CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- The American Bar Association issued the following statement by President Mary Smith on Texas immigration law: * * * "The American Bar Association is concerned that Texas Senate Bill 4, signed into law on Monday, could endanger the civil rights of people of color and immigrant residents in Texas. "The law gives state law enforcement officers the authority to stop, arrest and detain anyone they suspect is in Texas without authorization and creates new state misdeme  more

PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 20 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) affiliates of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas issued a travel advisory warning people traveling through Texas to know their rights and take significant precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones because of extremist laws Texas lawmakers have passed targeting immigrants and people of color. While the laws don't take effect  more

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Dec. 20 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) affiliates of New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, San Diego and Imperial Counties, and Texas issued an advisory warning people traveling through Texas to know their rights and take significant precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones because of extremist laws Texas lawmakers have passed targeting immigrant  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 20 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) affiliates of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Arizona, Texas and San Diego and Imperial Counties are issuing a travel advisory for their residents about the threat of civil and constitutional rights violations when traveling in the state of Texas. The laws don't take effect until February and March of 2024, but issuance of the  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2023: * * * Today, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services released an instructional bulletin to all states and U.S. territories requiring them to ensure Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligible individuals retain their coverage during the state's Medicaid Unwinding period. CMS released additional data that nine states, Texas, Florida, Georgia, O  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 14 -- The Austin Chamber of Commerce issued the following news release: The Austin Chamber has selected its 2024-2025 board leadership. Rudy Garza, president and CEO of GarzaEMC, will be the 2024 board chair and Mark Ramseur, managing principal of Pape-Dawson Engineers, will be the 2025 board chair and serve as chair elect in 2024. Their terms are set to begin on Jan. 1, 2024. "I am excited, honored and ready to lead the Chamber's board in 2024 and if there is one message   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 20 -- Consumer Energy Alliance issued the following news release: Consumer Energy Alliance, the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, issued the following statement after the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on H.R. 5482, the "Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act," which will ensure that current and future administrations, are being forthright with the American people about how p  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The National Consumer Law Center issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) jointly sued Colony Ridge, a Texas-based developer and lender, for operating an illegal land sales scheme that targeted low-income Hispanic consumers. This case alleges that Colony Ridge violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act, among other laws, by seeking out economically disadvantaged Lati  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU, and the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) filed a lawsuit (https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/2023-12-19_complaint.pdf) today challenging Texas Senate Bill 4 (https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=884&Bill=SB4), which would permit local and state law enforcement to arrest and detain people they suspect to hav  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 23 -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, issued the following news release: On Monday, December 18, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the draconian Senate Bill 4 into law. Let's be crystal clear: by signing this bill into law on International Migrants Day, Gov. Abbott   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- Growth Energy, a trade association that represents ethanol producers, issued the following statement on Dec. 20, 2023: * * * Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement regarding the ongoing suspension of rail operations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at two crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. "Every day, millions of gallons of American bioethanol and key coproducts like high-protein animal feed are transported safely and efficiently  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 18 [Category: Education] -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following news release: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has partnered with the Ford Motor Company Fund to award scholarships to eligible undergraduate and graduate students at HACU-member institutions. A total of seventeen ($5,000) Ford Fund Scholarships will be awarded. The Ford Fund Scholarships are available to students who meet the following eligibilit  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The Hispanic Federation, an organization that supports and strengthens Latino institutions through education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the environment, issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2023: * * * Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda issued the following statement regarding the signing of Senate Bills 3 and 4 in Texas: "Hispanic Federation strongly condemns Governor Abbott's decision to sign Senate Bills 3   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 21 -- The Houston Association of Realtors issued the following news release: Consumers kept Houston's rental market jingling in November with strong activity among single-family homes as well as townhomes and condominiums. This comes as Houston home sales registered their first positive month of sales in 19 months, but as many would-be buyers admit that they are holding back on a home purchase in hopes that mortgage rates will come down in the new year. According to the Ho  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- Human Rights First issued the following news: Human Rights First condemns and opposes the passage of the anti-immigrant and flagrantly unlawful state laws in Texas that infringe on federal authority over immigration and violate the rights of people seeking asylum. "With these actions, Texas is endangering the lives of people seeking refuge from persecution. These laws violate United States law and international refugee treaties," said Eleanor Acer, Senior Director of Ref  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 22 -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund issued the following news release on Dec. 21, 2023: Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund released its 2023 Texas Humane Scorecard, which grades state legislators' actions on animal-protection legislation during the 2023 session. The laws passed this legislative session will close loopholes exploited by breeders, tighten regulation of service animals, enshrine the legality of Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) programs, prevent animal a  more

