Action Alert: Tell the Senate to support the Farm Bill

Urge Your Senators: Ensure our nation feeds the hungry, preserves God’s creation, supports small family farmers and rural America
 
Every five years, the U.S. Congress decides how our federal government will help feed hungry people here at home and overseas, support growth in U.S. rural communities, assist farmers, and promote environmental conservation. The legislation that includes all of these important objectives and many more is called the “Farm Bill.” It needs to be renewed before the current version expires at the end of September 2012. The Senate is expected to introduce its version of the Farm Bill soon. Your voice is needed now to make sure that the new Farm Bill feeds the hungry, preserves God’s creation, and supports small family farmers and rural America.

Your faith and your Church bring deeply rooted principles to this debate. As Catholics, we believe that each person’s life is a sacred gift from God and that it must be protected. Since food is required to sustain life, the Church teaches it is a basic right for all people. We believe that must support those who grow our food in their times of need, to care for God’s creation, and ensure our brothers and sisters who are poor and hungry have access to nutritious food.

Your Church also brings tremendous experience to the debate around the Farm Bill. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) feed and assist millions of people living in poverty at home and overseas. Our National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) has been serving the rural people and their communities for 80 years. Your Church knows from personal experience how the Farm Bill affects us all, but most significantly, how it impacts those who are hungry, living in poverty, and struggling to keep farming a viable way of life.

That is why your Church, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with CRS, CCUSA, and NCRLC, is united in support of a Farm Bill that provides for poor and hungry people in the United States and around the world, offers effective assistance for those who grow our food, ensures fairness to family farmers and ranchers, and promotes stewardship of the land.

Join us in our call to the Senate to put hungry people first, to support small family farms and poor farmers here at home and overseas, and to promote environmental conservation. Your voice is powerful and can make change happen. For all of us, for our brothers and sisters, and for God’s creation.


 

House Subcommittee Votes to Remove Funding for SSBGs
 
On Wednesday, April 18, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a draft budget proposal that would repeal the Social Services Block Grant and cut other social spending in an attempt to find $53 billion in savings over the next ten years. The measure, along with two others to recapture overpayments from federal health insurance and require a Social Security number to claim the refundable child tax credit, was sent to the House Budget Committee along by a 22-14 vote.
 
A competing proposal to finance SSBGs through a surtax on those making over $1 million annually was ruled non-germane. The limited amounts of spending on SSBGs was a result of the House leadership’s call for committees to find additional budget-cutting to avoid the automatic cuts, known as sequesters, that were passed by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
 
The proposal now goes to the House Budget Committee, which will consider whether or not to pass it along to be voted by the full House. If the bill were to pass the House, it is not expected to be considered by the Senate. Catholic Charities USA will continue to closely monitor the progress of this legislation and provide opportunities for you to make your voice heard on the importance of these programs. Please take a moment to visit this action alert to send information about local programs funded by SSBGs directly to your Members of Congress. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Agriculture Committee Discusses SNAP Cuts
 
The House Committee on Agriculture on Thursday, April 18, voted along party lines to cut $33 billion in 10 years from SNAP (formerly known as food stamp) benefits. While the vote was taken in an attempt to meet lower spending limits to cut the federal budget deficit, it is been seen largely as a symbolic move that will not become law. The committee recommended a cut of $19.7 billion in five years, and the balance in the following five years.
 
Watch for an action alert from Catholic Charities USA, and be prepared to urge Members of Congress to ensure that SNAP benefits continue to be available for seniors, children, and others in need. Even though it is not expected that these cuts will be passed in the Senate, it is still important to engage in advocacy over this important program.
 
Catholic Charities USA will continue to monitor these cuts and will provide an action alert for you take action. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Budget Committee Holds Hearing on Strengthening Safety Net
 
On Tuesday, April 17, the House Committee on the Budget held a hearing entitled “Strengthening the Safety Net.” The Chair of the committee, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI,) called the hearing to discuss ways in which the safety net is in need of reform and finding more efficient ways to provide services to those in need.
 
There were four witnesses on the panel: Casey Mulligan, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Ron Haskins, Co-Director of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institution, Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and
Robert Greenstein, President for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
 
While discussion largely centered around the long-term budgetary impact of elevated levels of social safety net spending, witnesses and Members of Congress also talked about finding efficiencies in social spending and ensuring that recipients of SNAP and other programs received the services they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
 
For copies of the written testimony from each of the witnesses, including the opening statement by Chairman Ryan, please visit http://budget.house.gov/HearingSchedule/Hearing4172012.htm. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
 
Senate Scheduled to Take Up Farm Bill Reauthorization
 
While the House Agriculture Committee voted to cut the SNAP program, the process of authorization continued in the Senate. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI,) announced that she hopes to be able to make a draft of her committee’s farm bill public by early this week, with the full committee voting on its provisions (in what is called the mark-up process) starting next Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
 
In the House, the Agriculture Committee is planning to hold a series of hearings on the programs covered under the Farm Bill, including the aforementioned Supplemental Food Assistance Program. They are expected to last through the middle of May. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill will need to be passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the President – it is expected that disagreement between the chambers will continue due to the contentious election year.
 
Please join with our partners at other Catholic organizations by taking action to support a Farm Bill reauthorization that stays true to our faith's principles. Catholic Charities USA will continue to monitor this and other legislative activity pending before Congress and provide opportunities for you to weigh in during the legislative process. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.


