Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
Ned Price of the State Department said that “The United States would accept an invitation from the European Union High Representative to attend a meeting of the P5+1 and Iran to discuss a diplomatic way forward on Iran’s nuclear program.” He confirmed reports of the administration’s desire for talks with Tehran and European nations that are still party to the Iran nuclear agreement.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said President Biden would “probably phase-in” his proposed tax increases “slowly over time.” She said the tax hikes would likely come as part of a larger package of legislation sometime in 2021, which would “involve spending and investments over a number of years” on areas like education and infrastructure. “And probably tax increases to pay for at least part of it that would probably phase in slowly over time,” she added.
Pray for the president’s administration as they propose and implement agenda items.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
In a non-binding resolution introduced in the House, Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts called for the implementation of a taxpayer-funded “federal job guarantee” program to combat systemic inequality and to aid the U.S. economy’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by addressing issues of economic bias based on race, gender, or background. “It’s time to establish a legal right to a job for all people in America,” she said.
Senator Mitt Romney of Utah released a plan for a monthly child benefit to be paid through the Social Security Administration. He said this would meaningfully reduce child poverty by providing monthly payments of $250 for children ages 6-17, and $350 for those under six, available to single parents making an income up to $200,000 or married couples up to $400,000.
Pray for legislators as they propose and vote upon spending programs and how taxes would need to increase to pay for them.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
The Supreme Court has an unusually heavy load of environmental cases to consider, with the potential for more to come. They include water rights, EPA records disputes, pipelines, climate and biofuel disputes. So far, it appears there is no reluctance on the part of the Court to take up the environmental cases.
The Supreme Court is being asked to declare the all-male U.S. military draft unconstitutional, alleging the U.S. Selective Service violates the constitution because only men are required to register for a possible draft. “Requiring both women and men to register for the selective service is a long-overdue next step,” an amicus brief read. “Indeed, the male-only selective service requirement is the last vestige of an American service force that no longer exists.”
Pray for the Supreme Court Justices and the heavy case load they will have this spring.
