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	Witness in Washington Weekly Subscribe to Witness in Washington Weekly Congress has adjourned for the August recess, and so too will the Witness in Washington Weekly. We will return after Labor Day with coverage of the final weeks of work of the 110th Congress and the 2008 election cycle. A weekly email update of legislation before Congress and the related Presbyterian policy. Presented in a brief format with links to more information. These updates are sent only when Congress is in session. Recent issues of Witness in Washington Weekly are available for download and printing.


	January 2009 January 7, 2009 Special Presbyterian Witness in Washington Weekly - urgent action Urge immediate U.S. efforts to end Gaza violence, restore cease-fire December 2008 December 22, 2008 This week’s messages are: Send Christmas Prayers for Peace to Bethlehem Join the Call for Holy Land Peace November 2008 November 17, 2008 This week’s messages are: Congress Returns for Brief Lame Duck Session Urge Peace Efforts in the DR Congo James 2:14-17 — Faith Without Works Is Dead November 3, 2008 Tomorrow is Election Day! Yesterday was Christian and Citizen Sunday. Don’t forget to exercise your right and privilege as a citizen by voting in the election tomorrow. To find your polling place, visit Vote411 or Google Maps. Please make sure to verify that the information you receive from one of these Web sites is correct by checking with local election officials. Romans 13:1-13 - Being Subject to Authorities Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. October 2008 October 6, 2008 The flurry of activity in Washington for the last two weeks has been palpable, though the mood was noticeably subdued. While members of Congress were trying to complete their business in order to adjourn for the election season, as well as figure out what they could agree to with respect to addressing the financial crisis, a stream of legislation marched across both chamber floors — everything from full government funding to naming several post offices. According to their calendars, both House and Senate members should have headed home over a week ago, but their adjournment was delayed by the emergency legislation to rescue the tottering financial market. They have now completed a Continuing Resolution that will keep the government running until March 6, 2009, and the emergency financial “rescue” package that has so occupied news sources for two weeks. Considering their list of “must-pass” legislation that they planned to pass before adjourning before the election, the only one they did not finish is a package of targeted aid for low-income families who will be most severely affected by the economic slump. The House has now adjourned for the year, but the Senate will return the week of November 17 for a short “lame-duck” session during which they will elect new leadership for the 111th Congress. Now that they have finished what they consider the most pressing business of the fall season, members have left Washington to head home for the campaign trail. Thirty-five Senate seats and all 435 House seats are up for election on November 4. The Presbyterian Washington Office typically does not publish the Witness in Washington Weekly when Congress is not in session, however, during the next several weeks, there may be occasion to alert Presbyterians of events in Washington or around the country. We will do our best to keep you informed. This week’s messages are— Congress Struggles with National Financial Crisis Congress Passes Improved Adoption Incentives Legislation Register Now — Ecumenical Advocacy Days — Enough For All Creation Psalm 5:1-3, 11-12 – Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies September 2008 September 22, 2008 This week’s messages are— Stop the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal Tax Package on the Move in Congress Biblical Reflections on the Movement to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond – Resource Available Invitation to Church-wide Fast Luke 3:2b-6 – The Proclamation of John the Baptist

	Published by the Witness in Washington Weekly advocacy program of the Washington Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington D.C. 20002, (202) 543-1126. For more information about the content of these articles, please email us.


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