NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTER OF THE SISTERS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

END ICE KILLINGS: This message to Congress, a sign-on from faith organizations including NAC, expresses outrage regarding July 2026 ICE killings in Texas and Maine. In Houston, ICE shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a beloved resident and father who was on his way to work on July 7 in the citys East End. On July 13 in Biddeford, Maine, ICE also shot and killed Johan Sebastian, a 25-year-old husband and father of a three-year-old daughter. The letter addresses the need for training standards as well as reallocation of budget funds. The letter ends with "as people of faith, we believe public funding should go toward caring for our communities, rather than fueling agencies that are killing our neighbors and tearing families apart." DREAM AND PROMISE ACT DISCHARGE PETITION (H.R. 1589): NAC was part of this sign-on to members of the House of Representatives re: protections for immigrant youth, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) holders. These protections are long overdue and the urgent need for permanent protections is more pressing than ever. With the June 2026 devastating TPS ruling by the Supreme Court and the continuous DACA renewal delays, detentions, and even deportations - our communities cannot wait a moment longer. Congress must act now. The letter calls for a discharge petition: if 218 Members of the House of Representatives agree and sign on, the bill will be moved out of committee and brought to the floor for a vote. TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS REDESIGNATION FOR VENEZUELA: Letter to President Trump, Secretary Mullin, Dept. of Homeland Security, Secretary Rubio, Dept. of State. NAC is part of an organizational letter urging Secretary Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to re-designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an 18-month designation, as recent events merit reconsideration of country conditions. Reports have shown that there have been no significant changes over the years concerning the human rights situation. Even after U.S. intervention, which ousted Nicolas Maduro from power, Venezuela continues to remain under authoritarianism. In addition, the recent devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck the country on June 24 caused a major humanitarian impact and showed the governments lack of coordination, emergency response, and relief efforts. As of July 12, 2026, the USGS reported more than 4,400 persons killed, approximately 16,600 injured, and nearly 30,000 missing. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the earthquakes caused an estimated $6.7 billion in immediate physical damage. TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS (TPS) FOR EL SALVADOR: NAC was part of this sign-on urging the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to extend the TPS designation for El Salvador before it is scheduled to expire on Sept. 9, 2026. Current conditions in El Salvador do not support a safe return for holders living in the U.S. MEDICARE IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY CHANGES: NAC joined the Justice in Aging sign-on letter commenting on the proposed rules implementing H.R. 1 restrictions on Medicare eligibility. The letter outlines key issues and the impact the rule will have on older immigrants, including those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The letter urges the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adopt a person-centered equitable approach to the implementation of Medicare eligibility changes presented in the CY 2027 Medicare Physician fee Schedule. Letter directed to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. ENDORSEMENT OF TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS (TPS) FOR NEPAL: Letter to President Trump and Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Department of Homeland Security urging TPS for Nepal. Triggered by a massive collapse of glacier ice and rock high in the Himalayas near the Nepal-China border, flooding sent a destructive surge of water, sediment, rock, and debris through downstream communities in Nepal, causing extensive loss of life and widespread destruction. Communities have been displaced, homes and livelihoods have been lost, and critical infrastructure-including roads, bridges, schools, health facilities, and power systems-has been damaged or destroyed. Nepal now faces the immediate work of supporting affected communities and restoring essential services while beginning a substantial reconstruction effort. The letter endorses Congressional leaders call for TPS designation for Nepal. REFUGEE GREEN CARD PROCESSING, RE-VETTING, AND MEDICAID CUTS: NAC joined this letter opposing the ongoing green card processing freeze and refugee "re-vetting" efforts. The letter focuses on the interaction between the green card adjudication halt and the coming Medicaid and CHIP eligibility changes that cut off refugees who do not have green cards (including over 149,000 with pending applications). The letter urges DHS and USCIS to immediately resume adjudication of all refugee green card applications, end unnecessary re-vetting of resettled refugees, and establish a channel for members of Congress to request expedited adjudication for applicants facing a loss of medical coverage. PROTECT A FAIR, COMPLETE AND ACCURATE 2030 CENSUS: The U.S. Census Bureau published a proposed regulation that would make significant changes to how the 2030 Decennial Census counts people and collects demographic data. If implemented, the proposed changes would directly impact the people and communities that nonprofits serve every day and undermine the census's ability to provide a fair and accurate count of the people living in America. The proposal would exclude broad categories of people, including international students, H-1B visa holders, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented people and others, from the population count used to allocate congressional seats and federal funding. The proposed regulation would also eliminate questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, an unprecedented departure from the censuss longstanding practice of collecting critical demographic information. These changes would undercount the number of people living in communities, reducing their access to federal resources and political representation, and they would make it harder to understand changing community needs and address racial, social, and other disparities. ICE SENSITIVE LOCATIONS POLICY IN PLACES OF WORSHIP: Upon request of Muslim Advocates.org, and the National Immigration Law Center, NAC, along with other faith-based organizations were invited to sign on to an amicus brief that discusses the harm of immigration enforcement in places of worship with a focus on anti-Muslim targeting. The brief also situates these harms within the broader pattern of racialized and anti-Muslim national security policies that have historically targeted specific communities and have implications for all immigrant communities. NAC QUOTE IN INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION COALITION PRESS RELEASE ON TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUIS TERMINATION: Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, said: America opened our arms, recognizing the severity of life in unsafe societies such as Haiti and El Salvador. Life has not improved in these countries. Rather, men, women and children are barely surviving in places like Haiti, overcome with violence and poverty. Now is not the time to end Temporary Protected Status, forcing these innocent individuals and families back to countries in turmoil and crisis. We call on the Trump Administration and U.S. Congress to extend TPS, and, in particular for Haiti, to pass S. 4814 extending TPS for Haitians for three years. STATEMENT FOR UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL WEEK AND 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF THE REFUGEE CONVENTION: NAC joined faith-based organizations in expressing deep concern for ongoing human rights violations experienced by refugees, asylum seekers , and other forcibly displaced people as part of acknowledging the 75th anniversary year. The statement urges all member states to reaffirm their commitment to the Refugee convention and other international human rights instruments, ensuring that dignity, solidarity, protection, and responsibility-sharing remain at the center of responses to forced displacement, upholding the rights of refugees towards a more just, peaceful, and humane world. NAC QUOTE IN INTERFAITH IMMIGRATION COALITION PRESS RELEASE ON PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION NUMBER: Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd: Displacement and fear do not take a holiday; nor do they take a pause for U.S. midterm elections. Americans would be mortified to discover that our great country has only welcomed around 15,000 vetted refugees in the last year - and that over 95% of them are white Afrikaners leaving South Africa. Meanwhile, there are more than 41 million refugees from the rest of the world who purposefully are being prohibited entry or even consideration. What of those escaping Myanmar and Ukraine? What of all the Christians being persecuted and hunted in Nigeria and Sudan? The Trump Administration must fully resume the governments refugee processing and resettlement program, including a nondiscriminatory framework to protect the most at-risk refugees. And, for the love of God, the miserably low cap must be raised dramatically. IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY VISITS (Sept 15): Our Lady of Sorrows Mass, Procession and Advocacy - Advocated for Immigration Principles paralleling the 7 sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Organized by the Dorothea Project - a group of Catholic women from around the U.S. organized for action around Catholic Social Teaching for the dignity and rights of immigrants and all vulnerable people. . NAC met with Rep. Conaway, (NJ-3) staff, Sen. Booker staff and Rep. Crockett (TX-30) staff.

