| From | Catholic Charities USA <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Washington Weekly |
| Date | September 10, 2021 6:17 PM |
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September 10, 2021
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Overview: Various House committees held markups this week related to budget reconciliation, unveiling and approving details of their planned spending from paid leave to health and education. The House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance portions of their budget reconciliation including a paid leave plan that would allow most workers to collect at least two-thirds of their earnings if they are absent for reasons including childbirth or illness. House committees will continue to hold markups next week and will aim to have all their bills approved by Sept. 15, a deadline set by Speaker Pelosi. Separately, Congress must pass legislation to raise the debt ceiling, which Treasury Secretary Yellen said the U.S. will hit in Oct., and legislation to fund the government by Sept. 30. On Thursday, President Biden dramatically expanded vaccine requirements to some 100 million Americans including those employed at workplaces with over 100 employees or by employers that receive Medicare, Medicaid or Head Start funding and a few other programs.
Economy: Thursday's report from the Labor Department showed the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 310,000, a pandemic low and a sign that the Delta variant has yet to lead to widespread layoffs. The number of applications has fallen steadily since topping 900,000 in early January, reflecting the steady reopening of the economy after the pandemic recession.
Budget Reconciliation: Various House committees held markups this week on budget reconciliation, unveiling and approving details of their planned spending from paid leave to health and early education. House and Senate Democrats are still debating about the size of the $3.5 trillion package-a number opposed by Republicans and by moderate Democrats-and whether and how they will pay for it with new tax increases. Senator Manchin (D-WV) last week published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal saying that he "won't support a $3.5 trillion bill, or anywhere near that level of additional spending, without greater clarity," citing the $28.7 trillion national debt and "inflation tax" caused by an overheating economy. Those comments followed a vow from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) that she would also not support $3.5 trillion.
Some programs unveiled this week include:
Universal Paid Leave: 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for most Americans.
Affordable Housing: House Democrats also unfurled plans to spend roughly $320 billion to improve public housing and help low-income Americans stay in their homes, a series of legislative proposals lawmakers (led by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif) are set to consider next week.
Subsidized Child Care and Preschool: $450 billion to carry out an expansion of federal support for child care and universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, $82 billion to build schools, and $2 billion for R&D grants to minority colleges.
School Lunch: $35 billion in child nutrition, increasing the number of children receiving free school meals by nearly 9 million, updating school kitchen equipment and providing "Summer EBT" food benefits to low-income children.
Medicaid Expansion: Expands Medicaid to the 12 states that have not expanded.
Medicare: Expanded dental, vision and hearing benefits for seniors.
Expand Home and Community Based Care for the Elderly and People with Disabilities: $190 billion.
Higher education: Gives states money to provide free tuition at the nation's community colleges, provides $1.5 billion to historically Black colleges, $9 billion to states and colleges to boost retention, increases the Pell Grant by $500 (from $6,495) and provides student aid for undocumented students.
Immigration: Today, the Senate Parliamentarian is expected to hear arguments from Senate Democrats and Republicans about the possible inclusion of immigration-related provisions in the budget reconciliation bill. These provisions, supported by CCUSA, would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and agricultural workers. The Parliamentarian is not expected to rule on whether the provisions will be in order and allowed into the package until sometime next week at the earliest.
Proposed Tax Increases in Budget Reconciliation: Few details have been released on the proposed tax increase in budget reconciliation, which will be the most controversial part of the legislation. Both sides are making their arguments for and against tax increases on corporations, people earning over $400K, prescription drug benefits and more. On Wednesday night, the White House circulated a NYT story that stated "the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans are the nation's most egregious tax evaders, failing to pay as much as $163 billion in owed taxes per year." Later, Kevin Brady (R-TX) ranking member on Ways and Means, went on Fox Business and called the Democratic plan "the largest expansion of the welfare state in our lifetimes, paid for with crippling tax increases on Main Street businesses." It includes hikes on anyone making over $400,000, and it increases the corporate rate.
