UUSJ has advocated for reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, especially their detention and other enforcement activities, after several years of significant increases. The FY22 budget proposal just out May 28 for all of DHS is $52 billion, unchanged from last year. That may seem disappointing but the truth … Continue reading Flat Funding for the Department of Homeland Security FY22
David Shilton, Environmental Action Team Convenor The EPA Announces Phase Out of HFCs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced proposed rules to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) over the next 15 years. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that are used in most refrigerators and air conditioners, and they tend to leak out into the atmosphere over … Continue reading Good News for Stopping Climate Change
Many UUs participated in the recent UUSJ Action Alert, asking President Biden, key Administration officials, and representatives in Congress to commit to funding this country’s fair share of the Green Climate Fund. UUSJ joined other UU organizations, faith groups, and citizens in highlighting the United States’ moral responsibility to aid poorer countries suffering the effects … Continue reading How President Biden’s Climate Finance Plan Measures Up to UUSJ Demands
The UUSJ Environmental Action Team has adopted priorities for 2021 that call for bold action to address the full scope of the climate crisis. The priorities point to the need for Congress and the Executive Branch to take needed steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 1.5 degrees Celsius and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. … Continue reading Environmental & Climate 2021 Priorities
The Democracy Action Team is working on advocacy plans for 2021. After meetings with Senate staffers last month, the Team agreed on its priorities for this year as well as the groups it hopes to partner with. (Find the team’s complete report HERE.) The Team’s priorities focus on: Ensuring fair elections Enabling voters’ participation and … Continue reading Democracy 2021 Priorities
Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills With President Biden proposing a bold immigration bill that includes pathways to citizenship, the Immigration Action Team is focusing on the House and Senate committees considering the legislation. The Administration’s proposal includes – among other things – citizenship pathways for all 11 million immigrants here without full legal status. … Continue reading Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills
Rev. Ashley Horan is the Organizing Strategy Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association, where she works with a team of faithful organizers and movement builders to ensure the justice work of Unitarian Universalism is spiritually grounded and politically effective. Her charge came at the end of last month’s UUSJ’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. See the story … Continue reading Rev. Ashley Horan Charges UUs to “Make Good Trouble”
Emily Koechlin, UUSJ Board Member Bringing UU values to our efforts, with an even louder and more courageous voice I first became acquainted with UUSJ through the Advocacy Corps. For many years I have been involved in progressive causes, so the UUSJ Advocacy Corps was a perfect fit for me. I looked forward to the … Continue reading Bringing UU values to our efforts, with an even louder and more courageous voice
Although much has occurred in the past three weeks and there are ongoing issues, it’s worth celebrating some important democracy successes. More people voted in the 2020 elections than have ever voted before. This was the direct result of tireless efforts by many, many different and diverse groups around the country, including UU churches and … Continue reading Fred Van Deusen – Reflections on 2020
Chaplain Eleanor Piez, UU Community Minister. Eleanor served as Intern Minister with UUC of Annapolis and UU Legislative Ministry of MD and is currently affiliated with Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, VA. As a minister, I feel it’s my job to ask continually: How do we advance our noblest spiritual beliefs and commitments? How, each day, do we … Continue reading UUSJ’s presence in the halls of power is important to share and implement our values
