Public Policy
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations whose goal it is to influence the debate Washington.
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Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Women Making Waves Video Reels in Two GolbalTrend Awards
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 18 -- The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation issued the following news release:
Today, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced its Women Making Waves video has been honored by GlobalTrend, who recognizes outstanding videos from throughout the world every year. The focal point of RBFF's Women's Initiative, the video won awards in the nonprofit and nature/wildlife categories.
"Reaching out to and including emerging audiences in fishing and boating will prove to be critical in reaching our 60 in 60 goal," said RBFF President and CEO Frank
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 18 -- The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation issued the following news release:
Today, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced its Women Making Waves video has been honored by GlobalTrend, who recognizes outstanding videos from throughout the world every year. The focal point of RBFF's Women's Initiative, the video won awards in the nonprofit and nature/wildlife categories.
"Reaching out to and including emerging audiences in fishing and boating will prove to be critical in reaching our 60 in 60 goal," said RBFF President and CEO FrankPeterson. "With females making up 45% of new participants and growing, it makes sense to focus on welcoming this audience to the water."
While newcomers to fishing are more likely to be female, these new anglers are also less likely to return to the sport the following year. In fact, RBFF and the Outdoor Foundation's 2017 Special Report on Fishing revealed only 19.3% of women and girls thought a fishing participant looks like them. With that in mind, RBFF and its Take Me FishingTM brand sought to make women feel more welcomed on the water, empowering them to lead the next generations of anglers. The video, produced in partnership with RBFF's creative agency, ColleMcVoy and part of the larger Making Waves initiative, features powerful taglines paired with strong women, moms and girls, all enjoying their time on the water.
"This is an exciting time for the fishing and boating industry. Women are heading to the water in record numbers and we now have the opportunity to develop these new anglers into ambassadors for future generations. We are proud to be leading our industry in providing a rallying cry for women across the country," said RBFF Director of Marketing Rachel Piacenza.
Each year, the GlobalTrend Awards seek to recognize the best in video content through awards for writing, production, cinematography and more, promoting the video art form. The GlobalTrend Awards provide a platform to showcase talent, gaining award winners international recognition. RBFF's Women Making Waves video took home awards in the GlobalTrend Awards nonprofit and nature/wildlife categories for work dedicated to promoting and advancing worthwhile causes and our natural environment.
View attached video here: https://news.takemefishing.org/golbantrend-award
Natural Resources Defense Council Issues Statement on Allegations on Judge Kavanaugh
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following statement by Ana Unruh Cohen, managing director of government affairs, in response to allegations concerning Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh:
"Who, exactly, is Brett Kavanaugh? After Senate hearings revealed a pattern of misleading and deceptive statements amid Republican refusals to even let the public see the records from his White House years, there are more questions than answers.
"Now there are serious and disturbing new allegations. The Judiciary Committee has a responsibility to hear these allegations,
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following statement by Ana Unruh Cohen, managing director of government affairs, in response to allegations concerning Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh:
"Who, exactly, is Brett Kavanaugh? After Senate hearings revealed a pattern of misleading and deceptive statements amid Republican refusals to even let the public see the records from his White House years, there are more questions than answers.
"Now there are serious and disturbing new allegations. The Judiciary Committee has a responsibility to hear these allegations,and Kavanaugh's defense, under oath, before voting on whether to confirm him to a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land.
"As a federal judge, Kavanaugh has consistently favored industrial polluters over the environment and public health. His nomination deserves to be rejected.
"Rushing a vote under the fog of questions surrounding this nominee could undermine public confidence in the high court. The Senate cannot allow that to happen.
"The committee needs to stop this train, do its due diligence, and give the Senate, and the public, the answers both deserve."
