RESULTS Campaigns Weekly Update November 17, 2020
Quote of the Week
“Senate leaders have continued to fail to move robust covid-19 relief legislation.”
– RESULTS Pittsburgh volunteer Keerthana Samanthapudi in a November 17 letter to the editor in the Pittsburgh Tribune
Table of Contents
- Global Poverty Campaigns Update
- U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
- RESULTS Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Global Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Write a letter to the editor on prioritizing global health and education during the COVID-19 crisis
Got Ten Minutes? Send a fantastic media compilation to your members of Congress
We are not done. For months now, you have worked hard to sound the alarm in the media about the need for a COVID-19 emergency global response. You have come through on writing and submitting letters to the editor and op-eds, and your publication rate demonstrates that diligent work. Now that we are in a post-election period, we want to make sure that our current Congress does its job with the time it has left. There have been indications from Congress that we may see movement on a COVID-19 relief effort. So, we want to support you in bringing your stellar media work to the attention of legislators. Once you are published, it’s crucial to send your work to legislators to help make sure Congress hears what you have to say. Moreover, if they see the totality of all that’s been published by RESULTS advocates around the country on COVID-19 relief . . . well, that could make a huge impression and help move the needle as we work to see a COVID-19 response become a reality.
TAKE ACTION: Send the comprehensive global poverty campaigns media compilation to your members of Congress with a note pointing out any pieces that you and/or your group got published. This compilation is be available on our Media Tools page under “I want to see what other RESULTS volunteers have published.” Find out the staff names for your two senators’ offices and your representative’s office via our Legislator Lookup. Then send the global poverty media compilation to your foreign policy aides. The formula for Senate aide emails is [email protected]. The formula for House aide emails is [email protected]. (You can also read more on how to send an email to Congress in our Advocacy Basics.) Note in your email that the world needs relief in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remind your legislators that it is past time to act and that they, as the current Congress, don’t have much time left to make global COVID-19 relief a reality. Ask your legislators to speak to congressional leadership about a minimum of $20 billion for a global health and nutrition response.
Got Ten Minutes? Contact Congress about a COVID-19 emergency response bill
In this post-election period, the need for our advocacy continues. Globally, resources normally allocated to treat and prevent infectious diseases like AIDS, TB, and malaria, or leading childhood killers like malnutrition, pneumonia, and diarrhea have been diverted to address COVID-19. As a result, we are seeing a secondary pandemic of poverty, hunger, and sickness caused by COVID-19. Additionally, here in the U.S. people are needing help, especially to remain housed.
TAKE ACTION: Congress must act NOW! Use our action alert to contact your members of Congress with a request that they urge Senate and House leadership to act now to pass a COVID-19 relief bill that includes $100 billion for emergency rental assistance and an eviction moratorium, and at least $20 billion in international development assistance. Then watch your inbox for another chance to take action later this week.
QUICK NEWS ON GLOBAL POVERTY
Child Health Week of Action. This week is the Child Health Week of Action, and the community is mobilizing support through social media. Take a look at the social media toolkit that you can use to raise the profile and urgency of child health this week.
Appropriations Update. Have you been wondering what the status is of the FY21 appropriations bills? We have a brand new blog to update you on the state of play.
U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Use media to push Congress to pass COVID relief for renters
Got Ten Minutes? Use new media packets to push Congress to act
Another week has passed and still no COVID relief bill. Even as coronavirus cases rise dramatically and states impose new lockdown measures, Senate leaders are still refusing to move forward on legislation that is adequate to meet the needs of the country. For the last few months, House leaders have made efforts to reach agreement, reducing the size of the HEROES Act passed in May from $3.4 trillion to $2.2 trillion. The Senate has refused to budge. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reiterated his desire to pass a small relief bill (around $500 billion), while economists say something much larger is needed.
It’s going to take grassroots pressure to move Majority Leader McConnell on this issue. Having his Senate Republican colleagues urge him to prioritize robust COVID relief is needed to break this impasse. Millions of renters face eviction in January when the weather is cold and the pandemic is still raging. Families are still struggling to put food on the table – 25,000 people showed up to a mobile food bank in Dallas this past weekend. And 11 million people remain unemployed with few prospects on the horizon. Congress must take action now. Demand that they do.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to contact housing and agriculture aides, particularly Senate Republican aides, and tell them that America needs a strong COVID relief package now that includes $100 billion in rental assistance and a 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit. In your e-mail, include our updated U.S. Poverty COVID media packet (found on Media Tools page under “I want to see what other RESULTS volunteers have published”) that shows broad grassroots support to pass a bill now. If you need help drafting your e-mail to aides, please contact Jos Linn for assistance.
