The Virginia State Senate recently voted in favor of Senate Bill 484, which would require the use of ultrasound testing before an abortion and would insist that a woman have the opportunity to view the sonogram image of her fetus and hear the fetal heartbeat. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester), places an unfair financial burden on low-income women by forcing them to pay for medically unnecessary services and interferes with the provider-patient relationship. The bill will now be considered in the Virginia House and, if passed, will likely be signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Jewish Values
All life is sacred in Judaism. Although an unborn fetus is precious and to be protected, Judaism views the life and well-being of the mother as paramount, placing a higher value on existing life than on potential life. Women are commanded to care for their own health and well-being above all else. It is due to the fundamental Jewish belief in the sanctity of life that abortion is viewed as both a moral and correct decision under some circumstances. The Reform Movement strongly believes that women are moral agents entitled to and capable of making their own health decisions. The Reform Movement also strongly condemns restrictions on access to abortion services that particularly impact low-income women.
Take Action:Urge your Representative to vote NO on mandatory ultrasound legislation.
Join the Reform Movement's campaign to defend women's health from political attacks.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Foundation has changed its new guidelines in a way that will continue financial support to Planned Parenthood and allow PPFA to apply for new grants. As many of you know, the letter from the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of Rabbis & Women of Reform Judaism calling for the restoration of funding to PPFA by Komen drew widespread attention and support. Indeed, this decision reflects the outpouring of support for PPFA's vital work for women's health by thousands of Reform Jews and many others over the past 48 hours (Read the Reform Movement letters here).
It is our goal to help ensure a strong outpouring of public support for a continued close partnership between Komen and PPFA by mobilizing thousands of Jews committed to women's health.
PPFA is a major provider of breast exams and other preventative health care services to women and men and particularly to low income and underserved communities. Now is a time to thank the Komen Foundation for its vital work and its ultimate decision to stand with PPFA on behalf of women’s health.
Each year Planned Parenthood's network of more than 800 clinics nationwide provides nearly 830,000 breast exams. PPFA has stated that, over the past five years, 170,000 of the centers' four million breast exams conducted were a direct result of Komen grants. Halting Komen grant money to PPFA would have been contrary to the organization's mission and interests, directly and unfairly threatening the health and safety of women.
In the face of a polarizing political environment, we must stand in strong support of women’s health by supporting the partnership between Komen and PPFA. Anti-choice advocates are already making their voices heard in opposition to the revised funding standards.Join us and thousands of others in thanking the Komen Foundation for its continued funding PPFA and the work that it does.
TAKE ACTION NOW: Thank the Susan G. Komen Foundation for continuing to fight for the health and lives of women everywhere by funding Planned Parenthood and allowing PPFA to apply for new grants for breast cancer screening and urge them not to allow the new standards to become politicized to the detriment of women's health.
BACKGROUND In the coming weeks, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7), a bill that expands domestic oil and gas drilling. Specifically, H.R. 7 would direct the Secretary of Interior implement an oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – a move that would threaten this unique region for generations to come.
Designated by President Eisenhower in 1960 and expanded by President Carter in 1980, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) stands as one of America’s last true wilderness areas. The area contains numerous fragile arctic ecosystems, many of which are found on the coastal plain of Alaska, an area of about 1.5 million acres along the Arctic Ocean. This area represents the last 5% of Alaska’s North Slope that is not already open to oil exploration and drilling.
Opening these coastal plains for drilling would sacrifice the long-term health and protection of this region for the short-term gain of consuming more oil, and ignore our responsibility to respond to climate change.
JEWISH VALUES In Genesis we learn that when God placed the first human beings in the Garden of Eden, God gave humanity a dual role in relationship to the surrounding environment, (l'av'dah ul'shamrah), "to till it and tend it" (Genesis 2:15). This demands a balanced approach to development, a careful consideration of the competing needs both to employ the resources with which God has provided us and to protect those resources for generations to come. That is why, for more than a decade, the Union for Reform Judaism has supported wilderness designation for ANWR, to ensure that this delicate region and its people are protected by federal law.
TAKE ACTION NOW Urge your members of Congress oppose the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7) and similar legislation that leaves the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge vulnerable to oil and gas drilling. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, oryou cansend an e-mail by entering your zip code below.
As Americans, we hold that voting is a constitutional right and the opportunity to exercise this right should be fair and accessible to all. Yet despite our nation’s fundamental belief in a participatory democracy, the right to vote is actively denied to millions of Americans.
The Democracy Restoration Act of 2011 (H.R. 2212/S. 2017) would restore voting rights to individuals who have been released from incarceration. Four million men and women in the United States continue to remain disenfranchised from voting in federal elections even after being released from prison. Upon release from incarceration, these citizens work, pay taxes, live in our communities and bring up families, yet they are without a voice. The legislation would also deny federal funds to correctional institutions unless they offer a program to education incarcerated individuals of their voting rights upon release.
Currently, voting rights for previously incarcerated individuals varies from state to state, which is why we need a uniform standard across the country for federal elections. The Democracy Restoration Act would fulfill the American democratic ideal by guaranteeing every one of its tax-paying citizens the right to vote.
JEWISH VALUES
As Jews, we celebrate a proud tradition of fairness with regard to voting and elections. Rabbi Yitzhak instructs that “A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot 55a). Instances of voter disenfranchisement compel us to speak out, as it is our duty to ensure that all citizens are afforded the opportunity to vote and have their votes counted.
TAKE ACTION
Tell Congress to support the Democracy Restoration Act (H.R. 2212/S. 2017) and give voice to over four million Americans who continue to remain disenfranchised. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an email to your Senators and Representative by entering your zip code below.
Comprehensive sexuality education programs encourage abstinence but also recognize the realities of sexuality and behavior among teenagers. They address issues relating to contraception and safe sex, and have been found to delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the number of partners, and decrease the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. Moreover, comprehensive sexuality education programs help students talk with parents about sex, build healthy relationships, and address issues of sexual and gender identity and orientation. Unfortunately, for many years, the federal government has provided funding solely to ineffective abstinence-only sex education programs.
If passed, the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act (H.R. 3324/S. 1782) would provide young people with the comprehensive sexuality education they need to make informed, responsible, and healthy decisions in order to become sexually healthy adults and have healthy relationships. The legislation provides comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents and young adults in public schools, communities, and institutions of higher education, insists on medically accurate and evidence-based programs, promotes culturally and linguistically appropriate and LGBT inclusive education, and provides bare minimum standards for federal funding.
JEWISH VALUES:
The Reform Jewish Movement is committed to responsible, medically accurate sexuality education, which includes information about both abstinence and contraception. Judaism teaches that we are created in the image of God, and that the guiding principle of sexuality in the Jewish tradition is K'doshim tih'yu, “You shall be holy.” Providing your people with accurate and comprehensive information allows them to respect themselves and their bodies.
TAKE ACTION:
Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to support the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act (H.R. 3324/S. 1782). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202.387.2800
Our nation’s well being depends on the smooth functioning of the judicial system and on the checks and balances it ensures as one of the three co-equal branches of government established by our Constitution. Right now, the system is off-balance.
The US's federal courts currently lack enough judges to hear cases and there are an unnerving number of judicial emergencies, a term that describes courts that have been unable to function at full capacity for an extended period of time and have an excess caseload due to a lack of judges.
For nearly three years, obstructionism has prevented well-qualified nominees from being confirmed at a reasonable pace. The consequence is that an ever-growing number of Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to have their day in court.A vacancy crisis is occurring that isn’t only bad for democracy; it impacts every single issue that we care about. From immigration to employment discrimination cases, to cases of religious liberty, Americans are waiting far too long for justice.
Call on your Senators to restore balance to our system and enable to courts to work for those they are supposed to serve.
Jewish Values:
Jewish tradition teaches the importance of fair and impartial courts. In Exodus 18:21, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, advises him to choose capable, trustworthy, and law abiding members of society to judge the people. Elsewhere we are taught of the ethical obligation to oppose unjust persons and unfair judgments; judges should neither “favor the poor [n]or show deference to the rich” (Leviticus 19:15). Further, in Deuteronomy, God proclaims to the people of Israel, "you shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Justice, justice, shall you pursue" (16:19-20). The responsibility to pursue justice extends beyond ensuring that we, ourselves, are behaving justly and judging fairly. We also have a responsibility to create a legal system that strives for balance and that treats all people equitably.
