Website for the PA Council of Churches Advocacy Program

Archive for May, 2010

28
May

Have a restful Memorial Day holiday, and please remember and keep in prayer all who have lost loved ones or who are affected by worries for family and friends in harm’s way.

 

Check out the Actions, Events, Opportunities, News Posts, and Resources below—just click on the links under each category to get to the information. We’ve placed the most critical issues under Important Actions and Issues.

 

We understand that there is a lot of information here. Please know that you aren’t expected to act on everything! Just choose the issues that are most important to you and take action. Sometimes you will be directed to action pages of other organizations—don’t worry! These are organizations that we work with regularly and who share a common interest.

 

Please consider contacting your legislators to thank them when they support your position as well, or to express your disappointment when they don’t. We don’t follow up with them often enough. They need our feedback to understand how we feel. Go to our Take Action page (http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/Page630.htm) to find links to contact information for your legislators.

 

Our website is updated regularly—please visit to find updated links, resources, etc. at http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org. It is a work in progress, and issue pages continue to be created as time permits. If there is something you would really like to see that isn’t there, please contact us at s.strauss@pachurches.org.

 

And finally—If you appreciate this ministry, we would very much appreciate your support; you can learn how by clicking here. 


 

IMPORTANT ACTIONS AND ISSUES—Urgent!

 

Urge Senators Casey and Specter to Close the “Carried Interest” Loophole

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3338

 

Call on the PA Senate Urban Affairs Committee to Support a State Housing Trust Fund

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3412

 

Urge House and Senate Leadership to Move Economic Impact Study Resolution re: Single Payer Health Care to a Vote

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=2512


 

Important News!

 

Home Heating Equipment Rebate Funds Still Available

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3415

 

Pennsylvania House Delays Vote on Revenue Plan

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3432


 

Download the Council’s “Get Connected” Bulletin Insert at http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/web_attachments/Get_Connected_insert.pdf for information about how members of your congregation can connect with the Council’s e-advocacy network.


 

ACTIONS

 

Please visit our “Take Action” page at http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/Page630.htm for the most up-to-date listing of all current actions you can take by category. Categories include: New Actions; Children and Families; Economy and Economic Justice; Education; Environment; Government Reform; Health Care; Housing; Human Rights; Hunger; Immigration; Torture; Women.

 

You can also check out our Weblog Take Action page at http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?cat=10.

 

Posted below are the NEWEST ACTIONS you can take.

 

FEDERAL

 

Support the Chesapeake Clean Water Act

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3235

 

Urge Senator Casey to Defend the Clean Air Act

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3422

 

Support the Appalachia Restoration Act

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3465

 

Lobbying for Children’s Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR)

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3452

 

2012 Farm Bill—Getting Ahead of the Curve

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3456

 

STATE

 

Speak Out for Clean Drinking Water—Comment on Proposed Regulations

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3408

 

Call on the PA Senate Urban Affairs Committee to Support a State Housing Trust Fund

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3412

 

Urge State Legislators to Meet Funding Commitment to Schools—UPDATED

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3443

 

Protect Children and Families in Pennsylvania’s Budget

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3446


 

EVENTS

 

For a full listing of events, go to the Events Calendar at http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?page_id=92.

 

Here are the NEWEST EVENTS added to the Calendar.

 

2010 Forum on National Security, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change—June 1, State College

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3435

 

Early Childhood Action Day—June 8, Harrisburg

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3462

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market—June 8, Middletown

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3471

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market—June 8, St. Marys

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3471

 

Understanding Haiti’s Misery and What to Do About It—June 15, Lancaster

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3449

 

PennFuture Lobby Day 2010: Protect Forests, Support Responsible Drilling—June 15, Harrisburg

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3429

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market—June 23, Media

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3471

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market—June 30, State College

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3471

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market—July 29, Pittsburgh

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3471


 

OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND ACT

 

This is a current listing of opportunities to participate in national conference calls, calls for comments on policies or legislation, and activities that individuals/congregations can engage in aside from Actions.

 

Sign a Letter to Help Hungry Pennsylvanians

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=2205 

 

If I Had a Trillion Dollars—Youth Video Context—Submissions by July 31

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3213

 

Educate Your Community on Immigration Detention—Screen “The Visitor” for Free

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3024

 

Last Call Campaign–Recycle Those Old Cell Phones

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=2717


 

NEWS POSTS

 

Please visit our weblog (http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?page_id=24) for the latest news and information. For previous News Summaries, click on the “News Summaries” link on the right side of the page.

 

Subscribe to our weblog via RSS (What is RSS?) or e-mail.

