RESULTS Weekly Update April 16, 2024

Quote of the Week

“Protecting the lives of babies, children and mothers through better health care is something we should all support.”

– RESULTS Contra Costa (CA) volunteer Jim Driggers in a March 13 letter to the editor in The Mercury News

Table of Contents

• Over 100 meetings from you – who’s next?
• We need your help on important actions this week
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Over 100 meetings from you – who’s next?

One hundred and three lobby meetings. 103! That’s how many lobby meetings you’ve had with members of Congress in the last two months. More than one per day. That’s with 85 different congressional offices in 28 different states. You can see why allies value the RESULTS volunteer network. They know that if you need a message taken directly to Congress, you go to RESULTS.

This effort is all part of our Community of Change campaign. You have taken our message about the Child Tax Credit, global health, vaccines, education, and nutrition to the powers that be. And have told them to do more. Thank you for this incredible effort.

RESULTS volunteers cover 350 different House and Senate offices. Getting meetings with all these offices sends a strong statement to lawmakers that constituents want Congress to solve the big problems. We have work to do, so let’s get to it.

TAKE ACTION: Who is the next office with whom you will request a meeting? However, many offices you said your group covers in your 2024 Group Roadmap, that should be your goal. Use our 2024 lobby meeting request letter to contact your House and Senate offices today. And bonus – Congress will be on recess next week, so ask to meet face-to-face! See the section below for the issues to discuss in upcoming meetings. If you have requested meetings and are not getting a response, please let RESULTS staff know. We are here to help you. Also, if you are stumped on how to move your member of Congress into action – perhaps they agree, or disagree, with everything we do – let us know and we can coach you on how to have a breakthrough. Find all the lobby materials you need on our issues on our Community of Change campaign page.

Before Congress leaves on recess (again!), can you take these important actions?

Congress is in Washington this week but will be on recess all next week. For this week, please prioritize the issues below in lobby meetings or by contacting aides in their offices. Your advocacy will help us reach our policy goals for the year. Thank you!

Make your appropriations requests (House and Senate): Appropriations deadlines are looming and we want to make sure we get our requests in. Ask your representative(s) and senators now to include our global poverty funding requests in their submissions to the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations. We have requests for maternal and child health, vaccines, nutrition, TB, the Global Fund, and education. (Please fill out each appropriations form if asked; contact RESULTS staff for help.) To see what your members of Congress have done on our issues in the past, see the congressional scoresheet.

Urge lawmakers to sign “Dear Colleague” letters (House and Senate): In addition, please ask your members of Congress to sign the “Dear Colleague” letters in support of our funding requests. The more lawmakers who sign these letters, the closer we get to meeting our funding goals in the next budget. Find the letters and other resources, including who has signed so far, on the RESULTS blog. Note: the House global education letter closes tomorrow!

Demand  a vote on the Child Tax Credit (Senate only): It has been 77 days since the House passed H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. And the Senate has done nothing. The best and only way forward is for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to schedule a vote on the bill. Having a date will put pressure on senators to decide one way or the other and will also give CTC proponents something to rally their advocates around. Continue to call and e-mail your senators this week urging them to support the bill and to push Senate leadership for a vote.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Use media to talk about poverty. Local media is a powerful tool for influencing members of Congress. We have updated sample letters to the editor (LTE) urging Congress to schedule a vote on the Child Tax Credit expansion, urging leaders to support global maternal and child health, and asking the U.S. to make a strong commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Visit our Action Center to send your next letter today. If you need coaching, join our Media Office Hour tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET (see details in Announcements below).

Talk about SNAP in House lobby meetings. Congress is overdue in passing a new Farm Bill, which includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP helps almost 40 people each month buy food. We anticipate that House leaders will release a new Farm Bill proposal in the coming weeks, which will likely include cuts to SNAP. In your lobby meetings with House members, urge them to protect and strengthen SNAP in any new Farm Bill. See our new SNAP advocacy resources on our Community of Change campaign page under U.S. nutrition.

Learn more about the “epidemic of eviction.” With high housing costs and rent affordability still out of reach for many low-income households, evictions across the country are rising. Please join RESULTS, the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty, and National Coalition for Civil Right to Counsel for the webinar, “Addressing the Epidemic of Evictions.” Panelists will provide an overview of the current state of eviction in the United States, discuss why this continues to be a problem, and what is being done to address it, and what you can do to help. The webinar is Wednesday, April 24, at 2:00 p.m. ET Register today.

