RESULTS Weekly Update December 7, 2021

Quote of the Week

“The country would be thankful if Congress could get together to pass Build Back Better now.”

– RESULTS Tennessee volunteer Anne Child in a December 3 letter to the editor in  Knoxville News-Sentinel

Table of Content

• CTC payments end next week if Congress does not pass Build Back Better
• Global malnutrition legislation needs support
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

CTC payments end next week if Congress does not pass Build Back Better

On December 15, millions of American low-income families will receive their December Child Tax Credit monthly payment. These payments, which continue to lift well over 3 million low-income children out of poverty each month, are a financial lifeline helping millions of Americans pay their rent/mortgage, put food on the table, and buy clothes for their children. These payments have been a game-changer for low-income families simply trying to pay the bills and care for their children. And if Congress does not pass the Build Back Better Act (BBB) this month, next week’s payment will be their last.

The CTC monthly payments were passed in March as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), but only apply to tax year 2021. Since it was passed, RESULTS and our allies have pushed vociferously for Congress to extend these payments and other CTC improvements from ARP (as well as improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)). In November, the House passed BBB which includes a one-year extension of the CTC payments, along with permanent full refundability of the CTC, and a one-year extension of the EITC changes. It also includes $22.1 billion for 300,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers. That bill now sits in the Senate, awaiting debate and a vote.

The latest rumor is the Senate will take up BBB the week of December 20, in the hopes of passing it before Christmas. It will be a tight deadline to meet as the Senate debate will take several days and because the Senate will change the bill, it will have to go back to the House for a final vote. Even so, the IRS has indicated that if Congress passes the bill by Christmas, there would likely be no disruption in CTC payments going out on January 15.

Congress must not allow the gains in reducing child poverty this year to be lost. Tell the Senate to pass BBB now.

TAKE ACTION: The clock is ticking for Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act. Urge your senators to urge to support BBB and to urge their colleagues (especially Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Sinema (D-AZ) to do the same. Use our online letter to the editor action to draft and submit a letter to the editor today. Be sure to share local CTC and housing data in your letter to highlight how BBB helps people in your state. Here are some hooks you can use for letters this week:

• December 15 deadline for the last CTC monthly payment will force families over a financial cliff if the Senate does not pass BBB now
• The new omicron variant is proof that the uncertainty of the pandemic is far from over; BBB tells Americans that Congress has their backs
• The Surgeon General reports a crisis of mental health for youth; let’s not add preventable poverty on top of it

When you get published, please forward your letter to the appropriate aides in your Senate offices (and please let us know too). You and others can also e-mail or call Congress directly telling them to pass BBB now!

Global malnutrition legislation needs support

The bipartisan Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act (S.2956/H.R.4693) needs congressional support. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on malnutrition may unfold over the next several years. That’s why we need to gather co-sponsors on this legislation today. Experts are saying that the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially create an up to 50 percent increase in global malnutrition. Failure to act now could have devastating consequences down the road.

However, we have a tool to help turn the tide. The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act, focused on USAID, embraces the “Power 4”: prenatal vitamins, support for breastfeeding, vitamin A supplementation, and ready-to-use therapeutic food. Moreover, it emphasizes program monitoring and evaluation as well as USAID accountability.

First, read more about the potential of this legislation on our blog. Then utilize our online action alert to ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor. Take advantage of our nutrition laser talk to help shape a written or phone message. We have a leave-behind for your legislators that you can share as you reach out. We also have a nutrition Action Sheet you can use to engage your local group.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Important nutrition event on International Human Rights Day. As the Nutrition for Growth Summit goes on in Tokyo this week, join the ACTION Global Health Advocacy Partnership for a key side event on Friday, December 10 at 8:00 am ET titled “Rights-based policies for tackling malnutrition and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Aligning N4G commitments with progress.” Take a look at the ACTION website for more information on this important conversation that they are co-organizing with other partners.

Global Fund Replenishment Conference news. It was recently announced that the next Global Fund Replenishment Conference will be hosted by the United States in the latter half of 2022. You can read the announcement and details directly on the website of the Global Fund.

Join event on child poverty with Rep. DelBene. Join Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1) to discuss “the state of childhood poverty and the impact of the child tax credit and earned income tax credit on low-income communities.” The event is tomorrow, December 8 at 12:00 pm ET. Register here.

Join webinar on racism in the tax code on Thursday. The Take on Wall Street campaign of Americans for Financial Reform will host a fireside chat again with Dr. Dorothy Brown and Dr. Darrick Hamilton to discuss the white supremacy inherent in our tax code and how American tax policies impoverish Black Americans while enriching white Americans. The webinar is this Thursday, December 9 at 11:00 am ET. Register for the event here.

New reports highlight tax benefits of BBB for families and Black workers. The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) has a new report out showing that the tax reforms in BBB would benefits a diverse group of families. Also, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies has a new report on how to improve the Earned Income Tax Credit to help Black American workers not raising children. Their recommendations include passing BBB and building on its EITC improvements.

Announcements

Schedule your Group Roadmap meeting this month. In December, RESULTS groups around the country will make their exciting 2022 advocacy plans by completing their 2022 Group Roadmaps. Your 2022 Roadmaps will build on your 2021 plans and successes. The 2022 Group Roadmap resources are now available on our Working with Your Group page (under “Make your group plans”). Please schedule time with your group in December to discuss and complete your 2022 Roadmap.

International Volunteer Day. We were delighted – through social media, on our National Webinar, and on our blog – to celebrate YOU, our volunteer advocates for December 5, International Volunteer Day. Your passion and commitment are the heart of RESULTS. Enjoy stories of your fellow advocates, here at home and around the world, on our blogpost marking this special day.

Listen to December National Webinar. If you missed the National Webinar last weekend with author Liz McKenna, listen to the recording of the webinar. She discussed the findings from her co-authored book Prisms of the People about harnessing the power of collective activism for change. You can find the recording and the slides from the webinar on our National Webinars page.

Bob Dickerson Leadership Award. On our December National Webinar, it was a thrill to recognize advocate Margaret Smith of RESULTS Dallas as the 2021 recipient of the Bob Dickerson Leadership Award. Thank you for your extraordinary advocacy, Margaret – and thank you to all who nominated a fellow advocate for this significant acknowledgement.

Training resources available. The RESULTS website has a rich archive of training recordings that you can use on an on-demand basis. Whether you’re wanting to learn how to advocate more effectively or want tips on supporting new group members, it’s all there for you.

Read the RESULTS anti-oppression audit findings. As part of our continued effort to address issues of oppression, RESULTS has been conducting an anti-oppression audit of our organization this year. A summary of the findings is now available (see also our overview of the findings on our November National Webinar).

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule. The House and Senate are in session this week. Submit your remote meeting requests today.

Tuesday, December 7: Your Strengths in Action, 8:30 pm ET. Register today. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.

Thursday, December 9: Global Allies Program – Ending Poverty With RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Register today. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.

Monday, December 13: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Tuesday, December 14: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, December 14: Motivational Interviewing Techniques, 9:00 pm ET. Register today. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.

Wednesday, December 15: Action Network Webinars, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Register for the afternoon session or evening session. Registration ends one hour prior to each webinar.

Note: there are no Monthly Policy Forums in December.

Friday, December 24-Sunday, January 2: Winter holiday break. All RESULTS offices closed.

Saturday, January 8: RESULTS National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.

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 Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources.

Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities.

To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].

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.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.