ONE activists have returned to Capitol Hill! 35 faith leaders traveled to Washington, DC earlier this month to ask Congress to support strong leadership in the fight against global poverty and disease.
These leaders come from different faith traditions, ethnicities, and political beliefs but ONE thing unites them: Our faith compels us to care for all neighbors, whether they live next door or in Nigeria, they wrote in a letter to Congress.
They spent last week doing exactly that. The world is staring down many challenges that threaten all of us, but especially people living in low-income countries. Our leaders came to Congress to speak up for their global neighbors and make sure everyone, everywhere can lead a life of justice and opportunity. What does a week of meetings in the nations capital really look like? Heres a recap:
Monday: A conversation with Senator Coons
Once they arrived in Washington, our faith leaders gathered at District Church for a conversation about how faith and advocacy intersect. Guests from both sides of the aisle shared their thoughts, including Delaware Senator Chris Coons, a key ONE ally, who joined ONE President Tom Hart to discuss how his faith guides his work in the Senate.
Faith leaders were especially moved by Senator Coons discussion of the moral importance of their advocacy on ONEs issues and that one and took to heart his insight that, in the search for justice and equality, what roots us is fighting for people.
An incredible conversation on faith & public service with @ChrisCoons & @ONEinAmerica faith leaders.
There were so many illuminating points Sen. Coons made about the fight for justice, equity, & humanity, but one through line for all "what roots us is fighting for people." pic.twitter.com/dD16iEPsrV
— Tom Hart (@Tom_at_ONE) November 15, 2022
Thanks so much to @EmilyCassil for joining me for a conversation on faith, politics, & communications. Great way to kick off our @ONEinAmerica faith leaders fly-in! pic.twitter.com/Hkj9Gy1SBR
— Sarah Swinehart Massey (@Sarah_Swinehart) November 15, 2022
Tuesday: A White House Visit
Heavy rain kept the faith leaders mostly indoors on Tuesday prepping for Hill meetings the next day, with one big exception: a meeting at the White House!
Reverend Adam Nicholas Phillips from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted the faith leaders for a discussion on how USAID and important programs like Feed the Future are working to fight rising global hunger in the face of serious threats like consecutive seasonal drought and Russias invasion of Ukraine.
Good to be with grassroots faith leaders from @ONE at the White House today. We talked about how @USAID and Feed the Future is working to address increased global food insecurity amidst dire challenges like consecutive seasonal drought and Russias invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/kpQkPRoyoB
— Adam Nicholas Phillips (@theRevAdam) November 15, 2022
The @ONECampaign takes DC! These faith leaders traveled from 25 different states to ask Congress to keep up the fight to end extreme poverty and preventable disease! pic.twitter.com/ZMaVXLBXzn
— ONE in America (@ONEinAmerica) November 15, 2022
Back at the ONE office, staff gave the faith leaders a briefing of their own. The ONE team broke down the three asks our leaders would be taking to Congress the next day:
- A robust development budget for 2023: As Senator Coons told our leaders, good foreign policy is comprised of three things: defense, diplomacy, and development, the last of which is a critical piece of our moral legacy and a reflection of the best of American values.
- Reauthorization of the Global Food Security Act: Right now, the world is hungrier than ever. 828 million people go to bed hungry each night. In Somalia, on the cusp of famine, a child is hospitalized for severe acute malnutrition every minute. Through programs like Feed The Future, the Global Food Security Act addresses the immediate and long-term causes of hunger.
- Reauthorization of PEPFAR: The US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is one of the best tools we have in the global fight to end HIV/AIDS. As it approaches its 20th year, PEPFAR counts 20 million lives saved. Congress will need to reauthorize PEPFAR next year so it can continue its lifesaving work.
Wednesday: #ONEOnTheHill
On Wednesday, the faith leaders spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with their Members of Congress.
A quick breakdown:
- 35 Faith Leaders
- 25 States represented
- 78 meetings with Members of Congress and/or their staff
We are excited for Advocacy Day on #CapitolHill with faith leaders! pic.twitter.com/Xlhxkggmdb
— Minerva Saddler Gray (@s_minerva) November 16, 2022
Thank you @JohnCornyn office and Henry Juvera for the time this morning to discuss these important issues on behalf of @ONEinAmerica pic.twitter.com/qurXwmGNXX
— Billy Schiel (@Gospelbroker) November 16, 2022
Thank you @RepHoulahan for meeting with me today, and for helping support lifesaving efforts to address hunger and preventable disease! pic.twitter.com/X5F5IV27Ja
— Pastor Matt Staniz (@mattstaniz) November 16, 2022
Tony Penn and I had a super convo with Marti and Ethan from @SenDuckworth's staff. We appreciate their support for @ONECampaign's efforts to eliminate global extreme poverty and preventable disease. Bravo, public servants! pic.twitter.com/6zGKEDPyFD
— Slava Ukraini, As Long as It Takes 🇺🇦 (@SWNID) November 16, 2022
We even stopped traffic! A tour bus driver stopped his vehicle to get out and ask a ONE staffer who we were because hed seen so many ONE shirts that day.
That’s a wrap! These amazing @ONEinAmerica activists, faith leaders representing 25 states 🇺🇸, made a big impact on Capitol Hill today advocating for critical global poverty fighting programs! #ONEActivists @ONECampaign pic.twitter.com/w74EOPVXt0
— Charlie Harris (@charlieharris) November 17, 2022
Our faith leaders are back home now but the work is far from over. You can make your voice heard in the halls of Congress join our fight to end extreme poverty and preventable disease!
