There are many JRF initiatives or letters of support in which we are continually asked to participate. In all of these cases, JRF is invited to join other interfaith or Jewish denominational coalitions in national and international social justice areas or letters/programs about forthcoming legislation or policy in keeping with our already existing resolutions.
Sign-ons through 2011 (to be updated):
JCPA 2010 Jewish Community Budget Letter
JCPA 2009 Resolutions: JRF voting and resolution co-sponsor
Faith United Against Tobacco Letter to Senators and White House
HIAS 2008 Faith Statement on Immigration
Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously.
National Committee for Israel’s 60th anniversary
National Faith Leaders Amicus Brief for Marriage Equality Case in Iowa
Faith United Against Tobacco
Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (“FMAP”) for the Medicaid program as part of Congress’ economic stimulus
Interfaith letter on the stimulus package
Interfaith Sign-On Letter on Flower Worker Rights in Colombia
Jewish Genetic Disease Symposium
Interfaith Sign-On Letter, Disability Rights
Federal student aid letter
Federal family planning funding
Faith Leaders brief for marriage equality: Varnum v. Brien
Sign Letter to Maximize Human Needs Funding in Budget
HEA Campus Hate Crimes Data Collection Improvement
SUDAN inter-faith NGO sign on letter about funding in the FY08 supplemental spending bill
Foreign provisions for AIDS in PEPFAR
Jewish Community anti-UMC Divestment against Israel campaign
SUDAN inter-faith NGO letter
Interfaith ADA Restoration Act letter of 2007 - equal civil rights for individuals with disabilities
Interfaith Joint Healthcare Statement
Non-partisan Get Out the Vote guide co-sponsor with the Religious Action Center
NGO sign on letter about U.S. presidency of UN Security Council - (AJWS)
Amicus Brief in 9th Circuit California EPA Waiver Litigation (Environment)
A New Jewish Mobilization for Immigration Reform (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society - HIAS)
National Interfaith week of action on Poverty, Sep 10th - Sep 16th, 2008 (JCPA, MAZON)
"ONE" International anti-poverty campaign, 2007 and prior
The ADA Restoration Act would close loopholes in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act that allow courts to roll back rights for the community it was designed to protect. The bill will ensure that individuals who utilize “mitigating measures,” such as prescription drugs and hearing aids, will be protected under the original ADA legislation, and that those who suffer from the side effects of medications used to treat their disability are also covered.
The Community Choice Act of 2007 would increase access to community-based services for the elderly and for individuals with disabilities. This legislation would reform the Medicaid program by giving long-term care recipients the choice of home- and community-based care or institutionalized care. It would also provide federal financial assistance to help states reform their long-term care systems.
Letters to Congress urging support for the Clean Water Restoration Act, a bill which would incorporate the long-standing regulatory definition of “waters of the United States” into the Clean Water Act itself.
Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (now S. 2271).
Support of two energy bills sitting in the House (H.R. 3221) and Senate (H.R.6) which differ on major provisions including raises to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, requirements for Renewable Electricity Systems, and funding for alternative energy research and jobs.
Government provision passed that is fair to insurance companies, requiring a reasonable standard for risk assessment of “a good faith actuarial analysis” – and permitting other exceptions, such as a “serious health-related condition” or “an ongoing military conflict.” Some travelers to Israel have been denied life insurance coverage even though, according the best analysis of current data, travel in Israel is not statistically more dangerous than travel in the United States.
S 21, the Prevention First Act, a bill introduced by Senator Reid that would help women prevent unintended pregnancies by increasing funds for family-planning services, assuring contraceptive equity in health-insurance plans, and improving women's access to emergency contraception.
S 1555, the Access to Birth Control Act, a bill introduced by Senator Lautenberg that would ensure that women have timely access to birth control, including emergency contraception, at the pharmacy counter.
S 1240, the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, a bill introduced by Senator Clinton that would ensure that hospital emergency rooms offer emergency contraception to sexual-assault survivors.
S 1800, the Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act, a bill introduced by Senator Clinton that would ensure that military health-care facilities stock emergency contraception and make it available to servicewomen and military dependents upon request.
Older sign-ons
- Opposition to "High Risk Nonprofit Security Enhancement Act of 2004" - US Congress - URJ/JRF - June 2004
- Interfaith service for Justice for Children and the Poor - Children's Defense Fund, support of event - October 2004
- Defense of RLUIPA Coalition - Becket Fund for Religious Liberty - December 2004
- Brief in legal defense of church/state land use separation on behalf of Coalition for Free Exercise of Religion - Cutter vs Wilkinson - US Supreme Court
- WISC Health Care Working Group- Medicaid to the president, members of Congress and OMB - January 2005
- Supplemental Security Income benefits for elderly refugees - Senate Finance Committee - HIAS - March 2005
- Petition to Congress for Sudan Darfur relief
- US Congress - Hillel International - March 2005
- National Coalition Building Institute 20th anniversary event - Congressman John Lewis speaker- Washington - NCBI - April 2005
- NY State Amicus brief in support of same-sex marriage,
April 2005
