{"id":7179,"date":"2023-09-18T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=7179"},"modified":"2023-09-17T07:59:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T12:59:31","slug":"august-september-updates-u-n-and-state-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/august-september-updates-u-n-and-state-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"August\/September Updates – U.N. and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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U.N.<\/a> | CALIFORNIA<\/a> \u00a0| COLORADO<\/a> | MINNESOTA<\/a> | OHIO<\/a> | PENNSYLVANIA<\/a> | TEXAS<\/a> | WASHINGTON<\/a> | WISCONSIN<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), United Nations, New York, N.Y. – ELCA.org\/lowc<\/a><\/h4>\n

Christine Mangale, Director<\/h4>\n

Events<\/h5>\n

LOWC co-hosted a mini-series of events over the summer focused on the rights of migrants and refugees. These events included:<\/p>\n

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  1. \u201cConfronting Anti-Blackness in Global Migration\u201d with Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)and ELCA. The event was held on May 30 at the Church Center for the UN; Rev. Lamont Wells and LOWC staff presented. Event was held during the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD), which was in its second session at the United Nations.<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cCommemoration of the World Refugee Day\u201d (June 8), virtual event co-hosted by the NGO C, including the LWF (who is co-chair of this committee).<\/li>\n
  3. \u201cWorld Refugee Day- Renewing Passion and Reclaiming Resilience\u201d Freedom Dreams from the Margins Event held on June 20 at the Church Center for the UN. This event was co-hosted by Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC,) ELCA, LWF and Ecumenical Women.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    High Level Political Forum updates<\/h5>\n

    The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the voluntary reporting mechanism for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The theme of the July 10-19, 2023 session of the HLPF was, “Accelerating the Recovery from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.” <\/strong>The session reviewed in-depth sustainable Development Goals: 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals. <\/strong><\/p>\n

    ELCA\/ LWF was represented at the HLPF by staff of the Lutheran Office for World Community in New York, staff of ELCA World Hunger, ELCA Advocacy office in Washington DC and a young adult delegation from the United States. Unfortunately, a LWF delegate from Liberia who works on the “waking the giant” initiative was denied a visa to enter the US for these meetings. Visa denial in the US is a rapidly increasing reality faced by civil society groups and organizations engaging with the UN.<\/p>\n

    The SDGs are at their halfway point in their 15-year mandate and at their current course they will not be achieved in any context. Rapid acceleration is required to meet any of the targets under each of the goals. The LWF has a unique opportunity to push this agenda forward; especially giving its links to climate and human rights policy areas. Further support from a potentially reaffirmed mandate from the LWF assembly in September 2023 is a big opportunity for accelerating and amplifying this area of our work together.<\/p>\n

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    <\/a><\/p>\n

    California<\/h4>\n

    Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California (LOPP-CA) – lutheranpublicpolicyca.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

    Regina Banks, Director<\/h4>\n

    Movement in CA Legislature<\/h5>\n

    The California legislature is reconvening from their summer recess, so the final push to get remaining bills across the finish line has commenced. The Lutheran Office of Public Policy, California (LOPP-CA) is working with our partner coalitions and organizations to pass legislation covering issue areas spanning affordable housing, worker and family protections, and environmental justice. Of LOPP-CA\u2019s priority bills, two remain moving through the process. Those bills are SB 4 (Wiener), Affordable Housing on Faith and Higher Education Lands Act, and AB 249 (Holden), school lead testing and clean up. SB 4 was passed by the California legislature on September 8, and is expected to be signed by the governor soon.<\/p>\n

    Another bill, AB 660 (Irwin), which would have required food date label reform, was made into a 2-year bill, so it will be considered in next year\u2019s legislative session.<\/p>\n

    State Budget Summary<\/h5>\n

    Key efforts were impacted by the budget this year, which was unavoidable given the $31.5 billion shortfall. Funds have been shifted to bonds or delayed to future years. The tax credits for low-income households didn\u2019t make it this year (though, there is still hope for some of that within SB 220). Environmental issues took a hit, and a lot will be riding on a climate bond. However, a lot of programs were also spared, and funding increased in some critical areas, such as flood resilience. Other bills that will require appropriations of some kind are still moving, but any major piece of spending legislation will face difficulty.<\/p>\n

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    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Colorado<\/h4>\n

    Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) – lam-co.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

    Peter Severson, Director<\/h4>\n

    Two Propositions on Fall Ballot<\/h5>\n

    Coloradans will be voting on two statewide propositions this fall:<\/p>\n