Overview: On August 31, the U.S. officially exited Afghanistan. Catholic Charities agencies have been playing a key role in resettlement efforts Agencies also continue to provide direct services to victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. CCUSA sent a letter to Congress outlining its priorities in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation, including affordable housing, Child Tax Credit, early education, Medicare, Medicaid, protection for life and more. Committees will begin marking up the legislation next week ahead of a September 15, self-imposed deadline.The Supreme Court, by 5 to 4, declined to block Texas's law banning abortions after six weeks. Afghan Refugees: The Biden administration has asked humanitarian aid groups in the U.S. to prepare to welcome 50,000 Afghan refugees under humanitarian parole status, a stopgap program introduced as the military evacuated thousands of people from Afghanistan. Catholic Charities agencies are playing a key role in resettlement efforts, from welcoming refugees at military bases across the U.S. to providing humanitarian aid. Hurricane Ida: Catholic Charities USA launched a text-to-give campaign that provides 100% of the funds to its member agencies that are supplying shelter, food and other humanitarian aid directly to victims of Hurricane Ida. To donate, text HurrIda to 41444 or visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org. To donate by phone, please call 1-800-919-9338 Economy: Today, the Labor Department reported that the economy slowed abruptly last month, adding 235,000 jobs, far below economists' expectations of 720,000 jobs and a steep decline from huge gains recorded earlier in the summer. The weak number is seen by many as a sign that the Delta variant of the coronavirus is putting a damper on hiring. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in August from 5.4% last month. By comparison, the employment rate in February 2020 was at a 50-year low of 3.5%, before the pandemic. $3.5 Trillion Budget Package: Last week, the House advanced the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation, and Speaker Pelosi promised a September 27 House vote on the Senate-passed infrastructure bill. This week, Congress worked to iron out differences in the House and Senate. Next week, House committees will hold markups and hearings to fill in the details on how the money will be spent and raised, including tax expenditures like the Child Tax Credit, affordable housing tax credits and tax revenue raisers like increased corporate taxes and estate taxes. The House returns for floor votes on September 20. Debt Ceiling: The White House on Wednesday stepped up efforts to get Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling, meeting with Senate Democrat aides this week. The U.S. could default on its payment obligations as soon as October 1. The federal debt limit is currently set at $28.4 trillion. The Treasury Department is using "extraordinary measures" to avoid default and is calling for a bipartisan resolution as soon as possible. Democrats are widely expected to attach a debt-ceiling increase to a stopgap government appropriations bill that will be required to keep the government open after October 1. Eviction Ban Blocked: The Supreme Court blocked the administration's eviction moratorium last week, putting the onus on Congress to enact legislation to address evictions. Members of Congress are urging state and local governments to quickly get federal rental assistance funds into the hands of eligible recipients. They are also weighing additional legislative action to extend the moratorium and speed up the delivery of rental aid. CCUSA continues to urge that Congress address the eviction crisis and work for long-term solutions to homelessness and housing affordability. Child Tax Credit (CTC) Resources: The CTC was expanded in recent COVID-19 relief legislation to give more needy families immediate, monthly help. The administration and congressional Democrats continue to push the expanded program, which expires this year, by including it in the budget reconciliation spending package. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has also developed resources that organizations can use to help individuals access these funds. The White House collaborated with a non-profit, Code for America, to create a non-filer sign-up tool that is easy to use on a mobile phone and also available in Spanish. COVID-19 Update: The surge in cases due to the Delta variant continues with cases rising among children. On September 2, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 171,123 new COVID-19 cases and 1,328 deaths, with 1,072,720 new cases in the past week. Across the country, 174 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 205 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
This weekend, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta, a saint whose life showed the world how to provide loving care to the neediest of people. The following quote emphasizing the call to compassion for each other is attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta: "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion." [From Prayers to St. Teresa of Calcutta] Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Jesus called you to bring the light of His love to those who live in darkness. By tender, loving care for the poorest and the neediest, you became the sign of God's presence, His love and compassion in the midst of suffering and pain. Help us to follow your example so that we too might recognize Christ in our suffering brothers and sisters and serve Him with humility and joy. Teach us to be carriers of God's tender love and mercy and so bear witness that God still loves the world through each one of us. Amen. [ © Mother Teresa Center of the Missionaries of Charity]
Trivia
What important visit to the U.S. began on September 10, 1987? On August 27, the trivia question was, "Which encyclical was written 90 years ago and articulated the important ideal of subsidiarity?" Samantha Yanity was the first to respond with the answer, Quadragesimo Anno. Pope Pius XI published Quadragesimo Anno in 1931 to commemorate the fortieth anniversary and expand on the teaching of Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum. In Quadragesimo Anno, Pius XI discusses the ethical implications of the social and economic order. He describes the major dangers for human freedom and dignity arising from unrestrained capitalism, socialism, and totalitarian communism. He calls for the reconstruction of the social order based on the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Church sought to discuss social issues as they related to moral questions.
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