Special Alerts-Federal

      When Congress returns in September (2010), many critical issues will need to be addressed: among them, child nutrition, aid to states, the TANF Emergency Fund, jobs for youth, low-income tax credits and tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. Some Members of Congress stand in the way of human needs programs out of concern about the deficit. At the same time, battles are shaping up over retaining or even expanding tax cuts for the rich, despite their huge cost.

     Economists are generally agreed that the human needs programs we care about are needed now to strengthen the economy, and that cuts in services will cost jobs and threaten the tenuous economic progress we've made. Despite this, there is a very real threat that vital assistance will be allowed to expire.

     If this happens, it will be in part because Congress does not hear enough constituents pressing them to boost the economy by helping families escape the worst consequences of the Great Recession. 

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    Update on Funding for the Stimulus Extender Bill

     You helped American families achieve a small victory, when the Senate filibuster that was blocking extended unemployment insurance benefits was broken. At long last, by the end of the week (July 19,) a bill extending these critical benefits for Americans out of work for 26 weeks or more should be headed to President Obama’s desk.

     The U.S. Senate has taken action on H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (the extender bill). The $1.065 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund and TANF Stimulus Extension and COBRA and State Medicaid funding important provisions were all stripped from the bill.

The Senate voted three times on versions of the extender bill during June, failing each time to garner the 60 votes needed to move it forward. No concerns were raised regarding the National Housing Trust Fund. The opponents, all Republicans and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), objected. Some of the items in the bill, including extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) and more Medicaid aid to the states, were classified as emergency spending. The elements of the bill that were offset (paid for), including the National Housing Trust Fund, would be paid for by closing several different tax loopholes, meaning some people would have to pay higher taxes.

     As the June work session drew to a close, two elements of the extender bill were introduced as stand-alone measures. One, extension of UI, did not get 60 votes. The other, another extension of the homebuyer tax credit, was approved by both the Senate and the House, and enacted into law. T

     Again, the Senate has reconvened this week (July 20), the leadership has offered a stripped down Unemployment Insurance (UI) extension bill only that needed to get 60 votes to pass the bill. It passed July 21 and was sent back to the House for action and then to the President Obama for his signature.

TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF) Stimulus EXtension

Congress continues debate on a number of proposals to provide work supports and create employment opportunities for unemployed workers and youth. Among the issues being debated are proposals to extend the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund, funding for youth summer employment programs, and extensions of COBRA and unemployment insurance benefits for jobless workers. These measures are being added to several legislative vehicles, but the most likely option appears to be the "American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes, and Preventing Outsourcing Act" (H.R.4213) that is due for a vote prior to the Memorial Day recess. Along with these employment programs, H.R. 4213 will include proposals to extend several tax provisions that are due to expire. Negotiation on the measure continues to move slowly as lawmakers attempt to find sufficient revenues to pay for the various provisions of the bill. Catholic Charities USA, along with other human needs advocates, continues to call on Congress to pass quickly legislation to continue critical work supports for unemployed workers and create other employment opportunities for low-income workers.

Update:  The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213) which includes a six month extension to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid spending (known as the FMAP). The ARRA increase expires on December 31, 2010. The Senate previously approved a six month extension to the ARRA increase to the FMAP. Without this increase, states are likely to have to make significant cuts to their Medicaid programs for the 2011 fiscal year. 

SALT supports the protections of the social safety net provided for in the Promoting American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213). This bill is a critical, probably "last chance" for an extension of the TANF emergency contingency fund and for the capitalization of the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). Even if you acted earlier, please send an email directly to your Representative and Senators. Let your Representatives know that you strongly support this bill (H.R. 4213) to extend benefits to those who are long-term unemployed, assist with health insurance through COBRA and TANF and the NHTF.

 Take Action Now to Support the Second Chance Act

In February Congress will begin working on the Appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010 which begins October 1, 2009. Now is the time to contact members of approriations subcommittee on the Department of Justice  to ensure funds are allocated to Second Chance Programs.

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Protect the Health of Our Children (SCHIP)- Senate vote may be this weekend The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that passed the House (H.R. 2). A vote may be scheduled this weekend. Please Call and/or email your Senators today. You can use this toll free number: 1-888-797-8717. Tell them to vote yes on the SCHIP bill (H.R. 2) which will: Increase health care coverage for children (Nine million children are currently left out.)

 Include coverage of healthcare for pregnant women (a way to protect the unborn) Include coverage of immigrant children who are here legally. (Currently, they wait five years before receiving health coverage.)

Some Republican senators have objected to lifting the 5-year ban on enrolling legal immigrant children and pregnant women in the SCHIP program.  Legal immigrant women and children should not be excluded from this important healthcare program. More information about SCHIP is available on our website at http://www.networklobby.org/issues/2009%20Issue%20Agenda/1-25-09_SCHIP.htm  

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NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND

This is really GOOD NEWS, worth calling Senators Warner and Webb on Wednesday -- just use the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. After decades of no federal funding for 'bricks and mortar' [except of Hope VI funding to demolish Public Housing and replace it with 'mixed' use, as in a lot less units for the poor], the National Housing Trust Fund deserves the support, in my opinion, of everyone who considers themselves a Christian. There is very real hope of this legislation passing; note its bipartisan support!!

Here is the 'bottom line': The bill will establish a dedicated source for the production, preservation and rehabilitation of 1.5 million affordable homes in 10 years. At least 75% of the funds will be for housing for households that are extremely low income, earning less than 30% of an area’s median income.

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Senate Passes Minimum Wage Increase with Tax Breaks

Senate Passes Minimum Wage Increase with Tax Breaks On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted 94-3 to pass a minimum wage bill that includes tax breaks for small businesses. While increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, it gives $8.3 billion in tax credits and deductions for small businesses. The bill also increases taxes on corporations, including limiting the tax-deferred pay that can be set aside by business executives and increasing taxes on corporations that move overseas to reduce their tax liability.

The House-passed bill did not include a tax break for small businesses. It is expected that lengthy negotiations between the House and the Senate will be needed before Congress can claim victory in successfully increasing the minimum wage. Key House leaders strongly oppose the Senate’s inclusion of tax cuts for small businesses.

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Hungry people are going without food stamps, poor children are going without healthcare, elderly are going without medicine, and schoolchildren are going without textbooks because of war, tax cuts, and a lack of both attention and compassion from our political leaders.... The deepening injustice of America's domestic priorities is increasingly impossible to justify. It's becoming a religious issue.

- Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It Call to Renewal has been leading a national effort at the grassroots and on Capitol Hill about our nation's budget. We believe budgets are moral documents that reflect the values and priorities of a city, state, or nation. They tell us what is most important and valued to those making the budget. Our joint campaign with Sourners prompted 64,000 emails to Senators and Representatives about the budget. What is truly significant is that these numbers far exceeded those of any other advocacy groups who have taken similar action (according to the tallies done by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Fair Taxes for All coalition, key coordinators of reporting). The success we have had on behalf of poor kids and families didn't happen just because Call to Renewal has been saying that budgets are moral documents. It happened because you said it too.

We need you to keep speaking prophetically to Washington, as well as to your neighbors, and help us build the movement's momentum. Thank you for your support. Together we can build the political commitment to seriously address poverty in America.

Blessings,
Jim Wallis
Convener, Call to Renewal