OGR Advocacy Newsletter April 2022

April 21, 2022

Office of Government Relations

A lot has happened in Washington D.C. these past few months, and we are grateful for your advocacy. In March, Congress passed the FY2022 appropriations bill, preventing a government shutdown and investing in many of the priority areas we have all advocated for such as food assistance, public health, education, transportation, housing, national parks, and more. Additionally, Congress passed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime The Administration announced it would end Title 42, which allowed the U.S. to turn away asylum seekers at the border, and which we, along with others, have pushed to end. The Biden Administration has also issued a series of new rules on environmental regulation, climate disclosure, and gun violence prevention. You can find out more below.

For this advocacy and more, we thank you. We encourage you to check out all of our alerts so you can reach out to your Representatives in Congress about issues we are still pushing for. We will continue to follow these events and update you as necessary, as well as keep up with the ever-changing legislative landscape on Capitol Hill.

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Congress

Congress passed the FY2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was signed by the President on March 15, 2022. This bill provided government funding for fiscal year 2022 after a series of continuing resolutions which kept the government funded through March. The appropriations bill reset government funding levels and provided support for hundreds of critical programs through the end of September 2022.

The EQUAL Act, which will eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, now has the support of 60 Senators, meaning that it will pass if brought to the floor. This legislation will address a longstanding disparity in sentencing that has disproportionately harmed Black Americans.

Bills enacted into law

Emmett Till Antilynching Act

This historic piece of legislation makes lynching a federal hate crime. Advocacy efforts date back to the 1870’s, and since its creation, the NAACP has been a leading voice for the criminalization of lynching. While antilynching bills have been brought to Congress almost 200 times since 1900, a bill has finally become law. 

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization (through appropriations)

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a key piece of legislation first introduced in 1994 and reauthorized three times, was reauthorized through 2027. This legislation provides a legal framework to address domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and increases support for housing and economic assistance for survivors. The legislation as passed did not address the “boyfriend loophole” which gun violence prevention activists were pushing for. 

HAITI Act (through appropriations)

This bill modifies and updates recovery and assistance efforts in Haiti including for COVID-19, response to natural disasters, preserving human rights, and more.

Postal Service Reform Act

This bill establishes a Postal Service health benefits program for employees and retirees as well as many other reforms to help the USPS be more efficient and fairly run.

The Biden Administration

Final Department of Justice Rule on Ghost Guns

The Episcopal Church has long supported gun violence prevention measures, including background checks and funding for research on gun violence prevention. Ghost guns are gun kits which can be assembled at home and have not been subject to the same regulation and restriction as regular firearms. This rule requires ghost guns to have serial numbers and for the seller to be licensed.

CDC’s Title 42 Order Termination

Title 42 is a public health policy, which prevents people at the Mexico border from seeking asylum when entering the U.S. It will officially end on May 23^rd.

Episcopal Church Statement on the Termination of Title 42

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations/extensions for Ukraine, Sudan/South Sudan, and Afghanistan – TPS provides protection from deportation and work authorization to those already in the United States and who would face dangerous conditions if they return to their countries due to conflict or natural disaster.

The Episcopal Church signed a letter requesting 18-month Extension and Redesignation of TPS for South Sudan

Decision to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war into the United States

Presiding Bishop Curry signs An Interfaith Call to Peace for Ukraine

Funding for Palestinian Refugees/United Nations Relief and Works Agency – Funding for UNRWA goes to supporting humanitarian work including education, health care, emergency relief, social services and more to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.