NETWORK LOBBY FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE for NETWORK

Health Issues HCR

NETWORK continues to support implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, opposes any bill directed at defunding or postponing implementation of the ACA.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Defense, Dept of (DOD); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; President of the U.S.

Immigration IMM

S. 744 - NETWORK strongly supports comprehensive immigration which includes: concern for family unity, a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented, detention reforms; opposes any piecemeal approach to immigration reform NETWORK supports immigration policy which repairs the U.S. asylum system, making it more fair and timely, and recognizing gender-based asylum needs and protections of childrenHR 2278 Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE Act) - NETWORK strongly opposes this legislation that would criminalize presence in the United States, aiding a migrant or refugee and expand the use of indefinite detentionl HR 2131 Supplying Knowledge-based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of the STEM Visas Act, (SKILLS Visa Act), NETWORK strongly opposes this measure as it would eliminate channels for familiy members to lawfully immgrate, deny home countries of their needed talents. HR 3130 Protect Family Values at the Border Act, NETWORK supports this bill that would protect those held in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody, and ensure families are not needlessly separated

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; President of the U.S.; Defense, Dept of (DOD)

Bills named: S. 744 (113th), H.R. 3130 (113th), H.R. 2131 (113th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

S 460/HR 1010 Fair Minimum Wage Act - NETWORK strongly support this act, as it would help bring millions of members of our communities out of poverty RIN 1235-AA05 "Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service" - NETWORK strongly supports this final regularion, supporting critical low-wage workers.

Contacted: President of the U.S.; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: H.R. 1010 (113th)

Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice LAW

HR 2656 The Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2013 - NETWORK supports this bill, in order to reduce recidivism rates S 1410 The Smarter Sentencing Act - NETWORK supports this act.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; President of the U.S.; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD)

Bills named: H.R. 2656 (113th)

Defense DEF

NETWORK urges the President to close Guantanamo, and encourages Secretary Hagel to resume transfers.

Contacted: SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); President of the U.S.; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense, Dept of (DOD)

Housing HOU

S. 1243 NETWORK urges House and Senate leaders to fund HUD at levels outlines in the Senate Budget proposal

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); President of the U.S.; Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE

Bills named: S. 1243 (113th)

Agriculture AGR

H.R.3102 - Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013, NETWORK strongly opposes this bill which would deny SNAP benefits to about 300,000 persons who are on the margins. NETWORK strongly opposed the separation of the nutrition title from the rest of the Farm Bill.

Contacted: SENATE; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); President of the U.S.; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Bills named: H.R. 3102 (113th)

Foreign Relations FOR

NETWORK strongly opposes the use of military action in Syria NETWORK urges President Obama to initiate direct, high-level dialogue with the Cuban government, remove Cuba from list of state-sponsored terrorism and life all restrictions on people-to-people travel

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); President of the U.S.

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

NETWORK strongly pushed Congress to increase revenue in order to be able to meet the needs of the nation: support of those at the margins, infrastructure repair and maintenance, etc. H.R. 880/S. 410 The Wall Street Trading and Speculators Tax Act - NETWORK is a strong supporter of initiation of this tax. NETWORK strongly urges Congress to protect the EITC and the CTC from harmful cuts or changesNETWORK strongly opposes changing the formula used to calculate the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) as it negatively affects the elderly and those at the lowest income levels. It also will have a negative effect on meeting the needs of veterans.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); SENATE; President of the U.S.

Bills named: S. 410 (113th), H.R. 880 (113th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

HR 2775 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014. NETWORK supports ending the government shutdown and avoiding default on the debt, with minimal policy riders. NETWORK supports a budget that will eliminate sequestration through targetted spending cuts and increased revenue.NETWORK urges legislators in the House and the Senate to adopt a budget based on the values in the "Faithful Budget" (www.faithfulbudget.org) NETWORK strongly opposes the House budget, or Continuing Resolution, that would attach policy riders such as defunding the Affordable Care Act. NETWORK strongly urged Congress to end sequestration, given the damaging consequences to domestic human needs programs. NETWORK strongly opposes the House program that would increase defense sepnding 5.4 percent, or $26 billion over FY 2013 spending. NETWORK strongly opposes sequestration which endangers the lives and health of vulnerable persons through defunding of programs such as WIC and Meals on Wheels.

Contacted: President of the U.S.; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD)

Bills named: H.R. 2775 (113th)