NRDC Spotlights Decline of Biodiversity at EXPO CHICAGO With Frameworks of Absence by Artist, Biologist Brandon Ballengee
NEW YORK, Sept. 18 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following news release:
NRDC has presented some of the most talked about displays at EXPO and this year's exhibition is likely to turn heads for the way it addresses the frightening wave of extinctions ravaging our planet. As an artist and biologist Ballengee is known for his transdisciplinary artworks, inspired by his ecological field and laboratory research. Since 2006, his series Frameworks of Absence has focused on the long-term and continued decline of biodiversity. By physically cutting images of animals from historic
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NEW YORK, Sept. 18 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following news release:
NRDC has presented some of the most talked about displays at EXPO and this year's exhibition is likely to turn heads for the way it addresses the frightening wave of extinctions ravaging our planet. As an artist and biologist Ballengee is known for his transdisciplinary artworks, inspired by his ecological field and laboratory research. Since 2006, his series Frameworks of Absence has focused on the long-term and continued decline of biodiversity. By physically cutting images of animals from historicprints and publications, the resulting artworks 'frame absence' to depict missing species lost to extinction. The removed animal snippets are burned, and participants are asked to scatter the ashes in memory to the lost species. Frameworks of Absence is accompanied by The Book of the Dead, a memory book of lost species.
"I started the series Frameworks of Absence to help people connect to and process mass extinction of species," said Ballengee. "Frameworks of Absence is especially relevant today when species continue to disappear at alarming rates, yet the current administration shows a lack of interest to protect species that are on the verge of extinction, animals that we all love and that are essential for the health of our planet."
"The Trump administration and Congress continue to eliminate wildlife protections, including wanting to make drastic changes to the Endangered Species Act," said Elizabeth Corr, NRDC Director of Art Partnerships. "Brandon's work reminds us what's been lost already and will hopefully inspire viewers that we need to do more to protect wildlife."
"We are thrilled to have NRDC involved with EXPO CHICAGO for the sixth year in a row," said Tony Karman, President and Director "NRDC's annual exhibitions are always captivating, informational and poignant and I am confident that this year's artist installation will further amplify their important mission," he added.
Ballengee's artwork has previously been exhibited throughout the USA, internationally and was featured in the 2014 Armory Show in New York. In the summer of 2013 the first career survey of Ballengee's work debuted at the Chateau de Chamarande (Essonne, France), and travelled to the Museum Het Domein (Sittard, Netherlands) in 2014. In 2016 a 20-year retrospective of his work was held at University of Wyoming Art Museum in Laramie, Wyoming and a survey exhbition of his works related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill will be held in the spring of 2019 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University in Tallahasee, Florida with a new publication.
Learn more about NRDC's efforts by visiting booth #423 at EXPO CHICAGO or: http://www.nrdc.org. For more information about Brandon Ballengee's work please visit http://www.brandonballengee.com and http://www.feldmangallery.com. For more information about EXPO CHICAGO, including the complete schedule, visit: http://www.expochicago.com
Foundation Source Wins 2018 WealthManagement.com Award for Thought Leadership
FAIRFIELD, Connecticut, Sept. 18 -- The Foundation Source issued the following news release:
Foundation Source, the nation's largest provider of comprehensive management and advisory services for private foundations, today announced that the firm is the recipient of a 2018 WealthManagement.com Industry Award for its annual reports on the investment performance and grantmaking behavior of private foundations.
The WealthManagement.com 2018 Industry Awards recognize the companies and organizations that serve the financial services industry. Six hundred entries were received from nearly 250 organizations.
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FAIRFIELD, Connecticut, Sept. 18 -- The Foundation Source issued the following news release:
Foundation Source, the nation's largest provider of comprehensive management and advisory services for private foundations, today announced that the firm is the recipient of a 2018 WealthManagement.com Industry Award for its annual reports on the investment performance and grantmaking behavior of private foundations.
The WealthManagement.com 2018 Industry Awards recognize the companies and organizations that serve the financial services industry. Six hundred entries were received from nearly 250 organizations.More than 150 organizations were selected as finalists in one or more of 67 categories.
The award bestowed upon Foundation Source was in the category of "Technology Providers: Thought Leadership." The award recognized the value to the financial service sector of two Foundation Source reports, the 2017 Private Foundation Investment Performance Report and the 2017 Foundation Source Report on Grantmaking, which enable private foundations and their financial advisors to benchmark investment performance, asset allocation, and grantmaking activity against their foundation peers.