Hunger and Nutrition: The percentage of American households that were food insecure did not go up last year amid major economic upheaval due to the pandemic, according to new data released by the Agriculture Department on Wednesday. Many believe COVID relief legislation, which increased nutrition funding, helped stave off hunger.
Unemployment: More than 7 million unemployed people lost their jobless benefits on Monday, Sept. 6, after federal programs expired, according to the Washington Post.
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy is tentatively planning to mark up two more spending bills on Sept. 22, just over a week before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. The Appropriations Committee staff is preparing a temporary stopgap funding bill that would continue most spending at roughly current levels - with "anomalies" for certain accounts - beyond Sept. 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Also moving with the stopgap will be additional disaster relief and emergency spending for the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the United States requested by the White House. CCUSA has been working with the federal government and administration to resettle Afghan refugees and help with disaster relief efforts.
Debt Ceiling: Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen is urging Congress to suspend as soon as possible the debt limit, which will be "exhausted during the month of October." Democratic leaders have not decided whether to attach a debt limit suspension to the stopgap or move it separately.
COVID-19 Update: On Thursday, President Biden dramatically expanded vaccine requirements to some 100 million Americans including: all workers at companies with over 100 employees, all federal employees and contractors, anyone who works for a health care provider that receives Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements, any employee at a school that receives federal money from Head Start and a few other programs.
On the same day, the CDC reported that there were 163,164 new COVID-19 cases and 1,647 deaths, with 955,909 new cases in the past week. Across the country, 177.4 million people have been fully vaccinated; 208 million people have received at least one dose. The CDC is now advising that everyone, regardless of vaccine status, wear a mask indoors in public. The 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. Click here.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Tomorrow, the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As we bring to mind those who died that day, both the victims and the first responders, and continue to pray for those among us who still feel the pain of loss, we are reminded three days later of Jesus' ultimate victory over sin and evil. September 14 is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. As Paul's letter to the Philippians says, Jesus did not regard his divinity as something to be exploited for his own sake. Rather, "he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8). Jesus - lifted up on the cross - opens for us eternal life (Jn 3:14-16). While we rightfully mourn the deaths of our friends and family members, we do so with hope in eternal life. Indeed, it is this same hope that encourages us to overcome evil with good and trust in the victory of Christ.
Top
Trivia
Q. What important event in U.S. history happened on September 17, 1787?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. "What important visit to the U.S. began on September 10, 1987?"
A. Anne Dryden, retired archivist with CCUSA, was the first to respond with the answer: On September 10, 1987, Pope John Paul II began a visit to the United States. His visit included a stop in San Antonio for the CCUSA Annual Meeting. An excerpt from the pope's remarks to President Ronald Reagan in Miami, Fla. follows:
"The effort to guard and perfect the gift of freedom must also include the relentless pursuit of truth. In speaking to Americans on another occasion about the relationship between freedom and truth, I said that 'as a people you have a shared responsibility for preserving freedom and for purifying it. Like so many other things of great value, freedom is fragile. Saint Peter recognized this when he told the Christians never to use their freedom 'as a pretext for evil' (1 Pt 2:16) . Any distortion of truth or dissemination of non-truth is an offense against freedom; any manipulation of public opinion, any abuse of authority or power, or, on the other hand, just the omission of vigilance, endangers the heritage of a free people. But even more important, every contribution to promoting truth in charity consolidates freedom and builds up peace. When shared responsibility for freedom is truly accepted by all, a great new force is set at work for the service of humanity'" (Ioannis Pauli II, Allocutio ad sodales communitatis Foederatarum Civitatum Americae Septemtrionalis in urbe Roma commorantes, 2, die 21 iun. 1980: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, III/1 [1980] 1799) .
Top
Connections
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!
You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.
Stay connected with our work to end poverty, follow us on Twitter at @CCharitiesUSA.