Take Action:
In the face of judicial emergencies and obstruction in the confirmation process, we must urge our Senators to vote on all pending judicial nominations. Please contact your Senators and urge them to fill judicial vacancies. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121 or you can send an email below. For more information, contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202.387.2800.
The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage under federal law as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” This targets gays and lesbians for discrimination by denying legally married same-sex couples all of the federal benefits and protections that every other married couple enjoys. DOMA also provides that states, which routinely recognize marriages from other states, may make an exception for same-sex couples married in another state, violating the Equal Protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment.
Every day, DOMA denies over 1,000 protections and benefits to tens of thousands of Americans in legally recognized same-sex marriages. These federal protections of marriage include Social Security survivors' benefits, family and medical leave, equal compensation as federal employees, and immigration rights, among others.
In February 2011, the Department of Justice made a groundbreaking announcement that it would stop defending Section 3 of DOMA in courts. Following this decision, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116/ S. 598) into the 112th Congress.
This legislation would repeal DOMA, and thus provide married same-sex couples with the full range of federal benefits and protections that the law already provides to married opposite-sex couples. It would, however, continue to allow states to define marriage for themselves. As before DOMA, and consistent with the Constitution, states would retain the ability to decide which out-of-state marriages to recognize. This provides critically important certainty for families, allowing couples to plan for a future of mutual obligation and support with confidence that their access to federal responsibilities and rights will not be taken away by a move to another state. At the same time, nothing in the Act obligates any person or religious organization to celebrate or license a marriage between two persons of the same sex.
Jewish Values
Judaism teaches that all human beings are created b'tselem elohim – in the Divine image. Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them: male and female, God created them.” The belief that the stamp of the divine is present in all humans is fundamental to Reform Judaism; we cannot tolerate discrimination against any person for any reason. In reflection of this belief, the Movement is committed to ensuring the civil marriage rights of gay and lesbian couples.
Take Action
It’s time to end institutionalized discrimination based on sexual orientation in this country. Ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116/S. 598). You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, the Capital Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Noah Baron at 202.387.2800.
BACKGROUND
This week, the Senate will consider two balanced budget amendment, S. J. Res. 23 and S. J. Res. 24, which would fundamentally reshape the federal government’s role in the economy, deeply constricting its ability to fight poverty during economic recession. A balanced budget amendment would also make it more difficult for the government to put Americans back to work, respond to natural disasters, or invest in infrastructure to ensure prosperity for the future. In fact, a balanced budget amendment would likely necessitate cuts to key government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and even veterans benefits.
In their simplest form, balanced budget amendments require the federal government to spend no more money than it collects in revenue. While this is a worthwhile goal, such an amendment would prevent the federal government from wielding its unrivaled creditworthiness to spend and repay huge sums of money to provide security to families in need and invest money in the future so that the economy can continue to grow.
S. J. Res. 23 contains additional provisions that make the amendment even more dangerous. Specifically, S. J. Res. 23 requires three-fifths of the whole membership of both houses of Congress vote in order to raise the debt ceiling. This would codify a dramatically increased risk of default on the national debt, allowing fringe groups to hold the full faith and credit of the United States hostage. Indeed, only two of the past ten debt ceiling increases achieved a three-fifths vote, and this was only because the increases were embedded in other must-pass legislation.
Constitutionally enforced spending caps and supermajority requirements for revenue increases are ideological attempts to shrink the size of government under the guise of fiscal restraint. Starving the federal government of revenue and artificially limiting the amount of money the government can spend would mean the destruction of programs that serve the disadvantaged and likely result in more poverty, more joblessness, and less prosperity.
JEWISH VALUES
We are taught in Proverbs that “One who withholds what is due to the poor affronts the Creator; one who cares for the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31). This message is amplified in Deuteronomy, where we are taught “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deut. 15:7-8). A balanced budget amendment will deeply constrain the ability of the federal government to respond to the needs of all Americans but especially the disadvantaged.
TAKE ACTION
A Constitutional amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Call your Senators and ask them to oppose S. J. Res. 23 and S. J. Res. 24 when each comes to a vote. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline at 202.387.2800.
Background
Without fast action by Congress, federal unemployment benefits will expire for 2.2 million Americans on February 29. In December 2011, President Obama signed a 2 month extension of federal unemployment insurance into law. Unemployment benefits are critical in helping working families stay above the poverty line during economic downturns. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2010 alone, unemployment benefits kept 3.2 million Americans from falling into poverty. If benefits were to be allowed to expire, though, 3.5 million workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own would likely be plunged into poverty. This would also remove between $70 and $80 billion from the economy—a potentially devastating blow in such trying economic times.
Jewish Values
The Torah and Jewish tradition teach us that providing for those in need is not a matter of charity but an obligation. We learn in Deuteronomy that “If there is a needy person among you… do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Judaism also teaches that the highest form of tzedakah is to help another person achieve self-sufficiency. We must help people support themselves by maintaining crucial assistance at this uncertain time.
TAKE ACTION:
Urge your Members of Congress to support a yearlong extension of federal unemployment insurance. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an e-mail below. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline at 202.387.2800.
This week the House of Representatives will consider H.R. 3463, a bill that would dismantle the public funding system for presidential elections. Created in 1976, the public funding system offers money raised via a voluntary check-off on individuals’ tax returns to qualified primary- and general-election presidential candidates. The bill would also eliminate the Elections Assistance Commission, set up in the wake of voting problems in the close 2000 presidential election and eliminate public funding for national party conventions, money which both Republicans and Democrats have already applied for and received for their upcoming conventions.
The disproportionate influence of money in politics will only grow if H.R. 3463 becomes law.Campaigns are becoming ever more expensive, with the two 2008 presidential candidates raising a staggering $1.7 billion.The 2012 race is already shaping up to be even more costly. Such large sums of money distort the election process, making participation more difficult for candidates without huge reserves of personal funds. It also forces public servants seeking re-election to spend more time raising money and less time responding to the needs of constituents. Public financing, though imperfect, has the potential to change the rules of the game, thereby injecting new ideas and different kinds of candidates into our electoral system.
Jewish Values
Jewish tradition recognizes the distorting effect that money can have on a leader’s ability to govern fairly. Deuteronomy 16 commands, "You shall not judge unfairly: you shall know no partiality; you shall not take gifts, for gifts blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just.” Talmud Tractate Kethuboth notes, “As soon as a man receives a gift from another he becomes so well disposed towards him that he becomes like his own person, and no man sees himself in the wrong.” Rabbi Yitzhak argued that in the Torah, Bezalel could be chosen to build the Tabernacle only with the community's approval. In a modern democracy, it is still necessary for elected officials to be accountable to all citizens, not just wealthy and powerful moneyed interests.
Take Action
Urge your Representative to vote against H.R. 3463 when it comes to the floor. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an e-mail by entering your zip code. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Susan Paykin or call 202.387.2800.
BACKGROUND: More than 400,000 women serve in the Armed Forces, and receive their health insurance from the Department of Defense’s Military Health System. But the health insurance available to servicewomen differs significantly from every other health insurance plan provided by the federal government in that it does NOT cover abortion services in the cases of rape or incest. Rather, servicewomen can only receive insurance coverage for abortion services if their lives are in danger.
The current policy is particularly unjust and unfair in light of the alarmingly high rates of sexual assault in the military. According to the Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2010 numbers, 3,158 military sexual assaults were reported. That number alone is shocking, but it is even more disturbing in light of the knowledge that many women who have experienced sexual violence do not report the incident. Researchers estimate that over time, taking into account the percentage of military sexual assaults that go unreported, up to one-third of women experience an attempted or completed rape during their military service.
Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) is expected to offer an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which would repeal the ban on the military’s insurance coverage for abortion care for survivors of rape or incest. The Shaheen Amendment would bring the Department of Defense’s Military Health System in line with other federal health insurance programs, to provide women with coverage for abortion services in the cases of rape, incest and when their lives are in danger.
JEWISH VALUES: Jewish values affirm the rights of women to be moral decision makers, capable of making responsible choices about their reproductive health. Women in the military are no less entitled to the right to make decisions about reproduction. Although the Reform Movement believes insurance coverage of abortion should not be limited solely to cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger, the Department of Defense—at the very least—should provide servicewomen with access to the same care available to the civilians they protect.