Unlike studies that rely on opinion surveys or anecdotal evidence, the data in these reports were sourced from the actual transactions (e.g., grants, investment returns, asset balances, and charitable and administrative expenses) of the company's client foundations as they were conducted over Foundation Source's proprietary technology platform, Foundation Source Online(TM).
These reports are issued annually by Foundation Source in order to elucidate the behavior of foundations that, like the vast majority (98%) of all private foundations, hold assets of less than $50 million - a population that traditionally has received little research or media coverage. And because the foundations in these reports are of similar size to those in the broader foundation sector, the findings provide insight into a far larger population.
"Although Foundation Source is renowned for service excellence, this award specifically showcases us for the quality and authority of our intellectual capital," Foundation Source CEO Susan Friedlander Calzone said. "We are honored to be recognized for our achievement, particularly among such high-caliber nominees."
Visit https://www.foundationsource.com/resources/library/ for a wealth of information on private foundations organized by categories and search topics.
About Foundation Source (http://www.foundationsource.com)
Foundation Source is the nation's largest provider of comprehensive support services for private foundations. Our complete outsourced solution includes foundation creation (as needed), administrative support, active compliance monitoring, philanthropic advisory, tax and legal expertise, and online foundation management tools.
Now in our second decade, Foundation Source provides its services to more than 1,400 family, corporate, and professionally staffed foundations, of all sizes, nationwide. We work in partnership with wealth management firms, law firms, accounting firms, and family offices as well as directly with individuals and families. Foundation Source is headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut.
CARE Issues Statement on Plan to Reduce Refugees in U.S.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- CARE issued the following statement by President and CEO Michelle Nunn on the White House move to reduce the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S.:
"The administration's plan to slash the historically low number of 45,000 annual refugees allowed into the U.S. to a shamefully low 30,000 is cruel and un-American.
"This will be the smallest number of refugees resettled into America since the refugee program was created nearly four decades ago. This is taking place at a time when there are more refugees around the world than at any time since the Second World
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- CARE issued the following statement by President and CEO Michelle Nunn on the White House move to reduce the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S.:
"The administration's plan to slash the historically low number of 45,000 annual refugees allowed into the U.S. to a shamefully low 30,000 is cruel and un-American.
"This will be the smallest number of refugees resettled into America since the refugee program was created nearly four decades ago. This is taking place at a time when there are more refugees around the world than at any time since the Second WorldWar.
"With the U.S. retreating from its global leadership role, countries like Bangladesh, Jordan and Uganda, which lack the abundant resources of the United States, are supporting the most vulnerable populations and we must stand alongside them. Our country is proof that refugees are a blessing.
"They seek to make a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities, often contributing far more than they receive. Refugees are engines of economic and cultural activity that enrich us all.
"At a time when immigration is at historic lows and the U.S. needs to remain competitive in the global economy, it should be a no-brainer to welcome refugees to the United States. Not just in economic terms, but in moral terms. Our values demand nothing less than helping those in need, much as many of our ancestors were welcomed to this land in times of distress."
Advisory Council Officially Adopts Wyoming Broadband Plan
CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Sept. 18 -- The Wyoming Business Council issued the following news:
On Aug. 31, the Wyoming Broadband Advisory Council officially adopted the Wyoming Broadband Plan as its guiding document in efforts to expand and improve broadband access across the state.
The plan is part of the 2018 Wyoming Legislature's $10 million allocation for expanding and enhancing broadband connectivity in the state.
It outlines five key missions:
1. Develop a mapping strategy
Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collects data on connectivity, its data is not detailed enough
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CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Sept. 18 -- The Wyoming Business Council issued the following news:
On Aug. 31, the Wyoming Broadband Advisory Council officially adopted the Wyoming Broadband Plan as its guiding document in efforts to expand and improve broadband access across the state.
The plan is part of the 2018 Wyoming Legislature's $10 million allocation for expanding and enhancing broadband connectivity in the state.
It outlines five key missions:
1. Develop a mapping strategy
Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collects data on connectivity, its data is not detailed enoughto provide an accurate picture of coverage in the state, explained Russ Elliott, the State Broadband Manager for the Wyoming Business Council. Some areas, homes and businesses considered "served" by FCC data still experience inadequate speeds.
