RESULTS Weekly Update May 6, 2025
Quote of the Week
“We live in this moment of ‘not yet.’ And as long as we’re in that moment of ‘not yet,’ we have to fight for each other.”
– Best-selling author and tuberculosis advocate John Green
(Is this newsletter too long; didn’t read (TL;DR) the whole thing? Scroll to the bottom for the most important points or the “TL;DR”)
We need your help getting signers for the foreign aid “Dear Colleague” letters.
Your advocacy is working. Despite major setbacks in our work to end global poverty, members of Congress are finally pushing back. When President Trump announced plans to request $9 billion in foreign aid rescissions, lawmakers said no. A recission “package” may still happen, but it is now clear that when it comes to foreign aid, members of Congress are listening to you.
But our work is just beginning. Last week, President Trump released his “skinny budget” proposal for fiscal year 2026. This summary budget (his full budget will be released later) calls for an 83 percent cut in foreign aid next year. But the President’s budget is only a request. It is Congress that decides federal spending. This is why your advocacy during the appropriations process is so critical. By investing in critical global health and education programs, lawmakers can send a clear signal to the administration that foreign aid remains a priority.
Thank you for pushing our FY26 appropriations requests in your recent lobby meetings. Keep at it! We must keep their feet to the fire until it’s done. Please contact your House and Senate foreign policy aides now urging their bosses to sign the global “Dear Colleague” letters. The more signers, the better. If you have made requests, confirm they have signed on. If not, please follow this week; the deadline to join the House letters is this Friday, May 9.
Your advocacy is working on SNAP, Medicaid, and the CTC. Don’t stop now.
House GOP leaders are pushing hard to pass legislation that would slash funding for SNAP (food assistance) and Medicaid. However, they’re facing roadblocks. The committees in charge of drafting this “reconciliation” bill (Agriculture for SNAP, and Energy and Commerce for Medicaid) were supposed to meet this week, but now those meetings have been postponed by a week. The same goes for the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals with tax issues. Rumors are that Republicans can’t agree on any proposed cuts to anti-poverty programs.
GOP leaders still say they plan to pass a bill by Memorial Day, but the longer they argue, the harder it will be to meet that deadline. Your advocacy is fueling these delays.
By pushing lawmakers to stand up for struggling Americans who are trying to put food on the table and afford health insurance, you’re making it harder for them to cut SNAP and Medicaid. Plus, by urging them to support working families in low-wage jobs, you can help make it more likely that the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will be expanded. Take these actions in support of crucial anti-poverty programs.
- Join the national push to protect SNAP during the SNAP Day of Action
- Schedule meetings with lawmakers* to tell them to prioritize families over billionaires
- Write letters to the editor demanding that lawmakers support SNAP, Medicaid, and tax credits for workers and families
*Prioritize Senate and House offices you have yet to meet with in 2025
Meet the Grassroots Director candidates at their upcoming forum.
In just a few days, you’ll get the opportunity to meet your candidates for the open Grassroots Director seat on the RESULTS Board. On May 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET, a forum will be held. Learn each candidate’s story and each candidate’s vision for representing YOU. Polls will open following the event. No registration is required to join this forum.
Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/98985537124 or dial (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 989 8553 7124.
Also, enjoy the recording of Saturday’s National Webinar. Our guest was RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris. His perspective will inspire you. Then register for the June National Webinar. We will welcome guest speaker Thokozile Phiri. Thokozile is the executive director of Facilitators of Community Transformation. (Note: No National Webinar in July.)
TL;DR (too long; didn’t read): Urge Congress to sign global “Dear Colleague” letters. Take urgent action on our U.S. poverty priorities during the budget reconciliation process. And get ready for the Grassroots Directors Candidates’ Forum on May 15.
Quick Links: Action Center, Events Calendar, May National Webinar slides and recording