September, 2012

Dear Members of Congress,

As clergy and religious leaders around the country, faith calls us to serve as stewards of the gifts God blesses us with and seek justice for the most vulnerable among us. Each year, when the budget is developed and debated for the United States government we have an opportunity to highlight the needs of low-income families around the country and growing disparity between the rich and those living in poverty.  We see the federal budget as a reflection of our country's priorities and values, a moral statement on whom and what we treasure.

Federal spending on energy subsidies that support the fossil fuel industry reflects a set of priorities and values that we believe no longer make good sense.  Highly profitable and mature companies that extract oil, coal and gas do not need federal government supports to survive.  The federal budget needs to embody wise and principled decisions allocating limited funding. While families struggle to make ends meet and cities struggle to provide basic services such as public transportation and clean water, fossil fuel energy companies continue to walk away with more than $10 billion in tax breaks and subsidies, in spite of often record breaking profits. 

Not only are these energy subsidies a poor budgeting decision that forces cuts in other parts of the federal budget-including in programs that help struggling families and communities-but they also provide financial incentive for energy production on public lands -and waters around the US.  As a result, often God's creation pays for the long term impacts of drilling and mining, rather than extractive energy companies.

 We urge you to end subsidies for the fossil fuel energy industry. This industry is well-developed and successful and no longer needs financial support to ensure its success. Removing subsidies will not drive these companies from business, but will be a wise budget decision. Studies have shown that if we end these subsidies, consumer energy prices will go up less than 1 percent. And with these financial resources, we can provide food for more families, healthcare for more children and clean water for more communities all around the United States.

Sincerely,