Press Release

In a new report issued today, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) recommends that President-elect Jo Biden prioritizes peace in his administration’s first 100 days.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) urged President-elect Joe Biden to work with the remaining parties of the Open Skies Treaty, an arms control agreement involving Russia, the U.S., and 32 other states, on preserving as many of the security benefits it provides for as possible. The Trump administration announced its intention to pull out of the treaty in May 2020 and that withdrawal took full effect on November 22.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) welcomed the recent announcement from Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller reducing military personnel in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by January 15, 2021.

Washington, DC – More than 800 advocates from 45 states joined the Quaker lobby, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), to lobby Congress on passing the Justice in Policing Act (H.R.7120/S.3912) as part of their 76th Annual Meeting and Quaker Public Policy Institute.

Washington, DC – Two members of Congress will be honored during the Annual Meeting of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) November 14-17. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) will be honored with the Edward F. Snyder Award for Peace while Representative Deb Haaland (NM) will be given the FCNL Justice Award.

Washington, DC – Today, on the 18th anniversary of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Force Against Iraq (AUMF) becoming law, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) sent a letter to Congress, signed by a broad, bipartisan coalition of advocacy groups, calling for the law’s repeal. The groups urged the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to preserve in the final version of the annual defense spending bill (the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2021) a House provision to repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) criticized the recent presidential recommendation of the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the United States for fiscal year 2021. The new number, 15,000 refugees, is nearly 20% lower than FY2020 while the number of refugees worldwide continues to grow rapidly.

Washington, DC – The Census Bureau and Agriculture Department recently released data showing gains were made throughout 2019 in alleviating poverty and hunger in the United States. However, these gains have been lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With both Houses of Congress about to leave for elections, Congress should urgently pass another COVID-19 relief package before hunger and poverty worsen throughout the country.

Washington, DC – The Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC) and faith leaders from across the United States are holding a virtual 12-hour prayer vigil today to urge Members of Congress to pass a robust COVID relief bill that helps families before leaving Washington, D.C. for the elections. The vigil will be live streamed on the Facebook pages of Friends Committee on National Legislation and Bread for the World.

Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded yesterday’s passage of both Savanna’s Act (H. R. 2733) and the Not Invisible Act of 2019 (H.R.2438) by the full House of Representatives.