{"id":5592,"date":"2021-02-17T16:26:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T22:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=5592"},"modified":"2021-07-09T16:07:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T21:07:18","slug":"februaryupdate-unandstateedition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/februaryupdate-unandstateedition\/","title":{"rendered":"February Update: UN and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices.
\n<\/em>As the new year <\/span>begins,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>state public policy offices (<\/span><\/span>SPPO<\/span><\/span>) share their annual policy priorities<\/span><\/span>. Find\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a map and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0full<\/span><\/span>\u00a0list of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ELCA\u00a0<\/span><\/span>affiliated\u00a0<\/span><\/span>SPPO<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>using our<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/em>state office map<\/em>.<\/a>
\nLearn more about Lutheran advocacy using our new resource, Advocacy 101 For Young Adults\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

U.N.<\/a> | Arizona <\/a> | Colorado <\/a> | Florida <\/a> | New Mexico <\/a> | Ohio<\/a> | Pennsylvania<\/a> | Texas<\/a> | Virginia<\/a> | Washington<\/a> | Wisconsin<\/a><\/p>\n

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UN<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y. https:\/\/www.elca.org\/lowc<\/a> –<\/strong>Dennis Frado, Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Changed US policy approach to Israel-Palestine outlined at UN Security Council: <\/strong>At the January monthly discussion of the Israel-Palestinian conflict in the UN Security Council, Acting U.S. Representative Richard Mills outlined how the Biden Administration plans to address the issues.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Mills reiterated earlier US policy of support for a \u201cmutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state.\u201d He said that approach \u201cremains the best way to ensure Israel\u2019s future as a democratic and Jewish state, while upholding the Palestinian people\u2019s legitimate aspirations for a state of their own and to live with dignity and security.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Biden has been clear in his intent to restore U.S. assistance programs that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people and to take steps to re-open diplomatic missions that were closed by the last U.S. administration,\u201d Mills added.
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Arizona<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona, https:\/\/www.lamaz.org<\/a> – Solveig Muus, Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In January, the LAMA policy council identified its legislative policy priorities for Arizona in 2021, the Fifty-fifth Legislature, First Regular Session as below:<\/p>\n

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  1. Hunger <\/strong>and associated food security issues<\/li>\n
  2. Community-based s<\/strong>enior support<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Fair and Equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    LAMA is currently tracking 65 bills<\/a> that were introduced in January, bills the policy council believes are of interest to people of faith in Arizona. Between the two houses, there are 17 bills on child and youth welfare, 12 on housing and homeless issues, 10 related to civil rights, eight on food security, seven on voting, seven on health care, six on issues of concern to vulnerable adults, etc. In addition to the bills related to our specified policy priorities, we also are watching movements on voting rights, redistricting, vaccine hesitancy and more.<\/p>\n

    Together with its partner, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW), LAMA sponsored Advocacy 101<\/strong>, and is collaborating with Arizona Faith Network and Bread for the World on a second training session in February. This virtual workshop educates participants on the Arizona Legislature and introduces them to Arizona\u2019s Request To Speak (RTS) bill-tracking system. LAMA\u2019s plans to continue encouraging Arizona Lutherans to sign up for RTS, as it is a super-easy, free way to weigh in and be heard on a bill from the comfort of your home. Or\u2026 when times are better, to speak in person at the legislature.
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    Colorado<\/h4>\n

    Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado https:\/\/www.rmselca.org\/advocacy<\/a> – Peter Severson, Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Legislature gavels in, recesses<\/strong>: The Colorado General Assembly officially gaveled in their 2021 legislative session on Wednesday, January 13th<\/sup>. Two days later, they went into recess until at least February 16th<\/sup>. As the pandemic continues, legislators will allow the peak of the post-holiday season to hopefully recede before convening to take up the work of the people.<\/p>\n

    Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado will be advocating for bills related to housing, tax credits, and support for people interacting with the criminal justice system, in addition to any follow-on work from ballot measures that passed in November 2020, such as paid family leave.\"\"<\/a>Blessing of the session<\/strong>: Lutheran Advocacy, along with several ecumenical and interfaith cosponsors comprising the Faithful Thursdays team, will be hosting a \u201cBlessing of the Session\u201d on Thursday, February 18 at 12 PM MT. Everyone is welcome at this online blessing! Please register in advance at www.faithfulthursdays.org<\/a>.
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    Florida<\/h4>\n

    Florida Faith Advocacy Office, Florida Council of Churches https:\/\/floridachurches.org\/advocacy\/<\/a> – Russell L. Meyer, Executive Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    The Florida legislature is in its committee weeks leading up to the opening of the 60-day legislative session beginning March 2. The governor\u2019s top priority is HB1\/SB484. Known as the anti-peaceful protest bill, it \u2018felonizes\u2019 those who act violently while exercising their First Amendment right to assemble and present grievances and increases existing penalties for related offenses. The governor proposed the legislation last fall to contain overwhelming peaceful protests for racial justice, but now claims it is needed because of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Considered unconstitutional and unnecessary, the impact of the bill falls heaviest on Black and Latinx Floridians seeking civil rights. Although advanced by party line vote, privately many lawmakers say they would rather focus on addressing the pandemic and the economy. Encourage legislators to protect civil liberties and pursue real solutions to actual problems.<\/p>\n

    SB48 consolidates voucher scholarships into an ongoing trust fund, automatically increases the number of scholarships annually, and includes them in the formula for funding public schools. Yet private and charter schools do not have to meet the standards of public schools.\u00a0\u00a0Public school funding decreased 30% between 2008-2018, while tax revenue was diverted to voucher scholarships. Across the state, school districts have passed sales tax referendums to make up for cuts in state dollars. Florida needs to fund public schools fully so all students can thrive.<\/p>\n

    Florida spends over $3 billion per year to incarcerate nearly 100,000 inmates and is the only state without parole. Several reform bills are proposed.
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    New Mexico<\/h4>\n

    Lutheran Advocacy Ministry- New Mexico<\/strong>
    \n    https:\/\/www.lutheranadvocacynm.org<\/a> – Kurt Rager, Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    1st<\/sup> Session of the 55th<\/sup> Legislature is underway: <\/strong>The New Mexico Legislature gathers in Santa Fe on the third Tuesday in January of each year.\u00a0 The Legislature meets for 60-day sessions in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years.\u00a0 The Capital, known as the \u201cRoundhouse\u201d remains closed to the public with the session being conducted entirely online.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    As the session continues to progress, legislators, citizens, lobbyists, and advocates have become more comfortable and adept at conducting business through Zoom, as is evident by the less frequent question, \u201cCan you hear me?\u201d Meeting virtually has major shortcomings, such as the lack of face-to-face advocacy, and yet advantages exist as well.\u00a0 Citizens are participating from communities large and small, rural and urban, all across the state and virtual committee rooms allow for far great attendance.\u00a0 Chairs of committees have consistently remarked that there are more participants in their virtual meeting room than could fit in their Capital meeting rooms.\u00a0 Also, LAM-NM can be present and participate in more than one committee meeting at a time.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>LAM-NM is equipping our Advocating Congregations and volunteer advocates by providing three training sessions on advocating virtually, and by holding Sunday afternoon mini-legislative updates where experienced volunteers are prepared for upcoming committee testimony.\u00a0 Unable to meet in person, the annual half-day Issuing Briefing will be held virtually on February 25th<\/sup>, and the Bishop\u2019s Luncheon has been postponed for 2021.<\/p>\n

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    Ohio<\/h4>\n

    Hunger Network in Ohio https:\/\/www.hungernetohio.com – Nick Bates, Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    The Budget is here!<\/strong> The Governor introduced his budget proposal on February 1st. He introduced a very ordinary budget for extraordinary times. The budget maintains status quo funding for most programs and agencies.<\/p>\n