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  Friends Committee on National Legislation  
 

Dear Susan, 

Seventy-seven years ago this week, a nightmare unfolded in Japan.

Two nuclear bombs, dropped from American B-29s on Aug. 6 and 9, leveled the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At least 110,000 people—mostly civilians—were killed. Many more died due to radiation exposure in the coming weeks, months, and years.

With that carnage came an enduring lesson: The world can never know true peace as long as nuclear weapons exist.

This week, countries are gathered at the United Nations for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to discuss progress on nuclear disarmament.

The review comes at a time of escalating tension. Nine countries still possess more than 13,000 nuclear weapons. The threat of nuclear confrontation with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran is growing. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns, “humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.”

Concerned by this growing threat, FCNL joined 100 interfaith organizations in calling on NPT members to act in accordance with their moral conscience. Our coalition urged leaders to recognize the incredible danger these weapons pose, affirm that nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, and take swift steps toward disarmament.

Nuclear weapons are not just another implement in a nation’s toolbox. Historically, every step in their creation—from mining to testing to their devastating use—has wrought suffering and long-lasting impacts on the environment and human health.

We can chart a better future together. Here are two ways for you to act today:

Write Congress   Peace Cranes

Please note: This Week in the World will not be published weekly during the August Congressional Recess, August 8 to September 5. While lawmakers are home in your state, this is a great time to stop by your member of Congress’s in-district office and share your concerns. Contact lobby@fcnl.org or fill out this form if you’re ready to plan a drop-by visit, and a member of our organizing team will be in touch to support your advocacy.


Elsewhere

Senate Set to Proceed on Historic Reconciliation Bill
The Senate is expected to begin a series of votes on the Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376) this Saturday, paving the way for passage early next week. This sweeping bill includes $369 billion to address climate change and would also implement needed reforms on healthcare, drug pricing, and the tax code. FCNL lobbyists will closely track the voting process and watch for harmful amendments to the legislation over the weekend. Urge your lawmakers to support this transformative bill.  

Truce in Yemen Extended
The UN announced this week that the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi forces have agreed to extend their truce in Yemen by two months. “In the first four months of truce, there have been major improvements in the lives of Yemenis, said FCNL’s Hassan El-Tayyab. “By making clear that the U.S. won’t resume military support for the war, Congress can help keep the pressure on the warring parties and support the peace process.”

Senate Approves NATO Expansion
The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Aug. 3 to approve the expansion of NATO to include Finland and Sweden. FCNL opposes the expansion of this military alliance and calls on the U.S. government to prioritize diplomacy in its efforts to end the horrific war in Ukraine. 

Time for Reparations
FCNL General Secretary Bridget Moix wrote a column in the Religion News Service this week calling on Congress to pass H.R. 40, a bill that would create a commission to study reparations for slavery. “For our nation to truly heal, we must rectify our original sin,” she wrote.

Senators Discuss Electoral Count Act Reforms
The Senate held a committee hearing this week on reforms to the Electoral Count Act, a vague 19th-century law that the Trump administration attempted to exploit in its efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. While the proposed reforms would add vital safeguards to the presidential election process, they largely fail to address the pressing issue of voter suppression.  

Jessie Palatucci

Sincerely,

Jessie Palatucci

Director of Digital Communications

Alex Frandsen

Alex Frandsen

Communications Strategist

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