 

***
Washington Weekly
is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.
Catholic Charities USA
Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314




 

Congress will be on a two-week recess for the Easter break. The next issue of Washington Weekly will be published after they return to Washington. Happy Easter!
 
For the latest news from the Catholic Charities USA Social Policy team, please follow us on Twitter @CCUSA2EP (CCUSA “2” End Poverty)!
 
House Passes Budget Proposal
 
On Thursday, March 29, the House passed a budget proposal authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) by a vote of 228 to 191, ending a series of budget-related votes and passing the budget on to the Senate. However, it is not expected that the Senate will take action on the plan or propose one of their own, leading to a possible October showdown over spending limits.
 
Much like the budget proposed by the White House weeks ago, the budget proposal is a suggested road map to lay out tax and spending changes, and is not expected to be enacted into law. The House voted down the budget proposed by the President by a vote of 414-0 on Wednesday. A budget plan based on the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission was also voted down, with only 38 members voting in favor of the plan.
 
The budget’s passage means that House appropriators will get to work writing their spending bills following their two-week recess. The House has set April 27 a target to have spending bills drafted that find an additional $261 billion in savings to forestall the automatic spending cuts agreed to under the Budget Control Act passed last August.
 
Catholic Charities USA will continue to follow the budgeting process and provide updates when they become available. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
Administration Proposes Immigration Waiver Process
 
On March 30, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed rule to the Federal Register that would allow certain groups of undocumented immigrants to become lawful permanent residents. Under the proposed rule, undocumented immigrants who are immediate family members of U.S. citizens would be permitted to apply for a waiver provided they have not committed any crime and show that a separation would produce “extreme hardship.” This would significantly reduce the amount of time that families are separated, as individuals awaiting processing are forced to wait up to 10 years. The rule would also allow students enrolled in school or who have joined the military to also remain in the United States legally.
 
The proposed rule follows an announcement on March 29 that the Department of Homeland Security would suspend deportation proceedings in Detroit, New Orleans, Orlando, and Seattle while officials review cases of undocumented immigrants who have remained in the country without applying for green cards. The Administration is also expected to halt deportations in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
 
USCIS is accepting public comment from April 2 until July 7. Details on the proposed rule are available by visiting this link. For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
Supreme Court Holds Hearings on Affordable Care Act
 
Two years after being signed into law, key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were argued before the Supreme Court over the course of three days of hearings. In determining the constitutionality of key components of the legislation, the nine justices of the Supreme Court heard from opponents and defenders of the law and are expected to hand down their decision by late June.
 
Recognizing the importance and wide reach of the law, the Court allowed more time for oral arguments than in any other case in the past 45 years. On Monday, the justices heard arguments over whether a tax statute from 1867 prevented this case from being heard until the law is fully enacted. Tuesday was focused on a key part of the law, the individual mandate, and whether the Commerce Clause in the Constitution grants Congress the permission to require every citizen to obtain health insurance. On Wednesday, the Court heard arguments about whether the law should be treated as a whole or in severable parts and whether Congress can tie Medicaid funding to new insurance coverage thresholds for individual states.
 
This important case will likely reach a resolution by the end of June. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Holds Hearing on At-Risk Youth Legislation
 
On Monday, March 26, the House Education and Workforce subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary education held a hearing on the Youth Promise Act (HR 2721), legislation aimed at providing communities with much needed support to develop comprehensive responses to youth gang, crime and delinquency challenges.
 
The witness panel included:
Hill Harper: actor (CSI: NY), author of bestselling books Letters to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young Sister, philanthropist, and founder of Manifest Your Destiny, a nonprofit organization that works to empower underserved youth;
John Prendergast: author, activist and co-founder of the Enough Project, a nonprofit human rights organization affiliated with the Center for American Progress. Prendergast co-authored the book Unlikely Brothers with his mentee;
Michael Mattocks: co-author of Unlikely Brothers and mentee of John Prendergast;
Dr. Catherine Gallagher: Director of the Cochrane Collaboration College for Policy & Associate Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University;
Dr. Jorja Leap: Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA and author of Jumped In;
Bobby Kipper: former Newport News police officer, founder of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence, and author of the bestselling book No Colors; and
Frank Carrillo: restorative justice activist and student.
 The bill, introduced in August 2011, includes provisions that would allow communities facing the greatest challenges with youth gang, delinquency, and crime activity to collaborate via a local council, including law enforcement, community-based organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, health, social services, and mental health providers—to develop and implement a plan to support young people and their families. Such an approach has the potential to make communities safer, reduce victimization and helps ensure that our nation’s most at-risk children are afforded the resources they need to grow into productive adults.
 
To view the bill text, please click here: http://www.bobbyscott.house.gov/images/stories/ypa_white_paper.pdf
To view the hearing, please click here: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Rep-Scott-D-VA-Holds-Discussion-on-Preventing-Youth-Incarceration/10737429335-1/
 
Catholic Charities USA supports policies that focus on prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation of our nation’s youth. For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Sr. Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lcobbs@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org



 

Catholic Charities Network Visits Capitol Hill
 
Last Wednesday, 60 directors of local Catholic Charities agencies convened in Washington D.C. to speak to their Members of Congress and their staffs about poverty in America. Representing nearly 40 states, the directors delivered messages and discussed solutions tailored to their unique districts with their elected officials. Following the day on the Hill, the directors and Catholic Charities USA staff came together to debrief on the day and discuss how the directors might continue conversations on poverty reduction back in their local districts. Leaders from across the Catholic Charities network asked their elected officials to spend time visiting a local agency or devote a town hall meeting to the topic of poverty.
 
