Tag: Connections

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: November/December 2024 CHILD HUNGER | COP29 | ACT ALLIANCE | UNITED STATES – ISRAEL RELATIONS  | CHALLENGES TO DACA   CHILD HUNGER: The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), of which the ELCA is a supporter, released a new report last month highlighting modest increases to participation in after-school meal programs, but the anti-hunger programs are still widely under-utilized by eligible children in need. According to the FRAC report, 1.23 million children received an afterschool supper on an…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: September 2024 PRESSURE FOR FARM BILL ACTION | INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY25 ADVANCE | CONFLICT IN SUDAN | INCREASED CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE & HUMANITARIAN AID, AND RELIGIOUS EQUALITY | ELCA BISHOPS’ HILL VISITS YIELD DIVIDENDS   PRESSURE FOR FARM BILL ACTION: In congressional meetings across the House and Senate over August recess, ELCA Witness in Society staff continued to press for passage of the Farm Bill alongside many Lutheran constituents from their districts. Congressional staff from…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: May 2024 SUMMER MEALS AND EBT | FARM BILL | NEW REDERAL RULES RELEASED | NATIONAL SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING | RESPONSE TO CONDITIONS IN HAITI   SUMMER MEALS AND EBT: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is advancing their annual summer meal program, with several key reforms that could help provide food assistance to children in rural areas. As school comes to an end, many state governments will be implementing USDA summer programs including to-go delivered meals in…

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…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: February 2024 CHILD TAX CREDIT EXTENTIONS | WIC FUNDING RUNNING LOW | FEMA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UPDATES | HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE | PUSH FOR CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL & HAMAS CONTINUES | SUPPLEMENTAL BILL MAY REWRITE IMMIGRATION LAW   CHILD TAX CREDIT EXTENSION: The House of Representatives on a 357-70 vote passed a bipartisan tax package, including a modest expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), added housing development incentives and tax relief for people…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: November/December 2023 IN TIME OF WAR  |  FARM BILL EXTENSION  |  CLIMATE-SMART FARMING FUNDING  |  GENDER JUSTICE  |  NOTEWORTHY LEGISLATIVE BREAKTHROUGHS   IN TIME OF WAR:  As weeks extend in the temporarily paused Isael-Hamas war, faith leaders continue to urge peace. Signed by the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, several ELCA synod bishops and others through Churches for Middle East Peace, a Nov. 29 letter to President Biden says, “We condemn all acts of violence against civilians…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: October 2023 IN A TIME OF WAR | NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING REFORMS | COUNTERING GLOBAL CORRUPTION | YOUNG ADULT MIGRATION ADVOCACY | CLIMATE WEEK NYC   IN A TIME OF WAR: The devastating loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since Oct. 7 grieve us all. U.S. churches including the ELCA have spoken on the conflict several times (including 10/7/23 and 10/12/23); the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, issued a statement on Israel-Hamas…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: August/September 2023 FEMA FUNDING CRUNCH  |  CLEAN ENERGY TAX CREDITS FOR CHURCHES  |  ELCA FARM BILL ACTIVITY  |  AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT  |  HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS PROPOSES INTERNATIONAL CUTS   FEMA FUNDING CRUNCH:  As August comes to a close, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finds itself confronting a dire situation. The agency, responsible for responding to natural disasters in the United States, is on the verge of running out of critical funding – with the strain of coping with…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: June/July 2023 ENERGIZING FARM BILL LISTENING SESSIONS  |  AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT REINTRODUCED  |  NEW WHO NETWORK LAUNCHES  |  WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISION  |  DEBT CEILING UPDATE   ENERGIZING FARM BILL LISTENING SESSIONS:  With great representation of well over 100 of us from many parts of the United States, “Listening Sessions to Inform ELCA Farm Bill Advocacy” were productive opportunities to learn more about the Farm Bill reauthorization process and hear from bishops, farmers, USDA…

from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: May 2023 DEBT CEILING  |  ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE ORDER  |  HUMAN TRAFFICKING  |  PROPOSED ASYUM RULE NOW IN EFFECT  |  YOUNG ADULT BORDER TRIP   DEBT CEILING:  The debt ceiling debate in Congress is reaching fever pitch following announcement by the Department of Treasury that the United States could hit its debt limit close to June 1. There are significant implications should the nation default on its debt including funds for Social Security, veterans benefits and more. Though…