RESULTS Weekly Update September 27, 2022

Quote of the Week

“As advocates, we’re committed to working with our partners around the world and in the U.S. government to reach the full $18 billion for this replenishment.”

– Quote from RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter at the completion of the Global Fund Replenishment Conference last week

Table of Contents

• Global poverty advocates had a good week, but there’s work to do
• Tell Congress that CTC families must get priority
• Join National Webinar with David Jolly on Saturday
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Global poverty advocates had a good week, but there’s work still to do

Last week was a busy and successful week for RESULTS’ global poverty work. First, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act passed the Senate. It now goes to President Biden for his signature into law. Second, the READ Reauthorization Act passed the House, getting it one step closer to full passage. Finally, leaders from around the world pledged $14.25 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (read more in Quick News below).

None of these successes would have happened without your persistent advocacy to elected leaders in Washington. They are a tribute to the power and passion you have to make the world a better place. And proof that when you use your political power to influence policy decisions, you can make a difference.

But we’re not done. The End TB Now Act, which would require the U.S. to establish bold goals for detecting, curing, and preventing all forms of TB, is still pending. The process for getting House and Senate co-sponsors has been slow at best. If we want to add the End TB Now Act to our list of successes this year, we will have to do more.

TAKE ACTION: Your representatives and senators are in Washington for only a few more days before going on recess until after the election. Contact them this week and urge them to co-sponsor the End TB Now Act (S.3386/H.R. 8654). Remind them that this bill will save lives by ensuring that the U.S. uses its resources most effectively to detect, treat, and prevent TB. The September 2022 Global Poverty Action has talking points to help with letters and phone calls. See our global poverty tracking chart to see who has already co-sponsored the bill. Find additional resources to help on our Fall 2022 Campaign Resources page.

In addition, use this action to engage the new people you are connecting with this fall by urging them to contact their members of Congress using our online TB action alert. Their actions will most certainly help.

Tell Congress that CTC families must get priority

This is Congress’ last week in DC before taking a six-week recess until after the election. When they return, they will have much to get done, including the FY 2023 budget and a much-desired tax bill. The latter continues to be our focus.

Corporations are clamoring for Congress to extend a number of tax breaks, in particular undoing a change to the “research and experimentation” tax credit from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The TCJA changed how corporations can claim the R&E credit, which could result in a higher tax liability. Congress delayed implementation of the change until January 1 of this year. Now businesses are demanding provision be repealed or delayed further so they can avoid paying more on their 2022 taxes (and beyond).

Wait… doesn’t this sound familiar? A beneficial tax provision expires at the end of last year, higher costs ensue, and now the recipients want Congress to bring it back.

This is the same scenario millions of families have faced over the last nine months. In 2021, the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) with monthly payments helped millions of families make ends meet while also reducing child poverty by 46 percent. But Congress let the expansion expire last December. Since the payments stopped, families have experienced greater financial insecurity and millions of children have fallen back into poverty.

In these two situations, who will Congress listen to? Corporations have lobbyists in Washington pushing their agenda. CTC families have you.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress not to pass any corporate tax cuts this year without also expanding the Child Tax Credit for children and families. It’s only fair that if Congress wants to help corporations get what they want, Congress should also help families get what they need. Use the September 2022 U.S. Poverty Action to contact tax aides in your House and Senate offices. Also, urge the action to engage new people by asking them to write letters or call congressional offices. Share the new Census poverty data showing that child poverty dropped 46 percent between 2020 and 2021, primarily due to the CTC. Also, if you are contacting moderate or conservative offices, listen to last week’s U.S. Poverty Policy Forum and read this RESULTS Blog post for messaging tips. See additional resources on our Fall 2022 Campaign Resources page.

Join National Webinar with David Jolly on Saturday

Join us this Saturday, October 1 at 1:00 pm ET for the October 2022 RESULTS National Webinar. This month, it’s all about the November election. Specifically, how you can use the weeks before the election to push candidates to prioritize solutions to poverty if elected. We are excited to welcome David Jolly as our guest speaker. Mr. Jolly is a former member of Congress from Florida. He will share best practices for engaging lawmakers and candidates during election season. We’ll also provide you tips for finding candidates in October and hear from a RESULTS volunteer about a recent interaction with a candidate. We look forward to seeing you Saturday!