TAKE ACTION: In emails, faxes and phone calls, please contact your Senators and urge them to support the Shaheen Amendment to the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an e-mail by entering your ZIP Code below.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202.387.2800.
From the streams in our backyards and city parks, to the wetlands that help protect us against floods, America’s water is under threat. Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and Heller (R-NV) plan to offer an amendment that would dangerously undermine the Clean Water Act to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2354).
The 1972 Clean Water Act was designed to protect “all the waters in the United States.” However, industry and commercial interests have chipped away at clean water safeguards after 2001 and 2006 Supreme Court decisions created uncertainty about what types of waters are protected. Currently, Clean Water Act protections only apply to “navigable waterways,” excluding small streams and wetlands that more than 117 million Americans rely on in some part for their drinking water supply.
Although they have been weakened, these protections can be restored by government directives. However, the Barrasso-Heller amendment would codify the current restrictions indefinitely so that the original Clean Water Act protections could never be clarified or reinstated. The amendment could destroy countless waterways vital to human health and ecological wellbeing.
JEWISH VALUES
As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of Torah to be good stewards of our resources. In Midrash, we learn, “Take care, lest you spoil and destroy my world, because if you do, there is no one after you to make it right again” (Kohelet Rabbah 7:13).
Water has played a role in virtually every major story in the Torah. Isaac’s wife was chosen for him at a well. The baby Moses was saved after floating down a river. The Israelites were freed when the red sea parted. Miriam will forever be remembered by her gift of water to the Jewish people in the desert. The history of the Jewish people is the history of our relationship with water.
TAKE ACTION
With the Senate expected to vote on an omnibus appropriations bill before breaking for the holidays, your vocal opposition to this dirty water amendment is urgent. Urge your Senator today to oppose the Barrasso-Heller Amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act (H.R. 2354). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an email by entering your zip code below.
BACKGROUND
This week, the House of Representatives will consider a balanced budget amendment, H. J. Res. 2, which would fundamentally reshape the federal government’s role in the economy, deeply constricting its ability to fight poverty - let alone put Americans back to work, respond to natural disasters, or invest in infrastructure to ensure prosperity for the future.
In their simplest form, balanced budget amendments require the federal government to spend no more money than it collects in revenue. While this is a worthwhile goal, such an amendment would prevent the federal government from wielding its unrivaled creditworthiness to spend and repay huge sums of money to provide security to families in need and invest money in the future so that the economy can continue to grow.
H. J. Res. 2 also contains additional provisions that make the amendment even more threatening. Specifically, H. J. Res. 2 requires three-fifths of Congress vote in order to raise the debt ceiling. This would dramatically increase the risk of default on the national debt, further destabilizing our national economy.
Another provision of H. J. Res. 2 would raise the threshold for any increase in government revenue- even something as simple as closing a tax loophole. Such a rule would make it extraordinarily hard, if not impossible, for the government to meet its responsibilities to the public and ensure national well-being and security.
Constitutionally enforced spending caps and hamstringing congress’s ability to raise revenue are simply dangerous., Starving the federal government of revenue and artificially limiting the amount of money the government can spend would mean harm to or the destruction of programs, like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, that serve all Americans and particularly help the disadvantaged. The likely result would be more poverty, more joblessness, and less prosperity.
JEWISH VALUES We are taught in Proverbs that “One who withholds what is due to the poor affronts the Creator; one who cares for the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31). This message is amplified in Deuteronomy, where we are taught “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deut. 15:7-8). A balanced budget amendment will deeply constrain the ability of the federal government to respond to the needs of all Americans and particularly the disadvantaged.
TAKE ACTION A Constitutional amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Call your Representative and ask him or her to oppose H. J. Res. 2 when it comes to a vote. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline `at 202.387.2800.
BACKGROUND
This week, the House of Representatives will consider a balanced budget amendment, H. J. Res. 2, which would fundamentally reshape the federal government’s role in the economy, deeply constricting its ability to fight poverty - let alone put Americans back to work, respond to natural disasters, or invest in infrastructure to ensure prosperity for the future.
In their simplest form, balanced budget amendments require the federal government to spend no more money than it collects in revenue. While this is a worthwhile goal, such an amendment would prevent the federal government from wielding its unrivaled creditworthiness to spend and repay huge sums of money to provide security to families in need and invest money in the future so that the economy can continue to grow.
H. J. Res. 2 also contains additional provisions that make the amendment even more threatening. Specifically, H. J. Res. 2 requires three-fifths of Congress vote in order to raise the debt ceiling. This would dramatically increase the risk of default on the national debt, further destabilizing our national economy.
Another provision of H. J. Res. 2 would raise the threshold for any increase in government revenue- even something as simple as closing a tax loophole. Such a rule would make it extraordinarily hard, if not impossible, for the government to meet its responsibilities to the public and ensure national well-being and security.
Constitutionally enforced spending caps and hamstringing congress’s ability to raise revenue are simply dangerous., Starving the federal government of revenue and artificially limiting the amount of money the government can spend would mean harm to or the destruction of programs, like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, that serve all Americans and particularly help the disadvantaged. The likely result would be more poverty, more joblessness, and less prosperity.
JEWISH VALUES
We are taught in Proverbs that “One who withholds what is due to the poor affronts the Creator; one who cares for the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31). This message is amplified in Deuteronomy, where we are taught “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deut. 15:7-8). A balanced budget amendment will deeply constrain the ability of the federal government to respond to the needs of all Americans and particularly the disadvantaged.
TAKE ACTION
A Constitutional amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Call your Representative and ask him or her to oppose H. J. Res. 2 when it comes to a vote. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline at 202.387.2800.
As the tumult in the Middle East continues, a strong U.S. ally in the region is more important than ever. The Senate may soon consider the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. The bill includes $3.075 billion in foreign aid to Israel, reflecting the 10-year aid agreement signed by the two nations in 2007. Aid to Israel is an investment in U.S. security and Israel’s security; Israel spends a higher percentage of its gross domestic product on its own defense than any other industrialized country in the world. U.S. foreign aid reaffirms our commitment to a democratic ally in the Middle East and gives Israel the military edge to maintain its security and the economic stability to pursue peace. Furthermore, U.S. foreign aid to Israel represents a strong investment in the American economy; Israel spends over 75% of its aid in the United States supporting American jobs.
Jewish Values
Throughout the Reform Movement's history, in times of peace and in times of strife, we have spoken out in unequivocal and unconditional support of the State of Israel and her people. This support stems from a love of the land and an understanding that the destinies of the Jewish people and of Israel are intertwined in an unbreakable connection. U.S. aid to Israel, over 75% of which is actually spent on goods from the U.S., strengthens both nations. Jewish values also teach us that our country should be an advocate for peace among the nations, emphasizing the importance of North American leadership in the peace process. We believe that foreign aid to Israel as part of a strong foreign aid package overall, is a strong tool to work toward peace.
Take Action:
At this critical juncture for the Middle East, we must continue the strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Please contact your Senators and urge them to support aid to Israel in the Foreign Operations appropriations bill. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121 or you can send an email below. For more information, contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202.387.2800.
The End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 (S. 1670) aims to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. Defined as “the practice of a law enforcement agent or agency relying, to any degree, on race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin in selecting which individuals to subject to routine or spontaneous investigatory activities, or in deciding upon the scope and substance of law enforcement activity following the initial investigatory procedure,” racial profiling is a discriminatory act that denies individuals the constitutional right of equal protection under the law.
The End Racial Profiling Act (S.1670) would legally prohibit racial profiling and enforce the injunction through the judicial system by such means as specializing instruction in federal law enforcement training, conditioning state and local government receipt of federal funds on the successful adoption of anti-racial profiling policies, awarding Justice Department grants to state and local governments that best implement practices that defeat racial profiling, and positioning the Attorney General as watchdog to assess such practices.
Racial profiling raises civil rights concerns, undermines the criminal justice system by diverting resources from pursuing actual criminal behavior, and reinforces false stereotypes, whether in the context of counterterrorism, street-level crime or immigration enforcement.
