The endangered Endangered Species Act

Photo by Mitch Meyers on Unsplash

In July, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) drafted a possible bill to amend the Endangered Species Act. Some of the proposed amendments allow more non-scientific influence on endangered species protections. At the same time, the Departments of Interior and Commerce have proposed new regulations that would take effects on commerce and industry into account when determining whether to list a species as endangered or threatened... which sure doesn’t sound like it should be a relevant factor. None of these are done deals, so it’s time to act.

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Keep SNAP at Farmers Markets

Photo by Min An from Pexels

In a few months, hundreds of America’s farmers markets will no longer be able to process payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP or food stamps. Early last month, Novo Dia Group, the country’s largest provider of SNAP at farmers markets, announced its plans to go out of business, effectively terminating service to thousands. Any interruption in service will harm low-income Americans, who spent more than $24 million in SNAP benefits on fresh, healthy food at farmers markets last year, as well as the many farmers who depend on revenue from farmers markets.

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America’s Maternal Mortality Crisis

Photo by Tess Nebula on Unsplash

USA Today has recently released an investigation into the US maternal death rate, which is startlingly high and only increasing. More than 700 women die of birth-related causes each year in the United States, and many of these deaths are preventable, the investigation found. (Read the original here or a good summary in The Hill.) Moreover, America’s maternal mortality crisis disproportionately affects black women, who are 3 to 4 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. We’ve given you actions on this issue before at MCW, but there’s so much more we can do.

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