 

Implicit Bias May Make Evenhanded Application of New Immigration Law Impossible, Psychologist Says

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3418

 

Environmental Round Up: Energy Efficiency, Wind, Gulf Oil Spill, Hottest 12 Months—May 27

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3426

 

Epstein’s Mother’s Note—Marcellus Shale

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3440

 

Important Water Protection Rules Approved for PA

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3459


 

RESOURCES

 

For recently posted resources via these news summaries, go to http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?cat=24.

 

For a listing of Council-related resources go to the “Resources” link at http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/Page498.htm.

 

For links to organizations that address many of the Council’s advocacy issues, visit “Related Links” at http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/Page560.htm. This list is updated continually. Please report broken links to s.strauss@pachurches.org.

 

Here are the NEWEST RESOURCES.

 

State Level Data Analysis Available

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3468

 

Reduce Your Energy Use

http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3474



SUPPORT THE COUNCIL’S ADVOCACY WORK

 

Link up with fellow faith advocates through our Advocacy Ministry’s Facebook group, Pennsylvania Council of Churches Advocates at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39350713796.

 

If you received this message from a friend, sign up for Pennsylvania Council of Churches Advocacy e-mails at http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/t/5044/signUp.jsp?key=794.

 

Financial support for the Council’s Advocacy Ministry is always welcome! Go to our online support page at http://www.pachurches.org/Payments%20&%20Gifts/online_registrations_payments.htm and enter “Advocacy Ministry Support” under “Comments.”

 

And finally…PLEASE FORWARD THIS E-MAIL!

Category : News Summaries | Blog
28
May

From New Community Project (http://www.newcommunityproject.org):

 

Ultimately the populations of the world have to act as whole to find alternate, sustainable sources of energy. However, there are actions that we can take as individuals to reduce our own personal use of fossil fuels. Some good ideas as well as reasons to implement these suggestions can be found at http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/8276.aspx. Also, this site offers an article that shares good insight on reduction of energy use as it pertains to gardening and food production.

 

Additionally, New Community Project offers many resources that can help individuals evaluate their eco-friendliness. A new resource, Planes, Trains, Cars, and Bikes, is a guide to alternative transportation in our car-centered culture. Find this and many other materials at http://www.newcommunityproject.org/cc-educationalmaterials.shtml.

Category : Environment | Resources | Blog
28
May

From the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania (http://www.housingalliancepa.org):

 

Learn  •  Network  •  Share

 

Please join the Housing Alliance for a FREE Regional Forum

 

Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Housing Market

 

  • Get cool new data about what’s really going on!
  • Hear the latest from DC and Harrisburg on housing!
  • Share your thoughts about what’s working locally - and what still needs to be done!
  • Help shape our agenda for changing the housing market!

Join Us for Breakfast and Networking

Bring your literature to share!

 

Choose one of five locations: 
 
South Central PA

Tuesday, June 8

8:30 a.m. – Noon

At Penn State Middletown, Education Activities Building

Click to register:  https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/419/personal2.asp?formid=eventscalendar&c=8482714

 

Northwest PA

Tuesday, June 8

8:30 a.m. - Noon
St. Marys Country Club, 535 S. Michael Road

Click to register:  https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/419/personal2.asp?formid=eventscalendar&c=2201739

 

Central PA

Tuesday, June 30

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn State Visitors Center, State College, PA

Click to register:  https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/419/personal2.asp?formid=eventscalendar&c=9145098

 

Suburban Southeastern PA

Tuesday, June 23

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Elwyn Campus, Administrative Building - Barr Hall, Media, PA

Click to register:  https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/419/personal2.asp?formid=eventscalendar&c=8665820

 

Southwestern PA

Thursday, July 29

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Pittsburgh Location TBD

Click to register:  https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/419/personal2.asp?formid=eventscalendar&c=7294970

 

The forums are FREE, but registration is required.

 

Look for more locations to come in the late summer!

Category : Events | Human Needs | Blog
28
May

From the National Priorities Project (http://www.nationalpriorities.org):

 

National Priorities Project has updated all state-level data in its Federal Priorities Database (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/nppdatabase_tool) with the latest available federal government data. This database offers a collection of federal spending data accompanied by budget area indicators.

