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Overview: Negotiations continue over the stopgap spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown. Two severe weather events hit the country. Alaska suffered a typhoon that resulted in floods, washed out roads, and power outages. And Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Fiona, prompting President Biden to approve an emergency declaration for the island. DHS and FEMA are running disaster relief efforts. CCUSA is accepting donations to help the residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A Catholic Approach to Hunger, Nutrition, and the Farm Bill. CCUSA staff and Sara Lindsay, chief program officer at Catholic Charities West Virginia, attended the congressional briefing titled "A Catholic Approach to Hunger, Nutrition, and the Farm Bill." Lindsay urged Congress to prioritize efforts through the Farm Bill, and by working with nonprofit partners, to help those people who are food insecure. She said, among other things, that the rising cost of food compounded the problems which already existed for people struggling with low or no income.  From left to right: Frankie Chevere, senior manager for policy and government affairs at CCUSA; Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA; Sara Lindsay, chief program officer at Catholic Charities West Virginia; David Werning, director of social policy engagement at CCUSA; Lucreda Cobbs, senior director of policy and legislative affairs at CCUSA; and Jane Stenson, vice president for poverty reduction strategies at CCUSA. |
Catholic Charities disaster response: Hurricane Fiona struck the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico's southwest coast on Sept. 18, 2022, as it unleashed landslides, knocked the power grid out and ripped asphalt from roads. Hundreds of people were evacuated or rescued across the island as floodwaters rose swiftly. The island is without power as residents deal with widespread flooding and assess damages. CCUSA is accepting donations to support disaster response efforts. World Day for Migrants and Refugees. This Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, marks World Day for Migrants and Refugees. The Church asks us to pray for people leaving their homelands in search of a better - and, in many cases, a safer - life. The day is an opportunity to reflect on ways we can help migrants and refugees. Sometimes it means helping those who want to return to their homeland by creating effective programs, as Pope Francis said in a previous WDMR message. It also means welcoming them to a new homeland, supporting their efforts at integration, honoring their dignity and respecting the unique contributions they can make, as the pope says in this year's message. Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, will celebrate a special Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, this Sunday. Immigration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security repealed two rules that made it more difficult for asylum seekers to work in the U.S. while their appeals are pending. The rules required asylum seekers to wait 365 days to apply for work permits, instead of 150 days which was the previous limit. The rules also no longer require that asylum seekers must have crossed at an authorized port of entry or be free from certain crimes in order to receive work permits. White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health: The Biden administration will host the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28, 2022, in Washington, DC - and there are many ways to get involved: • Sign up to watch the Conference livestream. You'll learn about a national strategy that identifies steps the government will take and catalyzes the public and private sectors to address the intersections between food, hunger, nutrition, and health. • Host a satellite event. The White House is asking anti-hunger and nutrition advocates, community-based organizations, food companies, the health care community, trade associations, universities, philanthropy groups, governments at all levels, and others to host satellite events. You can host an event in the days before, during, or after the conference. The type of event is up to you - but you might consider a watch party town hall, panel discussion, day of service, or fun run. Check out the Satellite Events Toolkit [PDF - 1.37 MB] for help planning and hosting your event. • Share your ideas and stories. The White House wants to hear about your experiences with hunger or diet-related diseases. Hearing from people who have been directly affected is key to taking effective action. Submit your ideas and stories today. • Promote the Conference. Help spread the word about the conference through your social media accounts. Be sure to use #WHConfHungerHealth and tag @WhiteHouse. To learn more about the conference, sign up for email updates. Economy: In the week ending September 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 213,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 5,000 from 213,000 to 208,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,750, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,250 from 224,000 to 222,750. |
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