RESULTS Weekly Update August 15, 2023

Quote of the Week

“It is time America ends homelessness, hunger and the stress poverty brings. We are the richest country in the world, with more poverty than any of our peer countries. Our voices can help pass initiatives to change this catastrophe.”

– RESULTS Snohomish, WA volunteer Willie Dickerson in an August 10 letter to the editor in the Yakima Herald-Republic

Table of Contents

• Take action on TB – Senate letter deadline extended
• Getting lobby meetings is tough and necessary
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Take action on TB – Senate letter deadline extended

We have helpful news to report. The Senate TB sign-on letter deadline is extended to September 7. This letter to the Biden Administration asks them to show bold leadership at the U.N. High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (UNHLM) in September. We now have 3 weeks to call, e-mail, or request signers during August recess meetings.

If we want the Administration to be a leader on tuberculosis prevention and treatment, as well as build long-term support for TB in Congress, we need more signers. Current signers are Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Brown (D-OH; sponsor), Cantwell (D-WA), Coons (D-DE), Feinstein (D-CA), Kaine (D-VA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Markey (D-MA), Murray (D-WA), Padilla (D-CA), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Tillis (R-NC), Warren (D-MA), and Young (R-IN; sponsor).

Note, this will likely be the last extension we get. The UNHLM is September 22, so the letter will need to be sent right after the September 7 deadline to give the Administration time to prepare. Please take full advantage of this opportunity to push your senators to sign on now.

TAKE ACTION: Ask your senators to sign the Senate UNHLM tuberculosis letter today. The letter could make a big difference in how the U.S. leads on tuberculosis for the future. When contacting Senate offices, please send them a copy of the letter and the reasons why you want them to sign on (if you need help, use messaging from our online alert). Be persistent – you deserve a response and, if they decline, their reasons why. And now with extra time, keep the pressure on senators to sign by submitting a letter to the editor and ask your Action Networks to send a message to their senators.

Getting lobby meetings is tough and necessary

There are three more weeks left in the August recess. We appreciate all you are doing to secure lobby meetings with members of Congress and their staff this month. And from what we are hearing, things are tough out there. While many requests are going out, responses are few and far between. Perhaps offices are actually taking vacations this month and are not available. Perhaps schedules are already booked up. And perhaps some offices are just unresponsive. We feel your frustration and are grateful for all the effort you are expending to get meetings.

Faced with these obstacles, it would be easy to give up. But too much is at stake. With more kids in poverty now than there were two years ago, we have to keep trying. With more people dying of TB than in the previous decade, we have to keep trying. With more people dealing with rent that is too darn high, we have to keep trying. And with tens of millions of children around the world struggling to read at even a basic level, we have to keep trying.

To many in Washington advocacy circles (and certainly to us), RESULTS volunteers are the gold standard. Organizations envy you because of the passion, intelligence, and tenacity your bring to anti-poverty work. And that’s because, your advocacy accomplishes great things. This work is hard, it is slow, it is disappointing. But it is also exciting and transforming. And most definitely is it necessary.

We frequently hear the quote from Margaret Mead but it’s still true to “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

TAKE ACTION: Keep asking congressional offices for meetings in August. Use these meetings to talk with them about the Child Tax Credit, the End TB Now Act, and the READ Act Reauthorization. If you don’t, who will? In some cases, you may be the only people discussing these issues with your members of Congress. These meetings are your opportunity to make a difference. Visit our Working with Congress page to find resources to help you schedule and have powerful lobby meetings. And as always, please ask for help. If you are trying and trying to get a meeting and just can’t get through, talk with RESULTS staff during one of our Lobby Prep Office Hours (Tuesdays in August at 8:00 pm ET; see Announcements below for details) or contact RESULTS staff directly.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Support global education. Request READ Act co-sponsorships. Ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor the READ Act (H.R.681, S.41) in both chambers. Make sure these pieces of legislation are part of your asks during your August recess meetings. Schools are already starting back into session around the country. We value basic education as an essential building block for quality of life. No one deserves less.

Continue to ask for End TB Now co-sponsorships. The End Tuberculosis Now Act has successfully moved through committee in both chambers, but we need your voice to help keep up momentum. Ask your representatives and senators to co-sponsor the bill in your August lobby meetings and using our online alert. Also urge them to tell House and Senate leadership to give the bills floor time for passage

Media hooks for the week. Use the hook ideas below to submit a letter to the editor this week. If you need a template, use our online media actions to edit and submit your letter today.

