• • CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
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Overview: This morning, the House voted to pass the $1.75 trillion climate and social spending package, which will now go to the Senate where it will likely undergo revisions. CCUSA CEO, Sister Donna Markham, attended President Biden's signing of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Monday. The bill contains provisions that will increase jobs and support nonprofit energy efficiency efforts and broadband access supported by CCUSA. Congress must pass an appropriations bill to fund the government by Dec. 3 and raise the federal debt ceiling before Dec. 15, when it is predicted to be exhausted. Last Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals halted the OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which would require all employers with over 100 employees to implement vaccine rules starting Dec. 5, on the grounds that it exceeded OSHA's authority. OSHA has since suspended enforcement of its rule. Next, look for the Sixth Circuit to issue a ruling on all 34 cases challenging OSHA's rule. 

Catholic Charities update: This week, Catholic Charities participated in events at the White House, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' General Assembly in Baltimore, and in the House of Representatives. On Monday, Sister Donna attended the signing ceremony for the Infrastructure Act. On Wednesday, Sister Donna was a panelist on the White House Department of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships webinar about welcoming Afghan refugees. She also spoke at the bishops' General Assembly on Catholic Charities' work and impact. On Monday, Anthony Granado, vice president of Government Relations at CCUSA, participated in Congressman Jim Himes' (D-CT) bipartisan congressional economic roundtable with faith leaders about economic disparity and fairness in growth. 

Infrastructure Act: CCUSA applauded the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which President Biden signed into law on Monday. The act will provide significant contributions to the well-being of the communities Catholic Charities serves. The new law includes $50 million for grants to nonprofits to make energy efficient upgrades to their buildings and $65 billion for grant programs to promote broadband access. 

Reconciliation bill: The House passed the $1.75 trillion climate and safety net package on Friday, sending it to the Senate (Here's a summary of what's included in the bill). Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the Senate will likely consider the reconciliation bill in December. The bill will face many changes in the Senate and it remains unclear whether Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) will support it given his concerns about increasing government spending amid high inflation. 

Economy: On Thursday, the Department of Labor said first-time jobless claims totaled 268,000 in keeping with the past month, indicating the labor market may be leveling off. 

Funding the government and debt ceiling: Funding for the government will expire Dec. 3. and Secretary Yellen said that the debt ceiling will be exhausted Dec. 15, meaning that Congress must pass legislation to raise the debt ceiling and 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.

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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This Sunday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

"King of kings" may not be one of the more popular appellations for Jesus, since it can have bellicose connotations. But we should remember that Jesus rejected those connotations ("Put your sword into its scabbard." Lk 18:11) without rejecting the title: "My kingdom does not belong to this world" (Lk 18:36). 

Jesus "made us into a kingdom" that offers glory to God for the gifts of love and salvation we have received (Rev 1:5-8). Jesus gave his life for ours and freed us from our sins through his death and resurrection. We believe that we are now living in his day, under his rule. He has died, but he is risen, and he will come again to bring us home with him. 

We follow Jesus by imitating him. As the King of kings, Jesus was not power hungry. He did not lord it over others. He drew people to himself not through fear or favors but through love. And he certainly did not seek to save himself, but again, he saved all people by reconciling them to God through the blood of his cross. The grace of salvation bestows on us the freedom to follow Jesus, to give our lives in service to others, knowing that nothing - not even death - can separate us from the one who loves us. Indeed, he has prepared a place for us in his kingdom.

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Q. What popular Christmas song used to be sung at Thanksgiving?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. What did Pope Francis officially launch on Oct. 10, 2021?

A. Samantha Yanity, justice educator at the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center, got the answer: On Oct. 10, 2021, Pope Francis, during Mass in St. Peter's, launched the Synod on Synodality: "For a synodal Church: Communion, participation, mission." The word "synod" means journeying together, and the pope has asked everyone in the Church to reflect on how this "journeying together" takes place on different levels in the Church and what steps the Holy Spirit invites us to take in order to grow in communion. Dioceses around the world have already started listening sessions to hear from men and women in their communities. Many Catholic Charities agencies are also planning on listening to the responses of their staff and clients to these questions. You can learn more about the synod here.

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