Sister Simone Campbell Responds to Passage of H.R. 1

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“It is crystal-clear who the Republican Members of Congress serve, and it is not the men, women, and children that Jesus championed.”

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For Immediate Release: December 20, 2017
Contact: Ashley Wilson, awilson@networklobby.org, 202-601-7856
Download as a PDF.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –In response to the passage of the Republican Tax Bill, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice issued the following statement:

“Congress rushed this bill through quickly to reward their wealthy friends and donors claiming it is a Christmas gift for working Americans.  This is a lie.

“We know what will happen now that this tax plan is law: the budget shortfall created by outrageous tax cuts for the wealthiest will pressure Republicans in Congress to, once again, balance the budget on the backs of people in poverty. President Trump and Speaker Ryan have already called for cuts to vital life-saving programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and food programs.  NETWORK will fight to make sure families, workers, and other vulnerable people will not pay for this tax giveaway to the wealthy.

“As people of faith, we advocate for reasonable revenue for responsible programs. Responsible programs are lifelines for families and individuals struggling to make ends meet. We know that we belong to each other. We share a responsibility to ensure that all people can live in dignity. Instead of securing the reasonable revenue our nation needs, this bill was written by and for corporate lobbyists and donors full of self-interest with no regard for the common good.

“The Republican tax bill cannot stand the test of public scrutiny– it was written behind closed doors and passed in various forms in the middle of the night– but still Republicans pursue their dream of failed trickle-down economics while ignoring the needs of our nation.

“Urgent emergencies that need real legislation– CHIP, DACA, and disaster relief – have been cast aside in this rush to serve the interests of the affluent.

“This Christmas season, it is critical to remember that Jesus was born to parents who experienced poverty, did not have healthcare, and could not find shelter for the birth of their child. In Bethlehem, Jesus and his parents were turned away by the wealthiest. Later in the Gospels, Jesus reminds us, ‘whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ The House and the Senate Republicans caused great harm to our nation by passing this tax bill.

“It is crystal-clear who the Republican Members of Congress serve, and it is not the men, women, and children who Jesus championed.“

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NETWORK – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a 45-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]