The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is an activist and lobbying organization associated with the Religious Society of Friends (also known as the Quakers) that advocates for a broad range of left-of-center policies, economic programs, and social causes.

The committee was founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends, a loosely organized Protestant movement which originated in 17th-century England and whose members are commonly referred to as Quakers. Today, the committee has two arms: the FCNL itself, which lobbies members of Congress and other political leaders, and the FCNL Education Fund, which issues grants in support of the committee’s favored causes. ^{1 2}

Background

The Religious Society of Friends and the broader Quaker movement grew out of various splinter denominations across Great Britain which opposed both the state-backed Church of England and newly-formed Puritan groups such as the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists. Quaker worship was, and generally continues to be, characterized by a lack of ordained clergy and structured liturgy, instead favoring individual inspiration and perceived direct revelation from God. Quakers experienced persecution from both the state church and other Protestants, which pushed many of them to move to the American colonies starting in the mid-17th century. ³

Since its establishment in America, the Quaker movement has experienced numerous schisms and shifts in beliefs: by the end of the 19th century, Quaker denominations were generally divided into theologically conservative and liberal camps. The latter became actively involved in many of the major left-of-center causes in the United States throughout the 20th century, and have aligned themselves with the political left into the 21^st century, often treating traditional Christian teaching as secondary to social activism. ^{4 5}

Positions

The Friends Committee on National Legislation generally avoids explicitly identifying itself with the Christian faith or traditional Biblical teaching, instead emphasizing broadly-defined concepts such as “Quaker values” and “each person’s unique access to the Divine.” The committee has condemned criticism of homosexuality and transgenderism, as well as criticism of other religions, particularly Islam, due to the allegedly “marginalized and excluded” status of minority groups in American society. In an official statement on its racial, gender, religious, and economic principles, the FCNL cited radical feminist activist Gloria Jean Watkins, commonly known by her pen name Bell Hooks, as an inspiration for its social views. ⁶

Economics and Environment

The FCNL supports large-scale redistribution of wealth in order to bring about equality of outcome and restructure the American economy. ⁷ The committee also backs aggressive government intervention to restrict the use of conventional fuels through regulations and financial penalties in favor of weather-dependent methods of power generation. ⁸

Law Enforcement and Immigration Control

The FCNL has backed restrictions on self-defense rights and condemned the use of police to deter unlawful activity. Instead, the committee has endorsed the use of what it calls “violence interrupters” who will allegedly help prevent crime before it occurs and reduce the need for conventional law enforcement. FCNL has called for Congress to direct taxpayer dollars towards these “violence interrupter” initiatives. ⁹ In addition, the committee opposes the incarceration of criminals, offering “violence interrupter” programs as a solution which would supposedly reduce the need for prisons. ^{10 11}

The FCNL has claimed that the January 2021 Capitol riot was instigated by “white supremacists” and labeled the event a “violent insurrection.” ¹² At the same time, the committee described the nationwide surge of civil unrest, property destruction, and violence in the name of George Floyd during the summer of 2020 as “protests.” ¹³

The FCNL opposes all marketable skill, financial self-sufficiency, and other requirements for immigrants entering the United States. The committee also supports opening America’s southern border to migrants and offering citizenship to all foreigners entering the United States. ¹⁴

Foreign Policy and Military Force

The FCNL cites Quaker beliefs as the basis for its blanket opposition to armed conflict. In particular, the committee has criticized America’s methods during the War on Terror, such as the widespread use of drone strikes and the detention of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. The FCNL has also called for worldwide nuclear disarmament. In addition, the FCNL calls for the United States government to provide increased resources and grant greater autonomy to Native American tribes. ¹⁵

In 2022, the FCNL submitted testimony asking Congress to spend tens of millions of dollars on various non-military foreign affairs-related agencies and initiatives, saying that non-conflict approaches would reduce America’s engagement in wars. ¹⁶

Partner Organizations

The Friends Committee on National Legislation Education Fund sponsors research which supports the committee’s policy advocacy goals. It also sponsors the committee’s young adult, fellowship, and youth activist training programs, including an initiative specifically for Native American activists to promote their interests to Congress. ¹⁷