PROTECT MEDICAID FROM FURTHER RECONCILIATION CUTS: NAC was part of a letter urging members of Congress to oppose any further cuts or harmful changes to Medicaid through any budget reconciliation or other legislation. PROTECT BABIES AND FAMILIES IN FY2027 APPROPRIATIONS: NAC was among the signers of this letter to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees calling for policy decisions to be grounded in principles that support babies, toddlers, and their families. This letter highlights many programs that could be harmed and must be protected including Head Start and Early Head Start, Child Care and Development Block Grants, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act programs. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) FISCAL YEAR 2027 (HR 8800): Request for NAC advocates to urge their representatives to vote NO on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027 (HR 8800), unless the SAVE America Act (S 1383), as passed by the House, is removed. HEALTHY START PROGRAM (MATERNAL HEALTH): NAC was part of this sign on from state and national organizations urging Congress to fully fund Healthy Start for FY2027 (from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027). Like previous sign-on letters, this letter was meant to demonstrate the depth of support for Healthy Start across the nation. THE CENSUS PROJECT BUDGET: White House released its initial list of Fiscal Year 2027 funding anomalies. To reflect this unexpected development, the sign-on organizers made some minor edits to a previous Census-related sign-on to Congress; specifically: If the current appropriations process lapses, we urge you to reinforce your commitment to the U.S. Census Bureau by adding the agency to the Administrations requested list of funding anomalies as deliberations regarding the FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill continue. NAC was among the signers. PROTECT NUTRITION FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC) THROUGH REMOTE SERVICES LEGISLATIONT: NAC constituents are urging their members of Congress to pass the MODERN WIC Act/21st Century WIC Act (H.R.1464/S. 3842) by including them in the FY 2027 Agriculture Appropriations. These bipartisan, bicameral bills would make permanent the virtual (such as video or telephone) certification/recertification, benefit distribution, nutrition education and breastfeeding support options for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) which are set to expire as early as October 1, 2026. (Until recent years, families were required to have in-person appointments to get certified for, pick up, and reload WIC benefits.) MODERN WIC ACT / 21st Century WIC ACT: (H.R.1464/S. 3842) ACTION ALERT: NAC constituents were asked to advocate for future students and moms by contacting their members of Congress to pass these acts by including them in the FY2027 Agricultural Appropriations. JOINT STATEMENT WITH OTHER CONGREGATIONS ON U.S. COVENANT FOR OUR FUTURE (EFFORT TO REPEAL H.R. 1): Covenant For Our Future is a rising multi faith, multi issue movement mobilizing thousands of leaders across traditions and communities to repeal H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and renew the federal governments commitment to justice. NAC is among those that affirmed / signed the Covenant. Our country is facing a convergence of crises-escalating threats to democracy, cuts to healthcare and the social safety net, racist persecution of migrants, fast growing climate impacts, and massive tax breaks for the wealthiest that violate our deepest moral commitments. $1.15 TRILLION PENTAGON BUDGET: NAC was a part of this sign-on letter focused on opposing the $1.15 trillion Pentagon budget. The letter had three main asks: 1.Reject the $1.15 trillion Pentagon topline and oppose any further increase in Pentagon funding for FY 2027, including plus-ups sought through supplemental or reconciliation packages. 2.Protect and invest in programs that make life more affordable for those struggling. Ensure adequate investment in human needs programs, including Medicare, the Affordable Care Act and SNAP, and ensure Pentagon spending does not further eclipse non-defense spending. 3.Refuse to fund unauthorized war, including Iran, Latin America and elsewhere, and invest instead in the true sources of security-diplomacy, peacebuilding, foreign assistance, and nonviolent approaches to human, national, and global security.

