The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the US food system. The extreme consolidation of the livestock industry resulted in a supply chain crisis during much of 2020. Shelves in grocery stores were left bare, and over 259 meat processing workers lost their...

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a program that protects immigrants from countries with ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other dangerous conditions.  People from countries the Secretary of Homeland Security designates are eligible to register for TPS...

The Farm Bill (officially the Agricultural Improvement Act) is an enormous piece of legislation that is reauthorized every five years. This legislation began in 1933, as the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Its original focus was price control for certain crops, yet it has...

Congress entered its August recess without finalizing the FY24 budget. Thus, meaning when Congress resumes in September, they will have approximately 15 days to pass FY24 to avoid a government shutdown. With most congressional staff back in their home states, it is...

Gun violence has been on the rise in the United States in recent years, killing more Americans in 2021 than in any other year on record. This epidemic reaches far and wide and impacts the mental, physical, social, and emotional health of the communities that are frequently...

On May 5, 2023, Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04) re-introduced the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (H.R. 3103). Rep. McCollum has spearheaded legislative efforts that address Palestinian human rights,...

On July 13, the Afghan Adjustment Act (S. 2327 and H.R. 4627) was reintroduced with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. If passed, the bill would establish a clear and streamlined path for displaced Afghans to apply for permanent status in the U.S...

U.S. policy is contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis in Cuba. In 2021, President Trump re-added Cuba to the State Sponsors of Terrorism List. The list was intended as a tool for the state department to identify and sanction countries that “repeatedly provide… support...

The Philippines is one of the deadliest countries in the world for land defenders, journalists, and trade unionists. Unfortunately, since 2016, the U.S. has provided $550 million of military aid to the Philippines, supporting and enabling violations of international human...

The catastrophic impacts of climate change are growing every year. Though nearly every area of the world has been affected by climate change in some way, countries with fewer resources tend to suffer the most from extreme weather events. For example, droughts in...

This July marks the 70th anniversary since the signing of the armistice agreement that merely paused open warfare on the Korean Peninsula. The Presbyterian Church (USA), having a long history of mission partnership in the Koreas, has advocated for a peaceful resolution...

This week, many Presbyterians participated in Ecumenical Advocacy Days, an event where Christians come together to live out the Gospel through public policy action and education. The advocacy ask for this year’s EAD is for Congress to turn “swords into plowshares” by...

U.S. assistance to the Palestinian people should not be restricted for political reasons. But from 2012 to 2019, bilateral development aid decreased from about $400 million to $0, and funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near...

Since the beginning of 2023, violent conflict has significantly escalated between Israel and Palestine in the occupied West Bank. Over 85 Palestinians, including 16 children, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers, and at least 14 Israelis, including two children...

  Join with national faith groups and organizations across the country and take action for Cuba!Cuba is facing one of the worst economic crises in its history.  The Cuban people are facing shortages of clean water, medicine, and medical equipment, and the...

Various actions and inactions taken by Israeli military and police forces and Israeli settlers in recent weeks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have caused more suffering and a further deterioration of relations between Israelis and...

Israel’s former and current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said last week, “We formed a different government, with different policies, and we run things differently.”  So far, the new Israeli coalition government, sworn in on Dec. 29, 2022 and recognized as the...

On January 5, the Biden administration announced an administrative rule that would effectively ban asylum for most migrants fleeing oppression and violence. Under the rule, migrants who travel through a third country and do not seek protection in that country would be...

The United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program which waives a visa requirement for foreign nationals of approximately 40 countries for short-term stays in the U.S.  It is reciprocal in nature: the other country must accept the same or similar conditions for...

Although President Biden promised a more humane asylum system as a candidate, his administration is continuing the U.S. government’s attacks on asylum. A new agreement  will send many Venezuelan migrants to Mexico without an opportunity to seek first asylum in the...

As Israeli forces continue to violate the terms of the Oslo Agreements with incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, too often these raids result in trauma, injury, and -- sometimes -- the death of Palestinian children.Many have considered the 1993 Oslo Accords to be...

As the situation on the ground in Israel/Palestine intensifies, Israel has taken concerning steps targeting Palestinian civil society and human rights organizations. Israel has not yet thoroughly investigated the killing of Palestinian-American Al-Jazeera journalist...

On Thursday, April 1st, Representatives Ted Deutch, Judy Chu, Charlie Crist Anna G. Eshoo, and Scott Peters re-introduced the H.R. 2307: Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This carbon pricing bill is an exciting advancement of Congressional effort to limit carbon...