Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2019 Message to Congress

Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2019 Message to Congress, February 2019

Hundreds of Catholic leaders at the 2019 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering urged Congress to advance justice, healing, human dignity, and the common good by aligning federal policy and funding with the needs of the poor, the vulnerable, and creation.

Funding Priorities for the Poor, Vulnerable, and Creation Care

• Advocate resisting budget cuts and prioritizing programs that protect people living in poverty at home and abroad
• Emphasize the federal government’s role as a partner in the Church’s “Circle of Protection”
• Highlight environmental stewardship as integral to human dignity and sustained development

International Recommendations 

1. Preserve or increase Fiscal Year 2020 funding at least to FY 2019 levels for development and humanitarian programs that save lives, tackle root causes of conflict, reduce poverty, and support 68 million displaced persons worldwide
2. Maintain robust diplomatic investments; do not offset defense increases by cutting non-defense accounts
3. Reintroduce and pass the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act (H.R. 5273) to bolster U.S. diplomatic and governance efforts in conflict prevention

Domestic Recommendations 

1. Protect essential nutrition assistance (SNAP, TEFAP, CSFP, WIC) to alleviate hunger for the 11.8 percent of U.S. food-insecure households
2. Invest in affordable housing and community development to address cost-burdened households, rising homelessness, and shrinking low-cost rental stock
3. Support environmental stewardship by maintaining or increasing EPA and Interior budgets and backing H.R. 763 (Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act)

Budget Control Act Concerns 

• Warn that FY 2020 caps could force $36 billion in non-defense cuts, jeopardizing anti-poverty and environmental programs
• Call for a bipartisan agreement to prevent severe and unnecessary reductions in critical domestic and international assistance

Immigration and Protection of Vulnerable Migrants 

• Find a bipartisan path to citizenship for approximately 1.8 million Dreamers who contribute to churches, the military, and the economy
• Enact permanent legal solutions for long-term Temporary Protected Status holders with strong U.S. ties
• Maintain protections for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers to prevent trafficking, ensure care, and uphold due process

Capitol-Hill-Message-CSMG-2019.pdf