ADVOCACY FOR CUBA: The Trump administration's policies have pushed Cuba into a full-blown humanitarian crisis, and the signs now point to a possible military escalation. U.S. military planners are reportedly already examining options for action on the island, including an air assault involving thousands of soldiers. The public groundwork is being laid as well: last week, the State Department released a 100-page report casting Cuba as the driving force behind "far left terrorism" in the United States. Many observers, including members of Congress, have read it as an effort to manufacture consent for military intervention. NAC and collaborators asked the Senate to address this issue before they recess for summer break. JULY 14 HUMAN TRAFFICKING BRIEFING AND ADVOCACY: NAC helped organize and promote a July 14 briefing for House and Senate staff around two pieces of legislation, the Frederick Douglass TVPRA (H.R. 1144 - Foreign Relations focus) and the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1748 - Science & Technology focus). The briefing was followed by in person lobby visits on July 14. NAC made visits on the two bills to Rep. Stephen Lynch MA-08, Rep. Gabe Evans CO-08, Rep. David Kustoff TN-08, and Senator Bill Hagerty TN. NAC advocates also did online email advocacy on the two bills on or around July 14. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR BOAT STRIKES ON ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: The sign-on letter to Congress marked the one-year anniversary (September 2) since the first boat strike in Latin America and urged Congress to adopt an aggressive oversight and accountability agenda to redress these illegal and immoral operations. HOUSE VOTE ON THE CUBA WAR POWER RESOLUTION: NAC joined this letter urging House Democratic leadership to call a vote on a Cuba War Powers Resolution as soon as possible and oppose the White House's illegal oil blockade. Since January 2026, President Trump has declared a functional U.S. blockade on Cuban-bound oil, widely understood to be an illegal act of war under international law. Trump's oil embargo has pushed Cuba to the brink of humanitarian collapse, and a UN panel last week that U.S. sanctions threaten to make Cuba into a "silent Gaza". Trump and Secretary Rubio continue to announce new sanctions and interventions in Cuba aimed at fomenting regime change, as well as threaten direct military intervention on the island. ACT TO STOP U.S. GUN TRAFFICKING - ARMAS ACT Action Alert: Constituents of NAC were asked to write to Congress urging their members to co-sponsor the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 6736 / S.3508); this legislation would profoundly impact Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing gun violence, promoting regional stability, and preventing U.S. firearms from contributing to humanitarian crises there. It would effectively stop the illegal flow of U.S. weapons and ammunition to Latin America and the Caribbean. ARMAS Act (Sept 29/30): Coalition of 20+ organizations (incl NAC) advocating for the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act of 2025 (H.R. 6736 / S.3508); this legislation would profoundly impact Latin America and the Caribbean - particularly Mexico and Haiti, reducing gun violence, promoting regional stability, and preventing U.S. firearms from contributing to humanitarian crises there. Sept 29 included a briefing on the Hill featuring people impacted by gun violence in Haiti and Mexico, and other experts on the regions and legislation. After the briefing advocates took part in a training and heard from additional experts on Haiti and Mexico. Sept 30 was devoted to online and in person advocacy.

