From our partners at NETWORK Advocates for Justice, Inspired by Catholic Sisters
Updated July 3
As the U.S. House of Representatives passes the Budget Reconciliation bill passed by the Senate on July 1, NETWORK Interim Executive Director Joan F. Neal reiterated the organization’s profound sadness as the bill moves forward:
“The damage done by this cruel, un-American bill will be devastating, intergenerational, and require decades-long reform to repair. People will die if the country robs millions of us of access to food and health care, creates even more obscene wealth inequality, and funds increasing detention, deportation, and ICE raids. The United States will be unrecognizable, and it will take a very long time to rebuild.
“This is a moral failure for the lawmakers who passed it and a betrayal of the trust of their constituents who elected them to look after their interests. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Founded by Catholic Sisters in 1972, NETWORK is an inclusive, national, Catholic advocacy organization open to all who share our values, working for justice and equity for everyone. For 53 years, NETWORK has educated, organized, and lobbied for federal policies that serve the common good and honor the dignity of all people.
Updated July 1
The Senate passed the budget bill, but this fight isn’t over. Our faith calls us to keep going. Laura, NETWORK's Senior Director of Public Policy, is outside the Capitol with an urgent message: take a breath, keep the faith, and stay in the fight. The House could vote as early as tomorrow, July 2. This bill is a moral failure. It would strip Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit from our communities, while funding mass deportation and rewarding billionaires with tax breaks.
📞 As people of faith, we believe there is enough for all of us to thrive in God’s beloved community. We are called to love our neighbors, not abandon them. Call your Representative now: 1-888-897-9753. Or take action online: https://networklobby.org/actnow-2/
“We know this assault will continue in different forms, and we will persist in our efforts to stop it. As it heads back to the House, we pray that the values of decency, compassion, and solidarity prevail. This bill does not reflect the values of our faith nor of our democracy, and we will continue to work to defeat it. When we work in partnership together as people of faith and goodwill, we can repel heartless attacks and ultimately pursue policies that create a country where all people can thrive, without exception.” Read NETWORK's full statement here.
Shared June 27
This week, Senate Republicans are set to put their budget reconciliation bill on the floor for a vote. We had hoped that the Senate would show more care for our communities than the House did when they passed their bill in May. But this bill is WORSE. Not only are they pushing for the biggest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in our nation’s history, their plan rips away funding for the Affordable Care Act, the Child Tax Credit, incentives for clean energy, and more.
Why is Congress pushing a bad bill? To have enough money in our shared budget to extend tax cuts to billionaires and large political donors and to fuel mass deportation of our immigrant communities. We must stop this bill. Call today, tomorrow and/or this week!
Take Action
Dial 1-888-897-9753
When you call, here’s a faith message you might share:
“Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR TOWN]. I'm asking that
[SENATOR ________] protect Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit from harmful budget cuts and red tape; and stop funding for mass deportation of immigrant families.
Hardworking families, people with disabilities, kids aging out of foster care, seniors, and others who need the life-affirming resources that our budget provides, are our neighbors and family members. As a person of faith, I know there are enough resources for all of us to thrive in God’s beloved community.
[SENATOR ________], it's immoral for Congress to provide permanent tax credits for billionaires and wealthy corporations that are paid for by slashing funding from programs so many of our neighbors need to survive. Likewise, we must not fund the separation of families through mass deportations. Catholic Social Teaching demands that we exercise a preferential option for the poor and love our neighbors! Congress must protect the common good and love our neighbors.
Will [Senator _____] vote 'no' on the Senate Budget reconciliation bill to protect Medicaid, SNAP and the Child Tax Credit--and say NO to family separation?
More Information
- They plan to remove access to the Child Tax Credit for 4.5 million children.
- 16 million Americans will lose access to health care, putting more pressure on many of our nation’s hospitals that are struggling to maintain services and stay open for their communities.
- Nearly 45% of all U.S. children—34 million in total—are at risk under proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which would be the largest in U.S. history.
- The cuts would endanger children across all backgrounds but, because of longstanding discrimination, disproportionately harm Latino children and other children of color.
- The bill unfairly targets working-class children: almost half of all children whose working parents did not attend college rely on Medicaid for health care or SNAP for food, compared to fewer than one in four children with college-educated parents.
- This deeply immoral bill aims to divert critical resources away from communities toward mass deportation operations, threatening due process and tearing families apart. It allocates approximately $150 billion for interior enforcement and border measures.