December 13, 2019

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
This week in Washington, lawmakers were busy finalizing an end of the year spending deal. Negotiations on a final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) are reported to include paid family leave for federal workers. The House passed legislation to address farm labor concerns and drug pricing. 

Spending Deal

With the December 20 deadline fast approaching, reports indicate a tentative spending deal on the 12 appropriations bills for FY 2020 has been reached. The $1.37 trillion in overall funding would be distributed among the 12 appropriations bills. This agreement, if it holds, will allow the subcommittee chairs and ranking members the opportunity to set levels for each of the programs within their committees' purviews. Many of the programs that Catholic Charities tracks from nutrition, housing, disaster aid programs, and others, depend on adequate annual funding to serve many of those in need.

Indications are that appropriators have agreed to give the Trump administration $1.375 billion for border wall construction, which is less than the $5 billion requested by the White House. This is the same amount provided by Congress in the FY 2019 funding agreement. The agreement also stipulates that Congress will not provide the $3.6 billion in military construction funding the White House has requested to cover for the transfer of funds used earlier this year for the border wall. The administration retains its ability to diver funds again in the future.

Paid Family Leave for Federal Workers

An unexpected development emerged in final negotiations on the NDAA. The House included a provision that provides all federal employees 12 weeks of paid family leave. The Senate is expected to concur with the provision, and the White House, with the strong advocacy of Ivanka Trump, has signaled its intention to sign the legislation.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act

The House passed H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act this week. The legislation would assist agriculture by providing farmworkers a path to legal status for those who are undocumented. The bill would also ease the process of hiring workers through the H-2A visa system. The legislation also establishes a mandatory E-Verify system nationwide for farm employers.  The legislation has a much more difficult path in the Senate and is unlikely to be supported by the White House. The USCCB submitted a letter of support for the bill, which now heads to the Senate for consideration.  Additional information on the bill is available here.      

Faith and the Common Good

Diane Zbasnik, Director of the Diocesan Social Action Office for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland was the first to name Las Posadas as the nine-day celebration reenacting the pilgrimage to Bethlehem by Mary and Joseph.

Las Posadas are primarily celebrated in Mexico, other parts of Latin America, and by Hispanics in the United States beginning on December 16 and ending on December 24.  Las Posadas is Spanish for lodging, or accommodation, which in this case refers to the inn in the story of the nativity of Jesus.   The celebration has been a tradition in Mexico for 400 years.

Two people dress up as Mary and Joseph. Certain houses are designated to be an "inn" (thus the name "Posada"). The head of the procession will have a candle inside a paper lampshade. The procession will be followed by musicians, with the entire procession singing the posada song.  At each house, the resident responds by singing a song and Mary and Joseph are finally recognized and allowed to enter. Once inside the house, there is a celebration that can vary from a big fancy party or a casual neighborhood to a small get-together among friends. Often the festivities begin with a short religious service which includes a Bible reading and prayer.

On each of the nine nights, a different quality will be meditated upon: humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity. After the religious service, the hosts distribute food to their guests, and a hot drink. Then the guests break piñatas, and the children are given candy.

Feast of St. John of the Cross 

The Feast of St. John of the Cross takes place December 14.  He was ordained a Carmelite priest in 1567 at age 25, John met Teresa of Avila and like her, vowed himself to the primitive Rule of the Carmelites.  John engaged in the work of reform and came to experience the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding, persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely-to experience the dying of Jesus-as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God.

Almighty Father,
you endowed John of the Cross
with a spirit of self-denial
and a love of the Cross.

By following his example,
may we come to the eternal vision of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Trivia

According to a Roman Catholic symbolic interpretation, who does the partridge represent in the carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
Please send your answers to [email protected] Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!

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