Congress returned to Washington, DC, this week with the House and Senate Democratic leaders working to implement President Biden's economic strategy built around infrastructure and manufacturing investments. The Biden administration also indicated it would maintain the historically low cap on refugee admissions of 15,000 started under the Trump administration After first enacting the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan without Republican support, President Biden and Democrats may look to work with the GOP to advance a two-part infrastructure plan that could total more than $3 trillion. This week, President Biden also announced his plan to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan over the coming months, U.S. officials said, completing the military exit by the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Biden indicated that he wanted to end the involvement of the United States in its longest war. This week, the Biden administration also indicated it would keep the target refugee admissions for this year to the historically low level of 15,000 begun under the Trump Administration. This decision backtracks on the administration's previous commitment to welcome more than 60,000 refugees. On April 15, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 73,622 new COVID-19 cases and 831 deaths. Across the country, 125 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 78 million people who have been fully vaccinated. On April 13, 2021, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You can read more here. Although signs are promising that the COVID-19 pandemic might be coming under control, people should remain vigilant in their use of masks and social distancing. To learn more about how you can get the vaccine please contact your state health department for its COVID-19 vaccination plan. Please visit the CCUSA Social Policy/Advocacy page for updates and policy papers. See here.
Faith and the Common Good
As we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter, the Gospel of Luke recounts the disciples encountering Christ on the road to Emmaus. Confused at first, they recognize Jesus when he shows them the marks of his crucifixion and joins them for a meal. His presence and words at the meal convince them they are not seeing a ghost but the resurrected Christ who continues to help them understand the scriptures. He then says to them: "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things." Luke 24:46-48
Forgive All My Sins Lord Jesus,
You opened the eyes of the blind,
healed the sick,
forgave the sinful woman,
and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your love.
Listen to my prayer:
forgive all my sins,
renew your love in my heart,
help me to live in perfect unity
with my fellow Christians
that I may proclaim your saving power
to all the world. Author Unknown Trivia
Which territory was the most recent addition to the United States? On April 9th, the trivia question was, "When did April 15th become Tax Day?" Anne Dryden, retired Catholic Charities USA Archivist was the first to answer that in 1955, April 15 became the new and lasting deadline for individuals to submit their tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service of the federal government. The Revenue Act of 1861 included the first U.S. Federal income tax statute. The Act, motivated by the need to fund the Civil War, imposed an income tax to be "levied, collected, and paid, upon the annual income of every person residing in the United States, whether such income is derived from any kind of property, or from any profession, trade, employment, or vocation carried on in the United States or elsewhere. The tax imposed was a flat tax, with a rate of 3% on incomes above $800.[3] The Revenue Act of 1861 was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln. This Act introduced Federal income tax as a flat rate tax. The income tax provision was repealed by the Revenue Act of 1862 which replaced the flat rate with a progressive scale of 3% on annual incomes beyond $600 (equivalent to $15,366 in 2019) and 5% on incomes above $10,000 (equivalent to $256,100 in 2019) or those living outside the U.S. Tax Day became official with the passage of the 16th Amendment, passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified February 3, 1913.
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!
You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.
Stay connected with our work to end poverty, follow us on Twitter at @CCharitiesUSA.
If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty you can contribute here. |
