RESULTS Weekly Update July 5, 2022

Quote of the Week

“For many of us, summer is the time to kick back and relax. But, hunger and illness do not take a summer vacation.”

– RESULTS Massachusetts volunteer Leslye Heilig in a June 24 post on the Together Women Rise blog

Table of Contents

• The Senate must not delay on global malnutrition
• Finish Advocacy Month strong with meetings about the CTC
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

The Senate must not delay on global malnutrition

Advocacy Month (May 30-July 8) is drawing to a close in a few short days, but your work doesn’t have to end. We’re still encouraging all advocates to have meetings with all members of Congress they cover.

As you meet with your senators in particular, your timing couldn’t be better for a crucial action on global nutrition. The Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 has passed the House and focuses on effective, efficient interventions: prenatal vitamins, breastfeeding support, vitamin A supplementation, and emergency therapeutic foods. We are spiraling toward a full-blown nutrition crisis that began even before the COVID-19 pandemic, so co-sponsorship on the Senate legislation (S.2956) is now critical to progress.

We have a brand new July Action Sheet that will empower you to write a letter to the editor, reinforcing your request to your senators to co-sponsor the global nutrition legislation (or thanking them if they did). And our May/June Action Sheet is still available as you make any remaining co-sponsorship requests. You can read more on global malnutrition with this backgrounder. You can also review a session from our International Conference titled “Why We Must Do More on Child Nutrition.” These pieces will provide both clarity and talking points for your outreach.

TAKE ACTION: Write your letter to the editor today, calling on your senators to co-sponsor life-saving bipartisan legislation, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 (S.2956). The House has already passed its version of the bill and the Senate must follow suit. As you craft your letter, be sure to express why the issue of global malnutrition is important to you as a constituent. Your personalization will make a difference!

Finish Advocacy Month strong with meetings about the CTC

This is the last week of Advocacy Month and let’s make it a great one!

Congress is on recess this week and it has been almost 7 seven months since the 2021 CTC payments expired. Life for low-income children and families has been a roller coaster ever since. Right after the CTC payments stopped, the monthly child poverty rate jumped by 41 percent. As noted by Columbia University researchers, the rate stayed high until March, when it dropped temporarily. It is now on the rise again. Why the dip in March? That’s when most families received the second half of the 2021 CTC as a tax refund (as well as their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)).

The data does not lie. When families are getting the CTC, they are better off. Members of Congress need to hear this message over and over again.

For the last six weeks, RESULTS volunteers have been meeting with members of Congress to discuss some of the most important issues facing us as a country and as a world. Finish this Advocacy Month strong by demanding they take action on the CTC.

And be sure to join our RESULTS Advocacy Month Celebration webinar next Thursday, July 14 at 8:00 pm ET. Join us to celebrate and share your advocacy  successes from the last few weeks. Register today!

TAKE ACTION: Representatives and senators are on recess for one more week. Contact their local offices to schedule a meeting while they are home. Also, ask if they are participating in any public events this week. When meeting or asking a question at an event, focus on these messages:

• For Democrats. Ask them to tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to make the extension of the CTC with permanent full refundability and the monthly payment option a priority in legislation this year. Ask them their specific plans to get this done in 2022.
• For Republicans. Ask them to review the new Family Security Act 2.0 proposal from Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Steve Daines (R-MT). What do they like/dislike about the proposal? Would they be willing to support an expansion of the CTC or a “child allowance” for low-income families? If not, what policies are they pursuing right now to help low-income families struggling with higher costs?

Please see our Advocacy Month Resources page for materials to help you. Please contact RESULTS staff with any questions.

Quick News

Media hooks of the week. To help you in your media advocacy, here are suggested media “hooks” this week to use in letters to the editor:

• U.S. Poverty: Use this op-ed from The Hill for letters to the editor on the importance of monthly tax credits for families with children in reducing poverty.
• Global Poverty: Tragically, Nigeria has been making the news for its staggering struggle with malnutrition. People – particularly your legislators – need to read a letter to the editor from you on co-sponsoring the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021.

FY23 Appropriations process: House update. Progress on the FY23 appropriations process was made in the House last week yielding measured good news, and you can read all about the implications and anticipated next steps on our blog.

New Census data on material hardship. See new Census Pulse survey results on the number of people who found it somewhat/very difficult to pay for usual expenses. The data shows average comparisons between results spanning 8/4-30, 2021 and 4/27-6/13, 2022. These comparisons are for all states and metropolitan areas.

Announcements

Join “Meet the Candidates” Grassroots Board Town Hall this Thursday; voting extended until July 11. Join us this Thursday, July 7 for the Grassroots Board election “Meet the Candidates Town Hall” at 8:30pm ET. This is your chance to meet the three excellent persons running to represent you the volunteer on RESULTS & RESULTS Educational Fund Board of Directors. They are:

• Bill Cosgrove (RESULTS Salt Lake City)
• Lynne Patalano (RESULTS Riverside/San Bernardino CA)
• Jo Reece (RESULTS West Virginia University)

The deadline to vote in the election has been extended to next Monday, July 11. Join us Thursday to meet the candidates (https://results.zoom.us/j/95697868404, Meeting ID: 956 9786 8404) and then cast your vote! To learn more about the candidates and how to vote, visit the RESULTS Blog.

Join the July 14 Advocacy Month Celebration! Join us Thursday, July 14 for a special hour-long “celebration” webinar to delight in your accomplishments from Advocacy Month. We’ll hear from advocates about their recent lobbying experiences, including breakout rooms where we can all share successes with each other. Please join us. Again, the event will be Thursday, July 14 at 8:00 pm ET. Register today! If you registered for a previous monthly National Webinar, you don’t need to register for this event; we already have you on the list.

No National Webinar this weekend; next Saturday National Webinar is August 6. Because of the July 14 Advocacy Month celebration webinar (see above), there will be no Saturday National Webinar in July. Our next regular National Webinar will be Saturday, August 6 at 1:00 pm ET. Register today!

2023 RESULTS Fellowship application process is open! Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming 2023 class of the RESULTS Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship. For all the details on eligibility and how to apply, check out our website.

Please complete your lobby reports. Please remember to complete the RESULTS Lobby Report Form after each lobby meeting (with members of Congress or their staff) These reports helps us better understand where your lawmakers stand on these issue and help us plan our next steps forward. Please complete the form with as much detail as possible. If you have questions, contact us.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule. The House and Senate are on recess this week.

Unless otherwise noted, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.

RESULTS Advocacy Month, May 30 – July 8. Learn more on our website.

Thursday, July 7: “Meet the Candidates” Grassroots Board Town Hall, 8:30 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/95697868404, Meeting ID: 956 9786 8404.

Monday, July 11: Last day to vote for Grassroots Board member. Visit the RESULTS Blog to vote. Voting ends at 11:59 pm ET.

Thursday, July 14: Advocacy Month celebration, 8:00 pm ET. Register today!

Tuesday, July 19: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, July 19: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Check out more information.

Wednesday, July 20: RESULTS Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Register for the afternoon or the evening session.

U.S. and Global Poverty Policy Forums will resume in August.

Monday, July 25: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Saturday, August 6: RESULTS National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today!

Thursday, August 11: Global Allies Program (with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers), 8:30 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.