from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director
HUNGER PROVISIONS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL | SAVE AMERICA ACT | ADMINISTRATION REPEALS THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING | FEDERAL POLICY IMPACTS FOR BURMA | WAR WITH IRAN | DHS PARTIAL SHUTDOWN CONTINUES AS CONGRESS WEIGHS MORE FUNDING FOR ICE
HUNGER PROVISIONS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL: The House Agriculture Committee Chairman has released new Farm Bill text (see the committee summary here). The proposed bill includes some positive bipartisan hunger provisions – including making SNAP online purchasing permanent. Additional positive bipartisan hunger provisions are expanding the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to more seniors in rural areas, reauthorizing the GusNIP food program and more. However, the legislation does nothing to revert the newly imposed SNAP work requirements or the massive defunding of the whole SNAP nutrition program – which is set to start phasing in later this year.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
Lutheran congregations across the country operate food pantries, partner with food banks and hunger relief networks and accompany rural communities whose livelihoods depend on stable agricultural policy – making the Farm Bill one of the most consequential pieces of legislation for our shared ministry. The Farm Bill, which authorizes the SNAP program and most nutrition policy, is one of the most germane vehicles to address some of the most severe cuts made to hunger programs made through a party-line budgetary measure (H.R. 1) passed outside of traditional authorization procedure. Despite some modest gains in the new House Farm Bill text, prioritizing farm policy at the cost of codifying large cuts to hunger programs risks rupturing a longtime bipartisan coalition that historically has operated well together.
What’s Next:
The House Agriculture committee is anticipated to mark up the legislation – but in a tight legislative calendar, it will be an ambitious effort to pass the bill on the floor ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The ELCA Witness in Society office will be collaborating with interfaith partners to share top priorities and goals with lawmakers as the legislation advances.
SAVE AMERICA ACT: The SAVE America Act has passed in the House and awaits action in the Senate. Baseless voter fraud claims have ignited support for the SAVE America Act and related legislation, with a call to election integrity masking legislation that would make voting and voter registration more difficult. This would impact millions of American citizens ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. ELCA advocacy staff added to other voices nationwide to reject the restrictive legislation leading to reduced House support for the bill compared to 2025. Through the ELCA Action Center over 5,700 messages from the “Reject Voting Barriers and Oppose the SAVE Act | SAVE America Act” Action Alert were sent to members of Congress.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The SAVE America Act, if enacted, would add additional burdens on voters to provide eligibility – which non-partisan experts say would not make any noticeable change to election security. The adjustments would disproportionately impact rural, low-income and marginalized communities and members of Tribal Nations by making it harder to both prove eligibility and register to vote.
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- The ELCA strongly affirms voter participation as an exercise in citizenship and resists efforts to restrict access – especially for low-income communities which are often left out of the election process. The ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy” urges rejection of “antidemocratic exclusion” efforts to restrict voting, including “requiring voters to show identification without issuing identification to all eligible voters,” purging voter rolls, and more.
What’s Next:
The ELCA will continue urging Congress to reject voting barriers and oppose legislation similar to the SAVE Act. The ELCA federal policy team will collaborate with ELCA Racial Justice and Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities colleagues to support and resource their ministries and partners. The “Reject Voting Barriers and Oppose the SAVE Act | SAVE America Act” Action Alert is still live.
ADMINISTRATION REPEALS THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING: In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed findings regarding greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, including what is known as the Endangerment Finding. Despite many advocacy efforts to bring forward concerns, repeal of the Endangerment Finding was announced by the EPA on Feb. 12, 2026. The Endangerment Finding is focused on the conclusion that current and projected concentrations of the certain greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. This finding served as the legal basis on which the federal government can regulate greenhouse gas emissions based on public health. In July 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal to rescind that finding which led to the repeal.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA released an official statement in response to the announcement of the repeal. The statement outlines the social teaching basis for increased regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in opposition to any attempts to weaponize or distort scientific research. The ELCA gave testimony at an EPA public hearing in support of upholding the finding. The Rev. Kaari Reierson, ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility Program Director, delivered that testimony based upon ELCA social teaching, and several other ELCA ministers also testified. Public comments were also recorded in the Federal Register. Additionally, ELCA advocacy staff scheduled a meeting with the EPA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to discuss these concerns.
