Timeline – Vertical, default

Our 50-Year Justice Journey

1988
Responding to Murder in El Salvador

Archbishop Óscar Romero is assassinated and four American churchwomen are murdered in El Salvador. In response, NETWORK invites leaders of congregations with missionaries in Central America to testify about the conditions in that region on Capitol Hill. 

1989
Lobby Day Success

NETWORK coordinates the lobby days for Housing NOW!, a program sponsored by 175 organizations. More than 250,000 people participate in the week of briefings, press conferences, panel discussions, prayer services, benefit concerts, marches, and rallies.

1993
Family & Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act, which NETWORK strongly supported, passes in Congress and is signed into law by President Clinton.

Healthcare Legislation

1993│NETWORK lobbyist Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ and staff work with First Lady Hillary Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy to craft comprehensive healthcare legislation. The bid to reform health care was unsuccessful.

1996
Protesting “Welfare Reform”
Protesting “Welfare Reform”

President Clinton signs the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act into law, dramatically cutting the number of people eligible for federal aid. 

As President Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act into law, NETWORK staff marched in protest outside the White House gates. NETWORK joined Pax Christi and several religious congregations to found the Welfare Reform Watch Project to collect multi-year statistics and anecdotal information about the law’s impact on low-income families. NETWORK also provided testimony to Congress and published several reports that drew media attention.

The first Welfare Reform Watch Project report, “Poverty Amid Plenty,” was released in April 1999.

2001
The Presidential Citizens Medal

Carol Coston, OP receives the Presidential Citizens Medal, the country’s second highest civilian honor, from President Clinton for her work shaping federal public policy. 

9/11 Response

The U.S. is attacked by Al-Qaeda; the next month, the U.S. invades Afghanistan. NETWORK vocally opposes military action and seeks a peaceful resolution. Federal military spending increases, further threatening funding for beleaguered domestic programs.