The Business Council will work with a mapping contractor to collect and display data to provide a more detailed and accurate look at coverage and speeds throughout the state. The tool would be used to assess the state's broadband needs and the areas to which grant funding should be directed.
2. Leverage public-private partnerships
"Public-private partnerships are the best way to accomplish our mutual goals," Elliott said.
The plan lays out the need to facilitate partnerships between providers and localities to reduce costs, improve efficiency, standardize regulations and resolve other issues to improving coverage.
These partnerships would help connect roads, emergency facilities and anchor institutions, like schools.
3. Remove barriers to deployment
The plan describes the importance of convening government, broadband providers and other partners to more easily build out infrastructure, ease right-of-way issues, improve permitting and otherwise remove inefficiencies.
4. Increase access to funding
Smaller communities often lack the staffing power needed to adequately seek and apply for the funding needed to improve their coverage, Elliott said.
The plan describes the need for the Wyoming Business Council and the Broadband Advisory Council to work with carriers and stakeholders to identify and announce funding availability, as well as provide training to potential applicants and evaluate the need for a statewide grant writer.
5. Integrate emerging technologies
Technology is constantly changing and improving, Elliott said, and the state needs to keep an eye on innovations that could improve broadband coverage.
Additionally, the state should position itself as a key test market for new technology vendors. The Business Council and Advisory Council should recruit innovators to the state for tours and consider developing incentives and/or competitions to attract them here.
Along with collecting the mapping data, the next step is to create a one-stop-shop web presence for all things broadband, Elliott said. Ideally, it will have everything a broadband stakeholder in Wyoming would need to understand the technology and terminology, as well as promote recent successes and projects.
"This plan represents a lot of time, energy and compromise made by the Broadband Advisory Council," Elliott said. "I am extremely grateful to everyone who contributed their time and expertise to its creation."
Barbara Sessions, the vice president/COO of Silver Star Communications said the creation of the broadband enhancement plan was an exciting and challenging task.
"It brought together a group of individuals from a variety of industries around the state," she said. "Despite the diverse backgrounds and the competing interests of the council members, we were able to work together as a team focused on one vision, which was to create a plan to benefit all businesses and residents in Wyoming."
Brett Riley, the CEO of Flood Marketing in Sheridan, said fast broadband is "absolutely critical" to the success of his business.
50 Days Out to Election Day: What You Need to Know About Role of Gun Safety During Midterms
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Everytown for Gun Safety issued the following news release:
Today marks 50 days until Election Day 2018. As voters make their plans and candidates make their pitch to voters this cycle, one thing is clear: Guns will be a deciding issue for Americans as they head to the ballot box.
This election cycle, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown, are all in on electing gun sense champions up and down the ballot. With just 50 days to go, there is a groundswell of action to create a gun sense majority.
Elections
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Everytown for Gun Safety issued the following news release:
Today marks 50 days until Election Day 2018. As voters make their plans and candidates make their pitch to voters this cycle, one thing is clear: Guns will be a deciding issue for Americans as they head to the ballot box.
This election cycle, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown, are all in on electing gun sense champions up and down the ballot. With just 50 days to go, there is a groundswell of action to create a gun sense majority.
Elections2018: by the numbers so far
* 48,000 new voters registered
* More than 1,100 elections focused events (including canvassing and phonebanks)
* Nearly 3,000 candidates with Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinctions
* 1,000 volunteers and gun violence survivors attended Gun Sense University
Here is a look at our electoral plan and what's coming down the pike:
Spending
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund just announced its first wave of targeted spending of up to $10 million and key endorsements in four critical states - Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and New Mexico - to elect Gun Sense Candidates. The announcement is just the start of spending activity, which will include contributions to candidates and independent expenditures such as mail, television, digital and radio advertisements.