Jewish Values
Judaism teaches respect for the fundamental rights of others as each person's duty to God. "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor" (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a). Equality in the Jewish tradition is based on the concept that all of God's children are "created in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27).
Take Action Now!
Contact your Senators and urge them to uphold the civil rights of all individuals by co-sponsoring the End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 (S.1670). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202-224-3121. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Madison Arent at 202-387-2800 or marent@rac.org.
Like all students, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students deserve a safe place to learn. Yet a steady stream of reports of LGBT youth being bullied -- and harming themselves, including committing suicide, as a result -- reminds us that school is often not a safe haven. Nearly one in five hate crimes takes place on school grounds. Students can be cruel and, sadly, school faculty and administrators are not always understanding or equipped to help students who are suffering LGBT discrimination.
The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) (H.R.998/S.555) would prohibit schools from discriminating against LGBT students as well as prevent schools from ignoring bullying and harassment. Violations of the Act would lead to a loss of federal funding, and would provide students and their families with legal recourse.
In addition, the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) (H.R.1648/S.506) would ensure that all school districts have clear and comprehensive student conduct policies prohibiting bullying and harassment, require that districts report data regarding bullying and harassment, and implement professional development programs to help school administrators and staff address bullying and harassment.
Jewish Values
Judaism teaches that all human beings are created b'tselem elohim – in the Divine image. Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them: male and female, God created them.” This belief that the stamp of the divine is present in all humans is fundamental to Reform Judaism; we cannot tolerate discrimination against or bullying of any person for any reason. Moreover, the Torah instructs, “do not stand idly by while your neighbor bleeds” (Leviticus 19:16). Because we value human life, we must work to make life better for LGBT youth and end the harassment they face in our schools.
Take Action
Urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) (H.R.998/S.555) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) (H.R. 1648/S.506). Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121, or send an e-mail by entering your zip code below.
BACKGROUND
The Food Stamp Program (renamed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the 2008 Farm Bill) works to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by providing low-income families and individuals with resources to enable them to obtain an adequate, nutritious diet. Food Stamp enrollment has been on an increase for the past five years, largely due to changes in the economy.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps sustain the 49 million Americans living in food insecure households. The program is also a significant economic stimulus: for every dollar the government spends on SNAP, $1.79 is returned to the economy. Nonetheless, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is working to achieve $1.5 trillion in savings, and critical anti-hunger programs, SNAP, are at risk.
JEWISH VALUES
Deuteronomy teaches, “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (15:7-8). We are taught further in Midrash Psalms 118:17 that “When you are asked in the world to come, ‘What was your work?’ and you answer: ‘I fed the hungry,’ you will be told: ‘This is the gate of God, enter into it, you who have fed the hungry.’” The Union for Reform Judaism has long advocated on behalf of children, the poor, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and the “stranger among us.” The URJ has passed numerous resolutions supporting anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Call your Senators today, and ask them to sign on to Senator Gillibrand’s letter and protect SNAP. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202-224-3121. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline at 202.387.2800
BACKGROUND
In September, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2401, the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act. The TRAIN Act would limit the EPA's regulatory power to enforce the Clean Air Act and establish a Congressional committee to review all proposed actions for enforcement before they can be implemented. The TRAIN Act specifically t imposes a mandatory delay in enacting the new mercury standards that would protect our children from exposure to mercury in the air.
The TRAIN Act would result in costly reports and delay (or prevent) the implementation of important environmental health regulations. The bill eliminates the requirement that the EPA base clean air standards on health and science and requires the agency to consider "feasibility and cost" to industry, essentially forcing the EPA to set unsafe air standards.
JEWISH VALUES As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of Torah to be good stewards of our resources, including water and air, and to protect our health and our natural world. In Midrash we are told “Take care, lest you spoil and destroy my world, because if you do, there is no one after you to make it right again” (Kohelet Rabbah 7:13). In Deuteronomy, we are taught to "choose life, that you and your descendants may live" (30:20).
TAKE ACTION
We must not allow Congress to roll back Clean Air Act protections. Urge your Senator to oppose the TRAIN Act when it is introduced to the Senate. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an email by entering your zip code below.
For more information, contact Legislative Assistant Susan Paykin at 202.380.2800.
BACKGROUND
The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 (H.R. 2273) would override pending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules designed to regulate toxic coal ash produced by coal-fired power plants, strip mining, and mountaintop removal. Coal ash, a residual of coal-fired power plants as well as dangerous extraction processes such as strip mining and mountaintop removal, contains toxins such as arsenic, lead, and mercury. This residual waste material is currently used by agriculture and construction industries to produce concrete, drywall, and fertilizers. The ash is dumped to fill vast pits or flattened mountains, after which it is covered with soil. There is no safe setting or condition that coal ash can be safely and reliably used; when left in the ground, its toxins eventually leech into local communities’ soil and groundwater sources.
The EPA rules come just three years after one of the greatest environmental crises in our country, the Kingson Fossil Plant coal ash spill in eastern Tennessee. The 2.6 million cubic yards of wet coal ash released after a wall collapsed contaminated the Emory River well above acceptable toxicity levels for drinking, swimming, or fishing, and lead to the death of hundreds of aquatic creatures. In classifying coal ash as a hazardous waste for the first time, the pending EPA rules are vital to people’s health and the environment’s wellbeing.
JEWISH VALUES As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of Torah to be good stewards of our resources, including water and air, and to protect our health and our natural world. In Midrash we are told “Take care, lest you spoil and destroy my world, because if you do, there is no one after you to make it right again” (Kohelet Rabbah 7:13).
TAKE ACTION
We must not allow toxic coal ash to continue to wreak havoc on people’s health and the environment’s wellbeing. Urge your Representative to oppose the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 (H.R. 2273). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an email by entering your zip code below.
For more information, contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Susan Paykin at 202.387.2800.
The Protect Life Act (H.R. 358/S. 877) severely threatens the right to choice affirmed by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. This bill would prohibit federal funding under the health care reform law from being used toward any health plan that offers abortion services, even though adequate protections already exist to ensure that no taxpayer money under the health care reform law will fund abortion services. H.R. 358/S. 877 also contains a troubling expansion of conscience clause protections that would allow health care providers to continue receiving federal funding even if they refuse to provide abortion services necessary to save a woman’s life. This provision fails to strike the proper balance between the individual health care provider’s right to his or her own religious and moral beliefs and the patient’s right to access health care services.
This bill, if passed, would dramatically reduce women's access to safe and affordable abortion services and restrict a woman's ability to use her OWN private money for abortion services. It would also result in greater government interference in what is typically a very private, and often religious, decision.
The Protect Life Act holds insurance companies fiscally hostage if they attempt to provide abortion services to their clients, as the bill requires an insurance company that offers a qualified health plan with abortion coverage to offer a second, additional plan that does not include abortion coverage but is otherwise identical in every other way. Additionally, women with the lowest income levels are unjustly targeted; women who struggle financially are unlikely to be able to afford insurance supplements that cover abortion services, especially since unplanned pregnancies resulting in abortions are, by definition, unexpected.
Jewish Values
All life is sacred in Judaism. Although an unborn fetus is precious and to be protected, Judaism views the life and well-being of the mother as paramount, placing a higher value on existing life than on potential life. Women are commanded to care for their own health and well-being above all else. It is due to the fundamental Jewish belief in the sanctity of life that abortion is viewed as both a moral and correct decision under some circumstances. The Reform Movement strongly believes that women are moral agents entitled to and capable of making their own health decisions.
Take Action
Urge your Senators and Representative to oppose the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358/S.877). You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski or call 202.387.2800.
The Palestinian Authority is expected to seek a vote at the United Nations this week requesting statehood or observer status. The U.S. and Canada have long supported the achievement of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement that reflects a mutually agreed upon two-state solution, achieved through diplomatic negotiations. Unilateral action undermines the future security of both states, which depends on mutual agreements. Concerns about security and borders will remain after the Palestinians’ unilateral action, threatening the stability and security of both states; and the parameters of a final agreement will be damaged before negotiation ever takes place.
Jewish Values:
At a time in which Israel's viability as a secure, Jewish democracy is at risk, we must do all we can to protect and advance the prospects for peace. With this in mind, it is important to realize that a free and safe Israel must coexist with an equally safe Palestinian state, whose borders are mutually agreed upon.
