The conference committee has reached a tentative agreement on the Farm Bill with $10.2b over ten years for nutrition. We have one more call to make:
Use this toll-free number to call Congress: (800) 826-3688. Ask for the agriculture staffer and tell them that nutrtion improvements in the Farm Bill should go toward:
Food stamp benefit increases, especially raising and indexing the $10 minimum monthly benefit and standard deduction
Greater food stamp access, especially raising and indexing household asset limits
Boosting purchases in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), by raising and indexing funding
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Domestic Call April 24
The Farm Lobby has spent $80m lobbying Congress on the Farm Bill. If not for RESULTS members lobbying for the nutrition title, it would have long ago gone by the wayside.
Our task this week, since the conference committee extended the deadline to May 2, is to lobby Loebsack's office with these messages:
1)We need a new Farm Bill; with skyrocketing food prices, the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill (Food Stamps in particular) can't afford to keep going at current funding levels.
2)We need to maintain the $11.5b over 10 years level for the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill.
If you want to call Loebsack's DC office, dial 202-225-6576.
For Cedar Rapids, dial 364-2288.
Loebsack is not on the conference committee for the Farm Bill, but can talk to members of the House who are. He is sympathetic to the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill, so this will be an easy call.
Our task this week, since the conference committee extended the deadline to May 2, is to lobby Loebsack's office with these messages:
1)We need a new Farm Bill; with skyrocketing food prices, the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill (Food Stamps in particular) can't afford to keep going at current funding levels.
2)We need to maintain the $11.5b over 10 years level for the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill.
If you want to call Loebsack's DC office, dial 202-225-6576.
For Cedar Rapids, dial 364-2288.
Loebsack is not on the conference committee for the Farm Bill, but can talk to members of the House who are. He is sympathetic to the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill, so this will be an easy call.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Global Call April 23
There was rejoicing in abundance at Leslee's Op-Ed on the Education for All Act being accepted by the Gazette. Our letters from Monday night's meeting were faxed today. Some of them -- to Harkin -- went through yesterday. The others, to Loebsack and Grassley, went through today.
Child Survival Act
has stalled in the Senate. It has yet to pass the House Foreign Affairs Committee. If you want to take action on this bill, contact Congressman Loebsack's office and ask that he talk to the leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to move the bill.
Herb Bread Fundraiser
This great mystery of the Episcopal Church turned quite a few heads on the call. We are going to do a dry run of about 25 loaves not only so we can be trained, but so that we can use the loaves to build our customer base at Lovely Lane and Peoples. In the past, the group has sold 150 loaves in November and 100 in December. By adding a second shift of workers, I think we can look at doubling that number, as well as adding bread sale for Easter. One of the sales will go for RESULTS, a second for Swaziland, and a third for a local charity to be named.
Child Survival Act
has stalled in the Senate. It has yet to pass the House Foreign Affairs Committee. If you want to take action on this bill, contact Congressman Loebsack's office and ask that he talk to the leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to move the bill.
Herb Bread Fundraiser
This great mystery of the Episcopal Church turned quite a few heads on the call. We are going to do a dry run of about 25 loaves not only so we can be trained, but so that we can use the loaves to build our customer base at Lovely Lane and Peoples. In the past, the group has sold 150 loaves in November and 100 in December. By adding a second shift of workers, I think we can look at doubling that number, as well as adding bread sale for Easter. One of the sales will go for RESULTS, a second for Swaziland, and a third for a local charity to be named.
Diversity Taskforce Conference Call
I recently joined the RESULTS Diversity Taskforce and tonight was my first call with them. Both Meredith Dodson, Domestic Coordinator and Ken Patterson, Global Coordinator were on the call.
One of the important things that came out of the call was the desire to add diversity awareness training at the International Conference. There was also a strong desire to set up pilot cities where outreach to new members could be done -- both persons of color and persons in low-income households.
During the call I identified four additional outreach meetings we could pursue, in addition to the Zero Poverty group May 5 with Churches United. We would be looking to empower new members as we have been empowered.
