"The family - based on marriage between a man and a woman - is the first and fundamental unit of society and is a sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children. It should be defended and strengthened, not redefined or undermined by permitting same-sex unions or other distortions of marriage. Respect for the family should be reflected in every policy and program." USCCB, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, p. 26, no. 46
For more information, please see News Releases and Ecumenical & Interreligious Activities.
The Committee advocates in all three branches of government:
Legislative
Kids Online Safety Act
The USCCB supports the Kids Online Safety Act.
Letter of Support to Sen. Blackburn and Sen. Blumenthal (July 22, 2025)
Artificial Intelligence
The USCCB offered principles and policy recommendations regarding the use of artificial intelligence, including considerations of its potential impact on the dignity of the human person and family life.
Letter to Congress (June 9, 2025)
Budget Reconciliation
The USCCB offered principles for budget reconciliation that support human sexuality and strengthen family formation.
Letter to Senate in Advance of Senate Consideration (June 26, 2025)
Letter to Congress in Advance of House Consideration (May 20, 2025)
Letter to Congress to Defund Planned Parenthood (March 27, 2025)
Letter to Congress on Budget Reconciliation Package (January 13, 2025)
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
The USCCB supports the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Letter of Support to the Senate (January 24, 2025)
Letter to Sen. Tuberville and Rep. Steube (March 3, 2023)
Letter of Support to Members of Congress (February 16, 2021)
Letter of Support to Members of Congress (October 27, 2020)
In Vitro Fertilization
The USCCB has submitted letters to Congress on In Vitro Fertilization.
Letter to the Senate Supporting the RESTORE Act and Opposing the Right to IVF Act (June 13, 2024)
Letter to the Senate Opposing the IVF Protection Act (June 7, 2024)
Letter to the Senate Opposing the Access to Family Building Act (February 28. 2024)
Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act
The USCCB supports the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (Inclusion Act) which was re-introduced in both Houses in 2021.
Letter of Support to Senator Scott (December 15, 2023)
Bishop Chairmen Reaffirm Protections for Faith-Based Foster Care and Adoption Providers (March 15, 2021)
Letter of Support to Senator Scott and Representative Kelly
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The USCCB supports the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, but rejects the possibility of distorting it to support abortion.
No Employer Should be Forced to Participate in Abortion, says Bishop Rhoades (April 19, 2024)
Bishop Chairman Rejects Distortion of Pregnant Workers' Protection Law (August 8, 2023)
Letter of Support to Members of Congress (August 9, 2021)
Protecting Children Online
The USCCB supports policies which protect children online.
Letter to Members of Congress (June 6, 2023)
Equal Rights Amendment
The USCCB opposes a resolution to revive the Equal Rights Amendment.
Letter to the Senate (February 27, 2023)
Letter to Members of Congress (March 12, 2021)
Right to Contraception Act and Respect for Marriage Act
The USCCB opposes the Right to Contraception Act and the Respect for Marriage Act.
Letter to Congress (November 23, 2022)
Letter to the Senate (July 22, 2022)
Letter to the House of Representatives (July 19, 2022)
Radical Solidarity
The USCCB supports policies which enact "radical solidarity" with women and families.
Letter to Members of Congress (October 26, 2022)
Child Tax Credit
The USCCB supports strengthening the Child Tax Credit.
Letter to the Senate (May 19, 2022)
Equality Act
The USCCB opposes the Equality Act which was re-introduced in 2021.
Bishop Konderla Discusses the Church’s Response to the Transgender Movement (March 19, 2021)
Bishop Chairmen Say Equality Act Would Discriminate Against People of Faith and Threaten Unborn Life (February 23, 2021)
Letter to Members of Congress (February 23, 2021)
Bishop Chairmen Respond to U.S. House Vote on Equality Act (May 17, 2019)
Coalition Letter to Congress (May 7, 2019)
Bishop Chairmen Reaffirm Authentic Human Dignity and Rights in Letter to Congress Opposing Equality Act (March 20, 2019)
Letter to the House of Representatives (March 20, 2019)
Letter to the Senate (March 20, 2019)
Backgrounder (2019)
Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act
The USCCB supports the goals of, and calls for key life and liberty protections in, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act.
