In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. All believers are called to faithful citizenship, to become informed, active, and responsible participants in the political process. As we have said, "We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate [more fully] in building the culture of life."

Catholic leaders from around the country come to Washington to speak for "the least of these (Matthew 25) at home and abroad. We seek to recommit out nation to overcoming poverty, hunger and deprivation. In our country, too many families still suffer the consequences of unemployment and poverty. Our world is broken by violence and bloody conflict. We come to our nation's capital to end war and terrorism, hatred and despair.

For us, the rest for this Congress will be how its choices touch the lives and dignity of all, especially the voiceless and vulnerable at home and around the world. As Catholic leaders, we bring to Capitol Hill our moral convictions and everyday experience in serving those in need. Around the world, our Catholic relief and mission organizations know the pain and suffering caused by armed conflict, disease and economic injustice. We support measures to make our country and the world not only a safer place, but a better place.

We seek to defend human life and dignity in America, the Middle East, and Africa. WE stand fundamentally against the violence of abortion as well as the vengeance of executions. We call on Congress to put the needs of poor families and children first; not to simply shrink assistance rolls, but to help poor families leave poverty and dependence to live in dignity. As we enjoy food in abundance, we advocate for the worker who grow and harvest this food. We ask you to promote human rights and development around the world as an essential strategy in efforts to combat global terrorism.

We come to Capitol Hill to urge priority on five key social justice issues:

The Bishops' Conference strongly supports the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2003 (S. 1645, H.R. 3142), which would offer a number of undocumented agricultural workers an opportunity to legalize their status and would establish labor protections in an industry which is notorious for violating the rights of workers. The Ag/Jobs Bill, as it is know was negotiated between major agricultural employers (growers) and the United Farm Workers of America (union). [Its co-sponsors include: Representatives Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Howard Berman (D-CA), and Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA)]. While other legalization efforts address the broader issues of immigration reform, including a proposal by the President, a major focus for us is the particular concerns of undocumented farmworkers. Any legislation affecting farmworkers must provide:

•  Full labor protections, and wage and benefits which support their family in dignity;

•  Measures to respect family unity; and

•  A path to legal residency.

•  Resist decreased funding levels for and changes to the voucher program.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference has worked for welfare policies that protect human life and dignity, strengthen family life, encourage and reward work, preserve a safety net for the vulnerable, build public/private partnerships to overcome poverty, and invest in human dignity. A central goal for TANF reauthorization should be to overcome the moral scandal of so much poverty in the richest nation on earth. We urge:

•  Restoring benefits eligibility to legal immigrants;

•  Providing at least $5.5 billion in new mandatory child care assistance for working parents;

•  Maintaining current law on hourly work requirements for participants, especially for parents with children under 6;

•  Giving states greater flexibility to count genuine education and training as work; and supporting marriage and families by removing barriers to two parent families receiving assistance and providing counseling resources to low-income couples where appropriate.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services commend President Bush and Congress for providing significant funding increases to fight global poverty and global health crisis in 2004. In 2005, the U.S. must continue our leadership, keeping new commitments on the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and HIV/AIDS while strengthening existing development and humanitarian programs. We urge the Congress to:

•  Provide $3.6 billion for morally appropriate programs to fight AIDS and infectious diseases;

•  Provide $2.5 billion for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) and ensure that it is focused on reducing poverty in the poorest countries;

•  Provide an increase of $1 billion above 2004 levels in assistance for critical development and humanitarian needs not covered by the MCA; and

•  Give particular attention to the needs of the peoples of Africa.

Fighting poverty, hunger, and disease is a way to build a world that is safer, more just and more peaceful. It is an essential investment in demonstrating solidarity and protecting human life and dignity.

Agricultural Trade

We support an international trading system that is more open and fair and that reduces global poverty. For poor countries, agriculture is often the most important economic sector. However, U.S., European and Japanese subsidies, tariffs and other farm supports place small scale, poor farmers in developing countries at an enormous disadvantage. The fact that the richer countries have yet to address this imbalance is the primary reason for the current stalemate in world trade talks. In the case of the United States, most farm supports go disproportionately to a relatively few large farms and agricultural businesses. This is unfair to our many productive domestic small and moderate-sized farms. Changes in international trade and domestic agricultural policies do hand in hand.

As Congress oversees on-going trade negotiations, relevant U.S. agricultural legislation, and acts on whether or not to approve trade agreements, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services urge that priority be give to:

•  Reducing domestic farm program subsidies to large farms and agribusiness and targeting limited farm benefits to small and moderate-sized farms;

•  Allowing developing countries some flexibility in using tariffs, subsidies and other supports to make sure their farmers can produce sufficient food for their people, maintain incomes and contribute to rural development;

•  Making sure that the trade negotiations are more open to public scrutiny and participation by all elements of society;

•  Ensuring that labor rights and the environmental concerns are integral elements of any trade agreement and that the impact on migration is addressed.

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