Two sub-groups will be working before next month's call: the Pilot Project Team; and the International Conference/Dialogue Framing Team. I asked to be on the pilot project team.
We will talk more about this at our next meeting.
One of the important things that came out of the call was the desire to add diversity awareness training at the International Conference. There was also a strong desire to set up pilot cities where outreach to new members could be done -- both persons of color and persons in low-income households.
During the call I identified four additional outreach meetings we could pursue, in addition to the Zero Poverty group May 5 with Churches United. We would be looking to empower new members as we have been empowered.
Two sub-groups will be working before next month's call: the Pilot Project Team; and the International Conference/Dialogue Framing Team. I asked to be on the pilot project team.
We will talk more about this at our next meeting.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monthly Meeting April 21
We were honored to welcome Leland Freie to his first RESULTS meeting. We look forward to what he can contribute to the important work of RESULTS in the future.
Kate asked Deb Thomas, wife of one of the Three Amigos, to relay to Phil our invitation to entertain at the Ice Cream Social. Peg is going to talk to Bob Ballantyne and Paula is going to talk to Bruce Nesmith. Poster and newsletter notices for the event were approved. Diane will distribute these to Christ Episcopal, Lovely Lane UMC and People's UU.
We will set a date for a dry run of the Herb Bread buttering after the International Conference.
Leslee shared her Education for All Act op-ed for critique. She did a great job putting this together.
We wrote letters to members of Congress and candidate Peter Teahen about the Education for All Act and Healthcare for All by 2010.
Diane will visit Polly this week and thank her for all her RESULTS work over the years.
Kate asked Deb Thomas, wife of one of the Three Amigos, to relay to Phil our invitation to entertain at the Ice Cream Social. Peg is going to talk to Bob Ballantyne and Paula is going to talk to Bruce Nesmith. Poster and newsletter notices for the event were approved. Diane will distribute these to Christ Episcopal, Lovely Lane UMC and People's UU.
We will set a date for a dry run of the Herb Bread buttering after the International Conference.
Leslee shared her Education for All Act op-ed for critique. She did a great job putting this together.
We wrote letters to members of Congress and candidate Peter Teahen about the Education for All Act and Healthcare for All by 2010.
Diane will visit Polly this week and thank her for all her RESULTS work over the years.
Jubilee Act passes House of Representatives
The Jubilee Act (H.R. 2634) passed on the House floor on Wednesday, April 16 and now moves to the Senate. The bill would cancel impoverished country debt, prohibit harmful economic and policy conditions on debt cancellation, mandate transparency and responsibility in lending from governments and international financial institutions, call for a new legal framework to restrict the activities of predatory “vulture funds,” and call for a U.S. audit of debts resulting from odious and illegitimate lending.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Farm Bill and Herb Bread
The Farm Bill is presently in conference committee. I will call Harkin's and Grassley's offices -- both are on the conference committee -- to encourage them to keep the $11.5B in nutrition in the final bill. Polly had been making our Senate calls. Unless someone steps forward to take this on, I'll do it. Let me know your thoughts.
After the Global conference call last Saturday Leslee came up with the idea of the Jubilee Commission taking on the Herb Bread project at Christ Church. We talked about expanding the customer base and increasing the bread buttering to include Easter as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas. I met with Trudy yesterday and she gave me the information, which I shared with Leslee. The group at the conference call thought one donation per year could be made to RESULTS, one to Swaziland and one to an internal effort. We will talk more about this at the meeting on Monday.
After the Global conference call last Saturday Leslee came up with the idea of the Jubilee Commission taking on the Herb Bread project at Christ Church. We talked about expanding the customer base and increasing the bread buttering to include Easter as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas. I met with Trudy yesterday and she gave me the information, which I shared with Leslee. The group at the conference call thought one donation per year could be made to RESULTS, one to Swaziland and one to an internal effort. We will talk more about this at the meeting on Monday.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Regional Coordinator Calls and Some Thoughts
I'm afraid I didn't take very good notes during either RC call this week. Muhammed Yunus is up for a Congressional Gold Medal. Senator Harkin has voted for it; Grassley not yet and Loebsack not yet. I will call Harkin's office tomorrow to thank him for that vote; I'll call Grassley and remind him of the work of Muhammed Yunus on microcredit -- a Grassley favorite; and I'll call Loebsack's office to ask that he support this effort. I need to touch base with Heidi Hotopp in Loebsack's office to follow up on a meeting request during the RESULTS International Conference.