Criminalizing homelessness case comes to SCOTUS. On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson. To deter people from sleeping in tents and cars in public areas, Grants Pass, OR passed an ordinance allowing the city to issue criminal fines to persons sleeping outside. Sleeping outside is not a choice; it is inevitable when one is unhoused. The ordinance has been challenged and now the Supreme Court must decide if under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution it is cruel and unusual to punish and criminalize people experiencing homelessness when they have nowhere else to go. An adverse ruling could open the door to communities across the country making homelessness a crime. A decision is expected this summer. Stay tuned to more from RESULTS about the Grants Pass case as it progresses.

Thank you for your help with the World Bank letter. We appreciate everyone who asked their senators to sign the letter urging the new World Bank president to prioritize resources to low-income countries. We are still getting a final count on who signed and will have that information for you soon.

Announcements

Submit your Grassroots Board nominations. This is the final week to submit candidate nominations for the upcoming Grassroots Board election. If you’ve thought of serving on the RESULTS Board, please submit your name or the name of someone you believe would make a good Board member today. Read more in our blog announcement. Nominations close next Wednesday, April 24. Then mark your calendars for Thursday, May 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET for the Grassroots Board Candidates’ Forum.

Consider RESULTS on your special occasion. This month, longtime RESULTS advocate Ellen Kempler is celebrating her 80th birthday! Ellen has spent more than half of her life as a volunteer and ardent supporter of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. She is using this milestone occasion as an opportunity to share the work of RESULTS with her friends and family. You can, too! Visit Ellen’s fundraising page and create your own friends and family fundraiser for RESULTS at www.results.org/donate/fundraise.

Join media office hour tomorrow. If you need help drafting, editing, or submitting a letter to the editor or op-ed, please join our Media Office Hour tomorrow, April 17, 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Come any time that hour with your questions. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

Please report your recent advocacy actions. Please make sure to report your recent lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. These reports are invaluable. Not only do they help us celebrate your amazing advocacy, they also help us attract allies and donors who want to support organizations that have real-world impact. If you want to check to see if something has been reported, look at a lobby meeting and media report lists.

Learn how to build partnerships in action. Want to learn how to start engaging your community in advocacy through partnership? On Tuesday, May 7 at 8:00 pm ET, join the “Building Community Partnerships to End Poverty” webinar. We will map out community connections, create an action plan, and practice how to initiate a one-on-one conversation with a potential partner. All are essential and valuable skills to growing the movement for the end of poverty. To join, please register at: https://tinyurl.com/RESULTSPartnerships.

Join Grassroots Director Candidates’ Forum in May. Come meet your nominees for the Grassroots Board! Thanks to those of you who submitted nominations to fill open Grassroots Director seat on the RESULTS Board (candidates will be announced in the coming weeks). On Thursday, May 9 at 9:00 pm ET, the current Grassroots Directors will host a town hall meeting to introduce you to the candidates and provide information on when voting will begin. Please join to learn about the choices for the next grassroots voice on the Board. Join at: www.results.zoom.us/j/9909684715  (no registration required).

Interested in being a Regional Coordinator? The Regional Coordinator (RC) is a key player in the RESULTS community. RCs work with RESULTS staff to provide training, cheerleading, and support for our network of groups. Ideal candidates for this volunteer role have experience as a RESULTS Group Leader, but all inquiries are welcome. Want to learn more? Contact Lisa Marchal.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: This week, the House and the Senate are in session.

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

Tuesday, April 16: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, April 16: Together Women Rise advocacy chapter webinar, 8:30 p.m. ET. Learn more about this opportunity.

Wednesday, April 17: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/95416781155 or dial (301) 715-8592, meeting ID: 954 1678 1155. No registration required.

Wednesday, April 17: Media Office Hour, 2:00 p.m. ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or call 312-626-6799 (Meeting ID: 936 6800 5494). No registration required.

Wednesday, April 17: New Advocate Orientation, 2:00 p.m. ET. Register today!

Friday, April 19: Anti-Oppression 301 – Oppression: The Missing Perspectives, 12:00 p.m. ET. Register for this special 90-minute workshop.

Monday, April 22: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 p.m. ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Wednesday, April 24: New Advocate Mentor Community Webinar, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register today!

Saturday, May 4: National Webinar, 1:00 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar.

Tuesday, May 7: Building Community Partnerships to End Poverty, 8:00-9:15 p.m. ET. Register and join us!

Thursday, May 9: Outreach and Event Office Hour, 2:00 p.m. ET. Drop in via https://results.zoom.us/j/94004748060 or dial (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 940 0474 8060.

Thursday, May 9: Global Allies Program (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers), 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Thursday, May 9: Grassroots Director Candidates’ Forum, 9:00 p.m. ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/9909684715 (no registration required).

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/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.