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October 18, 2024


 

News

Overview: As many members of Congress have returned to their districts during election season, the CCUSA policy team sent comments regarding tax policy to the House Ways and Means Committee. See "Tax Policy" below and follow the link to read the comments.

Economy: In the week ending October 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 241,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 258,000 to 260,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,250, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 231,000 to 231,500.

Tax policy: CCUSA sent comments to the chair and ranking member of the Working Families Tax Team ([link removed]) on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. The comments urged the policy makers to expand the Child Tax Credit, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, rental assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the enhanced premium tax credit, childcare tax credits, and the charitable tax.

Hurricane relief: CCUSA has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign ([link removed]). CCUSA announced the fund Oct. 9, as the Category 3 Milton churned across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida. CCUSA has already distributed more than $1.9 million to Catholic Charities agencies in states affected by Hurricane Helene. Donations to the CCUSA relief fund can be made at ccusa.online/milton ([link removed]); by texting MILTON to 20406; or by mailing checks to CCUSA at 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. Information about additional ways to give can be obtained by contacting CCUSA at (800) 919-9338 or [email protected].

CCUSA's convenings on homelessness: Register today for our upcoming forum ([link removed]) in Phoenix (October 24-25). Throughout 2024, CCUSA has been collaborating with local Catholic Charities agencies to host several regional convenings that better equip attendees to raise awareness around the crisis of homelessness in America. This series, Advocacy Forums: A Convening on Practical Solutions to Address Homelessness ([link removed]), provides a platform to discuss the state of homelessness in local communities, states and regions; share challenges, ideas, solutions and models of best practice for addressing homelessness; and federal-level advocacy training. The collective wisdom, best practices and innovative solutions developed at these convenings will help guide the creation of a new white paper and inform preparations for a national summit on homelessness prevention. Leaders and staff from Catholic Charities agencies, Catholic organizations, Catholic parishes, other faith communities and local collaborators are encouraged to attend. Presenters include CCUSA staff, Catholic Charities leaders, community leaders and local, state and federal agency staff. Registration for the events is free, and a limited number of stipends for travel costs are available for Catholic Charities agency staff members. Attendees also can receive up to 5.5 social work continuing education credits through their participation.

 

Trivia

Q. Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Luke, who is often depicted as a calf in Christian art. Why?

Please send your answers tothe feast of Our Lady of Victory ([link removed]) to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto--a victory attributed to praying the rosary ([link removed]). Pope Gregory XIII changed the name to Feast of the Holy Rosary-originally celebrated on the first Sunday in October-in 1573. Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716. And in 1913, Saint Pius X set the date for the feast that we know today as October 7.

 

Connections

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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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