RESULTS Weekly Update September 9, 2025
Quote of the Week
“And so, do not be discouraged. I will say, as a sitting legislator, that constituent voices matter.”
– State Senator Kim Jackson of Georgia during her guest appearing on our September National Webinar
(Is this newsletter too long; didn’t read (TL;DR) the whole thing? Scroll to the bottom for the most important points or the “TL;DR”)
Tell Congress to pass a budget, not punt their responsibility
Congress is back to work, and so are we. Budget negotiations continue in order to avoid a government shutdown at the end of this month. As of today, we still expect Congress to pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to give them more time to finish. Time will tell.
But our focus is clear. As we heard from State Senator Kim Jackson on the September National Webinar, we cannot abdicate our responsibility to pass policies that affirm the dignity of all people, reduce poverty, and help build a world where all can thrive. Sen. Jackson was informative and inspiring and reminded us that even in the midst of daunting adversity, we must never give up. Every action matters. If you missed the webinar, please watch the recording.
Your calls and your emails to Congress help develop an impactful relationship with those offices. Your media pieces highlight for the community – and for Congress – what’s at stake and that you are holding Congress accountable. Your outreach to other prospective advocates builds the movement. It’s all in the service of one current goal: urging Congress to pass a FY26 that funds our U.S. and global poverty priorities.
So, what are our talking points this week? Contact congressional aides and urge their bosses to:
- Pass a FY26 budget that prioritizes ending poverty. For both our domestic and our global priorities.
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- Protect our global appropriations priorities. The House has spoken on solid funding for global health needs, and the Senate must now do the same.
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- Champion the Global Fund in advance of this fall’s replenishment. Consult our guide for ways Congress can step up in support.
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- Ensure that Housing Choice Vouchers and WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) are funded at levels that match current need.
- Oppose any new cuts to programs. Program cuts, rescissions, impoundments, and year-long CRs are all tools to stifle and restrict life-saving support for those impacted by poverty. They must stop.
Finally, ask members to co-sponsor the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 (more info). This bill repeals the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This bicameral bill will soon be launched and co-sponsors are needed now. Democrats are very likely to be interested in co-sponsoring, but any senator or representative can be asked.
See our Action and Allies page and our Action Center for resources, templates, and action-taking guides for group gatherings. And please reach out to RESULTS staff if you need help.
Media: Use the annual poverty data release to talk about One Big Beautiful Bill Act hardships
This morning, the U.S. Census released its annual poverty data for 2024. As expected, there was not much change from the 2023 data. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) is a more accurate measure than the official poverty measure It was 12.9 percent, not statistically different from the previous year. The SPM also showed the vital role government support plays at keeping people out of poverty. The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) combined lifted 6.8 million people above the poverty line. SNAP lifted 3.6 million and housing programs lifted 2.1 million.
This news is mixed. While it is disappointing that we did not see progress on reducing poverty last year — the by-product of a deadlocked Congress — at least things did not get worse. When the 2025 data comes out next year, the story will be much different. A slowing economy, higher prices from tariffs, and the disastrous cuts to anti-poverty programs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will likely result in higher poverty rates across the board. And it will only get worse as the OBBBA cuts take full effect over the next few years.
Use the new Census data as a media hook to remind people that poverty is a policy choice. Congress could avoid this looming crisis by rolling back OBBBA’s cuts to health care, food assistance, and other services. Remember that, in 2021, Congress chose to reduce poverty by expanding the Child Tax Credit. In 2025, Congress chose to increase poverty by passing the OBBBA. We must keep highlighting the harm this bill will cause until it is fixed.
Items of note
Claiming Space: Advocating with Confidence. Congressional offices are yours, so why not walk in with confidence to match? Advocacy can feel tough right now, but that’s exactly when your voice matters most. This series will help you claim your space. It will sharpen your message. And you’ll learn how to use motivational interviewing to turn tough conversations into powerful ones. Let’s build the confidence to make every meeting count. Plan today to join this event coming up tomorrow, September 10 at 12 p.m. ET. Registration is not required. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/92701771966 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 92701771966.
2026 Fellowship applications closed. Thank you for your interest in the RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship. Due to the high volume of applications received and the limited number of seats available for the 2026 Fellowship class, we have closed the application. The 2027 application cycle will begin next summer.
TL;DR (too long; didn’t read): Utilize our Action and Allies page for lobbying resources to use and share; use the U.S. Census annual poverty data for letters to the editor; attend tomorrow’s Claiming Space: Advocating with Confidence webinar; and note that, while the 2026 Fellowship application process is now closed, the 2027 application cycle will begin next year.
Quick Links: Action Center, Events Calendar, National Webinar recordings