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The letters excerpted below can be found in their entirety on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org/sdwp.
February 15, 2005 Letters on the budget resolution from the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop William S. Skylstad, to both Houses of Congress.
“One of the basic functions of government is to raise sufficient resources so that it can undertake efforts to promote the common good. When the basic requirements of human life and dignity for many in our country and throughout the world go unmet, we must insist that adequate federal revenues be available to help meet these basic needs. The deficits, which result from inadequate revenues, can be justified as a necessary response to serious circumstances. However, if government continues to spend far more money than it takes in year after year, it could seriously limit its ability to meet our moral obligations to respond to basic human needs now and in the future. Any new tax proposals should be evaluated in that light before being adopted.
“Congress should structure a budget that guarantees adequate funding to assist those trying to escape joblessness or move beyond welfare, educate their children, gain access to health care, or overcome hunger and homelessness.”
March 17, 2005 Letter to the Senate from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB
Committee on Domestic Policy in support of the successful “Smith-Bingaman Amendment.”
“The Smith-Bingaman amendment would strike the instructions to the Senate Finance Committee … [that] will result in substantial cuts to the Medicaid program, which could have disastrous consequences for the millions of low-income pregnant, women, children elderly and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for their health care, as well as the health care providers who serve them.”
April 20, 2005 Letter to Congressional Leadership and budget Conferees on several key domestic and international programs from the Chairmen of three USCCB committees: Domestic Policy, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio; International Policy, Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ; and, Education, Bishop Bernard Harrington.
“Both the spending and revenue sides of the budget ledger must be assessed to ensure that there are adequate resources to protect people who are poor and vulnerable.
“The federal budget is more than a fiscal plan; it reflects our values as a people. Your budget choices have clear moral and human dimensions. In these difficult times, the United States Conference of Bishops urges you to work for a budget that does not neglect the needs of the ‘least of these’ on our nation and the world.”
July 27, 2005 Letters on budget reconciliation Medicaid cuts, from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Development; Fr. Larry Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA); and Michael Rodgers, Interim President and CEO, the Catholic Health Association (CHA), to members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“We urge you to make no Medicaid program changes that could cause anyone who relies on Medicaid for his or her health care to lose coverage or lose access to vital services. …. [A]ll proposals for reform must be measured by a commitment to ensure health care for the poor and vulnerable.”
October 5, 2005 Letter on budget reconciliation Agriculture Committee cuts from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Development; Br. David G. Andrews, CSC, Executive Director, National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC); and Kenneth Hackett, President, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to members of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
“[W]e urge you to revisit policy on farm supports in a way that protects farmers and ranchers truly in need, while protecting funding for the Food Stamp program and conservation programs.”
October 19, 2005 Letter on post-hurricane reconstruction from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy and Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Chairman, USCCB Hurricane Relief Task Force, to the Senate (sent to the House on October 27).
“The costs of recovery should not be borne disproportionately by those most in need. It would be wrong to cut essential food, housing and health care for the poor while the rest of us make no real sacrifice and, in fact, benefit from recent tax cuts. We call upon you to make a commitment that the needs of hurricane victims will be readily met, through benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and housing, without harming or taking benefits from other poor and vulnerable people who depend on them as well. We will oppose any effort to pay for the costs of Katrina and Rita by cutting services in essential programs that serve the needs of low-income or vulnerable people. … Adequate federal resources must be available to help protect the life and dignity of all our sisters and brothers. The burdens and costs of these challenges must be shared widely and fairly.”
October 25, 2005 Letter on increasing budget reconciliation cuts from Chairmen of two USCCB committees: Domestic Policy, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and International Policy, Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, to the House of Representatives, enclosing February 15, 2005 budget letter (see above).
“ ‘We will oppose any effort to pay for the costs of Katrina and Rita by cutting services in essential programs that serve the needs of low-income or vulnerable people.’ ”
October 26, 2005 Letter on budget reconciliation Medicaid cuts from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Development; Fr. Larry Snyder, President, CCUSA; and Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, President and CEO, CHA, to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, enclosing July 27, 2005 letter (see above).
