RESULTS Weekly Update February 14, 2023

Quote of the Week

“We all need physical safety before we can do anything else. Without a roof over our heads, that sense of security is impossible.”

– RESULTS Expert on Poverty Pamela Covington in a February 3 op-ed in Counter Punch

Table of Contents

• Set the Agenda in Congress on global health and education through appropriations
• Use lobby meetings to build bipartisan support for the CTC and RTC
• Register for Thursday’s U.S. and Global policy forums
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Set the Agenda in Congress on global health and education through appropriations

You’ve likely heard by now that advocates coast-to-coast are working to set up meetings with each senator and representative we cover. It’s our Set the Agenda campaign, and the momentum is picking up. On our dynamic meeting map, you can spot every place where you, the advocates, have had a meeting with a member of Congress so far this congressional session.

How does this intersect with our global poverty work? Congress is beginning to consider fiscal year (FY24) spending priorities via appropriations. The appropriations process is when global poverty alleviation gets – or doesn’t get – funding. Funding for global issues like malnutrition, tuberculosis, education, and maternal/child health are all on the line. Cuts are possible. This is unacceptable. The U.S. must lead by ensuring strategic, compassionate, bold investments in these areas. Will you weigh in with your legislators? Will you make sure your members of Congress know this is important to you?

TAKE ACTION: Work with your group to set up lobby meetings now with your members of Congress. Plan to talk about appropriations for our global poverty priorities. (Contact Katie Fleischer to schedule a lobby prep call for your group. Our policy staff is ready to help you prepare for your lobby meetings.) We have brand new appropriations memos, a sample meeting request letter, issue backgrounders, and more. You can find these and other resources on our Set the Agenda and Lobbying webpages. Then encourage other advocates in your circle, like those in your Action Network, to support your meetings by writing Congress about the importance of prioritizing global health and education in appropriations. Use our February Action Sheet as the agenda for a local meeting and start writing!

Use lobby meetings to build bipartisan support for the CTC and RTC

Every time a new Congress comes to power, we must reset our expectations of how and when legislative success will come. New opportunities and new challenges arise. But our Set the Agenda campaign is about taking advantage of both.

The New York Times ran a story last week that highlights your first opportunity to build support for our U.S. poverty campaigns. The article highlights how last year’s Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade has prompted some conservative lawmakers and policy analysts to discuss enacting economic policies that help families and children.

In this Congress where Republicans control the House and Democrats control the Senate, any progress on our issues will have to be bipartisan. And we have to adjust our expectations of what that will look like. Will we get enactment of the full 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) with monthly payments in this Congress? Not likely. But this article shows that it is possible to expand the current CTC to include more of the 19 million children who are now excluded from the full CTC. Will we get a monthly, refundable Renter Tax Credit (RTC) to help renters struggling with skyrocketing housing costs in this Congress? Not likely. But this article shows that lawmakers are open to helping people meet basic needs like housing.

Progress, not perfection. The NYT article shows us that a door is open. Use your Set the Agenda lobby meetings to take your first steps through it.

TAKE ACTION: Schedule your lobby meetings to start building bipartisan support for expanding the CTC and enacting an RTC. If you are speaking with Republicans or Democrats, ask them who they are talking to on the other side of the aisle to build support for these policies. Don’t let either side blame the other for inaction – to shake hands, someone has to reach out first. Find resources to help you on our Set the Agenda and Lobbying pages (sample meeting request, laser talks, policy requests, background briefs, and an updated Renter Tax Credit policy brief). Also, please be sure to contact Katie Fleischer to schedule a lobby prep call with RESULTS staff to help you get ready for your lobby meetings.

Register for Thursday’s U.S. and Global policy forums

Join us this Thursday, February 16 for our monthly U.S. and Global Poverty Policy Forums. This month, we are focusing both forums on helping you have meaningful conversations with congressional offices, especially those who are skeptical of our policy goals, using “motivational interviewing” techniques. On the U.S. Forum, we’ll discuss how to talk about the Child Tax Credit and Renter Tax Credit. On the Global Forum, we’ll discuss how to talk about our current global poverty appropriations requests. Join us to learn to deepen your advocacy skills on these important issues.