SNAP (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM): Hunger is a daily experience for millions in the U.S. As living costs rise and wages lag, the One Big Beautiful Bill Acts (OBBBA) significant cuts to SNAP remain. NAC Constituents were asked to alert their members of Congress to reverse the SNAP cuts, undo the new state-level benefit cost-shifts and undo the additional 25% administrative fee by passing a Farm Bill that rectifies these program harms. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that states will be forced to contribute $35 billion to meet these changes or forego the program entirely. VOTE NO ON FARM BILL: NAC blasted the members of the Senate Agricultural Committee urging them to vote NO on the revised Farm Bill recently released by the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman. The bill would delay the SNAP benefit cost-share to the states for only ONE year and increase the costs states may have to pay for SNAP. The committee members were asked to continue to pursue a bipartisan solution that: gives states and communities more time to adapt to the changes to SNAP brought by H.R. 1; keeps food on families tables and invests wisely in children and farmers.

FAMILY STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY VOUCHERS ACT (S. 5405): The Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act was to be reintroduced in Sept. 2026 - and was, in fact, as S. 5405. The co-sponsors requested endorsing organizations and NAC obliged. The Act focuses on increasing housing options for low-income families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (DV) SURVIVORS ALERTED FOR EMERGENCY (SAFE) NOTICE ACT OF 2026 (S. 5656): NAC was among the organizations endorsing this bill that would require DV victims and survivors be notified when a prohibited abusive intimate partner fails a firearms background check. Shared with members of Congress.

AIDS RELIEF: NAC was part of this sign-on letter urging Congress to protect the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a new State Department plan to shut off funding that is critical for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work on PEPFAR and Global Health Security. MEDICARE: NAC was part of a sign-on letter asking Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to prioritize pro-consumer reforms and to ensure health care consumers can access the affordable, high-quality hospital care they need and deserve. In July 2026, the Trump Administration proposed major changes to how Medicare pays for hospital care in its annual Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). If finalized, these proposals would take important steps to rein in key payment distortions, including site of service payment differences, that drive hospital consolidation and unaffordable hospital care. PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS: NAC was part of this sign-on urging policymakers in the Senate to build on the Inflation Reduction Act with policies to save hundreds of billions of dollars in prescription drug costs and make sure all Americans have access to the medicines they need. Sent to Ranking Member Wyden of the Senate Finance Committee and other Senate Democrats in response to their request for information from stakeholders on policies to lower drug prices and make drugs more affordable for patients.