 

Budget categories and data update highlights include:

 

  • Basic Demographics including median-household income and population data;
  • Education including primary, secondary and post-secondary education program spending as well as indicators such as educational attainment and drop-out rates;
  • Energy including energy-related research and development program spending and indicators such as consumption by energy-type;
  • General Budget including tax collections and total federal expenditures;
  • Health including Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) expenditures as well as indicators such as the number of participants in these programs as well as numbers of people and children with and without health insurance;
  • Housing including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Section 8 expenditures and indicators such as numbers of Owners, Renters and those housed in shelters;
  • Hunger including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps), Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) supplemental nutrition program, and school meal program expenditures and indicators such as the numbers of participants in these programs;
  • Income & Poverty including expenditures for Temporary Aid for Needy Families  (TANF), Social Services Block Grants (SSBG) and Head Start as well as indicators on TANF recipients and families and children in poverty;
  • Labor including unemployment insurance and job training expenditures and indicators for unemployment rates by race and those not in the labor force;
  • Military including Department of Defense military and civilian pay expenditures as well as the number of military and civilian employees.  Included in this data category are NPP’s exclusive military recruitment data which will be updated with FY09 figures later this year.

For additional resources regarding federal spending, visit NPP’s President’s Budget analysis for FY11 (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/Presidents_Budget_FY2011) and Federal Budget 101: Charts (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/charts).  And to see how your tax dollars contribute to federal spending see NPP’s Interactive Tax Chart (http://www.nationalpriorities.org//taxchart/2010) and Tax Day publication (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/taxday2010). Many of these NPP tools are also available in Spanish.

Category : Economic Justice | Resources | Blog
28
May

From ILoveMountains.org (http://www.ilovemountains.org):

 

It seems that nearly every week we hear of a new disaster… the tragic explosion that killed 29 miners in the Upper Big Branch Mine accident… the explosion of the oil rig that killed 11 workers and is pumping millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

 

And each week we see the CEOs of Big Oil and Big Coal on the television talk shows, pretending that these accidents were unforeseeable, and pretending that their industries don’t put our workers, our communities, and our environment at risk every day.

 

Massey Energy (which runs the Upper Big Branch Mine) is the largest perpetrator of mountaintop removal coal mining, and they have one of the worst track records in the industry for worker safety — yet they rarely face repercussions for violating laws and regulations. Cleaning up the act of companies like Massey Energy is about more than improving safety for workers — it’s about taking a broader view of our nation’s energy future.

 

Can you take a moment and tell your Senators to take the first step to a clean energy future by supporting the Appalachia Restoration Act (S. 696, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-696)?

 

Click here to email your Senators today: http://www.ilovemountains.org/write-your-senators/

 

The recent energy disasters in West Virginia and the Gulf of Mexico reveal our nation’s urgent need to move toward a clean and more sustainable energy future and away from dangerous practices like mountaintop removal mining.

 

As the perils of using dirty energy sources like coal and oil are becoming more apparent, we need to urge our Senators to cosponsor and pass S. 696, the Appalachia Restoration Act.

 

It is our responsibility to help our friends, family, and elected officials see the connection between the corner-cutting mentality that results in both unsafe working conditions and mountaintop removal.

 

By speaking up together, we can end mountaintop removal coal mining and bring a cleaner energy future to Appalachia and our nation.

 

Thank you for taking action.

Category : Environment | Take Action | Blog
27
May

From Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (http://www.papartnerships.org):

 

Register today! Early Childhood Action Day is just around the corner!

 

Last year over 500 people filled the Capitol Rotunda, overflowed up the central staircase and onto the balconies in support of early childhood investments. Please join us this year.

 

Help us assure that every member of the General Assembly is visited on June 8, 2010.

 

Join us and fill the halls of the Capitol with parents, grandparents, teachers, business people, community members, and other advocates proclaiming that Early Learning is the KEY to our CommonWEALTH!

 

Convene:        8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location:         Pine Street Presbyterian Church

310 North 3rd Street

Harrisburg, PA 17101-1392

Rally:               Capitol Rotunda

Time:               1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

 

To register visit: http://www.paquest.org/?q=ActionDay2010

Category : Children | Education | Events | Blog
27
May

From PennFuture (http://www.pennfuture.org):

 

One small step for the EQB; one giant leap for clean water
On May 17 the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) approved two important water protection rules that will shield both drinking water and the state’s rivers and streams (http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=11447&typeid=1). One rule sets a protective limit on total dissolved solid (TDS) pollution and requires Marcellus Shale drillers to treat wastewater that they discharge to rivers and streams to drinking water standards (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/pa.htm). The second rule requires new developments to create or protect a 150 foot natural filter planted with trees and other plants along our best waterways.

