July 26, 2019

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
  The substantive headlines making waves this week in Washington focused on Congress reaching a budget deal.

Earlier this week Congress and the administration came to a topline agreement on spending. The budget deal would increase government spending by $320 billion for the next two years and allow the federal government to continue borrowing to avoid the nation defaulting on its financial obligations. The budget caps can be raised by $50 billion this year and an additional $54 billion in 2020. America's debt limit will now be lifted until 2021. The eventual passing of the agreement prevents $125 billion in automatic spending cuts.

The House passed the measures through their chamber late on Thursday, with a vote of 284-149, before leaving town for August recess. Now the ball is in the Senate's court to pass the measure before their scheduled recess at the end of next week. Once the bill passes and the topline spending numbers are official, Congress will need to reach an agreement on how to appropriate the funds across 12 annual spending bills. Congress has until September 30th to come to an agreement.

Faith and the Common Good Due to technical difficulties our email service was down and we were not able to identify a winner for last week's trivia question. We apologize. 

In 2017, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) established the current strategic priorities and announced them in a document entitled A New Moment: Envisioning the Ministry of Catholic Charities. The strategic priorities are:  Affordable Housing; Immigrant and Refugee Services; Integrated Health; Leadership Development and Catholic Identity; Social Enterprise Initiatives; Advocacy and Social Policy Initiatives; Disaster Services; and Foundational Services. You can read more about our ministry and each priority here.  CCUSA, together with our member agencies, serves and remains committed to alleviating, reducing and preventing poverty.

Prayer
On the feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary, we would like to share a prayer for mothers.  We continue to pray for all mothers, especially those for whom summer is a challenge with child care and expenses, for mothers separated from their children at the border and for mothers who need an additional prayer for any reason.
A Mother's Love
There are times when only a mother's love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears.
There are times when only a mother's love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.
There are times when only a mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.
For a mother's heart and a mother's faith
And a mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the angels
And sent from God above.

- Author Unknown

Trivia What is the name and year of publication of Pope Francis' encyclical focusing on climate change?

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!

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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