The directors met with elected representatives and their senior staff to push for a conversation about innovation in the social service delivery system while ensuring that those who need help will still receive it. The principles of systems-changing, results-driven, and market-based reform that were brought to the meetings were taken directly from Catholic Charities USA’s signature legislation, the National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act.
 
Please keep an eye out for more stories and pictures from the Catholic Charities network’s visit to the Hill in upcoming issues of Washington Weekly, on our website, and on our Twitter feed. For more information about these visits, please contact Anna Porto, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, at aporto@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
GOP Budget Chairman Releases 2013 Budget Proposal
 
On Tuesday, March 20, House Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 that set forth principles of reforming the income tax structures, protecting defense spending, transitioning Medicare into a premium support plan, and lowering levels of discretionary spending.
 
The House budget proposal aims to reduce the federal deficit by $3.1 trillion over the next ten years by making changes to the 2010 health care overhaul, reducing federal subsidies for high-speed rail and financial aid for college, and reducing the federal workforce by 10 percent. The budget proposal also targets Medicaid spending and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for conversion into block grant programs and reducing government support for crop insurance.
 
As written, the proposal would set the discretionary spending cap at $1.028 trillion, $19 billion below the $1.047 trillion cap originally laid out in the debt limit deal last August. The budget would also overhaul the tax code, consolidating the current six income tax brackets into two, set at 10 and 25 percent. Much like the President’s budget released several weeks ago, the budget is not expected to be enacted into law. The budget was passed by the House Budget Committee and is expected to be brought to the House for a vote. If it passes the House, the Senate is unlikely to agree to spending levels laid out in the budget.
 
Catholic Charities USA is currently reviewing the entire proposal and invites to check back regularly for updates and more information. The budget proposal can be found in its entirety on the House Budget Committee website. For more information on the budget, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
Senate Passes ‘JOBS’ Act
 
In an election-year display of bi-partisanship, the Senate passed the JOBS Act by a vote of 73-26 on Thursday, March 22, two weeks after the House passed the measure 390-23. Minor changes to the bill on the Senate side will require it to be passed again by the House, but if it garners passage again, it will head to the President’s desk to be signed.
 
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act is intended to spur small businesses by relaxing federal regulations that apply to start-up companies. The bill would directly impact a set of six regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and would make it easier for companies to go public. Opponents of the legislation said that it would undo critical financial oversight, but supporters argued that the bill will cut red tape and lead to more hiring and investment to aid the economic recovery.
 
The bill is expected to be passed and sent to the President by the end of this week. For more information on this legislation, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org



 

President Focuses on Employment in State of the Union
 
In his third State of the Union address last Tuesday night, President Obama recapped a tumultuous year on Capitol Hill and laid out his proposals for 2012, calling on Congress to work with him to increase employment and stimulate the economy. Obama highlighted new partnerships that are helping retrain workers for new jobs, saying “It’s time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.”
 
Entitled “An America Built to Last,” the President’s 64-minute address also touched on a number of other issues, including his hopes that Congress would pass legislation that provided a path to citizenship for those who were brought to the country illegally. In a statement issued in response to the President’s speech, Catholic Charities USA’s President, Fr. Larry Snyder, said it was heartening to hear “the initiatives outlined by President Obama in this evening's State of the Union speech that have the potential to improve the lives of many.” However, Fr. Snyder added, “we need comprehensive reform of the nation’s service delivery system that is market driven, results oriented and locally controlled, enabling the country to permanently make a difference in the lives of those living in poverty, and establishing accountability for the investment of taxpayer dollars.” For the complete response from CCUSA to the State of the Union, please click here.
 
 
Catholic Charities USA Responds to HHS Decision
 
On Friday, January 20, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a decision that will require faith-based institutions such as hospitals, charities, and schools to provide women’s health coverage that includes contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs. While the administration had been petitioned to not include religious health plans in their regulations, the decision could require religious institutions to provide health care coverage that violates their beliefs.
 
In response, Fr. Larry Snyder released a statement on behalf of the Catholic Charities network. “Catholic Charities agencies are first and foremost Catholic institutions - a manifestation of the Gospel call for charity and justice for all people.   As such, remaining faithful to Catholic teaching is not a matter of choice, rather it is essential to our identity.  With the existing restrictive definition in this mandate, the ministry of Jesus Christ himself would not be considered a religious entity.” To read the statement in its entirety, please click here.
 
For more information on the HHS regulation, its impact on our network, or Catholic Charities’ response, please contact Candy Hill, Sr. Vice-President of Social Policy & Government Affairs, at chill@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Disapproves of Debt Limit Increase
 
In other news from Capitol Hill, the Senate voted to reject consideration of a joint resolution that would have blocked President Obama’s request to increase federal borrowing, which will allow the way for a $1.2 trillion increase in the nation’s debt ceiling. Earlier in the week, the House voted 239-176 largely along party lines to prevent President Obama from raising the debt limit. The largely symbolic vote provides opponents of the August debt limit deal another chance to disapprove of the administration’s fiscal policies. The $1.2 trillion increase is the third in a multiple-stage process for raising the debt put in place by Congress.
 
