RESULTS Weekly Update August 20, 2024

Quote of the Week

“Good choice, Bangladesh! Selecting Professor Muhammad Yunus to head the interim government was brilliant.”

– RESULTS Dallas volunteer Margaret Smith in an August 11 letter to the editor in The Dallas Morning News

Table of Contents

• It’s a great week to use media to make poverty an election issue
• Global nutrition letter and Gavi resolutions still need our support
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

It’s a great week to use media to make poverty an election issue

This month, RESULTS has been focused on making poverty an election issue through in-person interactions with members of Congress and candidates. But if we want to make poverty an election issue, we need to be using all the advocacy tools at our disposal. Generating media is ideal for this task. When you get letters to the editor, op-eds, and editorials published, you are influencing both lawmakers and voters alike. Sadly, many media outlets are focused on the latest scandal or poll of the campaign. If we want the media to focus on the issues, we have to make it happen.

Fortunately, the news has been friendly to us this week. Here are new policy proposals from the campaigns that are great hooks for local media:

CTC expansion. Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a large expansion of the CTC, as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit. The expansion would mirror the 2021 expansions, with the CTC to going to all families with low income and increasing the amount to $3,600 per child ages 2-5 and $3,000 per child 6-17. She would also increase the CTC to $6,000 per child during the child’s first year. She also proposes increasing the maximum EITC for workers without children to $1,500. Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance also appears to support an expansion of the CTC to $5,000 for all families.

• MEDIA HOOK: Both presidential campaigns agree that the CTC is critical for helping families get ahead. The first this Congress should do in 2025 is significantly expand the CTC.

No tax on tips. Both VP Harris and former President Trump propose ending federal tax on tips earned by service employees. Many times, these employees are working below minimum wage and rely on tips to make ends meet.

• MEDIA HOOK: Both presidential candidates recognize that employees in low-wage food service jobs can’t stay afloat. No tax on tips is a good start but not enough. We must also expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers without children.

Stop price gouging on food. VP Harris also proposed a federal ban on price gouging for food and groceries. She acknowledges that the cost to put food on the table is still too high for millions of Americans.

• MEDIA HOOK: When food prices are still too high, the last thing Congress should be doing is cutting already frugal SNAP benefits.
• MEDIA HOOK: There should be no barriers to children having access to healthy, nutritious food anywhere in the world. Nutrition for Growth can help get us there.

Lower the cost of housing. To address America’s housing crisis, VP Harris wants to build 3 million new housing units over four years. She would also crack down on corporate landlords who use price fixing technology to increase rents. Finally, she proposes providing up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for renters in good standing seeking to buy a home.

• MEDIA HOOK: The answer to America’s housing crisis is not to criminalize homelessness, but to make housing more affordable.

TAKE ACTION: Help make poverty an election issue by generating letters to the editor and op-eds talking about the above issues. If you need help getting started, see our media templates in our Action Center. If you have questions or need coaching, please contact Jos Linn at [email protected]. For other actions to help make poverty an election issue, see our election engagement resources page.

Global nutrition letter and Gavi resolutions still need our support

In advance of the United Nations General Assembly which meets in September, we are gathering signatures on a global nutrition House Dear Colleague letter. The letter is open through August 29. The letter calls on the U.S. for a bold, early pledge in advance of the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris in March 2025. If the U.S. shows strong, positive pledging signals early, it will inspire increased commitments from others.

Additionally, we are continuing to gather co-sponsors for resolutions supporting Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is in advance of the full pledging conference that is also expected to be in 2025. At a recent pre-pledging conference, the Biden Administration pledged at least $1.58 billion over five years. We need to see it through. These actions form a powerful combination. They help address needless suffering due to poverty-related causes like wasting, stunting, and lack of access to basic vaccinations. These are things we can do something about. Gather signatures on the House nutrition letter. Gather co-sponsors for the Gavi resolutions. Call U.S. leadership into action!

TAKE ACTION: Urge your representatives to sign the House Dear Colleague letter of support for the Nutrition for Growth Summit. We need as many signatures as possible by August 29. Then ask your legislators to co-sponsor the Gavi resolutions (S.Res. 684 and H.Res.1286). Use our online action today to make your Gavi resolution requests.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Read (and watch) about the importance of Nutrition for Growth. As we work to build support for the House global nutrition letter, read our new RESULTS blog post from RESULTS’ Dorothy Monza on the critical opportunity to end malnutrition through Nutrition for Growth. And watch the recent policy forum on global nutrition, also led by Dorothy Monza.

