FCNL’s lobbyist on human rights and civil liberties, Yasmine Taeb, received the 2016 Diversity Award for Leadership in the Legal Profession at Penn State Law’s 4th Annual Diversity Banquet. The banquet honors members of the law school community who have contributed to the development of the legal profession.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), MoveOn, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, Demand Progress, Just Foreign Policy, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), and the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft released a coalition letter today calling on congressional lawmakers to support the Yemen War Powers Resolution.
Since Donald Trump threatened to use soldiers to quell the largely peaceful protests supporting our black siblings who have been victims of police brutality and institutional racism, I have been having trouble sleeping.
As a faith-based organization with a long history of advocating for peace in the Middle East, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) opposes Israel’s proposed annexation of Palestinian territory. We call on Congress to declare it will not recognize a unilateral assertion of Israeli sovereignty over Palestinian lands and that such annexation will irreparably harm the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Washington, DC – This morning, dozens of leaders of faith groups from across the religious spectrum released a series of videos urging the Senate to rise to the moment and pass their own version of the HEROES Act designed to further handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Communities of faith have become concerned that the longer the Senate delays in enacting another pandemic relief bill, the more people will suffer as benefits expire and states are forced to impose severe budget cuts. This will leave those deeply impacted by the COVID-19 economic impacts with little to no safety net.
On March 4, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced the U.S.–Africa Strategic Security Act (H.R. 6089), which would prevent the administration from using money meant to reduce the number of currently deployed U.S. troops in Africa. To lift the prohibition, the legislation would require unclassified reports to Congress on everything from the impact of the withdrawal on countering armed insurgents to its effects on growing Russian and Chinese influence.
The impeachment question before the Senate was a test of the power Congress and the American people are willing to give the president. The Senate’s vote to acquit Donald J. Trump of the impeachment charges cemented the reality of a profound partisan divide on this question. It sanctioned the president to use the power of the office to suit his needs, largely unchecked by Congress.
Currently in theaters and premiering Nov. 29 on Amazon Prime, “The Report” recounts a five-year effort by Senate staff to investigate the CIA’s use of torture after the Sept. 11 attacks. The resulting report—known as the Torture Report—revealed the staggering extent of the CIA’s disturbing and unethical interrogation program.
The Trump administration doubled down on its maximum pressure policy approach to Iran with new sanctions, this time targeting Iran’s construction sector, which—according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo— is under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On Sept. 10, FCNL joined a coalition of 17 faith organizations in sending a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. We asked members of Congress to prioritize clean energy tax incentives as they advance tax policy this year. This would be a key step to meaningfully lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
We are called to act — not just hope — for peace and justice in 2026.
Stand with FCNL for human dignity over corporate profit, compassion over cruelty, and peace over militarism.