TAKE ACTION: Establish a Federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention

The United States doesn’t have a singular office at the federal level that works at ending gun violence every single day. New legislation has been introduced to form a focused and intentional office of gun violence prevention at the federal level to make a real difference in lowering the biggest scourge on our society today. The Peace Alliance invites us to send a message to our elected officials to ask them to support and co-sponsor this life-saving legislation. TAKE ACTION

World Military Expenditure Reaches New Record High as European Spending Surges

Total global military expenditure increased by 3.7 percent in real terms in 2022, to reach a new high of $2240 billion. Military expenditure in Europe saw its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years. The three largest spenders in 2022—the United States, China, and Russia—accounted for 56 percent of the world total, according to new data on global military spending published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. MORE

Humanity is Not Doomed to War

How did war begin and is it a part of human nature? Rutgers Anthropologist Brian Ferguson has made a deep study of the critical question of whether or not war is an inevitable fact. It is easy to think we’re seeing signs of warfare when we’re not. Ferguson concludes that war is NOT inevitable and that we can learn to avoid it.  He offers some thoughts on how shifting our view of this natural theory of war and human nature can help us to take more informed action to help stop war. MORE

Sen. Markey and Rep. Lieu Announce Legislation to Limit U.S. President’s Power to Unilaterally Start Nuclear War

Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) recently re-introduced their "Restricting Use of Nuclear Weapons Act" to prohibit any U.S. President from launching a nuclear strike without prior authorization from Congress. The bill would also institute safeguards to prevent the president from introducing nuclear weapons in a conflict. Both Members are longtime leaders on nuclear arms control issues. MORE

How Chinese Military Aid to Russia Could Lead to a Strategic Reversal of Nuclear Forces

Last fall, the Biden administration's National Security Strategy declared China the only competitor of the US, saying that Russia poses an ongoing threat to regional security. China faces challenges in building its nuclear forces and may have turned to Russia for help. This strategic alliance could have far-reaching implications for the balance of forces between the world's largest nuclear powers. MORE

Biden Opens a New Back Door on Immigration

Amid a protracted stalemate in Congress over immigration, President Biden has opened a back door to allow hundreds of thousands of new immigrants into the country, significantly expanding the use of humanitarian parole programs for people seeking safety. The measures, introduced over the past year to offer refuge to people fleeing Ukraine, Haiti, and Latin America, offer immigrants the opportunity to fly to the United States and quickly secure work authorization, provided they have a private sponsor to take responsibility for them. MORE

UNHCR Gravely Concerned as Refugees Fleeing Fighting in Sudan Arrive in Chad

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is greatly alarmed by the escalating violence in Sudan as the first refugees fleeing the fighting have found safety in Chad. In the past few days, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people have fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region to seek refuge in neighboring Chad, according to UNHCR teams present at the border. The majority of those arriving are women and children, who are currently sheltering out in the open. MORE

The Border Patrol’s Inhumanity Has Reached New Heights

Approximately 150 migrants said they had been waiting five days or longer for help from U.S. Border Patrol after they had already crossed into U.S. territory but were being held between the border walls near San Diego. Recent reports that Border Patrol, a subagency of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was keeping a large group of migrants between border walls for days without providing shelter, food, or sufficient water highlight the dangers and abuse asylum seekers face at the border – even once they have entered the United States. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Pass the Environmental Justice for All Act

Congressional Democrats have introduced the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act, which, if it passes, will address the disproportionate burden of toxins and pollutants on communities of color, low-income communities, and indigenous communities across the country.   Faithful America invites us to tell Congress to do everything in their power to ensure that the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R.1705 / S.919) becomes law. TAKE ACTION

Iowa Rejects Climate Planning Money

The state of Iowa rejected a $3 million grant to plan for climate pollution reduction. The money was being offered to every state by the federal Environmental Protection Agency through its Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Iowa joins Florida, South Dakota, and Kentucky in refusing to participate in the program. The grant would have provided the state money to develop plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.  MORE

