Grace Over Greed: August Recess Update
As the August recess is coming to an end (September 9), the U.S. Congress has quite a long "to-do" list to pass 2025 budget appropriations bills.
Before the August recess, the House failed to pass all 12 of the appropriations bills to determine the federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025. With the House returning from recess on September 9, that will only leave 3 weeks to reach agreement on the FY 2025 budget, which begins October 1, 2024.
If they do not reach agreement by September 30, lawmakers will have to resort to a continuing resolution, which would temporarily continue the current budget in order to avoid a government shutdown. For fiscal year 2024, we saw lawmakers fail to reach agreement on the budget until March 2024.
In these appropriations negotiations, many U.S. political leaders continue to prioritize politics above the concerns and needs of our communities. As United Methodists, it’s a part of who we are to live out our faith to protect the needs and interests of God’s people and God’s good creation.
Take Action Now:
There is still time to take action and influence our elected officials to choose grace over greed. During this month of September, take action below on our priority areas.
Grace Over Greed Action Alerts:
Health – Currently, five of the twelve appropriations bills presented by the United States House of Representatives pose grave threat to our communities. The House is intending to cut funding for access to maternal and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, suicide prevention, mitigating substance abuse, and addressing sexual violence.
Take action: Tell Congress to Prioritize Healthcare As A Basic Human Right (Click Here)
Poverty – As United Methodists, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the flourishing of our communities (2016 The Social Principles, The Economic Community). As the United States Congress seeks to negotiate the fiscal year 2025 federal budget, we must ensure that critical social safety programs are protected.
Take action: Tell Congress to Prioritize Social Safety Programs in FY 2025 Appropriations (Click Here)
Peace – On peace with justice issues, the appropriations process has included effectively no oversight or debate over billions of dollars of weapons and defense services, including nuclear weapons and unfettered aid to countries committing human rights violations. The process has glaringly omitted debate on issues such as cutting the Pentagon budget, reigning in the President’s war powers, prohibiting security assistance to countries that violate human rights, oversight of nuclear forces, and much more.
Take action: Tell Congress to Prioritize True Human Security in FY 2025 Appropriations (Click Here)
Climate – With the help of consistent advocacy from United Methodists, the Fiscal Year 2024 budget package provides modest funding for climate and environmental programs. Now, Congress is turning its attention to the current budget year – Fiscal Year 2025 – and we must make the moral case for stronger support for critical climate investments. As people of faith, we must again press upon our elected officials the urgency and moral obligation to support bold climate action.
Take action: Tell Congress to Advance Climate Policies That Reflect a Vision of Justice for God’s People and God’s Planet (Click Here)
Civil and Human Rights – The United States asylum system is under attack. For too long, we have watched the erosion of a staple component of our immigration system. Since the former administration, there has been an intentional and debilitating movement to strike down access for asylum seekers to the U.S. This has caused devastating effects among both people and processes.
Take action: Tell Congress to Stop Anti-Asylum and Anti-Immigrant Negotiations in Congress and Biden Administration (Click Here)
