Check out the Actions, Events, News Posts, and Resources below—just click on the links under each category to get to the information.
We understand that there is a lot of information here. Please know that you aren’t expected to act on everything! Choose the issues that are most important to you and take action! Also—please support this ministry; learn how by clicking here.
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.
IMPORTANT ACTIONS AND ISSUES
Some Ways You Can Help in Haiti
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1962
Health Care Reform Vigil—Now through January 31
Faithful Reform in Health Care (http://www.faithfulreform.org) is calling for us to join people of faith around the country in prayer, hope, and action for health care reform!
Organizations and congregations are asked to “sponsor” a day on which they will ask their own members to pray, to send prayers to Congress and the President, and to share their perspectives on reform with their elected leaders.
Individuals throughout our network are urged to sign-up for the hourly blocks of time each day to pray and to take some kind of action in support of health care reform. Please note that it’s not necessary to use the whole hour. We just need to know that something is happening during that time. Sign up now!
January 17 – 23 (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2DZ92B3)
January 24 – 31 (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2D6TQ67)
Keep On Advocating for a Faith-Inspired Call for Health Care Reform to President Obama, Senators Casey and Specter, and Your Representative!
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/t/5044/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2020. Health care reform is looking tenuous, at best. Please contact our Senators, your Representative, and the President to urge them to continue to fight for legislation that provides access to affordable and comprehensive health care. This is needed now more than ever!
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
We have posted many opportunities to advocate on a variety of issues on our Take Action page (http://www.pachurchesadvocacy.org/index_files/Page630.htm, and on our Weblog Take Action page at http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?cat=10). Please visit these pages to learn more, or click on links in items below.
NEW—Urge Your PA Representative to Support Creating a Housing Trust Fund
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=2000
NEW—Urge PA’s Senators to Support Extending Unemployment Benefits
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1978
NEW—Support Proposed Standards to Protect PA’s Drinking Water
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1981
NEW—Support a Consumer Financial Protection Agency NOW
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1984
Join the Interfaith Virtual Vigil for Health Care Reform—Now Through January 31
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1949
Protect Alaskan Wilderness—Pennsylvania Co-Sponsors Needed for Legislation
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1848
Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act—Pennsylvania Co-Sponsors Needed NOW
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1862
Support Year-Round Access to Meals and Snacks for Kids—Pennsylvania Co-Sponsors Needed
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1866
Support Homeless Education—PA Senators’ Support Needed
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1873
End Mountaintop Removal Mining—Call the President Now
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1884
Take Action on Criminal Justice Issues
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1946
Let Justice Roll—Sign On to Support the $10 in 2010 Campaign
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1025
Bills Target Increasing Access and Participation for Low-Income Children in Nutrition Programs
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1783
Support Jobs Legislation to Help Workers Who Need Jobs or More Hours
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1804
Urge Your Pennsylvania Representative to Support Campaign Finance Reform
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1766
Address Opportunity Gaps in Public Education at Federal Level
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1567
Working People Need Paid Sick Days–Support the Healthy Families Act
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1580
Urge Pennsylvania’s Senators to Support Strong Climate Change Legislation
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/t/5044/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2154
Contact Pennsylvania Legislators to Support SB 400, HB 1660—Publicly Funded, Privately Delivered Health Care for Pennsylvania
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/t/5044/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1329
Support Death Penalty Moratorium Legislation
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1186
EVENTS
For a full listing of events, go to the Events Calendar at http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?page_id=92.
12th Annual Summit Against Racism—January 23, Pittsburgh
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1852
Health Action 2010—January 28-30, Washington, DC
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1226
FRESH—The Movie—January 29, Harrisburg
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1916
Marcellus Shale Muster—January 30, State College
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1870
Obtaining Health Care for Immigrants: Training for Providers, Advocates, Community Leaders—February 2, Philadelphia
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1721
National Prayer Day for Criminal Justice Reform—February 7, National
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1790
Responsible Energy Development: Protecting Our Coldwater Resources—February 19-20, State College
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1856
National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference—March 7-9, Washington
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1904
Ecumenical Advocacy Days: A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples—March 19-22, Washington DC (NOTE: Registration now open at http://advocacydays.org)
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1166
National Interfaith Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform—March 22, National
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1794
Film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” Chronicles Women’s Role in Bringing Peace to Liberia—May 28, Harrisburg
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1662
Facing Race: A National Conference—September 23-25, Chicago, IL
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1492
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.
LIHEAP Cash and Crisis Assistance Grants Available
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1820
Reforming our Nation’s Chemical Policy—It’s a Matter of Faith
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1988
Pennsylvania’s Prisons “Bursting at the Seams”
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1991
RESOURCES
For recently posted resources via these news summaries, go to http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?cat=24. For a more complete listing of resources and links, visit www.pachurchesadvocacy.org and click on the “Resources” link or “Related Links” (left side of page). This list is updated continually. Please report broken links to s.strauss@pachurches.org.
Grace Goes to Prison
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1995
NCC Earth Day 2010 Resource Available
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1798
New Torture Resource—In the Footsteps of the Crucified: Torture is Never Justified
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=1817
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!