For more information on upcoming legislation, please contact Ron Jackson, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, at RJackson@CatholicCharitesUSA.org
 
 
“Keep the Dream Alive Mass” Honors Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
 
On the holiday that commemorates his life, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington helped keep the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., alive through prayer, service, and song. On Monday, January 16, CCUSA held the “Keep the Dream Alive” Mass and Award Ceremony, honoring three contemporary heroes who have worked to realize King’s vision of nation free of injustice.
 
CCUSA presented “Keep the Dream Alive” awards to USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, former Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams, and former CCUSA Board Member Janet Pape for their advocacy and work to reduce poverty. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington’s “Faith Does Justice” Award was presented to local television anchor Andrea Roane.
 
Following the event, more than 50 individuals volunteered with women who reside at the Harriet Tubman Women’s Emergency Shelter in southeast D.C.  Volunteers worked one-on-one with women on an art project designed to allow clients to express their dreams and what Dr. King means to them. For more information on the Keep the Dream Alive Mass and Awards, please contact Ron Jackson, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, at RJackson@CatholicCharitesUSA.org

***
Washington Weekly
is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.
Catholic Charities USA
Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314

Ongoing Debate Over Unemployment Insurance and Payroll Taxes
 
As Congress prepares to wind things down for the end of the year, the House and Senate still had some unfinished business to take care of heading into their final week of work for 2011.
 
Earlier last week, President Obama and the Democrats proposed a plan to extend the expiring payroll tax cut and extend long-term unemployment benefits. The bill, Senate Bill 1944, would have reduced the employee share of the Social Security payroll to tax to 3.1 percent for 2012, and put up for a vote on Thursday afternoon. It failed to receive the requisite votes to break a filibuster.
 
On Friday, Republican leadership released a competing proposal, tying the lowering of the payroll tax – a Democrat priority – with Republican policy preferences, such as the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The bill would be paid for by savings from programs related to the implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. However, it is unclear if the Republican-sponsored bill would be signed by President Obama, who has vowed to veto a bill with policy riders.
 
The bill will likely be voted on in the House tomorrow, and it remains to be seen whether Senate Democrats will sign on to pass the bill if it does clear the House. Catholic Charities USA will continue to monitor this situation, and encourages you to contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at PBrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org for more information.
 
 
 
Congress Continues to Attempt to Pass “Megabus” Spending Package
 
With the current funding scheduled to expire on December 16, appropriators in Congress are working to not only avoid a government shutdown, but also looking to avoid another Continuing Resolution (CR.) Congress is hoping to fund the government by passing a ‘Megabus’ spending bill that would complete work on the remaining nine overdue spending bills for fiscal year 2012.
 
By passing a ‘Megabus’ on the remaining bills, Congress would avoid another continuing resolution which has become the predominant way the Federal government has been funded in a period of political gridlock. If the conference committee cannot come to an agreement on the Labor-HHS bill (HR 3070), Interior-Environment (HR 2584) and Financial Services (HR 2434) then the only solution would be another CR which would probably run until Congress returns from the Holiday recess after the New Year.
 
The House is aiming to adjourn for the year on December 16, 2011, while the Senate target date is still up in the air. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at RJackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
Register now for 2012 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
 
Registration is now open for the 2012 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, which will take place on February 12-15, 2012 in Washington, DC. Connect in person with Catholic social ministry leaders from across the United States. Exciting plenary presentations, briefings, workshops, and strategy sessions will focus on Faithful Citizenship and other important topics, and will better prepare you and your colleagues for the challenges and opportunities of the election year. Visit www.USCCB.org for more information, or to complete early registration by December 23, 2011.
 
***
Washington Weekly is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.

The CORRECTED link to use for contacting the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is:    http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=299  We apologize for any inconvenience.
 
Please contact the HHS to express your views on the new mandate requiring contraceptive and sterilization coverage in almost all private health plans nationwide.  The HHS has established a period for public comments that ends on September 30.
 
On August 31, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' General Counsel submitted a lengthy comment letter to HHS explaining why this mandate violates other federal laws and longstanding policy precedents, infringes on constitutional rights, and poses a threat to freedom of conscience more sweeping than any posed by laws in the 50 states.



 

Congress is on recess until September 7. Your Senators and Representatives are home and it is critical that they hear from you during this period at home in your district. When they return to Washington D.C., they will be forced to make decisions that will have an impact on almost every program as they attempt to reduce the national debt. A bi-partisan “super committee” will be tasked with drawing up plans to aggressively reduce funding levels, and programs that serve those in need will doubtless be at stake.
 
We urge you to communicate with your members of Congress to let them know about the challenges that are facing families in your community.
 
What you can do:
 
Participate in a town hall meeting:

During the summer recess, many representatives will hold town hall meetings and other events to hear directly from their constituents. It is critical that community members take part in these events and share the challenges they are currently facing with their elected officials.  To find out if your elected officials are planning a town hall meeting, please click here.  For information on participating in a public forum, please click here.

Call your member of Congress and urge them to continue to fight to ensure that those in need are not affected disproportionately by federal cuts to critical services. To identify your legislators, please visit this link.

Take the time to cultivate relationships with your members of Congress. Schedule a visit with your member’s district office to discuss issues affecting your community, or invite your member of Congress to visit your programs. Click here for information on conducting a visit with your legislator. For information on how to conduct a site visit, please click here.
 
Please be sure to provide Catholic Charities USA staff with feedback regarding any meetings or interactions that you have with your legislators as this is helpful to our advocacy efforts during meetings with congressional offices in Washington, DC.
 
