Victory on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
In December 2014, the U.S. made a historic step forward in
its Cuba policy when the Obama Administration announced that the U.S. will have
full diplomatic relations with Cuba, ease travel restrictions, and review the
additional policies that hinder the free relationship between the two
countries. This was a huge victory for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the
many Presbyterians who have worked together with our partners in Cuba for over
fifty years. The Office of Public Witness has worked to advocate and to help
Presbyterians advocate for this change of policy. Through action alerts,
meetings with Congress and the Administration, and hosting delegations of our
Cuban church partners, we have continually pressed for a full and free
relationship between the two countries. We are looking forward to making sure
these changes are fully implemented in the coming year.
Standing with Low-Wage Workers
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| J. Herbert Nelson stands with low-wage workers in April 2015 |
In July 2014, the Reverend J. Herbert Nelson stood with
striking low-wage federal contract workers to call on the President to set a
new standard in the U.S. labor market. As the largest creator of low-wage jobs
in the country, the U.S. government, through its contracts, has tremendous
power to lead the labor market and improve jobs for millions of workers. When President
Obama signed an executive order last summer requiring federal contractors to
pay their workers at least $10.10 per hour, he set a standard for American
workers, and many corporations, cities, and municipalities followed his lead.
Days after Reverend Nelson stood with striking workers at Union Station, the
President signed the “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order” that will
ensure that federal contracts are scrutinized for their compliance with federal
labor law, such as wage theft protections and safe workplace regulations. This
effort to raise the floor of the U.S. labor market continues in 2015 as the
Office of Public Witness stands with workers who are demanding more livable
wages and contract preferences for good employers who undercut the poverty jobs
market by using taxpayer dollars to create good jobs.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation in Iran
A central concern for the PC(USA) has been Nuclear
Proliferation and adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Last year,
the Office of Public Witness worked in coalition with our interfaith and
ecumenical partners in support of negotiated solution to the Iran nuclear issue
and in opposition to harmful sanctions proposed in Congress. Because of your
response to our alerts and the coalition of faith partners working in DC, we
stopped the additional sanctions that would have derailed an agreement. Early
in spring 2015, a historic agreement with Iran was announced — the key
parameters of a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) regarding the
Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program. The details remain to be worked
out, but this is a tremendous step forward. We will continue to make the final
agreement a key priority in public witness work this year.
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| OPW Staff J. Herbert Nelson and Leslie Woods join religious leaders to meet with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy |
A Step in Addressing Global Climate Change
In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized new
regulations under the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon pollution from power
plants. Power plants are the largest carbon emitter in the U.S. economy,
contributing 30 percent of U.S. carbon pollution. Absent more comprehensive
action from Congress, this regulation by the EPA is the largest step the U.S.
has taken toward reducing its carbon emissions and beginning to address global
climate change and disruption. The faith community was active in calling for
these regulations. The Office of Public Witness provided official comments and
testimony during the rule-making process, provided resources for hundreds of
Presbyterians to weigh in on the rules, and joined with the inter-religious
community to raise a voice for Creation Care in the EPA’s efforts to reduce
carbon pollution.
