Tuesday - April 30, 2024
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Tennessee Newsletter for Sunday March 10, 2024 ( 15 items )  

A Bipartisan Coalition of 41 Attorneys General Call On Meta To Protect Users' Accounts From Scammers
WASHINGTON, March 8 -- The National Association of Attorneys General issued the following news release: The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter to Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) on behalf of a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general that addresses the recent rise of Facebook and Instagram platform account takeovers by scammers and frauds. Account takeovers are when bad actors break into a user's account and change passwords, effectively hijacking the account and blo  more

AFBF Applauds SEC for Sparing Farms From Wall Street Rules
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 7 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release on March 6, 2024: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) responded to American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) concerns and affirmed that regulations intended for Wall Street should not extend to America's family farms. The SEC voted today on its final climate disclosure rule and removed the Scope 3 reporting requirement, which would have required public companies to report the greenhous  more

AFBF Supportive of Updates to Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 7 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following statement on March 6, 2024: * * * American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to decrease data demands of farmers participating in the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. "Farm Bureau supports USDA's partnership initiative and we are glad to see the department take another look at the related data requirements.  more

American Farm Bureau Federation: House Ag Committee Offers Solutions to Farm Labor Crisis
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 8 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release on March 7, 2024: The House Committee on Agriculture today laid out a roadmap to relieve labor shortages that have seriously impacted America's farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report on how to improve the H-2A guest worker program. It includes more than 20 recommendations to streamline the program and make labor more affordable for farmers.   more

American Farm Bureau Federation: New Rule Provides More Transparency for Farmers and Ranchers
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 7 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following statement on March 6, 2024: * * * American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act final rule. "AFBF appreciates Secretary Vilsack and USDA's finalization of another rule that helps bring transparency and fairness for farmers and ranchers who raise livestock and poultry under contracts with compan  more

American Farm Bureau Federation: Rep. Letlow Honored With Farm Bureau Golden Plow Award
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 6 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release on March 5, 2024: The American Farm Bureau Federation and Louisiana Farm Bureau today presented Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) with AFBF's Golden Plow award. The Golden Plow is the highest honor the organization gives to sitting members of Congress. "Congresswoman Letlow has demonstrated her commitment to agriculture from the minute she took office," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "She has a pa  more

CMA Announces Recipients For The 14th CMA Triple Play Awards
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 8 -- The Country Music Association issued the following news release on March 7, 2024: The Country Music Association, the premier trade organization supporting professionals within the Country Music industry, today announced recipients of the 14th CMA Triple Play Awards, which honor the songwriters behind some of the format's most notable No. 1 hits. In addition to this year's seven CMA Triple Play Award recipients Ashley Gorley (three-time recipient this year), Char  more

ERLC's Psalm 139 Project Partners With NC Baptists to Dedicate Ultrasound Machine at Gate Pregnancy Resource Center in Harrisburg
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 9 -- The Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued the following news release: The Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, in partnership with N.C. Baptists, has donated an ultrasound machine to a new medical mobile unit operated by Gate Pregnancy Resource Center in Harrisburg, N.C. A dedication ceremony will be held March 13 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  more

HRC's Weekly State Fights Report: HRC Complaint Triggers US Department of Education Investigation Into Owasso Public School District
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Human Rights Campaign issued the following Weekly State Fights Report on March 4, 2024: TOPLINE TAKEAWAYS: * 43 states are currently in session as of March 1 * So far, HRC is tracking about 765+ bills: * * 190+ pro-equality * * 420+ anti-LGBTQ+ * * Four anti-LGBTQ+ bills have passed into law (one in Ohio, one in Tennessee and two in Utah) * * Three pro-equality bills have passed into law (Maine, New Mexico and California) WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMERICA: Last week  more

NextEra Energy Resources Invests in Ducks Unlimited Park
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, March 6 -- Ducks Unlimited issued the following news release: NextEra Energy Resources, through its charitable arm, the NextEra Energy Foundation, has committed $250,000 to support wetland forest restoration in Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing. The 1,500-acre park will help promote recreational and tourism opportunities in Downtown Memphis and nearby West Memphis. This unique project will reestablish native vegetation and re-create functional bottomland hardwood w  more

ORAU Story, 2023, Spotlights ORAU's Past, Present and Future Impact on the Nation and the World
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, March 5 (TNSres) -- The Oak Ridge Associated Universities issued the following news release: ORAU has a long-standing reputation for quietly working with its government agency partners to advance the nation's priorities in science, health and education, so we don't often stop to look at our impact on the United States and the world. This year's annual report, ORAU Story, 2023 (https://orau.org/news/annual-report.html), shines a spotlight on the company's impact on the past  more

Save the Children Action Network: Advocates Gather in Nashville to Urge Legislative Action on Child Hunger, Early Childhood Education
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 7 -- Save the Children Action Network issued the following news release: Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) advocates from across the state gather at the Tennessee State Capitol today to voice their support for legislation to address urgent child care and child nutrition needs. Overall, 60 advocates from Memphis to Kingsport have convened in Nashville to stress the urgency of child hunger and the need for access to child care in their home communities. Many of   more

SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY: POLL - TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORT REFORMS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO LICENSING FOR JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 8 (TNSres) -- Small Business Majority issued the following news release on March 7, 2024: Today, Small Business Majority released new research that reveals strong support for licensing reform measures that could expand Tennessee's small business workforce. A majority (82%) of Tennessee small business owners support legislative solutions that would remove barriers to occupational and professional licensing for justice-impacted individuals. Small businesses are a cruc  more

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Congratulates EPA Clean School Bus 2023 Grant Winners
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, March 9 -- The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy issued the following news release on March 8, 2024: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of the $965 million Clean School Bus Program 2023 Grants. 35 school districts in the Southeast region were among the 280 nationally that received grant funding to replace aging diesel buses with cleaner alternatives. * Nationally, funds will support the purchase of over 2,700 buses, 95% of which w  more

Susan G. Komen: Legislation Introduced In Tennessee Would Increase Access to Treatments for Cancer Patients
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, March 5 -- Susan G. Komen, an organization that says it addresses breast cancer on fronts such as research, community health, global outreach and public policy initiatives, issued the following news: Susan G. Komen(R), the world's leading breast cancer organization, applauds Representative Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough) and Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson) for introducing legislation that would prohibit the use of step therapy protocols for cancer patients. Studies have sh  more