Catholic Charities USA Washington Weekly 8/9/10
August 9, 2010
Volume 5 Number 27
Inside this issue:
- Senate Approves State Aid Package
- Senate Passes Child Nutrition Legislation
- Trafficking Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
- Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged
- Participate in Catholic Charities Sunday
- Register Today for Catholic Charities USA’s Centennial Gathering!
Senate Approves State Aid Package
On August 5, the U.S. Senate approved legislation that will provide over $26 billion in aid to states. The “Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2010,” (HR 1586) passed the Senate by a vote of 61 to 39. The package includes $10 billion to pay for education related jobs and $16.1billion for enhanced Medicaid payments to states for the next six months. While the bill included important provisions to save teacher jobs and could potentially improve access to health services for low-income individuals, it was paid for by reducing funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In order to keep the state aid package from adding to the federal deficit, Senators used $11.9 billion in revenues from SNAP.
Catholic Charities USA, along with a large coalition of nutrition advocates, urged members of the Senate not to take funds from SNAP to pay for the state aid package. In a letter to both the Senate and House, the coalition urged congressional leaders not to fund other federal programs at the expense of hungry families. They stressed that over 40 million vulnerable Americans depend on SNAP, and that during these challenging economic times it is critical to maintain a strong nutrition safety net. You can access the SNAP Offset letter here.
In an unusual move, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called back members of the House of Representatives who had adjourned for summer recess to vote on the Senate-passed state aid package. It is expected that the House will reconvene later today and vote on a final package this week.
More information on the legislation is available here.
For more information, please contact Desmond Brown, Senior Director of Government Affairs at dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Senate Passes Child Nutrition Reauthorization Legislation
On August 5, before adjourning for the summer recess, the U.S. Senate passed the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,” (S.3307), a bill to renew child nutrition programs. The bipartisan proposal would authorize $4.5 billion over 10 years for improvements to child nutrition programs. This falls short of the President’s request for a $10 billion increase over 10 years. Catholic Charities USA has raised concerns with congressional leaders that the Senate package is being funded through cuts to SNAP. Programs authorized under the Senate bill include, the Child and Adult Food Care Program, the Summer Food Program, the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
As passed, the bill would:
- Provide an increase in the school meal reimbursement rate and allow the USDA to establish nutrition standards for food sold in the vending machines;
- Establish nutrition requirements and provide guidance and technical assistance for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Food Program;
- Expand direct certification for free school meals to Medicaid recipients;
- Expand the Afterschool Meals Program, currently operating in 14 states, to all 50 states;
- Allow schools in high poverty areas to offer free school meals to all students;
- Provide automatic eligibility to foster children;
- Provide mandatory funding for innovative pilot projects that feed hungry children both during school and when school is out;
- Simplify program rules and reduce paperwork for the Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors; and
- Implement electronic benefit transfer.
Now that the bill has passed the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives will need to take action on its version of the child nutrition reauthorization. While the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act,” (HR 5504) that passed by the House Education and Labor Committee on July 15 is similar to the Senate-passed proposal, one major difference is that the House proposal would provide $8 billion in funding over 10 years.
An additional issue of contention in the House package is the absence of offsets to pay for the increase in new funding.
Catholic Charities USA is opposed to using funds from the SNAP as a way to fund other legislation. To view a statement issued by Catholic Charities USA on the passage of the Senate bill, click here.
Please look for an action alert, this week, asking you to weigh in with your member of Congress on the pending Child Nutrition Reauthorization proposal in the House.
For letters sent to Congress by Catholic Charities USA, please click here:
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Sr. Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Trafficking Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
On August 5, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2009,” (S. 2925) which will now move to the full Senate for a vote. S. 2925 authorizes the Department of Justice to award one-year block grants to up to six state or local governments in different regions of the United States that have considerable sex trafficking. S. 2925 requires grant funds to be used to provide shelter and services to victims of sex trafficking as well as for training for law enforcement and social service providers.
