RESULTS Weekly Update October 26, 2021
Quote of the Week
“Sen. Sinema has the power to make this happen. Her constituents will benefit enormously from the housing provisions in the Build Back Better plan. Senator, it’s time to get this done.”
– RESULTS Arizona volunteer Amy Auble in an October 21 letter to the editor in the Arizona Daily Sun
Table of Contents
- Tell Congress RIGHT NOW to pass a strong anti-poverty recovery bill
- Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
- Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Tell Congress RIGHT NOW to pass a strong anti-poverty recovery bill
This is likely the week. We’ve been here before and unexpected things always happen, but this is likely the week on the economic recovery bill (also known as Build Back Better bill (BBB)). Here’s why. First, press reports are that Democratic negotiators are close to a deal. In fact, it could be announced as soon as tomorrow. Second, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) promised moderates in her party that she would bring the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill to a vote by the end of October. But without a deal on Build Back Better, she does not have the votes to pass it. So, getting a BBB framework in place this week is critical to getting both bills passed.
This means we have could have just a few more hours to influence what’s in this bill. Sadly, what is included from our priorities is still up in the air. Will full refundability of the Child Tax Credit be made permanent? Will Housing Choice Vouchers get any new funding? Will money for vaccine manufacturing be included? We don’t know.
What we do know is that your grassroots pressure can make a difference on these priorities. Just a few weeks ago, there was a real fear that all the housing money was going to be dropped from the bill. That didn’t sit well with you and you took action, getting more than 150 members of Congress on a letter urging negotiators to protect the housing provisions. We’re hearing now that housing money will be included in the bill (albeit much lower than the $328 billion proposed by the House and how it would be divided is unknown).
Use these last few hours to get the strongest economic recovery bill possible.
TAKE ACTION: Use our online alert to e-mail or call your members of Congress RIGHT NOW urging them to the following provisions in the final Build Back Better deal:
- Make the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) provisions permanent, including full refundability of the CTC
- Include $90 billion for rental assistance including the highest possible amount for Housing Choice Vouchers
- Include $2 billion to for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing to help vaccinate the world
Share the alert link with your action networks, friends, family, and colleagues now and please urge them to take action, too. Let’s push Congress to pass the strongest possible deal.
Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2021. In mid-October, the WHO issued its annual update on the state of the global TB crisis. Take a look at the current report, archived reports, and even a Global TB Report app on the WHO website.
Appropriations update. Last week the Senate released details of its appropriations bills, which includes specifics on items for which we’ve been advocating for most of the year. The results are mixed, but you can read a thorough analysis of what’s being proposed on our blog.
Global nutrition legislation update. The bipartisan Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act has been introduced in the Senate (S.2956). The legislation, which has a bipartisan companion bill in the House of Representatives (H.R.4693), is a positive sign of continued U.S. leadership in global food security and nutrition. Read more on our blog.
Join reparations bill town hall tomorrow. Given the urgency of this moment and efforts to get a House Floor vote on the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act (H.R. 40) in the next 50 days, join a town hall event on tomorrow, October 27 from 5:00-6:30pm ET/2:00-3:30 pm PT. The event will include a recap and status update of H.R. 40; the urgency of getting House Leadership to schedule a floor vote before the end of this year; and upcoming actions around the bill, including a week of action the week of November 8. Register for the town hall today.
Announcements
Join tomorrow’s Motivational Interviewing training. Are you wanting new skills on talking to people with whom you disagree? Want strategies for more meaningful lobby meetings? Plan to join the next installment in our Motivational Interviewing series. This training will help you transcend an adversarial mindset and use values-based advocacy to make the case for change. The next session is Wednesday, October 27 at 9:00 pm ET. Register here for the series. If you missed the first session, you can view the recording and slides here.
Grassroots Board Town Hall moved to November 4. The Grassroots Board Member Town Hall has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 4 at 9:00 pm ET. Grassroots Board Members represent the volunteers’ interests on the RESULTS Board. Join this event to hear their current priorities, to ask questions, and share your ideas. Join online via Zoom or dial (301) 715-8592, Meeting ID: 922 0921 5298, Passcode: 985046.
October Policy Forums. Did you miss last week’s U.S. or Global Poverty Monthly Policy Forums? You can always check out the recordings and companion slides on our website.
Join training on welcoming new volunteers next week. If you want to learn more about creating a culture of “welcome” in your group and fostering healthy relationships through advocacy action with new volunteers, join our Cultivating New Relationships Through Action training on November 3 at 8:00 pm ET. Register for the training today.
Final week to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. Read this inspiring blogpost featuring one of our RESULTS Fellows, Rayna Castillo, describing the power of advocacy. If you are interested in applying for the RESULTS Fellowship, this is your last week to apply. The application process closes next Monday, November 1.
Submit your nomination for the Bob Dickerson Leadership Award. In memory of long-time RESULTS advocate Bob Dickerson, each year we recognize an advocate’s extraordinary leadership and commitment to the mission of RESULTS with the Bob Dickerson Leadership Award. Submit your nomination for the award no later than November 1. Use our online form to submit a nomination.
Become a RESULTS Regional Coordinator. Regional Coordinators (RCs) are vital volunteer leaders in our network, helping to coach and support RESULTS groups around the country to be the best they can be. If you (or others) are interested in becoming a Regional Coordinator with RESULTS, or are simply interested in learning more about the role, please contact Lisa Marchal.
Upcoming Events
Congressional schedule. The House and Senate are in session this week. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
Wednesday, October 27: Motivational Interviewing training (session 2), 9:00 pm ET. Register here. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.
Wednesday, November 3: Cultivating New Relationships Through Action, 8:00 pm ET. Register here. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.
Thursday, November 4: Grassroots Board Member Town Hall, 9:00 pm ET. Join online via Zoom or dial (301) 715-8592, Meeting ID: 922 0921 5298 Passcode: 985046.
Saturday, November 6: RESULTS National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.
Thursday, November 11: Veterans’ Day holiday. All RESULTS offices closed.
Tuesday, November 16: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, Jos Linn for more information.
Wednesday, November 17: Action Network Webinars, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Register for the afternoon session or evening session. Registration ends one hour prior to each webinar.
Thursday, November 18: U.S. Poverty Monthly Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register here. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.
Thursday, November 18: Global Poverty Monthly Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register here. Registration ends one hour prior to the webinar.
Monday, November 22: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. If you are interested in joining, contact Lisa Marchal for more information.
Thursday, November 25-Friday, November 26: Thanksgiving holiday break. All RESULTS offices closed.
Grassroots Resources
Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
To update volunteer info (e.g., subscribe to the Weekly Update or action alerts, add new advocate information, update an existing advocate’s information or preferences), use our Volunteer Information Form.
Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources.
Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities.
To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].
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.