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May 17, 2024


 

News


Overview: A short-term continuing resolution bill to fund the government into the latter part of this year seems more likely than getting all 12 appropriations bills through Congress and on to the president's desk by Sept. 30. The House Agriculture Committee published its text of the 2025 farm bill ([link removed]) with a$1.5 trillion price tag. The bill contains language that would remove "climate-smart requirements" for using conservation funds and would prevent DNSP benefits from keeping pace with the cost of a healthy, realistic diet over time, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would result in a roughly $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade (See section on SNAP below). The Senate version includes, in comparison, provisions for protecting the climate, protecting and strengtheningthe SNAP program and expanding access to groups that have historically been excluded from the program.

Economy: In the week ending May 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 222,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 231,000 to 232,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 215,000 to 215,250.

Consumer protection: The Supreme Court ruled this week that funding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau apart from Congress' appropriations process is constitutional. The ruling means that the CFPB may continue in its role of protecting consumers from predatory financial practices.

Justice for Immigrants (JFI): CCUSA joined in a JFI letter to the president and congressional leadership ([link removed]) asking them to keep in mind the humanitarian concerns involved in any immigration reforms or executive actions.

Southern border: The Biden administration announced a policy ([link removed]) to lessen the number of illegal crossings at the southern border. Single adults seeking protection in the U.S. but suspected of criminal or terrorist activity will be queued into a fast-tracked docket, with the goal of resolving cases within six months.

House Farm Bill Proposal - Future SNAP Cuts:The proposed Farm Bill released today bythe House Agriculture Committee could put, if passed, a healthy diet out of reach in the future for millions of families with low incomes by cutting future benefits for all SNAP participants and eroding the adequacy of SNAP benefits over time.The proposal would do this by freezing the cost of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Thrifty Food Plan, which forms the basis for SNAP benefit levels, outside of inflation adjustments, even if nutrition guidelines or other factors change the cost of an adequate diet.This would put at risk SNAP benefits for millions of participants, including children, older adults, and people with disabilities who would receive less food assistance in the future because of this change in policy, according to an analysis by the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities. We urge members and constituents of the CCUSA network who feel this proposal would negatively impact their communities to reach out tomembers of the House Agriculture Committee ([link removed]) and voice opposition to these changes (website ([link removed]) and membership ([link removed])). The Committee is scheduled to consider the legislation next Friday, May 24th.

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, Catholic Charities agencies, and other faith-based organizations will share challenges, ideas, solutions, and models of best practices for addressing homelessness. Information gathered from the convenings will be used to produce a white paper and prepare for a national summit on preventing homelessness. Registration ([link removed]) is open for Philadelphia, Pa. (June 5-6); Providence, RI (June 24-25); Minneapolis, Minn. (Aug. 8-9); and Phoenix, Ariz. (Oct. 24-25). There is no cost to register, but space is limited. A limited number of stipends for travel costs are available to Catholic Charities agency staff members, and continuing education credits are available as well.

 

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