Statement

Friends Committee on National Legislation’s Statement for the Record for the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, pertaining to its hearing: Another Surge of Illegal Immigrants along the Southwest Border: Is this the Obama Administration’s New Normal?

The Friends Committee on National Legislation joins with people of all faiths who are excited and grateful at the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Praised Be: On the Care of our Common Home.”

Statement of Yasmine Taeb, Legislative Representative for Human Rights and Civil Liberties, Friends Committee on National Legislation, hearing on: “Crisis of Confidence: Preventing Terrorist Infiltration Through U.S. Refugee and Visa Programs,” House Committee on Homeland Security.

In support of the Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016, S.2551, introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and their colleagues, signed from human rights, humanitarian, faith, anti-genocide, peace and other organizations.

Quakers are challenged to answer that of God in all people and therefore called to act with openness to all refugees, regardless of their country of origin or religion. FCNL calls on Congress to treat refugees with the same dignity and respect and urges the Committee to support the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

Senator Ben Cardin, joined by Senator Thom Tillis and several others, has introduced legislation that would authorize a permanent, inter-agency Atrocities Prevention Board that will focus the U.S. government at the highest levels on early prevention of violent conflict as an essential part of our national security strategy.

More than 150 religious leaders gathered to attend the Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary on January 23-25, 2015. The attendees represented many of the world’s religions, and the Just War, Pacifist and Just Peace traditions.

FCNL calls on Congress to exercise its vital oversight role and is urging a Congressional hearing and inquiry into the U.S. lethal drones program. This is essential in order to inform the American people about the deliberate killing of Americans and non-nationals outside of declared war zones.

Today the global community faces the worst refugee crisis since World War II, with upwards of 60 million people displaced worldwide. Syrian refugees alone, either internally displaced or seeking resettlement, total approximately 12 million.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation has been working for constructive U.S. policy in order to respond to grievances and prevent future violence in Burundi. Elections scheduled for this summer have proven to be flashpoint for violent conflict.