USCCB Budget Comments
The heads of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development; International Justice and Peace; and Migration have written to Congress to express their views on the Biden Administration’s August 10, 2023, request for emergency Fiscal Year 2024 supplemental funding.
Among the programs they support are requests for rural housing rental assistance, the
Commodities Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Supplemental Food Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) “in order for these critical programs to
continue meeting basic nutrition and housing needs. It is especially important
to address WIC funding to ensure all mothers, infants, and young children in
need have access to life-saving nutrition and health services. Ensuring the WIC
program is strong and effective is vital to building a truly life-affirming
society.”
Among the proposals they oppose
the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2), which they describe as “a divisive
border and immigration bill that the House narrowly passed earlier this year.
We believe that such provisions would severely weaken humanitarian protections
long enshrined in U.S. and international law. Catholic social teaching clearly
recognizes a country’s right to secure its borders in accordance with the
common good. However, the USCCB opposes measures that seriously contradict our
nation’s fundamental commitment to humanitarian protection, especially those
that would undermine protection for the sanctity of human life.”
The full letter is here.
Labels: Secure the Border Act of 2023, USCCB, WIC
posted by Peace and Justice @ 2:40 PM
