On October 20-23, leaders in the Lutheran Disaster Response Community of Practice gathered in Washington, D.C. to learn and advocate for key policies related to how we can show up for communities experiencing disaster. The collaboration between the ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response staff and ELCA Witness in Society advocacy staff brought together the expertise of these two teams and made for a meaningful week of education, advocacy, and relationship-building.

Specific policies that LDR leaders asked lawmakers to consider included the FEMA Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669) and ensuring the Community Development Block Grants are automatically authorized following disasters.

“Here in Pennsylvania, survivors of Hurricane Ida in 2021 are still waiting for those funds to be made available—funds that were authorized years ago,” said Julia Frank, coordinator of LDR-Eastern PA. “The change we’re calling for would allow families to rebuild and communities to restore affordable housing much more quickly.” 

You can listen to LDR staff and leaders talk about the gathering and advocacy efforts on ELCA Advocacy’s Podcast, Here I Pod. LDR Director, Maryn Olson, was also on Non-profit Spotlight podcast produced by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Falls Church, VA.

Frank reflected on the gathering, “The cooperation between ELCA Advocacy and Lutheran Disaster Response was truly inspiring. It felt good to have such a concrete way to take action at a time when it’s easy to feel powerless. And perhaps the best part was being together—in solidarity, in hope, and in the name of Jesus.”

Add your voice to the advocacy of LDR leaders by emailing your congressional representatives urging them to support the FEMA Act. 

Download LDR’s Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guide here.

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