This week, Congress and President Donald Trump has shown solidarity by passing The First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice bill that will provide sentencing and prison reforms. The First Step Act will curb several mandatory minimums for low-level drug crimes, providing judges with more discretion over individual cases. The bill also aims to eliminate…
Read in Spanish Congress delays decision on border wall funding With a continuing resolution set to expire on December 22, it looks as though Congress will pass another short-term spending bill through February 8 with no additional funding for border walls. President Trump is still calling for $5 billion for additional walls (about 200 miles) but now says he may look to…
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at a critical historical moment. That was the conclusion during a recent workshop held by Church of Christ in Congo (known by its French acronym, ECC), which focused on creating teams to prevent electoral violence. Long-expected parliamentary elections, a chance for the first peaceful transfer of power since…
After years of attempts to reform our broken criminal justice system, change is within sight. The First Step Act, a bill that includes important sentencing and prison reforms, has strong bipartisan support in the Senate and has now been endorsed by the president. But if Congress does not pass this legislation by the end of…
As the dry season set in, Modibo Ado* migrated from his home in Bauchi State, Nigeria, leading his herds of cows and sheep to neighboring Plateau State. There the grass is still green, and water is available for his livestock. In Plateau State, farmers like Emmanuel Davou* tend their crops and wait to harvest them…
Help us pass criminal justice reforms! President Donald Trump recently voiced his support for a bipartisan criminal justice bill, a revised First Step Act that would provide sentencing and prison reforms. The First Step Act would curb mandatory minimums for many low-level drug crimes, providing judges with more discretion over individual cases. The bill also aims to eliminate the…
Ariana Martinez Lott organizes advocacy events about immigration in her home community of Fresno, California, with the encouragement of a year-old advocacy network organized by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S. Washington Office. In the past year, Martinez Lott has led several initiatives to educate nearby churches and her broader community on immigration, including a…
Read more Advocacy network implements immigration activities at home
MCC Washington Memo 