If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty you can contribute here.
Top
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of Catholic Charities USA. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Overview: Various House committees held markups this week related to budget reconciliation, unveiling and approving details of their planned spending from paid leave to health and education. The House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance portions of their budget reconciliation including a paid leave plan that would allow most workers to collect at least two-thirds of their earnings if they are absent for reasons including childbirth or illness. House committees will continue to hold markups next week and will aim to have all their bills approved by Sept. 15, a deadline set by Speaker Pelosi. Separately, Congress must pass legislation to raise the debt ceiling, which Treasury Secretary Yellen said the U.S. will hit in Oct., and legislation to fund the government by Sept. 30. On Thursday, President Biden dramatically expanded vaccine requirements to some 100 million Americans including those employed at workplaces with over 100 employees or by employers that receive Medicare, Medicaid or Head Start funding and a few other programs.
Economy: Thursday's report from the Labor Department showed the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 310,000, a pandemic low and a sign that the Delta variant has yet to lead to widespread layoffs. The number of applications has fallen steadily since topping 900,000 in early January, reflecting the steady reopening of the economy after the pandemic recession.
Budget Reconciliation: Various House committees held markups this week on budget reconciliation, unveiling and approving details of their planned spending from paid leave to health and early education. House and Senate Democrats are still debating about the size of the $3.5 trillion package-a number opposed by Republicans and by moderate Democrats-and whether and how they will pay for it with new tax increases. Senator Manchin (D-WV) last week published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal saying that he "won't support a $3.5 trillion bill, or anywhere near that level of additional spending, without greater clarity," citing the $28.7 trillion national debt and "inflation tax" caused by an overheating economy. Those comments followed a vow from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) that she would also not support $3.5 trillion.
Some programs unveiled this week include:
Universal Paid Leave: 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for most Americans.
Affordable Housing: House Democrats also unfurled plans to spend roughly $320 billion to improve public housing and help low-income Americans stay in their homes, a series of legislative proposals lawmakers (led by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif) are set to consider next week.
Subsidized Child Care and Preschool: $450 billion to carry out an expansion of federal support for child care and universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, $82 billion to build schools, and $2 billion for R&D grants to minority colleges.
School Lunch: $35 billion in child nutrition, increasing the number of children receiving free school meals by nearly 9 million, updating school kitchen equipment and providing "Summer EBT" food benefits to low-income children.
Medicaid Expansion: Expands Medicaid to the 12 states that have not expanded.
Medicare: Expanded dental, vision and hearing benefits for seniors.
Expand Home and Community Based Care for the Elderly and People with Disabilities: $190 billion.
Higher education: Gives states money to provide free tuition at the nation's community colleges, provides $1.5 billion to historically Black colleges, $9 billion to states and colleges to boost retention, increases the Pell Grant by $500 (from $6,495) and provides student aid for undocumented students.
Immigration: Today, the Senate Parliamentarian is expected to hear arguments from Senate Democrats and Republicans about the possible inclusion of immigration-related provisions in the budget reconciliation bill. These provisions, supported by CCUSA, would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and agricultural workers. The Parliamentarian is not expected to rule on whether the provisions will be in order and allowed into the package until sometime next week at the earliest.
Proposed Tax Increases in Budget Reconciliation: Few details have been released on the proposed tax increase in budget reconciliation, which will be the most controversial part of the legislation. Both sides are making their arguments for and against tax increases on corporations, people earning over $400K, prescription drug benefits and more. On Wednesday night, the White House circulated a NYT story that stated "the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans are the nation's most egregious tax evaders, failing to pay as much as $163 billion in owed taxes per year." Later, Kevin Brady (R-TX) ranking member on Ways and Means, went on Fox Business and called the Democratic plan "the largest expansion of the welfare state in our lifetimes, paid for with crippling tax increases on Main Street businesses." It includes hikes on anyone making over $400,000, and it increases the corporate rate.
