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March 7, 2025


 

News

Overview: Congress is drafting another continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. They need to do so by next Friday, when the current CR expires, to avoid shutting down the federal workforce.

Members of the CCUSA Government Relations team continued their visits to new members of Congress.

Call to action: CCUSA joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Health Association in a letter to congressional leadership ([link removed]) asking them, as they consider a budget reconciliation package, to protect and strengthen the Medicaid program--a vital lifeline for nearly 80 million low-income families, mothers, children, elderly, disabled individuals, the unhoused, and working people across our nation. Medicaid is also a concrete example of our nation's commitment to supporting mothers and protecting life by paying for 41% of all births and ensuring care for moms and babies both before and after birth.You can reach out to your members of Congress ([link removed]) too, asking them to protect and strengthen social safety net programs like Medicaid that help the most vulnerable in our society.

Townhall meetings: We have included a list of upcoming townhall meetings ([link removed]) hosted by members of Congress. Please reach out to your member for more details. You can use CCUSA's "Find Your Elected Officials ([link removed])" tool.

Economy: In the week ending March 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims ([link removed]) was 221,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 242,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,250, an increase of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending February 22, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending February 22 was 1,897,000, an increase of 42,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 7,000 from 1,862,000 to 1,855,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,866,000, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,750 from 1,865,000 to 1,863,250.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ([link removed]), total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in February, less than expected,and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent.

 

Living Faith


This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own. Isaiah 58:6-7

 

Trivia

Q. What event in the life of Jesus do the palms recall for us?

Please send your answers to an article ([link removed]) to get you started). Where do the ashes come from?

A. Thanks to Brian Wadey for being first with the right answer: "From last year's palms from Palm Sunday."

 

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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