Letter to Members of Congress (October 21, 2021)
Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act
The USCCB supports the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act.
Letter of Support to Members of Congress (June 15, 2021)
Paycheck Fairness Act
The USCCB opposes the addition of a provision redefining "sex" in the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Letter to the Senate (June 8, 2021)
Letter to the House of Representatives (April 14, 2021)
Fairness for All Act
The Conference commented on the Fairness for All Act.
Letter to Representative Stewart (December 5, 2019)
Violence Against Women Act
The Conference commented on the Violence Against Women Act.
Letter to Senators Feinstein, Durbin, Ernst, and Murkowski (March 9, 2022)
Letter to Senators Graham and Feinstein (April 3, 2019)
First Amendment Defense Act
The Conference supported the First Amendment Defense Act:
Bishop Chairmen Urge Support for the 'First Amendment Defense Act' (March 14, 2018)
Letter to Senator Lee in support of FADA
2016 Media Release (July 12, 2016)
2015 Media Release (June 18, 2015)
Joint Letter of Support (with Ecumenical and Inter-religious Partners) (November 13, 2015)
2015 Letter of Support to Representative Labrador
Healthy Relationships Act
The Conference supported the Healthy Relationships Act of 2017:
Letter of Support to Representative Hultgren (September 4, 2017)
Russell Amendment to HR 4909
The Conference supported the Russell Amendment to HR 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2017.
Letter to Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McCarthy (May 9, 2016)
Executive
Federal Trade Commission
The USCCB Office of the General Counsel submitted a public comment to the Federal Trade Commission on September 26, 2025, in response to the FTC's request for information regarding false or unsupported claims about “gender-affirming care” especially as it relates to minors and potential consumer harms.
Department of Health & Human Services
Four chairmen wrote a letter to the Department of Health & Human Services on September 7, 2022 opposing proposed regulations implementing section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that would include "sexual orientation and gendery identity" in its definition of "sex".
U.S. Attorney General
Three chairmen wrote a letter to the U.S. Attorney General on April 30, 2020 seeking steps to protect people from the pornography industry during the pandemic.
Judiciary
Mahmoud v. Taylor
Amicus brief for Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025): Supreme Court, parental notification and opt-out for school programs that violate religious beliefs regarding sexuality, marriage, and family
Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton
Amicus brief for Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (2024): Supreme Court, age verification requirements for pornographic websites
United States v. Skrmetti
Amicus brief for United States v. Skrmetti (2024): Supreme Court, "gender-affirming care"
Fulton v. Philadelphia
Amicus brief for Fulton v. Philadelphia (2020): Supreme Court, adoption by same-sex couples
Bostock v. Clayton County
Amicus brief for Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia (2019): Supreme Court, "sexual orientation"
Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC
Amicus brief for Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC (2019): Supreme Court, "gender identity"
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Amicus brief for Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2017): Supreme Court, religious freedom
Gloucester County School Board v. G.G.
Amicus brief for Gloucester County School Board v. G.G.(2017): Supreme Court, "transgender" student access
Obergefell v. Hodges
Amicus brief for Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Supreme Court, defense of marriage
Resources related to the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (which redefined marriage):
USCCB Statement from Archbishop Kurtz (en español)
Main messages (en español) about marriage
Nationwide bulletin insert (en español)
Backgrounder (en español)
Hollingsworth v. Perry
Amicus brief for United States v. Windsor (2013): Supreme Court, defense of marriage
Visit the USCCB Action Center to stay up-to-date on public policy issues, join our advocate network, and communicate with your elected officials. And visit the Office of Government Relations for the wider goals of USCCB advocacy.