NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTER OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD for CONFERENCE OF PROVINCIALS OF NORTH AMERICA
What was lobbied
15 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Immigration IMM
Undertake ambitious reforms to the interior immigration enforcement system via executive action, starting with a moratorium on deportations and new arrests and detention. Pass a long overdue comprehensive national relief and recovery package that includes permanent protection and a path to citizenship for undocumented essential workers and their families, Dreamers, and TPS holders. Support the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which will prohibit immigration enforcement in certain sensitive locations such as courthouses, schools, community centers and houses of worship. Support the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act, would require the immediate reunification of children who were separated from their parent or legal guardian as a result of the administrations zero tolerance policy. Ensure that agents and officers of ICE and CBP wear body cameras when engaged in official operations. Address root causes of migration from Central America by examining US security assistance to the region, US backing of governments with egregious human rights records, and US support for extractive and exploitative development models. Designate and redesignate 18 countries for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), protecting upwards of 2.3 million people. Take immediate action to save Black migrants' lives by halting deportation flights; stop expelling Haitians under Title 42. End the misuse of Title 42 public health authority at the border; Stop blocking and expelling people seeking U.S. humanitarian protections; Ensure appropriate infrastructure and support for shelters and other border groups to assist asylum seekers; And allow these families, children and adults to pursue their requests while in safety, inside the United States. Halt all deportations and expulsions, which are occurring in violation of U.S. law and international treaties and end the misuse of Title 42 public health authority and other border policies that block Black asylum seekers from requesting U.S. refugee protection. Release individuals and families from immigration detention centers using existing parole and other legal authority so that they can safely shelter with family and communities as they wait for their cases to be decided. Revoke illegal Trump administration asylum policies and rulings to restore U.S. asylum protections and ensure that asylum claims are fully and fairly adjudicated and that members of our communities are afforded their due process rights. Ensure that people seeking safety in the United States who were unjustly or unlawfully deported or expelled can return to seek protection without delay or other roadblocks to their due process rights. End the Trump Administrations public charge rule by directing the Department of Justice to withdraw its appeals on litigation challenging the Trump DHS public charge regulations. Increase the refugee admissions goal for this year to 62,500 to meet the unprecedented and ever evolving refugee crisis. End ICE's unjust confinement of Wilmer Elias-Mendoza, a disabled Honduran asylum-seeker and victim of trafficking who has been held in solitary confinement for nearly 3 weeks. Take swift moral action towards ending immigration detention, beginning with ending the contracts and closing ten detention centers, and move our nation in the direction towards humane treatment and effective community alternatives to detention. Support the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2021, which would provide standards for facilities at which immigrants in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security are detained, would seek alternatives to detention. Phase out the use of detention from our immigration system in order to create community based alternatives to detention. Sign an updated refugee admissions goal for FY21 and lift the restrictive allocations currently in place. End three programs and practices by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that harm our families and jeopardize community bonds: the 287(g) program, Secure Communities, and ICE detainers. Support the No Ban Act,which would require the executive branch to meet a more stringent and reasonable standard before issuing future immigration bans.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Defense DEF
Create an Office of Faith-Based Engagement in the Department of Defense. Reintroduce the 1033 Repeal Bill to end the Pentagon's 1033 Program and repeal the military surplus program.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
Support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would among other measures direct a study to be done on pay disparities for women and girls of color.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Economics/Economic Development ECN
Strengthen fair and adequate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax enforcement to ensure a tax system and economy that works for ordinary Americans, not just the wealthy and powerful. Cancel federal student loan debt. Enact the American Rescue Plan for covid-19 relief. Include The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 in the American Rescue Plan in order to facilitate national recovery from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Raise revenue for a covid-19 recovery program by ensuring that corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share of taxes. Support the Congressional Review Act challenge to the OCCs final rule, National Banks and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders, which will unleash predatory lending in all fifty states. Support the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act (NTBOA), which would ensure that U.S. multinational companies pay at least the U.S. statutory rate on income in every country in which they operate.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Health Issues HCR
Take action to lower drug prices in order to provide relief from prescription drug corporations price gouging patients. Enact the American Rescue Plan for covid-19 relief. Include additional provisions in the American Rescue Plan to lower drug prices. Support the Health Care Affordability Act to increase access to affordable healthcare. Extend, improve, and enforce the current CDC eviction moratorium until the end of the pandemic. Support provisions in the proposed covid-19 relief package that make coverage more affordable and accessible for millions of low-income people and vulnerable communities through the Medicaid program. Take every possible step to create a just and equitable policy toward the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Address the impact of covid-19 on incarcerated populations by immediately releasing elderly and medically vulnerable people and anyone within 18 months of their release date. Explicitly include formerly incarcerated people in all economic relief programs. Support the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act, which would establish a Core Public Health Infrastructure Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), awarding grants to state, local, tribal and territorial health departments to ensure they have the tools, workforce and systems in place to address existing and emerging health threats and reduce health disparities. When implementing the American Rescue Plan Act, continue to prioritize funding for communities that have been disproportionately impacted. Promote the health of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status,and provide at least $102.5 million in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill for the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. Prioritize an equitable rescue and recovery for our communities pave the way for states to expand Medicaid access. Fund at least $102.5 million in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Foreign Relations FOR
