RESULTS Weekly Update March 28, 2023

Quote of the Week

“It is high time that the tax code works for working families…. The Child Tax Credit can make all the difference. ”

– RESULTS Fellow Savannah Sanford in a March 17 letter to the editor the Corvallis Gazette-Times

Table of Contents

• Join April National Webinar with our Experts on Poverty
• Take action on Senate appropriations
• Use the April recess to talk about taxes
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Join April National Webinar with our Experts on Poverty

At RESULTS, we value the experiences of those with lived experience of poverty and seek to center their expertise in everything we do. Whether you’re a current advocate, new advocate, or just wanting to know more, the April National Webinar will be a great opportunity to learn about RESULTS values and how we engage volunteers with lived experience of poverty. You’ll hear about the barriers these individuals face when trying to engage in advocacy, and learn how RESULTS groups can create more inclusive, welcoming environments. Join members of the Experts on Poverty cohort and explore how we can work better together.

TAKE ACTION: Join us for the National Webinar this Saturday, April 1 (no foolin’!). If you have not registered for a 2023 national webinar, register for the webinar today (you only need register once per year). You will receive your registration confirmation and Zoom login information later this week via e-mail (please check your junk or spam folders if you have not received anything by Friday afternoon). This webinar is a great opportunity to welcome new people to our movement. Invite them to register today! The webinar slides and recording will be available on our National Webinars page.

Take action on Senate appropriations

Members of Congress can weigh in on fiscal year 2024 (FY24) global poverty priorities during the current appropriations process. We can be part of this process, too, through funding requests and Dear Colleague letters, two key tools of influence. Congress can champion the funding requests we bring them and sign on to corresponding Dear Colleague letters which underscore these requests.

You did an incredible job submitting global poverty appropriations requests to the House and requesting signatures on corresponding Dear Colleague letters. (You can read about the total number of signers on each letter on our blog.) The window of opportunity to influence the House has closed, but we have time to influence the Senate. For a few more weeks, you can submit appropriations requests to senators. We also have one Senate Dear Colleague letter open for signatures, a letter on maternal and child health and nutrition. More letters are pending.

Don’t stop now! Take action this week if you haven’t already. Regardless of when your Set the Agenda campaign lobby meetings are in April, submit your Senate appropriations funding requests and Dear Colleague letter requests now. Then follow up during your meetings.

TAKE ACTION: You can find lots of support for this continuing appropriations work on our blog. Review the information and work with your group to submit global poverty appropriations requests to the Senate. After you have asked your senators to share these requests with the Senate State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations, ask your senators to sign Dear Colleague letters. Remember that one is available right now (maternal and child health and nutrition), with more expected. Check out our blog to see which Dear Colleague letters are available, when the signing deadlines are, how to sign, and who has signed so far.

Use the April recess to talk about taxes

What exciting thing happens next week? Congress goes on recess for two weeks! And having a recess in early April (tax day is April 18) is a great opportunity to talk about taxes. The good thing is that everyone, regardless of political ideology, has an idea to improve the tax code.

This is your opening. There is no doubt that the federal tax code is a powerful economic tool. Even relatively small changes to the tax code can have profound effects. The 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a prime example. After the CTC monthly payments started in July 2021, the impact was immediate. Child poverty dropped, hunger dropped, and family financial stability increased. The impact was profound as well when the payments stopped in January 2022. Child poverty and family financial hardship went back up, as did unemployment when parents could no longer afford child care.

So, if we know the CTC can make such a difference, why is Congress not doing more of this? Why are they not talking about using the tax code to help renters? Tax time is the perfect time to ask these questions. We need a tax code that works for everyone, not just those who already have wealth. Send that message to lawmakers in your April meetings.