On the domestic call this afternoon we talked about how to achieve greater diversity in our groups. Hopefully our presentation May 5 will reach people who are not white and middle-class. Also, healthcare is a hot topic right now among the presidential candidates.
On the domestic call this afternoon we talked about how to achieve greater diversity in our groups. Hopefully our presentation May 5 will reach people who are not white and middle-class. Also, healthcare is a hot topic right now among the presidential candidates.
Monday, April 7, 2008
I talked to Polly tonight
I called Polly tonight just to talk. She was happy to hear from me, but she tires easily so we kept it rather short. Her speech is somewhat slurred and she got confused a few times, but her sense of humor is intact.
We talked about the RESULTS International Conference in July and I told her we already had a meeting scheduled with Senator Grassley. She said that she didn't always agree with the way he voted, but that she considered him a person of integrity.
Her twin great-grandsons were here from Atlanta to see her. Polly said she had a "great team of family" who care for her on a constant basis.
Her parting words to me were, "Wouldn't it be great if I were still alive in July?" I think it would be great if the RESULTS Conference could honor Polly in some way.
We talked about the RESULTS International Conference in July and I told her we already had a meeting scheduled with Senator Grassley. She said that she didn't always agree with the way he voted, but that she considered him a person of integrity.
Her twin great-grandsons were here from Atlanta to see her. Polly said she had a "great team of family" who care for her on a constant basis.
Her parting words to me were, "Wouldn't it be great if I were still alive in July?" I think it would be great if the RESULTS Conference could honor Polly in some way.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
April 3 Domestic Call
Healthcare tag line to use with candidates and MoC:
Lack of reform is not a viable option.
Lois from Baltimore talked about her healthcare forum coming up in May. They are inviting physicians and politicians to speak. They are holding it on a Saturday at a local church.
Douglas followed up on the checks we sent in and the group audit report. We are done on both.
I tried to reach Polly but was unsuccessful. I will try to get you an update on her well-being.
Lack of reform is not a viable option.
Lois from Baltimore talked about her healthcare forum coming up in May. They are inviting physicians and politicians to speak. They are holding it on a Saturday at a local church.
Douglas followed up on the checks we sent in and the group audit report. We are done on both.
I tried to reach Polly but was unsuccessful. I will try to get you an update on her well-being.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Loebsack Votes for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Reauthorization Bill
Friends,
This afternoon the House voted overwhelmingly to approve the TomLantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R.5501). Thebill was passed by a margin of 308 to 116 (Loebsack voted for the bill).
Authorizing $50 billion over five years for these three diseases ofpoverty, the bill is a huge step forward for our global health work --particularly for TB.The House bill incorporates nearly all of the Stop TB Now Act (H.R.1567), prioritizing the strategy outlined in the Global Plan to StopTB and providing $4 billion over five years for global TB control.The Lantos-Hyde Act also strengthens coordination between HIV and TBprograms, authorizes assistance for TB vaccine research, andauthorizes support for the Global Fund at an initial $2 billion peryear.The bill has the support of the White House, and companion legislationis expected to be considered by the full Senate in the coming months(S.2731).
The strong TB provisions in the House bill are the culmination ofyears of effort, including the support of RESULTS volunteers for theStop TB Now Act. Thanks for all of your efforts, and keep up the goodwork.
Thanks,
John
John Paul Fawcett
Legislative Director
RESULTS
This afternoon the House voted overwhelmingly to approve the TomLantos and Henry J. Hyde Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R.5501). Thebill was passed by a margin of 308 to 116 (Loebsack voted for the bill).