• U.S. Poverty: Some House Republicans are getting behind expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as a way to compromise on a tax deal this year. Submit a letter to the editor thanking them and urging other members of Congress to follow their lead and pass an expansion of the CTC to more children in families with low income.
• Global Poverty: Read this informative blog on what’s happened recently with appropriations in the Senate. It was a mixed bag of wins and losses, and it will provide plenty of letter to the editor fodder. What wins do we need to preserve as the appropriations process continues? What next steps must Congress take to keep our global health priorities funded appropriately? Read, then write!

Announcements

Join the fall Friends & Family fundraising campaign. Inspire your network to support our mission and help RESULTS meet our fundraising goals for our fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Check out our fundraising toolkit and create an online fundraising page.

Join tonight’s Lobby Prep Office Hour for lobby meeting help. RESULTS staff is holding Lobby Prep Office Hours each Tuesday in August. Join to get coaching on any question you have about August recess lobby meetings. The remaining office hours are August 15, 22, and 29, 8:00-9:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/98582131855 or dial (301) 715-8592, meeting ID: 985 8213 1855 (no registration required). If you prefer more personalized coaching, please contact RESULTS staff to schedule a lobby prep call with your group.

Check out our new congressional timeline. Ever wonder when issues we work on are most important? Use our new congressional timeline tool to see how our issues fit into the annual congressional calendar.

Apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. If you know someone aged 20-35 who wants to harness their political power, sharpen skills, and take action on important issues, invite them to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship.  RESULTS Fellows advocate at the intersections of poverty and anti-oppression and learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. Applications are now being accepted through October 31. If they want more information, urge them to register for our Fellowship information session on September 13 at 5:00 pm ET. Any questions, please email [email protected].

Attend anti-oppression training next week. For those who have not yet had the opportunity to attend Diversity and Inclusion 101: Implicit Bias, Microaggressions and Understanding of Systemic Racism and Oppression, we invite you to our next session on Friday, August 25 at 12:00 pm ET. This 90-min workshop, led by RESULTS Coastal Connecticut volunteer Dr. Christina B. Gunther, Ph. D., a researcher, and clinical assistant professor at Sacred Heart University, will focus on recognizing power, privilege, and unconscious bias, and stereotype representations that target inclusive and anti-racist strategies. Register here!

Interested in being a Regional Coordinator? The Regional Coordinator (RC) is a key player in the RESULTS community. RCs are the brilliant network of people who provide training, cheerleading, and support for our network of groups. RCs work directly with RESULTS staff members, receive leadership coaching, coaching on powerful speaking, legislative updates and attend a yearly retreat for skills development. Ideal candidates for this volunteer role have experience in a RESULTS Group Leader role, but we welcome all inquiries. Want to learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity? Contact Lisa Marchal. Let’s chat!

Remember, no policy forums this week. To keep focus on lobby meetings this month, there are no U.S. or global policy poverty forums in August. They will resume in September. And due to the Labor Day holiday, the September National Webinar will be Saturday, September 9.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: July 31-September 4. The House and Senate are on recess.

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

Tuesday, August 15: Lobby Prep Office Hour, 8:00 pm ET. Bring questions for RESULTS Staff about your August recess lobby meetings. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/98582131855 or dial (301) 715-8592, meeting ID: 985 8213 1855.

Tuesday, August 15: Together Women Rise/RESULTS Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Thursday, August 17: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Drop in via https://results.zoom.us/j/98524229370 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 985 2422 9370.

Tuesday, August 22: Lobby Prep Office Hour, 8:00 pm ET. Bring questions for RESULTS Staff about your August recess lobby meetings. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/98582131855 or dial (301) 715-8592, meeting ID: 985 8213 1855.

Tuesday, August 22: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET (note the new evening time). Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Wednesday, August 23: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. No registration required.

Thursday, August 24: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Drop in via https://results.zoom.us/j/98524229370 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 985 2422 9370.

Thursday, August 24: New Advocate Mentor Connection Call – August Recess Edition, 8:00 pm ET. Read more about this sharing and socializing opportunity. Register today.

Friday, August 25: Diversity and Inclusion 101, 12:00 pm ET. Register today.

Monday, August 28: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Tuesday, August 29: Lobby Prep Office Hour, 8:00 pm ET. Bring questions for RESULTS Staff about your August recess lobby meetings. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/98582131855 or dial (301) 715-8592, meeting ID: 985 8213 1855.

Thursday, August 31: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Drop in via https://results.zoom.us/j/98524229370 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 985 2422 9370.

Saturday, September 9: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Note adjusted date. Register today.

Wednesday, September 13: RESULTS Fellowship information session, 5:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, September 14: Global Allies Program with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Grassroots Resources

Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.

Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].

Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our Volunteer Information Form to add or edit volunteer info and to sign up for updates and alerts.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.