WASHINGTON REPORT TO PRESBYTERIANS
September-October 2007

[9-5-07]

· The Second Chance Act, providing opportunities for people who have been in prison to make a start on a new life;
· The energy bills and resolution of differences between the House and Senate versions; and
· Immigration, with particular emphasis on family reunification.

Elenora Giddings Ivory has accepted a new call to ministry with the World Council of Churches as the Director of the WCC P3 – Public Witness: Addressing Power and Affirming Peace. She has tendered her resignation as the Director of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and will not be there after the end of October 2007. The final vote on her appointment will take place when the WCC Executive Committee meets in Armenia, September 25-28.

Elenora’s starting date in the Washington Office was November 29, 1989. She says that "It has been an exciting 18 years in this position…(and) I will miss certain aspects of it, but I look forward to the challenges of my new call."

Click here for the news report about Elenora's move, from Presbyterian News Service

The bimonthly Washington Report to Presbyterians, prepared by the PC(USA) Washington Office, presents the "outlook for 2007," with three sections, dealing with:

January 15, 2007   [posted here 1-17-07]

The House and the Senate are off and running. They have two weeks of work under their belts. There were Opening Prayer Services prior to the swearing in of the new Congress. Members of the House of Representatives and their families along with a few invited guests participated in a Prayer Service that was held in St Peter's Catholic Church just a few blocks from the Capitol. House members read scripture from the Bible (Mark 12: 28-34; Deut 10: 12-22; Psalm 121: 1-8) and the lone Muslim House member Keith Ellison (D-MN), read from the Qur'an 49:13 that had come from President Thomas Jefferson’s library.

They sang the National Anthem, Prayer of St Francis, Amazing Grace, and How Great Thou Art. Various Members of Congress read prayers written by Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson; Poet Maya Angelou; Activist Cesar Chavez and Khadeeja Abdullah. The closing prayer was read by the House Chaplain Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin as written by Muychal Judge, OFM during the 9/11 events at the invitation of NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. It says--

"Lord, take me where You want me to go;
Let me meet who You want me to meet;
Tell me what You want me to say, and
Keep me out of Your way."

We invite you to look at this week’s issue items below. As you decide if now is the appropriate time to contact your elected officials from our GO BOX on the web page at www.pcusa.org/washington , also pull out your bibles and read the above scriptures and keep the above prayer in mind. On this Martin Luther King weekend, remember the dream for justice.

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This week’s issues are—

* National Council of Churches Statement on Troop Surge in Iraq

* Minimum Wage Now Moves to the Senate

* No Child Left Behind Improvement Act

* Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2007: Registration Now Open!

* General Assembly on Public Policy: "…deep problems in political life…"

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President George W. Bush is calling for a "surge" in troops in Iraq, ostensibly to help quell sectarian violence and stabilize Baghdad. This escalation of troop presence only promises to guarantee an escalation in American and Iraqi deaths. Thus the call for more troops is morally unsupportable.

Particularly in the wake of the barbaric execution of Saddam Hussein - an act that reflects not the ideals of democracy and justice, but rather mocks them - and an act that promises only to breed more violence, as only a violent act can - one would think that the United States would immediately seek to bring about a change of policy. Sending more troops is not a change in policy, nor is it even a change in strategy; it is more of the same.

Certainly a change in policy was what the November election results were all about. And certainly a change in policy was the bottom-line recommendation of the Iraq Study Group, a collection of men and women chosen for their collective expertise and wisdom. Instead, the President has chosen to ignore both the electorate and the Iraq Study Group.

Given a chance to build broad consensus on a change of policy under the cover of the ISG Report, we have the makings of yet another divisive debate on whether or not the US should put more lives in harm's way. It seems that we are fated never to learn an important lesson of the Vietnam era - that US leadership in the world does not depend on the continuation of failed policies - a lesson that became crystal clear during our recent funeral recollections of President Gerald Ford and his leadership.

It is time for moral strength, not military power, to take precedence in the US plan for Iraq.

It is time to recognize the failure of a military policy that is not promoting freedom, not ending terrorism, not building up the Iraqi nation, not bringing security to the region, and not making the world safer.

It is time - and here we agree with the President - to insist on political benchmarks for the Iraqi government, and to provide reconstruction aid to the Iraqi people, if it is not already too late. But the benchmarks must be achievable, and this time the disbursement of aid must be transparent.

It is time to enter into respectful negotiations with those countries in the region that can exert influence on Iraq; to attend to the central issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and to lead the United Nations Security Council in enforcing restrictions on arms proliferation in the region.

And above all, it is time, not to send more troops, but to start bringing our troops home.

The "surge" as recommended by the President is immoral. What we do not need is an assertion of more military strength. What we need is the strength of basic moral conviction.