New PFAS Guidelines – A Water Quality Scientist Explains Technology and Investment Needed to Get Forever Chemicals Out of U.S. Drinking Water

Harmful chemicals known as PFAS can be found in everything from children’s clothes to soil to drinking water, and regulating these chemicals has been a goal of public and environmental health researchers for years. Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed what would be the first set of federal guidelines regulating levels of PFAS in drinking water. MORE

Safe Migration Helps End Human Trafficking

Around the world, a lack of safe migration routes combined with punitive immigration policies has contributed to increasing vulnerabilities to human trafficking. Governments are using anti-trafficking rhetoric to justify these harmful policies. Despite claims by governments that tighter border controls will prevent human trafficking, the opposite is true. Evidence shows that when people crossing borders are forced to take irregular routes, they are at greater risk of exploitation as a result of having to circumnavigate tightly restricted borders. MORE

Since Last June, Feds Have Seized Nearly $1 Billion in Goods Tied to Forced Labor

Since June, federal officials have seized $961 million worth of goods over suspected ties to forced labor, according to Customs and Border Protection officials. In many instances, companies have no idea their supply chain is tainted. The enforcement falls under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, or UFLPA, signed into law by President Joe Biden in late 2021. The law prohibits imports of goods produced or sourced in the Xinjiang region of China from entering the U.S. economy. MORE

Anti-Domestic Violence and Gun Groups Unite to Urge Supreme Court to Reverse Domestic Violence Ruling

Supporters of gun regulations and anti-domestic violence groups joined last week to urge the Supreme Court to reverse a federal appeals court opinion that will make it easier for domestic abusers to obtain firearms. The groups say the high court needs to step in now because lower courts are relying on one of the Supreme Court’s decisions on the Second Amendment from last term to reconsider thousands of firearm rules, including a federal law that bars an individual subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. MORE

Cook Co. Sheriff's Office Joins Forces with Rideshare Company to Help Survivors of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking

The Cook County Sheriff's Office in Illinois is partnering with Uber to help survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence get around so they can access services and get their everyday needs. Using $10,000 worth of vouchers provided by Uber, Victims Support Services books the rides so victims can remain anonymous. The pilot program has been operating for six weeks. Around 90% of domestic violence and trafficking survivors assisted by the Victim Support Services unit don't have access to a car or transportation. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Urge Legislation to End Harsh Time Limits on SNAP Benefits

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2023 (H.R. 1510), would end harsh and arbitrary time limits on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for certain individuals and allow them to access the food, nutrition, and overall health benefits provided by the program. The Food and Research Action Center urges us to tell our representatives to co-sponsor this legislation.  TAKE ACTION

Top GOP Lawyer Decries Ease of Campus Voting in Private Pitch to RNC

Cleta Mitchell, a prominent attorney who helped former President Donald Trump’s attempt to subvert the 2020 presidential election, told donors at a private Republican retreat last weekend that conservatives must do more to limit voting on university campuses and pursue other ways to make voting more difficult for young people and others who are more likely to oppose the GOP. MORE

Breaking Down Your Tax Bill

Last week, many of us rushed to file taxes before the April 18 deadline. Every year, the Institute for Policy Studies creates a tax receipt to help people see what their taxes paid for and the results are eye-opening. The average taxpayer paid $20 for federal prisons, and just $11 to help end homelessness. Approximately $298 went to the top 5 military contractors, but only $19 for mental health & substance abuse programs. And the average taxpayer paid $106 to the top military contractor Lockheed Martin, and only $6 for renewable energy. MORE

Darryl Barwick is scheduled to be executed on May 3 by the state of Florida for the murder of Rebecca Wendt. Please hold Darryl, Rebecca, their families, and the people of Florida in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Richard Glossip is scheduled to be executed on May 18 by the state of Oklahoma for the murder of Barry Van Treese. Please hold Richard, Barry, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION