5/10/07 letter to congress

Dear Members of Congress,

As Congress works to resolve the differences in the House and Senate version of the FY 2008 budget resolution passed in March, we write now focusing through the lens of faith on several important areas of great need. Representing 20 million followers, we write to urge you to ensure that the federal budget reflects our shared responsibility to the most vulnerable in the United States and abroad.

In February, following the release of the President's FY 2008 Federal Budget, we wrote to the Congress regarding our vision of the federal budget and our belief that the nation's budget must represent a shared vision of justice and compassion for all of God's people, both in our own nation and around the world. In particular we expressed deep concern for cuts to programs that serve the health, education and well-being of millions of people living near or below the poverty line in the United States. We applauded the important investments our country is making in combating deadly poverty and disease abroad.

We are reminded in the Gospel of Luke that "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48). The United States is a nation of great wealth and resources and, indeed, much is expected of us individually, as communities of faith and as a nation. Our denominations continue to do ministry in the areas of our historic Christian calling—working for reconciliation and serving those most vulnerable in our world.

We continue to express profound concern regarding the cost of the war in Iraq and the cost of extending large tax cuts to those to whom much has been given, particularly in view of the deep need to fund efforts aimed at alleviating poverty and disease both at home and abroad.

We are encouraged that Congress responded to the President's budget by passing budget resolutions that make fiscal responsibility a priority, modestly increase domestic funding, and ensure that the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) and the Farm Bill will have the important resources needed to protect struggling American farmers and the health and nutritional needs of the working poor, children and the elderly. In an effort to restore badly needed funds to human needs programs that have recently seen year after year of funding cuts, we urge you to include in the conference report the House's $417.8 billion, the highest-passed discretionary spending figure.

We also appreciate that the Senate unanimously voted to restore $2.2 billion in funding for international-assistance programs that had been cut by the Budget Committee. This funding is critical to our nation's ability to deliver on its promises in the fight against deadly poverty and disease abroad, phenomena that kill one person every three seconds. President Bush, along with leaders of both parties, repeatedly has made it clear that this work is part of our nation's moral identity and deserves to be prioritized even in times of tight fiscal constraints. We strongly urge House-Senate Budget conferees to adopt the Senate passed level of $39.8 billion for international assistance.

Our world continues to live in tumultuous times, and it is clearer than ever that our nation must reclaim its historic destiny as a source of hope and opportunity for its own citizens and for all people around the world. We pray for the Congress and all the leaders of our nation. And we pray for peace and a world restored and reconciled. We urge the Congress to seek peace and pursue it and, as the budget process continues, to embrace a vision of justice and compassion for all of God's children.

Signed by:
The Reverend Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

The Reverend Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Bishop Beverly Shamana
President of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society

The Reverend John H. Thomas
General Minister and President, United Church of Christ