Authorizing $50 billion over five years for these three diseases ofpoverty, the bill is a huge step forward for our global health work --particularly for TB.The House bill incorporates nearly all of the Stop TB Now Act (H.R.1567), prioritizing the strategy outlined in the Global Plan to StopTB and providing $4 billion over five years for global TB control.The Lantos-Hyde Act also strengthens coordination between HIV and TBprograms, authorizes assistance for TB vaccine research, andauthorizes support for the Global Fund at an initial $2 billion peryear.The bill has the support of the White House, and companion legislationis expected to be considered by the full Senate in the coming months(S.2731).
The strong TB provisions in the House bill are the culmination ofyears of effort, including the support of RESULTS volunteers for theStop TB Now Act. Thanks for all of your efforts, and keep up the goodwork.
Thanks,
John
John Paul Fawcett
Legislative Director
RESULTS
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Education Actions
April is Education Month and an excellent time to gather support for the Education For All Act (H.R.2092, S.1259).
Please ask your members of Congress to cosponsor the Education for All Act*, which was introduced by Reps. Lowey (D-NY) and Bachus (R-AL) and Sens. Clinton (D-NY) and Smith (R-OR). To cosponsor in the House, contact Lucy Heenan in Rep. Lowey’s office at Lucy.Heenan@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-6506) or Jason Britt in Rep. Bachus’ office at Jason.Britt@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-4921). To cosponsor in the Senate, contact Ann Gavaghan in Sen. Clinton’s office at Ann_Gavaghan@clinton.senate.gov or (202) 224-4451), or Daniel Knezevic in Sen. Smith’s office at Daniel_Knezevic@smith.senate.gov or (202) 224-3753).
Senator Grassley: 202-224-3744
Senator Harkin: 202-224-3254
Congressman Loebsack: 202-225-6576
*What the Education For All Act Would Do
It seeks to provide basic education for all children by:
Authorizing $1 billion for FY 2008, scaling up to $3 billion by 2012. This $3 billion would represent the U.S. fair share of the global Education for All need. In FY07, the U.S. provided $485 million for basic education, far short of the U.S. fair share of the $7 to $10 billion annual financing gap of what is needed to ensure that the 77 million children of primary school age who are out of school receive at least a basic education.
Requiring the president to prioritize basic education funding and strategies for the most disadvantaged children, including girls in poor and remote areas, child laborers, the disabled, victims of sex trafficking, orphans, and those negatively impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Focusing educational support on countries that have completed, or are in the process of completing, the Education For All/Fast Track Initiative process. This process coordinates donor resources to provide timely, predictable, and effective assistance to support governments that create comprehensive national education plans. Currently, Congress does not directly invest in the Fast Track Initiative, and U.S. aid tends to be more project-oriented focused, rather than supportive of national education plans.
Supporting activities that help eliminate barriers to access, including the elimination of school fees and other charges related to education.
Including funding for the 9 million children in refugee camps and the many millions who are internally displaced or hurt by conflict.
Requiring the president to develop a comprehensive Education for All strategy and creates a new Education for All Coordinator as an ambassador-level position at the Department of State to oversee this strategy.
Support Dodd–Snowe Letter on Funding for Head Start and Child Care
Head Start and child care have been flat-funded or cut since 2002. That has resulted in fewer families and children being able to participate. According to a survey by National Head Start Association (NHSA), 77 percent of Head Start centers are “at the breaking point,” unable to absorb new cuts. The National Women’s Law Center looked at census data that confirms the obvious, that the cost of child care is a heavy burden for working families.
Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are circulating a Dear Colleague letter inviting senators to sign a letter to the Appropriations Committee on fiscal year 2009 funding. The sign-on letter calls for an increase of $874 million for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $1.072 billion for Head Start in the FY2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. RESULTS supports these levels, which would bring the programs back to pre-2002 funding levels (adjusted for inflation). Both Head Start and CCDBG have been under funded for years, causing drops in the number of children served.
Signers of the letter so far are Senators Akaka (D-HI), Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Cantwell (D-WA), Dorgan (D-ND), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Leahy (D-VT), Levin (D-MI), Lincoln (D-AR), Mikulski (D-MD), Obama (D-IL), Reed (D-RI), Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Stabenow (D-MI), and Wyden (D-OR).