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Dec. 20 -- The Institute for Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2023: Yesterday, a wide array of legal scholars and civil rights groups-spanning a cross-section of the ideological spectrum-filed briefs in support of Sylvia Gonzalez in her fight to hold government officials in Castle Hills, Texas, accountable for illegally arresting and imprisoning her in retaliation for petitioning the government and criticizing the city manager. Lawyers from eight publ  more

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 -- The International Rescue Committee issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2023: * * * Humane, Safe, and Orderly Asylum System is Possible * * * The International Rescue Committee (IRC) condemns Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB4) and urges the U.S. federal government to take all available legal steps to prevent its implementation. The bill, adopted by the Texas legislature in November and signed into law by Governor Abbott yesterday, will target communities of color, violates   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued the following news release on Dec. 22, 2023: Today, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed an amicus brief in Murthy v. Missouri in support of social media platforms' ability to censor harmful disinformation. The brief follows the Lawyers' Committee's similar filing last week in Netchoice, LLC v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice, LLC, the Supreme Court cases concerning Texas House Bill 20 and Florida S  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued the following news release: In a shocking and deeply disturbing incident, a video (https://youtu.be/8iidNycO20U) has surfaced showing members of the Texas National Guard seemingly ignoring cries for help from a woman carrying a baby who appeared to be in imminent danger of drowning in the Rio Grande. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organiza  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: LULAC strongly condemns Texas Governor Greg Abbott's scheduled signing Monday of new, so-called border security laws. In a scathing statement, LULAC accuses the Governor and his legislative allies of prioritizing political gains over the welfare of vulnerable migrant populations, particularly women and child refugees. "LULAC denounces in the strongest terms possible t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued the following news release: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, strongly supports the decisive action taken by the Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) against Colony Ridge, a Texas-based developer and lender. The lawsuit filed in federal district court exposes Colony Ridge's illegal land sales  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 19 -- The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign S.B. 4 today, a bill that creates a new crime of illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000. The law also codifies new crimes of illegal re-entry, punishable by one to twenty years in jail, and refusal to comply with a judge's order to return, consi  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 21 -- The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures issued the following news: The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is excited to announce the appointments of Mari Hernandez as Chief Strategy Officer and Luis Garza as Chief Operations Officer. Hernandez and Garza join Jennifer Guel, who celebrates one year since her appointment as NALAC's Chief Financial Officer, to complete the organization's executive leadership team, strengthening NALAC  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund issued the following news release: * * * The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) today released a statement from CEO Arturo Vargas following the Texas state legislature's passage of HB4/SB4 and Governor Greg Abbot's signature to enact the legislation into law: "We deeply condemn Texas' enactment of the unconstitutional, costly, and unsound anti- immigra  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 22 -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund issued the following news release: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, in partnership with LCLAA, LULAC, and Mi Familia Vota, announced today the issuance of a letter to Houston Mayor-elect John Whitmire, urging him to use his new role to appoint diverse individuals to senior-level positions across Houston's government. The lett  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, Dec. 20 -- The Nebraska Farm Bureau issued the following news release: In a letter to Homeland Security, Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) expressed grave concern over the recent decision to close international railway entry points in Texas. The organization says suspending operations at the crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas will likely lead to substantial economic harm. "The recent decision by the Biden administration to shut down two railway entries at the U.S.-Mexico b  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 18 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Heart Association issued the following news release: Survey Highlights: A majority of Americans (51%) say it takes them weeks to feel less stressed after the holidays, with more than a quarter of moms reporting it takes them a month or more to recover. 71% of respondents say that their biggest regret after the holidays is that they did not take the time to relax and enjoy the season. Overall, respondents (63%) claimed that the ho  more

DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 19 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Heart Association issued the following news release: Technologies that less invasively restore blood flow to blocked or narrowed arteries; a medicine that outsmarts high blood pressure's development; and new evidence that diabetes drugs may offer heart health benefits to people that don't have diabetes are among the news-making scientific research developments in the fight against heart disease and stroke that emerged in 2023. The A  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Protect Our Care issued the following statement on Dec. 18, 2023: * * * Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new data brief and informational bulletin to states to ensure eligible children maintain Medicaid and CHIP coverage as states continue to reassess their Medicaid rolls following the end of pandemic-era continuous eligibility requirements. The brief shows that nine states -- Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, South Dakota, Id  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Protect Our Care issued the following agency statement on Dec. 19, 2023: * * * Anti-abortion advocates, represented by a far-right legal organization, have filed a lawsuit before a federal judge in Texas with the sweeping aim of a nationwide ban on mifepristone, which is used for medication abortions. The plaintiffs argue that the FDA's authorization of the drug over two decades ago was flawed and that the drug which has been used by over 2.5 million women is, in fact, d  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 23 -- Arnold Ventures (formerly the Laura and John Arnold Foundation) issued the following statement on Dec. 22, 2023: * * * In response to President Biden's announcement today that he commuted 11 federal prison sentences, Kevin Ring, vice president of criminal justice advocacy at Arnold Ventures, issued the following statement: "When Congress fixes a flawed sentencing law, people punished for their crimes under the old law do not automatically get their sentences adjust  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: Governor Greg Abbott today signed Senate Bill 4 (88-4), one of the country's most extreme anti-immigrant laws. This law conflicts with federal immigration law, immunizes law enforcement to conduct racial profiling and harassment, and gives state officials the unconstitutional ability to deport people without due process. A group of legal advocacy, immigrant rights, and fai  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 20 -- The Texas Association of Business issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2023: * * * The Texas Association of Business (TAB) President and CEO, Glenn Hamer, released the following statement in response to railway crossing closures issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection: "This is a short-sighted, half-baked decision that will not make a dent in illegal migration but will cause economic harm to everyday Americans. On behalf of the business community, TAB urge  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 23 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: This morning, a coalition of off-road groups took their challenge to the federal government's arbitrary and illegal closure of over 300 miles of trails near Moab, UT, to federal district court for the District of Utah. The federal court filing follows a ruling by the Interior Board of Land Appeals to deny a stay of the closures earlier this month. Now it will be up to a Utah federal judge to decide w  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 (TNSres) -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: * * * New ill-defined statutory authority expands the power of unaccountable bureaucrats to make massive policy judgements * * * Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Boyden Gray PLLC released a new white paper explaining how the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC's expansive new Capital Adequacy Rule may be unconstitutional under a strengthened constitutional nondele  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 19 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: Today Governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB 3 and SB 4, which help rein in the border crisis created by the federal government's unwillingness to properly enforce the law. The 88th Texas Legislature passed SB 3 and SB 4 during the fourth called session. "The state of Texas' continued efforts to fight human trafficking and secure the southern border deserve our thanks," said TPPF C  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 21 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: In 2021, Texas passed commonsense reforms designed to ensure the integrity of Texas elections. Among those reforms was a state requirement that voter registration applications contain an original signature to assist in verifying the identity and qualifications of the person registering to vote. Almost immediately, this modest requirement was challenged by a non-profit organization that had developed  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 21 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: The Texas Public Policy Foundation is celebrating a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals injunction order that the federal government cannot destroy concertina wire barriers placed by the State of Texas to deter illegal border crossings. TPPF is co-counsel with the Texas Attorney General. "The federal government cannot destroy Texas property, especially border barriers that work. The Biden administration  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The U.S. Grains Council issued the following statement on Dec. 21, 2023: * * * On Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was forced to suspend rail operations at key points into and out of Mexico, specifically El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, to alleviate a sharp increase in illegal immigration at the border. These actions affect U.S. corn and barley at this time, two commodities the U.S. Grains Council represents. The CBP is working with the Mexic  more