Published: June 8, 2024
Dear Friends,
Soon after I became involved with our local FCNL Advocacy Team, I was surprised to discover that very few people in my own monthly meeting knew much about this powerful program of Friends Committee on National Legislation. In response, I wrote the following article for our meeting’s monthly newsletter.
The FCNL Advocacy Team Program is a powerful way to make change in Washington. The article below gives an update on what's happening with the Santa Cruz-San Jose (CA) Advocacy Team. To find out if there's a team in your area, or to join an existing team, go to the FCNL Advocacy Teams page: https://www.fcnl.org/act/join-advocacy-team
from Nancy Wood, Santa Cruz Friends Meeting (6/5/2024)
(Written for Santa Cruz (CA) Friends Meeting):
The FCNL Advocacy Teams Network is made up of more than 1,500 Quakers and friends from across the country who use their power as constituents to make change in Washington. Currently, there are 135 teams in 47 states. The Santa Cruz Advocacy Team, which was started by Carolyn Levering in 2016, recently merged with the San Jose Team because of shifting legislative boundaries. Success comes from a commitment to building relationships with Congress grounded in mutual respect and listening.
The power of relationships was recently seen first-hand when Mimi Edgar, a long-time member of the local advocacy team who has met with Representative Panetta (D CA-19) many times, received a personal phone call from him. Mimi had become concerned when the aide who schedules appointments for Representative Panetta explained the new visiting rules—in-person only, three people at a time. After Mimi emailed back, respectfully asking about the new rules, Representative Panetta called Mimi directly to tell her that since he knew her and her group, he would be happy to meet on Zoom with more than three people. It’s a testament to the power of relationships, and to the valuable training the team receives from FCNL.
Every year, FCNL picks one issue to tackle. This year, teams are lobbying their elected officials to support H.R. 4740, the Streamline Pentagon Spending Act. Congress requires the Pentagon to draw up a wish list of weapons and projects that the administration didn’t ask for, known as the “Unfunded Priorities List.” These lists offer a backdoor to boosting already excessive military spending, a practice that has received criticism from both sides of the aisle. Even the Pentagon is on record opposing the Unfunded Priorities List. This bipartisan bill would repeal the annual mandate for these wish lists—a crucial step toward accountability, transparency, and peace.
The local team, the Santa Cruz-San Jose Advocacy Team, has met to plan a visit with Representative Panetta, to urge him to support this bill. The team appreciates the support Meeting has given in the past when it has reached out asking people to make phone calls and looks forward to future support. The FCNL Advocacy Team feels a special connection to our Meeting.