Take Action Now:
Contact the White House and thank President Obama for his commitment to achieving peace between the Israelis and Palestinians and to opposing the Palestinian statehood vote at the UN. The White House switchboard can be reached at 202-456-1414. You can also contact your members of Congress and urge them to support the White House’s commitment to achieve peace between the Israelis and Palestinians and to oppose the Palestinian statehood vote at the UN. The congressional switchboard can be reached at 202-224-3121. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202-387-2800.
Alan Gross of Potomac, Maryland traveled to Cuba on behalf of a development company to provide satellite phone and computer equipment to the country’s Jewish residents. In December 2009, he was arrested by Cuban authorities, and three months later, he was convicted of “acts against the independence of the territorial integrity of the State.”
Alan Gross’s health has been deteriorating, yet the Cuban government has shown no willingness to consider his release. Former Cabinet Secretary and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was recently in Cuba on a mission to free Alan Gross, but left after being denied permission to even visit with him.
Jewish Values
The Talmud purports, "One person was created to teach us the sanctity and importance of every life, for one who destroys one life, it is as if he destroys an entire world, and one who saves one life, it is as if he saves an entire world." The Jewish tradition upholds the humanitarian treatment of one another, towards the ultimate objective of a more peaceful, cooperative and just world.
In early August, President Obama reached a compromise with congressional leaders to increase the borrowing limit of the United States. View a statement from the leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement on the debt ceiling compromise. The compromise averts economic disaster. It does so, however, in exchange for extracting hundreds of billions of dollars in non-entitlement spending cuts and then sets up a bipartisan Committee to achieve $1.5 trillion in additional savings, including entitlement and tax reform.
The compromise delays debate over cuts to entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). An initial round of spending cuts would exempt entitlement programs. While it also provides limited protection to other low-income programs by drawing from both defense and non-defense discretionary spending, significant cuts in safety net programs are quite likely. The package also creates a bipartisan Committee to produce an additional $1.5 trillion in savings from either entitlement and tax reform. Limiting the damage to entitlement programs by increasing revenue will prove very difficult, but at least the most critical programs are protected for the time being. Failure by the Committee to produce legislation that has sufficient support to become law will automatically trigger an across-the-board cut in 2013 that exempts low-income programs, unemployment insurance, and Social Security, while ensuring that Medicare cuts do not reduce benefits.
The compromise will only be a fair one if, during the appropriations process, Congress achieves the mandated spending cuts in a manner that preserves essential social safety net programs and if tax reform occurs in addition to entitlement reform.
JEWISH VALUES
Deuteronomy teaches, “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (15:7-8). The debt ceiling compromise will on be a fair one if Congress enacts mandated spending cuts and negotiates entitlement and tax reform in a manner that protects the most vulnerable among us. The Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis each have passed many resolutions supporting the goal of deficit reduction, while also insisting that the poor and vulnerable do not shoulder the burden of spending cuts.
TAKE ACTION
Contact your elected officials and ask them to ensure that the poor are protected in any spending cuts that result from the debt ceiling compromise, and ask them to ensure that both entitlement and tax reform occur so that social safety net programs retain their ability to address urgent needs. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Ian Hainline at 202.387.2800.
BACKGROUND It has been over a year since the Deepwater Horizon oil well was finally capped after spewing five million of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, but Congress has yet to respond with legislation that would protect our coasts from future oil disasters or restore the Gulf. As the Yellowstone pipeline spill shows yet again, drilling for and distributing oil is a dirty business, and Congress must ensure that the Gulf is protected and restored following the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.
Throughout the week of July 25, Gulf Coast citizens and community leaders, and people of faith across the country, will join together to urge Senate passage of the RESTORE Act and creation of a Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Gulf. The RESTORE Act, co-sponsored by nine Gulf Senators, would invest billions of dollars in Clean Water Act penalties in ecosystem and economic restoration across the Gulf, instead of sending this money into trust funds or general treasury for unrelated uses. This effort represents an historic investment in environmental restoration for one of our nation’s most important and vulnerable ecosystems, and now is the time to begin repairing the Gulf and protecting our national energy and environmental future. Creating a Regional Citizens Advisory Council through this or other legislation would strengthen oversight and empower the people of the Gulf with a louder voice in the future of the fossil fuel industry.
JEWISH VALUES As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of Torah to be good stewards of our resources, including water and energy, and to take care not to spoil our natural world. In response to the environmental disaster in the Gulf, faith-based organizations have worked tirelessly to support those most impacted, living out the words of Deuteronomy 15 that demand: “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient.” The crisis in the Gulf is a failure to live up to these mandates, but we can still act to restore the damage and prevent future catastrophes.
TAKE ACTION
During the week of July 25, join allies and advocates from the Gulf Coast and across the country in calling on the Senate to respond to the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history by passing the RESTORE Act and creating a Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Gulf of Mexico. We must urge Congress to protect impacted communities, accelerate the restoration process and prevent future oil spill disasters. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121 or you can send an email below. For more information, contact Sustainability Program Coordinator Rachel Cohen at 202.387.2800.
Call-in Script
When you reach your Senator’s office, ask to speak to the Legislative Assistant for energy and environmental issues. If he or she is not available, leave a message with the talking points below.
Hello. My name is __________, and I am calling to urge (your Senator) to make a commitment to the communities and environment of the Gulf Coast by supporting the RESTORE Act and urging creation of a Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Gulf.
I am calling as part of a week of action by Gulf Coast advocates and people of diverse faiths nationwide, all of whom support environmental justice for the Gulf and demand that we invest the resources required to restore this vital and vulnerable ecosystem.
Restoration projects eligible for RESTORE Act funding could help protect communities, restore ecosystems, revive the tourism and fishing economies, and create tens of thousands of jobs rebuilding and diversifying the Gulf Coast economy. This historic investment is needed to restore this damaged ecosystem and protect our energy future.
The bi-partisan Commission on the BP Oil Spill recommended dedicating Clean Water Act penalties to comprehensive environmental restoration in its final report to the President, suggesting that these funds can jump-start restoration from the historic damages incurred from the BP disaster.
To assure that a disaster like this cannot happen again, I also urge you to support creating a Gulf of Mexico Regional Citizens Advisory Council to give impacted communities a much-needed voice in the energy industry decisions that intimately affect their lives. An RCAC would empower the people of the Gulf, increase trust among industry, government and citizens and utilize local knowledge to help prevent future disasters.
We need the leadership of the Senate to invest in a clean and sustainable energy and environmental future for the Gulf Coast and for our nation. Responding to this disaster is not a partisan issue but an issue of protecting Creation and pursuing economic fairness for those coastal communities facing the greatest impacts.
Did you leave a voicemail? Follow up with an email on the next page and let us know you made the call!
The House will vote this week on legislation called the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act (H.R. 2560) that would fundamentally reshape the federal government’s role in the economy, deeply constraining its ability to combat poverty during economic recession and put Americans back to work, provide assistance during natural disasters, and invest in infrastructure to ensure prosperity for the future.
H.R. 2560 would require the adoption of a balanced budget amendment (BBA) as a precondition for increasing the country’s borrowing limit. In their simplest form, BBAs require the federal government to spend no more money than it collects in revenue. While this is a worthwhile goal, a BBA would prevent the federal government from wielding its unrivaled creditworthiness to spend and repay huge sums of money to provide security to families in need and invest money in the future so that the economy can continue to grow.
Some BBA proposals would also cap federal spending as a percentage of GDP. One such cap, included in one BBA, H. J. Res. 1, would limit spending to 16.7 percent of GDP—a level of spending lower than at any time since 1956, before Medicare or Medicaid (two of the greatest areas of spending for the federal government) even existed.
In addition, some BBAs require supermajority support for any action that results in an increase in government revenue. Such a rule would make it extraordinarily hard if not impossible for the government to meet its responsibilities to the public and ensure national well being and security.
Constitutionally enforced spending caps and supermajority requirements for revenue increases are ideological attempts to shrink the size of government under the guise of fiscal restraint. Starving the federal government of revenue and artificially limiting the amount of money the government can spend would mean the destruction of programs that serve the disadvantage and result in more poverty, more joblessness, and less prosperity.
JEWISH VALUES
Deuteronomy teaches, “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (15:7-8). A balanced budget amendment in any form will deeply constrain the ability of the federal government to respond to the needs of the disadvantaged among us.
