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This week lawmakers turned their attention to negotiating an increase to the debt limit and spending caps deal.
Initial indications on Thursday suggested that the Trump administration and congressional leaders came to a consensus on the overall spending levels to raise budget caps and a two-year debt limit. A final agreement remains elusive, with lawmakers debating how to offset the increases in spending. Administration officials proposed over $1.1 trillion in offsets including $574 billion through program funding cuts and $516 billion in savings by holding fiscal 2021 spending levels for fiscal year 2022 and 2023, with the hope of seeing at least $150 billion in savings. The administration's current proposal doesn't include any revenue or tax increases.
The clock is ticking on reaching a debt limit agreement by early September or $126 billion in mandatory cuts will be triggered and a debt default. Lawmakers must reach a debt limit deal before early September or the U.S. will default on their debts. Congress is hoping to have an agreement finalized before they leave for August recess.
Faith and the Common Good
Don Clark was the first to respond with the original name of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA): the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC). The name was changed to CCUSA in 1986 when the NCCC leadership recognized the need to be seen as a national organization with strong advocacy voices and to better position the national office to fund programs. CCUSA is the national office of 167 local Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. Click here to find an agency near you.
On September 25, 1910, representatives of many service agencies met at The Catholic University of America at the invitation of its rector, Bishop Thomas J. Shahan, and formed the NCCC to support and coordinate their efforts.
CCUSA is a member of Caritas Internationalis, an international federation of Catholic social service organizations. Sister Donna Markham OP, Ph.D., is the first female president to lead CCUSA in the organization's 105-year history. To learn more about CCUSA and its history click here.
Prayer for the Poor
God of Justice,
open our eyes
to see you in the face of the poor.
Open our ears
to hear you in the cries of the exploited.
Open our mouths
to defend you in the public squares
as well as in private deeds.
Remind us that what we do
to the least ones,
we do to you.
Amen.
from Being Neighbor, the Catechism and Social Justice, Catholic Campaign for Human Development
©1998 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Trivia
In what year did Catholic Charities USA establish the current strategic priorities and in which document are they presented?
Please send your answers to socialpolicy@catholiccharitiesusa.org
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.
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