FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2025
WASHINGTON—In response to the passage of H.R. 1, the Senate Reconciliation bill, NETWORK Interim Executive Director Joan F. Neal said:
“We strongly decry the passage of this reckless and cruel budget reconciliation bill by the Senate. It represents stark opposition to the values of justice, equity, and solidarity that shape NETWORK’s mission. This bill will strip health care from 17 million people and take food off the plates of over 3 million families, all to fund the mass detention and deportation of immigrants and tax cuts for billionaires. This is also part of a larger, relentless assault on our communities and democracy itself since the beginning of the Trump administration.
“We know this assault will continue in different forms, and we will persist in our efforts to stop it. As it heads back to the House, we pray that the values of decency, compassion, and solidarity prevail. This bill does not reflect the values of our faith nor of our democracy, and we will continue to work to defeat it. When we work in partnership together as people of faith and goodwill, we can repel heartless attacks and ultimately pursue policies that create a country where all people can thrive, without exception.”
Founded by Catholic Sisters in 1972, NETWORK is an inclusive, national, Catholic advocacy organization open to all who share our values, working for justice and equity for everyone. For 53 years, NETWORK has educated, organized, and lobbied for federal policies that serve the common good and honor the dignity of all people.
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This bill will affect many Republicans as well as all other people associated with their party of choice. The crime rate will rise as desperate people do what they can to survive. Because we have a government that has chosen (why??) to deny civil rights to the Transgender community, my own relatives have to cope with the chaos and anxiety this has caused, including death threats, shunning and the feeling of not belonging, even in church. There are members of Congress who have definitely sold their souls to their (not mine) president. May God have mercy on our souls.
Where is that Christian philosophy of helping others in need. No wonder the world hates us.
Thank you to all of Network for helping us work with our government. We do not have our America!! Our leaders have chosen to denigrate humanity and to turn our government into a dictatorship! God give us the wisdom and strength to make it right again.
We know now that the bill is heading to the president’s desk for his signature. It is a sad day. Thank you for your leadership in the resistance.