TAKE ACTION: To take advantage of the April recess (April 1-16), we are extending our Set the Agenda campaign a few more weeks. Request meetings (or follow up on requests) with your members of Congress. Ask if you can meet face-to-face with your representative and/or senators during the recess. If you cannot meet with them in April, ask for the next available opportunity to meet face-to-face (and meet with staff in the interim if you have not done so already). Visit our Set the Agenda and Lobbying pages for materials to schedule and prepare for your lobby meetings. Also, reach out to Katie Fleischer to schedule a lobby prep call with RESULTS staff to help get you ready. Finally, after each meeting, please share the details of what happened in our Lobby Report Form.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

RESULTS helps with ABA housing event. RESULTS Associate Director of US Poverty Policy Michael Santos will be facilitating a panel on hot topics in taxes and debt led by the American Bar Association’s Economic Justice Summit. The session will include a discussion of our policy priorities on the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit as well.  The Summit will cover issues including guaranteed income, taxes and debt, housing, and the racial wealth gap, convening lawyers, activists, policymakers, and key stakeholders to formulate policy solutions to our country’s most critical economic disparities and devise strategies to implement such policy solutions. Michael’s session is this Thursday, March 30 at 3:30 pm ET. Register today to attend virtually.

End Tuberculosis Now Act launches in the House! The End Tuberculosis Now Act reintroduction in the Senate (S.288) has been joined by the reintroduction of companion legislation in the House! On World TB Day, H.R.1776 debuted. Ask your legislators to co-sponsor these bills today, and read more about this year’s TB campaign.

A decade after the Child Survival Call to Action. In 2013, “Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed” was launched, and this vital international focus on child mortality has made a difference. YOU have made a difference. How? Read more on our blog.

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: Use tax time as a hook to urge Congress to make the tax code fair for everyone by expanding the Child Tax Credit and enacting a Renter Tax Credit.
• Global Poverty: Save the Children has released a compelling report about centering the plight of children in our quest to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. Utilize this report, “’We are the most affected’: Why children’s voices must be at the heart of the hunger crisis response,” as fuel for a letter to the editor.

Announcements

RESULTS Grassroots Board Member Nominations are open! Ever thought of serving on the RESULTS board? Now is the time to submit your name or the name of someone you believe would make an impact. Find out more about nominations and what’s involved in serving on the Board on our new blog announcement. Please email name(s) to Jesse Marsden at [email protected] and the current Grassroots Board at [email protected]. Questions about this process? Contact a current Board individually or collectively via that same email. Nominations close April 26.

Don’t miss an important anti-oppression workshop on Friday, March 31. This Friday, RESULTS will feature an anti-oppression workshop on structural racism at 12:00 pm ET. This is a 201-type of workshop; it is recommended that registrants attend our Diversity & Inclusion 101 or have some significant background in anti-racism and implicit bias work before attending this 90-minute workshop. Read for more information and to register.

“I got involved in advocacy for a simple reason.” What is the reason that Fatima and other advocates like you choose to advocate with RESULTS? Read about several advocates’ recent experience in DC. Hear about their “why” and the important impact they are making. Thanks to all our advocates for being world-changers!

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule. The House and Senate are in session this week.

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

Friday, March 31: Anti-Oppression 201 Workshop – Structural Racism, 12:00 pm ET. It is recommended that registrants attend our Diversity & Inclusion 101 or have some significant background in anti-racism and implicit bias work before attending this 90-minute workshop. Read for more information and to register.

Saturday, April 1: Monthly National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today.

Wednesday, April 5: New Advocate Mentor Community of Practice, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, April 13: Global Allies Program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

Tuesday, April 18: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for information on how to join.

Tuesday, April 18: Together Women Rise partnership webinar with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Wednesday, April 19: 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. No registration required.

Wednesday, April 19: 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, April 20: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, April 20: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.

Friday, April 21: Anti-oppression Learning Community, 12:00 pm ET. Learn more.

Monday, April 24: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for information on how to join.

Wednesday, April 26: Deadline to nominate a grassroots volunteer for RESULTS Board.

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.