Three years ago, I realized that I needed to do more than bemoan the 2016 presidential election results and started looking for opportunities.

I first became aware of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps and its efforts to deliver the UU vision to federal lawmakers from Adam Wasserman, a member of UUSJ and my congregation — the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (VA). 

My first venture to Capitol Hill with the Advocacy Corps was in March 2017.  It didn’t take long to feel comfortable making the rounds to various Senate and House offices delivering constituent letters from fellow UUs across the country and speaking to various congressional staffers.

Perhaps my most memorable visit was to the office of Sen. Mark Rubio (R-FL) in April 2017.  Lavona Grow and I had followed a family of five adults who had driven over 16 hours nonstop from Florida to plead that Medicaid continue funding home care of disabled family members.  Their 30+ year-old-son was wheeled into Sen. Rubio’s office atop a stretcher with a respirator and a tracheotomy tube attached.  

We waited while the mother made her heart-felt case. Then it was our turn.  Lavona delivered many constituent letters from UU congregants around the Tampa area. We also spoke with the family members.  I talked with the young man equipped with a laptop and a speech synthesizer. It was an emotional moment that for me put everything into the human perspective, something we sometimes forget when making visits to the offices of elected officials.  

I never thought at age 78, I would find myself advocating for various pieces of federal legislation or policies grounded in Unitarian Universalist social justice work or lead federal advocacy work for my congregation’s Social Justice Council.  During the last two years, I have had the pleasure of meeting UUs from around the country as well as a very impressive group of people who work as Senate and House staffers. I learn more about how government works (or doesn’t) with each interaction. It makes me feel good to know I’m doing my part as a UU using advocacy to advance social justice.

It is impossible to directly link our Advocacy Corps visits to the passage of any single piece of legislation but I believe UUSJ is being heard and having an impact.  I am happy and proud to do this work and know it satisfies both a spiritual and patriotic obligation for me. 

In gratitude,

Bob McCarthy

* Please consider making a donation to UUSJ to support our work into 2020 *

——————

Bob McCarthy is a member of the UU Congregation of Fairfax (UUC Fairfax) since 1999.  Bob has been a member of the Advocacy Corps for over 2 years. He is also the UUC Fairfax representative to the UUSJ Board of Directors.  He retired in 1999 after over 40 years in the defense and information technology industries.