TAKE ACTION
Call your Senators and Representative and ask them to oppose the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act (H.R. 2560) when it comes to a vote and to oppose balanced budget amendments. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Jonathan Backer at 202.387.2800.
Background
There are close to 500,000 young people currently in foster care across the United States, around 120,000 of whom are eligible for adoption every year. Finding homes is not always easy, and nearly 25,000 prospective adoptees will “age out” of the system without a family before the year is through. Yet the current patchwork of state laws and policies denies kids access to safe, stable, and permanent homes just because of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the prospective parents.
More than 40 years of research indicates that the optimal development for children is based on the stable attachments to committed and nurturing parents, not on the marital status or sexual orientation of the parents. This research consistently shows that children raised by same sex parents have the same level of emotional, cognitive, social and sexual development outcomes as children raised by straight parents. Research also shows that foster youth who never find a permanent home face a much higher chance of ending up poor, homeless, in jail, and becoming a young parent.
The Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 1681) seeks to end the practice of adoption and foster care agencies discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation when considering prospective parents. It promotes the best interests of the children in the foster care system by increasing their access to safe and supportive homes. ECDF has no impact on private adoptions and religious charities are free to continue operating as they always have.
Jewish Values
Judaism teaches that all human beings are created b'tselem elohim – in the Divine image. Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them: male and female, God created them.” The belief that the stamp of the divine is present in all humans is fundamental to Reform Judaism; we cannot tolerate discrimination against any person for any reason. Qualified gay and lesbian Americans should be able to provide nurturing and supportive homes to children seeking adoptive and foster care, as do heterosexual Americans.
Take Action
In emails, faxes and phone calls, please contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support the Every Child Deserves a Family Act and oppose discrimination against gays and lesbians. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Noah Baron at 202.387.2800.
On June 25, 2006, over five years ago, Hamas terrorists broke across the Gaza-Israel border, killing two Israeli soldiers and capturing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Despite repeated requests, the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed access to him, and Shalit remains in captivity in Gaza. Furthermore, Hamas has not offered any proof that Shalit is alive since October 2009.
House Resolution 317, introduced by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), demands that Hamas immediately and unconditionally release Gilad Shalit and accede to basic standards of humanitarian conduct with regards to Shalit. The resolution also expresses strong support for the State of Israel and condemns Iran and Syria as the primary supporters and patrons of Hamas.
JEWISH VALUES
We are reminded of the Talmudic injunction that “whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved a world entire.” In November 2009, the Union for Reform Judaism adopted a resolution that reaffirms our utmost commitment to securing Gilad Shalit’s freedom. We continue to pray for Gilad Shalit’s well being and safe release and for strength for his parents, Noam and Aviva.
TAKE ACTION
Ask your representative to support H. Res 317 to address the ongoing plight of Israeli solider Gilad Shalit, and call for his immediate and unconditional release. For more information, please contact RAC Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Solly Kane at 202.387.2800.
On June 20 2011, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced S.1231, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act. First passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2008, the law promotes evidence-based programs to aid the reentry of former prisoners into society, and thereby improve public safety. Since the law’s passage, 250 grants have been awarded in nearly every state to provide substance abuse treatment, employment and mentoring services, as well as many others, to improve transition from prison and jail to communities and reduce recidivism.
The Second Chance Reauthorization Act provides crucial resources at a time when they are desperately needed. In 2009, federal and state prisons held over 1.6 million inmates – 1 in every 199 American residents – and released 729,295 individuals back to their communities. On top of this, more than 9 million individuals are released from jail each year. Unfortunately, most individuals face numerous challenges when returning to the community from prison or jail, and research indicates that over half are re-incarcerated within three years of their release.
The Second Chance Reauthorization Act improves and consolidates the programs authorized by the Second Chance Act, and reauthorizes them. By providing the resources needed to coordinate reentry services and policies, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act seeks to ensure that the tax dollars spent on corrections no longer support a revolving door in and out of prison and jail.
Jewish Values
Jewish tradition teaches the imperative to care for our community’s marginalized and underserved populations. The book of Deuteronomy commands us: Justice, justice you shall pursue. Rabbinic commentators explain this repetition of the word “justice,” noting that we must always ensure that we use just means in our pursuit of justice. To that end, we can maintain the safety of our communities while ensuring our criminal justice system is, indeed, just. By reauthorizing the Second Chance Act, we are doing just that.
Take Action
Ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support S.1231 to reauthorize the Second Chance Act. You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, the Capital Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Madison Arent at 202.387.2800
BACKGROUND:
The Offshore Energy and Jobs Permitting Act of 2011 (S.1226) would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using its authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate offshore drilling operations, particularly in the Arctic Ocean. The bill seeks to fast track the drilling permit approval process, thus weakening the ability of local communities and people concerned about the environmental impact of proposed drilling to voice their concern. Despite the fact that the impact of climate change is already being felt, this legislation would ease the process for spewing greenhouse gases and other dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere. The House of Representatives has passed this bill and will soon be up for a vote in the Senate.
JEWISH VALUES:
As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of Torah to be good stewards of our resources, including water and air, and to protect our natural world. In Midrash we are told “Take care, lest you spoil and destroy my world, because if you do, there is no one after you to make it right again” (Kohelet Rabbah 7:13).
TAKE ACTION:
Urge your Sentaors to vote against the Offshore Energy and Jobs Permitting Act of 2011 (S.1226) and protect our environment. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121 or you can send an e-mail by entering your zip code below. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Susan Paykin at 202.387.2800
BACKGROUND:
More than 400,000 women serve in the Armed Forces, and, like all military personnel, receive their health insurance from the Department of Defense’s Military Health System. But the health insurance available to servicewomen differs significantly from every other health insurance plan provided by the federal government in that it does NOT cover abortion services in the cases of rape or incest. Rather, servicewomen can only receive insurance coverage for abortion services if their lives are in danger.
The current policy is particularly unjust and unfair in light of the alarmingly high rates of sexual assault in the military. According to the Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2010 numbers, 3,158 military sexual assaults were reported. That number alone is shocking, but it barely scratches the surface because most servicewomen who have experienced sexual violence do not report the incident. Researchers estimate that over time, taking into account the percentage of military sexual assaults that go unreported, up to one-third of women experience an attempted or completed rape during their military service.
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have introduced the MARCH for Military Women Act (MARCH stands for Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health) to restore abortion coverage to military women who are survivors of rape and incest. The MARCH Act (H.R. 2085/S. 1214) would bring the Department of Defense’s Military Health System in line with other federal health insurance programs, which provide low-income women on Medicaid, federal employees, women who receive health care through the Indian Health Service, and women in federal prisons with coverage for abortion services in the cases of rape, incest and when their lives are in danger. The MARCH Act would also lift the ban on servicewomen using their OWN, private money to pay for abortion services in military facilities.
JEWISH VALUES:
Jewish values affirm the rights of women to be moral decision makers, capable of making responsible choices about their reproductive health. Women in the military are no less entitled to the right to make decisions about reproduction. Although the Reform Movement believes insurance coverage of abortion should not be limited solely to cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger, the Department of Defense—at the very least—should provide servicewomen with access to the same care available to the civilians they protect.
TAKE ACTION: In emails, faxes and phone calls, please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the MARCH Act (H.R. 2085/S. 1214). The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an e-mail by entering your ZIP Code below.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Deborah Swerdlow at 202.387.2800.
Congress is currently considering three balanced budget amendments (BBAs) that would fundamentally reshape the federal government’s role in the economy, deeply constraining its ability to combat poverty during economic recession and put Americans back to work, provide assistance during natural disasters, and invest in infrastructure to ensure prosperity for the future. This week, the House of Representatives will likely vote on one version of the BBA, H. J. Res. 1, and two other versions—S. J. Res. 4 and S. J. Res. 10—could also receive votes in the coming weeks.
In their simplest form, BBAs require the federal government to spend no more money than it collects in revenue. While this is a worthwhile goal, a BBA would prevent the federal government from wielding its unrivaled creditworthiness to spend and repay huge sums of money to provide security to families in need and invest money in the future so that the economy can continue to grow.
