January 14, 2022

Inside this issue

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

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: As the government looks toward another funding deadline on Feb. 18, leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees are including community project funding requests in the 12 spending bills. The Supreme Court blocked President Biden's vaccine mandate for employers with more than 100 employees.

Budget reconciliation: The Build Back Better bill is on hold while Congress focuses on voting rights legislation and the future of the filibuster. Proponents hope that at the end of the month negotiations will resume on the social spending package, which includes many priorities of the Catholic Charities ministry and its clients.

Final rule on the American Rescue Plan COVID funds: Last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued a final rule governing the implementation of the American Rescue Plan on COVID Response State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The final rule lays out the use of these funds by states and local governments to respond to the ongoing pandemic and plan for an equitable recovery. Key changes and clarification in the final rule include: replacing lost public sector revenue; the use of funds for capital expenditures such as affordable housing, childcare facilities, schools, hospitals, and other projects; broadening the share of eligible workers who can receive premium pay; and eligible broadband investments to address broadband access, affordability, and reliability. The final rule goes into effect April 1, 2022. (Summary of major provisions in the final rule regarding implementation of the American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds.)

Economy: In the week ending January 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 230,000, an increase of 23,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 207,000. The 4-week moving average was 210,750, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 204,500.

Funding the government: Congress faces another government funding deadline, with the December continuing resolution expiring on Feb. 18.

Covid-19 vaccination mandates: The Supreme Court blocked President Biden's virus mandate for employers with more than 100 employees, but the justices allowed a vaccination requirement for health care workers at facilities that receive federal money.
 
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  Faith and the Common Good  
 
As the nation remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this coming Monday, Jan. 17, many people and communities hold special prayer services and encourage volunteer opportunities. Prayer and action were central to Dr. King's ministry, especially regarding the upholding of human dignity, such as in the work of racial equality.

Regarding the work for racial equality, Dr. King wrote in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (Aug. 1963) that non-action or complacency on the part of people of good will, especially fellow ministers and Christians, were more bewildering than the evil actions of people with ill will. In fact, some of his fellow ministers had counseled Dr. King to be patient, to not be an extremist.

Dr. King responded with the examples of many people who would not wait to work for justice and love, beginning with Jesus, the prophet Amos, and St. Paul. Were the Lord and his followers extremists for making every effort to bring God's justice to bear on human relationships? "Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice, or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?" Dr. King asked.

Dr. King's words were prophetic, and they still provide a clarion call for followers of Christ to be a leaven for society in the work for racial equality and every other element that makes up a just social order. In order to avoid being an "ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound" that is "dismissed as an irrelevant social club," the church, Dr. King wrote, needs to "recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church." That may mean accepting a cross, like Jesus, but it also means trusting in the power of God's love, like Jesus, to usher in God's kingdom of peace and justice.
 
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  Trivia  
 
Q. What memorial, next to the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, was dedicated Aug. 28, 2011?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Why do people speak of three wise men during the Christmas season?

A. Marilynn Pasden got it right: people say there were three wise men because there were three gifts given to the Holy Family. The Bible, however, does not state how many wise men there were (See Matthew 2:1-12).
 
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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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