General Convention and Executive Council have urged the church at all levels to advocate for those living in poverty, with special attention to racial and gender justice.
In the past, thanks to advocates like you, Congress has lived into the call to care for the vulnerable. In early 2024, Congress enacted legislation that reversed course on funding cuts for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, allowing the program to meet the needs of new and existing enrollees. In recent years, Congress also increased compensation levels for combat-disabled veterans and allocated funding to provide training for medical professionals in rural areas, and they made the largest investments in support of American Indians and Alaska Natives and environmental protection in history. Communities also continue to benefit from the criminal justice reforms in the 2018 First Step Act.
Let’s together make sure that the 119th Congress prioritizes the vulnerable. Join us in the year ahead as we oppose cuts to programs that help those living in poverty. Raise your voice to ensure access to reproductive rights and affirming care are not further restricted. Advocate to oppose mass deportations and to find a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and those living without authorization. As we seek to love our neighbor, let us ask our representatives during their time in office to commit to taking actions which support those who are most vulnerable.
Additional Resources
Bishop Rowe’s letter on the 2024 election
Understanding the U.S. Immigrant Experience from KFF
How Weak Safety Net Policies Exacerbate Regional and Racial Inequality from the Center for American Progress
Episcopal Church Resolutions
All Episcopal Church resolutions on public policy can be found in our Policy for Action Index. A few examples that speak to these broader themes of our advocacy include:
2024-C031: Migration with Dignity
2022-A088: Re-Commit to Addressing Global Climate Change and Environmental Justice
2022-D046: Support a Just Child Welfare and Foster Care System
2018-C041: Advocate for Policies Supporting Nutrition, Healthcare, and Housing as Human Rights
2015-A093: Advocate for Balancing Federal Budget Priorities to Alleviate Poverty
EXC062016.08: Support for Civil Rights of Transgender People