Overview: On the Hill, members of Congress continue to press for a comprehensive funding bill to avoid a government shutdown on Dec. 16 when the current continuing resolution to keep the federal government open expires. You can read a letter from CCUSA urging Congressional leadership to allocate additional funding for critical initiatives that serve low-income communities and fund essential humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.  Destruction left by floodwaters is seen in Letcher County, Ky., Aug. 23, 2022. (CNS photo/courtesy Katina Hayden via The Western Kentucky Catholic) |
Disaster funds: The Biden administration has submitted a request to Congress for added funding to respond to Hurricanes Ian and Fiona as well as other recent natural disasters, from flooding in Kentucky to Typhoon Merbok in Alaska. The supplemental aid package amounts to $29.6 billion for hurricane relief in Florida and Puerto Rico, plus $7.7 billion for an assortment of other calamities. It is uncertain whether Congress will consider and approve any of these requests fully or partially. Highlights of the $29.6 billion hurricane package the White House is seeking include: - $11 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s main disaster relief account.
- $4 billion to pay flood insurance claims for victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida as well as for victims of other disasters.
- $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- $3 billion for grants to low-income households in Puerto Rico “to purchase and install solar and battery storage systems and energy distribution technology,” which the Office of Management and Budget says “can increase resilience for households during blackouts and outages resulting from natural disasters.”
Webinar: Preparing for the Fiscal Year 2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program: The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate invites all interested 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to a Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Informational Webinar virtual event to provide a look-back on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 NSGP and a look-ahead to the prospective FY 2023 NSGP. The NSGP provides funding for physical and cyber security enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. In addition, the NSGP seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts.
FEMA will host several NSGP virtual webinars to provide lessons learned from the FY 2022 NSGP cycle and, most importantly, to share valuable information on what nonprofits should consider now in preparation for the FY 2023 NSGP application submission cycle. Each webinar will contain similar content, including an opportunity for nonprofits to provide a platform to share NSGP investment accomplishments, feedback and to ask questions. You must register in advance: When: December 8, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting
When: December 13, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Adobe Connect meeting. Please check both junk and spam folders, as some email filters may redirect the attendance confirmation email. For any questions regarding these sessions or to request special accommodations, please contact [email protected]. Economy: In the week ending November 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 225,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 240,000 to 241,000. The four-week moving average was 228,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 226,750 to 227,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November jobs report today. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 263,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, health care and government. Employment declined in retail trade and in transportation and warehousing. Read the report here. Catholic Social Ministry Gathering: Register now for the 2023 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, January 28-31, 2023, in Washington, DC. This year’s theme is “Blessed are the Peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). Don’t miss this transformative annual gathering for leaders in Catholic social ministry and advocacy! Register here. |