 
What you can ask your legislators:
 
·         As a local social service provider, I am seeing more and more people coming to my agency for help and we simply cannot meet the need. What are you doing (and/or) will you do to ensure that those in need are not disproportionately affected by the cuts to reduce the nation’s deficit?
·         Our organization believes that spending can be cut without those living in poverty being denied critical services.  Data has shown that as much as twenty to forty cents of every dollar allocated to certain existing federal initiatives that provide greatly needed assistance to Americans are lost in the bureaucratic red tape associated with those programs.  What will you do to ensure that the government focus on creating and maximizing bureaucratic efficiency and not on sacrificing vital services?
·         Nearly 45 million Americans are living in a crisis of poverty and rely on the worn safety net system that is threatened by many of the potential cuts. This is a critical time for our nation – We need to find ways to address the needs of so many in our country, and help provide greater self-sufficiency for the millions of Americans currently living in need. Are you willing to engage in discussion on how we can permanently make a difference in the lives of those living poverty?
·         Much of the discussion in Congress has been around the budget and reducing the national debt. What steps will you take to help create jobs in our community?
 
 
Background:
 
On August 1, the President signed into law legislation to allow the U.S. government to increase the national debt by $2.1 trillion. However, the legislation that was passed requires that this spending be offset by equivalent reductions in spending over a 10-year period.
 
While the legislation does not affect mandatory spending such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, it does call for significant reduction in discretionary spending. The measure calls for a bipartisan “super committee” to determine spending cuts, and for Congress to vote on these reductions by December 23, 2011. If Congress fails to approve the committee’s recommendations, the legislation would enact an automatic trigger that would result in $1.2 trillion in reductions to defense appropriations, domestic spending, and some Medicare programs. Given that both parties have substantial reasons to be displeased with the triggers if they fail to approve the Committee’s recommendations, it is likely that they will work on reaching an agreement to reduce spending in the next couple weeks.
 
In anticipation of potential cuts to programs, there is likely to be an all-out lobbying frenzy by special interest groups to protect their programs. Now is a critical time for the Catholic Charities USA network to mobilize and explain our vision of transformative change in the social service delivery system in America.
 
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs or Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs.

Note: Washington Weekly will not be sent during the month of August, while the Congress is adjourned for their recess.
 
 
Congress Reaches Deal on Debt Ceiling
 
Months of rancorous debate ended on Sunday with a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling and avoid default. President Obama, Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner announced an agreement on a package of spending cuts and a so-called “super-commission” that is intended to help get the government’s debt problem under control.
 
According to the CBO study of the bill released Monday, the deal establishes caps on discretionary spending through 2021 and requires that the House and Senate vote on a joint resolution proposing a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. It also establishes a procedure to increase the nation’s current $14.3 trillion debt limit by $400 billion initially and procedures “that would allow the limit to be raised further in two additional steps, for a cumulative increase of between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion,” the CBO said.
 
The bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a 269-161 vote, with 95 Democrats joining 174 Republicans in support of the deal. It was been passed in the Senate and signed by President Obama yesterday, leaving just enough time for the Treasury Department to raise the debt ceiling and avoid an unprecedented default. It is not known if, or how, this will affect the nation’s credit rating.
 
Now that Congress has passed a bill intended to get spending under control, members of the special commission will have to determine how to make the cuts to discretionary funding. It is imperative that we all work to educate members on the importance of programs that serve the poor and the vulnerable. Therefore a back home strategy will be critical when members are back in district offices for the Congressional recess.
 
Catholic Charities USA strategy includes hosting a conference call with member agencies as well as several ways for you to take action during the Congressional recess. We will be keeping you informed about that conference call once more details are scheduled, and hope that you will continue to engage in our advocacy work in this critical time!
 
For more information about the debt ceiling or CCUSA’s advocacy efforts, contact Patrick Brown, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org
 
 
Catholic Charities USA VP Writes Op-Ed on EFSP
 
Catholic Charities USA Sr. Vice President for Social Policy and Government Affairs Candy Hill signed an editorial with leaders of other national non-profit organizations calling on government leaders to preserve funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The 2011 budget passed by Congress eliminates funding to programs in more than 500 counties and cities and significantly cuts funding for the program in 1,600 communities.
 
“The most recent recession and the years afterward have been far tougher on America's middle class than any other since the creation of this program, with more than 26 million Americans unemployed or underemployed and one-in-five children living below the poverty line,” the op-ed reads. “As Congress considers the 2012 budget and potential cuts in the debt ceiling debate, we urge our leaders to step up, as they have commendably done in years past, to support the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Americans on the brink of poverty are already struggling to stay above water, and we have the opportunity and obligation to help them get back on firm financial ground before it is too late.”
 
Click on the following link to read the entire editorial: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/28/3042106/the-reality-of-cuts-to-anti-poverty.html#ixzz1TsUjqEr9
 
For more information on the EFSP, please contact Candy Hill, Senior VP, Social Policy and Government Affairs, at chill@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
 
Senate Committee Approves Ex-Offender Legislation
 
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S.1231), a bipartisan proposal that addresses barriers faced by those exiting the prison system, by a vote of 10 to 8. The bill, sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rob Portman (R-OH,) would provide resources to state and local governments, and community-based organizations to assist with reintegrating ex-offenders back into communities.
 
