Statement

Washington, D.C. – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) welcomes the new memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. After months of devastating and unnecessary conflict, this 60-day framework — with its commitment to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and create space for dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets — is a step toward the diplomatic resolution this crisis always demanded. We applaud every person, in government and out, who pushed to make this possible.

FCNL reached out to Quaker colleagues in Cuba to ask them their thoughts on the present tension between Cuba and the United States of America. Below is the statement they gave us, first in Spanish and then an English translation.

Esto es una especie de declaración:  Reconocemos el sufrimiento real que atraviesa la vida cotidiana: la escasez, la incertidumbre, la separación familiar y el desgaste del alma. No hablamos desde la distancia, sino desde el acompañamiento, la oración y el caminar junto a quienes resisten con esperanza.

Washington, DC – Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) were honored by the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) during their first Friends Changemaker Weekend, taking place through April 14. Rep. Jayapal received the Edward F. Snyder Award for Peace and Sen. Van Hollen was granted the Justice Award.

Washington, D.C. – We are deeply disappointed that Congress failed to pass a War Powers Resolution to stop President Trump’s illegal and immoral war on Iran. The House of Representatives voted 219 to 212 to reject a War Powers Resolution which would have withdrawn U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran. This follows a vote from the Senate 53-47 to reject a parallel resolution.

Washington, D.C. – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) strongly condemns the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the dangerous pursuit of a war of regime change.

We are devastated, outraged, and profoundly alarmed by the escalating state killings, violent kidnappings, and the horrific response to those peacefully calling out injustice in Minneapolis and around our country. A surge of unchecked federal agents has turned American streets into scenes of state violence and terror. Recent deaths of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and at least 53 other deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody were not inevitable atrocities.

Washington, D.C. – The Friends Committee on National Legislation applauds today’s vote in the Senate to advance a bipartisan war powers resolution, S.J.Res.98, to direct the removal of U.S. troops from hostilities in or against Venezuela.

Washington, D.C. – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) strongly condemns the U.S. government’s attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This is a deeply immoral and unjust escalation of President Trump’s campaign of violence against Venezuela. It is an unauthorized act of war in violation of both domestic and international law. President Trump’s claim that the United States will “run the country” following this attack is deeply concerning and a clear violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Washington, D.C. – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) celebrates today’s repeal of the Iraq War authorization, known as the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq (Iraq AUMF). We can build peace by removing the legal justification for war.

While we are grateful that the government will finally reopen, we are deeply disappointed that the current Senate-passed bill (H.R. 5371) to do so fails to prevent the health care premium tax credits from expiring.  Nor does it enact the necessary guardrails to prevent the administration from rescinding the funds Congress enacts.