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January 19, 2024


News


Overview: A stopgap spending bill was passed by Congress on Thursday and signed by President Biden on Friday in order to avoid a government shutdown todayand extend the deadlines for the 12 appropriations bills to March 1 (Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and Veteran Affairs) and March 8 (all other departments).

Action alert: The CCUSA social policy team published an action alert on Jan. 17, asking people to contact their members of Congress and ask them to support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, a bipartisan tax agreement that expands and improves the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). To participate, find the action alert on CCUSA's website ([link removed]), enter your address and zip code, and follow the prompts to contact your senators and representatives.

Nutrition for women, infants, and children (WIC): CCUSA joined other religious nonprofits in a letter to congressional leadership ([link removed]) decrying the proposed annual appropriations bills for FY 24 which would create a shortfall for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The organizations urged the leaders to see that WIC is funded enough to meet increased participation in the program as well as rising food costs. If WIC funding remains at its current level, as many as two million mothers and babies will be turned away from the program in 2024. Read the full letter ([link removed]).

Economy: In the week ending January 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 187,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since September 24, 2022, when it was 182,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 202,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 203,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 207,750 to 208,000.

 

Trivia

From Jan. 18-25, Christians around the world are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. When was this week first observed?

Please send your answers to Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom ([link removed]) on May 17, 1957.

 

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]).

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