Bob Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches

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The House of Representatives has now raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour, which will take effect over 2 years, starting 60 days after the President signs the bill. Now, the attention of minimum wage advocates turns to the Senate, where the effort to give America’s workers a raise will be more complicated. Even though the House bill passed without any extraneous provisions or tax cuts, the Senate is considering several amendments that may hold up the passage of a much-needed and long-awaited increase for low-wage workers. It is time for the Senate to join their House colleagues and pass a clean minimum wage increase and send it to the President’s desk for signature. Click www.letjusticeroll.org/pressroom/letter-religiousleaders.html

to sign a letter that will be sent to Senators urging a clean minimum wage raise. In addition, email your Senators directly to tell them that low-wages have waited long enough for a raise (see sample letter below)

At $5.15 per hour, a person working full-time all-year will earn just $10,700 annually. Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage is now worth less than one-third of the average wage in the U.S.– its lowest share since 1949, when the minimum wage was worth more than half of the average wage. Research has shown that 13 million people would benefit from raising the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour, including 7.4 million who would benefit indirectly from the increase, and including 1.8 million parents with children under the age of 18. Nearly three-quarters of minimum wage workers are over the age of 20, yet Congress has not raised the minimum wage in a decade – the last increase was in 1997.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Policy: "In light of the growing disparity in household income and the past positions of the General Assembly," the 200th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) "urge[d] the President and Congress of the United States to raise the minimum wage to its historical level of 50 percent of the average non-supervisory, nonagricultural wage and provide for regular increases that will keep the minimum wage at an adequate level to lift people out of poverty."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly earning of production workers was $15.85 in 2004.

SAMPLE LETTER-

Dear Senator,

As a person of faith, I urge you to join your colleagues in the House and support a clean raise in the minimum wage. Low-wage workers have waited too long for this crucial raise in wages, so I ask you to and your Senate colleagues to approve a clean raise in the minimum wage as quickly as possible. As you know, it won’t begin to benefit workers until 60 days after the President signs the bill, so it is imperative that it reach his desk as soon as possible.

At $5.15 per hour, a person working full-time all-year will earn just $10,700 annually. Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage is now worth less than one-third of the average wage in the U.S.– its lowest share since 1949, when the minimum wage was worth more than half of the average wage. Clearly, this situation is intolerable, but $7.25 per hour is an important first step toward valuing work and lifting poor workers out of poverty.

The biblical mandate to treat workers fairly and pay them a fair wage leads me to ask for your support of a clean raise in the minimum wage. I look forward to quick action on S. 3 and thank you for your support.

In Faith,

(This sample letter can be emailed through the Action Center GO BOX on the Presbyterian Washington Office web page click here .)

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The five year-old No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is up for reauthorization in 2007. Both its opponents and proponents have made comments regarding its effectiveness. The NCLB Reauthorization bill will first go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. In a press statement, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who is now serving as Chair of the Committee has pointed to some concepts that should be taken into consideration as reauthorization moves forward.

As Committee Chair, Senator Kennedy met with President Bush about this issue during the first days of this legislative session. He was joined at the meeting by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Representatives George Miller (D-CA), and Howard McKeon (R-CA). Certain ideals were discussed as being important when it comes to the education of the Nation’s children.

Among these ideals were—

* to reaffirm civil rights protections and prohibit discrimination; and to assure that NCLB contains explicit civil rights protections on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (except as otherwise permitted under Title IX), national origin, or disability in any program funded under NCLB; and to enforce civil rights protections for private providers of supplemental services, thus NCLB must provide an option for students to receive tutoring and other academic support, if their school fails to meet their accountability targets 3 years in a row

* support fair access to services for children, especially those with special needs and limited English proficiency and not leave beneficiaries vulnerable to discrimination. We have an obligation to revisit the No Child Left Behind Act and ensure that it lives up to its promise. At issue is our economic strength, our commitment to opportunity, and even our national security, so we need to take action this year to strengthen our public schools. NCLB has been a commitment to closing the achievement gap, and increasing opportunities for each of our students to learn and receive a quality education.

* NCLB provides an option for students to transfer to another public school of their choice, if their school fails to meet their accountability targets 2 years in a row. Reauthorization must direct school districts not to ignore health and safety codes and unnecessarily crowd students into schools. NCLB must support class size reduction and school construction.

* ensure highly qualified teachers and para-professionals in every classroom; every state develops and implements the standard criteria under the law for ensuring that veteran teachers are highly qualified (High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation, or HOUSSE).

* collect data that shows whether students actually complete school. Without accurate graduation rate data, some students may drop out of school or fall through the cracks, even as overall student test scores improve. The effort to reenact a good educational program appears to be moving along with bi-partisan support. The voice of the voting public is important on this issue. After the meeting with the President, Senator Kennedy and others said, "We're prepared to work with the President and as a first step we urged him to send a message in this year's budget that every child counts and deserves the benefits of our liberty. We will continue to fight for the resources we know are needed to fulfill this promise."

In addition to the meeting with the Senate Committee delegation, the President also met with key Republicans about NCLB. In a January 9, 2007 Washington Times article by Amy Fagan entitled, "Republicans seek flexible school funds" it was reported that the group wanted NCLB to"be changed to give states more control over funding and results, arguing that the federal government remains far too involved in local classrooms." Among this group were Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and John Cornyn (R-TX). The Times article reported that they " teamed up with the conservative Heritage Foundation to offer a proposal that would let states opt out of many of the federal education funding formulas and instead use the money to best fit their own classroom needs."

President Bush has said that he considers the NCLB Act to be his signature domestic program. "I think it's made an enormous difference," the president said, after meeting with Mr. Kennedy, House education panel chairman George Miller of California, and the panels' top Republicans, Sen. Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming and Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon of California.."(Washington Times 1/9/07). "We have learned some things over the last five years, but we know we're on the right track," said Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, who also attended, along with first lady Laura Bush.

