RESULTS Weekly Update January 23, 2024

Quote of the Week

“This proposed tax package will unlock resources for millions of families with low incomes and reduce poverty, and this is why RESULTS supports it. But we know that millions of kids are left behind, which is unacceptable. RESULTS advocates will not rest until all families in poverty have access to the full CTC.”

– RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter in a press release on the new bipartisan CTC expansion

Table of Contents

• We need your help to pass the new CTC expansion
• Have you complete your 2024 Group Roadmap?
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

We need your help to pass the new CTC expansion

As we noted last week, congressional leaders have drafted a new tax package that expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for low-income families. Estimates are that 16 million children will benefit, including 400,000-500,000 children lifted above the poverty line over the next three years.

Your tireless advocacy over the last few years helped get us here. Your meetings, letters, calls, and media urging both Republicans and Democrats to work together to reduce child poverty helped make it happen. But some in Congress are not sold. Some feel the CTC expansion is too generous, while others feel it does not do enough to reduce child poverty.

We know this deal is not perfect. It leaves too children in poverty and does not make all children in families with low income eligible for the CTC. But the plan is a significant improvement over current law and a reasonable balance between tax breaks for business and the CTC (roughly the same cost for each). The agreement is also fully paid for and will not add to the deficit.

Our goal has been and always will be that the CTC must cover all children experiencing poverty. But in a divided Congress where both sides disagree on most issues, compromise is required. Both sides don’t get everything they want. As you know, it has taken months of hard work to get to this point. While we welcome improvements to the CTC expansion (and strongly oppose efforts to cut it), significant changes are unlikely without jeopardizing the entire bill. We would rather help half a million low-income children now than do nothing on the risky hope that we can get a better deal later.

This is not the end, merely a step forward. If and when this bill passes, we will continue to push to expand the CTC to all children in need. But the perfect must not be the enemy of the good. Tell members of Congress to seize this opportunity to reduce child poverty now.

TAKE ACTION: Please contact your representatives and senators urging them to support the new CTC expansion and pass it now. Whether your members of Congress are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, the need to hear from you this week. We cannot assume anyone is a sure yes. Here is what you can do:

1. Contact tax aides. If you have a relationship with tax aides for your representative and senators, e-mail them now urging them to support the tax package and to push congressional leadership to bring it to a vote next week. If you need talking points for your e-mails or calls, see our January U.S. Poverty Action Sheet and our new CTC expansion FAQs. If you have questions or need help with messaging, please contact our tax expert David Plasterer.
2. E-mail and call Congress. Use our online action to send an e-mail and make a call to each of your members of Congress urging them to support the tax package and pass it ASAP. Unlike #1 above, this action is about volume. The more we get, the better. Please share this action with others and urge them to e-mail and call too.
3. Generate media. Amplify your calls and e-mails by submitting letters to the editor calling on Congress to support and pass this new CTC expansion.

Have you completed your 2024 Group Roadmap?

We are almost to the end of January. Have you had your 2024 group planning meeting yet with your local RESULTS group? Annual planning is a big reason your success as advocates over the years. If you have not done so yet, please schedule your group’s roadmap planning meeting now. Use that meeting to celebrate your successes, plan your goals, and discuss group leadership roles. Please fill out your 2024 Roadmap and update your group roster as soon as you can. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact RESULTS staff or help.

TAKE ACTION: Find 2024 planning materials on the Working with Your Group page under “Make your group plans”. Also, your group’s 2024 Roadmap has been added to your group’s existing Roadmap spreadsheet. If you need help finding your Roadmap or materials, please contact RESULTS staff. Happy planning!

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Thank you for your work on the Yunus letter. Last week, we noted that long-time friend of RESULTS Prof. Muhammad Yunus was facing new false charges and jail time from the Bangladeshi government. In a show support for Prof. , Sen. Richard Durbin circulated a Senate sign-on letter urging Bangladeshi officials to stop the harassment of Prof. Yunus. The letter has closed and it garnered 12 signers. Thank you all for your quick actions getting senators to sign on. Please do send thank yous the offices that supported this! The 12 signers are: Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jean Shaheen (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Join webinar on children and evictions. In October 2023, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a study revealing that the Americans who are the most at risk of eviction are babies and toddlers, and that children under the age of 5 make up the largest group by age of people whose households have had an eviction action filed against them. The risk of eviction for all children under the age of 18 is consistently high. A new webinar will review the study’s findings and examine its implications for policies and practices to stabilize children, youth, and families. The webinar is Tuesday, January 30 at 3:00 pm ET. Register here.

