RESULTS Weekly Update February 27, 2024
Quote of the Week
“We need federally mandated paid parental and medical leave. We need additional dedicated funding for programs like WIC that support over 6 million families. And we need to continue expanding the Child Tax Credit.”
– RESULTS NC Triangle volunteer Lindsay Saunders in a February 15 op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Table of Contents
- Schedule your lobby meetings to talk about poverty
- Use media to push senators on the CTC
- Join Saturday’s National Webinar with panel on global equity
- Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
- Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Schedule your lobby meetings to talk about poverty
How do we bring an end to poverty in the world? By changing public policy so that poverty is a top priority. And how to we change public policy? We talk to the people who make it. That is the goal or our Community of Change campaign this spring. To meet with the 346 congressional offices RESULTS currently covers and urge them to enact policies that reduce poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Whether it is expanding the Child Tax Credit for 16 million kids, securing resources to promote global health and education, protecting families needing nutrition assistance, or influencing the World Bank, your direct advocacy with lawmakers is the best way to achieve these priorities.
As of today, RESULTS volunteers have held 23 lobby meetings in 2024 so far. This is a good start. And we know more of you are currently requesting meetings. Please keep it up. Persistence usually pays off in these situations so if you run into roadblocks (or silence), please reach out to RESULTS staff for help.
We have an ambitious goal, but we can reach it.
TAKE ACTION: Work with your local RESULTS group to request lobby meetings with your members of Congress. Use our 2024 lobby meeting request letter as a guide. Be sure to request face-to-face meetings with legislators first. Meet with staff if members of Congress are not available. Once you book a lobby meeting, please book a lobby prep meeting via RESULTS staff member Katie Fleischer. More support materials for your meetings are available on our 2024 Community of Change campaign page.
Use media to push senators on the CTC
The Senate has returned to Washington with a full agenda. From an impeachment trial to avoiding a partial government shutdown on Friday, their to-do list is lengthy. And while expanding the Child Tax Credit for families experiencing poverty is important to many, it’s not a high enough priority right now. We have to make it one.
Sadly, some senators are trying to quietly stall the process. They either oppose sections of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act or they want to wait until next year in the hopes that a change in Senate leadership will yield more favorable policy. But they are caught in a predicament. The bill is popular and likely has the votes to pass the Senate, so coming out against the bill could be perilous politically, especially in an election year.
But this is not a political game. If this bill passes, 500,000 children will experience life above the poverty and the families of 16 million children will have more money for food, rent, and other necessities.
Getting media published this week can help counteract the forces of delay. Publicly calling on senators to pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act can help break the logjam and force the Senate to pass the CTC expansion as soon as possible.
TAKE ACTION: Use outside pressure through the media to push senators to bring the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act to a vote and pass it. Submit letters to the editor urging your senators by name to pass the new CTC expansion as soon as possible. Be sure to share how many children in your state will benefit (bottom of page). If every volunteer in RESULTS submits at least one letter this week urging Senate action on the CTC, you could make a substantial impact on whether the bill passes or not.
Also, if your Senate point persons have not contacted tax aides urging them to support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, they should do so now. Also urge senators to oppose any harmful changes or amendments to the CTC provisions. Please contact David Plasterer with specific messaging for you particular senators.
Join Saturday’s National Webinar with panel on global equity
Join us for the RESULTS National Webinar this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will highlight the importance of programs and policies to advance health equity, child survival, and gender equity through critical interventions — like routine immunization and nutrition services. Our panel of speakers include Anne Kraemer, CEO of Wuqu’ Kawoq, Maya Health Alliance, as well as Dr. Deborah Ash, Director, Women’s Nutrition at FHI (Family Health International) Solutions, presenting a report on the Gender Nutrition Gap. In addition, we will have an invited speaker from our partners at Health Promotion Tanzania (HDT). Following the panel, we will guide you to a solidarity advocacy action taking place on International Women’s Day on March 8. At this webinar we aim to educate, energize, and inspire — invite others in your community join you for the webinar and take action in solidarity with women across the globe!
TAKE ACTION: Register for the March National Webinar at www.tinyurl.com/RESULTS2024. The webinar is this Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Also, this webinar is a terrific opportunity to connect with equity partners in your community. The Community & Partnership Mapping Tool and other resources can also help. Once registered, registrants will receive their confirmation and Zoom link a day or two before the webinar (be sure to check your Junk mail if you don’t see it). If you have questions, please contact RESULTS staff.
Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
Learn more about the CTC “look-back” provision. The most contentious policy issue holding up the Child Tax Credit expansion in the Senate is the “look-back” provision. This provision allows families to use the higher of this year’s income or last year’s income in calculating their CTC. It’s a way to help families maximize the CTC if they have a sudden drop in income. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has a new paper explaining the issue and providing useful counterarguments for those attacking the provision. Use this in your communications with Senate offices.
RESULTS staff to appear on panel about poverty. Tune in on an episode of the American Bar Association Civil Rights and Social Justice Section’s chair chat on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET to hear RESULTS Associate Director of U.S. Policy, Michael Santos, discuss with George Washington University Law School Professor, Robin Runge, on “How to use the tax code to alleviate poverty.” Watch the conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIWc7OrjAMw.
Listen to webinar about SCOTUS homelessness case. Poverty should never be the reason for why people encounter the criminal justice system, nor should it be the reason for why people should be punished through fines, fees, and jail time if they have no place to call home. Listen to the recording on the most important Supreme Court case on the rights of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Learn what the case is about, how it would impede RESULTS’ mission to end poverty, and what you can do about it.
Read new RESULTS blog post on global education. Check out our new RESULTS blog post calling on Congress to pass the READ Act in honor of both Black History Month and the African Union’s Year of Education.
Help us make tax filing free and fair. A historic tax-filing service is coming that will allow eligible taxpayers to file their taxes for free directly with the IRS — and RESULTS helped make it happen! Learn about the program and see if you live in one of the 12 pilot states on the RESULTS blog.
Announcements
Join training on effective lobby meetings. What are the best practices for requesting, planning, holding, and following up on congressional meetings? Join us on Monday March 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET for our “Pulling Off Effective Congressional Meetings’ webinar to get tips and share what you know. Bring your experiences, questions, challenges. Register for the webinar today.
Quiet Leadership coaching training. Regional Coordinator Misty Novitch will be taking us through a two-part series on David Rock’s book Quiet Leadership, a potent and compelling coaching tool that provides you with resources to support others in their clarity of thinking. All advocates welcome. Join us for the Quiet Leadership training! The series are March 20 and March 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET, and you’ll get a reminder for each session.
The first Friends and Family Fundraiser of 2024 is live! Thank you, Jacoby Gonzales, a member of the 2024 RESULTS Fellowship cohort. Jacoby is sharing his story and his work with RESULTS to inspire others to support our great mission. As a landscape architect and an advocate, Jacoby aims to “create spaces that are safe and inviting to their communities, develop routes that are accessible to those who can’t afford a vehicle, and to advocate for policies that bring financial stability and equitable transportation to those in need.” Learn more about Jacoby’s journey and support his fundraiser for RESULTS. Then consider launching a Friends and Family fundraiser of your own or as part of a team this year!
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.
Wednesday, February 28: Session 2 of Group Leader Training, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register today for this four-part series. Each session lasts 2 hours.
Saturday, March 2: National Webinar, 1:00 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar today!
Wednesday, March 6: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 p.m. ET. Register and join!
Monday, March 11: Pulling off Effective Congressional Meetings, 9:00 p.m. ET. Register for this great webinar today.
Wednesday, March 13: Motivational Interviewing 101, 8:00 p.m. ET. Register today.
Thursday, March 14: Outreach and Events Office Hour, 2:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/94004748060 or call 312-626-6799, meeting ID 940 0474 8060.
Thursday, March 14: Global Allies (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) webinar, 8:30 p.m. ET. Register today.
Thursday, March 14: Grassroots Town Hall meeting, 9:00 p.m. ET. Joining link forthcoming.
Friday, March 15: Anti-Oppression Learning Community, 12:00 p.m. ET. Register for this important 90-minute gathering.
Tuesday, March 19: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.
Tuesday, March 19: Together Women Rise advocacy chapter webinar, 8:30 p.m. ET. Learn more about this opportunity.
Wednesday, March 20: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. New single Zoom link coming.
Wednesday, March 20: Media Office Hour, 2:00 p.m. ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.
Wednesday, March 20: Quiet Leadership Training (session 1 of 2), 9:00 pm ET. Register to learn about this unique coaching tool.
Friday, March 22: Anti-Oppression 201 – Structural Racism and Oppression – the Missing Perspectives, 12:00 p.m. ET. Register for this important 90-minute learning opportunity.
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 story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience today.
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.