NCLB will get lots of attention when it comes up for debate. At the heart of this issue is the federal vs. state debate about who has responsibility for the educational program. In the meantime, many of our children are getting less than an adequate education due to uneven funding, oversight and accountability.

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We invite you to register for the 2007 conference "...and How are the Children?" This conference will include a variety of incredible workshops and addresses by Marian Wright Edelman, Rev. Cliff Kirkpatrick, Mercedes Roman, and prominent members of the new 110th Congress.

Our registration tool and hotel room reservation site are both live and ready to sign you up! If you sign up before February 1st, you'll save $20 making registration only $130. We also have a group rate of $105 per night at the DoubleTree Hotel. Bring a friend and share a room to save costs! Room block is limited, so make your reservations now!

Click HERE to register online.

Forward this message on to your friends or print the brochure to spread the word in your communities. Let us work together to ensure that the religious community's collective voice is heard clearly and the welfare of our world and our children are placed at the top of the 2007 legislative agenda.

Michael Neuroth
Ecumenical Advocacy Days Coordinator
info@advocacydays.org
www.advocacydays.org

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General Assembly on Public Policy: "…deep problems in political life…"

We confess that there are deep problems in our political life that threaten the possibilities of fulfilling God's will.

(1) We observe in our neighbors and ourselves a political apathy that cuts the nerve of social reform. We still believe we are a socially reforming church committed to the transformation of society. Our apathy stems from the nature of a bureaucratic society, from recent disappointments over political scandals, from distraction with self- satisfaction, from a trivialization of political discourse, and from our reluctance to handle issues of political responsibility in the local church.

(2) Decisions by and about public officials more and more are being based on single issues. The American political party structure in the past has provided a means by which disparate views are melded into a consensus for the common good. Those structures now have broken down so as to impair the creation of consensus. Christians should seek ways to recreate the political party structures in order to allow for the better representation and resolution of important and complex issues facing the American people.

Decisions about public officials need to be in terms of their ability and performance in serving the common good broadly defined. It is neither wise politics nor wise ethics to defeat a candidate simply because of the candidate's position on one issue, if on balance the person's overall contribution is to the public good.

The new religious right has built powerful coalitions bringing together political conservatives and religious fundamentalists. The political activism is welcome, particularly as it undercuts political apathy. However, the new religious right seems too often preoccupied with particular problems of personal morality and national security overshadowing the concerns of social justice. Justice for the poor and disarmament strategies for peace are neglected by this new political movement.

The religious-political enthusiasms of the new right have their own dangers. They will be disillusioned as their crusades are turned back. Many Christians will be naively drawn into political participation, disillusioned by the process, and returned to privatism without even having learned that the central political virtue for Christians is justice and that American politics is the art of compromise. (1983 Statement- PC (USA), pp. 776-778)

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Published by the Witness in Washington Weekly advocacy program of the Washington Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002, (202) 543-1126 www.pcusa.org/washington. For more information about the content of this article, please email us at ga_washington_office@pcusa.org. If you would like to receive this information directly, please go to http://capwiz.com/pcusa/mlm/signup/.

The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

September 25, 2006
[9-25-06]

Is your congregation one of those that seems to be crawling with candidates who are seeking your member’s votes this November? Have you been approached by a group in your church that wants to host a fund raiser for a favorite son or daughter who is running for office? If you answered yes to these questions or have related concerns, you may want to print out the "Do’s and Don’ts" of Elections for churches. Go to http://www.pcusa.org/washington/christiancitizen/do-dont.htm . This resource is part of the Christian & Citizen in an Election Year Packet www.pcusa.org/washington .

This week’s issues are—

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Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R. 2679)

The Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R. 2679) is headed for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives this Tuesday. This bill would deny attorneys' fees and out-of-pocket costs in cases won by advocates of church-state separation. The bill would severely restrict the ability of groups to take cases on behalf of people whose constitutional rights have been violated. It would also mark the first time that Congress has ever singled out a part of the Bill of Rights in a way that would limit its full enforcement.

H.R. 2679 is designed to limit attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C Section 1983 (a federal civil rights remedies statute enacted in 1871) but only for cases involving the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution. The practical impact of H.R. 2679 would be to deter individuals from filing lawsuits under the Establishment Clause, leaving injured parties without representation and insulting serious constitutional violations from judicial review. Religious expression is not threatened by the enforcement of the Establishment Clause-it is protected by it. The Establishment Clause promotes religious freedom for all by protecting against government sponsorship of a particular religious belief or practice.

Calls to the offices of your member of Congress are essential in maintaining the protections that are fundamental to our constitution: to worship freely and to make decisions about religion without governmental interference. Please place a call to the district or Washington office of your representative and state your opposition to H.R. 2679.
(Bill of Rights: Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.)

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Take Action for the Congo

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been one of the deadliest since the Second World War, with nearly 3.9 million people dead. The situation requires U.S. assistance with humanitarian relief, security, democracy and the transparent management of natural resources. The legislation currently in the house, The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act (S. 2125) would establish a partnership between the United States and the people of the DRC to encourage and support a fair and representative electoral process, as well as assist the government in responding to the basic human needs of its people. This important legislation comes at a critical moment. As the DRC prepares to hold its first democratic elections for the presidency and legislature in four decades, the United States will have a unique opportunity to work in partnership with the Congolese people to foster a climate of peace and stability.