If passed, the bill would:
 
Extend the original grant program authorized under the Second Chance Act for five years
Provide incentives for inmates to participate in recidivism reduction programs
Require periodic audits of grantees
Enhance accountability measures for grantees by requiring periodic audits, Prohibiting funds from being held in offshore accounts, and transparency around compensation for nonprofit executives
To view a copy of the bill and the bill summary, please click http://judiciary.senate.gov/legislation/upload/ALB11493-Leahy-Substitute.pdf.
 
Now that bill has passed the judiciary committee, it will move to the full Senate for consideration. Second Chance Reauthorization legislation has yet to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please look for updates in future editions of Washington Weekly.
 
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
CCUSA Explores 21st Century Social Service Delivery System
 
On July 10-12, Catholic Charities USA hosted a Case Managers Summit with 24 Catholic Charities agency representatives from 11 local Catholic Charities agencies to get their ideas, input, suggestions and recommendations on building the 21st century social service delivery system. Last weekend, the Case Managers Summit was followed up with a summit during which CCUSA leadership met to evaluate the input from the Case Management Summit and asses and revise CCUSA’s legislative strategy in light of the current political climate.
 
Another goal for last week’s summit was to reassess and update the National Opportunity Community Renewal Act legislation, as well an assessment of a strategic direction and message framework to develop strategies for engaging partners, coalitions and constituencies to support the bill.
 
CCUSA believes that the principles contained in the bill – and influenced by the lessons learned from the Case Managers Summit – are an important contribution to the current discussions about spending, and could serve as a catalyst to help policymakers as they evaluate programs that impact people in poverty.
 
For more information, please contact Candy Hill, Senior VP, Social Policy and Government Affairs, at chill@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
Register Today for the First National Poverty Summit
 
Catholic Charities USA is honored to partner with its colleagues in hosting the first annual National Poverty Summit, held with the Annual Gathering in Fort Worth, Texas.  This 1 ½ day conference will provide attendees with opportunities to connect with the national movement to reduce poverty in America, hear from inspiring leaders, learn best practices from across the country in poverty reduction strategies, and recommit themselves to our ongoing work.  Register today!  (www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org/PovertySummit).
 
Partners include the American Human Development Institute, Bread for the World, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, CFED, Coalition on Human Needs, Feeding America, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
 
For more information, contact Kirsten Linge Schoenfeld, Director, Events and Convening at kschoenfeld@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
 
Fighting Poverty with Faith Mobilization
 
Catholic Charities USA invites you to join us for the 4th annual Fighting Poverty with Faith (FPWF) mobilization, “Working Together to End Hunger.” Scheduled for October 27 to November 6, FPWF is a weeklong mobilization that focuses on addressing the most basic needs of our brothers and sisters in poverty. This mobilization utilizes the strength of various faith communities to develop a greater sense of urgency in advocating for new policy solutions to poverty. Catholic Charities USA co-sponsors this event with a diverse coalition of national and local faith organizations dedicated to cutting domestic poverty in half by 2020.
 
We invite individuals, families, congregations, community and youth groups, schools, and faith-based organizations to come together to end hunger and poverty. We encourage you to plan an event or action in your community. Fighting Poverty with Faith Action Toolkits with resources to plan a community-wide Food Stamp Challenge and Hunger Banquet are available on the FPWF website at www.fightingpovertywithfaith.com. The website also contains additional advocacy information, media, and outreach materials. We also encourage you to connect the mobilization with a pre-existing event. Please visit www.fightingpovertywithfaith.com for more information and to add your event to the FPWF calendar.
 
If you are interested in learning how your agency can participate in this year’s mobilization, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.



 

Senators Propose Medicare Change

On June 28, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduced a new plan that would adjust Medicare’s eligibility and payment structure. The bill’s sponsors say the proposal would reduce Medicare spending by $600 billion over the next 10 years.
As introduced the bill would:

•  Raise the eligibility age from 65 to 67. This increase would occur in two month increments starting with people turning 65 in 2014 until the threshold reaches 67 in 2025. Doing so is projected to save $124 billion over 10 years.
•  Increase Part B premiums for individuals making more than $150K a year o couples making more than $300K a year. Under the plan, they would have to pay 100 percent of the costs of their Part B coverage, which covers non-hospital doctor’s care. Currently, premiums are now covered at 25 percent. The projected savings would be between $5-10 billion over 10 years.
•  Establish a combined annual deductible of $550 for both Part A and Part B Services and restructure Medigap Coverage that picks up costs not covered by Medicare. Out-of-pocket expenses would be capped at $7,500 a year. For individuals with incomes between $160,000-213,000, expenses would be capped at $22,500. The projected savings would be $130 million over 10 years.
•  Phase out Medicare payments for bad hospital debt. Currently, Medicare reimburses hospitals and providers for unpaid deductibles and copayments. Eliminating this reimbursement is expected to save $23 billion over 10 years.
•  Increase Part B premiums for Medicare beneficiaries by 2 percent over 5 years, including a “hold harmless” provision that would prevent an increase in the Part B premium in the event if it would be larger than the Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment. The projected cost savings is $241 billion over 10 years.

While the proposal is said to be too controversial to pass as a whole package, elements of the proposal could be included in debt negotiations or longer term discussions on Medicare. For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs at [lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org].
 

 
Debt Limit Update
 
With an August 2nd deadline approaching, President Obama and Congress remain at odds in their negotiations to avoid forcing the first Federal government default on debt obligations in U.S. history. Congress, which has the authority to raise the debt limit, is responsible for making sure the Treasury department is able to cover the government’s financial obligations through 2012.
 