All three of the BBAs being considered, however, contain additional provisions that make the amendments even more threatening. Each would cap federal spending as a percentage of GDP. The most restrictive cap, included in H. J. Res. 1, would limit spending to 16.7 percent of GDP—a level of spending lower than at any time since 1956, before Medicare or Medicaid (two of the greatest areas of spending for the federal government) even existed.
Another provision of two of the three proposed BBAs (H. J. Res. 1 and S. J. Res. 10) would require supermajority support for any action that results in an increase in government revenue. Such a rule would make it extraordinarily hard if not impossible for the government to meet its responsibilities to the public and ensure national well being and security.
Constitutionally enforced spending caps and supermajority requirements for revenue increases are ideological attempts to shrink the size of government under the guise of fiscal restraint. Starving the federal government of revenue and artificially limiting the amount of money the government can spend would mean the destruction of programs that serve the disadvantage and result in more poverty, more joblessness, and less prosperity.
JEWISH VALUES
Deuteronomy teaches, “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (15:7-8). A balanced budget amendment in any form will deeply constrain the ability of the federal government to respond to the needs of the disadvantaged among us.
TAKE ACTION
A Constitutional amendment requires the support of two-thirds of the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Call your Senators and Representative and ask them to oppose H. J. Res. 1 when it comes to a vote and to oppose all other versions of the balanced budget amendment should they come to a vote, including S. J. Res. 4 and S. J. Res. 10. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Jonathan Backer at 202.387.2800.
The House’s recently passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill (H. R. 2112) that contains large spending cuts to several of the most important anti-hunger programs. The bill would cut $833 million from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which would cause as many as 475,000 low-income mothers and young children to be cut from the program. It would also cut $2 billion from the reserve fund for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), depleting the program’s resources to respond to increased demand as a result of economic downturn or natural disaster. Finally, the bill includes cuts to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides meals to mothers, infants, and the elderly, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a means-tested program that distributes food through food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
The recession has caused a dramatic increase in demand for food assistance. The number of food insecure households has increased by 33 percent since the beginning of the recession, while Feeding America estimates that the number of people served by the emergency food system (including public and private assistance) has increased by 46 percent since 2006. This high level of demand will not likely change soon, as nearly 14 million Americans continue to struggle with unemployment in an anemic job market and as a record number of people grappled with poverty in 2009.
Anti-hunger programs play a critical role in blunting the negative effects of economic downturn and natural disaster on low-income families. By itself, a provision in the stimulus package that increased SNAP benefits in the wake of the recession prevented 700,000 families from falling below the poverty line. During this time of continued economic hardship, Congress should not use the appropriations bill to cut the programs that are the last line of defense for millions of families on the verge of poverty.
JEWISH VALUES
Deuteronomy teaches, “If there is a needy person among you…do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (15:7-8). The disadvantaged should not unfairly shoulder the burden of budget cuts. Congress must take bold steps to restore fiscal responsibility, but anti-hunger programs that are a barrier to increased poverty are not an appropriate target for budget cuts.
TAKE ACTION
Call your Senators and ask them to voice their opposition to the cuts to SNAP, WIC, CSFP, and TEFAP in the House FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill and support efforts to robustly fund these programs. The Capitol switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Legislative Assistant Jonathan Backer at 202.387.2800.
In December 2010, President Obama signed into law a 13 month extension of the federal unemployment insurance program. Without unemployment insurance, 3.3 million Americans, including 1 million children, would have fallen below the poverty line in 2009 alone. Despite some signs of recovery for the job market, the unemployment rate remains roughly where it has been for over two years, at 9 percent. With five unemployed workers for every job available, the economy is not yet growing at a rate sufficient to meet the demand of workers seeking jobs. Until robust economic growth is restored, the federal government must continue to ensure that help is provided so that more families do not fall victim to poverty. Unemployment insurance is absolutely essential to give workers the support they need to find new work.
Despite the desperate employment situation for millions of Americans, some in Congress are seeking to undermine the federal unemployment insurance program. The Jobs, Opportunities, Benefits, and Services (JOBS) Act (H.R. 1745/S. 904), introduced by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) and Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT), would allow states to take the $31 billion allocated for federal unemployment insurance and use the money to reduce unemployment taxes on businesses, fund their depleted unemployment trust funds, or pay for state benefits.
Diverting federal dollars for these other priorities would mean that the four million workers currently receiving federal unemployment insurance would not be able to count on having any support beyond the first 26 weeks (and now, in some states, 20 weeks) of state unemployment insurance. This would make it harder for the long-term unemployed to find new work and would result in many more families struggling with poverty.
JEWISH VALUES:
The Torah and Jewish tradition teach us that providing for those in need is not a matter of charity but an obligation. “If there is a needy person among you… do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Judaism also teaches that the highest form of tzedakah is to help another person achieve self-sufficiency. We must help people support themselves by maintaining crucial assistance at this uncertain time.
TAKE ACTION:
Urge your Members of Congress to oppose the JOBS Act (H.R. 1745 / S. 904) when it comes to a vote on the House or the Senate floor. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121, or you can send an e-mail. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Jonathan Backer at 202.387.2800.
The Reuniting Families Act is a family immigration bill that works to unite and keep families together. The current family-based immigration system has not been updated in over 20 years – keeping spouses, children and their parents separated for years and often decades, despite the fact that the family has played by the rules. There are currently 4.7 million people in the family immigration backlog waiting unconscionable periods of time to reunite with their family members.
This legislation takes important steps toward fixing our broken family immigration system by reducing the waiting times for legal immigrants. The bill contains practical solutions such as provisions that would ensure that visas are allocated efficiently; alleviation of lengthy wait times that keep legal immigrants and their overseas loved ones separated for years, and decrease measures that prevent family members from obtaining visas. Additionally, Title II of the bill is the Uniting American Families Act that allows lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender immigrant families to stay together and will keep LGBT spouses and partners from being deported.
Family members have waited too long to be reunited with their spouses, children, and other loved ones overseas. This legislation reflects our family values and reunites families to strengthen our communities and our economy.
Jewish Values
Our faith demands of us concern for the stranger in our midst. Leviticus commands, "When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" [19:33-34]. This principle permeates Jewish tradition and is echoed 35 times in the Torah.
The Union for Reform Judaism has long spoken out in support of a generous, fair and non-discriminatory immigration policy. Our people were and continue to be immigrants to the United States and to Canada. We are especially aware that generous immigration policies have benefited Jews fleeing persecution and economic hardship, and we remember painfully the times when these policies have been unfairly restrictive. Having struggled to adjust to a society that did not always welcome our arrival, we understand the problems faced by today's immigrants.
Take Action
Ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support the Reuniting Families Act (H.R. 1796). You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, the Capital Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Madison Arent at 202.387.2800.
In December 2010, President Obama signed into law a bill which began the process of repealing the U.S. military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, banning openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in our armed forces. Months later, the job is still not done. Opponents of the law hope to use the upcoming markup of the annual defense policy bill to significantly slow the process of formally ending DADT.
Full repeal will only take effect 60 days after the President, Defense Secretary, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that the military is ready to implement it. That certification was expected to take place this summer, with an eye toward full repeal by October 1.
However, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is to attempting to delay DADT repeal with an amendment that would require all four military service chiefs to certify that the repeal will not impact combat readiness and effectiveness. Rep. Hunter’s amendment serves no constructive purpose: all four service chiefs have pledged to help integrate gays and lesbians openly into the armed forces. However, Rep. Hunter’s amendment could serve to ensure the end of DADAT takes considerably longer than necessary, leaving American troops remain at risk of dismissal due to discrimination.
Jewish Values
As Jews, we are guided by the understanding that all human beings are created b’tselem Elohim, in the Divine image. Regardless of context, discrimination against any person is inconsistent with this fundamental belief, for the stamp of the Divine is present in each and every one of us. Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a crucial step toward creating a more just and compassionate military. We must no longer allow prejudice to deprive our nation of the skills and commitment of talented and patriotic men and women.
Take Action
It’s time to end this discriminatory policy once and for all. Ask your Members of Congress to vote against the Hunter amendment, and all other amendments designed to slow the process of DADT repeal. You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, the Capital Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Amelia Viney at 202.387.2800.