The bill is an important vehicle for elevating the priority of the DRC among lawmakers and policy makers in Washington. It advances key US policy objectives for promoting peace, justice, democracy, and development in the DRC, and also allocates much-needed additional funds for the DRC. Specifically, the bill authorizes a twenty five percent increase in U.S. foreign assistance to the DRC; calls for a special envoy to this region; recommends the strengthening of the current UN peacekeeping force; and sustaining U.S. commitment for at least 3 years in rebuilding the DRC. The bill now has twelve co-sponsors in the Senate including Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike DeWine (R-OH).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act (S. 2125) is aimed at getting the U.S. government to become more involved to help end the crisis in the DRC. The DRC Congo Bill (S.2125) passed in the Senate at the end of June, but it now needs to do the same in the House of Representatives. It has been passed by the House International Relations Committee but needs to be voted before the end of this session of congress in order not to die.

Please call or email your representative and ask them to bring the S 2125 to the floor for a vote. To find contact information for your Representative please go to the Presbyterian Legislative Action Center – http://capwiz.com/pcusa/home/

I write to express my concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is said to be the world's deadliest conflict since World War II. Plagued by a history of colonialism and more than 30 years of corrupt rule, the DRC is one of the world's poorest countries.

Many Congolese experience extreme suffering due to continued conflict between the DRC government and rebel groups. Despite a peace deal brokered in 2003, fighting continues intermittently in the eastern part of the country, where the government has limited control.

It is estimated that at least 4 million lives have been lost -- mostly from disease and starvation. More than 1,000 Congolese continue to die every day and at least 1.7 million people have been displaced.

Leadership from the United States can bring peace to this troubled region. I respectfully ask that you bring S. 2125, The Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006, to the floor of the house for action and that you vote in favor of this very important legislation.
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The 216th General Assembly urged the General Assembly Moderator, the General Assembly Stated Clerk, the General Assembly Council, and the members and clergy of the PC(USA) to advocate that the U.S. Congress utilize the resources of the U.S. government to implement a free, fair, and democratic election in Congo, including financial support now needed to make appropriate preparations for and to carry out the election process.

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LET JUSTICE ROLL LIVING WAGE DAYS

October 7-8, 14-15

The "Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign", a fast-growing partnership of more than 80 faith, labor and community groups working to raise the minimum wage at the state and federal level, invites you to JOIN US in LIVING WAGE DAYS WORSHIP SERVICES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS IN OCTOBER. You are a critical component in the success of the Living Wage Days and in raising the minimum wage around the country. The Living Wage Campaign hopes that you will join in.

Last January, over the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend, Let Justice Roll sponsored hundreds of Living Wage Days services and events across the country, including Arkansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where campaigns have already led to legislation increasing state minimum wages.

Now, it's time to take nationwide action again with Let Justice Roll LIVING WAGE DAYS SERVICES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS to inspire, educate and mobilize
support for raising the minimum wage at the federal and state level. Legislative efforts to raise the federal minimum wage are gaining strength and a growing number of states have minimum wage campaigns, including six states with ballot initiatives coming to a vote this November: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio.

If you would like to host or co-host a Let Justice Roll LIVING WAGE DAY worship service or event during the weekend of either October 7-8 or October 14-15, the
Campaign has a variety of RESOURCES at www.LETJUSTICEROLL.ORG to assist you in preparing for Living Wage Days, including:

-- The newly Revised and Updated "Resources for Living Wage Worship Services and Community Events."

-- "A Just Minimum Wage: Good for Workers, Business and Our Future." You can download the PDF and/or order perfect bound hard copies at DISCOUNTS of 25% to 40% for distribution at Living Wage Days and other events.

-- The interactive "Just Neighbors" Toolkit, designed to educate and empower congregations about poverty and wages, is being offered at discount for Let Justice Roll.

PLEASE LET THE CAMPAIGN KNOW if you are planning to host or co-host a Living Wage Days event.

You can sign up for Living Wage Days at www.letjusticeroll.org/livingwage-signup.html.

For more information, please contact:
Rev. Paul Sherry, Coordinator
Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign700 Prospect Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Phone: 216-736-3710, Fax: 216-736-3703
Email: psher973@aol.com OR www.letjusticeroll.org

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The Week for Peace in Colombia 2006: Social Justice and Reconciliation
Fall Days of Prayer and Action
October 1 & 2

For the past several years, thousands of churches and people of faith in the U.S. and Colombia have come together to call for an end to the violence in Colombia. This Fall we are celebrating the Week for Peace in Colombia - Semana por la paz with various opportunities to pray and reach out for peace!

Fall Days of Prayer and Action: On Sunday, October 1 (Day of Prayer), congregations across the country will stand in solidarity with our Colombian brothers and sisters who have endured so much suffering, remembering the victims of Colombia's brutal conflict and praying for a peaceful future in Colombia. Then on Monday, October 2 (Day of Action), we will take collective action to ask that U.S. policy promote peace and justice in Colombia rather than military involvement and violence.

For more information on events please go to www.peaceincolombia.org .

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CAIR TO RELEASE REPORT ON U.S. MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS

Annual study will show jump in reports of anti-Muslim bias

On Monday, September 18, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a
noon news conference in the nation's capital to release its 11th annual report, titled "The Struggle for Equality," on the status of Muslim civil rights in the United States.

The Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group's report - the only annual study of its kind - will show a significant increase in complaints of anti-Muslim harassment, violence and discriminatory treatment from the previous year.

