Intern with Faith in Public Life!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Want to work for an organization that builds bridges among leading faith organizations, policy makers, and activists? Looking for real responsibility in an internship that will give you the chance to develop substantive projects? Check out FPL's Internship Page for more details on our Fall Internship availabilities.

The New Fall Line-up: Congress Returns with a Packed Agenda

As children across the country say goodbye to summer camp and pool parties and begin another year of school, Members of Congress say goodbye to state fairs and townhall meetings and return to Washington to finish their legislative session.

Fall can be a time of intense pressure for legislators as pet projects and key policy concerns compete for space in the legislative calendar with "keep the lights on" budget measures that must be passed before the end of the session.

People of faith are working hard to make sure some real values priorities don't get lost in the mix. Key tests on issues like Iraq, torture, children's health and the Farm Bill are due to come up in the fall, and religious leaders will be doing all they can to make sure Congress passes this common good agenda.

Iraq

On September 11, Congress will hear a report and assessment of the situation in Iraq from Army General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Their testimony will once again put the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq at the forefront of the political agenda and the news cycle. As consevative voices like Senator Warner and General Pace add their voices to the chorus calling for a troop draw-down, people of faith who have long opposed the war hope we can finally see some movement on this issue.

Torture

Congress was unable to pass a comprehensive anti-torture and human rights bill before it broke for summer recess, but it will have another chance to change U.S. detainee policy when it debates Department of Defense authorization. Faith groups like the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) are urging congress to restore habeas corpus and other key human rights protections.

SCHIP

President Bush has vowed to veto any expansion of the highly successful children's health insurance program despite its broad bi-partisan support. SCHIP (the State Children's Health Insurance Program) is set to expire on September 30, giving people of faith only a few weeks to convince President Bush to change his mind or help create a "veto proof" majority of support in Congress. More information on SCHIP can be found at coverallchildren.org and the PICO Network is currently collecting clergy signatures for a "Say YES to Children" petition.

Farm Bill

Before recess, the House passed a version of the farm bill which fell short of the kind of reform many people in the faith community (like the members of the Religious Working Group on the Farm Bill) were advocating. Focus now shifts to the Senate, which has expressed more interest reforms like cutting subsidies and increasing land conservation programs.