UCC Justice and Peace Action Network
calls for last-minute action on funding bills for education and economic
stimulus
[11-19-01]
Congressional appropriations in final phase: Your
action needed!
Congress is now in its final weeks of deciding on
appropriations for fiscal year 2002. Many of the bills related to UCC
priorities are at a critical point. Your quick action can make the
difference in passage, funding levels, and willingness to compromise. We
urge you to contact your members of Congress on two bills in particular:
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Status: In Conference with the House and Senate
There are two principal modifications Justice and
Witness Ministries seeks for this bill. Compromises in the legislation
now allow community groups such as churches to qualify directly for
government funding for after-school 21st Century Learning Centers.
Contact your members of Congress asking for ESEA provisions which 1)
prohibit discrimination against child care workers and 2) protect
children from proselytizing and evangelism. Additionally, JWM urges that
Congress continue to provide a targeted federal funding stream to school
districts serving poor children instead of simply providing block grants
to the districts. For more information: (http://www.ucc.org/justice/education/111201.htm)
Economic Stimulus Legislation
Status: Congress may vote after the Thanksgiving
weekend.
The House, Senate and the White House are in
negotiations on an economic stimulus package to help those who have been
impacted by September 11 and the economic slowdown. The House passed a
nearly $100 billion economic stimulus package consisting mostly of
corporate tax cuts in a close 216 - 214 vote. The Senate went a
different route, seeking an economic stimulus that would provide health
insurance subsidies for laid-off workers and supplement state
unemployment systems. Most negotiators agree to offer tax rebates to
low-income workers who did not earn enough to qualify for $300 tax
rebates in the spring 2000 tax cuts. Urge your Senators or member of
Congress to support measures that help workers rather than corporations
in the economic stimulus plan. For more information:
(http://www.ucc.org/justice/weekly/w101601.htm)
(http://www.bread.org
for letter to Pres. Bush signed by Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Executive
Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries)
U.S. Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121
To contact Members of Congress: Their e-mail addresses
and fax numbers may be found at www.senate.gov
and www.house.gov
Note that snail-mail is likely to be seriously delayed these days,
especially in Washington.
This Weekly Message is sent by e-mail each week for use in church
newsletters and bulletins the following Sunday. To add new names to
this weekly advocacy service, for more information, or to remove your
name from the list, reply to jpanet@ucc.org.
For additional information on the UCC Justice and Peace Action
Network, log on to the UCC website at www.ucc.org.
