This week in Washington marked the solemn anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. President Biden invited the Floyd family to the White House, and they met with him and Vice President Harris to commemorate this anniversary. Congress will begin their Memorial Day recess and will come back the week of June 7th. Led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the Senate GOP revealed its $928 billion infrastructure counteroffer to President Biden. Following the proposal, there remains a question of whether the two parties can overcome the differences in their respective plans and how to pay for infrastructure. While there is hope for a bipartisan bill, there are no signs of agreement between the two parties. Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to speed up court cases for recently arrived migrant families who are seeking asylum. DHS stated that now families will have early and ample access to legal representation and judges will not be subject to strict time constraints. In late March, Senators Durbin and Grassley introduced the First Step Implementation Act of 2021 to reform sentencing laws and correctional institutions. This week, Catholic Charities USA signed a letter with other faith-based organizations supporting this important bipartisan bill. COVID-19 Update We are continuing to see a reduction in COVID-19 infections. On May 27, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 23,511 new COVID-19 cases and 577 deaths. Across the country, 165 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 132 million people who have been fully vaccinated. CDC issued new guidance for those who are fully vaccinated. Full guidance can be found here. In addition to this promising news, people who are still not vaccinated should remain vigilant in their use of masks and social distancing. CCUSA is a founding member of the COVID-19 Community Corps to support vaccination across the country. To find the closest place for a vaccine, click here. Please visit the CCUSA Social Policy/Advocacy page for updates and policy papers. See here.
Faith and the Common Good
This Monday, the U.S. will observe Memorial Day and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen From Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
Trivia
What important Amendment was passed in Congress on June 4th? On May 21st, the question was, "In the 18th century, which Asian/Pacific Islander group was the first to settle in the U.S?" We received many answers but no correct answers to last week's trivia question. In the 18th century, the First Asian American Settlement was established by Filipino fishermen in marshlands of present-day Louisiana as early as 1763. The history of the oldest known permanent Asian American settlement remains mysterious and as murky as the mosquito-infested marshland it was built on. Saint Malo was first established as a fishing village along the shores of Lake Borgne in Louisiana in the 18th century and continued to flourish until the 20th century. True to the settlement's namesake, the Asian pioneers of Saint Malo were the Filipino sailors and indentured servants who escaped the Spanish Galleons in the 1700s. They were later known in history as the Manilamen after the capital city of the Philippines.
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