August 20, 2021

Inside this issue

• Washington Weekly

  Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: This week was dominated by the dire situation in Afghanistan. SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, were increased more than 25% above pre-pandemic levels. Both the House and the Senate were out for the August recess this week, but the House is being called back early to vote on the budget resolution next week, setting the stage for passage of the $3.5 trillion social spending package. 

Economy: Jobless claims hit a pandemic low. The Labor Department said the number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week by 29,000 to 348,000, a sign that America's job market is rebounding as employers boost hiring to meet a surge in consumer demand.  

$3.5 Trillion Budget Package: The House will vote the week of Aug. 23 on the budget resolution. The House must pass the budget resolution before Democrats can move ahead with passing a massive $3.5 trillion social spending package using the filibuster protections of reconciliation. Speaker Pelosi can afford to lose only three votes in the House. If the vote next week is successful, House committees will mark up their respective portions of the reconciliation legislation the week of Sept. 12, adding specifics on how programs like Paid Family and Medical Leave, Medicare and Medicaid expansion, Child Tax Credit, affordable housing and others will be funded. Sept. 15 is Pelosi's deadline for committees to complete their work. 

SNAP Benefit Increased By 25%: On August 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that resulted in an increase of SNAP by an average of $36.24 per person from $121 to $157 per month beginning on October 1, 2021. USDA conducted a review of the Thrifty Food Plan as directed by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill and President Biden's January 22 Executive Order that resulted in the first change to the SNAP calculation process since 1975. Recent evidence had showed that the previous benefit levels were too low, including a USDA study published earlier this summer, which found that nearly nine in 10 SNAP participants reported facing barriers to achieving a healthy diet. These findings were echoed in listening sessions USDA held with stakeholders, including Catholic Charities agencies. 

COVID-19 Update: This week, the Biden administration announced it was recommending booster shots of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for many Americans as early as Sept. 20 as the surge in cases due to the Delta variant continues. On August 19, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 157,694 new COVID-19 cases and 1,054 deaths. Across the country, 199 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 169 million people who have been fully vaccinated. The CDC is now advising that everyone regardless of vaccine status wear a mask indoors in public. COVID-19 Community Corps (CCUSA is a member) is supporting vaccination across the country. Locate your closest vaccination site here. 

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

 Faith and the Common Good 

When Pope Francis released his prayer intention for the month of August, he "invited everyone to work for a transformation of the Church - a work that begins with "a reform of ourselves" through an experience of prayer, charity and service, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Given the news of this week, the faithful are called to commit to prayer, charity and service.   

A Prayer for Peace 

We are moulded, each one of us, 
in the image of God, 
and within our souls there is a fingerprint 
none can erase. 
We pray for those who have no regard 
for anyone but self, 
who put no value on human life. 
For nations and individuals who abuse and kill. 
We are not called to be judge or jury, 
but we are called to be agents of change, 
and if the butterfly that flaps its wings 
should be our attitude to others 
then so be it, Lord, 
and may the hurricane this generates 
somewhere within the world 
reach into the hearts and souls of those 
for whom we pray, and reveal to them 
how precious are those 
for whom they have no love, 
and how precious are they 
who now bring tears to the eyes of God. 

- John Birch 

 TRIVIA 

Name an event that occurred on August 28th that highlighted disparity or civil rights in the U.S.  Please send your answers to [email protected] 

On August 13th, the trivia question was, " Which act was signed on August 20, 1964 to address poverty?  Liz Smith was the first to submit the answer that the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Johnson.  Economic Opportunity Act established a variety of social programs aimed at facilitating education, health, employment, and general welfare for impoverished Americans.  

The act included eleven major programs: The Job Corps, Neighborhood Youth Corps, Work-Study, Urban and Rural Community Action, Adult Basic Education, Voluntary Assistance for Needy Children, Loans to Rural Families, Assistance for Migrant Agricultural Employees, Employment and Investment Incentives, Work Experience program and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).  One of the main provisions of the act was the federal government's authority to bypass states in sending funds directly to local governments. 

In 1967, Congress directed the Government Accountability Office, then General Accounting Office, to review anti-poverty programs by the federal government. The conclusion was that programs such as Head Start were effective in providing for children.  While there were some challenges, the GAO determined that the poverty programs were working at the time. While there is debate about the impact of the act, the fact is that poverty rate fell dramatically within 10 years of its passage. According to the US Census Bureau the poverty rate in America during 1964 stood at 19.0%. By 1973 the poverty rate was 11.3%, according to the Census Bureau. The act was essentially repealed under the Ronald Reagan administration in 1981, although much of the main features still remain. The remaining pieces of social legislation are reconfigured and adjusted, such as Head Start, which is now under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was replaced by The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) which replaced the funding from direct funding to block grants with over 1200 plus community action agencies. 
 
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