulating pragmatic solutions. She has demonstrated again and again the ability to communicate what is at stake in ways that ordinary people can understand. She has continually sought to raise public awareness and understanding of the issues at hand.
"During her career spanning 30 years, Gigi has promoted innovation and investment in broadband services and facilities, supported the nation's economy by ensuring an appropriate competitive framework for the unfolding communications revolution, and helped strengthen the defense of the nation's communications infrastructure.
"Broadband is the infrastructure of opportunity and strong communities. No area of America should have second-rate broadband (or worse, no access at all). At the FCC, Gigi Sohn will boost our national effort to ensure that all people in our nation can access and use high-performance broadband networks.
"I look forward to her swift confirmation."
[Category: Data]
Access Now: Vietnam - Immediately Release Pham Doan Trang and Stop Persecution of Free Speech
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (TNsOps) -- Access Now issued the following news release:
Ahead of Pham Doan Trang's trial on November 4, Access Now and other human rights organizations are urgently calling on Vietnam's government to immediately release the independent journalist and human rights defender. The coalition condemns the arbitrary detention of Doan Trang, and is pushing for all charges against her to be dropped.
"The arrest and arbitrary detention of Doan Trang -- a prominent civil society leader -- is a signal to all that the authorities in Vietnam will quash any critical speech," said Dhevy Sivaprakasam,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (TNsOps) -- Access Now issued the following news release:
Ahead of Pham Doan Trang's trial on November 4, Access Now and other human rights organizations are urgently calling on Vietnam's government to immediately release the independent journalist and human rights defender. The coalition condemns the arbitrary detention of Doan Trang, and is pushing for all charges against her to be dropped.
"The arrest and arbitrary detention of Doan Trang -- a prominent civil society leader -- is a signal to all that the authorities in Vietnam will quash any critical speech," said Dhevy Sivaprakasam,Asia Pacific Policy Counsel at Access Now. "She should not have been arrested in the first place -- the politically-motivated charges against her must be dropped."
Doan Trang was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on October 7, 2020, and charged with "making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." She has been held in arbitrary detention and denied access to her family for over a year. She was also prevented from meeting with a lawyer until October 19, 2021. Her indictment -- which was only made public on October 18, 2021 -- confirms a charge of alleged dissemination of anti-State propaganda under article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code. A similar charge under article 117 of the 2015 Penal Code was dropped.
Vietnam's laws have long been abused to curtail legitimate expression of independent journalists, human rights defenders, writers, activists, and many others. People have been arrested and charged for merely posting opinions and information on politics, social justice, or matters of public interest on social media platforms such as Facebook, accused under the 1999 and 2015 Penal Code for allegedly "conducting propaganda", "sabotaging national solidarity", "fomenting public disorder" and "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State."
"Democratic freedoms -- when genuinely upheld and protected -- will not infringe upon the interests of Vietnamese society, but strengthen them," said Raman Jit Singh Chima, Senior International Counsel and Asia Pacific Director at Access Now. "Vietnam's leaders should stop curtailing civic freedoms, and not only comply with international law, but do justice by the people."
Doan Trang is an independent journalist, writer, and human rights advocate with decades of experience in Vietnam, and has won several awards for her work.
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
