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This week the Senate took up the two-year debt limit and spending caps deal that passed the House last week. After passing the budget deal, the House broke for August recess. Now that the Senate passed the budget deal they too will break for August recess. The $1.3 trillion budget deal is now on the way to the president for his signature.
The budget deal would increase government spending by $320 billion for the next two years and allow the federal government to continue borrowing to avoid the nation defaulting on its financial obligations. The budget caps can be raised by $50 billion this year and an additional $54 billion in 2020. America's debt limit will now be lifted until 2021. The eventual passing of the agreement prevents $125 billion in automatic spending cuts.
Congress will return in September and will need to reach an agreement on how to appropriate the funds across 12 spending bills byl September 30th. While Congress is home in district over August, it is a fantastic opportunity to meet your member of Congress and tell them to prioritize funding for essential programs that serve low income persons and vulnerable communities. You can find your member of Congress here.
Faith and the Common Good
Sr. Precilla Takuh, FHM correctly identified that Laudato Si' published in 2015 was Pope Francis' encyclical focusing on climate change.
In Laudato Si', Pope Francis strongly criticizes how pollution, degradation of the environment, lack of clean water and global warming are a result of indifference by people living on earth. You can find the full text of the encyclical here. Pope Francis also discusses the link between poverty and the environment saying that "we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor." (49)
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis, offers a prayer for our earth.
A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
Trivia
In which year did Congress mandate a summer break as part of the Legislative Calendar?
Please send your answers to socialpolicy@catholiccharitiesusa.org
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