Congress urgently needs to hear from us on the value of supporting creative peacebuilding and voting ‘no’ on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a significant increase in Pentagon Spending to $1.15 trillion.

Right now, Congress is considering a substantial increase in Pentagon funding that would mark the largest military budget in U.S. history. Meanwhile, funding for critical, lifesaving social programs and non-military tools for preventing violence and building just peace abroad continues to be sharply cut. 

As people of Franciscan hearts, faith and conscience, we recognize that true, sustainable security comes from housing, health care, education, diplomacy, creative peacebuilding, and courageous nonviolent resistance — not ever-larger military budgets that benefit weapons contractors over working families. 

Pope Leo recently wrote, “The armaments industry, and countries that supply weapons, profit from a market that thrives precisely on conflicts. In this sense, there are also financial interests that contribute to fueling tensions in various regions of the world.” (Magnifica Humanitas, 193) “Humanity possesses far more effective and capable tools for promoting human life and resolving conflicts.” (192) 

Urge your members of Congress to vote NO on legislation that locks in $1.15 trillion for weapons and war and urge them to support amendments to the NDAA that bring that number down.