The deadline for senators to sign this letter is April 2.
TAKE ACTION! Call both of your U.S. senators and ask them to sign the Dodd–Snowe letter on appropriations for child care and Head Start. Overall, keep telling Congress to fund Head Start and child care in the final FY2009 budget resolution. See our alert to send a message to your representatives and senators.
Please ask your members of Congress to cosponsor the Education for All Act*, which was introduced by Reps. Lowey (D-NY) and Bachus (R-AL) and Sens. Clinton (D-NY) and Smith (R-OR). To cosponsor in the House, contact Lucy Heenan in Rep. Lowey’s office at Lucy.Heenan@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-6506) or Jason Britt in Rep. Bachus’ office at Jason.Britt@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-4921). To cosponsor in the Senate, contact Ann Gavaghan in Sen. Clinton’s office at Ann_Gavaghan@clinton.senate.gov or (202) 224-4451), or Daniel Knezevic in Sen. Smith’s office at Daniel_Knezevic@smith.senate.gov or (202) 224-3753).
Senator Grassley: 202-224-3744
Senator Harkin: 202-224-3254
Congressman Loebsack: 202-225-6576
*What the Education For All Act Would Do
It seeks to provide basic education for all children by:
Authorizing $1 billion for FY 2008, scaling up to $3 billion by 2012. This $3 billion would represent the U.S. fair share of the global Education for All need. In FY07, the U.S. provided $485 million for basic education, far short of the U.S. fair share of the $7 to $10 billion annual financing gap of what is needed to ensure that the 77 million children of primary school age who are out of school receive at least a basic education.
Requiring the president to prioritize basic education funding and strategies for the most disadvantaged children, including girls in poor and remote areas, child laborers, the disabled, victims of sex trafficking, orphans, and those negatively impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Focusing educational support on countries that have completed, or are in the process of completing, the Education For All/Fast Track Initiative process. This process coordinates donor resources to provide timely, predictable, and effective assistance to support governments that create comprehensive national education plans. Currently, Congress does not directly invest in the Fast Track Initiative, and U.S. aid tends to be more project-oriented focused, rather than supportive of national education plans.
Supporting activities that help eliminate barriers to access, including the elimination of school fees and other charges related to education.
Including funding for the 9 million children in refugee camps and the many millions who are internally displaced or hurt by conflict.
Requiring the president to develop a comprehensive Education for All strategy and creates a new Education for All Coordinator as an ambassador-level position at the Department of State to oversee this strategy.
Support Dodd–Snowe Letter on Funding for Head Start and Child Care
Head Start and child care have been flat-funded or cut since 2002. That has resulted in fewer families and children being able to participate. According to a survey by National Head Start Association (NHSA), 77 percent of Head Start centers are “at the breaking point,” unable to absorb new cuts. The National Women’s Law Center looked at census data that confirms the obvious, that the cost of child care is a heavy burden for working families.
Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are circulating a Dear Colleague letter inviting senators to sign a letter to the Appropriations Committee on fiscal year 2009 funding. The sign-on letter calls for an increase of $874 million for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $1.072 billion for Head Start in the FY2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. RESULTS supports these levels, which would bring the programs back to pre-2002 funding levels (adjusted for inflation). Both Head Start and CCDBG have been under funded for years, causing drops in the number of children served.
Signers of the letter so far are Senators Akaka (D-HI), Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Cantwell (D-WA), Dorgan (D-ND), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Leahy (D-VT), Levin (D-MI), Lincoln (D-AR), Mikulski (D-MD), Obama (D-IL), Reed (D-RI), Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Stabenow (D-MI), and Wyden (D-OR).
The deadline for senators to sign this letter is April 2.
TAKE ACTION! Call both of your U.S. senators and ask them to sign the Dodd–Snowe letter on appropriations for child care and Head Start. Overall, keep telling Congress to fund Head Start and child care in the final FY2009 budget resolution. See our alert to send a message to your representatives and senators.
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