Hi John,

Happy September, advocacy community!

Although the leaves aren’t quite turning yellow and orange just yet, outdoors it feels unmistakably like fall. Here at Poverty Action, fall isn’t just about cozy sweaters and apple desserts (although we do like those things, and also take Halloween very seriously). It’s also the time when we are wrapping up our summer Listening Sessions and planning for the not-so-distant legislative session ahead. As one of our staff members puts it, autumn is the “quiet before the storm.”  

In that same theme, we’ve got updates on two policy proposals from the federal government, plus action items on those proposals. We’ve also got news on two exciting events that we will be holding in the coming weeks—a webinar and a series of advocacy workshops.

Federal Proposal 1

(Source: Food Research & Action Center)

If it seems like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been under near-constant threat for the last year and half, that’s because it has. The Trump Administration’s latest proposal would take food assistance benefits away from 3.1 million people who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families.

Currently, under a policy option known as “Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility,” the majority of states (over 40!) allow people to receive SNAP if they have slightly more in savings or make slightly more in income than otherwise allowed by federal SNAP rules. The proposed cuts to the program would eliminate Categorical Eligibility, and also therefore leave millions without food assistance. Washington in particular would be one of the states most harmed by the elimination of Categorical Eligibility. 15% or more of our state’s SNAP recipients would suddenly find themselves ineligible for food assistance if this proposal was to go through.

There is still time to submit comments against this proposal, although the deadline is quickly approaching. Stand up against hunger and cruel eligibility requirements and submit your comment on or before September 23.

Federal Proposal 2

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency meant to protect American consumers, is also back at it with yet another proposal that actually expands the freedoms of debt collectors. The CFPB’s proposed Debt Collection Practices rule would boost the frequency with which debt collectors are allowed to contact consumers, swelling the scale of collection calls to 7 calls per debt each week, and unlimited contact through text, email, or social media. That means that if you owed 3 separate debts, you could potentially be fielding 21 calls on these debts every week, not to mention an unlimited amount of texts or emails or even direct messages on your social media profiles. This proposed rule also would allow other abusive debt collection tactics, such as collection of “zombie” (expired) debts, providing “safe harbors” to debt collectors, and not mandating that collectors notify consumers about past due debt in any language other than English.

The CFPB needs to be reminded that they are an agency meant to protect the American public, not debt collectors. Submit your comment on this proposed rule by September 18!

And now, for the more fun news…

We are holding a webinar with the Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance on Tuesday, September 24, from 12-1 PM. This webinar is completely free and open to anyone! Throughout the hour, we’ll be recapping the 2019 Legislative Session and talking about the laws that were passed that strengthened state assistance programs, boosted tenants’ rights, expanded consumer protections, and addressed societal barriers after a criminal conviction. This is all great information that you’ll want to be aware of! Register here.

We are pleased to announce the start of our Communities in Action program, a series of advocacy and leadership development workshops that will be held in Seattle, Olympia, and Tacoma from October through December. Communities in Action is a series of three workshops that will focus on skills-building for people interested in advocacy, policy, community organizing, and social justice. All participants will receive a $20 travel reimbursement for each session, as well as food and childcare! More information and registration link here. We hope to see you there!