ELCA Washington Office Staff Responds to 2011 Federal Budget Proposal

Posted by Amy on Monday, 1 March 2010

ELCA NEWS SERVICE February 26, 2010

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- As deliberations begin on the fiscal year 2011 Federal Budget, the advocacy staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a letter to members of Congress on Feb. 24, urging a number of priorities "that transform lives of poverty and hunger, and protect creation," according to the letter.

In early February, U.S. President Barack Obama released details of the $3.83 trillion budget request. Congress is reviewing the President's proposal and will unveil its own version in the coming months.

"Congress has been deadlocked on a number of legislative matters recently, but passing a budget for 2011 is critical to the faith values of ending hunger, reducing poverty and caring for creation," said the Rev. Andrew D. Genszler, director for advocacy, ELCA Washington Office.

The letter acknowledged the "unprecedented challenges" facing the country and outlined Lutheran principles to guide the congressional discussion. The principles included concern for people living in poverty; sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all; and intergenerational responsibility for God's creation and "putting our country back on solid fiscal ground," according to the letter.

Genszler said, "With regard to international issues, the ELCA Washington Office supports an increase in funding for programs related to poverty-focused development assistance. We also support related reform legislation that will make foreign assistance a more efficient use of tax dollars and better address root causes of poverty, hunger and disease in order to transform lives."

On domestic issues, the proposed budget makes important new investments in our child nutrition programs, adds new monies to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) emergency fund and makes permanent improvements to the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, according to Robert D. Francis, director for domestic policy, ELCA Washington Office.

"The President's budget also provides desperately needed aid to states, although much more is needed to protect against layoffs and cuts in vital services," said Francis.

Mary Minette, director for environmental policy and education, ELCA Washington Office, said, "Congress must invest in new technologies that have the potential to create economic opportunities for our country in clean, renewable energy, while protecting vulnerable people and communities from the devastating impacts of climate change. Congress should show good stewardship of financial resources and God's creation in crafting their budget."

"The President has provided a helpful starting point, and it is now up to Congress to craft a budget resolution that remembers those struggling among us while lifting our economy and setting our fiscal house on solid ground," Francis said.

The signers of the letter included the senior staff of the ELCA Washington Office as well as 12 state public policy office directors.