For Immediate Release: February 22, 2017 
Contact: Ashley Wilson, 202-601-7856

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice announces its 2016 Voting Record. This annual scorecard reflects the most important votes from the past year when Members of Congress did, or did not, act to mend the gaps and create an economy and society of inclusion.

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, said “We are so pleased to work with the 136 members of the House of Representatives and two members of the Senate who scored 100% this year, showing that a quarter of elected officials consistently voted to care for the common good.” NETWORK prioritized votes that fit with its 2020 policy vision to mend the gaps: tax justice, living wages, family-friendly workplaces, democracy/voting rights, healthcare, citizenship/immigration, and housing.

However, there were not many votes to be counted related to NETWORK’s priority issues. NETWORK scored a total of five votes in the Senate and ten votes in the House of Representatives. “Failure to deal with pressing national issues, combined with pressure to campaign for much of the summer and fall added up to an unimpressive vote count for Congress in 2016. Bipartisan policy-making was needed to pass housing modernization legislation, reauthorize Child Nutrition programs, and send federal funds to Flint, Michigan.” Sister Simone continued.

While Congress was occupied with partisan battles and campaign events, advocates spent much of last year working to prevent harmful legislation that succumbed to election-year rhetoric.

“Mend the gap issues will continue to be priorities for NETWORK in the 115^th Congress,” concluded Sister Simone. “Congress must not resort to extreme partisan positions in the current session, but care for the common good and meet the pressing needs of our nation.”

In the coming months, NETWORK members will continue lobby on Capitol Hill and across the country for policies that mend the gaps. NETWORK will organize deliveries of certificates to those who scored a 100% on their voting record in the coming days. The voting records and each member’s score can be found online at https://www.networklobby.org/votingrecord2016.

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NETWORK, advocates for justice inspired by Catholic sisters, educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a more than 40-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org