Capitol Conversations

Matt and Travis welcome Jose Ocampo, a “Dreamer” and DACA recipient, alongside Walter Strickland, First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention and Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at Southeastern Theological Seminary.   What you should know about DACA and Dreamers - ERLC Evangelical Leader Statement of Principles on Dreamers - ERLC 3 reasons why Congress should not wait to pass DACA legislation - ERLC

Matt, Travis and Jeff discuss the previous week’s Capitol Hill drama surround the attempted elimination of the Adoption Tax Credit. The Conscience Protection Act gains momentum, and an update on how the DACA conversation is going. And, the ERLC is now accepting applications for internships for spring and summer 2018. Conscience Protection Act To be really pro-choice, you must protect each doctor's choice to not perform abortions - USA Today - Cardinal Dolan & Russell Moore Expand Scope of Conscience Protection Act of 2017 - National Review Conscience Protection Act: What It Is and Why It’s Needed - Speaker Ryan   Adoption Tax Credit Why the Adoption Tax Credit Matters - ERLC Dear Republicans, Save the Adoption Tax Credit - National Review SBA List on House GOP Tax Reform Bill Save the Adoption Tax Credit! - Focus on the Family Why Would Republicans Scrap the Adoption Tax Credit? - The Weekly Standard Take Action – March For Life Action Save the Adoption Tax Credit (video) - Erick Erickson (text)   Coverage of ATC drama Pro-life lawmaker urges GOP to save the adoption tax credit - Congress - WORLD Push to restore adoption credit gains steam | TheHill 3 reasons the adoption tax credit shouldn’t be cut from the Republican tax plan | America Magazine House Bill Would Strip Adoption Tax Credit - WSJ Tax reform: GOP debates proposal to eliminate federal adoption tax credit - USA Today

Adoption Tax Credit Why the Adoption Tax Credit Matters - ERLC Dear Republicans, Save the Adoption Tax Credit - National Review SBA List on House GOP Tax Reform Bill Save the Adoption Tax Credit! - Focus on the Family Why Would Republicans Scrap the Adoption Tax Credit? - The Weekly Standard Conscience Protection Act Expand Scope of Conscience Protection Act of 2017 - National Review Conscience Protection Act: What It Is and Why It’s Needed - Speaker Ryan

Matt Hawkins and Travis Wussow discuss the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and the Trump Administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Sudan with Gavin Gramstad of The Nehemiah Group. Plight of Religious Minorities in Iraq and Sudan Guest: Gavin Gramstad of The Nehemiah Group ERLC Policy Brief: Advocating relief for victims of the Islamic State genocide House OKs aid for ISIS survivors - ERLC A brief introduction to the just war tradition: Just war and terrorism - ERLC Religious persecution a sad reality: State Department releases 2016 IRF report - ERLC Pray for the persecuted church in Sudan and South Sudan - ERLC

Matt, Steven, and Travis catch up on latest federal policy developments including a legislative solution for Dreamers, Criminal Justice Reform, and two big wins for religious freedom at HHS and DOJ. Dreamers/DACA Evangelical Leader Statement of Principles on Dreamers - Join us! ERLC.com/immigration Criminal Justice Reform JusticeDeclaration.org - Join us! Religious freedom wins at the agencies ERLC’s Russell Moore calls HHS religious liberty exemption ‘crucial achievement’ Reversal of HHS Contraceptive Mandate is Good News for Religious Liberty Back to the future: religious liberty reaffirmed Why the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Guidance Matters Subscribe iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher | Tune in

Matthew Hawkins, Steven Harris, and Travis Wussow discuss Washington politics of the last week of September, including possible legislative solutions for Dreamers and the Pain-capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Legislative proposals to date: Graham/Durbin - DREAM Act Tillis/Lankford - SUCCEED Act Curbelo/Coffman - RAC Act Pain-capable Unborn Child Protection Act Video: Kevin McCarthy announce vote on H.R. 36 Bill text: H.R. 36 Evangelicals for Life (previous conference video) Evangelicals.life - Info and registration for January 2018

ERLC National Conference Full video: Russell Moore and Ben Sasse via Facebook Live Hurricane Harvey Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Hurricane Harvey From the Flooded Grounds of Houston - Jeff Medders How to help victims of Hurricane Harvey - ERLC

