BREAKING: Today, the Senate unanimously passed the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S. 1723)! This is “a landmark milestone in the fight for truth and healing,” FCNL’s Rachel Overstreet said. It is also a major testament to your advocacy and the courageous, persistent efforts of Native advocates and boarding schools survivors. Now, the House must follow suit and move swiftly to pass this vital legislation before the end of the 118th Congress on Jan. 3, 2025.
As Shutdown Looms, Congress Must Reassess Its Priorities
Before heading home for holiday recess, lawmakers are racing to reach an agreement today on key funding legislation to avert a government shutdown.
Congress has until midnight to pass legislation (or continuing resolution) to avoid a government partial shutdown. A shutdown could harm vulnerable people and working families, jeopardize disaster relief, and force federal workers to work without pay during the holiday season.
Earlier this week, Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-4) pulled the plug on a bipartisan proposal to extend existing levels of funding into the new year after it was opposed by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The House then voted down a Trump-backed proposal on Thursday evening, leaving the prospects for a resolution uncertain.
Meanwhile, the Senate sent the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to President Biden’s desk on Wednesday, authorizing a $895 billion Pentagon budget.
FCNL’s Allen Hester broke down key takeaways from the NDAA bill. While we strongly oppose the massive military spending authorized in the NDAA, a bright spot was that lawmakers adhered to a previous funding limit agreement and rejected calls for further wasteful increases.
The bill also included other wins for FCNL, including important safeguards on nuclear weapons and artificial intelligence while excluding proposals to expand the selective service (or draft).
Ultimately, as people who seek a world free of war and militarism, “this NDAA reminds us of how far we have to go,” Hester concluded. “A sustainable future requires prioritizing peacebuilding, human needs, and accountability over endless military spending.”
As FCNL has long said, budgets show our priorities. If lawmakers can pass more billions for weapons and war, surely, they can pass legislation to keep the government open and ensure that vital social programs have the funding they need.
Elsewhere
UAE Promises to Stop Fueling Sudan War
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged to not supply weapons to the Rapid Support Forces, one of the warring parties that is committing atrocities in Sudan. This follows pressure from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) to block weapons sales to the UAE. This Congressional pressure has also contributed to a new focus in the Biden administration to address the war in Sudan.
Momentum to Block Arms to Israel Continues to Grow
FCNL’s Odeliya Matter laid out in Inkstick how the Nov. 20 Senate effort to block arms shipments to Israel is an important step forward for our movement for peace - even though it didn’t pass. She highlighted the unprecedented national coalition that supported the legislation and how this persistent advocacy has worked in the past to move towards peace in Yemen.
This pressure continued this week. Twenty members of Congress sent a letter calling on the Biden administration to follow U.S. law and halt weapons to the Israeli government as it continues to block food and medicine from entering Gaza.
Our Year of Bold Advocacy and Faithful Witness
As 2024 draws to a close, FCNL’s Micah MacColl Nicholson reflected on the work of Quakers and friends in our network. “Through prayerful listening and active participation, you have shown up in powerful ways – speaking out for peace, justice, and integrity in our local and national communities,” she wrote.
FCNL disengaging from X, joining with BlueSky
This week, FCNL joined a broader Quaker movement called eXodus, to disengage from X/Twitter. We continue to engage with our community and lawmakers on other social media platforms, including becoming newly active on BlueSky – follow us there!
This is our last edition of This Week in the World for 2024. You will receive our next newsletter on Jan. 3, 2025. We wish you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and a joyful new year!
