Dream Act: Take action Before December 6

Some members of Congress have expressed an interest in addressing the situation of these young people, possibly by December 6th. While timing is not certain, it is important to send a message to Congress that we want these protections, we want them now, and we do not want them to be tied to detention or border enforcement legislation. 

The Ignatian Solidarity Network and the Jesuit Conference's Office of Justice and Ecology have developed a letter to be utilized by schools, churches, and other groups. It is our hope that your institution or group can commit to hand-delivering signed letters to district/state offices of members of the U.S. House and Senate by December 6th.

Here is the info you need to begin taking action:

The Letter (This is a PDF; you have to print it.)

Tips on How To Utilize the Letter (PDF)

JusticeAlerts - November 28, 2017

Congress is in session and they have a lot on their plate.  Make your voice heard.  Contact your senators on one or more of the items below. 

1. It is possible that the Senate will vote on their tax bill yet this week.  Catholic bishops say the G.O.P.-backed tax reform plan is “unconscionable” and “unacceptable,” pointing to “fundamental structural flaws” that they say “will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy.” They are among a growing number of groups and individuals opposed to the bill.  The Senate has once again changed its own rules allowing the final vote to pass by 50 plus 1 votes instead of 60.  

2. The final budget vote is scheduled for December 8.  Presently it includes a 31% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency along with other cuts to other vital services programs. 

3. The FCC will vote on his plan to gut net neutrality on December 14.   Net neutrality is meant to ensure that all content on the Internet be treated equally.  We need action from Congress. 

4. Every day that Congress fails to pass a Dream Act, 122 immigrant youth lose DACA protections. That’s 854 every week.  Paul Ryan wants to wait until March to work on the Dream Act.  A clean Dream Act is needed now.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank you to all justice seekers, peace makers, and caregivers of creation!   As coordinator of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation office for the Sisters of St Agnes what gives me hope and fills me with gratitude are the many people, like you, who bring blessings to our world.  May blessings return to you a hundredfold.  

After the Thanksgiving holiday there will be a great push in the senate to pass their tax bill.  I encourage you to become educated about the bill, to decide if you think it is fair, and then to contact your senators to let them know how you want them to vote.  While we are taken up with the holiday spirit, some legislators will try to hurry a tax bill to the President’s desk before Christmas.  Since taxes affect all of us, it is worth our while to know what is in the bill before we must live with its consequences for education, the environment, healthcare, jobs,people in need, the economy and more.

Being blessed always requires that we become a blessing for others.  Thank you—you are a blessing!

Gratefully,

Sister Ruth Battaglia, CSA
Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation Coordinator
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
920-907-2315

Brief Petition for Each of the Days Scheduled For the Paris Global Climate Talks

Attached you will find a brief petition for each of the days scheduled for the Paris Global Climate Talks, beginning with Monday, November 6.  

Share the word:  Neither repealed nor replaced, the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. And for people seeking coverage in ACA marketplaces the sign up time continues until December 15.   This is important information to share with folks who may not be aware that ACA is till effective and that the period for sign-up has been shortened. 

A Justice Alert . . .

We ask the intercession of all of the justice worker saints for blessing upon our efforts.  Here are three items for action:

1.  Contact your members of the US Congress asking them to support the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017.  Ask for a clean bill -- no strings attached. 

2.  A Quick Reminder. The House has released its tax proposal. Immediate calls opposing the House’s version of the tax bill are most effective. The bill gives massive tax breaks to the wealthy, increases the deficit as the federal government spirals into more and more debt and then cuts vital services like Medicare, Medicaid, and education to help pay the cost. Call or email your representative.

3.  You’ve probably heard that Trump is planning to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the landmark international climate change agreement. What you might not know (I didn’t) is that in spite of this, the U.S. will continue participating in the international negotiations related to the Paris Agreement. This means that under Trump’s pro-corporate administration, not only is the U.S. backing out of our own climate commitments at the behest of Big Polluters, but it’ll be bullying other countries from all around the world to weaken their commitments, too.  If you are willing to make a call to the State Department on Monday evening, November 6, or within a day or two after, please let me know.  This is part of an effort to blitz the State Department with messages.  I will send you a short response form that you will return to me if you are able to reach a person or leave a message. Please respond to rbattaglia@csasisters.org