U.S. Poverty Weekly Update September 3, 2019
Quote of the Week
“The fight against poverty can seem never ending. But it is not about resources; it is about choice. Choose to serve.”
– RESULTS South Carolina volunteer and Expert on Poverty Yolanda Gordon in remarks she made at the 2019 RESULTS International Conference
The U.S. Poverty National Webinar is next Tuesday, September 10 at 8:00 pm ET. We will review the new 2018 U.S. Census poverty data, which will be released earlier that day, and how to generate media for expanding the EITC and CTC. Please make plans for where and with whom you will do the webinar. We will have more details in next week’s Update.
Got Two Minutes? Submit Letters to the Editor about the EITC and CTC (September Action)
RESULTS hopes all of you had an enjoyable Labor Day celebrating the contribution workers make to the well-being of us all. But workers deserve more than our thanks and recognition. They deserve a fair wage for the work they do. Sadly, millions of workers in the U.S. don’t get this. They struggle in low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to meet their basic needs. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are designed to help these workers and their families. By providing a refundable tax credit to low-wage workers and families with children, the EITC and CTC lifted over 8 million people out of poverty in 2017.
This fall, Congress may take up tax legislation that could include expansions of the EITC and CTC to help more people. But it won’t happen without public pressure on Congress to do so. Getting media published highlighting the importance of the EITC and CTC to low-income workers and families can create that pressure.
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to start drafting and submitting a letter to the editor on the expanding the EITC and CTC. The September Action has background info on how we can expand these credits this fall, as well as possible hooks and a sample letter to get started. You can also use our new online template to submit a letter today.
As you write, use new data from CBPP on what a broad expansion of the EITC and CTC could do for workers in your state. We’ll also have more about the EITC and CTC, as well as the new 2018 U.S. Census poverty data you can use in your letters to the editor, on our September National Webinar next Tuesday, September 10 at 8:00 pm ET. In addition, if you are looking for a deeper dive into how to generate media, join our Use Local Media to Move Legislators into Action training webinar on Thursday, September 12 at 8:30 pm ET. See login info in the Upcoming Events section below and our Events calendar.
Got Ten Minutes? Ask about Last Minute Town Halls (August Action)
This is the last week of the long summer recess for Congress. They will be back in Washington next week. If you have not been able to meet with your members of Congress this summer, make one last call to their office to see if they have any events in your area this week. If you find one, plan to attend to ask a question about housing and/or tax policy. If there is nothing this week, make requests for meetings for the next House and Senate congressional recess (September 30-October 14).
Also please follow up with policy aides in DC about our requests around housing and the EITC/CTC (for details on what to write these aides, see the “Got Twenty Minutes?” section of last week’s Update). You can also share this new study which shows a positive impact on housing for single moms who get the Earned Income Tax Credit. And remember to invite housing aides to this briefing on September 18 in Washington, DC.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to contact your House and Senate schedulers about any events your members of Congress may be hosting near you this week (and check www.townhallproject.com). Use the August Action and when you get a meeting or event scheduled, please contact Meredith Dodson for help getting ready. If there are no events to attend this week, ask the scheduler for a meeting during the October recess. Also, be sure to follow up with DC policy aides now on our current requests. For meeting requests forms, current policy requests, and laser talks on our issues, visit our Lobbying page.
Got Twenty Minutes? Use Your Media Work this Month to Inspire Others into Action (September Action)
This month, we are working to get media published about expanding the EITC and CTC for workers and families. Media is not only an effective way to influence policymakers, it can also inspire others into action. In fact, many of you know that getting media published can be a transformative experience. When people accomplish something new, do something they never thought they could do before, and start to believe that they can make a difference, they want to keep coming back. People want to feel they can make a difference. Use your media work this month to show them how.
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes this week to brainstorm how you will use your media work this month to engage others in this important work. The September Action has ideas for how to engage others. Also, if you would like one-on-one coaching help, please contact Jos Linn for assistance. Finally, please join our training webinar “Wow, I got published!” Making Media a Transformational Experience on Thursday, September 19 at 8:30 pm ET for more tips on using media to engage others. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/586201507, or dial either (929) 436-2866 or 669-900-6833, meeting ID: 586 201 507#. Find the materials and recording from the August 21 version of this webinar here.
Quick News
Congratulations, Maxine! If you were not on the August National Webinar, we are pleased to once again announce that RESULTS Indianapolis volunteer and Expert on Poverty Maxine Thomas has been re-elected to a second three-year term as a Grassroots Member of the RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund Board. We look forward to Maxine’s continued leadership and the remarkable gifts she brings to our work. Thank you to the other Board candidate, Dr. William Cosgrove of Salt Lake City, and to everyone who voted in the election.
Learn about “Public Charge” on Webinar this Thursday. The Trump Administration announced its final “public charge” rule last month, which would hold the use of public benefits against immigrants applying for permanent residency in the U.S. RESULTS and many others weighed in against this proposal last fall, and 13 states and several organizations have already filed a lawsuit challenging the rule. Want to understand the proposal better? Register for Public Charge 101 webinar this Thursday, September 5 at 1:00pm ET.
Final Weeks to Submit Comment to Protect SNAP. The Trump Administration has proposed a new rule to eliminate “broad-based categorical eligibility” with SNAP, which would result in 3 million low-income people losing SNAP benefits. Please submit your comment opposing the rule today and check out the joint SNAP comment campaign resources page for additional tools. The deadline to comment is September 23.
New Housing Rule Would Make It Easier to Discriminate. The Trump Administration has proposed a change that would weaken the “disparate impact” rule under the Fair Housing Act. The new rule would make it easier to for landlords, financial institutions and others to discriminate based on race, sex, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristics. Go to www.fightforhousingjustice.org to learn more and to submit your comment opposing this regressive rule. Comments are due by October 18, 2019.
Racial Wealth Gap Study Released. A new study from McKinsey & Company shows that U.S. GDP could be up to 6 percent higher in the next eight years if the racial wealth gap is closed. Read the study here.
Upcoming Events
August Congressional Recess. The House and Senate are both on recess until September 6. Submit your meeting requests today.
Tuesday, September 10: RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar, 8:00 pm ET (a week later than normal). Overview of 2018 U.S. Census poverty data. 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.
Thursday, September 12: Use Local Media to Move Legislators into Action training webinar, 8:30pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/422081397 or dial either (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID: 422 081 397#.
Tuesday, September 17, 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.
Thursday, September 19, Webinar: Wow, I got published! Making Media a Transformational Experience, 8:30 pm ET. Join here: https://results.zoom.us/j/586201507, or dial either (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID: 586 201 507#.
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.
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.