RESULTS Weekly Update November 14, 2023

Quote of the Week

“Ending child poverty is not rocket science.”

– RESULTS Iowa volunteer Peggy Fitch in a November 9 letter to the editor in the Des Moines Register

Table of Contents

• Build the Buy-in: Big week in Congress as shutdown looms
• Register for the December Webinar with John Green and invite others to come
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Build the Buy-in: Big week in Congress as shutdown looms

This Friday, November 17, the U.S. government will be out of money. That is when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires. Unless Congress comes to agreement on FY2024 spending or passes another CR, the government will shut down. While House and Senate leadership want to avoid a shutdown right before Thanksgiving, the risk is there.

Over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a ‘clean CR” to keep current funding as is. He also proposed a “laddered” CR, which would extend funding for certain programs into January and others into February. Whether the House can pass a clean or laddered CR remains to be seen.

But all this unnecessary brinkmanship has consequences. The constant uncertainty over the basic functions of Congress is one reason the credit agency Moody’s lowered the credit outlook for the U.S.

It also means more delays for our priorities. Although the READ Act Reauthorization passed the Senate last week, it’s future is up in the air in the House. Senate leaders are exploring ways to attach it to other legislation that could move this year (or perhaps in early 2024). But with so much uncertainty, we don’t know when or how it could go, if at all. The same goes for the End TB Now Act. These bills are good policy, bipartisan, and generally non-controversial. They are simply caught in the Capitol Hill dysfunction.

As for the Child Tax Credit, last week it looked Congress might attach a tax package to this week’s CR. That option may be fading. Fortunately, there is still strong interest in getting a tax package done this year. If it does happen, we may not know what the legislative vehicle will be, i.e., what other legislation it would be attached to, until the last   minute. So, we have to be ready. That means pushing Congress to include an expansion of the CTC that significantly reduces child poverty in any tax bill.

You advocacy is getting us closer to our goals, but we still have work to do. And the time to act is now.

TAKE ACTION: As part of the Build the Buy-in Campaign, keep pushing our U.S. and global campaign priorities with congressional offices and in the media. First, please call your members of Congress at (202) 224-3121 and when connected to your representative’s or senator’s office, leave this message.

My name is _____________. I am a constituent from _______________ and a RESULTS volunteer. I hear Congress is considering new tax breaks for corporations. But child poverty more than doubled last year because millions of families lost all or part of the Child Tax Credit. Will you tell Rep./Sen. ______________ to support tax legislation ONLY if it significantly reduces child poverty by expanding the Child Tax Credit to children left out of the full benefit?

Next, please keep working to get letters to the editor published Generate letters (or op-eds) on the Child Tax Credit, the End Tuberculosis Now Act, and the READ Act Reauthorization. This week’s government shutdown deadline is the perfect hook for calling on Congress to get to work and pass legislation that helps those in need. Once you get published, send your media to the relevant aides in your congressional offices (and please let us know too).

Register for the December Webinar with John Green and invite others to come

Please plan to join us for the December RESULTS National Webinar with special guest John Green. Mr. Green has written numerous best-selling books including The Fault in Our Stars, and most recently The Anthropocene Reviewed.  He is also passionate about tackling inequity in TB treatment. Mr. Green will join us to discuss his efforts to address the injustice of TB and why it is imperative to take action now.

Mr. Green’s appearance is an excellent opportunity to get people excited about RESULTS and our work advocacy work. His books are quite popular and fans of them may be interested to hear more about his work on TB. Use this great opportunity to help raise awareness of global tuberculosis and the work of RESULTS.

TAKE ACTION: Join us for the RESULTS National Webinar on Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 pm ET. Go to www.tinyurl.com/RESULTS2024 to register today. We have a new Zoom link for the National Webinar. Even if you have attended a previous National Webinar, you will need to register again for December. In addition, use the December webinar as a way to engage new advocates. Send the registration link to people you know and invite them to join us. If you have questions, please contact RESULTS staff.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

President Biden plans to revive expanded CTC if re-elected. The Washington Post reported this weekend that if re-elected, President Biden wants to reinstate the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) enacted in 2021. This would make the full CTC available to all families with low or no income, increase the credit amount, and send it as monthly payments. To have the biggest impact on poverty, RESULTS supports reinstating the 2021 CTC; if Congress expands the CTC this year, it will only be a partial expansion compared to 2021.

NYT TB story is still a good hook for LTEs. The New York Times has new reporting on the challenges we face in ending TB in spite of advances that have been made. Have you ever tried writing a letter to the editor to the New York Times? Now’s your chance! Connect with the story and state how we must achieve co-sponsorships for – and passage of – the End Tuberculosis Now Act to help bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement of the end of TB.

Announcements

RESULTS Fellowship applications due tomorrow. If you know someone aged 20-35 who wants to harness their political power, invite them to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship.  RESULTS Fellows advocate at the intersections of poverty and anti-oppression and learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. Applications are due tomorrow, November 15. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Putting the “fun” in fundraising! Are you nervous about fundraising or looking for ways to make your Friends & Family Fundraiser more successful? RESULTS volunteers have tips for you! Read advice and lessons learned from Willie Dickerson, Buke Dube, Beth Wilson, and Nancy Gardiner.

RESULTS Experts on Poverty applications open only two more weeks. RESULTS is currently seeking new members to join the Experts on Poverty program. The program gathers a diverse cohort of advocates with firsthand experiences of poverty to push for more effective government policies to combat poverty. Applications are due November 30. For questions, please contact Keisha McVey.

Staff availability is limited this week. The RESULTS Policy, Grassroots Impact, and Expansion Teams will be doing 2024 planning this week. Because of that, we may be delayed in responding to any inquiries. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Register for December joint policy forum. There are no monthly policy forums in November. Instead, register for our joint U.S. and global policy forum on Thursday, December 14 at 8:30 pm ET.

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.

Wednesday, November 15: Action Network Managers webinar, 8:00 pm ET. Join the session at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676. No registration required.

Thursday, November 23-Friday, November 24: Thanksgiving holiday break. All RESULTS offices closed.

Monday, November 27: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Wednesday, November 30: New Advocate Orientation, 12:30 pm ET. Register for this exciting welcome to RESULTS.

Saturday, December 2: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Special guest: Best-selling author and TB advocate John Green. Register for the webinar today!

Thursday, December 7: Grassroots Town Hall, 9:00 pm ET. More information forthcoming.

Friday, December 8: Anti-Oppression Applied Learning Simulation, 12:00 pm ET. Learn more about this opportunity.

Thursday, December 14: Joint U.S. and Global policy forum, 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 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.