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This week, Congress began their midsummer legislative push with action on the infrastructure package, appropriations bills and a budget resolution. The expanded Child Tax Credit payments began going out Thursday. In addition, the security fencing around the Capitol grounds was removed for the first time since the January 6 attacks, allowing greater access for the public and lawmakers to return to Capitol Hill. Infrastructure: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) scheduled a vote for next Wednesday on the yet-to-be-written Senate bipartisan infrastructure proposal, a bid to force consensus on President Joe Biden's domestic agenda before Congress goes on recess in August. There remain several obstacles to securing support from 10 Republican senators that will be critical to success. The plan aims to spend $600 billion on roads, bridges, affordable housing and broadband, and it may include separate budget provisions providing for expanded in-home care for seniors through Medicaid, child care, immigration reform, and climate. The package aims to be funded through several proposed corporate and "high-income" tax increases and tax enforcement measures. Other than questioning its financing, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has aired little criticism of the bipartisan agreement to fund roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure, even as he panned Democrats' separate spending plans on Wednesday as "wildly out of proportion" given the nation's inflation rate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will not support the infrastructure package unless it contains the separate $3.5 trillion social spending plans. Appropriations: This week, congressional appropriators in the House of Representatives advanced four big-ticket spending bills covering funding for federal defense, commerce, justice, science, housing, transportation, labor and health agencies. CCUSA weighed in with Congress in support of many critical programs that provide funding and support to Catholic Charities services nationwide, including Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, Mortgage Insurance, Continuum of Care, the Community Development Block Grant, Section 8 Housing, Head Start, Refugee & Entrant Assistance State Administered Program, Unaccompanied Alien Children Program, Medical Assistance Program, Special Programs For The Aging, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) among others. Hyde Repeal: The appropriations debate was not without controversy. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee approved by a vote of 33-25 its fiscal year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill, a $253.8 billion spending bill that would increase funding by 28 percent for key health and labor programs. Debate on the bill was heavily bogged down by Republican opposition to Democrats removing the Hyde Amendment ban on federally funded abortions, and Weldon Amendment language, which seeks to protect health care entities that decline to pay for or perform abortions from discrimination. Additionally, an amendment by Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.) that would add language seeking to bolster discrimination protections for faith-based organizations was rejected by voice vote. Several other appropriations bills passed this week also contained similar abortion provisions. CCUSA weighed in with lawmakers regarding its objections to the changes to the longstanding Hyde and Weldon protections and expressed its support for key programs that support Catholic Charities operations, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs. Next Steps: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said in a July 15 letter to colleagues that the House will consider the Labor-HHS-Education bill on the floor as part of a seven-bill "minibus" package during the week of July 26. However, given potential Senate objections to Hyde repeal and other provisions, Congress is not expected to enact a final version before the new fiscal year begins on October 1. That means the government will likely need funding through continuing resolutions to keep operating at current levels until at least December. Child Tax Credit: Thursday marked the beginning of the expanded Child Tax Credit rollout that the Biden administration and Congress enacted earlier this year as part of the American Rescue Plan. It remains unclear if and when lawmakers will attempt to make the expansion permanent. The credit provides $300 per month for each child under six, and $250 per month for those ages six to 17. COVID-19 Update We are continuing to see increases in COVID-19 infections mostly due to the Delta variant that is far more transmissible than its predecessors. On July 15, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 33,292 new COVID-19 cases and 310 deaths, with 184,145 new cases in the past week. Across the country, 185 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 160 million people who have been fully vaccinated. People who are unvaccinated should remain vigilant in their use of masks and social distancing, since there is a slight increase in infection numbers. COVID-19 Community Corps (CCUSA is a member) is supporting vaccination across the country. Locate the closest place for a vaccine here. Please visit the CCUSA Social Policy/Advocacy page for updates and policy papers. See here.
Faith and the Common Good
"My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me." John10:27 This weekend's readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time speak to the importance of the shepherd to the sheep. Let us continue to pray for all shepherds including lay religious, deacons, priest, bishops and the Holy Father as he recuperates from his recent surgery. Prayer for Pope Francis O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Francis,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Copyright © 2013, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC.
Trivia
What major event occurred on July 24, 1969?On July 9th, the trivia question was, "What appliance was first installed in 1902, making a huge difference in the summer days in the Northern Hemisphere?" Beverly Earl, from Catholic Charities San Bernardino/Riverside was the first to submit the answer air conditioning. On July 17, 1902, Willis Haviland Carrier designed the first modern air-conditioning unit as a result of his experiments with the laws of humidity control. In the United States, there was an unprecedented heat wave in June and July, which also contributed to drought and increased risks for wildfires. In hot weather, air conditioning can prevent heat stroke, dehydration from excessive perspiration, and other problems related to hyperthermia. Air conditioning can be used to provide a clean, safe, hypoallergenic atmosphere in hospital operating rooms and other environments where proper atmosphere is critical to patient safety and well-being. It is sometimes recommended for home use by people with allergies, especially mold. According to the International Energy Agency (Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of which the United States is member), as of 2018, 1.6 billion air conditioning units were installed which accounted for an estimated 20% of energy usage in buildings globally with the number expected to grow to 5.6 billion by 2050. The United Nations called for the technology to be made more sustainable to mitigate climate change using techniques including passive cooling, evaporative cooling, selective shading, windcatchers and better thermal insulation. Refrigerants used within air conditioners have caused damage to the ozone layer and are also exacerbating climate change.
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