Update

Last week brought major victories for FCNL’s lobbying priorities when the House moved to reject unnecessary and destabilizing new weapons systems, and preserve longstanding treaties.

Yesterday, for the first time, the house voted to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) and end 18 years of war. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13), was included in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2968). In the coverage that follows, few newspapers are likely to report that a 76-year-old Quaker lobby has done the careful, long-term work to end a war that has spread to 19 countries.

FCNL advocates have worked tirelessly with congressional leaders to stop the expansion of detention and cruel immigration enforcement – many of our priorities are reflected in the House spending bill advanced this week. There is more work ahead.

This week the U.S. House of Representatives is moving a $1 trillion spending package to fund key federal departments and agencies. In the process of debating and voting on the measure, Members of Congress will be considering multiple amendments.

Five months into the 116th Congress and FCNL is off to a running start with a large portfolio of bills. So far, it passed one bill and dozens more have been introduced in Congress. As bills are being introduced, FCNL staff lobbyists are also actively working to ensure that the Fiscal Year 2020 federal spending bills reflect our values as people of faith.

Researching the effects of gun violence is essential but, because of a provision known as the Dickey Amendment, the U.S. government hasn’t conducted any significant research on the impact of gun violence for more than 20 years. This year, a bill before the U.S. House of Representatives could change that.

Congratulations to Emily Wirzba, FCNL Legislative Representative for Sustainable Energy and Environment, and our former Program Assistant for Communications, Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred! They wrote a chapter in the book Quakers, Creation Care, and Sustainability entitled “Lobbying for an Earth Restored: Friends Committee on National Legislation.”

Soon, the House of Representatives could approve legislation that would revoke the president’s ability to justify open-ended warfare across the world. But Congress will only act if they hear from people like you.

Last month, the Senate Armed Services Committee released the summary of its annual defense spending bill for fiscal year 2020, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill included two provisions that would improve the treatment of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, which FCNL and our partner organizations have been lobbying for since January.

Lost in the media frenzy over budget negotiations, congressional investigations and military operations was a bill that contained several pieces of good news.