Legislative Action Team

The mission of the Legislative Action Team (LAT) is to engage UUCA members in legislative actions based on UU values and provide a consistent, coherent voice for UU principles and traditions.  LAT was established in 2002.  The Committee obtained overwhelming support for the Health Care for All Resolution from the Congregation in November 2002. 

The priorities for the Committee have included: Global Warming issues (the Healthy Air Act, Clean Cars Bill and a Constitutional Amendment to protect public lands); civil rights of same sex couples (opposition to Constitutional Amendments to establish that only a marriage between a man and a woman is a valid marriage), health care reform initiatives proposed by Health Care for All (Healthy Maryland Initiative, Fair Share Health Care), and responding to the crisis in Darfur.    These positions were consistent with UUCA policies because of the overwhelming support for the Health Care for All Resolution by the Congregation in 11/02, being a Welcoming Congregation, and being a Green Sanctuary Congregation.   LAT held a meeting on 1/28/07 led by Evelyn Spurgin, mes@hbdlaw.com, for members to learn more about the death penalty in MD.  The group agreed that the LAT will support the legislation to replace the death penalty with life without parole.  A task force will be developing opportunities for UUCA to learn more about this difficult issue and engage in further dialogue. 

LAT provides information on issues and needed actions through:   tables after Sunday services, mailings, newsletter articles, order of service announcements, e-news; resource lists, background materials,, alerts, andannouncements of events.  LAT advocacy includes: meeting with legislators, letter writing campaigns, hearings, rallies, press conferences, testimonies, and briefings. 

LAT members can become part of a yahoo group, be on the UULM-MD alert list, and/or receive Legislative Watch mailings.  Contact LAT data base manager and mailing coordinator, Margery Knight, at mldknight@verizon.net

Members of the LAT attended the Network of Spiritual Progressive (NSP) Conference, participated in a series of sessions led by Rev. Muir on “The Left Hand of God”, and participated in the establishment of a local NSP.

LAT works in conjunction with the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland which was created in 2005 as a statewide legislative network of UUs concentrating on social witness, collaborative actions, and social change. UUCA provides leadership, resources, and support to UULM-MD. 

Links for further information and to obtain their mailings:

UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland (UULM-MD):  www.uulmmd.org
UUA Washington Office for Advocacy:  www25.uua.org/uuawo/new/index.php
UU Service Committee:  www.uusc.org 
UU-United Nations Office:   www.uu-uno.org    
UU Ministry of the Earth: www.uuministryforearth.org
UUs for Social Justice-Baltimore-Washington-Northern VA:   www.uusj.org
Find your Maryland elected officials:    www.mdelect.net/electedofficials