RESULTS Weekly Update July 19, 2022

Quote of the Week

“I am writing to urge all Americans and members of Congress to support continuation of the expanded, fully refundable child tax credit and to resume monthly payments of the credit.”

– RESULTS Massachusetts volunteer Linda Baxter in a July 12 letter to the editor on the Berkshire Eagle

Table of Contents

• Use media to hold Congress accountable on the CTC
• Your letter could inspire Senate co-sponsorship of global malnutrition bill
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Use media to hold Congress accountable on the CTC

A few weeks ago, we learned that any budget reconciliation bill this summer would not include reinstatement of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). This was a devastating blow to millions of families struggling to make ends meet since the CTC payments ended in December. We need to send a clear message to policymakers that they CAN and MUST find a way to extend an expanded CTC before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the prospects of a broader budget reconciliation bill are dwindling. Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced that he was again backing out of a reconciliation bill focused on climate change and taxes on the wealthy. He said Congress must prioritize inflation and the impact of higher food, gas, and housing prices on everyday Americans. Lest he forget that resuming the expanded CTC with monthly payments would provide families immediate relief from inflation.

These developments are discouraging. With many of our priorities – CTC, global COVID relief, tax fairness (as well as other important issues people care about) – stalled in the Senate, it’s easy to throw up your hands up in disgust. But then nothing changes.

RESULTS doesn’t care what letter is written behind a politician’s name. We see a problem; we work to fix it. We will work in relationship with anyone who is sincere in these efforts. But healthy relationships require accountability. That means praising when progress is made and calling out when it is not. Policymakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that they will return to Washington after the midterm elections to pass a number of key policies. We must hold policymakers accountable from now until then to prioritize policies that make a real impact, including an expanded CTC to reduce child poverty.

TAKE ACTION: Send a letter to the editor (LTE) to your local paper telling your members of Congress enough is enough. While they argue and cajole, millions suffer. Tell them it is time to do things differently. That means passing a fully refundable CTC with monthly payments before the end of the year. If your member of Congress supports the CTC expansion, thank them and tell them to do more. If your member is opposed or silent, tell them to explain why.

The July 2022 U.S. Poverty Action Sheet has background info and a sample LTE to get you started. You can also use our online media action to send your letter right from the RESULTS Action Center. Also, take advantage of Wednesday’s Media Office hour if you need help crafting your letter. No need to register; just pop in. The Media Office Hour is tomorrow, July 20 at 1:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. If you need additional help, contact RESULTS staff for assistance.

Your media could inspire Senate co-sponsorship of global malnutrition bill

Letters to the editor are not fillers in a newspaper. They are a call to action to the community and, in this case, a potential call to action for the Senate on global malnutrition. The July Action Sheet can inspire you and your fellow advocates to write letters to the editor that ask senators to co-sponsor the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 (S.2956). This crucial legislation does not yet have traction, but it could be key in combatting the malnutrition crisis that has been brewing since before the pandemic. First, use the May/June Action Sheet to make this co-sponsorship request of your senators. Then use the July Action Sheet to reiterate the request through a letter to the editor. Or write a thank-you letter to the editor if one or more of your senators has co-sponsored already. (Need a quick action to take online? Spend 10 minutes with this media action alert!)

Learn more about global malnutrition with this backgrounder or review a session from our International Conference titled “Why We Must Do More on Child Nutrition.” These pieces will inspire as well as provide helpful data for your writing.

TAKE ACTION: Write your letter to the editor today, calling on your senators to co-sponsor life-saving bipartisan legislation, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 (S.2956).The House has already passed its version of the bill and the Senate must do the same. Take advantage of Wednesday’s Media Office hour if you need help crafting your letter. No need to register; just pop in. The Media Office Hour is tomorrow, July 20 at 1:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Demand Senators take action to help struggling families. Advocacy groups are urging constituents to call their senators TODAY (July 19) telling them they are unhappy with inaction on policies to help everyday Americans reduce costs. Add your name to the list of callers. Call 1-855-740-2519 and when connected, leave this message: My name is ________ from ____________I am very unhappy that the Senate will not be passing a major economic plan that would lower healthcare and other costs for working families, reduce child poverty, and shift us to a clean energy economy – paid for by making the rich and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. It’s time for you to show that you are on the side of low-income families by passing an economic package now.

CTC letter extended – keep pushing for House signers. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) is circulating a letter urging House and Senate leaders to not to pass another corporate tax credit without also passing an expansion of the CTC. We need more House members to sign on. Follow this link to find a draft e-mail you can send to House tax aides explaining the context and how to sign on, as well as the text of the letter itself. The deadline for members to sign on has been extended to Friday, July 29. See the current list of signers (column G).

Media hooks of the week. To help you in your media advocacy, here are suggested media “hooks” this week to use in letters to the editor:

• U.S. Poverty: July 15 marked the one-year mark of when the Child Tax Credit monthly payments started, creating record reductions in child poverty. With child poverty again on the rise, use this anniversary to remind lawmakers that reinstating the CTC is the right and necessary thing to do for children and families right now.
• Global Poverty: Last month, the United Nations published some starkly jarring statistics on the complex and growing global nutrition crisis. You can utilize these facts and examples in your own letter to the editor. We must not be defeated by the scope of the issue. Our advocacy can make a difference.

Announcements

Join media office hour tomorrow. If you need help finding a hook for a letter to the editor, are looking for that important stat you can’t seem to locate, want someone to review your letter before sending it, or just want advice on where to send your letter, please join our “media office hour” tomorrow, July 20 at 1:00pm ET. RESULTS staff will be on to answer your questions. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

Please follow up from your Advocacy Month meetings. Please be sure to complete any follow-up from your Advocacy Month meetings. Send a thank you to the people you met with, reiterate your requests, and provide any additional information. Also, if you are not done with meetings, keep working to set those up to build more support for our policy requests. Finally, please fill out the RESULTS Lobby Report Form in detail for each meeting you have done or will do.

Link to Advocacy Month celebration recording. Thank you to everyone who attended last week’s Advocacy Month Celebration webinar. It was a fun event with an uplifting message from RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter and inspiring shares from RESULTS volunteers. If you were not able to attend, you can view the recording and slides on the National Webinars page. Our next National Webinar will be Saturday, August 6 at 1:00 pm ET. Register for it today.

2023 RESULTS Fellowship application process is open! Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming 2023 class of the RESULTS Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship. For all the details on eligibility and how to apply, check out our website.

Register for August 23 Diversity and Inclusion 101 training. Join our work to dismantle systems of oppression and help reach the goal of having all RESULTS volunteers attend our “Diversity and Inclusion 101” training this year. Sessions resume next month. The next session is Tuesday, August 23 at 12:00 pm ET. Seating is limited so register today.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule. The House and Senate are on recess this week.

Unless otherwise noted, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.

Tuesday, July 19: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, July 19: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Check out more information.

Wednesday, July 20: RESULTS Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Register for the afternoon or the evening session.

Wednesday, July 20: Media office hour, 1:00 pm ET. Get your media questions answered. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

Monday, July 25: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Saturday, August 6: RESULTS National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, August 11: Global Allies Program (with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers), 8:30 pm ET. Register today!

Thursday, August 18: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register here.

Thursday, August 18: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register here.

Tuesday, August 23: Diversity and Inclusion 101, 12:00 pm ET. Register here.

Grassroots Resources

Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.

Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].

Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our Volunteer Information Form to add or edit volunteer info and to sign up for updates and alerts.

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.