BACKGROUND:
No federal law currently protects employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In 30 states, it is legal to fire, refuse to hire, demote, or fail to promote an employee based on sexual orientation; in 38 states, it is legal to do so based on gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (H.R. 1397/S. 811), introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would protect LGBT Americans from workplace discrimination, providing certain exemptions for religious organizations, small businesses and the military. In 1996, ENDA came just one vote shy of passing the Senate.
JEWISH VALUES:
Judaism teaches that all human beings are created b'tselem elohim – in the Divine image. Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them: male and female, God created them.” The belief that the stamp of the divine is present in all humans is fundamental to Reform Judaism; we cannot tolerate discrimination against any person for any reason.
TAKE ACTION:
Urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (H.R. 1397/S. 811). Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121, or send an e-mail by entering your zip code below.
BACKGROUND
It has been more than a year since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and BP oil spill disaster, which killed 11 men and devastated the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast. We continue to lament lost jobs and economic security, the physical and mental health challenges facing so many of our brothers and sisters across the region, and the toll on wildlife and the environment of the oil and chemical contaminants that still permeate the Gulf. This unprecedented injustice shows yet again the risks of our national fossil fuel addiction, and the dangerous industry behavior designed to feed it.
Though one year has passed, there has been no legislation enacted to protect communities and ecosystems or take steps necessary to prevent future oil disasters. An effective legislative response must empower citizens and improve industry oversight through creation of a Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council; enact key reforms recommended by the bi-partisan National Oil Spill Commission to prevent future spills; and allocate resources for restoration of the most impacted coastal communities.
The oil industry has been free to pollute without penalty for too long, and the future of the Gulf and our entire country is in danger. Now more than ever, we need the leadership of our elected officials in Washington to ensure that Gulf Coast communities and our environment are restored, and that all of us can enjoy a clean and safe energy future.
JEWISH VALUES As Jews we are called from the earliest verses of torah to be good stewards of our resources, including water and energy, and to take care not to spoil our natural world. In the Book of Deuteronomy we learn that “If there is a needy person among you…do note harden your heart and shut your hand against your kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient.” The crisis in the Gulf illustrates our failure to live up to these mandates, but we can take action to care for those most impacted by the spill and ensure that such a disaster does not happen again.
We commemorate this memorial in the midst of Passover, as we celebrate the renewal of spring and mark our redemption from enslavement by the pharaohs of old. Today we seek renewal and freedom from environmental injustice for our brothers and sisters across the region in urging Congress to act to restore the Gulf, protect vulnerable communities and prevent future tragedies.
TAKE ACTION
Join advocates from across the Gulf Coast and across the country to remind Congress that this disaster is not over for the communities and environment of the Gulf. Demand a response that protects impacted communities, accelerates the restoration process and prevents future oil spill disasters. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121 or you can send an email below. For more information, contact Legislative Assistant Susan Paykin at 202.387.2800.
The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage under federal law as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” This targets gays and lesbians for discrimination by denying legally married same-sex couples all of the federal benefits and protections that every other married couple enjoys. DOMA also provides that states, which routinely recognize marriages from other states, may make an exception for same-sex couples married in another state, violating the Equal Protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment.
Every day, DOMA denies over 1,000 protections and benefits to tens of thousands of Americans in legally recognized same-sex marriages. These federal protections of marriage include Social Security survivors' benefits, family and medical leave, equal compensation as federal employees, and immigration rights, among others.
In February 2011, the Department of Justice made a groundbreaking announcement that it would stop defending Section 3 of DOMA in courts. Following this decision, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116/ S. 598) into the 112th Congress.
This legislation would repeal DOMA, and thus provide married same-sex couples with the full range of federal benefits and protections that the law already provides to married opposite-sex couples. It would, however, continue to allow states to define marriage for themselves. As before DOMA, and consistent with the Constitution, states would retain the ability to decide which out-of-state marriages to recognize. This provides critically important certainty for families, allowing couples to plan for a future of mutual obligation and support with confidence that their access to federal responsibilities and rights will not be taken away by a move to another state. At the same time, nothing in the Act obligates any person or religious organization to celebrate or license a marriage between two persons of the same sex.
Jewish Values
Judaism teaches that all human beings are created b'tselem elohim – in the Divine image. Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God created humans in God’s own image, in the image of God, God created them: male and female, God created them.” The belief that the stamp of the divine is present in all humans is fundamental to Reform Judaism; we cannot tolerate discrimination against any person for any reason. In reflection of this belief, the Movement is committed to ensuring the civil marriage rights of gay and lesbian couples.
Take Action
It’s time to end institutionalized discrimination based on sexual orientation in this country. Ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116/S. 598). You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code below. To call your Members of Congress, the Capital Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Noah Baron at 202.387.2800.
In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post by Richard Goldstone, chair of the 2009 UN Gaza War commission that issued a report bearing his name, Goldstone retracted key conclusions of the report including the accusation that Israel intentionally targeted civilians in Gaza. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, welcomed Goldstone’s comments in a statement, cautioning that despite Goldstone’s retraction, the damage has already been done by the report.
On April 8, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and James Risch (R-ID) introduced S. Res 138 calling on the United Nations to rescind the Goldstone Report. The legislation calls on the “United Nations Human Rights Council members to reflect the author's repudiation of the Goldstone report's central findings, rescind the report, and reconsider further Council actions with respect to the report's findings.”
Jewish Values
As Jews we take seriously the value of teshuvah (repentance) and commend Goldstone’s admission of error. At the same time, we also recognize the power of words and speech. It is important that we take the opportunity to correct the errors of speech whenever possible.
Take Action
Urge your Senators to support S. Res. 138 and help ensure that the historical record of the events in Gaza will not be tarnished by the report’s faulty conclusions.
You can send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code. For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Katharine Nasielski at 202.387.2800.
Support for, and love of, Israel is at the center of many of our rabbinates. Today, we are at a critical point where once again we need to make our voice heard. Foreign aid, including aid to Israel, is being threatened by the prospect of Congressional budget cuts.
You know that aid to Israel reflects a strong U.S. investment in the peace process, a belief in Israel’s importance as a vital ally for the United States in the Middle East, and an American commitment to a Jewish democratic state.
We need your help. Please add your name to the Rabbis’ letter below that will be sent to Congress. Our objective is to get as many signatures as possible from across the country and across our Movements. In order to give our letter maximum impact, we want to get it to Members of Congress during the budget debate. We are, therefore, asking you to add your name by Friday, April 15.
We hope that you will join us in putting your name on this letter. Questions can be directed to Religious Action Center Legislative Assistant Solly Kane at skane@rac.org.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie
President
Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Steven C. Wernick
Executive Vice President and CEO
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rabbi Steven Weil
Executive Vice President
Orthodox Union
Rabbi Fredi Cooper
President
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Rabbi Jonathan Stein
President
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Steven Fox
Executive Vice President
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld
Executive Vice President
Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Basil Herring
Executive Vice President
Rabbinical Council of America
Rabbi David Saperstein
Director and Counsel
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” U.S. Constitution, amendment XIV, § 1.
Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and David Vitter (R-LA) have introduced a ‘Senate Joint Resolution 2’ to amend the United States Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship to all children born in the United States.The legislationwould specifically deny citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants who are born in America and limit automatic citizenship to American-born babies of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
Ratified in 1868, in the wake of the Civil War, the Constitution’s 14th Amendmentwas designed to ensure that all children born in the United States became citizens. It aimed to prohibit states ever again seeking to create an underclass of Americans. Since its adoption, the federal courts have repeatedly affirmed support for the Constitution’s citizenship clause. Specifically, in 1898 the United States Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that the Clause guarantees citizenship to people born in America even if their parents were ineligible for citizenship; it is their civil right.
Jewish Values
We are instructed in the Holiness Code (Leviticus 19:33) to take to heart the lessons of our own history by treating aliens in our midst with justice and compassion. “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
The Union for Reform Judaism has long supported the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship for all those born in the U.S. and in 1997, resolved to oppose any legislation to further restrict eligibility for citizenship such as that proposed by Sens. Paul and Vitter.
Take Action
In emails, faxes and phone calls, please contact your Members of Congress and urge them to speak out against any attempt to undermine the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Capitol Switchboard can be reached at 202.224.3121. You can also send an e-mail by entering your Zip Code.
For more information, please contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Amelia Viney at 202.387.2800.
