July 2006

"Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a new research method that may help identify the types of genetic changes necessary for the avian influenza virus (H5N1) to be more easily transmitted among people." [Read more]

"Tonight, MoveOn members will gather in homes across the nation to eat dessert, get energized on a conference call with Sen. Barack Obama and Air America host Al Franken, and strategize about what they can do locally to ensure a national democratic victory in 2006. To listen to the Obama/Franken conference call or to attend an event, contact alex@fenton.com." [Read more]

"The following was released today by House and Senate Democratic leaders:

With violence exploding in Iraq, there is little evidence that the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans have a coherent strategy to stabilize Iraq. Thousands have been killed in sectarian and insurgent violence in recent months, and now the American people have been told that thousands more U.S. troops will be redeployed into an urban war zone in Baghdad. The President's current approach is not sustainable." [Read more]

"One of the reasons why the national unemployment rate is at 4.6 percent is because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. (Applause.) And we intend to keep it that way. And one of the ways to make sure entrepreneurs like Nelson and others are able to realize dreams is to keep the taxes low. (Applause.)" [Read more]

"In a continued attempt to normalize the evil act of abortion, some women in the pro- abortion movement have taken absurdity to a new level with a campaign bragging about their past abortions," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "These women are celebrating an act of violence that has proven traumatic for millions of mothers and deadly for their innocent preborn children." [Read more]

"The Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation's (VVAF) Information Management and Mine Action Programs (iMMAP) deployed specialists into the war-ravaged Lebanon this week to assist relief operations struggling to distribute food and medical supplies throughout the country." [Read more]

"Today's attack on Qana, which took the lives of 57 civilians, including 37 children, was tragically not unexpected," said AAI President James Zogby. "Not unlike a similar 1996 attack on Qana, massive and indiscriminate attacks on the south of Lebanon are bound to result in such massacres." [Read more]

"Chevron Corp. capped an orgy of oil-company quarterly record profits Friday with an 18 percent boost over last year to $4.4 billion, its highest one-quarter profit ever. What should really fuel the ire of U.S. motorists, however, is its 39 percent increase in domestic refining and marketing profits, which come most directly out of the pockets of people struggling to pay for $3.00-and-up gasoline nationwide, said the nonprofit, nonpartisan Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR)." [Read more]

"The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) commended President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for their "wise and practical approach" to resolving the conflict in the Middle East, as articulated in today's joint White House appearance. The two leaders called for the establishment of a "lasting peace" within a framework that allows for the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1559, which mandates the permanent disbanding of Hezbollah militias in south Lebanon." [Read more]

"FRC Action, the legislative action arm of Family Research Council, along with co-sponsors Focus on the Family Action (Dr. James C. Dobson), American Family Association Action (Don Wildmon), and Americans United to Preserve Marriage (Gary L. Bauer), will host the first annual Washington Briefing: Values Voter Summit to be held in Washington, D.C. on September 22-24. With a combined network of over five million supporters, four of America's most influential faith-and-family groups are gearing up for an event guaranteed to shape the debate for this year's midterm elections and beyond." [Read more]

"Should Congress increase the minimum wage? The following is a statement released by economist Lawrence Hunter, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) suggesting that such a raise would harm, not help workers:

"Government wage controls are no different than government price controls: they don’t work as intended, and they end up harming the very people they are designed to help." [Read more]

"Members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade were returning home, and Jennifer Davis, a member of Military Families Speak Out from Anchorage, Alaska, was preparing for her husband's homecoming. He had served almost one year in Iraq. On the night of July 26, 2006, she received a phone call that she never expected. "My husband called tonight to let me know in the best way that he knew how, that the Army was extending his deployment four more months, mere hours before he was to board a flight home," said Davis. "I am totally frustrated, disappointed and heart broken. Just when I thought we were going to be able to resume a "normal" life. Just when I thought the nightmare was over, it was extended... This war should never have started, and now I'm left wondering if it will ever end. My husband and all of the troops should be brought home now." [Read more]

"The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) today praised the United States House of Representatives for its passage early this week of the proposed Disaster Personal Protection Act.

"We commend the House, and especially the House leadership, for bringing this measure to the floor and passing it with an overwhelming 322 - 99 bipartisan vote," said John M. Snyder, CCRKBA public affairs director." [Read more]

"The case was initially investigated by the Dallas Police Department after they received a tip from a German citizen who told them that a site selling rape videos was registered to a Garry Ragsdale. At that time, Ragsdale was a Dallas Police Department officer." [Read more]

"How does gay marriage undermine the social function marriage serves? The author of "The Real Danger of Same-Sex Marriage," Stephen Baskerville, traces the answer to the destruction of heterosexual marriage. The article appears in the latest edition of "The Family in America" (Issue 5/6, Volume 20), a monthly periodical edited by Allan Carlson and covering family issues since 1987." [Read more]

"With the country at a crossroads, facing an historic choice between the status quo and a change in course, House and Senate Democrats today joined together to call for a New Direction for America. After years of paying the price for a Congress that has favored the special interests and enduring the failed leadership and incompetent policies of Republicans in Washington, the American people have had enough, and they want change. Today, following a special Joint Caucus, Democrats from the House and Senate reaffirmed their commitment to a Congress that serves all Americans and to providing leadership as good as the American people." [Read more]

"The U.S. Army recently discharged a highly regarded Arabic linguist who was the target of an anonymous email "outing" campaign. Former Sergeant Bleu Copas was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and was a member of the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division. A decorated Sergeant who received impressive performance reviews, Copas also performed in the 82nd Airborne Chorus. His dismissal, under the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel, brings the total number of Arabic language specialists dismissed under the ban to at least 55. Neither Copas nor his command know who was the source of the email campaign." [Read more]

"We must protect the right to vote for everyone regardless of race. There is no more important power that our citizens hold, and that right must be guaranteed. I'd like to commend President Bush for signing the Voting Rights Act into law today. This law takes our country one step closer to eliminating racism and becoming a more perfect nation." [Read more]

"On Saturday, July 29, Democrats across the country will participate in "Democratic Reunion" events, the Democratic National Committee's next national organizing day, during which Democrats across the country will hold voter contact and outreach events." [Read more]

"Recently, there have been several public statements about the readiness of the U.S. Army. The Army has been at war for close to five years now and I am extremely proud of all of our soldiers, civilians, and families. We have asked a lot of them, from repetitive combat tours, to transforming the Army, to expanding our training base, to resetting our combat equipment. Simply put, this is the finest Army this nation has ever put into combat. Our soldiers' collective efforts have been magnificent. I have testified to the facts about our readiness and I remain concerned about the serious demands we face." [Read more]

"The Department of Justice's ongoing Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative was established in October 2002 to spearhead the department's expanded efforts to address election crimes and voting rights violations." [Read more]

"The House-passed lobbying and ethics reform bill includes a series of significant reforms meant to bring greater transparency and accountability to the congressional earmarking practice. House Republicans are committed to extending these reforms to all committees and implementing them during the current session of Congress, before any spending or tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year goes to the President's desk." [Read more]

"Today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that sharply criticizes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) record on air toxics control. The report concludes, in particular, that EPA has failed to take action on scores of specific pollution control measures that the Clean Air Act required the agency to complete several years ago. A copy of the report is available at http://www.earthjustice.org." [Read more]

"Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director, made the following statement in response to the White House's proposed legislation regarding trials for war on terror detainees:

"How many times does President Bush need to be told that the military commissions he created are unlawful? If the administration continues to fiddle with the now-discredited system, it will spend far more time litigating the fairness of the procedures than trying suspects for alleged war crimes." [Read more]

"The Republicans' failed energy policy has taken us in the wrong direction, leading to record gas prices that exceed $3 a gallon, record oil prices of more than $78 a barrel, record oil profits that have increased 32 percent, and record dependence on foreign oil." [Read more]