 

PennFuture praised the EQB for these critical new rules (http://www.pennfuture.org/media_pr_detail.aspx?MediaID=1156&Home=Y), especially the support of Representative Camille “Bud” George (D-Clearfield) and Senator Ray Musto (D-Luzerne). The new rules now move to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (http://www.irrc.state.pa.us/About.cfm) and the House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committees for a 30-day review period.

 

Category : Environment | Blog
27
May

From the Food Research and Action Center (http://www.frac.org):

 

Opportunities to Set the Farm Bill Record Straight:  Anti-hunger advocates have opportunities to set the House Agriculture Committee record straight about the extent of hunger and the positive roles that nutrition programs play in combating both hunger and obesity. In conjunction with its 2012 Farm Bill field hearings, the House Agriculture Committee will accept comments submitted by June 14th. For information about submitting comments, accessing live video coverage of each hearing, and the hearing schedule, respectively, go to http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/feedbackform.html and
http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html and http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/schedule.html.
 
2012 Farm Bill Strategies for Anti-Hunger Advocates:  Anti-hunger advocates should: 1) let House Agriculture Committee Members know how SNAP/Food Stamps is helping families and local economies but should be strengthened in the 2012 Farm Bill process; 2) submit comments for the hearing record by June 14th; 3) invite Members of Congress to visit SNAP/Food Stamps offices, outreach projects, nutrition education venues, and other sites where they can learn how SNAP/Food Stamps is working for needy constituents; and 4) place local op eds about the importance of SNAP/Food Stamps. For 2012 Farm Bill talking points, model comments, and technical assistance, contact
evollinger@frac.org.

Category : Human Needs | Resources | Take Action | Blog
27
May

From the Food Research and Action Center (http://www.frac.org):

 

CNR Timeline:  House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) is expected to release an outline of his Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) priorities before Congress adjourns for the Memorial Day recess.  House Committee action on CNR could occur as early as the work period between Memorial Day recess and July 4th.  A CNR bill already has cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee.

 

June 10 CNR Lobby Day:  he period now through July 4th is critical to securing a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill. Join advocates from across the country on June 10 for a CNR Lobby Day on Capitol Hill. It follows FRAC’s 40th anniversary gala dinner in Washington, DC. To attend the dinner and participate in the lobby day, contact Etienne Melcher, emelcher@frac.org.  For details about FRAC’s dinner, go to https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5118/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=20746.

Take Action Now:  1) Schedule visits with Members of Congress for the June 10th CNR Lobby Day; 2) Prepare for Memorial Day Recess (May 29th-June 8th) activities by inviting Members of Congress to visit child nutrition program sites.Target members of the Senate Finance and Agriculture Committees and House Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees as well as House and Senate leaders.  For committee lists and contacts, go to http://www.frac.org/pdf/hill_list_2010.pdf.

 

Message to Members of Congress:  Build on the Senate Agriculture Committee-passed Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill by adding funds for program access priorities to achieve President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 but oppose cutting SNAP (Food Stamp) Nutrition Education funds and pass CNR by the end of the 111th Congress.

Category : Children | Human Needs | Take Action | Blog
27
May

Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness’s (http://www.lancasterinterchurchpeacewitness.org) Latin American Issues Group is presenting a program that will be of interest to all.

 

“Understanding Haiti’s Misery and What to Do About It”

Dr. Tom Driver, Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary, New York

 

Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m.

James Street Mennonite Church, 323 W. James St., Lancaster

 

All are welcome. Please spread the word among your friends and in your congregation.

 

Tom F. Driver is the Paul J. Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary, New York, where he taught for 35 years. After a first vist to Haiti in 1980 he returned two years later to do research on its religion and rituals.  In the late 1980s, with the rise of Haiti’s democratic movement, he became interested in the country’s history, economics, and politics.  Serving as the Chair of the Haiti Task Force for Witness for Peace, he led delegations to Haiti throughout the 1990’s.  He was a member of the first delegation from the United States to reach Haiti after the deposition of President Aristide in 2004.  Following Haiti’s devastating earthquake on January 12 this year, Driver joined with historian Carl Lindskoog to write a widely circulated “Open Letter to David Brooks,” rebutting the popular columnist’s serious misunderstanding of Haiti and misplaced criticism of its religion and culture.

 

Driver is active in Witness for Peace, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  He has photographed and edited two videos about the United States’ contribution to the violence in Colombia in South America, scripting and narrating these together with his wife, the historian Anne Barstow. His published books include: Romantic Quest and Modern Query: A History of the Modern Theater; Christ in a Changing World: Toward an Ethical Christology; Liberating Rites: Understanding the Transformative Power of Ritual.

Category : Events | Global Issues | Blog