Statement

As communities of faith, we respect and care for one another as a sacred imperative that expresses our endeavor to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” But American society as a whole is called to be a place where we delight in the value of each and every person and gladly accept a mutual responsibility for one another’s wellbeing.

FCNL welcomes the defeat of the Senate healthcare bill or “Skinny Repeal” on final passage. The bill was narrowly defeated by 51-49, thanks to the courage of Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and John McCain, who crossed party lines to vote NO on a bill that would have devastated millions of families beyond repair.

In response to the July 25 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and Current Terrorist Threats, FCNL Lobbyist for Human Rights and Civil Liberties Yasmine Taeb urged members of the Foreign Affairs Committee to view these proceedings as merely the first step towards repealing the 2001 AUMF and making congressional control over war authority a reality.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) urges members of Congress to reject the House of Representatives’ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill upon full chamber consideration.

Weeks after the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), Speaker Paul Ryan stripped the amendment from the FY2018 Defense Appropriations bill just before midnight on July 18th.

Taking a stand against unchecked militarism, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced a repeal of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) as an amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill. Her amendment, which would sunset the 2001 AUMF after eight months, was passed by the House Appropriations Committee on June 29, 2017.

The House of Representatives is voting on two bills that further criminalize immigrants, expand detention, and undermine community well-being, rather than offering a lasting remedy for a punitive and outdated immigration system. FCNL urges members of Congress to oppose these bills.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation is disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow part of President Trump’s travel ban to go into effect while it considers the broader Executive Order.

Based on our commitment to honoring human dignity and assisting those experiencing hardship, FCNL opposes H.R. 2826 and all other policy proposals that would undermine refugee resettlement.

On June 14, the House Judiciary Committee is marking up a bill misnamed the Protection of Children Act (H.R. 495) which would make children and asylum seekers more vulnerable and decrease meaningful access to the asylum process. Read FCNL’s statement of opposition for the record.