June 2007

Heading to Chicago, John McCain said that "it would be nuts" and "ridiculous" for him to consider dropping out of the race despite closing out the second quarter with lackluster fundraising and trailing in "most polls." But the Arizona Senator and one-time frontrunner admitted "It's a tough slog," and his campaign, which suffered a distant and disappointing third place showing in the first quarter, "may come in under that total when the second financial quarter ends tomorrow." Full release

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $15 million grant to provide employment-related assistance to youth in New Orleans as part of the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts underway throughout Louisiana. "This $15 million grant will help at risk young people in New Orleans with valuable skills training, educational opportunities and job experience while at the same time participate in the recovery of their communities from Hurricane Katrina," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. Full release

In a Presidential forum designed to focus on America's domestic crises -poverty, sub-standard education, job loss, crime, and HIV AIDS -- Congressman Dennis Kucinich made a compelling and enthusiastically applauded case that U.S. foreign policy, especially the war in Iraq, is sapping the national resources to solve problems on our own shores. Full release

The Democratic presidential candidates will face questions from members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus this Saturday at the group's 24th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Full release

The following was released today by Federation for American Immigration Reform: Today's defeat 46-53 of a motion to invoke cloture and end debate on the Bush-Senate immigration bill reflects the unprecedented public rejection of the idea of granting amnesty to tens of millions of illegal aliens, and the unprecedented legislative tactics employed to try to force this unpopular bill through Senate. Full release

Eons(TM), the 50- plus media company for lovin' life on the flip side of 50, today announced that presidential candidate Barack Obama has launched a presence on Eons.com's social networking platform as part of a dialog with boomers, the most engaged and passionate Americans in our nation's history, about the most important issues facing our nation. Full release

Organizers of yesterday's national Day of Silence -- observed by more than 14,000 webcasters -- reported today that more than 14 million Net radio listeners visited SaveNetRadio.org, and nearly 400,000 phone calls were placed to members of the House and Senate calling on Congress to enact legislation that would preserve the future of Internet radio during the day-long protest. Full release

Testifying today before a Congressional panel, a top administrator with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare emphasized the need for continued investment in programs and services that help Pennsylvania's young children grow and succeed. Full release

To launch its next decade of action, the America's Promise Alliance today announced the 15 in 5 campaign aimed at improving the lives of 15 million disadvantaged children over the next five years by providing them with more of the essential resources they need to succeed. The new initiative was unveiled at the Alliance's 10th anniversary event in New York City by America's Promise Founding Chair General Colin Powell and current Chair Alma Powell. Full release

In a study to be released Wednesday, the Tax Foundation lays out a revenue-neutral plan to fix the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), restoring it to its original, limited role: preventing a few high-income people from combining so many deductions and exemptions that they owe little or nothing. Full release

Today, WakeUpWalMart.com, America's campaign to change Wal-Mart, released its first animated TV-ad exposing how Wal-Mart's close relationship with China hurts America. The ad comes on the heels of a newly published report which, for the first time, estimates how many American jobs have been lost because Wal-Mart is the #1 importer of Chinese goods. Full release

AARP and Business Roundtable, late last week, brought together leading scholars, business leaders, lawmakers and Americans from across the nation to address the problems individuals face when trying to plan a financially secure retirement. Growing difficulties such as an inability to save in the workplace and the challenge of balancing today wants vs. preparing for tomorrow's needs were juxtaposed by potential solutions put forth by several experts. Full release

With countless fad diets and quick weight-loss claims, it's no wonder women are skeptical when they hear the words "new exercise plan" or "latest diet program." That's why the American Heart Association found a group of seven women to take the Choose To Move challenge, a free physical activity program that encourages women to include exercise in their busy schedules while also reducing the risk for heart disease, women's No. 1 killer. Full release

It seemed like a new low for John McCain's campaign last week when the Tampa Tribune reported that his desperate fundraising blitz to close out the 2nd quarter included touting events that never actually happened. This week McCain is hitting a new, new low, turning to a member of the disgraced Swift Boat Veterans attack group, Paul Galanti, to host a fundraising breakfast for his struggling campaign in Virginia. Full release

Should big polluters own the sky? That's one of the key questions as we consider how to limit and reduce global warming pollution. A U.S. Senate committee is set to examine this and related issues on June 28. Many of the biggest coal-burning power companies claim they own the sky -- and should be paid billions of dollars to reduce their emissions. Full release

The economic impact of informal caregiving on the U.S. economy is massive according to a new AARP Public Policy Institute study, Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of Family Caregiving. The study found that the contributions of family caregivers often go unnoticed, but in fact, their contributions are the foundation of the nation's long-term care system with an estimated economic value of $350 billion in 2006. Full release

