March Update: Advocacy Connections
from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director
Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: March 2024
FEDERAL BUDGET | YES IN GOD’S BACK YARD ACT | RECOVERING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE ACT | UYGHUR POLICY ACT OF 2023 | CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE, RESTORATION OF UNRWA FUNDING | SOLIDARITY WITH ANNUNCIATION HOUSE
FEDERAL BUDGET: The House and Senate passed the first tranche of 2024 spending bills, including funding for agriculture and housing programs. The bipartisan deal reached in both chambers in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies would fully fund core anti-hunger initiatives, such as the Women, Infant, and Children program (WIC), and does not include any harmful policy changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nutrition program. The deal would also give a two percent increase to federal housing programs – which comes at a critical time when rents, housing costs and affordability continue to climb.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Hundreds of Lutherans over the past month took action on hunger issues in the budget, and hundreds more sent messages on the need for affordable housing support over the last year. Rumors of proposed cuts in earlier negotiations would have been a serious blow to the efforts of our ministries at the fore of addressing poverty in our communities.
What’s Next:
Lawmakers must now look to pass 2025 spending bills for domestic programs as the President’s Budget request makes its way to Congress.
YES IN GOD’S BACK YARD ACT: On Mar. 12, Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Senate Banking Committee), introduced the Yes In God’s Back Yard (YIGBY) Act, legislation to support faith-based organizations and colleges wanting to build and preserve affordable housing on their land and reduce barriers to the development of this housing. YIGBY was endorsed by a group of faith groups and coalitions including the ELCA. The Senate Banking Committee in mid-March held a hearing to discuss bipartisan approaches to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing. This came after a series of housing hearings in the spring of 2023 highlighting the core policy challenges that have led to development barriers, homelessness and skyrocketing home costs. Among the legislative proposals, lawmakers highlighted support for some efforts such as authorizing proactive disaster recovery resources and offering increased resources for churches seeking to build affordable housing.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Congregations across the United States have increasingly invested more in developing community housing in recent years as the lack of affordable options has become one of the leading drivers of homelessness. Development planning, zoning approval and other local barriers to building new housing can take years before ground is even broken on a new project. New technical assistance for congregations, and incentives for local governments to lower development barriers proposed in the Yes in Gods Back Yard Act, could go a long way in supporting ministry efforts to end homelessness in our communities.
What’s Next:
Though introduced in the Senate, the Yes in Gods Back Yard Act needs support from across the country in order to make it to the president’s desk. ELCA Witness in Society staff will be tracking the legislation as updates move forward.
RECOVERING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE ACT: The ELCA has supported the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), S.1149, a bipartisan bill that would allocate nearly $ 1.4 billion of annual dedicated funding for state and tribal fish and wildlife management agencies. Even with bipartisan support, RAWA seems to have hit a stall with no indication of movement. An Action Alert is available in the ELCA Action Center to contact lawmakers on this bill.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The 2023 ELCA social message “Earth’s Climate Crisis”, which built upon the foundational work of the social message Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, “challenges all expressions of this church to…engage in legislative advocacy at all levels of government, individually and collectively” (p. 16). Our continued advocacy on environmental policies is in direct response to this challenge.
What’s Next:
Additionally, Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR) of the House Committee on Natural Resources quietly filed the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act, H.R. 7408, last week in competition with RAWA. While there has been some confusion between the two bills, it is important to note that while the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act would focus on the importance of habitat, it stops short of dedicating the necessary funding for fish and wildlife management agencies that hunters and anglers have long sought through the advancement of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
UYGHUR POLICY ACT OF 2023: The Uyghur Policy Act of 2023, H.R. 2766, was passed by the House and has been sent to the Senate for consideration. The act authorizes the establishment of a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues position within the Department of State. The role is established to coordinate U.S government policies, programs and projects concerning the Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups. Further, it authorizes $ 250,000 over three years to human rights advocates working on behalf of the Uyghurs and other persecuted ethnic groups.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World states that “Human rights provide a common universal standard of justice for living with our differences, and they give moral and legal standing to the individual in the international community. We therefore will continue to teach about human rights, protest their violation, advocate their international codification, and support effective ways to monitor and ensure compliance with them” (p. 14).
What’s Next:
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE, RESTORATION OF UNRWA FUNDING: There have been multiple calls by the ELCA and its leadership for both a permanent bilateral ceasefire and the restoration United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)’s funding.
- Following the Feb. 27-Mar. 5 Conference of Bishops (COB), the body advanced a statement and letter to President Joseph Biden, calling for a permanent ceasefire, return of hostages and political prisoners, and protection of civilians and lasting peace efforts. This letter was delivered on Mar. 3.
- Following allegations by Israel that 13 of UNRWA’s 30,000 staff were implicated in Oct. 7 events, and as UNRWA investigates the allegations, the ELCA joins many others in urging that humanitarian assistance not be further cut off amid the military siege in the densely population Gaza territory. UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance, health and educational services for some three million of the 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In Gaza, where infrastructure has been devastated and essential supplies are dangerously reduced, two million Palestinians in Gaza rely on UNRWA for humanitarian assistance.
- The ELCA joined Churches for Middle East Peace in organizing congressional meetings with legislative offices on Feb. 13, focusing advocacy on calls for a permanent bilateral ceasefire and restoration of UNRWA funding. Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, New Jersey Synod, met with senior policy staff as well as directly with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) on that date.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The opening line of the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World states: “We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with the Church of Jesus Christ in all times and places the calling to be peacemakers.”
What’s Next:
The ELCA will continue to advocate for a permanent bilateral ceasefire and the restoration of funding to UNRWA.
SOLIDARITY WITH ANNUNCIATION HOUSE: On Mar. 4, the COB issued a statement in solidarity with migrants and Annunciation House. Annunciation House is a volunteer-run Catholic organization with over 40 years of providing hospitality to migrants in El Paso, Tex. On Feb. 20, the Attorney General of Texas announced it was suing the El Paso organization for alleged potential legal violations which stem from Annunciation House defending itself from demands for sensitive information. On Mar. 5, the Interfaith Immigration Coalition released an interfaith statement that collected numerous signatures from Lutherans.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The COB statement of solidarity with migrants and those who respond to God’s call to serve their neighbors, like Annunciation House, is rooted in a long tradition and legacy of welcoming newcomers. In the United States, congregations accompany migrants in their communities through welcoming and sanctuary congregations and synod task forces, accompany migrant children and families as the physical presence of the church in the immigration courtroom, and pray for justice among other responses.
What’s Next:
On Mar. 11, Judge Francisco Dominguez from Texas’ 205th District issued a ruling blocking further action by the attorney general against Annunciation House until the judge can review the constitutionality of the attorney general’s requests. On Mar. 5, via X/Twitter, Annunciation House posted: “Thanks to the ELCA Conference of Bishops for this statement of solidarity.”
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