Public Policy Network Keeps Episcopalians Informed
Episcopal News Service. August 7, 1986 [86173]
NEW YORK DPS, Aug. 7) -- What do the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, the Administration's recent statement on the SALT II treaty and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act have in common? All were subjects of mailings this summer to the Episcopal Public Policy Network.
The Indian health care mailing, which went to approximately 2,100 persons -- those interested in the Racism and Discrimination and Health and Welfare issues areas -- was a follow up to a mailing in February aimed at rallying support to prevent a recession of appropriated funds for Indian health care. The June mailing urged members to continue their advocacy for upcoming, authorization of Indian health care funds in both houses of Congress and to bring the minimal standard of health care for Indians up to that of the rest of the population.
Members from the fifteen states having Senators on the Senate Banking Committee were recipients of a memorandum on the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, which was in that committee at the time of the mailing. The bill includes economic sanctions against South Africa and is consistent with General Convention's resolutions opposing apartheid and calling for "the development by the government of the United States of an unambiguous, coherent policy in opposition to apartheid in the Republic of South Africa." It is similar to bills passed last year with large margins of support in both houses, but which were pre-empted by an executive order from President Reagan. The memo encouraged Network members to urge their Senators to see that hearings on the bill were held and the bill itself brought up on the floor of the Senate.
The Administration's statement that "it no longer feels bound by the SALT framework" and that later tni. fall it intends to exceed the nuclear weapons' limits established by the SALT II treaty sparked a response from the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington. The response, signed by Bishop John T. Walker and other diocesan officials, attacked the Administration's reasoning and raised questions such as "why does the President expect that the Soviets will stop their arms buildup because we increase ours? And how does our rejection of arms control, implicit in this decision, induce the Soviets to negotiate seriously on arms control?" At the request of the Rev. Canon Charles Martin, chairman of the Diocese of Washington's Commission on Peace and a signer of the response, this statement was distributed through the Public Policy Network to all diocesan peace chairs for discussion with their committees and dioceses. Martin also requested that they let their members of Congress know their feelings on the subject. The memo and statement were accompanied by a copy of the resolution passed by the 1985 General Convention endorsing the continuation of the SALT II accord.
The Public Policy Network, with a membership now in excess of 3,000, was established by the 1982 General Convention as an advocacy component of the Jubilee Ministry program. Issues are divided into broad categories: Food Policy/Hunger, Peace/Disarmament, Health and Welfare, Energy and Ecology, Economic and Social Justice, and Racism/Discrimination, and members indicate those area(s) on which they wish to receive information and updates. There is no fee, but members are asked to make a commitment to communicate with legislators on specific issues of choice. Network coordinator is Nancy Deppen.