A new book says we want more than just a leader in the White House. People also seek class and character in a president. And a little passion wouldn't hurt either. "Americans don't even know it, but generally they like to elect a gentleman to our most prominent government spot," says Kristin Alexandre, author of "The Perfect Gentleman: The Secrets Rich Girls Use to Choose the Classiest Guys." Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning on H.R. 2764, the fiscal 2008 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which passed in the House early this morning by a vote of 241 to 178:

"The bipartisan State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill provides a new direction for our foreign assistance initiatives that will help defend our country, preserve our planet, and express the compassion of the American people for those that suffer from hunger, disease and extreme poverty." Full release

He packs up his bag for work -- HIV/AIDS pamphlets, condoms, and HIV tests -- and heads off to his field office -- gay bars, clubs, and bathhouses. At 10:30 pm while many people are heading off to bed, Christiano Ayoub Ramazzotti's workday is just beginning. Full release

By a vote of 206-226 the House of Representatives defeated an amendment offered by Representative Joseph Pitts (R-PA) to reinstate the "33 percent" abstinence-until-marriage earmark in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Foreign Operations Appropriations bill contains a provision that waives the mandatory abstinence-until-marriage earmark for FY 2008. Full release

In 19 months, George W. Bush will leave the White House for the last time. The latest NEWSWEEK Poll suggests that he faces a steep climb if he hopes to coax the country back to his side before he goes. In the new poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday nights, President Bush's approval rating has reached a record low. Full release

Today the full House is expected to vote on the FY 2008 Foreign Aid bill, and close votes are expected on several amendments directly relevant to HIV/AIDS as well as the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis. Full release

In 2002 and 2003, Maria's HMO denied access to specialists and diagnostic tests that would have revealed her brain tumor. As a result, she suffered permanent damage to her optic nerve and attorney Scott Glovsky sued her HMO on her behalf. Now this case appears in Michael Moore's new movie on the American healthcare system, "Sicko," scheduled to be released June 29. Full release

Earthjustice, a US-based environmental law NGO, will submit its annual issue paper on the status of environmental rights to the United Nations Human Rights Council today in Geneva. According to the report, while environmental harm continues to undermine human rights around the world, a growing number of international institutions recognize environmental rights, and the constitutions of 118 countries guarantee the right to a healthy environment. Full release

Focus on the Family Action Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement today upon learning of President Bush's veto of a bill that would have led to the destruction of human embryos for federally funded embryonic stem-cell research:

"President Bush has proven once again that he's not just a man who talks about preserving a 'culture of life' as political rhetoric -- he's a man who deeply cherishes the sanctity of all human life." Full release

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement today after President Bush once again put politics ahead of science by vetoing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. The legislation, providing federal funding for life-saving embryonic stem cell research, has the overwhelming support of the American people and passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. Full release

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today issued the following statement regarding the Senate vote tomorrow on H.R. 800, better known as the "card check" legislation: "American workers should be able to decide whether or not they want a union by a private ballot election. Hopefully, enough senators will be unwilling to turn the clock back 60 years to a time when workers were routinely harassed about whether or not to support a union." Full release

Today, by a vote of 85 to 61, the New York State Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Governor Eliot Spitzer to extend the freedom to marry to same sex couples. Only two other legislative chambers - both Houses of the California legislature - have passed similar legislation in the past. The bill now moves to the State Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. Full release

American Education Services (AES) has launched a unique student loan rebate program that benefits student loan borrowers as they repay their AES-serviced student loans. Full release

"We don't have a home to go to, they took it from us; we have nothing left in Iraq to go to." With these words, Um 'Omar explained why she and her five children fled from their home in Baghdad and joined the swelling number of Iraqi refugees -- now more than 1.5 million -- trying to rebuild their lives in Syria. Full release

The American Jewish Committee is outraged over today's UN Human Rights Council decision to designate Israel as a permanent and separate agenda item. "No words can adequately describe how disappointing has been the performance of the UN Human Rights Council since its inception more than a year ago," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. Full release

Even as the media environment continues to change, parents say they are getting control of their own children's exposure to sex and violence in the media, but they remain concerned about inappropriate content in the media more broadly, according to a new national survey of parents released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Full release

Those hit hardest by the effects of massive illegal immigration, particularly in major urban areas, are often American black and Hispanic citizens. Their voices are being muted in the current Senate debate by powerful business influences demanding cheap foreign labor and special interests representing illegal aliens. Full release

