On November 9, the Senate is poised to vote on a permitting reform bill S.5653 the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA), that will facilitate a massive build-out of dirty energy to support AI Data Centers and threatens our bedrock environmental laws. Join us Wednesday, November 11 for What’s Next on Permitting … Continue reading Oppose BAAJA’s Deregulation Approach to Permitting
Please call your Federal Lawmakers and ask them to oppose the “Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act” (H.R.38/S.65). This request comes in solidarity with the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland, i.e., the UU State Action Network-Maryland, which is profoundly concerned about state sovereignty & autonomy in determining gun safety policies for public safety. If passed, the … Continue reading Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
Beloved UUs, This plea is a lengthy one, and it comes from my heart at a crucial moment, as the administration’s first 100 days near completion. In Texas, a ground zero in the fight against injustice, we are now past the halfway mark in our state legislative session. Summary: Marginalized communities are doing the heavy … Continue reading Why Showing Up as Allies Matters Right Now
It is now true that our political system is quite broken in many unsettling ways. Getting to unbroken from our present condition is a complex matter. Paradoxically to the actions of the current administration, we won’t get far without a competent strong administrative state, i.e. Federal agencies. The seeds of our current discord are rooted … Continue reading Addressing the Perils of a Weakened Administrative State
“A nation divided against itself cannot stand” – Abraham Lincoln, June 16, 1858 I’ve been deeply concerned about the state of our democracy. Frankly, I’m terrified. What I’m seeing is that our democracy, the very foundation of our country, is in danger. We cannot take our democracy for granted or be complacent. We must ensure that … Continue reading Saving Our Democracy – Why I Care
One of life’s greatest gifts to humans is the ability to begin again. Maybe last year, you didn’t meet all of the goals you set for yourself. Perhaps you didn’t set any goals and are seeking a place to start. Well, I would like you to consider giving to a cause that makes a difference … Continue reading New Year, New Goals
UUSJ continues its work in achieving stability for Afghans, an effort that began mid-summer. The needed stability, welcome, and promises veterans keep are best exemplified in the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA). For UUSJ, these are the principled concerns at stake. In early September, the Immigration Action Team (IAT) led, co-led, and participated in 12 Senate … Continue reading Stability And Welcome For Afghans, Promises Kept By Veterans
Jim Hurdis is a member of the UU Fellowship of Raleigh, North Carolina, where he served two years as co-chair of their social justice committee. Along with the environment, Jim is passionate about gun violence issues, food insecurity, and affordable housing. I’m struck by the audacity of Senator Joe Manchin’s energy permitting proposal and have been … Continue reading Jim Hurdis on US Environmental Policies with Respect to Current Oil and Gas Production
I started working as an activist on issues related to democracy more than 10 years ago — just before the disastrous Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, and just before joining a UU congregation in my home state of New Jersey. Initially, I focused on the problem of big money in politics, which … Continue reading Tony Giordano
Collaboration Matters. It Makes a Difference. In 2017, UUs for a Just Economic Community joined with UUSJ creating our first joint conference on Healthcare. It was a successful and meaningful experimental adventure in federal engagement. In 2019, we collaborated again on Advancing Economic and Climate Justice as a Moral Issue, Building a Movement for a “Green New Deal”. If … Continue reading Terry Lowman