Nine states and the District of Columbia accounted for almost 80 percent of all civil rights complaints in 2005. The states with the highest number of reported complaints were: California, Illinois, New York, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, and New Jersey.

To get the report—
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org

( CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, began documenting anti-Muslim incidents following the 1995 attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. )

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Election Season: "…provide useful non-partisan information for voter."
The churches, though not prescribing how their members should vote, should urge them to vote intelligently, taking ethical questions into consideration. Churches should help provide useful nonpartisan information for voters. (1955 PCUSA, minutes p. 217)

The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

September 19, 2006    [posted here on 9-19-06]

Many localities had mid-term elections on September 12. We are beginning to get a sense of some of the issues the candidates view as important. We have several weeks before the November 7, 2006 Mid-term elections. If your issue is not one that seems to be on the agenda of the candidates, you might want to go to a candidate’s forum in your area and ask why. Call the candidate’s office to find out were the speaking engagements are.

This week’s issue items for this publication are—
* Call the White House to Save Darfur
* Immigration: The Stalemate Continues
* Election Season- ‘The Principle of Church and State’

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Call the White House Today to Save Darfur

Two years ago, President Bush and Congress declared that genocide was occurring in Darfur. The situation on the ground, however, has only gotten worse and the people of Darfur will face even greater danger when the African Union is forced to withdraw its peacekeepers at the end of the month.

Please urge President Bush to use all diplomatic means necessary to secure a commitment from Sudan to admit UN peacekeepers immediately.

At this critical time we ask that you call the White House this week with this crucial message.

Call the White House at 202-456-1111. You will speak to a communications coordinator who will take down your comments and then pass them on to the president's advisers. If you get a busy signal, please try again.

Sample Script

Hello, my name is , and I am a member of the Presbyterian Church, (USA) in .

I am calling because I am very concerned about the people of Darfur and what will happen to them if the African Union peacekeepers are expelled. The situation is already escalating and the Sudanese armed forces are massing in North Darfur to advance a military offensive targeting civilians in areas held by rebel groups that did not sign the Darfur Peace Agreement. I am also concerned that the militia operations in the region have targeted displaced persons camps and communities, and made the delivery and provision of humanitarian assistance completely impossible in some areas. We must do all we can to prevent an even further escalation of the violence and help protect civilian lives.

I am asking President Bush to do all he can to protect civilians by ensuring that the transition from AU to UN peacekeepers in Darfur begins in October as approved by UN Security Council Resolution 1706.

Thank you very much for your time, have a nice day.

Also, FaithfulAmerica.org also provides a good update on the situation in Darfur, with suggestions for communicating with to the President, the Vice President, Secretary of State Rice, and U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.

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Immigration: The Stalemate Continues

There does not appear to be any further movement on the immigration bills pending in Congress. All the activity is in campaign speeches as candidates feel out their constituency on this issue. In addition to following what may be happening in Washington and State Capitols on immigration, Presbyterians may want to take a long look around their own communities or neighboring communities to see how immigration may be changing the day to day operations there.

For instance, in a northeast Washington, DC neighborhood, a bank ATM machine gives you seven choices of languages from which to choice to access your accounts. In this order you may punch the key that corresponds to –Italian, Poliski, Portugues, English, Espanol, Francais, or Deutsch. The world is getting smaller as the banking and business community acknowledges our changing culture and population. We need to urge our elected officials to do the same—find a path to citizenship; safe working conditions for workers; and education for long time children students.

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The principle of "separation of Church and State" implies that no Christian communion should seek privilege or power denied to others. On the other hand, this principle does not mean that churches should keep silent on, or be unconcerned about political issues. If the purpose of "politics" is to promote the good of the community and the nation, then churches should seek to be an influence in political life. . . .
. . . all judicatories and local congregations have the right and duty to discuss social issues which may be called "controversial." (1955 Statement-PCUSA, minutes, p. 216)

Note from your WebWeaver:

An extensive and helpful study guide on immigration issues, approved by the 216^th General Assembly, is available online in PDF format, or can be ordered with a fancy cover through Presbyterian Distribution Service at http://www.pcusa.org/marketplace/index.jsp (use PDS
number 6860005001 online) or by calling 1-888-728-7228, ext. 8018.

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Published by the Witness in Washington Weekly advocacy program of the Washington Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002, (202) 543-1126 www.pcusa.org/washington. For more information about the content of this article, please email us at ga_washington_office@pcusa.org. If you would like to receive this information directly, please go to http://capwiz.com/pcusa/mlm/signup/.

September 5, 2006  [posted 9-8-06]

Summer breaks have come to an end. Washington political leaders and advocates have begun their work. In this mid-term election year, the end of this session will come quickly so that all members of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senators can spend time seeking your vote in the November elections. They have fewer than 19 session days scheduled before Election Day.

It would appear that the war in Iraq, stem cell research, tax cuts and immigration are among the hot topics of the electorate. A study guide with excerpts from General Assembly policy on these and others issues can be found at www.pcusa.org/christiancitizen/newstudyguide . This is the Christian and Citizen Election Year guide on the web page of the Washington Office www.pcusa.org/washington.

