From Church World Service (http://www.churchworldservice.org):
Right now, Congress is considering the level of funding for detention, deportation, and border militarization for next fiscal year (FY 2020). We have born witness to this administration’s deliberate use of these funds at the expense of investments in education, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance. Every dollar that fuels the machinery behind unjust detention, deportations, and a militarized border serves only to dismantle community wholeness and separate families. Congress has the “power of the purse,” so it is critical that Senators and Representatives hear loudly and clearly that their constituents want them to cut this harmful spending and instead prioritize human needs, community-based, non-restrictive alternatives to detention, and relief and support to communities.
Here are the top 3 ways to take action today:
(1) Sign On: We invite all people of faith and conscience to sign onto this letter by COB Friday, September 20th, urging Congress to end family separation, detention, and border militarization, stop terrorizing our immigrant neighbors, and uphold the God-given dignity of all people.
(2) Call Congress: Click here to receive a phone call that connects you to your 2 Senators and 1 Representative. Here’s an example of what to say: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and [as a person of faith] I urge you to cut funding for detention, deportation, and border militarization. I don’t want Congress to write a check to deport and detain my community members. I urge you to do everything you can to see detention, deportation, and border militarization funding reduced in fiscal year 2020 – and to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable for immoral and cruel attacks against asylum seekers, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. My community welcomes and values immigrants, and I urge you to do the same.”
(3) Amplify on Social Media (PA Twitter handles below): Don’t forget to share this message with your Senators and Representatives on Twitter and Facebook. Here are some sample posts:
- .@[MEMBER OF CONGRESS]: I call on Congress to fund a moral budget that stops fueling family separation & cuts funding for detention, deportation, border militarization #DefundHate
- .@[MEMBER OF CONGRESS] invest in families & communities, NOT in DHS’s plan to tear families apart and turn away asylum seekers. We’re better than this #DefundHate
PA Twitter Handles
- Bob Casey: @SenBobCasey
- Pat Toomey: @SenToomey
- Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1): @RepBrianFitz
- Brendan Boyle (PA-2): @CongBoyle
- Dwight Evans (PA-3): @RepDwightEvans
- Madeleine Dean (PA-4): @RepDean
- Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5): @RepMGS
- Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6): @RepHoulahan
- Susan Wild (PA-7): @RepSusanWild
- Matt Cartwright (PA-8): @RepCartwright
- Dan Meuser (PA-9): @RepMeuser
- Scott Perry (PA-10): @RepScottPerry
- Lloyd Smucker (PA-11): @RepSmucker
- Fred Keller (PA-12): @RepFredKeller
- John Joyce (PA-13): @RepJohnJoyce
- Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14): @GReschenthaler
- Glenn Thompson (PA-15): @CongressmanGT
- Mike Kelly (PA-16): @MikeKellyPA
- Conor Lamb (PA-17): @RepConorLamb
- Mike Doyle (PA-18): @USRepMikeDoyle
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