Catholic Charities USA: Washington Weekly 3/15/10
March 15, 2010
Volume 5 Number 8
Inside this issue:
- Senate Extends Benefits for Jobless Workers
- Census Bureau Announces New Supplemental Poverty Number
- House Passes Disaster Relief Legislation
- House Committee Holds Hearing on TANF Success
- Committee Chair Introduces Local Jobs Bill
- Catholic Charities Hosts Leadership Summit in Albany, New York
- Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Education
- Upcoming Justice for Immigrants Events
- Join Our Online Forum to Reduce Poverty
- Justice for Immigrants New and Improved Website and Postcard Campaign
Senate Extends Benefits for Jobless Workers
On March 10, the U.S. Senate passed the “American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010″ (H.R.4213) by a vote of 62 to 36. This legislation would provide a one-year extension of the $31 billion package of tax extenders including the IRA rollover and other charitable incentives, extensions of unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA health insurance subsidies for the unemployed, and changes in pension funding rules to ease employer burdens.
Given the Senate’s version of H.R. 4213 is slightly different from the initial version passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, the legislation will likely go to a conference committee to resolve legislative differences.
Catholic Charities USA will keep you updated on this legislation.
For more information, please contact Kellyann McClain, Policy Analyst, kmcclain@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Census Bureau Announces New Supplemental Poverty Numbers
On March 12, the White House with the U.S. Commerce Department Census Bureau hosted a conference call outlining a new supplemental poverty measure scheduled for release in fall 2011. The current poverty measure, established in the 1960’s focuses largely on household income, the new supplemental measure will also take into account information such as housing, workforce costs including transportation and childcare, utilities, and other in-kind benefits.
The supplemental measure will not replace nor will it affect government programs whose eligibility is determined by the current poverty threshold. The measure is merely a tool meant as a statistic to aid policy makers in better understanding how programs affect different populations of people. Rebecca Blank, Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of Commerce said, “The new supplemental poverty measure will provide an alternative lens to understand poverty and measure the effects of anti-poverty policies.”
Catholic Charities USA continues to advocate for expanding the definition of poverty and programs that provide opportunity for all to reach their full potential.
For more information about the Supplemental Poverty Measure, please click here.
For more information, please contact Ryan Smith, Policy Analyst at rsmith@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
House Passes Disaster Relief Legislation
On March 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote disaster-relief legislation (H.R.4783) that would allow taxpayers to take deductions on their 2009 tax returns for charitable contributions made in 2010 to help victims of the Chilean earthquake. This bill would also extend the period in which contributions for Haitian disaster relief can be made and deducted on 2009 tax returns. Taxpayers would be able to deduct donations for Chile and Haiti disaster relief made through April 15, 2010.
For more information, please contact Kellyann McClain, Policy Analyst, kmcclain@catholiccharitiesusa.org
House Committee Holds Hearing on TANF Success
On March 11, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held a hearing to evaluate the role of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in providing assistance to low-income families.
Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) focused his opening comments on the fact that TANF has not responded as effectively as other low-income programs in providing assistance to low-income families during the recession. He also suggested that continuing the TANF Emergency Fund, which now provides funds to help states respond to the rising need for assistance and to establish or expand subsidized employment programs, is one policy option that Congress should consider.
Witnesses for the hearing included Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI); Carmen Nazario, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Kay E. Brown, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, GAO; Russell Sykes, Chair Person, National Association of State TANF Administrators; Peter Edelman, Professor of Law, Georgetown University; and Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation.
The witnesses focused largely on the fact that TANF has not responded effectively to families during the recession. They presented a series of strategies to strengthen the program so that more eligible families can access benefits. These strategies include extending the emergency contingency funding from the ARRA, improving access to education and training programs for TANF recipients, and providing states with more flexibility in the way they implement the program. The opposing views came from Robert Rector who argued that TANF is overfunded and should be scaled back.
While TANF is due to be reauthorized this year, the Obama Administration has proposed a one year extension of the program in its FY 2011 budget proposal. The request would continue funding for the program at $16.5 billion. It includes an additional $2.5 billion to extend the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund that was included in the ARRA. These new funds would help states meet the growing number of families seeking TANF cash assistance, as well as encourage states to develop employment programs for TANF recipients. The budget also requests $500 million for a new Fatherhood, Marriage and Families Innovation Fund.
More information on the hearing and witness testimonies are available here.
If you have questions, please contact Desmond Brown, Senior Director of Government Affairs at dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Committee Chair Introduces Local Jobs Bill
On March 10, Representative George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, introduced legislation to increase employment opportunities to millions of unemployed workers. The “Local Jobs for America Act” (H.R. 4812) would provide federal funds to create jobs in critical community service areas such as firefighters, teachers, and child care workers. These jobs could be created in both the public and private sectors, with resources being targeted to communities with the greatest number of people out of work.
