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November 17, 2023


News


Overview: This week, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, a stopgap spending measure that would continue to fund the government into the new year. The extension comes in two phases: funding for the Agriculture; Energy-Water; Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD bills will end Jan. 19, 2024, and funding for the other eight appropriations bills will end Feb. 2, 2024 (Commerce; Defense; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Interior; Labor; Legislative Branch; State-Foreign Operations). WIC participation will continue under the same terms as the previous stopgap, which ended today.

Happy Thanksgiving! The CCUSA Social Policy team wishes everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving next week. May the peace and charity that mark our family and local celebrations spread and influence the cultures and communities in which we live. [N.B. The Washington Weekly will be published next on Dec. 1, 2023.]

Homelessness and hunger: Some individuals and organizations observed Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week this week as an opportunity to educate others on the problems and solutions of hunger and homelessness. CCUSA lists housing ([link removed]) and nutrition ([link removed]) as two of its top priorities, offering information and modeling solutions for both. CCUSA also advocates for legislation and programs that help alleviate homelessness and hunger. Just recently, CCUSA joined other nonprofits ([link removed]) in urging President Biden and Congress to give priority to programs like WIC ([link removed]) (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). There are many ways to get involved; one way for individuals is to contact their elected officials ([link removed]) and ask them to prioritize funding and programs for those who are homeless and/or hungry.

Social Determinants of Health: The White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), are releasing several resources to help support federal agencies, states, local and tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services. Specifically, the White House is releasing the first ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health - PDF ([link removed]).To accompany this, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing a Call to Action to Address Health Related Social Needs ([link removed]), and a Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework - PDF ([link removed]). This builds on the Administration's work to advance health equity by acknowledging that peoples' social and economic conditions play an important role in their health and wellbeing.

Economy: In the week ending November 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 231,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 217,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,250, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 212,250 to 212,500.

Nonprofit Coalition Letter to Congress on the Streamlining Federal Grants Act: CCUSA joined a broad coalition of nonprofits in a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to act on the Streamlining Federal Grants Act. Bills in the Senate and House (S. 2286 ([link removed][%22%22]%7D)/H.R. 5934 ([link removed])) seek to improve the effectiveness and performance of federal grants and cooperative agreements, simplify the application and reporting requirements, and facilitate greater coordination among federal agencies responsible for delivering services to the public. The bill promotes consultation with charitable organizations and governments and calls for improving services delivered to communities and organizations that historically have been unable to access federal grants or cooperative agreements. Furthermore, the bill promotes the implementation of workforce development programs by recognizing the importance of a well-trained workforce and the need for federal agencies to provide training and assistance to potential grant applicants.

Proposed regulations for sponsoring foreign farmworkers: The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing new regulations to protect foreign workers in the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Employment Program. The program allows U.S. farmers to sponsor foreign nationals for seasonal agricultural work, but there have been reports of employer abuse and labor violations. The proposed changes aim to improve worker protection, oversight, and compliance monitoring. CCUSA collaborated with the USCCB to provide a collective Catholic response ([link removed]).

World Day of the Poor: In remembrance of the World Day of the Poor, we remember with thanksgiving all the Catholic Charities and Caritas agencies, their staff and volunteers, around the world who continue to live out the message of Pope Francis, as he stated in this year's letter to mark the World Day of the Poor ([link removed]):

"Let us thank the Lord that so many men and women are devoted to caring for the poor and the excluded; they are persons of every age and social status who show understanding and readiness to assist the marginalized and those who suffer. They are not superheroes but "next door neighbours," ordinary people who quietly make themselves poor among the poor. They do more than give alms: they listen, they engage, they try to understand and deal with difficult situations and their causes. They consider not only material but also spiritual needs; and they work for the integral promotion of individuals. The Kingdom of God becomes present and visible in their generous and selfless service; like the seed that falls on good soil, it takes root in their lives and bears rich fruit (cf. Lk 8:4-15)."

 

 

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)."

 

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