"Today's ruling serves to underscore the importance of traditional marriage in our society and re-affirms the positive rulings we have seen in recent weeks also upholding marriage. This court has found that the state does indeed have a legitimate interest in encouraging and protecting one-man, one-woman marriage. That interest is the next generation -- ensuring that the best environment in which to raise children is nurtured and safeguarded." [Read more]

"With a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing scheduled for this Thursday on the renomination of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Citizens for Global Solutions has re-launched the http://www.stopbolton.org Web site. The Web site illustrates that Bolton, who has served in the position for the past year under a recess appointment from President Bush, is failing to achieve U.S. interests -- a goal the U.S. Mission to the U.N. declares its modus operandi -- by alienating allies and isolating the U.S. in the world." [Read more]

"Under the guise of government reform, of ridding the federal bureaucracy of 'unneeded' agencies and 'unwanted' programs, two bills -- H.R. 5766, which would create a Federal Review Commission, and H.R. 3282, the Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act -- have been fast-tracked for consideration on the floor of the House this week," John Rowan, national president of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), said today in a letter to Members of Congress." [Read more]

"Thirty-seven states have passed parental notification laws. By closing the loophole that has allowed people to transport a minor girl across state lines to get an abortion without her parent's knowledge, this bill will protect parents' rights and their children's health and safety." [Read more]

"The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has called on the U.S. Treasury Department to take action against any U.S. companies that provide Internet hosting to Al-Manar TV, the Lebanon-based satellite television station operated by the terrorist group Hezbollah." [Read more]

"The House today by voice vote approved strong and effective child protection legislation sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.). Because the Senate last week passed this same version of H.R. 4472, President Bush Thursday is expected to sign what has been described as the "most important child protection legislation of the last 25 years." [Read more]

"Iraqi Prime Minister's Maliki's criticism of Israel's right to defend itself is unacceptable. At the White House this morning, Mr. Maliki did not retreat from his comments on Israel and once again failed to criticize Hamas and Hezbollah's terrorist activities. Unless Mr. Maliki disavows his critical comments of Israel and condemns terrorism, it is inappropriate to honor him with a joint meeting of Congress." [Read more]

"PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Please be seated.

Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the White House. I just had a very constructive meeting with the leader of a government that has been chosen by the Iraqi people in free and fair elections. I appreciate your vision for a free Iraq, and I appreciate you briefing me on a strategy to reduce violence and to rebuild your country." [Read more]

"World Wildlife Fund (WWF) congratulates Sony for making a commitment to reduce global warming and conserve energy through a climate partnership. In an announcement made today in Tokyo, Sony pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and create products that operate with high efficiency." [Read more]

"Catholic Charities agencies in Louisiana and Mississippi are in desperate need of volunteers to clean-up or repair homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina almost one year ago.

An estimated 92,000 houses in New Orleans and 200,000 houses in the metro area were severely damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In Biloxi, where over 65,000 homes were flood-ravaged and destroyed, people still are living in tents and trailers as they wait for aid." [Read more]

"With oil prices continuing to set new records this summer, President Bush is pushing his energy independence plan - sprinkling a few dollars on select energy sectors in the name of the war on terrorism. But according to a publication released today by the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), rising prices, not government handouts, should be the primary motivation for the U.S. to move away from oil reliance." [Read more]

"As the nation approaches the five-year anniversary of September 11 and the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, led by Conference President and Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido, will hold a media forum at the National Press Club on Wednesday, July 26 at 10 a.m. to discuss the state of disaster preparedness in America's cities." [Read more]

"The U.S. House of Representatives today passed three key bills to protect a total of more than 660,000 acres of publicly owned land in California, Idaho, and Oregon, as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System." [Read more]

"Following is a statement by Antoine Bouet, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute -- New research finds two realistic proposals could make a big difference for poor countries:

