Legislative Objectives for the 111th Congress: 2009-2010
Based on statements approved by the General Assembly, an analysis of how we can be most effective, and a commitment to be accountable to traditionally marginalized communities, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations has established the following legislative priorities for the two year session of the 111th Congress. We call upon the United States Government to:
Economic and Racial Justice
- Implement fair and just immigration reforms that facilitate the reunification of families, ensure due process, and create an accessible and timely process to obtain residency and citizenship.
- Increase the availability of low income housing and living wage jobs in the Gulf Coast region.
- Raise the federal minimum wage to $10 in 2010.
- Eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine.
Environmental Justice
- Mandate a reduction of U.S. carbon gas emissions, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), while relieving the burden of increased energy costs for low-income households.
- Create millions of green jobs to transition the U.S. to a green economy and to lift people out of poverty.
Gender and Sexual Justice
- Extend fair employment practices to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
- Grant full and equal access to civil marriage for same-sex couples.
- Establish a policy of non-discrimination, on the basis of sexual orientation, for the armed forces.
- Fund comprehensive, evidence-based sexuality education.
- Increase access to abortion and contraception.
International Justice
- Increase funding for comprehensive, evidence-based HIV prevention programs.
- Contribute fully to peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and activities in support of the peace process in Darfur.
- End the U.S. military occupation of Iraq, and prevent armed conflict with Iran, through multilateral diplomatic engagement.
This list is subject to change.
For more information contact socialjustice @ uua.org.
Last updated on Thursday, December 11, 2008.
