(Washington, DC, Thursday, December 10, 2020) – As we wind down 2020 in both a political and literal sense, it is important to reflect on what was accomplished this year outside of all the noise and partisan attacks. No Congress will ever solve all of the world’s problems – let alone domestic ones – but neither is it completely lacking success either.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation reflects on what Congress has done in the last year. This includes, but is not limited to:

• In February 2020, Congress passed a historic, bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution to prevent a president from launching unauthorized strikes against Iran;
• The House voted twice to end the blank check for war, known as the 2001 AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force).
• The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 passed the House. This bill would increase accountability of law enforcement through national data collection and the reform of police tactics, training, and policies;
• Passage of the CARES Act to offset COVID loses, which expanded unemployment insurance eligibility and benefits and a round of stimulus checks; and
• House passage of the Heroes Act, which extended some of the provisions in the CARES Act, expanded the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits.

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) lobbies Congress and the administration to advance peace, justice, opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL fields an expert team of lobbyists on Capitol Hill and works with a grassroots network of thousands of people to advocate for peace and justice. FCNL is a nonpartisan organization with a long and trusted record of working across political divides to achieve positive change.