Read about removing the stigma of government assistance. Read RESULTS Fellow William Engfer’s new RESULTS blog post on the vital function government benefits provide to society and the need to re-examine how we view them.

Announcements

Join webinar with Dr. Madhu Pai tomorrow. Join us tomorrow, August 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET for an inspiring and informative RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship Webinar. The special guest will be Dr. Madhu Pai, a renowned expert in global health and health systems research, particularly tuberculosis. He will share his invaluable insights on the importance of advocacy for global health equity. This event is open to all RESULTS volunteers and is an exceptional opportunity for fellows, advocates, and anyone passionate about making a difference in global health to gain knowledge from one of the field’s leading voices. Don’t miss this chance to engage with Dr. Pai and deepen your understanding of the crucial work being done to advance global health. Register here.

Join media office hour tomorrow. Need help with letters to the editor during election season? Not sure what issue to write about? Please join our Media Office Hour to get your questions answered. The office hour is tomorrow, August 21, 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

Read new blog post on summer outreach advocacy. Our summer push for outreach and meetings has been a great success. To celebrate activities around the country, read Part I in our RESULTS Blog series celebrating these volunteer-driven community meetings. And know, it’s not too late to hold your own local meeting. Find resources to help on our Community of Change page. And after your meeting, please let us know how it went by completing our new Outreach Report Form.

Join the September webinar with Rep. Derek Kilmer. For the September National Webinar, we are thrilled to welcome Rep. Derek Kilmer. He will speak about how we can enhance and execute our continuing election engagement, getting our poverty policy priorities in front of candidates. We’ll also highlight new opportunities to use the media to make poverty an election issue. Come along and join your fellow advocates for what’s sure to be an invigorating conversation. The webinar is Saturday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Register today!

Register for the Motivational Interviewing series. Want to build bridges with lawmakers? Want to effectively talk to people who disagree with you? Please join us for our updated “Motivational Interviewing: Getting unstuck with your members of Congress” series. We are thrilled to welcome back Dr. Dave Christian, Ph.D., P.C., who has trained in Motivational Interviewing (MI) for years. In six monthly sessions, you will gain skills using MI for effective dialogue with lawmakers you struggle to move into action. These trainings include new and impactful research conducted on MI, so even if you have taken the MI training before, you’ll learn something new. Register today!

Ask election advocacy questions during office hours. Dial in to ask RESULTS staff on how best to find and talk to candidates, use the media to influence candidates, and other strategies to help you make the most of election season. The next election advocacy office hours are tomorrow, August 21, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Join anytime during those hours via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515. No registration needed.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: The House and the Senate are on recess until September 9.

Find these and other events on our website Events Calendar.

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

Tuesday, August 20: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 p.m. ET. Learn more.

Wednesday, August 21: Elections Support Office Hours, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515.

Wednesday, August 21: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. No registration required. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/95416781155 or call 312-626-6799, meeting ID 954 1678 1155.

Wednesday, August 21: Media Office Hour, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Wednesday, August 21: The RESULTS Fellowship webinar with Dr. Madhu Pai, 9:00 p.m. ET. All are welcome. Register today.

Monday, August 26: Elections Support Office Hours, 5:00-7:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515.

Monday, August 26: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 p.m. ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Tuesday, August 27: New Advocate Orientation, 1:00 p.m. ET. Registration is open.

Monday, September 2: Labor Day. RESULTS offices closed.

Saturday, September 7: National Webinar, 1:00 p.m. ET. Guest: Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA). Register for the webinar.

Tuesday, September 10: Centering Lived Poverty Experience in the Media, 8:00 p.m. ET. Registration is open.

Wednesday, September 11: Motivational Interviewing training, session 1, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register now for this terrific series.

Thursday, September 12: Outreach and Event Office Hour, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Drop in at https://results.zoom.us/j/94004748060 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 940 0474 8060.

Thursday, September 12: Global Allies (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) Advocacy Partnership Webinar, 8:30 p.m. ET. Learn more.

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

Grassroots Resources

• EOPs: Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
• Actions and volunteer resources: Visit our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].
• Please report your actions. Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our form to add to/edit your info and to sign up for updates and alerts.
• Share your story. If you have an inspiring story about advocacy, please tell us about it. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience.
• Questions for the Board? If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.
• Staff and jobs: RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.