NCC End Poverty

federal budget
Background | Faith Perspective | Take Action | Resources | Programs and Organizations

Give the king your justice, O God…May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice…May he defend the cause of the poor of the people and give deliverance to the needy. (Psalm 72:1-4)

Background
How we spend our money is a reflection on who and what we value. The federal budget is a process of setting our nation's shared priorities. It is the context in which the federal government makes many of its decisions. Even in the midst of an economic crisis, God has granted us stewardship of abundance that should be grounded in our values of justice and compassion when we establish the priorities of the federal budget.

In the United States and around the world, growing economic inequality and persistent poverty lie in stark contrast to the vision of justice and equality for all people that is rooted in our faith. There is only so much money to go around, so our representatives must choose which programs will get more, and which will get less. These are the priorities by which we can judge whether our government is defending the cause of all its people – particularly the most needy. To learn more click here.

Faith Perspective

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppresive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." (Isaiah 10:1-2)

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you...and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will have your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7)

"God has brough down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty." (Luke 1:52-53)

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Take Action!

Make a list of your monthly expenses. How does your individual or family budget reflect on what and who you value?
Visit the Benefit Bank, a program that simplifies and centralizes the process of applying for many state and federal benefits for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
Learn more about US federal tax and spending decisions. The President’s Budget can be found at the Office of Management and Budget.
Send a letter to your Member of Congress telling them that budgets are moral documents and should reflect our shared values of the common good, concern for the poor and vulnerable and economic justice.
Try to organize a group study on the budget in your congregation or community. Ask a non-profit leader, a government official, or benefits recipient in your area to come speak about how the budget affects them. You might also try to coordinate with other organizations, educate through the media, or ask state government officials to speak publicly.

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