For the Republicans in the House, they are adamant that any debt limit deal must include no tax increases. Democrats, led by President Obama, take the position that any budget reductions must include tax increases requiring the nation’s top earners to pay their “fair share.” “We need to take on spending in domestic programs, in defense programs, in entitlement programs, and we need to take on spending in the tax code, spending on certain tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest of Americans,” Obama said. “This will require both parties to get out of our comfort zones and both parties to agree on real compromise.”
 
Republican leaders have vowed to oppose any tax increases, while leaving open a small possibility of increasing revenue through ending some tax loopholes or raising user fees.   The bottom line for the Republicans is that any effort to raise the debt limit must be accompanied by spending cuts of an equal amount. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) warned that any plan to increase taxes “cannot pass the House, as I have stated repeatedly…I’m happy to discuss these issues at the White House, but such discussions will be fruitless until the President recognizes economic and legislative reality.”
 
President Obama has invited the top Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate to a meeting at the White House on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 for a summit to attempt to hammer out a deal that all parties can agree on and avoid a default on the nation’s debt.
 
Catholic Charities will continue to very closely monitor the developments in this very critical and sensitive Congressional and Administrative issue. For more information, contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, [rjackson@catholiccharitiesusa.org].
 
 
 
 
Senate Committee holds DREAM Act Hearing
 
On June 28, the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee held the first-ever hearing on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The legislation addresses the plight of immigrant children who grew up in the U.S. and graduated from high school, but cannot attend college because of current immigration laws.
 
Witnesses at the hearing included:

•  Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, who testified to the importance of the DREAM Act for our country, the benefits to our economy and the armed forces
•  Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, who testified to his Department’s support for the legislation and its importance for our country’s global competitiveness
•  Clifford Stanley, Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), who discussed the DREAM Act and its impact on our Armed Forces.
•  Ola Kaso, an immigrant student, who shared her experience as a child coming into the U.S. legally thirteen years ago and excelling in her education, but who now faces deportation in less than a year.

 
If enacted by Congress, the DREAM Act would put children of undocumented immigrants on a path to legal permanent residence and eventual citizenship if they attend college or join the military for two years. The Act would apply to those children who entered the U.S. prior to age 16, have lived in the United States for at least five years, and have graduated from high school. In addition, the proposal would allow students to attend college at in-state tuition rates.
 
It is unlikely that the bill will receive consideration in the House. As previously reported, Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that the measure could be attached to a web-based employment proposal expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives. In addition, the Congressional Quarterly reported that expanding the E-Verify system is a top priority of House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), who is expected to introduce such legislation later this year.

To view testimony and/or the webcast from the DREAM Act Hearing, please visit the following link: [http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=3d9031b47812de2592c3baeba604d881]
 
Catholic Charities USA will continue to provide you with updates on the DREAM Act as the bill moves through the legislative process. For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs at [lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org].
 
 
***

Washington Weekly is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.
Catholic Charities USA
Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314
socialpolicy@catholiccharitiesusa.org     
For information about advocacy, please contact
Lucreda Cobbs at (703) 236-6243 or lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.

 



 

• Child Care: Provides $2.2 billion for the Child Development Block Grant, an increase of $100 million from FY2010 enacted level;
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Funded at $176 million, nearly $5 million above FY2010 enacted levels;
• Community Development Block Grant: Funded at $3.3 billion, $650 million less than the FY2010 enacted level;
• Community Service Block Grant: Funded at $680 million, $20 million below FY2010 enacted level;
• Corporation for National Service: Funded at $1.08 billion, $72 million less than FY2010;
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program: Funded at $120 million, $80 million below the FY2010;
• Head Start: Funded at $$7.6 billion, a $340 million increase from the FY2010 enacted level;
• Homeless Assistance Grant: Funded at $1.9 billion in funding, a $40 million above FY2010 enacted levels. (This includes a set-aside for $225 million for Emergency Solutions Grant-a recently enacted bill to support homelessness prevention and rapid response housing activities);
• Homeless Veterans: Funded at $50 million for vouchers to house homeless veterans through the HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program;
• Housing for Elderly and Disabled: $400 billion for elderly housing and $150 million for housing for disabled;
• Hunger Free Community Grants: Eliminates funding for this program funded for the first time in FY2010 at $5million;
• Job Training:Provides $2.8 billion, $182 million below FY2010 enacted level for job training grants to states for Adults, Youth and Dislocated workers;
• Juvenile Justice programs: Funded at $148 million, $14 million below FY2010;
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: Funded at $4.71 billion, $390 million below FY 2010 enacted level;
• Migration and Refugee Assistance: Funded at $1.69 billion, $5 million above FY2010 enacted level;
• Rental Assistance: Section 8 funded at $18.4 billion, $233 million above FY2010 enacted levels;
• Senior Employment Program: Funded at $450 million, $375 million below Fy2010 enacted levels;
• Senior Nutrition: Provides $847million, the same amount of funding enacted for FY2010;
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Level funded at FY2010 enacted level of $49.5 million. However, funding for TEFAP Infrastructure Grants Program is eliminated. This program was funded for the first time in FY2010 at $6 million; and
• Women, Infant, and Children (WIC): Funded at $6.748 billion, $504 million below the FY2010 enacted level.