Endorsed Candidates
To date, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund has endorsed more than 40 Moms Demand Action volunteer leaders and gun violence survivors running for office up and down the ballot. These endorsements are in addition to endorsements already distributed to other gun safety candidates around the country who have pledged to put the safety of their constituents first if elected into office. Just recently, Everytown endorsed Governor Gina Raimondo (Rhode Island), Governor Kate Brown (Oregon) and Governor Andrew Cuomo (New York) during events with local Moms Demand Action chapters. And this morning, Everytown also endorsed Stacey Abrams, candidate for Governor in Georgia; Gretchen Whitmer, candidate for Governor in Michigan; Dana Nessel, candidate for Attorney General in Michigan; Steve Sisolak, candidate for Governor in Nevada; Aaron Ford, candidate for Attorney General in Nevada and Michelle Lujan Grisham, candidate for Governor in New Mexico.
Did you know? Moms Demand Action volunteers complete an action every minute of the day.
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction
For the past seven months, Moms Demand Action volunteers have distributed questionnaires to candidates across the country and are educating them on key policies and what it means to be a "Gun Sense Candidate." To date, nearly 3,000 candidates have sought and received a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction in 48 states - red, blue and purple. Of the nearly 3,000 candidates, 53 percent are women, 1 in 5 are people of color and at least 250 candidates self-identified as personal firearm owners. The distinction is being used by candidates in their campaign materials - in radio and TV ads, on social media and mail pieces and more.
Make no mistake, this represents a significant shift in electoral politics. No longer are candidates running away from the gun issue - candidates are now actively running on (and winning due to) their gun safety bonafides. In fact, in races where Gun Sense Candidates are running, more than 90 percent have had a Gun Sense Candidate advance.
Grassroots Electoral Work
None of our electoral goals would be met without the countless Moms Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors who are talking to their family, friends and neighbors every single day to get out the vote for gun sense champions. This summer, volunteers have been registering voters, knocking on doors and making phone calls. To date, Moms Demand Action volunteers have completed more than 1,100 election focused events, including 500 canvassing events and more than 200 phonebanks - and they're just getting warmed up.
Last month, Moms Demand Action held its 5th annual training conference - Gun Sense University - for 1,000 volunteer leaders. During the three-day conference in Atlanta, volunteers learned best practices on how to get out the vote for Gun Sense Candidates in their communities. They took the lessons learned home, spreading the message far and wide to our more than 5 million supporters. Moms Demand Action volunteers are all in on getting out the vote in November.
Registering High School Students to Vote
Everytown, NextGen America, Giffords and ACRONYM have partnered up for a new nationwide initiative - Our Lives, Our Vote - to register young voters and bring attention to the gun safety issue. The initiative will register 50,000 Americans aged 18-19 for the midterm elections. Collectively, the four organizations have invested an initial $1.75 million to youth voter registration. The program focuses on 10 key states where NRA-aligned candidates are on the ballot, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. So far, 33,000 young people have registered to vote. What's more, volunteers with Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America are organizing their own voter registration events, signing up their peers on high school and college campuses as new voters.
National Weekends of Action
Moms Demand Action volunteers will be knocking on doors and making calls to get out the vote all fall, but especially during our national weekends of action on September 22 and 23 and October 13 and 14. Already, more than 300 events are on the books for the first weekend of action. Sign up for a local event here.
How Do We Know We'll Win?
Apart from the phenomenal volunteerism of Moms Demand Action and the clamor from candidates to be designated Gun Sense Candidates, the polls show gun safety popping as a major issue for voters this election. The NRA's favorability ratings are now underwater for the first time since 2000 and while the NRA A-rating used to be a kingmaker, it has increasingly become a kiss of death in many districts, while at the same time, the NRA has scrapped its grades from its website. At the end of the day, Americans are fed up with the status quo.
* A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that guns will be the third most important voting issue - just behind health care, and the economy and jobs - when Americans decide on who to vote for in Congress.
* 58 percent of those who cite guns as a major voting issue favor Democratic control of Congress compared with 33 percent who favor Republican control.
* A joint poll Everytown conducted with Giffords found that gun violence is the number one voting issue among young people, with 91 percent saying a candidate's position on guns is important when deciding who to vote for in 2018.
This is just a brief overview of what Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action are doing to elect a gun sense majority this November. If you're interested in learning more about the election plans for Everytown and Moms Demand Action, don't hesitate to reach out.
