SOCIAL ACTION

Tell Congress to Choose Grace over Greed for Spending Bills

The United States Congress has until September 0, 2024, to pass 12 spending bills that will determine the federal budget for fiscal year 2025 – which starts October 1, 2024. 

 

As the House and Senate prepare to negotiate each of the 12 spending bills, our advocacy must ensure that the needs and interests of God’s people and God’s good creation are protected. 

 

Take Action Now

 

Use the action alerts below to advocate across all five of Church and Society’s legislative priorities. Let your congressional leaders know that grace must be prioritized over greed throughout the federal budgeting process. 

 

Health: Prioritize Healthcare As A Basic Human Right 

 

Currently, five of the twelve appropriations bills presented by the United States House of Representatives pose grave threat to our communities. The House is intending to cut funding for access to maternal and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, suicide prevention, mitigating substance abuse, and addressing sexual violence. 

 

Poverty: Prioritize Social Safety Programs in FY 2025 Appropriations 

 

As United Methodists, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the flourishing of our communities (2016 The Social Principles, The Economic Community). As the United States Congress seeks to negotiate the fiscal year 2025 federal budget, we must ensure that critical social safety programs are protected. 

 

Peace: Prioritize True Human Security in FY 2025 Appropriations 

 

On peace with justice issues, the appropriations process has included effectively no oversight or debate over billions of dollars of weapons and defense services, including nuclear weapons and unfettered aid to countries committing human rights violations. The process has glaringly omitted debate on issues such as cutting the Pentagon budget, reigning in the President’s war powers, prohibiting security assistance to countries that violate human rights, oversight of nuclear forces, and much more. 

 

Climate: Advance Climate Policies That Reflect a Vision of Justice for God’s People and God’s Planet

 

With the help of consistent advocacy from United Methodists, the Fiscal Year 2024 budget package provides modest funding for climate and environmental programs. Now, Congress is turning its attention to the current budget year – Fiscal Year 2025 – and we must make the moral case for stronger support for critical climate investments. As people of faith, we must again press upon our elected officials the urgency and moral obligation to support bold climate action. 

 

Civil and Human Rights – Stop Anti-Asylum and Anti- Immigrant Negotiations in Congress and Biden Administration

 

The United States asylum system is under attack. For too long, we have watched the erosion of a staple component of our immigration system. Since the former administration, there has been an intentional and debilitating movement to strike down access for asylum seekers to the U.S. This has caused devastating effects among both people and processes.

 

To learn more CLICK HERE.