What’s Next:
ELCA Advocacy staff will continue to monitor legal challenges as well as any legislative opportunities to ensure public health protections for current and future generations.
FEDERAL POLICY IMPACTS FOR BURMA: The House of Representatives has passed the Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in Burma Act (BRAVE Burma Act), extending expiring authorities outlined in the BURMA Act of 2022. The BURMA Act of 2022 authorizes humanitarian assistance and civil society support, promotes democracy and human rights. The BURMA Act of 2022 also imposes targeted sanctions against individuals and entities who helped stage the Feb. 1, 2021, coup d’état and are responsible for the subsequent repression of fundamental freedoms, human rights abuses and use of indiscriminate violence towards civilians and other gross atrocities.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA accompanies and works with four companion churches in Myanmar: the Myanmar Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in Myanmar, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Myanmar – Lutheran Bethlehem Church, and the Mara Evangelical Church. This partnership helps support those displaced by fighting with living supplies and shelter, and children and young adults with education. Witness in Society staff worked with advocacy partners to ensure passage of the BURMA Act of 2022.
What’s Next:
The BRAVE Burma Act (H.R. 3190) has been referred to the Senate for consideration. Witness in Society staff will continue to advocate for passage of this bill in the Senate.
WAR WITH IRAN: On Feb. 28, the United States and the State of Israel initiated hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran via an intensive bombing campaign of Iran’s civilian, theological and military infrastructure. This joint attack was initiated without Congressional authorization for the use of force (war powers act). Since Feb. 28, the U.S. military and the Israeli military have jointly conducted 2,000 airstrikes across the country. The resultant airstrikes have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and around 40 top military and civilian leaders within the government.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA social teaching provides numerous opportunities to discuss the parameters under which a war may be necessary, and the considerations required through the discussion of the just/unjust war tradition. As explained through the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World, “We seek guidance from the principles of the ‘just/unjust war’ tradition. While permitting recourse to war in exceptional circumstances, these principles intend to limit such occasions by setting forth conditions that must be met to render military action justifiable. We begin with a strong presumption against all war; support for and participation in a war to restore peace is a tragic concession to a sinful world. Any decision for war must be a mournful one.” It is clear the American public has not been provided the necessary time or engagement to deliberate on the necessity of this war, and thus have Congress render a legal judgement on whether to authorize the use of force and a war.
What’s Next:
ELCA advocacy staff continue to visit Congressional offices to draw attention to the necessity of war powers resolutions as this use of force continues to pummel the region. It is important that members of Congress use their constitutional power to ensure that our government is engaging constructively in matters of war, peace and the common good.
DHS PARTIAL SHUTDOWN CONTINUES AS CONGRESS WEIGHS MORE FUNDING FOR ICE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains partially shut down after legislators failed to reach a funding agreement after over two months of negotiations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue to work and receive pay throughout the shutdown Funding for ICE and CBP continued work comes from the more than $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement passed last July.
No immediate Homeland Security budget deal is in sight. In late March, the Senate reached a bipartisan deal to pass a DHS funding bill that carved out ICE and parts of CBP – overall a win for immigration advocates despite a remaining lack of clarity around ICE oversight and reforms. The House rejected this bill, and are instead working on a “Reconciliation 2.0 package” that would provide even more funding to ICE and CBP.
Why It Matters in the ELCA:
The ELCA has been raising the importance of meaningful accountability in outreach to legislators, noting how lack of accountability threatens our communities from Minneapolis to Chicago and in many communities where ICE has increased its presence. This negotiation period is a critical time to push for meaningful changes to be written into appropriations law.
What’s Next:
An ELCA Action Alert is available to transmit your message to law makers: “No ICE Funding Without Accountability.” We will continue to press legislators to reach an agreement that includes specific, measurable protections for immigrants and communities.
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“For what shall we pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
