RESULTS Weekly Update February 6, 2024

Quote of the Week

“Child poverty is not about having the latest game or sneakers. It’s about feeling hunger pangs, feeling scared, and feeling left out of all the good stuff.”

– RESULTS Albuquerque volunteers Roxanne Allen and Heidi Brooks in a February 5 op-ed in the Albuquerque Journal

Table of Contents

• Contact senators now about the CTC expansion
• Set up lobby meetings for the Community of Change campaign
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Contact senators now about the CTC expansion

We are moving closer to victory for children experiencing poverty. Last week, the House passed H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. This tax bill expands the Child Tax Credit for 16 million children in families with low income. It passed the House by a strong bipartisan majority, 357-70.

This success traces directly back to your unwavering advocacy for the CTC. For the last few years, you have held lobby meetings, made phone calls, sent e-mails, generated media, and engaged new advocates to expand the CTC to reduce child poverty. Your work with all members of Congress (not just allies) helped get this done.

But the job is not finished. The Senate must still pass the bill and that is far from guaranteed. Some senators want to roll back parts of the CTC expansion. RESULTS opposes any amendments or changes to the bill that would restrict access to the CTC. Furthermore, any major changes – to the CTC or any other provision – would likely doom the legislation altogether (if the Senate changes it, the House must pass it again).

Based on the current floor schedule, the earliest the Senate could vote on the bill is the week of February 26 (the Senate goes on a two-week recess at the end of this week). It is time for Congress to get this done. Families are struggling while lawmakers delay. Tell your senators to follow the House’s lead and pass the CTC expansion now.

TAKE ACTION: If we want to secure a new expansion of the CTC, we must pull out all the stops over the next few weeks. Here is what you can do:

1. Contact Senate tax aides. Contact your Senate tax aides now urging them to support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Also urge them to oppose any harmful changes or amendments to the CTC provisions. Be sure to share how many children in your state will benefit (bottom of page). If you need coaching on what to say to the aides, please contact David Plasterer.
2. Set up meetings with senators. The Senate will be on recess February 10-25. Contact schedulers now to request a meeting with your senators while they are home to discuss expanding the CTC. Use our new sample lobby meeting request letter (be sure to personalize) to request your meeting today. Once you get a meeting, schedule please contact RESULTS staff ASAP to help you get ready.
3. Urge your networks to call and e-mail senators. Send our online CTC action alert to your action networks and others you know urging them to call and e-mail senators in support of the CTC.
4. Submit letters to the editor urging Senate support. Generate media to pressure senators to support the CTC expansion passed by the House. Use our online CTC media alert to submit a letter to the editor today. Be sure to mention your senators by name in your letter. Also, if your House member voted for the bill, please thank them in your letter.
5. Thank House members who voted yes. If your House member voted yes on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act last week, please call their office to thank them for their vote.

Set up lobby meetings for the Community of Change campaign

In the midst of challenge, there is opportunity. We believe this deeply at RESULTS, and our 2024 Community of Change campaign reflects this grounded optimism. Here at the beginning of the year, we are actively advocating on global appropriations, global child health, U.S. nutrition, and economic justice in the U.S. tax code.

Lobby meetings are the best way to influence lawmakers on these important issues. Just listen to Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA-2) on last weekend’s RESULTS National Webinar to hear both why it is important to speak with lawmakers and why now is an important time to do so. That’s why between February and April, we hope to meet with 100 percent of the offices we cover, meeting in person with as many senators and representatives as we can. That’s a goal of 345 meetings. Work with your groups to book meetings with your legislators, using our tools to help the process. For senators, if you can book meetings during the February recess to talk about the CTC, that would be ideal (see more above). Let’s blanket Congress with meetings between now and the end of April!

TAKE ACTION: Using your group roadmaps and your aspirations as a guide, talk together as a RESULTS group and begin requesting your meetings with your members of Congress. Don’t hesitate to ask for your meetings to be face-to-face with legislators. Then book a lobby prep meeting via RESULTS staff member Katie Fleischer. Additional support materials for your meetings are available on our 2024 Community of Change campaign page. Finally, view the recording and slides from the February National Webinar to get tips on how to best schedule and plan for your lobby meetings.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Never called Congress before? Watch how it’s done. RESULTS Indiana volunteer Brendan Bow recently called his representative urging him to support the new tax bill that expands the Child Tax Credit. And he recorded it. If you have never called a congressional office before, watch Brendan’s video showing how easy and powerful it can be.

New global education report. In our online newsroom, read about a new report that examines USAID’s work in basic education, an important report in the midst of our work to reauthorize the READ Act on global education. Take a look at the report as well as comments by RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter.

Announcements

Join tonight’s webinar about being a Congressional Point Person. The Congressional Point Person is a key role to play for RESULTS. But what does the Congressional Point Person do? How can we make the most of the role to build congressional relationships, engage others, and increase our impact? Join us tonight, February 6, 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm EST to learn and share your insights. Register today.

Please complete your 2024 Roadmaps by February 15. Thank you to all the RESULTS volunteers who have met this month to work on your 2024 Group Roadmaps. If you have not met yet or completed your 2024 Roadmap, please schedule a time for your group to meet and complete your Roadmap by February 15. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact RESULTS staff for help. Find 2024 planning materials on the Working with Your Group page under “Make your group plans”. Thank you for completing this important part of your advocacy work.

Fellowship guide. Is your group working with one or more 2024 Fellows? Let’s work together to make sure that everyone has a positive, enriching experience. Take a look at this guide titled 2024 Empowering Change: Best Practices for RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship.

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.

Policy Forums in February. On Thursday, February 22, join us for two helpful forums that will enhance your understanding of our U.S. nutrition work and our global appropriations work, respectively. The U.S. Poverty Policy Forum will be held at 8:00 pm ET and the Global Poverty Policy Forum will be held at 9:00 pm ET. Register for the U.S. forum and/or register for the global forum today.

Thank you for a great Build the Buy-in media campaign. At the end of last year, we launched our Build the Buy-in media campaign with goal of 250 media pieces between September and December with at least one piece in each state and one piece from each RESULTS group. So, how did you do? Beautifully! You exceeded our total goal with 257 pieces published! Since most of those pieces focused on the Child Tax Credit, again you can draw a direct line from your media to the proposed CTC expansion. And while we didn’t get published in all 50 states, you came awful close with 44. Finally, 52 of 80 RESULTS groups were published last fall, and we know even more submitted media that didn’t get picked up. Congratulations to you all!

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: This week, both the House and Senate are in session.

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

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.

Tuesday, February 20: Together Women Rise advocacy chapter webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more about this opportunity.

Wednesday, February 21: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. 12:30 pm ET: Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93412877476 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 934 1287 7476. 8:00 pm ET: Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/98134593550 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 981 3459 3550.

Wednesday, February 21: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join 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.

Thursday, February 22: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register to join.

Thursday, February 22: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 p.m. ET. Register today.

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

Saturday, March 2: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar today!

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.