Hunger and Nutrition: The percentage of American households that were food insecure did not go up last year amid major economic upheaval due to the pandemic, according to new data released by the Agriculture Department on Wednesday. Many believe COVID relief legislation, which increased nutrition funding, helped stave off hunger.
Unemployment: More than 7 million unemployed people lost their jobless benefits on Monday, Sept. 6, after federal programs expired, according to the Washington Post.
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy is tentatively planning to mark up two more spending bills on Sept. 22, just over a week before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. The Appropriations Committee staff is preparing a temporary stopgap funding bill that would continue most spending at roughly current levels - with "anomalies" for certain accounts - beyond Sept. 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Also moving with the stopgap will be additional disaster relief and emergency spending for the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the United States requested by the White House. CCUSA has been working with the federal government and administration to resettle Afghan refugees and help with disaster relief efforts.
Debt Ceiling: Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen is urging Congress to suspend as soon as possible the debt limit, which will be "exhausted during the month of October." Democratic leaders have not decided whether to attach a debt limit suspension to the stopgap or move it separately.
COVID-19 Update: On Thursday, President Biden dramatically expanded vaccine requirements to some 100 million Americans including: all workers at companies with over 100 employees, all federal employees and contractors, anyone who works for a health care provider that receives Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements, any employee at a school that receives federal money from Head Start and a few other programs.
On the same day, the CDC reported that there were 163,164 new COVID-19 cases and 1,647 deaths, with 955,909 new cases in the past week. Across the country, 177.4 million people have been fully vaccinated; 208 million people have received at least one dose. The CDC is now advising that everyone, regardless of vaccine status, wear a mask indoors in public. The 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. Click here.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Tomorrow, the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As we bring to mind those who died that day, both the victims and the first responders, and continue to pray for those among us who still feel the pain of loss, we are reminded three days later of Jesus' ultimate victory over sin and evil. September 14 is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. As Paul's letter to the Philippians says, Jesus did not regard his divinity as something to be exploited for his own sake. Rather, "he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8). Jesus - lifted up on the cross - opens for us eternal life (Jn 3:14-16). While we rightfully mourn the deaths of our friends and family members, we do so with hope in eternal life. Indeed, it is this same hope that encourages us to overcome evil with good and trust in the victory of Christ.
Top
Trivia
Q. What important event in U.S. history happened on September 17, 1787?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. "What important visit to the U.S. began on September 10, 1987?"
A. Anne Dryden, retired archivist with CCUSA, was the first to respond with the answer: On September 10, 1987, Pope John Paul II began a visit to the United States. His visit included a stop in San Antonio for the CCUSA Annual Meeting. An excerpt from the pope's remarks to President Ronald Reagan in Miami, Fla. follows:
"The effort to guard and perfect the gift of freedom must also include the relentless pursuit of truth. In speaking to Americans on another occasion about the relationship between freedom and truth, I said that 'as a people you have a shared responsibility for preserving freedom and for purifying it. Like so many other things of great value, freedom is fragile. Saint Peter recognized this when he told the Christians never to use their freedom 'as a pretext for evil' (1 Pt 2:16) . Any distortion of truth or dissemination of non-truth is an offense against freedom; any manipulation of public opinion, any abuse of authority or power, or, on the other hand, just the omission of vigilance, endangers the heritage of a free people. But even more important, every contribution to promoting truth in charity consolidates freedom and builds up peace. When shared responsibility for freedom is truly accepted by all, a great new force is set at work for the service of humanity'" (Ioannis Pauli II, Allocutio ad sodales communitatis Foederatarum Civitatum Americae Septemtrionalis in urbe Roma commorantes, 2, die 21 iun. 1980: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, III/1 [1980] 1799) .
Top
Connections
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!
You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.
Stay connected with our work to end poverty, follow us on Twitter at @CCharitiesUSA.
If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty you can contribute here.
Top
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of Catholic Charities USA. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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