Lutheran Legislative Agenda 2015
There are three synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) in Texas. At their annual legislative conference,
members from all of Texas ELCA synods adopt a consensus
legislative agenda reflecting their priority legislative
concerns.
For more information about Lutheran Legislative Event or this
legislative agenda, contact: Brenda Krueger
[email protected] 210-385-3639 Southwestern Texas Synod
Ashley Dellagiacoma [email protected] 512-940-3202
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Lissy Bethmann
[email protected] 817-714-6461 North Texas-Northern
Louisiana Synod
As Lutherans, we affirm the dedication of every member of the
Texas Legislature. We thank you for your service to our state and
we look forward to thanking you for your good work in the 84th
legislative session. We particularly look forward to thanking you
for your action on the following issues, which we believe are
crucial to our states wellbeing:
Health: Providing Reliable Access for Every Body
We call on the Legislature to provide reliable access to health
care for all Texans. We urge lawmakers to correct inadequacies in
our states health insurance system, which leaves behind many of the
least of our brothers and sisters, whom we are called especially to
serve. We encourage lawmakers to maximize Texas federal health care
funding, especially through expansion of health insurance to
low-income adults using federal Medicaid funds.
Public Education: Developing Gifts for the Common Good
The Legislature should affirm its constitutional obligation to
provide high quality public education for the benefit of all
children in our state. We oppose legislation that would shift
funding designated for public education to private schools,
including the establishment of any voucher programs. Current
arguments for vouchers serve to highlight systemic inadequacies in
Texas public education; we prefer to see these inadequacies
addressed so that every Texas child can receive an excellent
education, for their own benefit and the benefit of our whole
state.
Immigration: Welcoming Sojourners Within Our Borders
We advocate for fair, humane policies toward immigrants in
Texas. We call on lawmakers to leave off consideration of
abolishing the Texas DREAM Act. We entreat Texas legislators to
advocate with our Congressional delegation for federal policies
that prioritize family unification, due process and hospitable
accommodation of those who find themselves sojourning within our
borders. Criminal Justice: Embodying Gods Grace
We call on legislators to guarantee fair treatment for all
Texans caught up in the states criminal justice system. We urge
legislators to remove barriers to successful reentry into the
community after incarceration; in particular, we call for an end to
Texas draconian restrictions on SNAP and other important benefits
for former drug felons. We encourage lawmakers to consider the
frequent co-occurrence of mental illness with criminal behavior,
especially substance abuse, and to ensure those in the criminal
justice system with mental health needs receive appropriate, timely
and effective care. Water: Conserving and Preserving Life-Giving
Resources
We urge lawmakers to prioritize our states water infrastructure
investments around the primary principle of fair access to clean
water for all Texans. We affirm the inherent worth of all creation
and call on lawmakers to protect all of Texas natural resources. We
applaud legislators focus on conservation, and pledge our active
support and participation in a strong state planning process to
ensure a radiant water future for Texas.