The FCNL also works with Peaceful Advocacy, members of Congress, and others on anti-sex trafficking efforts. ^{18 19}

Leadership

Bridget Moix is the general secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. She also runs the committee’s partner organization, the FCNL Education Fund. She has been involved with the FCNL since the mid-1990s, including as an intern, a legislative secretary, a clerk on the general committee, and a member of the executive committee. She also spent two years working for the United States Agency for International Development and the global philanthropic collective Oxfam. She has also taught at Columbia University, George Washington University, American University, and other institutions.²⁰

Amelia Kegan is the FCNL associate general secretary for policy and advocacy. She previously worked as the committee’s legislative director for domestic policy, where she was in charge of reviewing legislation and developing lobbying strategies. Prior to joining the FCNL, Kegan worked for the charity Bread for the World. ²¹

Adlai Amor is the FCNL associate general secretary for communications. He also previously worked for Bread for the World, and prior to that he ran the news service of the World Wildlife Fund, a leading international environmentalist organization which nonetheless advocates against nuclear energy and has received criticism for partnering with large corporations. In addition, he ran the communications department for the American branch of Greenpeace, another major environmentalist group which opposes nuclear power and engages in disruptive public activism. ²²

Lauren Brownlee is the FCNL associate general secretary for community and culture. She oversees the organization’s internal compliance with its left-wing race and identity advocacy priorities. Previously, Brownlee held positions on the executive committee and general committee. She has also taught at the elite Washington, D.C. Sidwell Friends School and other private educational institutions. ²³

Funding

The Friends Committee on National Legislation receives the vast majority of its funding from individual supporters and from left-wing grantmaking organizations such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. In 2020, the committee brought in just over $3 million and held net assets of approximately $3.2 million. ²⁴

1. “About.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/about
2. “Society of Friends.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Society-of-Friends
3. “Society of Friends.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Society-of-Friends
4. “Society of Friends.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Society-of-Friends
5. “About.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/about
6. “FCNL Statement: On Anti-racism, Anti-bias, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. May 21, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/fcnl-statement-on-antiracism-antibias-justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-may2022.pdf
7. “Issues We Work On.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/issues
8. Jus Tavcar. “Inside the Greenhouse.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. January 5, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2023-01/january-2023-inside-greenhouse
9. ^[1]“Build Safer Communities by Investing in Violence Interrupters.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://fcnl.quorum.us/campaign/44195/?utm_source=fcnlaction
10. “Issues We Work On.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/issues
11. “Build Safer Communities by Investing in Violence Interrupters.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2022. https://fcnl.quorum.us/campaign/44195/?utm_source=fcnlaction
12.  Bridget Moix. “Reclaiming Our Democracy in the 118th Congress.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. January 6, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2023-01/reclaiming-our-democracy-118th-congress
13. “Addressing Police Violence.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/issues/justice-reform/fcnls-work-policing
14. ^[1]“Issues We Work On.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/issues
15. “Issues We Work On.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/issues
16.  Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, “State, foreign operations, and related programs appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022,” Congress.gov, September 27, 2022. Accessed January 22, 2023. https://www.congress.gov/event/117th-congress/senate-event/LC66974/text?s=1&r=2
17. ^[1]“FCNL Education Fund.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/about/fcnl-education-fund
18. About Peaceful Advocacy. Accessed January 22, 2023. https://peacefuladvocacy.org/about
19. Press Release, “Wagner introduces bipartisan Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017,” Rep. Ann Wagner, April 23, 2017. Accessed January 22, 2023. https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-introduces-bipartisan-allow-states-and-victims-fight-online-sex
20. “Bridget Moix.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/people/bridgetmoix
21. “Amelia Kegan.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/people/amelia-kegan
22. ^[1]“Adlai Amor.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/people/adlai-amor
23. ^[1]“Lauren Brownlee.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5htSJ1C7ts
24. Bridget Moix. “Imagining a New United States.” Friends Committee on National Legislation. January 13, 2023. Accessed January 21, 2023. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2023-01/imagining-new-united-states