September 17, 2021

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: Lawmakers returning to Washington for a busy fall face immediate decisions on how to head off a government shutdown and potential federal default, while Democrats push to advance - without Republican support - a boost in spending on social safety-net programs by as much as $3.5 trillion. The next couple of months could be lawmakers' last realistic chance at policymaking before the 2022 election year begins in earnest. Separately, Speaker Pelosi agreed to begin consideration by Sept. 27 of a Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes more than $1 trillion in authorizations and funding over five years. Speaker Pelosi said she wants the landmark infrastructure bill to be law by Oct. 1. The new fiscal year also begins Oct. 1, and both chambers must pass a continuing resolution to fund the government by that date. The CR may be voted on in the House the week of Sept. 20 and would need Senate approval. This process could run into December. Congress also needs to raise the statutory debt limit before it is estimated to be reached in October.

Budget Reconciliation: This week, the House Committees voted on legislative text to be included in the final budget reconciliation bill. Now that the Committees have debated and passed legislation, the House Budget Committee will compile the various measures approved by 13 committees into a budget reconciliation bill to be considered by the full House of Representatives. While each Committee has approved their own bills, negotiations between Senate and House leadership is underway in an effort to ensure the final package passed by the House also passes in the Senate. 

Highlights of the bills passed by various House Committees include:

Health Coverage: The measure would expand Medicare coverage to include dental benefits beginning in 2028, hearing benefits beginning in 2023, and vision benefits beginning in 2022.
Immigration: On Monday, the House Judiciary approved the inclusion of immigration reform provisions into the budget reconciliation bill on a 25-19 party line vote. It would allow Dreamers and undocumented essential workers to apply for permanent status.
Paid Leave: Starting in 2023, 12 weeks of paid leave will be provided for eligible workers for the birth or adoption of a child, a personal health condition, caregiving for a family member, circumstances related to a family member's deployment and bereavement. Benefits will be administered by the Treasury Department.
Broadband: 30% tax credit for state and local governments to operate networks.
Housing: Permanent expanded the New Markets Tax Credit, increased state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocations, credit for rehabilitating homes in lower-income areas.
Child Care: 
$15 billion in state grants for childcare facilities and grants to supplement the wages of qualified childcare providers.
Capping childcare costs at a maximum of 7% of family income
Requiring childcare providers that receive federal assistance to provide at least a living wage to staff.
Free preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds.

Labor: $80 billion for workforce development and training programs.
Retirement: Employers with more than five workers will be required to automatically enroll new hires for retirement benefits subject to an excise tax of $10 per day for each employee.
Education: $111 billion for higher education including: 2 years of free community college, increasing the maximum Pell grant by $500, retention and completion grants and support to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. $82 billion to public schools.
Child Nutrition: $35 billion for child nutrition programs including: expanding eligibility for free school meals and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) of $75 per month.
Housing: The measure would provide: $77.3 billion for formula and needs-based public housing programs. $75 billion for incremental Housing Choice Vouchers and support services, including for individuals at risk of homelessness and for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. $36.8 billion for the Housing Trust Fund and $34.8 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to fund the construction of affordable housing for low-income people. $15 billion for project-based rental assistance. $10 billion to offer down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers. $10 billion to address lead paint. $10 billion for a new Housing Investment Fund to leverage private-sector investments.
Income Tax: Raised to 39.6%, from 37%, for individuals making over $400,000 ($450,000 joint). A 3% surtax on incomes of more than $5 million.
Capital Gains Tax: Raised to 25% from 20% for certain high-income individuals.
Corporate Tax: Replacing the flat 21% corporate income tax rate with graduated rates: 18% on the first $400,000 of income, 21% on income up to $5 million, and 26.5% for income over the initial $5 million.
Child Tax Credit: Extending an expanded version of the child tax credit through 2025 and making it permanently refundable.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) & Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC): Making permanent expanded versions under the American Rescue Plan, Public Law 117-2.

Appropriations: The routine business of funding the government also will occur during the fall, and leaders will be pressured to use a huge omnibus package to wrap up spending and tax measures before the year ends. 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 are preparing a temporary funding CR bill that would continue most spending at roughly the current level - with "anomalies" for certain accounts - beyond Sept. 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Moving alongside the stopgap will be additional disaster relief and emergency spending for the resettlement of Afghan refugees. CCUSA has been working with the federal government and administration to resettle Afghan refugees and help with disaster relief efforts.

Debt Ceiling: The Treasury Department has been using extraordinary measures to make sure the government does not exceed its cap on borrowing while preventing operational disruptions. In a Sept. 8 letter, Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers those tools would likely run out in October. Congressional leaders have not decided whether to attach a debt limit suspension to the stopgap or move it separately.

Rental Aid: In a new bid to avert an eviction crisis, the Treasury Department said Tuesday it plans to award the remaining $13 billion in federal rental aid to states and localities that have been the most effective at delivering the assistance.
 
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  Faith and the Common Good  
 
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mt 9:9-13)

September 21 is the Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist, when we celebrate this sinner turned saint.  It is a day to reflect on God's power to transform all sinners for His glory. Jesus does not walk by the shunned tax collector but calls Matthew to discipleship.  Matthew's response is immediate obedience in following the Lord. 

As we look at all the choices in front of us today, let us not dwell on our past inaction or improper actions.  Facing climate change, a surge of Afghan refugees, COVID-19, racial injustice, and other current tragedies, how are we being called to follow God in this moment? No matter our sins, Jesus does not walk by us, he calls us to follow him and be redeemed. 
 
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  Trivia  
 
Q. What important event in Catholic history happened on September 24, 1827, leading to the founding of a new female order?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. What important event in U.S. history happened on September 17, 1787? 

A. Anne Dryden, retired archivist with CCUSA, was the first to correctly answer that on September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the final draft of the U.S. Constitution. 

The Constitution was officially adopted by the United States when it was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, the ninth state to do so. The first Congress under the new Constitution convened in New York City on March 4, 1789, although a quorum was not achieved until early April. On April 30, 1789, President George Washington delivered the first inaugural address, and, within his initial term, the first ten amendments - known as the Bill of Rights - were adopted and established the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens, including freedom of religion:

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
 
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  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.
 
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