U.S. Poverty Weekly Update October 1, 2019
Quote of the Week
“In America, we’re not supposed to leave anybody behind. In a country this rich, it isn’t right. A dignified, decent living is not too much to ask. Where you take it from there is up to you. But that much should be a birthright.”
– Bruce Springsteen
Got Two (Plus 58) Minutes? Join Tonight’s National Webinar with Qiana Torregano
The RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar is tonight, October 1 at 8:00 pm ET. This month, we are thrilled to have RESULTS Grassroots Board Member and Expert on Poverty Qiana Torregano as our guest speaker. Qiana, who is from New Orleans, was scheduled to speak at the 2019 RESULTS International Conference but could not get there because of Hurricane Barry. We are happy she can now share with us her thoughts on the unseen limitations created of poverty and how RESULTS helps to dissolve those limitations. We’ll also talk about how we can push Congress during the recess to prioritize workers and families in any new tax bill. Finally, with all the drama coming out of DC, we thought it would be a good time to hear from some of you, the volunteers, on why you do this work. So, if the current political news is getting you down, join us tonight for a good pick-me-up.
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to join and stay for the RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight, October 1 at 8:00 pm ET. 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 and action networks 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? Meet with Lawmakers during the October Recess about the EITC and CTC (October Action)
Congress on recess for the next two weeks (they return to DC on October 15). Although all the attention is focused on the impeachment inquiry, Congress still has much work to do. They easily passed a continuing resolution last week to avoid a government shutdown last night, and now have until November 21 to finalize the FY2020 budget. Also, many lawmakers are still wanting to do a tax bill this fall, either to extend some expiring tax breaks for businesses and/or “fix” business provisions from 2017 tax law. Your members of Congress need to hear from you, telling them that if they do any kind of tax bill this fall, it must include provisions for workers and families. Specifically, we want them to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). This month’s recess is your opportunity to send that message directly to them loud and clear. It also gives you the opportunity to move our housing work forward by talking to them about the renters’ tax credit.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to schedule meetings for the October recess (now through October 14). Contact their schedulers to set up a meeting as soon as possible. Use our online request to send e-mails or make a call to the scheduler using our sample request as a script. Also ask about town halls and public events they may be having during the recess. The October Action includes other resources to help you. In addition, find all the lobbying materials you need on our Lobbying page, including up-to-date housing and tax request sheets. Also, see our newly updated congressional scorecard. When you get a meeting in your calendar, please contact Meredith Dodson ASAP to set up a lobby prep call to get you ready.
Got Twenty Minutes? Use All Your Advocacy Tools to Help Workers and Families (October Action)
Let’s face it. Poverty is not the first thing on Congress’ mind right now. With the impeachment inquiry likely to dominate the news for weeks to come, it’s going to take effort to remind Congress that they can do more than one thing at a time. Fortunately, RESULTS volunteers know exactly how to do that (or can learn it quickly). Use your advocacy skills and talents to put the focus back on helping workers and families.
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to maximize your influence with members of Congress this month. In addition to meeting with them in-person (see above), use these tools to ensure that the EITC and CTC get priority in any tax bill this fall. The October Action has additional resources to help you:
Talk to tax aides on the phone. As you wait to get meetings with your members of Congress during the recess, reach out to tax aides in their offices to talk about the EITC and CTC. Remind them that the Census data just came out showing that 38 million were living below the poverty line in 2018, but that 8 million more people would have been living below the poverty line without the EITC and CTC. Urge them to tell their bosses to tell House and Senate leadership that if any tax bill is done this fall, it must include expansions of the EITC and CTC.
Generate media on the EITC and CTC. Continue to push our message in the media by getting letters to the editors and op-eds published about tax policy that helps workers and families. We have a goal of 70 EITC/CTC media pieces by the end of October. If you do get published, please send copies to the tax aides and take copies to any lobby meetings you have (and to us here).
Urge people to call House and Senate offices about the EITC and CTC. In a recent RESULTS lobby meeting, a congressional aide noted that a mere ten phone calls on an issue gets their attention. Let’s take them up on that. Look up your members of Congress, call yourself, and ask others (action networks, social media networks, and others you know) to call and leave this message with the receptionist:
Hello, my name is ____________ and I am a constituent from _____________________. Leaders in Congress want to do a tax bill this fall to help businesses and corporations. If they do, millions of workers and families struggling to make ends meet should get priority. These people were ignored in the 2017 tax law; they must not be ignored again. Please tell Rep./Sen. ___________________ that if Congress passes any tax bill this fall, it must include expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit for low-income Americans. Will you please give him/her that message? Thank you.
Quick News
Join Action Network Call Tomorrow Night. If you are looking to better activate and support members of your local action network (online activists) and help move them up the Ladder of Engagement, please join us for our monthly RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar. The call is tomorrow, October 2 at 8:30pm 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 to learn more.
Need Help Training New Advocates? Getting new volunteers in your local RESULTS group is an exciting thing. New people bring new energy, new ideas, and new opportunities. But sometimes you need help getting them up to speed on the RESULTS model and our issues. We want to help you. Beginning this month, our terrific Expansion team is offering a new, six-week training to help them brush up on advocacy skills, dive into current campaigns, and become familiar with support tools RESULTS has available to assist them in their advocacy. This series is ideal for new people in your groups and potential volunteers you are cultivating. Veteran volunteers may join as well. The series begins on October 17. Learn more on our website and spread the word.
Save the Date for the RESULTS Conference. Mark your calendars: June 20-23, 2020 are the dates for the 2020 RESULTS International Conference in Washington, DC. Join us to celebrate RESULTS’ 40th Anniversary, along with Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and other exciting guests. Stay tuned for more details.
Oppose New Housing Rule. Submit your comment opposing the Trump Administration rule to make it easier for landlords, financial institutions and others to discriminate based on race, sex, national origin, disability, and other protected classes. Comments are due October 18.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Congressional Recess. The House and Senate will be on recess September 30-October 14. Submit your meeting requests today.
Tuesday, October 1: 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, October 2: RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar, 8:30pm 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.
Tuesday, October 15: 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.
Saturday, June 20-Tuesday, June 23, 2020: RESULTS International Conference. Follow the details at www.resultsconference.org.
Find other events on the RESULTS Events Calendar.
Other Resources
Learn more about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
Do you have a new person in your RESULTS group or info to update? Use our Volunteer Information Form to add them.
Find recently recorded advocacy trainings on the RESULTS Training Webinars page.
Report your Grassroots Successes:
- What happened at your last lobby meeting?
- What media have you gotten published?
- Have you reached out to new people lately?
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.