Global Poverty Weekly Update February 15, 2016
Global Poverty CampaignsWeekly Update | Week of February 15, 2016 |
Quote of the Week"In this time of world crisis, where we are losing innocent lives at home and abroad, here is an opportunity for all of us to agree. Together, we can end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths around the world within a generation . . . " |
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Appropriations: Sign-on Letters Hot Off the Press!Appropriations Sign-on Letters Now Released. We intentionally delayed this week's Weekly Update so you could get the latest appropriations information hot off the press: sign-on letters for our issues are now in play in Congress! Since late January, and since the President released his annual budget, we’ve been particularly focused on making appropriations requests for fiscal year 2017 (FY17). You have been hard at work on those requests because you know the importance of those requests. The annual appropriations process is a time to influence how we prioritize our funding for issues that provide care and access to services to the most vulnerable. However, there is now a new layer of opportunity through newly released sign-on letters. A sign-on letter is circulated by members of Congress (like a petition) to get other members of Congress to sign on to show their support for an issue (also called a “Dear Colleague”). These letters can have a lot of sway with appropriators when a strong number of their colleagues are asking them to support a cause, especially if there is bipartisan support! We have letters to appropriators circulating in the House supporting 1) robust funding for Maternal and Child Health, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Nutrition and 2) increased funding for PEPFAR and $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. (We expect House Basic Education and Tuberculosis letters in the coming week and additional Senate letters soon.) Deadlines to keep in mind:
For complete information on appropriations sign-on letters and how to take action on them, check out our new blog post by Senior Policy Associate Crickett Nicovich. Steps to Take for Appropriations Requests: Some congressional offices want appropriations requests now! That's because the deadline for Senators to submit requests to the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations is March 18, and the House deadline is March 22. So now is the time to use our appropriations action sheet, one-pagers for each of our issues, and laser talk to make our annual appropriations requests of our members of Congress so they can meet these deadlines. We can make these crucial funding requests each year, and engaging in this deep level of advocacy is a true specialty of you, our advocates. If you have any questions on the appropriations request submission process, don't hesitate to contact RESULTS staffers Crickett Nicovich, Ken Patterson, or Lisa Marchal. Background. Did you miss the recent webinar on appropriations messaging? View the playback on our website! How can we make a great case for U.S. funding for global development? What messages work best in our conversations with Congress? This webinar playback will help get those questions answered for you. Or want to know more about how appropriations even works? Check out this informative infographic on our website. The Reach Act: Goals for the End of March. (Celebrating Good Progress So Far)We've hit a watermark! We have 80 representatives on the House bill! Thirty-six Republicans and 44 Democrats are now cosponsoring H.R.3706, the House version of the Reach Act. Such incredible work! We're getting so close to our March 31 goal of 100 cosponsors, with a balance of Republicans and Democrats. Plus, we have 12 cosponsors on S.1911, the Senate version of the Reach Act, again with a balance of Republicans and Democrats. We want to get to 25 by the end of March. Furthermore, we have generated over 200 pieces of media in 36 states on the Reach Act. We want to get media in all 50 states as soon as we can. Four big ways to help us reach our big 100/25/50 goals: 1. Book meetings with your legislators to discuss the Reach Act and make your requests. 2. Call your representative about the Reach Act. Ask Democrats to bring along a Republican colleague. 3. Or write your senators! Again, ask Democrats to bring along a Republican colleague. 4. Even write your local paper! Have you tweeted out your latest published piece? Take Note!1. Finish Group Planning. Find the group planning materials on our website. You will also find a link to the Global Grassroots Calendar, which will be updated on an ongoing basis. Please submit your completed group plans to your Regional Coordinator as soon as possible. 2. Did You Miss . . . ? If you missed our recent national grassroots webinar featuring Dr. Mark Dybul or our training webinar on growing your group through great outreach, you can click and listen to the playbacks! 3. Tuberculosis in the News. A powerful piece on tuberculosis just appeared in the Washington Post in advance of World TB Day and is a perfect opportunity for an equally powerful letter to the editor in response. Read, then write! 4. What Are You Doing the Last Week of June? Join us in DC for the 2016 International Conference! Watch for more information as plans unfold. 5. Know An Aspiring Young Leader? We are looking for the next generation of young activists and leaders in fighting poverty at home and abroad. RESULTS will train and guide you to create personal relationships with policymakers in Congress and other branches of government. We’ll train and support you to speak powerfully and engage with the media and your community. RESULTS has proven over the past 35 years that when people like you use their voices effectively, we can make progress towards ending poverty. For more information, see our website. 6. Does the Past Condemn Us? Check out this terrific playback of a recent discussion on U.S. foreign assistance's future, held at the Center for Global Development. From Strength to Strength . . . Support For Reaching Your Goals1. Read Up on Our New Group Starts Across the Network! New Hampshire, Delaware, Kansas, Oklahoma . . . RESULTS groups are sprouting up everywhere. Read all about it! 2. Current and Incoming Global Group Leaders: Come To a Fall Training! We have a terrific opportunity for leaders of global poverty campaigns groups to spend a weekend learning about our global health campaigns, sharpening skills and building camaraderie. Slots are still available for our two September trainings. Sign up online. |
Upcoming Learning OpportunitiesFebruary 26, 1 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. The perfect RESULTS primer. Contact us with any questions and RSVP for the call. March 12, 2 pm ET. Join the February national webinar for grassroots, global campaigns. Focus: World TB Day. Login information: https://www.fuzemeeting.com/fuze/f2988286/30204806. To join by phone only, dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 30204806. March 23. World TB Day Outreach Webinar. Stay tuned for more details. June 25-28. RESULTS 2016 International Conference. Resources at Your FingertipsSubscribe to the Weekly Update Advocacy Resources (Weekly updates, action sheets, online action alerts, and more) Global Poverty Campaigns Background Report Your 2016 Actions 2015 & 2016 Global Congressional Scorecards (See global poverty actions your members of Congress have taken over the past few years.) Who Are the New(est) Members of Congress? (scroll down page) |