If you are having trouble viewing this message, go here: [link removed]

November 9, 2023


News


Overview: You are receiving the Weekly a day early, as the CCUSA office will be closed tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day. Even though it has been a short week, it has been a busy one. The CCUSA Social Policy Team continues to bring the voice and concerns of the Catholic Charities network to the administration and Congress.

Economy: In the week ending November 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 217,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 217,000 to 220,000. The four-week moving average was 212,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 210,000 to 210,750.

World Day of the Poor: Pope Francis commends us to meeting "the concrete needs of the other'' in his message for the 2023 World Day of the Poor ([link removed]), to be observed on November 19. In addition to the traditional identifications of poverty - lacking food, clothing, shelter and medical care - the pope asks us to be aware of "new forms of poverty": people, especially children, caught up in situations of war; earnings that fail to keep up with price increases; and inhumane treatment of laborers, among other concerns. The pope offers St. Thérèse of Lisieux as a model. She taught that "charity must not remain locked in the depths of one's heart" but should be activated whenever the opportunity (big or small) presents itself.

Safety net: CCUSA signed a Circle of Protection letter ([link removed]), along with other nonprofits, to President Biden and all members of Congress asking them to give priority attention to poverty-important programs and initiatives, such as WIC and the Child Tax Credit, as they consider FY2024 appropriations, the Farm Bill and possible tax legislation.

Charitable giving: CCUSA joined the Council of Nonprofits Relief4Charities group, the Charitable Giving Coalition, in a letter to House and Senate tax leaders in support of the Charitable Act. The Charitable Act would restore and expand the charitable deduction for non-itemizing taxpayers, also known as the universal charitable deduction. The current charitable deduction is only available to those who itemize, roughly 12% of taxpayers. A temporary universal charitable deduction enacted in 2020 expired at the end of 2021, creating uncertainty for Americans and the charities that rely on their donations to serve their communities.If enacted, the bill would restore the non-itemizer charitable deduction and increase the amount taxpayers can deduct to approximately $4,600 for individuals and $9,200 for joint filers. The legislation would also make gifts to donor advised funds (DAFs) eligible for the universal charitable deduction.

Staffing requirements for nursing facilities: The Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting ([link removed]), published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Federal Register on September 6, proposes to establish minimum staffing standards that would require Medicare- and Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities to provide residents with a minimum of 0.55 hours of care per resident per day (HPRD) from a registered nurse and 2.45 HPRD from a nurse aide (NA). In addition, facilities would be required to have a registered nurse on site and available to provide direct resident care 24 hours per day, seven days a week. CMS also intends to update the existing facility assessment requirement and to require states to report the percentage of Medicaid payments for certain Medicaid-covered institutional services spent on compensation for direct care workers and support staff. CCUSA is deeply concerned about the NPRM's staffing requirements, which could negatively impact nursing facilities and their patients, and joined in a letter with the Catholic Health Association of the United States ([link removed]) to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging her not to finalize the proposed rule.

Temporary Protective Status for the Democratic Republic of Congo: CCUSA joined the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. in a letter ([link removed](Press_Release_11-9-23_non)) calling on U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and the Biden administration to designate the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Violence and conflict withinthe country have displaced millions, taken thousands of lives and created food and water shortages. By designating the DRC for TPS, nationals residing in the U.S. who cannot safely return home would be protected from deportation for up to 18 months and would be eligible for employment authorization for the same period, enabling them to support themselves and their families.

Request for comments: The CCUSA Social Policy team sent two surveys to our communities of practice for feedback on two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking: HHS' Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule and HHS' Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability Proposed Rule Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Thanks to all who responded!

 

Trivia

Q. What was Veterans Day originally called and why?

Please send your answers to Daylight Saving ([link removed]) was first enacted in 1918 to save energy during World War I. The idea has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin (although I have read that that is erroneous)."

 

Connections

Please share CCUSA's Washington Weekly ([link removed]) with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!

Text "CCUSA" to 855-564-3197 to receive our action alerts! You can also access advocacy opportunities through our Action Center ([link removed]).

Stay connected with our work: Follow us on Twitter @EndPoverty ([link removed]).

If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty, you can contribute here ([link removed]).

([link removed])

Forward to a Friend:
[link removed]
Unsubscribe:
[link removed]