June 25, 2021

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
President Biden struck an infrastructure deal on Thursday with a bipartisan group of senators, signing on to their plan to provide about $579 billion in new investments in roads, broadband internet, electric utilities and other projects in hopes of moving a crucial piece of his economic agenda through Congress.  Biden indicated that the plan only covers a fraction of his $4 trillion economic proposal and he believes that this bill can only succeed with a much larger package of spending and tax increases that Democrats plan to push through Congress unilaterally.

According to the Census Bureau, more than six million renter households are behind on rent.  On Thursday, the Biden administration extended the nationwide bans on eviction and foreclosure until July 31st but also indicated that this would be the last CDC eviction moratorium extension. Recognizing that state and local governments have significant challenges to help struggling tenants, the Treasury Department on Thursday released new guidance to help local officials distribute $46 billion in federal aid.  The Justice Department also called on state courts to adopt "anti-eviction diversion practices" designed to discourage landlords from evicting tenants. 

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorka, will visit the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time since taking a lead role on immigration issues.

COVID-19 Update

We are continuing to see a reduction in COVID-19 infections.  On June 24, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 13,376 new COVID-19 cases and 354 deaths. Across the country, 178 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 151 million people who have been fully vaccinated.  There is clear guidance for those who are fully vaccinated.  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.  Locate the closest place for a vaccine here. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are partnering with the We Can Do This campaign to offer webinars about its resources and train community organizations, local voices and trusted leaders for vaccine outreach efforts in communities.  On Tuesday, June 29 at 1 pm ET, there will be a webinar on the We Can Do This COVID-19 Faith Toolkit. Register here for the webinar.

Please visit the CCUSA Social Policy/Advocacy page for updates and policy papers. See here.

Faith and the Common Good 

We continue to pray for those impacted by COVID-19, and this week we also pray for the community of Surfside, Florida, while they conduct a search effort in the partially-collapsed condo building.

Awaken Us

Lord of all hopefulness, awaken us.

Show us the meaning in our toil 

That we may ever rejoice in the promise of the seeds we sow. 

Lord of all righteousness, awaken us.

Show us the good path 

That we may walk in confidence in Your wisdom and understanding.

Lord of all hospitality, awaken us. 

Show us the refuge of eagles' wings 

That we may always be people of shelter in times of storm.

Lord of all freedom, awaken us. 

Show us the courage that called our forefathers out of bondage 

That we may always stand with the bound and the oppressed, and be their champions.

 Lord of all peace, awaken us. 

Show us the heart that stills even raging waters 

That we may make still raging hearts, and reconcile warring neighbors.

 Lord of all charity, awaken us. 

Teach us of the unending return on our sacrifice 

That we may rejoice more fully in our giving.

 Lord, you have eyes for the just and ears for their cry. 

Awaken in us a heart of justice 

That you may count us among their number. 

Amen

© Catholic Relief Services, 2014.

Trivia 

What giant retailer opened its doors on July 2, 1962?

Please send your answers to [email protected]

On June 18th, the trivia question was,"Which important battle took place on June 25, 1876?

For the second week in a row, Sister Marcianne, SSND was the first to submit the Battle of the Little Bighorn as the battle that took place on June 25, 1876.

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought in south-central Montana on June 25-26, 1876. The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry. This battle was part of a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the Lakota and Cheyenne onto reservations.

In 1868, many Lakota leaders agreed to sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty created a large reservation in the western half of present-day South Dakota. The United States wanted tribes to give up their nomadic life which brought them into conflict with other Indians, white settlers and railroads. Lakota leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse rejected the reservation system. Likewise, many roving bands of hunters and warriors did not sign the 1868 treaty.

Tension escalated in 1874, when Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer made an exploration of the Black Hills inside the boundary of the Great Sioux Reservation. During the expedition, professional geologists discovered deposits of gold which generated an invasion of miners and entrepreneurs to the Black Hills in direct violation of the treaty of 1868. The United States tried to negotiate with the Lakota to purchase the Black Hills, but the offered price was rejected by the Lakota. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs issued an ultimatum requiring all Sioux to report to a reservation by January 31, 1876.   General Philip Sheridan, committed several thousand troops to find and to engage the Lakota and Cheyenne, who now were considered "hostile," with the goal of forcing their return to the Great Sioux Reservation. The campaign was set in motion in March 1876.  You can learn more here. 

The battle was a momentary victory for the Lakota and Cheyenne. The death of Custer and his troops became a rallying point for increased efforts to force native peoples onto reservation lands. With more troops in the field, Lakota hunting grounds were invaded by powerful Army expeditionary forces determined to conquer the Northern Plains Indians. Most of the declared "hostiles" had surrendered within one year of the fight, and the Black Hills were taken by the US government without compensation.

The site of the battle is now part of the National Park Service.  Read More.

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