ERLC D.C. staffers Matt, Travis, and Steven share their conversation as they process the events in Charlottesville, race in America, and where gospel-believing churches go from here. Charlottesville VIDEO: Russell Moore on CNN with Jake Tapper SBC Resolution On Sensitivity And Unity Regarding The Confederate Battle Flag SBC Resolution On The Anti-Gospel Of Alt-Right White Supremacy When white supremacists come to town | ERLC.com AUDIO: The Horror in Charlottesville | The Ben Shapiro Show AUDIO: A Brief Biblical Theology of Race by Jemar Tisby | Pass the Mic AUDIO: Jemar Tisby | Jon Ward’s The Long Game Six reasons why Christians should reject anti-Semitism | ERLC VIDEO: Vice documentary: Charlottesville: Race and Terror Be advise: caution for language. ERLC resources VIDEO: ERLC Leadership Summit on Racial Reconciliation More video on race from ERLC Gospel for Life book: The Gospel and racial reconciliation Light Magazine on racial reconciliation More resources at ERLC.com on race and racial reconciliation April 2018: MLK50 Conference in Memphis

Matt Hawkins moderates a panel discussion on human trafficking with Kimberly Merida, Ashleigh Chapman, Natasha Robinson, and Travis Wussow. The panel was part of the 2017 Evangelicals for Life conference. Human Trafficking Video: Panel discussion as heard on podcast Resources from ERLC International Justice Mission Guest links Kimberly Merida, @KimMerida Ashleigh Chapman, @EngageTogether Natasha Robinson, @ASISTASJOURNEY Evangelicals for Life conference 2017 conference videos 2018 info and registration March for Life 2018

Matt Hawkins welcomes Andrew Walker to discuss his new book God & the Transgender Debate: What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gender Identity? Christian compassion and the Transgender Debate Amazon: God and the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker 5 Things Every Christian Must Know About the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker Book review by David Prince: “Christians now have gospel counsel on transgenderism in accessible terms for layman and pastor alike. This book is must-read material for those wanting to hear what the Bible says about transgenderism and for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ needing to be prepared to give a defense for our hope in the midst of a gender-confused world.” Roundtable Russell Moore commends appointment of Sam Brownback as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rep. Ann Wagner’s bipartisan bill: Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017

Jeff Pickering and Matt Hawkins interview the ERLC’s 2017 team of D.C. interns to share a glimpse into life and vocation in Washington, D.C. The interns share their favorite experiences and what it’s like to work in the ERLC’s D.C. office. ERLC Internships Join us in Nashville, Tenn. or Washington, D.C. Information and application.

Jeff Pickering and Matt Hawkins interview the ERLC’s 2017 team of D.C. interns to share a glimpse into life and vocation in Washington, D.C. The interns share their favorite experiences and what it’s like to work in the ERLC’s D.C. office. ERLC Internships Join us in Nashville, Tenn. or Washington, D.C. Information and application.

Matt, Travis, and Steven discuss the latest from Capitol Hill including: rumors about the effort to defund Planned Parenthood; prayer for the persecuted church; State Department international religious freedom policy); and the role out of the Democrat’s new populist branding. Why Didn’t the Planned Parenthood Videos Change the Abortion Debate? - The Gospel Coalition Series: Prayer for the persecuted church Tillerson’s Grand Renovation Plan in State Department Gets Assistance Democrats Set to Announce New Agenda

Matt, Travis, and Steven discuss the latest from Capitol Hill including: rumors about the effort to defund Planned Parenthood; prayer for the persecuted church; State Department international religious freedom policy); and the role out of the Democrat’s new populist branding. Why Didn’t the Planned Parenthood Videos Change the Abortion Debate? - The Gospel Coalition Series: Prayer for the persecuted church Tillerson’s Grand Renovation Plan in State Department Gets Assistance Democrats Set to Announce New Agenda

Matt and Steven give a rundown of the Congressional landscape in the weeks leading up to the August recess. Includes: updates to human trafficking law, pro-life measures in appropriations, gender reassignment surgery in the military, and healthcare in the Senate. Also, the chatter among Evangelicals and Eugene Peterson. Congressional activity House Passes Several Bills to Combat Human Trafficking - ERLC, The Weekly McCain's absence exposes McConnell's shaky health vote math - FoxNews Eugene Peterson Should we still read Eugene Peterson? by Russell Moore Actually, Eugene Peterson Does Not Support Same-Sex Marriage - Christianity Today