Friend,

I hope you can find some time this coming Monday and Tuesday, because AU is launching our Virtual National Advocacy Summit and we want you to join us! Come learn from some of the top experts on church-state separation, hone your advocacy tools and hear members of Congress talk about our issue.

If you haven’t already signed up, click here to learn more about the Summit and register before Monday, September 14th!

There are many reasons to take part in the Summit: to get inspired, to lift up the importance of keeping religion and government separate, and to learn strategies to fight back. At AU, we witness the efficacy of our advocacy on a regular basis. Here’s a recent example: On Thursday, Senate Republicans tried to advance a new “skinny” coronavirus relief package that included so many provisions for private school voucher programs that our policy team called it the biggest potential Senate vote on private school vouchers in five years.

To counter it, AU’s policy team alerted the entire Senate to AU’s expert analysis of the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, which found that up to $6.47 billion tax dollars in large PPP loans had already gone to private religious and secular schools, and together with our allies, we voiced strong opposition to the legislation.

I’m happy to report that the bill did not receive enough votes to proceed – for the moment, their attempt to funnel more public money to private schools has stalled out. Advocacy on issues like ours can make real change, and it’s even more effective when lawmakers hear directly from people like you – their constituents.

That’s one of many reasons why I hope you register for AU’s Virtual Advocacy Summit right away – it’s free!

Finally, if you already are registered, thank you. There’s never been more at stake in the fight for church-state separation, and this conference will help fortify our movement at a critical moment. I can’t wait to see you there.

With hope and determination,