The bill includes $75 billion over two years for local communities to hire vital staff, and provides funding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions. It includes several provisions from an earlier House- approved jobs bill: $23 billion to help states support 250,000 education jobs; $1.18 billion to fund up to 5,000 law enforcement officers; and $500 million to retain, and hire firefighters. The recession and subsequent state budget cuts have caused many communities to reduce spending on education, public safety, health care, and education programs. As a result, families who rely on these services are suffering and many are turning to nonprofit organizations like Catholic Charities for assistance. If signed into law, this bill could help organizations maintain their staff capacity.
Catholic Charities USA will continue to provide updates on the legislation.
More information on the bill is available here.
[http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/03/local-jobs-for-america-act-inv.shtml]
If you have questions, please contact Desmond Brown, Senior Director of Government Affairs at dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Catholic Charities Hosts Leadership Summit in Albany, New York
On March 8, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany hosted a Centennial Leadership Summit to identify 21st century solutions to poverty. The Summit included presentations and panel discussions from religious leaders, community leaders, as well as public officials. As part of the Summit, participants were asked to be part of Catholic Charities USA’s 21st Century Solutions to Poverty Forum [http://ccusa.socialsphere.net/] where participants from across the country will be developing a new model to eradicate poverty in the United States.
In celebration of Catholic Charities USA’s centennial year, the Centennial Leadership Summits will continue throughout 2010 with the next one taking place in Nashville, TN on Thursday, March 25. To look for the Centennial Leadership Summit nearest you, please click here.
If you are interested in staying informed about these events, please fill out the event interest form. [http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1890]
For more information, please contact Monica Maggiano, Director of the Campaign to Reduce Poverty at mmaggiano@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Education
On March 9, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, held the first in a series of hearings focusing on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The hearing, entitled “The Importance of a World-Class K-12 Education” examined the economic importance of having a world-class K-12 education system.
According to Chairman Harkin’s opening statement, the United States had one of the best levels of high school attainment forty years ago. Today, the U.S. ranks 19th in the world in graduation rate, just ahead of Mexico. Twenty years ago, the United States was first in the world in postsecondary attainment; the U.S. now ranks 12th. It is projected that by 2014, 75 percent of new jobs will require some postsecondary education. In response to these stark statistics, Chairman Harkin said, “Well-educated Americans are the single most important factor in maintaining our productivity and global leadership, and in preparing our children to contribute to their communities and our nation at their full potential.”
Recent studies show that the main reason the U.S. is falling behind other countries is because of the ‘achievement gap’ – or the difference in academic achievement between minority and disadvantaged students and their white or affluent counterparts. Today, the average black or Latino student is roughly two to three years behind the average white student academically.
Witnesses included educators and education experts. They recommended that a reauthorization of the ESEA promote innovation in public schools; establish adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding for all public schools; promote excellent educators in every public school; measure and reward teacher and administrator success; and ensure that all children-especially the most disadvantaged-have access to an education that will prepare them to succeed in the 21st century.
Chairman Harkin plans to hold additional hearings to explore specific topics related to ESEA in the coming months.
To read more about this hearing, please click here.
For more information, please contact Kellyann McClain, Policy Analyst, kmcclain@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Upcoming Justice for Immigrants Events
The Justice for Immigrants campaign is hosting a mass for immigrants on March 21. His Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, will be the celebrant.
Date: March 21, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Upper Church, 19 Eye Street, NW, (corner of N. Capitol and I Streets)- Union Station Metro
Following Mass, join thousands for the “March for America: Change Takes Faith” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the National Mall.
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement, lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Join our Online Forum to Reduce Poverty
Catholic Charities USA created an online forum to generate 21st century solutions to poverty using 21st century technologies. There is only one rule — Think Big. We start this discussion with two questions that are vital to our fight against poverty. Your input will help us shape the discussion and frame the debate.
To access the online forum, please click here.
For more information, please contact Monica Maggiano, Director of the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America at bigideas@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Justice for Immigrants New and Improved Website and Postcard Campaign
Justice for Immigrants (JFI) has launched a redesigned website (www.justiceforimmigrants.org) that includes updated resources and information about the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ campaign for comprehensive immigration reform. The materials and information available on the website include an updated parish kit, recent statements by Bishops on immigration reform, and a new “Events” tab that JFI supporters can utilize to get involved in local and national JFI and immigration reform events.
The website also has information about the JFI postcard campaign and links for supporters to send electronic versions of the postcards to their Senators and Representatives.
Please take a few minutes to visit the new Justice for Immigrants webpage, find out more about the new offerings on the site, and send a JFI e-postcard to Congress.
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement, lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