This week’s issues are:

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Take Action: Tell Congress that expanding NAFTA and CAFTA to Peru is a bad idea

Help stop the U.S.-Peru FTA vote with a strong message to your Representative when they return from summer recess on Sept. 5

A year ago, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was pushed through the House of Representatives by just two votes in the middle of the night. People of faith united with student, labor, environmental and health groups to say that expanding the broken North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model to Central America violated principles of trade justice. Now, the Bush Administration wants to push through a new trade agreement, this time with Peru. Unfortunately it is based on the same harmful model.

The U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement (US-Peru FTA) is yet another manifestation of the "one-size-fits-all" model that does not live up to the principles of trade justice. A U.S. vote for the trade pact could take place anytime after Congress returns from summer recess on September 5. Given how controversial trade votes have become, the Bush administration might try to circumvent public scrutiny and bring it to a vote during a lame-duck session of Congress after the November elections. The passage of this FTA would pave the way for an identical deal with Colombia—fueling the fires of the country’s 40-year old conflict. We have learned that once the vote goes to the floor, supporters will do anything to see it pass. That is why we need to stop the U.S.-Peru FTA vote.

Peru is engaged in a delicate reconciliation process after decades of civil war and the country remains burdened by high levels of poverty and a growing gap between rich and poor. In a desperate attempt to gain support for the US-Peru FTA, Bush Administration officials are claiming the trade pact will lead to increased democratic stability in the region and curbed trafficking and cultivation of cocaine and coca. Based on our experience with NAFTA and CAFTA, we believe the US-Peru FTA will cause lost livelihoods in rural communities, reduced access to life-saving medicines, an erosion of labor and environmental protections. The US-Peru FTA will not bring stability or development to the region!

Tell Congress that expanding NAFTA and CAFTA to Peru is a bad idea

Call the U.S. Capitol between Sept. 5-8 (202) 224-3121. Ask to be connected to your House member (give your zip code if you’re not sure of your Rep’s name)

* When you are connected, ask to speak with the staffer working on trade issues. Tell him or her that you oppose expanding NAFTA and CAFTA to Peru.
* Ask for your representative’s position on the US-Peru FTA in writing to be sent to you by email or regular mail.
* Use a local or personal story of damage from bad trade deals to illustrate your case or use the call script provided below.

Stop the US-Peru FTA vote call script:

Hello, my name is _________, and I am a constituent. May I speak with the staffer that deals with trade issues? I am calling to find out Representative ______________ position on the upcoming U.S.-Peru free trade agreement. Can you tell me how he/she plans to vote?
It is very important that Representative _____________ come out publicly to oppose this FTA.

The Peru FTA is (select one or two of the below talking points):

* Bad for democracy because it was negotiated in total secret without civil society participation. Now Representative ___________ can only give an up or down vote on the pact. It will be an affront to the democratic process if this controversial agreement were brought to a vote during the lame-duck session after the elections. The FTA will limit public officials’ ability to use purchasing policies to benefit local development through "buy local" preferences and prevailing wage laws.

* Bad for small farmers because it will lower Peru’s tariffs on agricultural products, making the country vulnerable to cheap imports from the U.S. This effectively wipes out local farmers like the 1.7 million displaced in Mexico since NAFTA passed 12 years ago. This is of particular concern in a country working to curb coca production.

* Bad for indigenous peoples because it opens the way for large pharmaceutical and agribusiness corporations to patent traditional knowledge, seeds, and life forms. This violation of the integrity of creation opens the door to bio-piracy of the biogenetic wealth of the Andean-Amazon region and threatens the ecological, medicinal and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples.

* Bad for drug reduction because it will exacerbate the root economic, political, and social inequality problems and will do nothing to address consumption issues in the North. By placing profits over people, corporate interests over worker rights, and trade laws over local and national democracies, the FTA will reinforce failed U.S. drug war policies in the region.

* Bad for public health because the FTA’s intellectual property provisions restricts access to life-saving medicines through unnecessarily long patent lives and data-protections provisions that impede the production of generic and more affordable alternatives. According to Doctors Without Borders, after the first 5 years of the trade deal, between 700,000 to 900,000 people are expected to be excluded from receiving medicines.

* Bad for women, children, and the poor because it includes provisions promoting the privatization and deregulation of essential services such as water, healthcare and education. As these services become less accessible, the burden falls on women, children and vulnerable populations.

* Bad for working people because it contains no enforceable labor protections and will likely further decrease U.S. and Peru unionization rates, push more well-paid jobs out of the U.S., and perpetuate child labor practices reported in Peru.

* Bad for the environment because it includes no enforceable environmental protections. Under the trade agreement, investors have the right to sue governments in closed tribunals for measures which ‘cause’ the loss of profits, even if these measures are to protect people or the environment. This is of grave concern in a country that hosts part of the upper Amazon basin—one of the most bio-diverse areas on earth.

Would you be willing to send me an email with Representative ________________ position on the trade pact to ___________________ [email address].

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Immigration Reform?

Although President Bush has made immigration reform one of his key priorities, congressional leaders appear to be dragging their feet on this highly politically charged issue. It might even wait until after the elections or be held over until the start of the new Congress in January.

Throughout the month of August, there were several Public hearings conducted by members of congress on the issue of immigration. Most of these hearings were organized by those who support strong enforcement of the punitive measures found in the House passed Sensenbrenner Bill. The stalemate continues between those who want a punitive approach of massive deportation and those who are asking for a path to citizenship; family unification and overall compassion for the more than 11 million undocumented who labor in the United States.