TAKE ACTION: Please register for this Saturday’s National Webinar. Once registered, you will receive login information later this week via e-mail (please check your junk or spam folders if you have not received anything by Friday afternoon). The webinar slides and recording will be available on our National Webinars page. Note: Because Mr. Jolly is our only speaker this month, please join the webinar at 1:00pm ET and stay on for the duration.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Celebrate as malnutrition bill passes and READ Act advances. Last week was a good week for our work on global poverty. First, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act, which had been on hold in the Senate for several months, finally passed by unanimous consent. After the President signs it into law, it will make USAID nutrition programs more effective and impactful, and save lives around the world. If that weren’t victory enough, the READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 was passed by the House 361-69 (the bill was passed as part of a group of bills). Now attention turns to the Senate. Use our READ Act action alert to ask your senators to co-sponsor this bill today (and visit our global poverty tracking chart to see who already has). But before you do, take a few minutes to read more about these important victories and celebrate your role in making them happen. Thank you.

Countries pledge $14 billion to the Global Fund. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria Replenishment Conference was held in New York City last week. The purpose of the conference was to bring nations together to make the next three-year pledge of funding for the Global Fund. With health resources and systems stretched thin from COVID-19, advocates are seeking $18 billion total to help save 20 million lives. At the conclusion of the conference, countries pledged $14.25 billion (the U.S. will cover one-third of the final total), the largest amount ever pledged. Several key donor countries were not present and advocates are optimistic that when all is said and done, they will get the full $18 billion. This again is a tribute to your exceptional advocacy efforts; please take time to celebrate another important accomplishment. Thank you.

Watch White House Conference on Hunger tomorrow. On Wednesday, September 28, the Biden administration will host the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The goal of the conference is to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030. RESULTS staff member Yolanda Gordon is participating in the conference, where President Biden is expected to speak in the early afternoon. You can read the White House National Strategy (which includes the EITC, CTC, and affordable housing), RESULTS recommendations to the White House, and watch the live stream via the conference website.

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: Congress will pass a short term measure this week to keep the government funded through mid-December. That is not the only unfinished business they will after the election – they must expand the CTC too!
• Global Poverty: Use the $14.25 billion pledge made last week to the Global Fund to remind lawmakers we must do more to address TB by passing the End TB Now Act.

Announcements

Join welcoming new advocate training tomorrow. Join our “Build the Movement: Nuts and Bolts of Supporting New Advocates” workshop tomorrow, September 28 at 8:00 pm ET. This will be a deep dive into how we can build the RESULTS movement. Onboarding and training new volunteers are hard work! There is no “one size fits all” to help new advocates succeed. This webinar space is to co-learn and share best practices about how we can build meaningful relationships with new people in our communities. This workshop is for New Advocate Mentors, Group Leaders, and volunteers who are wanting to up their mentorship skills and group–building skills. Register for this workshop today.

Register for October 4 Diversity and Inclusion 101 training. To show solidarity with our work to dismantle systems of oppression, we urge you to register for the next offering of our Diversity and Inclusion 101 training. If we want to create a world free of poverty, we must address its roots in systemic oppression. This training gets us started. The next training is Tuesday, October 4 at 12:00 pm ET. Seating is limited so please register for the training today (a minimum of 25 people are required for this training to take place).

Join candidate “bird-dogging” training next week. October will be a big month for candidate engagement. This is a perfect time to tap into the energy and angst around elections to advance our issues and recruit new advocates. Join RESULTS and Right to Health Action to learn how to make the most of election town halls and other public events. In addition to learning the tactics of “birddogging” candidates, you’ll get ideas about engaging people in your community in the transformational advocacy of birddogging. The webinar is Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 08:30 pm ET. Register for the workshop today.

Congratulations to new Board member Lynne Patalano. RESULTS congratulations long-time RESULTS Riverside-San Bernadino volunteer Lynne Patalano for her election to the RESULTS Board. Lynne brings decades of advocacy experience to this position representing you, our grassroots volunteers, as the newest Grassroots Board Member. Please read the full election announcement on the RESULTS website.

Apply for the 2023 RESULTS Fellowship. We are now accepting applications for the 2023 class of the RESULTS Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship. For all the details on eligibility and how to apply, check out our website. Applications close October 31.

Upcoming Events

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

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

Wednesday, September 28: Build the Movement – Nuts and Bolts of Supporting New Advocates, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Saturday, October 1: Monthly National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register here.

Tuesday, October 4: Diversity and Inclusion 101, 12:00 pm ET. Register here.

Thursday, October 6, New Advocate Orientation, 8:00 pm ET. Register for the orientation here.

Thursday, October 6: Candidate engagement “birddogging” training, 8:30 pm ET. Register here.

Wednesday, October 12, New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Register here.

Thursday, October 13: Global Allies Program (with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers), 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

Tuesday, October 18: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, October 18: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Wednesday, October 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.

Wednesday, October 19, New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Register here.

Thursday, October 20: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register here.

Thursday, October 20: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register here.

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.