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Racial, Economic & Gender Justice |
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Letter to Congress on Tax LegislationINTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS September 20, 2004 Dear Senator/Representative, As you work to reach an agreement on legislation to extend expiring tax provisions, we, as representatives of communities of faith, call on you to take a balanced approach that reflects 1) a commitment to caring for those in need, 2) an awareness of the increasing tax burden which has been placed on moderate income families, and 3) a commitment to fiscal responsibility that promotes the common good and assures a more economically secure nation. While we are supportive of tax policies that provide needed assistance to low and moderate income families, we are concerned that this legislation will be used as a vehicle to provide additional costly tax breaks to the most affluent among us. In addition, we remain troubled by the impact of growing budget deficits on spending for critical human needs programs. Therefore, we urge the adoption of the following recommendations in the final tax extension package:
As people of faith, we believe that policy decisions must be evaluated in light of how they assist people in overcoming poverty and strengthening families and communities. We call on you to support provisions in upcoming tax legislation that will support these goals. Sincerely, American Baptist Churches USA Letter to Senator Kerry on Poverty and Health INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS September 8, 2004 Dear Senator Kerry: As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled by the recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of people in poverty and the increasing number of people without health insurance. Our nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between those with extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty. In 2003, an additional 1.3 million people fell below the poverty line, and 733,000 were children. The poverty line for a family of three, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is $14,680 ($18,810 for a family of four). Currently, 17.6 percent of children in the United States – nearly one in five - are living in poverty. The new data show 35.9 million people living in poverty, with 43 percent (15.3 million) living in deep poverty, meaning they have cash incomes below half of the poverty line. This is the highest percentage on record. As a nation, we are moving backward and losing the positive gains we have recently made toward poverty reduction. The new Census Bureau data also shows that an additional 1.4 million people entered the ranks of the uninsured, resulting in a record number, 45 million, now uninsured. Because of increased participation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the proportion of children without health insurance coverage has remained constant at 11.4 percent. Were it not for those public programs, levels of uninsured children would have increased, as employer-based health care coverage declined in 2003. As you continue your campaign for President, we urge you to speak out for the needs of those in poverty and those without health insurance. (We are also sending this letter and these questions to President Bush.) We urge you to answer these questions – to us and to the public:
As communities of faith, we will continue to provide what services we can to reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and to advocate for just policies that will lift all persons out of poverty. However, we are deeply concerned that the current economy is not working well for all people and that the opportunity for excellent health care is not accessible for many.We believe that our society and economy need to be strengthened by providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for hard work, quality health care for all, and a vision of working together for the common good. We appreciate your attention to our concerns and thank you in advance for your responses to our attached questions. Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Antireligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002. Thank you. Sincerely, American Baptist Churches USA INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS Poverty and Health Care Questionnaire September 8, 2004
Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002. Letter to President Bush on Poverty and Health Issues INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS September 8, 2004 The Honorable George W. Bush Dear Mr. President: As representatives of communities of faith, we are deeply troubled by the recent Census Bureau report that details the increasing number of people in poverty and the increasing number of people without health insurance. Our nation is also being destabilized by the growing gap between those with extreme wealth and those living in deep poverty. In 2003, an additional 1.3 million people fell below the poverty line, and 733,000 were children. The poverty line for a family of three, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, is $14,680 ($18,810 for a family of four). Currently, 17.6 percent of children in the United States – nearly one in five - are living in poverty. The new data show 35.9 million people living in poverty, with 43 percent (15.3 million) living in deep poverty, meaning they have cash incomes below half of the poverty line. This is the highest percentage on record. As a nation, we are moving backward and losing the positive gains we have recently made toward poverty reduction. The new Census Bureau data also shows that an additional 1.4 million people entered the ranks of the uninsured, resulting in a record number, 45 million, now uninsured. Because of increased participation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the proportion of children without health insurance coverage has remained constant at 11.4 percent. Were it not for those public programs, levels of uninsured children would have increased, as employer-based health care coverage declined in 2003. As you continue your campaign for President, we urge you to speak out for the needs of those in poverty and those without health insurance. (We are also sending this letter and these questions to Senator John Kerry.) We urge you to answer these questions – to us and to the public:
As communities of faith, we will continue to provide what services we can to reduce the impact of poverty on vulnerable populations, and to advocate for just policies that will lift all persons out of poverty. However, we are deeply concerned that the current economy is not working well for all people and that the opportunity for excellent health care is not accessible for many.We believe that our society and economy need to be strengthened by providing greater equality of opportunity, just reward for hard work, quality health care for all, and a vision of working together for the common good. We appreciate your attention to our concerns and thank you in advance for your responses to our attached questions. Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002. Thank you. Sincerely, American Baptist Churches USA INTERRELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON DOMESTIC HUMAN NEEDS Poverty and Health Care Questionnaire September 8, 2004
Please send your responses to our questions to Carolynn Race, Chair, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, c/o Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20002.
©2004 Fellowship of Reconciliation |