CONGRESSIONAL LETTER ON AI PRINCIPLES: NAC was among the signers of this letter that took the form of a Statement of Principles Regarding Artificial Intelligence." Its introduction stated that AI oversight legislation must be driven by the voices of working families and governed by the following principles to ensure justice and benefit to humanity. The principles include: Independence, Broad mandate, Enforce existing laws, Universal benefit

CHILD TAX CREDIT (CTC): This sign-on letter from NAC and others to congressional leadership expressed support for expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). It endorsed the American Family Act (AFA) to expand the CTC by increasing the credit, making it fully available to all children on a monthly basis, and creating a baby bonus. The letter also urged congressional leaders to make the AFA a cornerstone of the federal affordability agenda. CHILD TAX CREDIT AND EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT: NAC joined a coalition letter urging Congressional leaders to include direct cash policies in any affordability agenda. The request is to: 1. Expand the Child Tax Credit by making it fully available to low- and middle-income families, including all children regardless of immigration status, and delivering it in monthly payments. 2. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit by broadening age and income eligibility and increasing the credit for workers without children. AFFORDABILITY AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT: NAC signed on to two additional letters to Congress: 1.Cash & Affordability Letter The letter calls on Congress to make direct cash supports-including an expanded monthly Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit-part of any affordability agenda. The letter highlights policies that can help families and workers meet rising costs and calls for expanding the CTC and EITC to reach more people. 2.American Family Act (S. 1393 / H.R. 2763) Sign-On Letter This letter urges Congress to pass the American Family Act, which would expand the Child Tax Credit, make it fully available to children in low- and middle-income families, provide enhanced support for newborns, and deliver payments monthly. The letter highlights the role of an expanded CTC in helping families meet basic needs and addressing the rising cost of raising children.

OCCUPATION OF DC BY MIILITARY: August 11, 2026 marked one year of military occupation of DC. NAC was a part of this open letter to Congress marking the occasion and noting the deep harms inflicted over the past year. Topics include: 1) Oppose the military occupation and full support of DC statehood. 2) That every governor serving as Commander in Chief of deployed National Guard troops withdraw those troops from Washington, D.C. immediately. 3) Call on every Member of Congress to honor the principle of consent of the governed and commit to not overturning or interfering with Washington, D.C.'s locally enacted laws. Congress' constitutional jurisdiction over the federal enclave should not be used as an excuse to take away the authority DC has over its own affairs. 4) Urge the federal government to dismantle the "DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force" and the Joint Task Force created to operationalize it, to end the surge of forces in Washington, D.C., and to cease all ICE, DHS, DEA, IRS, FBI, Park Police, and other federal surge traffic checkpoints, high speed chases, and raids on homes and workplaces. 5) Encourage our communities to use their First Amendment rights in the District of Columbia to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances. 6) Publicly oppose any effort to prevent the seating of duly elected officials representing Washington, D.C. or any other jurisdiction and commit our resources to ensure that every elected official is sworn in and seated.

JULY 14 HUMAN TRAFFICKING BRIEFING AND ADVOCACY: NAC helped organize and promote a July 14 briefing for House and Senate staff around two pieces of legislation, the Frederick Douglass TVPRA (H.R. 1144 - Foreign Relations focus) and the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1748 -Science & Tech focus). The briefing was followed by in person lobby visits on July 14. NAC made visits on the two bills to Rep. Stephen Lynch MA-08, Rep. Gabe Evans CO-08, Rep. David Kustoff TN-08, and Senator Bill Hagerty TN. NAC advocates also did online email advocacy on the two bills on or around July 14. KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT (S.1748) Action Alert: NAC has advocated several years for the passage of this Act. Some progress has taken place. Meta was recently held accountable in court for its addictive design features. The company has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction, settling claims filed by forty-seven states. While a significant step toward better protecting our kids online - it is not enough. Time is running out. Constituents were asked to urge Senators to pass the Act in September 2026. Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Advocacy (S. 1748) (Sept 16/17): Urged the following to work for KOSA passage ASAP: Sen. Warnock (GA) staff; Sen. McCormick (PA) staff; Sen. Schumer (NY) staff (LEADERSHIP); Sen. Ossoff (GA) drop off; Sen. Thune (SD) staff (LEADERSHIP); Sen. Cruz (TX) staff (COMMERCE COMMITTEE); Sen. Schiff (CA) staff; Sen. Padilla staff (CA). Want to build on META Court case outcome with Congressional action.