If passed, S. 2925 would amend Title IV of the Social Security Act to require states to adopt procedures for reporting missing children for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The bill would also amend the Crime Control Act of 1990 by updating the record keeping in the NCIC database.
Trafficking legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives in June. The “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victim Support Act” (H.R. 5575), sponsored by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D- NY) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) would take a multi-disciplinary approach to shutting down child sex trafficking in the United States. This bill has been referred to the House Judiciary and the House Ways and Means Committees.
Catholic Charities USA makes domestic and international trafficking resources available for agencies to use to help mobilize their communities to identify and serve all children who are victims of trafficking.
To access HR 5575, please click here.
To access a summary of the Senate version, S. 2925, please click here.
For more information, please contact Ryan Smith, Policy Analyst at rsmith@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged
On August 6, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the most recent unemployment numbers. In July, the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.5 percent though 131,000 jobs were lost. Federal government employment fell, as 143,000 temporary workers hired for the decennial census completed their work. BLS reported total private employment edged up over the month (+71,000). Thus far this year, private sector employment has increased by 630,000, with about two-thirds of the gain occurring in March and April.
Read more on the recent unemployment data.
For more information, please contact Ryan Smith, Policy Analyst, rsmith@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Participate in Catholic Charities Sunday
On September 25, 2010, Catholic Charities USA will celebrate its Centennial anniversary. This anniversary provides a once in a lifetime platform from which to proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person and call all individuals, families, communities and organizations to work together to help us meet our needs, address our issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.
In honor of the centennial, the U.S. Catholic Bishops designated Sunday, September 26, 2010 as National Catholic Charities Sunday. National Catholic Charities Sunday provides parishes with the opportunity to celebrate Catholic Charities’ long standing efforts to provide help and create hope for millions of people in need each year and to advance a vision for our society in which individuals and communities can reach their God-given potential.
As Catholic Charities USA reflects on the last 100 years, the impact of partnership efforts, like ours, have been pivotal to the help and hope that has been created for millions of people on the margins of our society. Thus, as we recognize the potential and responsibility of our centennial, Catholic Charities USA is once again seeking your partnership.
Catholic Charities USA has developed materials to help parishes celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Catholic Charities by reflecting on the Gospel and the witness of Catholic Charities, raising their voice to advocate for life and dignity for all, and responding to need and injustice in their communities. These materials are available in English and Spanish at: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ccsunday.
We ask that you encourage your networks to host and spread the word about National Catholic Charities Sunday. Please forward this information and materials along to your contacts at parishes and dioceses.
If you have any questions or need any support, please contact Rachel Lustig at rlustig@catholiccharitiesusa.org or (703) 236-6234.
Register Today for Catholic Charities USA’s Centennial Gathering!
One hundred years ago, 400 delegates from 24 states gathered in Washington, DC to form what is now known as Catholic Charities USA, a compassionate network of social justice advocates and caregivers, providing help and creating hope for millions of Americans each year.
On September 25-28, 2010, Catholic Charities USA will once again gather in Washington, DC to celebrate our Centennial and make plans for the next 100 years.
We invite you to join us in Washington and take this historic moment to reflect upon our 100 year history, recognize regional programs that are effectively reducing poverty, and renew your commitment to each other and to our brothers and sisters in need.
Register now! In addition to hundreds - even thousands – of Catholic Charities agency staff, social justice advocates, partners and coalition representatives, and people of good will, you will have the unique opportunity to interact with:
- Josef Cardinal Cordes, President, Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will provide the keynote at Sunday’s breakfast
- Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, will serve as celebrant and homilist at Saturday’s liturgy
- Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, Archdiocese of New York, will preside at the Mass on Catholic Charities Sunday and present a keynote address
- Rev. Bryan Hehir, Former President of Catholic Charities USA
- Mark Shields, syndicated columnist and political analyst, PBS Newshour
- And many more new and familiar faces! Check our Web site for updates.