Also, RESULTS will participate in a COVID relief national call-in day this Thursday, November 19. Be ready to call your members of Congress about passing a COVID bill that prioritizes rental assistance and SNAP. Learn more below.
Got Another Five Minutes? Get ready for National Call-in Day this Thursday
With tens of millions of Americans still struggling to make ends meet amidst a global pandemic, and Congress nor the White House doing anything to help, it is time to get loud. On Thursday, November 19, RESULTS will participate with our anti-poverty partners for a National Call-in Day to Congress urging them to pass a strong COVID relief bill now. With millions of renters facing eviction in the coming months and hungry families still not able to make ends meet, we need a massive grassroots outcry telling Congress that enough is enough.
TAKE ACTION: On Thursday, watch for an e-mail action alert from RESULTS urging you to call your members of Congress about COVID relief. Take five minutes to call your senators and representatives urging them to pass a strong COVID relief bill that includes $100 billion in rental assistance and a 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit. Then, forward the alert to your local action networks, friends, and family, as well as post on social media, urging them to call too. For more information, see NLIHC’s new call-in day advocacy toolkit.
Join housing and homelessness webinar this Thursday. The 2020 Election has changed the political landscape for housing and homelessness advocates. With new opportunities and challenges ahead, join the National Homelessness Law Center for a webinar this Thursday, November 19 at 2:00 pm ET to hear from a panel of housing and homelessness experts on what advocates can expect in 2021. Register for the webinar here.
New housing report due this week. The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University will release its 2020 “State of the Nation’s Housing Report” this week. Join their release webinar this Thursday, November 19 at 4:00 pm ET. Register for the event here.
RESULTS Announcements
Join 2020 VTF Fundraising Campaign. The 2020 Virtual Thanksgiving Feast is running now through November 27. Join other advocates across the country in an online peer-to-peer fundraiser to celebrate 40 years of RESULTS advocacy and to help fund our next chapter. Visit https://results.org/vtf to get started and find campaign resources, and please contact Mea Geizhals with any questions.
First 100 Days Campaign. We’re excited to see the impact we can make on our issues in the first 100 days of the new congressional session. Our December group planning will help us begin well, and you’re invited to our First 100 Days Kickoff on February 6. Register today! During the first 100 days of 2021, we want to meet with every congressional office we cover – that means every single Senate office and three quarters of House offices. We’re not waiting around to see what policymakers decide to do in 2021 – we’ll get in there right away to help set a bold agenda against poverty.
RESULTS is hiring! RESULTS is seeking a highly motivated individual to fill the newly created position of Grassroots Impact Associate. If you are interested, please check out the job posting on our website.
Check out our new RESULTS video. Got 60 seconds? Take a look at this great new promotional video for RESULTS!
Receive action alerts via text. If you’d like to receive RESULTS alerts via text, please text RESULTS to 50457 to sign up.
Upcoming Events
Congressional schedule. Members of Congress are in session. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
Now through Friday, November 27. Virtual Thanksgiving Feast online fundraiser. Visit https://results.org/vtf for more information. Contact Mea Geizhals with any questions.
Tuesday, November 17: U.S. Poverty Free Agents Webinars, 1:00 and 8:00 pm ET. For information on how to join, please contact Jos Linn.
Wednesday, November 18: Welcoming New Advocates training webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Register today.
Wednesday, November 18. Black Indigenous People of Color Caucus, 9 pm ET. The caucus will meet to discuss BIPOC self-care in stressful times. The speaker will be Nikita Marsh, MSW, PMP. Please email Yolanda Gordon at [email protected] for the login information.
Thursday, November 26-Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving holiday break. All RESULTS offices closed.
Saturday, December 5: RESULTS National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/994444828. You can also join by phone at (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 994 444 828. Please register for the webinar to receive the password to login.
Grassroots Resources
Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
To update volunteer info (e.g. subscribe to the Weekly Update or action alerts, add new advocate information, update an existing advocate’s information or preferences), use our Volunteer Information Form.
Find actions and volunteer resources on our Current Volunteers page, including our anti-oppression resources.
Remember to please report your recent grassroots successes in lobby meetings, media pieces, and outreach activities.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail Lindsay Saunders at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports. Including our new special edition 2019 Annual Report.
RESULTS Staff directory.