Standing up for SNAP

When SNAP (formerly food stamps) was threatened, you pushed back with countless calls, letters, and more than 260 pieces of media. Your persistence paid off: in December 2018, Congress passed a bipartisan farm bill that protects SNAP. The difference between the proposed cuts and the final bill is a difference of more than 9 billion meals for low-income people across the country.

“It’s time to break the destructive narrative around SNAP and other assistance programs. But to do that, we need to step back and examine our own assumptions about those living in poverty. We need to reject patronizing, counterproductive policies that don’t help anyone work or live.” – RESULTS Expert on Poverty Clara Moore (left) in a CNN op-ed.

Reversing proposed cuts to global anti-poverty programs

When the White House proposed severe cuts to global anti-poverty programs for a second consecutive year, you once again fought back. After months of dogged advocacy, Congress reversed the extreme cuts and even increased funding for some programs.

You helped secure the biggest ever global investment in education

After a sustained campaign by RESULTS advocates across the globe, world leaders gathered in Senegal and made the biggest ever global commitment to fund education. Low-income and conflict-affected countries pledged a majority of the funds, with donor countries pledging an additional $2.3 billion to the Global Partnership for Education over three years. Meanwhile, Congress made the biggest-ever annual contribution to the Global Partnership, building on years of advocacy.

Making our #LettersGetLOUD in 2018

You kicked off 2018 by writing hundreds of letters and personally delivering them to members of Congress as part of our #LettersGetLOUD campaign.

Some of you were inspired to get creative. In Omaha, longtime RESULTS volunteer Frances Moore decided to forgo a typical gathering with cake and presents for her 75^th birthday. Instead, she threw a “purposeful party” at her church to support #LettersGetLOUD. Her guests ended up generating over 400 letters asking their members of Congress to protect funding for critical anti-poverty programs around the world. Then, another volunteer with the RESULTS Omaha group hand-delivered the letters to their senators and representatives during a trip to Washington, DC.

All across the country — from Omaha to Miami to Houston — you mobilized your communities in the fight against poverty, expanded the RESULTS movement, and built powerful new relationships with members of Congress.

Demanding action on tuberculosis

Together with ACTION partners around the world, you have spent years demanding bold action on tuberculosis, the world’s biggest infectious killer. In September 2018, your efforts culminated in the first-ever high-level UN meeting on TB, where world leaders committed to reaching 40 million people with treatment by 2022. Meanwhile, leaders in the House and Senate responded to your calls to increase funding for tuberculosis by more than $40 million.

‘Every child deserves a chance to grow up healthy’

In early 2018, funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program — which covers nearly nine million kids and pregnant women at low or no cost — hung in the balance. It was a situation that directly impacted Kali Dougherty (right), a RESULTS volunteer and Expert on Poverty.

“Parents shouldn’t be forced into debt or bankruptcy just so their kids can get the care they need. No child should go without care simply because it’s too expensive. And families shouldn’t be left in agonizing limbo, not knowing if a child’s life-saving treatment or medication will continue to be covered,” Kali wrote in a call to action.

So when CHIP was in danger, together with RESULTS advocates and partners across the country, Kali insisted that Congress take immediate action. A short time later, they did, and CHIP was fully reauthorized for another five years.