U.S. Poverty Weekly Update March 5, 2019
Quote of the Week
“It is time to call on our Congressional delegation to pass legislation on the federal level that will increase access to affordable housing.”
– RESULTS Grand Forks, ND volunteer Kathleen Ness in a February 22 letter to the editor in the Grand Forks Herald
Got Two Minutes (and then 58 more)? Join Tonight’s National Webinar with RESULTS Staff Expert Crickett Nicovich
Please join the March 2019 U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight (Tuesday), March 5 at 8:00 pm ET. As we work to secure additional funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program, we are thrilled to have as guest speaker one of our own – Crickett Nicovich, Senior Advisor, Global Policy & Government Affairs at RESULTS. Crickett will use her expertise from years lobbying on Capitol Hill to walk us through the appropriations process and how we can best influence lawmakers on housing policy. We’ll also help you gear up for the March and April congressional recesses through stories from recent lobby meetings by our volunteers. Please join us.
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to join the RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight, March 5 at 8:00 pm ET, then stick around for the rest of the webinar. Join online at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial in by phone at either (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 873 308 801). If you login online, please list both your first and last names when prompted. Be sure to remind your groups of the webinar. The slides for the webinar will be available later today on the National Webinars page. If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn.
Got Ten Minutes? Set Up Meetings for the March Recess
President Trump will release his formal budget next Monday (which was due the first week of February). He is expected to ask for an increase in defense spending while proposing deep cuts to non-defense programs. This would mean housing programs, foreign aid, early childhood education, child care, and other critical services would be on the chopping block. Fortunately, Congress will go on recess a week later, giving you the opportunity to weigh in with members of Congress on what you think their budget priorities should be. We need them to raise the automatic budget caps – otherwise discretionary programs such as housing assistance could face deep cuts – and set aside $4 billion in a budget agreement for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Your meeting with them in March and April is key to making sure the issues we care about get heard. When you are sitting across from a lawmaker and their staff, it is much more difficult for them to dismiss or placate your concerns. You could be the difference between a budget increase or a budget cut, so plan now to be that difference.
TAKE ACTION: Set the agenda for the next budget by taking ten minutes to request face-to-face meetings for the March and April recesses. Use the March Action and our meeting request (online or Word doc) to request a meeting today. You can find contact information for your members of Congress using our Legislator Lookup tool. Also, if you had a meeting with aides recently, follow up with offices about getting a face-to-face. Find resources you need in the March Action on our lobbying page. When you get a meeting set up, please contact Meredith Dodson for coaching.
Got Twenty Minutes? Generate Media on the President’s Budget
As noted above, President Trump is expected to call for deep cuts to non-defense programs in his FY2020 budget plan next Monday, March 11. If true, we want to make sure Congress greets his proposal with a resounding “No!” The press will cover the budget release both this week (in anticipation of it) and next week after it is released. The budget release is be a great “hook” for letters to the editor. Use your savvy media skills to get a flurry of letters published over the next few weeks urging Congress to reject these spending cuts and invest in housing assistance and other critical services that reduce poverty.
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes submit a letter to the editor telling your members of Congress by name to invest in government services that help American families make ends meet. Send in letters this week talking about the upcoming budget proposal and then send another one next week after the budget comes out. Use our online letter to the editor action to send in your letter today. We will keep the letter updated and send out an action alert once the budget is released as another reminder to submit your letters. When you get published, report your success in our new RESULTS Grassroots Media form.
Quick News
Join the Monthly Donor Match in March. A longtime RESULTS supporter will donate $500 for every new person who signs up to be a monthly donor in March, up to $10,000! Monthly donors to RESULTS – our Investors in Change – provide predictable and flexible stream of funding every month, making it possible for us to stand up to threats and seize opportunities whenever they arise. Become an Investor in Change today and unlock the match today. Go to our monthly donor page to sign up today!
Tell Senators to Protect Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico. If Congress doesn’t act soon, 1.4 million Puerto Ricans could see large cuts to vital nutrition assistance. Tell your senators to pass nutrition and disaster relief for Puerto Rico before the March recess. Read more here.
Read New Plan to Cut Child Poverty. The National Academies of Science Engineering, and Medicine have a new proposal to cut child poverty in half within ten years.
Register for the RESULTS Conference! Go to www.resultsconference.org to register for the RESULTS International Conference (July 13-16 in Washington, DC) today.
Oppose New SNAP Rule. If you have not done so already, please go to FRAC’s website to submit your comment today opposing the Trump Administration’s proposal to take SNAP benefits from 755,000 childless adults. The deadline is April 2. In addition, Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are circulating a bipartisan letter to oppose the proposal. As of last Thursday, Senators Stabenow (D-MI), Murkowski (R-AK), Baldwin (D-WI), Brown (D-OH), Cantwell (D-WA), Casey (D-PA), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Jones (D-AL), King (I-ME), Leahy (D-VT), Schumer (D-NY), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warren (D-MA), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR had signed the letter. If your senator has not yet signed, urge them to do so.
Send in Your Group Plans. Please submit your 2019 group plan using our online form. If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn for assistance.
Apply for REAL Change Fellowship. If you or someone you know is 18-30 years old and looking for a leadership opportunity, apply for the REAL Change Fellowship Program today. REAL Change Fellows attend the RESULTS International Conference as part of their year-long training program in policy, advocacy, and organizing. Fellow become leaders in the fight to end poverty, while also developing relationships and skills that last a lifetime. Learn more about the REAL Change Fellows in our summary from their recent retreat in Washington, DC.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, March 5: RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar, 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 873 308 801. Find recordings and slides from previous webinars on the National Webinars page.
Wednesday, March 6: RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar, 8:00pm ET. To join, log in: https://results.zoom.us/j/427674133 or dial in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 427 674 133. You can also join our Facebook and e-mail groups.
Monday, March 18-Friday, March 22: Congressional Recess. Submit your meeting requests today.
Tuesday, March 19, U.S. Poverty Free Agents Calls, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/324294681 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 324 294 681.
Monday, April 15-Friday, April 26: Congressional Recess. Submit your meeting requests today.
Saturday, July 13-Tuesday, July 16, 2019: RESULTS International Conference. Register today at www.resultsconference.org!
Find all events on the RESULTS Events Calendar.
U.S. Poverty Staff time out of the office: Meredith Dodson, March 29, April 15-19. Jos Linn, March 21-22.
OTHER RESOURCES
Learn more about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
Report lobby meetings in our Lobby Report Form and report any published media in our Grassroots Media Form.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail Steven McGee at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.
RESULTS Staff directory.