The collapse of the WTO talks represents a huge setback for developing countries. The agricultural trade policies of the industrialized countries harm the economies of many developing nations, where millions of poor people are dependent on agriculture for food and income. But too much is at stake, especially for the world's small-scale farmers, to play the "blame game" and point fingers. Instead, we need to look forward and identify the opportunities that lay ahead." [Read more]

"Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate, calling on the Republican Senate to finally engage in a real debate on the war in Iraq. In the weeks since Senate Republicans voted to rubber stamp the White House's failed policies instead of joining Democrats in demanding a change of course, the Administration's Iraq policy has continued to move in the wrong direction." [Read more]

"The Washington visit of Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri Maliki provides an occasion to expose Iran's attempt to bulldoze and beguile Baghdad to do the bidding of the Iranian regime at a press conference at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25 at Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, says Iran Policy Committee." [Read more]

"Zachariah Anani, a former terrorist from Lebanon, and Walid Shoebat, a former terrorist from Israel, are available to discuss the current Middle East Crisis on Wednesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 27. Other dates may be available upon request.

"It is important to understand the mindset of Hezbollah," Anani says. "Sometimes you need war before you can have peace." [Read more]

"Amnesty International released its new report, Jordan: "Your Confessions are Ready for You to Sign": Detention and Torture of Political Suspects, exposing Jordan for its continued use of torture on political suspects. The report reveals that Jordan maintains a military security agency that detains, interrogates and tortures suspected political opponents and alleged terrorist suspects. Jordan has also received and allegedly tortured nationals transferred to the country in apparent coordination with the United States, United Kingdom and other governments." [Read more]

"Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R- NJ), Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively, of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, announced that the Commission will hold a hearing entitled, "Human Rights and U.S.-Russian Relations: Implications for the Future," on Thursday, July 27, 2006, at 1 p.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The hearing will examine ways the U.S. Government can live up to its commitment to promote human rights and democratic governance in Russia while preserving a relationship with Moscow that advances U.S. interests and is conducive to resolving issues of importance to both nations and the international community." [Read more]

"In remarks today before the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police at their 26th Biennial State Conference, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao thanked the officers whose service in the line of duty in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina saved lives and restored civil order. Secretary Chao also highlighted the Bush Administration's efforts to help law enforcement officers serving at home and returning from military duty." [Read more]

"Next week, the leadership of the House of Representatives plans to vote on "The Financial Data Protection Act," a controversial and weak version of data security legislation that would strip consumers of their existing state rights to protect themselves against identity theft.

"It's shocking that at a time when data breaches are in the headlines daily and consumers are at greater risk than ever for identity theft, Congress would choose to vote on a bill that would strip consumers of their existing identity theft protections," said Susanna Montezemolo, policy analyst with Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine." [Read more]

"As the fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah and tensions flare in the Middle East, Wilson Center scholars will convene for a special briefing to assess developments and potential repercussions. Each scholar will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. They will address such topics as how this conflict will affect U.S. policy toward Iran, whether Israel's unilateral military actions could address the problem and implications for American policy toward the Arab-Israeli conflict." [Read more]

"Rep. Henry Waxman (D- Calif.) has unleashed a deceptive document to the American public, and we think he should be called to task," said American Life League President Judie Brown. "Using his position on the House Committee on Government Reform, Rep. Waxman has publishing erroneous information in his quest to stop pro-life pregnancy centers from doing their life-saving work. We find this absolutely intolerable and refuse to let it rest. Mr. Waxman must retract this report." [Read more]

"Following is an op-ed by James Crum, director of the Iraq Project and Contracting Office ... In sum, the numbers of completed projects throughout Iraq -- including large and complex oil, water, and electrical plants -- has been truly staggering. More than 3,500 projects have been started; more than 2,800 of these have been completed and the remainder under construction." [Read more]

"WHAT: Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will address a joint session of Congress.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 26th 2006 at 11 a.m. EDT

WHERE: U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Capitol" [Read more]

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