The first week of September has seen a return of the demonstrations and protest in the streets to support a compassionate and fair immigration approach by this nation. Advocates should continue to strive for a good bill that recognizes the hard work of the immigrate and the needs of their families.

In the meantime, without federal action on a bill, some states and localities have jumped into the fray to pass their own measures. Many of these state bills are punitive without recourse for the persons who are caught up in immigration raids or shutting down of businesses.

The next few months will tell. We have to find a way to end this stalemate. Keep up the pressure on your elected officials.

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Election Session- General Assembly on Contemporary Partisanship

"As Christ's kingdom is not to be identified with any political party or movement, because it is above them all, so must it be with the Christian Church she dare not adjust herself to contemporary partisanship. We believe that every Christian should recognize the individual responsibility of citizenship including not only the responsibility to know about public issues and candidates, but also to provide Christian leadership in local political parties and to go faithfully to the polls." ( 1950 Statement, PCUSA, page 236 minutes)

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Staffing Changes-Carolynn Race is Leaving

Carolynn Race came to the Washington Office on August 1, 2002 as the Associate for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues. Her last day will be September 14, 2006.

She quickly became a leader within the Washington Interreligious Staff Community (WISC) as chair of the Domestic Poverty and Human Needs Task Force. She helped organize the religious voice on issues of health care, social security, minimum wage, clean water and other concerns. The community depended on her energy and knowledge. Capitol Hill came to trust her.

Carolynn had been responsible for the former Stewardship of Public Life networks on Health Care, Environment & Ecology as well as Hunger & Human Needs. They where appreciated by the greater church and advocates all over the church...

Carolynn was suited for this assignment with her BA Cum Laude from Smith College in Northampton, MA and her Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford MA. Her previous employment included being Research Assistant at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in the World Peace Foundation Program for Intrastate Conflict.

She has been active in the Western Presbyterian Church of Washington, DC and serves as Deacon. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Presbyterian Washington Office as well as by those throughout the Washington Interreligious staff community. Her next position will be with the Pew Foundation. Our loss is Pew’s gain. We wish her well.

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Published by the Witness in Washington Weekly advocacy program of the Washington Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002, (202) 543-1126 www.pcusa.org/washington. For more information about the content of this article, please email us at ga_washington_office@pcusa.org. If you would like to receive this information directly, please go to http://capwiz.com/pcusa/mlm/signup/.

WITNESS IN WASHINGTON WEEKLY

The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

July 24, 2006

Congress has scheduled an August break from its usual agenda of legislative business in order to take some vacation time and attend to matters in their Districts. The Washington Office would like to point our readers to the Christian & Citizen Election Year Packet which can be found by going to our web page at www.pcusa.org/washington . It is on the right side below the fold. The Packet contains many items that may be useful to you during fall discussions you may have about elections.

In keeping with the both the agenda of Congress and the Justice & Compassion goals of the General Assembly Council to give concentrated attention to Peace and Poverty, this edition of Witness in Washington Weekly will highlight--

• CITIZENS’ HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS >>

• TAKE ACTION: HAITI CALL-IN DAY - TOMORROW JULY 25

• UPDATES:

Voting Rights Bill passes the Senate

Stem cell legislation vetoed by President Bush

• ELECTION SEASON: Evaluation of fitness of Candidate

CITIZENS’ HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS
By Carolynn Race, Associate for Domestic Poverty & Environmental Issues

Presbyterian General Assemblies have repeatedly called on the government to promote health care access for all – so that all will have the opportunity to live life abundantly. Yet there are still over 46 million people in this country who are uninsured. How can Presbyterians respond?

In 2002, Congress passed legislation that created a bipartisan Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, www.citizenshealthcare.gov. The Working Group’s mission is to provide for a nationwide public debate about improving the health care system to provide every American with the ability to obtain quality, affordable health care coverage and to develop an action plan for Congress and the President to consider as they work to make health care that works for all Americans.

After hearing from individuals around the country through public meetings and written comments, the Working Group has developed interim recommendations. One of their recommendations is "It should be public policy that all Americans have affordable health care. All Americans will have access to a set of core health care services. Financial assistance will be available to those who need it." To read more about their interim recommendations, click here >>   The Working Group is seeking feedback on the recommendations from the public through August 31, 2006. Tell the Working Group what you think. Submit your comments >>

JULY 25TH CALL IN DAY FOR HAITI: Urge Your Representative to Cancel Haiti’s Debt!

Tomorrow July 25th is a national call in day for Haiti. We urge you to call your members of Congress to support the House resolution that would immediately cancel Haiti’s debt. Members around the country should be contacted and urged to co-sponsor H.Res. 888. The 25th is the date of an international donors conference in Haiti to support the newly elected government of Rene Preval.

The Haiti debt cancellation resolution (H.Res. 888) urges the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and other international financial institutions to completely cancel Haiti’s debt without delays!

Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere. Haiti’s massive debt burden of $1.4 billion is both unpayable and unjust. Much of Haiti’s debt was contracted under 30 years of Duvalier regimes, notorious for human rights abuses. Though the country was added in April to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s debt relief program, under the program’s harmful economic policy conditions, Haiti will not see irrevocable debt cancellation for three or more years. Haiti cannot wait years or suffer through more such policies to see its debt cancelled.

Contact Your Representative on July 25^th! [Sorry, we’re a little late with this!]