Members of the President's Commission will hold a brief media availability following their day tour of Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. Since mid-April, the Commission has traveled to more than a dozen military and VA facilities across the country to hear first-hand how our injured and wounded service members are navigating the health care system. Full release

Smooth talking Mitt Romney is back in the Sunshine State today just days after one of Florida's leading Republicans blasted him for failing to offer a clear plan for immigration reform. In a recent interview with Bloomberg Television, Republican National Committee general chair Mel Martinez said Romney is "wrong" and "falling short" on immigration reform, saying, "it's been too easy for too many people in the Senate and outside the Senate to simply criticize and find fault...but at the end of the day, what is your solution? What is your answer?" Full release

ARP, the leading non-profit organization for Americans 50+, is hosting the Diversity & Aging in the 21st Century conference. The conference will feature leaders from national organizations from across the country discussing areas of concern, best practices and recommendations for solutions. Full release

It is easy to point the finger and say corporations should be more socially responsible, but when it comes to individual social responsibility, two-thirds of U.S. adults have "Good Intentions" - they believe that social responsibility is a good idea, and they do what they can in terms of volunteering, but they do not sacrifice huge amounts of time or money. At the top end of the spectrum, 8 percent of U.S. adults "Practice What They Preach" and for this group, individual, as well as corporate, social responsibility is extremely important. Full release

This has been a bad week for President Bush's freedom agenda in the Middle East. Between the continued violence in Iraq and the Hamas-lead violence that has broken out in Gaza, America's hopes for bringing peace to the Middle East are waning. Full release

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement this afternoon after Democrats failed to secure a veto-proof majority in passing a homeland funding bill with misplaced priorities and excessive spending:

"Yesterday, House Republicans demanded of the majority an open and accountable process for spending the taxpayers' money." Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following the passage of H.R. 2638, the 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The bill passed by a vote of 268 to 150.

"The strong homeland security appropriations bill passed by the House today reflects the commitment of Democrats to protect the American people." Full release

The House Subcommittee on Nutrition completed a markup yesterday that proposes to increase spending under the Nutrition Title of the 2007 Farm Bill by an estimated $5 billion over five years. This funding is contingent upon offsets, but if provided would strengthen The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Food Stamp Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Full release

Acting Surgeon General Kenneth P. Moritsugu, MD, MPH, has been a force in improving America's health, but recently he has been faced with his own health challenge of managing his diabetes. In the July issue of the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Forecast magazine, Moritsugu speaks openly about his personal challenges in managing his diabetes and the importance of preventing and managing the disease. Full release

While 13 points separated Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama just one month ago in the race for the Democratic nomination for President, the gap between them has narrowed considerably to just four points. Just over one-third (36%) of adults who would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus would vote for Senator Clinton, while 32 percent would vote for Senator Obama. Last month, 40 percent would vote for Senator Clinton and 27 percent said they would vote for Senator Obama. Full release

Taxpayers for Common Sense and the National Legal and Policy Center, two of the nation's leading watchdog groups, today jointly called for fundamental reforms in the Financial Disclosure Reports filed by Members of Congress. The Congressional Financial Disclosure reports for 2006 were released today. Full release

As some 50,000 Iraqis continue to flee each month to Jordan, Syria and other neighboring states, Iraqi refugee children bear the brunt of one of the world's largest and fastest-growing refugee crises, a new report from World Vision warns. In particular, the Christian humanitarian agency observed psychological distress in many school-aged children. Full release

The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, a group of 9/11 family members and other concerned citizens advocating tighter identification requirements for state-issued driver's licenses, today announced that a new assessment of all 50 states reveals most have either moved forward in preparing for compliance on REAL ID, defeated anti-REAL ID legislation, or not taken up the issue. The REAL ID Act, which puts into law a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, establishes minimum standards for secure state-issued driver's licenses to keep those powerful documents out of terrorist hands. Full release

On Thursday, June 14, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference in the nation's capital to release its 12th annual report, titled "Presumption of Guilt," on the status of Muslim civil rights in the United States. Full release

American Student Loan Services President and CEO Brian Skowronski today noted that the H.R. 2669, "The College Cost Reduction Act of 2007," currently being considered by the House Education and Labor Committee would not only limit choices for students and their families, but would lead to higher loan costs and less services. Full release

As part of its Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, Catholic Charities USA has crafted a series of legislative proposals that call on Congress to develop more comprehensive policies and strategies to help low-income fathers become more connected and engaged in the lives of their children. Full release

AARP, Business Roundtable and SEIU, which together represent more than 50 million Americans, today took another groundbreaking step for their "Divided We Fail" group by jointly delivering endorsed principles for health information technology (IT) legislation to Congress. Full release

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