TAKE ACTION: Join our U.S. and Global Policy Forums this Thursday, February 16. You must register for each forum to attend. Register for the U.S. Forum at 8:00 pm ET and the Global Forum at 9:00 pm ET today.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

RESULTS Blog: Relive your 2022 successes. Check out our new RESULTS Blog post for a recap of your 2022 legislative successes and how to build on them in 2023. Also, read our recent blog posts from our excellent policy staff on the Child Tax Credit, Renter Tax Credit, and global education. They are great resources for your own learning and upcoming lobby meetings.

SOTU highlights RESULTS issues. In last week’s State of the Union speech, President Biden highlighted several of our priorities for this year, including expanding the CTC and helping families with affordable housing. He also discussed past victories in the work to combat HIV/AIDS. These are important victories. Preparation of the SOTU takes months-long planning and not every issue gets a mention. The fact that the speech included several of our current and past priorities is a tribute to the work you have done over the years, especially recently, to lift them up in Congress and in the public conversation.

Tax refunds down this year because of smaller CTC and EITC. Early IRS data shows that the average tax refund this year is almost percent lower than this time last year. Analysts attribute a large portion of the decline to the expiration of the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit provisions. By allowing these provisions to expire, Congress has put millions of families and workers who have low-incomes in greater hardship. This is why your advocacy to restore these benefits is so important.

Media hook 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: Use the New York Times article mentioned above about conservative support for more pro-family policies to talk about expanding the Child Tax Credit and/or using the tax code to enact a Renter Tax Credit.
• Global Poverty: We have some exciting news worth telling! The READ Act (global education) Reauthorization has just been reintroduced in Congress (S.41, H.R.681), and the End Tuberculosis Now Act has just been reintroduced in the Senate. Let your community know of these important pieces of legislation, and ask your legislators by name to co-sponsor.

Announcements

Farewell, Meredith Dodson. This week is a bittersweet one for RESULTS. Director of U.S. Poverty Campaigns Meredith Dodson is leaving RESULTS after nearly 25 years. Over that period of time, she has served as an organizer, Regional Coordinator, policy expert, campaign director, and even interim executive director. Trusted by colleagues and partner organizations alike, she has become one of the leading policy advocates on poverty issues in the country. She has also coached thousands of advocates to be extraordinary volunteer lobbyists with Congress. Her impact has been immeasurable and we have big shoes to fill by her departure. Fortunately, she is not going far. She will join the Coalition on Human Needs as their new Director of Public Policy and we hope to see her often. Congratulations, Meredith. We thank you and we will miss you.

Please complete your 2023 Roadmaps. Thank you to all of you who met with your groups to do your 2023 goal planning in January. Your Group Roadmaps will be the keys to the success of our anti-poverty campaigns. If you have not yet completed your 2023 Group Roadmap, please set a time to get it done ASAP. Find the Group Planning resources on our website. If you need assistance with your Roadmap, please contact Jos Linn.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule. The Senate is in session this week. The House is on recess through February 26.

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

Wednesday, February 15: Action Network Webinar, 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join to learn how better to activate and support your group’s action network (online) members. No registration required. Join the 12:30 webinar at https://results.zoom.us/j/93288388695.  Join the 8:00 webinar at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676.

Thursday, February 16: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, February 16: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.

Tuesday, February 21: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1 pm and 9 pm ET (your choice). Contact Jos Linn for information on how to join.

Tuesday, February 21: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

Tuesday, February 21: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter Webinar with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Read more.

Wednesday, February 22: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Bring your media-writing questions. No registration required. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Thursday, February 23: Diversity and Inclusion 101, 3:00 pm ET. Click for more information and registration details for this 90-minute session.

Thursday, February 23: Group Leader Office Hour, 8:00 pm ET. Join any time during the 60-minute session. No registration needed; join at https://results.zoom.us/j/6602641580.

Monday, February 27: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for information on how to join.

Saturday, March 4: Monthly National Webinar, 1:00 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 Lindsay Saunders at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.