Announcements

February National Webinar will feature Rep. Jim McGovern. During our February National Webinar (February 3, 1:00 pm ET), we will welcome Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2). He will speak with us about the vital role nutrition plays in reducing poverty, both in the U.S. and abroad. Register for the webinar today. Also, the webinar is a great opportunity to connect with anti-hunger partners in your community. The Community & Partnership Mapping Tool and other resources can help you get started. If you need help, contact Joanna DiStefano for support.

Register for tomorrow’s Community of Change webinar. 2024 kicks off a presidential election year, opening opportunities to expand our community of anti-poverty champions. Your outreach to members of Congress and your community will grow the movement for equity and justice. In this 45-minute info session, you will learn about how you can connect with your community to build power for issues like maternal and child health, income inequality, nutrition, and health. The webinar is tomorrow, January 24 at 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

What is Quiet Leadership? Regional Coordinator Misty Novitch will be taking us through a two-part series on David Rock’s book Quiet Leadership. This is a potent and compelling coaching tool that provides you with resources to support others in their clarity of thinking. All advocates welcome. Register for the two-part Quiet Leadership training on January 25 and February 1 at 9 pm ET.

Researching Your Member(s) of Congress. Join us at 8:30 pm ET on February 15 for this helpful webinar. To have effective lobby meetings, you need to know a bit about your member(s) of Congress. In this 90-minute webinar, RESULTS Regional Coordinator Allison Gallaher shares tips and tools on how to research your legislators. Learn how to find what they care about, how they plan to lead, and how to connect with them on our issues. Register for the Researching Your Member(s) of Congress webinar today!

Group Leader Training Coming Up. Are you a current (or even aspiring) RESULTS Group Leader? You are welcome to register for this four-part learning series beginning Wednesday, February 21! These interactive sessions will get you in touch with fellow Group Leaders, offer encouraging information about leadership itself, give you practical tools for leading your RESULTS group, and provide some fun along the way. Each session will last two hours (8-10 pm ET). We hope you can attend all four sessions. Can’t attend live? Register and the recordings will be sent to you. Questions? Contact Lisa Marchal.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: This week, the Senate is in session and the House is on recess.

Typically, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.

Wednesday, January 24: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. No registration necessary. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/93412877476 or dial (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 934 1287 7476 for the 12:30 pm ET session. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/98134593550 or dial (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 981 3459 3550 for the 8:00 pm ET session.

Wednesday, January 24: Community of Change Info Session, 8:30 pm ET. Read about this opportunity and register today.

Thursday, January 25: Quiet Leadership training series, 9:00 pm ET. Register for this two-part training series on coaching (finishing February 1).

Wednesday, January 31: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Register to learn more about RESULTS.

Wednesday, January 31: Quarterly New Advocate Mentor Community Call, 8:00 pm ET. Join in by registering.

Saturday, February 3: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Guest: Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2). Register for the webinar today!

Tuesday, February 6: Being a Congressional Point Person, 8:30 pm ET. Join in by registering.

Thursday, February 8: Outreach and Event Planning Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. No registration necessary. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/94004748060 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 940 0474 8060.

Thursday, February 8: Global Allies (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) Monthly Webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Tuesday, February 13: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Register to learn more about RESULTS.  

Thursday, February 15: Researching Your Member(s) of Congress, 8:30 pm ET. Register for this 90-minute learning opportunity.

Monday, February 19: Presidents’ Day. All RESULTS offices closed.

Tuesday, February 20: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Wednesday, February 21: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join any time via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Wednesday, February 21: Group Leader Training, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register today for this 4-part series.

Wednesday, February 21: Together Women Rise advocacy chapter webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more about this opportunity.

Monday, February 26: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

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 story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience today.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.