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Overview: The country celebrated Veterans Day yesterday, remembering and giving thanks to all men and women who served or are serving in the U.S. military. President Biden will sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill on Monday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants to vote on the reconciliation bill next week, but moderates in the House said they want the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide a cost estimate for the spending package before a vote is scheduled. It's possible that any action on the reconciliation bill could stretch into December, when Congress must then deal with the Dec. 3 government funding deadline and the debt ceiling. (Bloomberg Government) Infrastructure and budget reconciliation: President Biden will sign the infrastructure bill on Monday, Nov. 15. The fate of the reconciliation bill remains uncertain, as moderates in the House continue to call for a CBO cost estimate before voting and Senate Republicans may seek emendations to the bill when, and if, it reaches them. As it stands now, the budget reconciliation bill includes more than $1.75 trillion for a variety of administration priorities including housing, child tax credit, climate programs, a new family leave program, and a provision that would allow Medicare to negotiate some drug prices, among others. The bill would also increase certain taxes on high-income individuals, expand subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, and make the child tax credit permanently refundable. (Bloomberg Government) The House version excludes the Hyde amendment and other life protecting policy protections, which CCUSA has urged to be included. CCUSA asked Congress to prioritize programs that reduce poverty, aid those with limited or no income, and protect life: Read the letters Oct. 14, 2021 and Aug. 30, 2021. Funding the government and debt ceiling: Funding for the government and debt ceiling will expire Dec. 3. At that point, Congress must pass either its full slate of appropriations bills for FY22 or another "continuing resolution" to fund the government at existing levels until the permanent appropriations bills can be passed. Economy: "In the week ending Nov. 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance] claims was 267,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 269,000 to 271,000." (Source) On Wednesday, the government said its consumer price index, which measures price increases on everyday household expenses like gas and groceries, soared 6.2% from a year ago, the biggest 12-month jump in 30 years. The jump has led some people to fear that inflation may not be as short-lived as many had hoped. (Source) Child tax credit: There is still time to sign up for current child tax credit payments before the Nov. 17 deadline. Click here to access the tool. Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act: CCUSA supports the passage of the VCFCA, which will protect veterans and working families from predatory lending. The bill applies certain military consumer credit protections to all consumers and caps the interest rate on extensions of consumer credit at 35% (Congress.gov). CCUSA joined other faith-based institutions in a press release calling on Congress to pass the VCFCA. World Day of the Poor: Caritas Internationalis invites all to mark the 2021 World Day of the Poor (Nov. 14, as well as World Youth Day, Nov. 21) with a week-long initiative animated by Caritas Youth called 'From Prayer to Action: A Celebration of the World Day of the Poor and World Youth Day.' Read more.
Daily Advent reflections from CCUSA: Sunday, Nov. 28, marks the beginning of Advent. Once again, CCUSA will offer daily reflections on each day's Mass readings, authored by Catholic Charities employees and other social concerns ministers. The reflections will arrive by email first thing each morning. Sign up here to receive them. |
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