Reiterates “concerns about increasing the cost-sharing burdens on those who rely on Medicaid for their health care and granting states latitude to choose which medical services it will offer to low-income people.”
October 26, 2005 Letter on budget reconciliation Agriculture Committee cuts from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Development; Br. David G. Andrews, CSC, Executive Director, NCRLC; and Kenneth Hackett, President, CRS, to members of the House Agriculture Committee.
“[W]e would oppose any effort to achieve savings by rolling back access to the [Food Stamp] program by immigrants or refugees …. Sound policy in subsidies can help to protect funding for the Food Stamp Program and conservation programs, which the bishops strongly believe should not be cut.”
October 27, 2005 Letter on post-hurricane reconstruction from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy and Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Chairman, USCCB Hurricane Relief Task Force, to the House (sent to the Senate on October 19).
“The costs of recovery should not be borne disproportionately by those most in need. It would be wrong to cut essential food, housing and health care for the poor while the rest of us make no real sacrifice and, in fact, benefit from recent tax cuts. We call upon you to make a commitment that the needs of hurricane victims will be readily met, through benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and housing, without harming or taking benefits from other poor and vulnerable people who depend on them as well. We will oppose any effort to pay for the costs of Katrina and Rita by cutting services in essential programs that serve the needs of low-income or vulnerable people. … Adequate federal resources must be available to help protect the life and dignity of all our sisters and brothers. The burdens and costs of these challenges must be shared widely and fairly.”
November 2, 2005 Letter on reconciliation bill from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy and Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, Chairman USCCB Committee on International Policy to the Senate.
“As the Senate now works on passing its budget reconciliation bill, we write to reiterate the Conference’s priorities and to share our views on how that bill may impact several key programs and the people they serve. These views are based upon our application of Catholic teaching to these key policy choices that affect those in need. “
November 8, 2005 Letter on reconciliation bill from Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy and Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, Chairman USCCB Committee on International Policy to the House.
“We are deeply disappointed by the budget reconciliation proposal before the House of Representatives, in particular, its lack of concern for children. …
“We urge you to remember that the federal budget is more than a fiscal plan; it reflects our values as a people. Budget choices have clear moral and human dimensions. A just society is one that protects and promotes the fundamental rights of its members—with special attention to meeting the basic needs, including the need for safe and affordable health care, of the poor and underserved. In these difficult times, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urges you to work for a budget that does not neglect the needs of the “least of these” in our nation and the world.”
December 13, 2005 Letters on the budget resolution from the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop William S. Skylstad, to both Houses of Congress.
“As Congress prepares to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the spending reconciliation package, I wish to express deep concerns and disappointment on the impact of certain proposed cuts on our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. At the same time, the Bishops' Conference is grateful that both bills take steps toward helping those who have suffered due to Hurricane Katrina.”
“The federal budget is more than a matter of accounting: it reflects our values and priorities as a nation. The budget choices you make in the coming days will directly affect the lives of real people, especially "the least of these" in our midst. This is a time for a genuinely bipartisan commitment to focus on the common good of all, and on the special needs of the poor and vulnerable in particular. On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I urge you to make that commitment by working for a budget that does not neglect the needs of the most vulnerable among us.”
January 24, 2006 Letter to Representatives from the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop William S. Skylstad.
Our Bishops' Conference is deeply disappointed that the final budget reconciliation conference agreement coming once again before the House of Representatives includes provisions in these areas which we believe could prove harmful to many low-income children, families, elderly and people with disabilities who are least able to provide for themselves. Because of these concerns, we ask you to oppose the budget reconciliation conference agreement.e budget reconciliation conference agreement.
March 3, 2006 Letter on the '07 budget resolution from Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to both Budget Committees in Congress.
"As Congress takes on the annual duty of shaping and adopting a budget, I urge you once again to give priority attention to the needs of poor and vulnerable people both here and around the world. As President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I want to remind you that budget decisions reflect not only economic policies, but moral choices as well. When setting national priorities, the Congress should seek genuine bipartisan commitment focusing on the common good of all, and especially the essential needs of the poor and vulnerable."