Global Weekly Update July 18, 2011
Keep Up the Microfinance Momentum: New House Legislation!
Congratulations on an amazing effort to secure 97 House cosponsors on the letter to USAID on microfinance funding (signers listed below)! The list includes 15 Republicans and members of the Tea Party and the Progressive Caucus!
To capitalize on this momentum, last week Reps. Smith (R-NJ) and Rush (D-IL) also introduced Microenterprise Empowerment and Job Creation Act of 2011 (H.R. 2524). The bill reauthorizes previous microenterprise legislation (PL 108-484) and provides means and incentives for USAID to direct substantially more microenterprise resources to the very poor.
Take action today! Ask your representatives to cosponsor the bill!
Use this action sheet on the bill — it has great facts about microfinance and tips on how to ask your rep to cosponsor.
This bill fact sheet summarizes the bill — you can share it with your rep’s office.
Visit our microfinance page of the website, under “Take Action,” for more resources and updates on the bill!
Final signers (97): Baldwin (D-WI), Bartlett (R-MD), Berkley (D-NV), Berman (D-CA), Bishop S. (D-GA), Bordallo (D-GU), Blumenauer (D-OR), Brown C. (D-FL), Butterfield (D-NC), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Castor (D-FL), Carney (D-DE), Carter (R-TX), Carson (D-IN), Christensen (D-VI), Connolly (D-VA), Conyers (D-MI), Clarke (D-NY), Davis D. (D-IL), Davis S. (D-CA), De Fazio (D-OR), Degette (D-CO), Dicks (D-WA), Doyle (D-PA), Doggett (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Ellison (D-MN), Engel (D-NY), Eshoo (D-CA), Farr (D-CA), Flores B (R-TX), Fortenberry (R-NE), Fudge (D-OH), Filner (D-CA), Hastings (D-FL), Heinrich (D-NM), Hinchey (D-NY), Herrera B (R-WA), Holt (D-NJ), Johnson E.B. (D-TX), Johnson H. (D-GA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Green G. (D-TX), Gutierrez (D-IL), Clarke H. (D-MI), Honda (D-HI), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Kildee (D-MI), Larsen (D-WA), Lee (D-CA), Lewis J. (D-GA), Lofgren (D-CA), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Matheson (D-UT), McCaul (R-TX), McCotter (R-MI), McDermott (D-WA), McNerney (D-CA), Miller B. (D-NC), Miller G. (R-CA), Moran (D-VA), Murphy C. (D-CT), Olver (D-MA), Payne (D-NJ), Peters (D-MI), Peterson (D-MN), Price (D-NC), Rangel (D-NY), Reichert (R-WA), Richardson (D-CA), Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rothman (D-NJ), Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rush (D-IL), Ryan (D-OH), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schrader (D-OR), Shuler (D-NC), Sires (D-NJ), Smith A. (D-WA), Smith C. (R-NJ), Speier (D-CA), Stark (D-CA), Terry (R-NE), Towns (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Waters (D-CA), Wilson (D-FL), Woolsey (D-CA), Wu (D-OR), Yarmuth (D-KY), Young (R-AK), Young (R-IN).
Take Action: Budget Balancing on Backs of the Poorest Is Not One of Our Values
We all understand that the U.S. government needs to have a more balanced budget. Balancing a budget involves looking at both revenue and expense sides of the equation so that one side doesn’t outweigh the other. But what some in Congress are proposing is to balance only by cutting the expense side of the equation and to cut programs for those who can’t afford big changes to their personal budgets. They also want to dramatically cut life-saving foreign aid programs that represent only about 1 percent of the overall budget and, ultimately, have little effect on our deficit. If budgets are moral documents, then we should be embarrassed by what is being proposed.
Congress needs to know that we want them to use a balanced approach to the budget and that effective poverty-focused programs should be exempt from cuts. They also need to know that we oppose arbitrary budget ceilings and triggers. Call and/or write to your senators about this issue now using these tools:
Protecting Families in Poverty Action Alert
Nice to meet you. We are RESULTS.
Do you know someone who would thrive in RESULTS; a friend with a passion for international affairs, or a colleague who is interested in politics? Want to get some more people involved in your local group but aren’t sure how to introduce them to RESULTS?
Starting in July we will host a monthly Introductory Calls to RESULTS for people who might want to get involved but need to know more about us. The call will be great place to send new activists in your group, curious friends and family members, acquaintances you meet, and people you’d like to recruit to join our organization.
Our first call will be Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at 9 pm ET. The calls will last about 30 minutes and will allow people to get a short and sweet taste of who RESULTS is, what we do, and why we do it. Please invite any interested parties to RSVP for this call here: http://tinyurl.com/64krwpn. If you have questions about the call please email Mary Peterson, Global Grassroots Associate for Expansion.
Now Accepting Grassroots Board Nominations!
A word from Cindy Changyit Levin, Grassroots Development Associate and former board member:
I ran for the board in 2009 because I felt empowered and encouraged by RESULTS in every aspect of my volunteering. I thought my experiences as a RESULTS volunteer and group leader, my age demographic, and my perspective of working on other boards and groups could bring in a unique viewpoint. But, mainly, I just knew that I wanted to offer everything I could to this remarkable organization. Grassroots involvement is the secret sauce in the recipe of RESULTS’ success. It’s important that we have empowered partners involved at every level, from local partners to the regional coordinators to the Board of Directors.
We are seeking nominations for two RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund Grassroots Board Members to serve for a term of three years and represent the volunteer body on the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the board. Grassroots board members provide a particular bridge between the grassroots network, board decisions, and organizational priorities. Members meet frequently by teleconference and are in communication via e-mail and telephone calls, must be able to participate at this level, and are expected to chair or serve on a Board Committee. The full board meets at least yearly face-to-face. We are encouraging participation from diverse populations including youth, young adults and racial and ethnic minorities. Active volunteers may nominate other active volunteers for this position. Please forward names and phone numbers of any nominees to Jamila White-Bandah, by July 25, 2011. Please feel free to contact the RESULTS office at (202) 783-7100 if you have any questions.
There are some cuts that do not heal.
— Marian Wright Edelman, speaking to the RESULTS International Conference on June 20, 2011
July 27: RESULTS Introductory Call at 9 pm ET.
August 8–September 5: Congressional recess (a great time for a face-to-face meeting with your legislator back in your district)
August 13: Global Conference Call: Focus on Education for All. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709.
September 10: Global Conference Call: Focus on Education for All. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709