RESULTS Weekly Update August 22, 2023

“We need to let Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola know that the Child Tax Credit needs to be renewed and expanded.”

– RESULTS Anchorage volunteer Patricia Kennish in an August 21 letter to the editor in the Anchorage Daily News

Table of Contents

• Senate letter deadline extended, but not for long
• Use August recess meetings to set up CTC expansion this fall
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Senate TB letter deadline extended, but not for long

You have been working hard to get signatures on a crucial Senate TB sign-on letter to the Biden Administration asking them to show bold leadership at the UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (UNHLM) on September 22. Thanks in great part to you, we now have 15 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). The deadline for signing this letter has been extended to September 7, but that time will evaporate quickly and, unfortunately, signatures have stalled. Can you help break the logjam?

Our goal is for the Administration to be a leader on tuberculosis prevention and treatment, not just in September, but for the long haul. Congress must become a long-term champion for this issue as well. Signatures on this letter will help get us there.

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. If you need assistance figuring out what you wish to say, use messaging from our online alert. Polite persistence will be key to receiving your response and rationale. You can also keep the pressure on senators to sign by submitting a letter to the editor and asking your Action Networks to send a message to their senators as well.

Use August recess meetings to set up CTC expansion this fall

As you meet with members of Congress and their staff this month, have you reviewed our resources to help you lobby for an expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC))? If not, let’s take a look:

• CTC Leave-Behind. This is your go-to document for your lobby meetings. It provides data and arguments to help you make a strong case for expanding the CTC to more families with low income. Make to give this to lawmakers and their aides in your meetings.
• Responding to CTC myths. The CTC will cause people to quit work and live off the payments. It is too partisan. It costs too much. If you’ve heard these arguments, please read our RESULTS blog post providing helpful responses to these common objections.
• Making the case with conservatives. Do you have a hard time discussing the CTC with conservative members of Congress? See our blog post on ways to enlist their support to expand the CTC.
• Tax equity page. For additional tools to help you talk about the CTC in lobby meetings, check out the resources on our Economic Justice in the Tax Code campaign page.

With the August recess more than half over, use these resources to push for an expansion of the Child Tax Credit this year. In Washington, most of the fall will be a fight over the FY2024 budget. Once a final budget deal is reached, any tax changes would likely be added to it. That’s why it is so important to meet with lawmakers now about the CTC. Keep the issue front and center so that when things finally come together this fall, a meaningful expansion of the CTC is included.

TAKE ACTION: Request meetings with congressional offices to discuss expanding the CTC in 2023. Use the resources above, and others found on our Working with Congress page to help you. Note that senators will return to Washington on September 5 and representatives will return on September 12. Try to meet with them before then. Remember that staff are here to help. Ask questions of RESULTS staff on tonight’s Lobby Prep Office Hour (see details below) or contact us directly.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

New resources to help with CTC lobbying. Two recent publications can help you make the case for the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to even the most skeptical offices. The first, there is new research again confirming the expanded CTC had no negative effect on employment. The second is an article from the Institute for Family Studies and AEI that argues for expanding the state CTC in Utah. While RESULTS does not agree with everything in the article and how it is framed, we do agree the CTC should be expanded in Utah and everywhere. This article is a great way to show that expanding the CTC has bipartisan support.

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. Foundational literacy and numeracy are addressed in this legislation. Everyone deserves the building block of a good basic education for future quality of life.

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 by using our online alert. Also, urge your legislators to tell House and Senate leadership to give the bills floor time for passage. This is part of our strategy for key U.S. leadership in the run-up to the UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis this fall . . . and beyond.

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: With the extreme heat many Americans are enduring this summer, many are struggling to keep up with rising utility bills. Paying bills was one of the main uses of the expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in 2021. Submit a letter to the editor urging Congress to expand the CTC again to help families cover basic household needs.
• Global Poverty: International Literacy Day is coming up fast; it will be September 8. Use this special day as a hook for your own letter to the editor on global education and the READ Act (H.R.681, S.41).

Announcements

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 are only two remaining office hours this month: August 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.

Join the fall Friends & Family fundraising campaign. New numbers on donor leverage are in! Every $1 in support of RESULTS helps create approximately $2,000 worth of impact! Learn more by reading how one donor became a lifelong volunteer (and then member of our staff), and get inspired to step out for RESULTS this fall.

Join media office hour tomorrow. Grassroots media is a vital component of any advocacy campaign. If you are stuck working on a letter to the editor, need help finding a media hook, or just want to learn more about using media to influence Congress, join our Media Office Hour tomorrow, August 23, 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Come anytime that hour with your questions. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

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.

New Advocate Orientations have resumed!  All new RESULTS volunteers attend a one-hour orientation to introduce them to our organization. During the orientation, we’ll share about how new volunteers can get involved in advocacy, go over some basic skills, and highlight some issues on which we work. These webinars are a great introduction to RESULTS. You can invite anyone who is new to RESULTS to attend an orientation and learn more! RSVP for an upcoming orientation.

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 accepted through October 31. For more information, register for our Fellowship information session on September 13 at 5:00 pm ET. Any questions, please email [email protected].

Attend anti-oppression training this 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 join one of the next sessions taking place 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!

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: The Senate is on recess until September 5 and the House is on recess until September 12.

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

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.

Wednesday, August 23: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more and register today.

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.

Tuesday, August 29: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Learn more and register today.

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: New Advocate Orientation, 12:30 pm ET. Learn more and register today.

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

Tuesday, September 19: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET (note the new evening time). Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, September 19: Together Women Rise/RESULTS Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.  

Wednesday, September 20: Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm ET. (Choose your time.) Join the 12:30 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/93288388695. Join the 8:00 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676. Please note that the 8:00 pm ET session will be a media training. No registration required.

Thursday, September 21: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.  

Thursday, September 21: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.

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.