Legislative Priorities

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) acts in faith to create a world free from war, a society with equity and justice for all, a community where every person’s potential may be fulfilled, and an earth restored. FCNL brings Friends’ spiritual values and testimonies to bear on U.S. federal public policy decisions, guided by legislative priorities. The worsening climate crisis, U.S. complicity in war and humanitarian suffering throughout the world, threats to the foundation of democracy, and more urge Quakers across the country to action here in Washington D.C. and beyond.

Today’s crises have roots in historical concerns that have long been the focus of FCNL’s advocacy. These issues contain interconnected causes and solutions. Our enduring challenge is to understand and address the root causes while persistently, creatively, and courageously working toward the World We Seek (FCNL’s Policy Statement).

Recognizing that the protection of democracy is fundamental to the following priorities, FCNL actively partners with numerous organizations to remedy threats to our electoral processes that limit access to voting and undermine open, secure, and fair elections.

We are mindful that our nation has a special responsibility to recognize, grieve, and repair the societal impact of our history of colonialism, slavery, genocide, and race-based and gender-based discrimination and oppression. This is foundational to FCNL’s work.

Legislative Priorities for the 119th Congress

With each priority below, in collaboration with the most directly impacted populations, we will identify, expose, and work to end laws, policies and practices that are racist, sexist, biased or otherwise discriminatory.

• Dismantle militarism at home and abroad while reasserting Congress’ role in decisions around military engagements. Champion initiatives to reduce military spending and to eliminate nuclear, conventional, and newly emerging weapons.

• Ensure U.S. commitment to international peacebuilding, diplomacy, cooperation, and human rights at home and abroad.

• Uphold the community rights and concerns of indigenous peoples, and reform the federal legal and administrative systems to protect tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

• Demilitarize our borders and reform immigration policies to protect fundamental human rights for immigrant communities, regardless of immigration status.

• Transform our current cruel and unjust criminal legal system into one that is restorative and rehabilitative.

• Support gun violence prevention, nonviolent conflict resolution, and community-led safety solutions.

• Eliminate poverty, structural economic inequity, and health care inequity.

• Strengthen environmental protections and advance environmental justice in the United States and around the globe.

• Counter the imminent threat of further climate change and support evidence-based mitigation and adaptive remedies.

Discernment Process and Use of Priorities

To craft the legislative priorities for our lobbying and public education work, the policy committee sought input from meetings and churches, other Quaker groups, and FCNL staff and governors. The priorities are intended to be prophetic and values-based, simple and easy to communicate, and still specific enough to provide direction for subsequent actions. Inevitably they will be circumscribed by legislative opportunities, specific expertise, leadings, and available organizational resources used in a strategic manner to allow for the greatest success. FCNL seeks to collaborate across the political spectrum to advance these priorities, which are rooted in the Strategic Plan, values, and Policy Statement (The World We Seek).