This is an especially busy time. Please don’t feel overwhelmed!
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!
Some Budget Negotiators put Cuts to Pre-K Counts, Head Start & Child Care in Play–Take Action NOW
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3857
Support Campaign Finance Reform for Pennsylvania NOW
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3862
Support the Chesapeake Clean Water Act—REMINDER; Action Needed NOW
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5415/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3235
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!
PLEASE JOIN US! The New Metropolis; Screening and Panel Discussion-June 28, Harrisburg
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3653
Time to Close the Delaware Loophole
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3683
Murkowski Amendment on Preventing EPA Regulation of Global Warming Pollution Defeated—but We May Not be Done Yet
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3751
Poll: American Opinion on Climate Change Warms Up
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3792
U.S. Scores Dead Last Again in Healthcare Study
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3831
Council Poverty Study Guide Now Available!
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3606
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
Urge Congress to Permanently Ban Valley Fills and Support Clean Water
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3670
Support Reducing Mercury Contamination
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3838
Transit Systems All Across the Country are in Crisis—Support Public Transportation
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3783
Undocumented Immigrants Provide a Net Gain of $7 Billion to Social Security Annually—Support AgJOBS
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3677
Support an Investigation into Evidence of Illegal CIA Experimentation on Detainees
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3688
Urge Your Member of Congress to Invest in Affordable, Quality Child Care
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3727
Urge Congress to Support Miller’s Child Nutrition Authorization Bill
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3755
Support Full Funding for the International Affairs Budget
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3806
STATE
Senate Plans “Resolution of Disapproval” from New DEP Stream Regulations—Tell Them “No”
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3664
Urge Pennsylvania’s Senators to Listen to the Science and Economics: Protect Tropical Forests
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3718
One (not so) Small Step for Clean Energy, One Giant Leap for Green Jobs—Act to Support Green Jobs
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3748
House Approves E-Waste Recycling Bill—Urge Senate to Support
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3778
Oppose Revenue Bill Without Amendments to Fix It
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3745
Tell PA Legislators to Protect the Needs of Children in Budget
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3667; OR
Budget Negotiations Have Reached Crisis Point – Kids Need Your Help NOW! (covers both state and federal advocacy)
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3798
Support Pennsylvania’s Early Education Programs Promoting School Readiness
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3703
Support Voter Registration for Released Prisoners
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3680
Support Merit Selection of Judges
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3699
House Passes Legislation to Reform Special Education—Thank Your Reps
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3816
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.
The New Metropolis Screening—June 30, Lancaster
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3824
Rally Against Budget Cuts—July 1, Philadelphia
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3827
Cutting Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Energy Use: Tools that Work—July 8, Webinar
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3786
Nonviolent Action for Immigrant Rights Workshop—July 10, Philadelphia
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3809
Learn More About Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay—July 13, Hummelstown
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3685
Learn More About Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay—July 14, York
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3685
Learn About Anti-Immigrant Legislation in Pennsylvania—July 15, Philadelphia
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3803
Learn More About Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay—July 20, State College
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3685
Learn More About Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay—July 21, Williamsport
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3685
Learn More About Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay—July 22, Wilkes-Barre
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3685
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light Kickoff—September 25, State College
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3693
Taylor Branch: Forty Years after Martin Luther King: Looking Ahead—September 29, Lancaster
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3812
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.
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light is Up and Running
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3693
Has Your Life Been Affected by Social Security Benefits? Share Your Story!
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3730
Extended Deadline to Submit Farm Bill Comments—Through July 28
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3759
Promise Neighborhoods—Grants Available
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3499
Pennsylvania Hosts Sought for Mountaintop Removal Presentations
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3532
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
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.
Address Torture Policy Now, Not Later
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3789
Improving Struggling Schools—A More Constructive Approach
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3673
Food Insecurity Extends to Children in Food Secure Households
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3709
Court Decision Allows Stolen Handgun Reporting to Stand
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3715
New Paper – Pennsylvania’s Workforce: The Role of Community Colleges
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3724
Can PA Legislators See Forest Through Trees?
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3733
Marcellus Drilling News Calls American Rivers Naming of Delaware River as Threatened “Hypocrisy”
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3736
Best Capitol Money Can Buy
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3742
Hunger and Related News
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3765
NOAA Report Spells Need for Clean Energy Now—May Warmest Month on Record
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3775
One Step Back for Clean Water
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3835
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.
Seeking Justice in Health Care: A Guide for Advocates in Faith Communities and Other Resources
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3721
The Climate-Friendly Gardener
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3795
New and Updated Immigration Resources
http://pachurchesadvocacy.org/weblog/?p=3860
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!