UU FaithAction NJ 2020-2021
Summary Legislative and Advocacy Priorities,
(To view fuller descriptions of task force priorities, click here)
Criminal Justice Task Force
- Youth Justice Transformation. Restorative justice pilot projects in one of our bills will work to keep young people, especially youth of color in urban areas, out of the criminal justice system and provide them with support they need in their own communities.
- Expanding Reentry Services. With continued corrections and parole reform, as well as the Public Health Emergency Credits, more individuals will need assistance reintegrating into their communities of origins after release.
- Dismantling racism. Three different bills address aspects of racism within the criminal justice system: an amendment to the Constitution, a bill to form a Reparations Task Force, and a bill to restrict the use of deadly force. Advocacy will focus attention on how institutional racism feeds the criminal/corrections system.
Environmental Justice Task Force
- Reduce Fossil Fuel Emissions with Focus on Transportation. Follow lead of Environmental Justice partners including NJEJA, Ironbound Corp., and Clean Water Action. This will have direct impact on health of residents in EJ neighborhoods.
- Reduce lead in households. Following lead of EJ partners including NJEJA, Ironbound Corp. and Clean Water Action, help promote outreach to residents to avoid and reduce lead in drinking water and lead paint in their households
- Promote the Green Amendment. Conduct outreach, especially through UU Congregations, to build support for the Green Amendment Bill in NJ which promotes the right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment as supported by our EJ partners.
Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
- The GVP task under the leadership of its chair, Liandra Pires, has been active in renewing its focus and vision. The task force continues to advocate for the Safe Storage Bill which is in the process of being updated to center an anti-racist/anti-oppression lens around this important legislation concerning firearm and ammunition storage. The task force continues in the process of identifying specific legislative and educational priorities in their monthly meetings.
Immigration Justice Task Force
- Enact Covid-related relief legislation to include undocumented persons, starting with S2480/A4171.
- Enact the Immigrant Trust Directive into Statutory Law while minimizing “carve-outs” for criminal offenses.
- Enact DACA program into statute at federal level with as few restrictions as possible.
- Advocate for effective implementation of driver’s license regulations for undocumented persons with as little interaction with the federal government as possible.
- Investigate and publicize the holding of children separated from their parents at the southern border in South Jersey foster homes.
- Promote funding for legal representation of detainees.
Reproductive Justice Task Force
- Support for the Reproductive Freedom Act. S3030/A4848 safeguards reproductive care, upholds basic rights and justice, and respects decision-making throughout pregnancy for all women regardless of race, class, sexuality, ability, or citizenship status.
- Monitor the work of the Commission to Study Sexual Assault, Misconduct and Harassment against Inmates in NJ State Correctional Facilities (especially at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women) who are disproportionately women of color, poor women, and transgender women.
- Strengthen maternal health and reduce maternal mortality, including supporting the Maternal Mortality Review Commission, and affirm our commitment to ending New Jersey’s shameful record as one of the worst in Black-White racial disparity in maternal deaths.
- Support the strategic plan of the Sexual Education Subcommittee of Thrive NJ which challenges heterosexist and cis-normative assumptions about sexuality and gender
- Monitor the implementation of the Address Confidentiality Law (PL 2019.c175) by reviewing the proposed regulations in coordination with Legal Advocacy and encouraging comments that will protect access to abortion for all women and their providers.