Washington Weekly

FY2011 Spending Update
On March 18, President Obama signed into law another short-term bill approved by the Congress that would fund the government through April 8. The current continuing resolution will expire on March 18.  The Congress will now have three weeks to figure out funding for the remaining FY2011 or face a government shutdown.

The short-term bill does not include the cuts to programs that were a part of the broader long-term package (HR. 1) passed by  House which included reduction and elimination of funding for the EFSP, Refugee Resettlement, Housing programs, and the Corporation to name a few. The new short-term bill is comprised of rescinding unneeded funds from the 2010 Census, elimination of earmarks, and elimination and reduction of 25 programs-many which were included in the President's FY2012 budget proposal.

For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Advocacy and Civic Engagement at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.

CCUSA Hosts National Hill Day

Catholic Charities USA continues to be dedicated to the goal of cutting in half the number of people living in poverty in America by 2020. We need your voice advocating Congress to help achieve this goal and to continue the conversation started at our Centennial which advances 21st century solutions to reduce poverty.

We anticipate the reintroduction of the National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act prior to your arrival in Washington, DC for our 2011 National Hill Day. Your Members of Congress need to hear your voice, your stories and your experiences in order to make the best choices for your community and the people you serve. We are excited to welcome back our colleagues from Soapbox who will organize our Hill Day.

Meetings will take place in the afternoon and early evening. If you have any special requests, please make sure you complete the survey that is sent with confirmation of registration.

To Register Now!
For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Advocacy and Civic Engagement at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.

 
Congress Goes on Recess
As Congress goes on recess, decisions regarding funding for the FY2011 remain uncertain. When Congress returns from recess on March 28, they will have a short-time frame before the continuing resolution just signed into law by the President expires.

While members are back home in their districts, don't forget to visit their offices, make calls, and or send them messages, letting them know how their decisions will affect your community.

Please look for a town hall alert telling you when and where members will hold town hall meetings.

For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Advocacy and Civic Engagement at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.


Farewell
It is with sadness for CCUSA and our Social Policy team, that we announce that Monica Maggiano has accepted another position.  Monica has truly left her mark on the work of CCUSA and our network through her leadership in managing Katrina Aid today, her enthusiastic work with Steve Liss, the Consumer Advisory Council and her passion for the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.  Our network has been enhanced by her service and dedication and the people we serve have been blessed by her work. We know that she will bring the same enthusiasm and passion to her new position as an Account Director at Powell Tate, a division of Weber Shandwick- the largest public relations company in the world.   Her first project is to oversee the Bank of America local market implementation strategy in 15 cities working with the local banks and local PR teams to help them be a better community partner. She will also be helping with some of the agencies Corporate Social Responsibility and social innovation accounts.

Please join us in wishing her well.


Registration for CLINIC Annual Convening

Register now for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) 14th Annual Convening in Seattle, WA, May 18-20, 2011.

From the basics of immigration law to the most advanced issues that arise in filing petitions, CLINIC's 14th Annual Convening in Seattle, WA will offer workshops for legal services providers and immigration advocates at any level.

CLINIC's three-day conference offers excellent updates on immigration law, insightful trainings, and opportunities for networking.

Come meet fellow advocates and learn new strategies for fundraising, program management, and advocacy.

Registration and additional information is available online here.

For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Advocacy and Civic Engagement at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.


***

Washington Weekly is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.

House Committee Sets FY 2011 Spending
Last week, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced proposed spending levels for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. Currently, government programs are operating on an extension known as a continuing resolution until March 4, 2011. The budget allocations released by Chairman Ryan would set overall discretionary spending at $1.055 billion with $420 billion allocated to non-discretionary programs, $43 billion below the fiscal year 2010 spending level, and defense funding at $635 billion, an $8 billion increase from the fiscal year 2010 level.

Some reports suggest that programs that provide services to the most vulnerable are at risk of being reduced. One such program is the Emergency Food and Shelter program which could be cut by as much as fifty percent. During its 27 years of operation, the program has disbursed over $3.4 billion to over 12,000 local providers in more than 2,500 counties and cities. In addition, several other programs are slated for cuts including reductions to the following:

• Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies -$30M
• Juvenile Justice -$2.3M
• Rural Development Programs -$237M
• WIC -$758M
• Job Training Programs -$2B
• Community Health Centers -$1.3B
• Maternal and Child Health Block Grants -$210M
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services -$96M
• Community Services Block Grant -$405M
• HUD Community Development Fund -$530M

• Prioritize and pursue comprehensive immigration reform in lieu of enforcement-only measures to address the issues of unauthorized immigration in the United States; and
• De-emphasize the use of workplace raids - in which immigrants are detained and families are separated - as a measure to enforce immigration laws in the U.S. workplace.

• Review programs for waste, fraud and abuse;
• Review food and nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), fruit and vegetable initiatives, the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and other commodity distribution programs;
• Assess the level of participation by states in SNAP and examine state options for expanding SNAP participation;
• Review buying patterns of SNAP recipients and methods for encouraging balanced lifestyles;
• Review efforts by state SNAP administrators to modernize and streamline their programs;
• Review the Community Food Project Program to ensure cooperative grants are working;
• Review of the SNAP retailer approval process; and
• Review of the implementation of changes made to the SNAP Nutrition Education Program.
• Review programs within the 2008 Farm Bill that may be inefficient, duplicative, outdated or more appropriately administered by State or local governments for possible cuts or elimination;