The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a Quaker lobby in the public interest. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends in 1943, and was the first registered religious lobby in the United States. Although its first offices were in the basement of the Friends Meeting of Washington meetinghouse, FCNL is now based in an office building on Capitol Hill across the street from the Hart Senate offices.
FCNL seeks to bring the testimonies and concerns of Friends and their allies to bear on public policy. The organization has been strong advocate for peace and social justice, and has been a leading voice for civil rights legislation, global disarmament, and alternatives to war. At the beginning of each congressional session, Quakers from across the country determine the legislative priorities which will be the focus of FCNL's work for the next two years. These priorities are determined by a consensus process in the traditional manner of Friends.
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, FCNL's work has centered around U.S. foreign policy. FCNL's program on the peaceful prevention of deadly conflict promotes policies that enhance short-term capacity for war prevention and peacekeeping and also address the long-term causes of terrorism and war.
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