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March 8, 2024


News


Overview: The first funding bill for the departments of Agriculture, Transportation-HUD, Interior, Commerce, Energy-Water, and Veterans Affairs passed the House and is before the Senate at the time of writing this newsletter. The Senate needs to pass the bill before midnight tonight to avoid a government shutdown. The package includes a $1 billion increase for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (aka WIC). The second bill for the Pentagon, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS, State Department, Financial Services, and Legislative Branch will now be debated in Congress, with Homeland Security funds being the most contentious.

Religious liberty: The Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships announced a rule that grants religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social services ([link removed]). The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, and the United States Agency for International Development issued this new rule. Some of the protections include notifying beneficiaries of their right to be free from discrimination based on religion, making clear that all covered social service programs may not discriminate based on religion, and encouraging government agencies to help beneficiaries identify providers compatible with their beliefs.

Politics: "Civilize It: Our Catholic Response in a Polarized World ([link removed])" is a virtual event streaming live on March 20, 2024, at 4 p.m. EST. Topics include the challenge of polarization and the tools from our Catholic tradition that can help us heal Church and society. The moderator is Gloria Purvis; panelists are Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of CCUSA, and Rev. Aaron Wessman, G.H.M., author of The Church's Mission in a Polarized World.

Team Up: CCUSA ([link removed]), Habitat for Humanity International ([link removed]), Interfaith America ([link removed]) and YMCA of the USA ([link removed]), launched the Team Up Project ([link removed]) -- a new initiative designed to elevate and support ordinary acts of kindness, service, human connection, and cooperation within communities. Our Sunday Visitor profiled the goals of Team Up in a recent article ([link removed]).

Economy: In the week ending March 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 217,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 215,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 212,500 to 213,000.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 275,000 in February, and the unemployment rate increased to 3.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today ([link removed]). Job gains occurred in health care, in government, in food services and drinking places, in social assistance, and in transportation and warehousing.

Child Tax Credit: After passing the House, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 has yet to be taken up by the Senate, where it faces potential amendments that would weaken the legislation and make fewer families eligible for the credit. There is still time for you to urge your senators to pass the bill with an expanded Child Tax Credit by using CCUSA's action alert ([link removed]).

Convening on homelessness: Attend one of CCUSA's regional convenings on homelessness, which will be co-hosted by local Catholic Charities agencies. Representatives from the government and faith-based organizations shared challenges, ideas, solutions, and models of best practices for addressing homelessness. Registration ([link removed]) is open for St. Petersburg, Fla. (March 14-15); Dallas, Texas (May 7-8); Philadelphia, Pa. (June 5-6); and Providence, RI (June 24-25); and Phoenix, Ariz. (Oct. 24-25). There is no cost to register, but space is limited. Also, a limited number of stipends for travel costs are available to Catholic Charities agency staff members.

 

Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy & Legislative Affairs, CCUSA Social Policy & Governmental Affairs, speaks at the prevent homelessness advocacy forum hosted by Catholic Charities of the East Bay, Oakland, Calif. Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo/David Werning)

 

Trivia

Q. The movie Cabrini ([link removed]) opens on March 8. It tells the story of Mother Frances Cabrini, who received posthumously what honor in 1950?

Please send your answers to longest shutdown ([link removed]) was 35 days and happened in 2018-2019.

 

Connections

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

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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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