The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) provides lobbying that connects historic Quaker testimonies on peace, equality, simplicity, and integrity with issues and legislation in Washington, DC. Our Peace and Social Concerns Committee’s involvement with FCNL links us together with tens of thousands of like-minded individuals, sharing a belief in relationship-based change making to advance the world we seek, one lobby visit at a time.

A primary FCNL focus is through their Advocacy Teams Network, made up of more than 1,500 Quakers and friends from across the country who use their power as constituents to make change in Washington. Several of our PSCC members are part of FCNL’s Charlottesville Advocacy Team, which seeks to build lasting relationships with our Virginia members of Congress grounded in mutual respect and listening. We meet periodically with staff from the offices of our Representative and Senators and have established trusted connections with them. 

Each year, FCNL chooses a single issue for the Advocacy Teams to dedicate themselves to; one FCNL feels most able to make progress on and for which they have the needed, and perhaps unique, expertise. Past foci have included efforts to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Military Force, ending US complicity in the war on Yemen, and protecting Peacebuilding Funds in the US Federal Budget. The 2024 focus is on reining in Pentagon spending via passage of the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act.

Meanwhile, FCNL’s professional lobbyists in DC work on a wide range of prioritized issues. Charlottesville Friends are an integral part of setting these priorities. Every two years, FCNL asks each Quaker community across the country to provide feedback. PSCC sponsored the most recent session on March 3. You can read about this session in the April 2024 Charlottesville Friends Meeting Newsletter.

For more information on how you can support or join these efforts, contact Carol Herrick (herrickcd@aol.com) or Richard Thayer (richardevanthayer@gmail.com).