You can help Haiti achieve immediate debt cancellation without delays or strings attached by calling your representative on July 25th and asking them to co-sponsor the Haiti debt cancellation resolution in the House (H.Res. 888). To co-sponsor the resolution, the Member’s staff should call Kathleen Sengstock in Representative Maxine Waters’ office at (202) 225-2201. If your Representative has already co-sponsored the resolution, please call to thank them. For contact information go to the Presby Legislative Action Center http://capwiz.com/pcusa/home

Below is a sample message for your call:

My name is XXX and I support debt cancellation to release resources to fight poverty in Haiti. I am calling to encourage Representative XXX to co-sponsor H.Res. 888 which would immediately cancel Haiti's debt.

Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere. Close to one in four children are chronically malnourished. There are only 2 doctors for every 10,000 people. Haiti needs debt cancellation to pay for social services like education, hospitals, and medicines.

The Haiti debt cancellation resolution urges the World Bank, IMF, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and other international financial institutions to completely cancel Haiti's debt without delays. To co-sponsor H.Res. 888 please contact Kathleen Sengstock in Representative Maxine Waters’ office at (202) 225-2201.

Thank you for your time!

UPDATES:

Voting Rights bill passes in the Senate
By Elenora Giddings Ivory, Director Washington Office

In a unanimous vote (98-0), the Senate passed The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. The House passed the bill, H.R. 9, by an overwhelming margin (390-33) last week. The Voting Rights Act (VRA) renewal bill now goes to the president, who indicates his intentions to sign it into law.

This is truly a victory for all Americans who want to see democracy for all citizens. By renewing and restoring the VRA for another 25 years, Congress has protected our most fundamental constitutional right – the right to vote. This legislation will help ensure that the VRA continues to combat discrimination, and that the gains that have been achieved for minority voters are not rolled back. Congratulations on this exciting victory! And thank you for everything you did to help make it happen.

Stem cell legislation vetoed by President Bush
By Carolynn Race, Associate for Domestic Poverty & Environmental Issues

On July 18, the Senate voted 63-37 to support HR 810, which would have allowed federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research. The House approved HR 810 last year. President Bush vetoed HR 810 on July 19. Both chambers would have needed a two-thirds majority to override the President’s veto. The House was unable to override a veto, voting 235-193, on July 19.

ELECTION SEASON: Evaluation of fitness of Candidate

"The United Presbyterian General Assembly adopted the comprehensive report of the Special Committee on Church and State and stated]: B. Because of the conflicts stemming from the pluralistic nature of our society; because of the abuses that have plagued every historic attempt at a theocratic society; because God has given all freedom to choose or reject the redemption offered in Jesus Christ; and, because organic entanglement of church and state inevitably deprives men and women of the full exercise of that God-given freedom; The General Assembly re-declares its conviction that church and state must be organically separate; The evaluation of fitness of candidates for public office on the basis of religious affiliation. Candidates for public office [should] be evaluated strictly on the basis of their competence to govern constitutionally."(1963 Statement – UPCUSA, 1963, pp. 185-197)

Published by the Witness in Washington Weekly advocacy program of the Washington Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002, (202) 543-1126 www.pcusa.org/washington. For more information about the content of this article, please email us at ga_washington_office@pcusa.org. If you would like to receive this information directly, please go to http://capwiz.com/pcusa/mlm/signup/.

[5-25-06]

The Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, Director of the Presbyterian Washington Office, has sent the following message to members of the e-lists of the Stewardship of Public Life Networks

If you are on any of those lists, you have probably received this note; if you’re not, we encourage you to sign up, as a way of getting up to date and very helpful information on issues of particular concern to Presbyterians, as they take shape in Washington.

On May 3, 2006, you received a message from the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) saying that we would have to 're-group' and bring information to you in a new way as a result of our downsizing. We would like to alert you to a new network system called-"Witness in Washington Weekly". It will be used as we discontinue the Stewardship of Public Life Networks. Posting to this new system will start in late June after the General Assembly and will be activated only when Congress is in session or Presidential actions warrant it. To our regret, we will no longer post to this current system you are now reading. This E-Briefs system will be disabled, three weeks from the date of this message.

We need your assistance to get you moved to the new list. Please click here and follow the instructions by filling in all the fields and checking the box that says "Witness in Washington Weekly" http://capwiz.com/pcusa/mlm/signup .

Witness in Washington Weekly will come directly to the email box of subscribers. You will receive only one message each week when Congress is in session. These messages will be succinct and on two possibly three issues. Topics will be listed in a heading for you to more easily find that which is of interest to you and on which you would like to take action.

The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will continue to provide you with timely information in this new way. Many of you have been loyal subscribers to these E-Brief message updates. We thank you and hope that you will move with us to this new enterprise.

How does this all affect the long standing, by-monthly REPORT to Presbyterians from Washington? We are hoping to restart it with the July/ August edition. If you received it by email or by paper, you will continue to get it that way. We will also post each REPORT issue on our web site at www.pcusa.org/washington and each edition will remain there until the next one is produced.

Lastly but foremost, we would like to thank the many of you who sent messages of encouragement and support following the initial announcement of our downsizing. It has truly meant a lot to us.

In Faith,

Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)
202-543-1126
202-543-7755 (fax)
100 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Suite 410
Washington, DC 20002
eivory@ctr.pcusa.org