Address root causes of migration from Central America by examining US security assistance to the region, US backing of governments with egregious human rights records, and US support for extractive and exploitative development models. Elevate the protection of human rights defenders as a U.S. foreign policy priority and commit to play a global leadership role on this issue. Take every possible step to create a just and equitable policy toward the development, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Combat illegal deforestation in the commodities supply chain contributing to forest degradation and deforestation, in addition to land conflicts, human rights violations, and environmental crimes. Lift sanctions on Iran, save the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and build on it to negotiate further steps toward lasting peace. Support the North Korea Humanitarian Assistance Act in order to expedite the provision of humanitarian assistance, including life-saving medical care, to the people of North Korea. Respond to human rights violations in Myanmar by pressuring the military generals to relinquish power and return it rightly to the people. Rescind the sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court. Impress upon the Honduran government the importance of a transparent, expeditious trial in the case of the murder of environmental activist Berta Caceres and to guarantee the safety of the Caceres family and their lawyers during the trial. In response to military strike in Iran, we urge the president to cease violent attacks that are entrenched in systemic racism, and to instead seek creative, non-violent solutions. Hold Myanmar military and security forces accountable by adopting a resolution to refer the situation of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court in order hold the Myanmar military and security forces accountable for committing crimes, including rape and sexual violence, under international law. Issue targeted sanctions against businesses owned by the military in Myanmar and work with other countries to impose a global arms embargo to support the nonviolent resistance to the military coup. Make the vaccine available to all as a global common good.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Housing HOU
Urge President Biden to issue an Executive Order that extends, improves, and enforces the federal eviction moratorium through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assign federal agencies to enforce the eviction moratorium. Provide the highest possible funding for HUD and USDA affordable housing and community development programs for fiscal year 2022.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Decrease Pentagon spending in FY 2022. Fund at least $102.5 million in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. Allocate dedicated and robust funding to reduce and prevent violent conflict, rebuild democratic institutions, and build sustainable peace in the United States.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
Combat illegal deforestation in the commodities supply chain contributing to forest degradation and deforestation, in addition to land conflicts, human rights violations, and environmental crimes. Support The Clean Air Act, which would cut methane and ethane emissions from the fossil fuel industry.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM
Support the Family Act, which would create a national paid family and medical leave insurance program. Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to address the significant health consequences faced by pregnant workers if they are forced to keep working without accommodations and significant economic hardship if they are fired or pushed out for needing accommodations. Support the Every Child Deserves a Family Act in order to address discrimination against LGBTQ+ parents and to provide better care for LGBTQ+ foster children. Make the current Child Tax Credit Expansions permanent.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Government Issues GOV
Restore the White House Office for Faith-Based partnerships. Strengthen fair and adequate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax enforcement to ensure a tax system and economy that works for ordinary Americans, not just the wealthy and powerful. Support the For the People Act to increase the accessibility and transparency of our democracy by bolstering the power of voters, limiting the influence of big money, and curbing unethical practices of elected leaders.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Education EDU
Relieve the student debt burden that is oppressing low-wealth families and dragging down our economy. Cancel federal student loan debt. Fund at least $102.5 million in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR
Support the Family Act, which would create a national paid family and medical leave insurance program. Include The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 in the American Rescue Plan in order to facilitate national recovery from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would among other measures direct a study to be done on pay disparities for women and girls of color. Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to address the significant health consequences faced by pregnant workers if they are forced to keep working without accommodations and significant economic hardship if they are fired or pushed out for needing accommodations. Support the Raise the Wage Act of 2021, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. Enact a paid leave program for workers. Fund at least $102.5 million in the FY 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. Support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would streamline the process for forming a union, ensure that new unions are able to negotiate a first collective bargaining agreement, and hold employers accountable when they violate workers rights.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Welfare WEL
Include expansions to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit in the COVID-19 relief package in order to lift millions out of poverty. Relieve the student debt burden that is oppressing low-wealth families and dragging down our economy. Prevent garnishment of tax refunds, which will contain stimulus payments, EITC payments and child tax credits. Enact the American Rescue Plan for covid-19 relief. Address the following priorities in the Covid-19 recovery package: 1) Support workers and families; 2) Invest in sustainable infrastructure, specifically housing infrastructure and access to high-speed internet: and, 3) Create good jobs. In the upcoming covid-19 recovery package, include provisions to ensure that children can thrive, early educators are valued, and that parents are able to fully participate in our economic recovery. Prioritize an equitable rescue and recovery for our communities pave the way for states to expand Medicaid access. Support the Summer Meals Act, which includes the following key provisions: improve the area eligibility test by lowering it from 50 percent to 40 percent to allow more low-income communities to provide summer meals; allow nonprofit and local government agencies to provide meals year-round through the Summer Food Service Program; allow all sites to serve three meals; and provide grant funding to support efforts to reach underserved areas. Make the current Child Tax Credit Expansions permanent.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW
Repeal the federal death penalty for all death eligible offenses and prompt resentencing for those under sentence of death upon. Address the impact of covid-19 on incarcerated populations by immediately releasing elderly and medically vulnerable people and anyone within 18 months of their release date. Explicitly include formerly incarcerated people in all economic relief programs. Enact reforms that meaningfully reduce incarceration by: Passing the Second Look Act to offer the opportunity for a shorter sentence via judicial review; Amending the FIRST STEP Act to eliminate the exclusions for earned time credits and from programming participation; Removing carve-outs for violent or drug offenses or any policies that discriminate against returning citizens from all relevant bills, including social security legislation and FAFSA restructuring. Support the Justice in Policing Act to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, to enhance transparency and data collection, and to eliminate discriminatory policing practices. Support the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act, which would preserve the important distinction between our military and our police by ending transfers of certain destructive and aggressive military equipment to local law enforcement.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE COUCH | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.