Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

Children need your help!

Despite strong support from the U.S. Congress and the American people, President Bush vetoed the SCHIP bill earlier this month. The bill, which passed both the House and the Senate on a bi-partisan basis, would have provided an additional $35 billion over five years to keep children already receiving health care coverage, and to provide insurance to nearly four million more children whose health is at risk due to lack of proper health coverage. The President vetoed the bill not because the funding passed by Congress exceeded the $5 billion over five years that his Administration had requested, but because of ideological differences about how to expand health coverage to poor Americans. The President has, however, recently expressed a willingness to compromise with Congress on renewing SCHIP; thanks to those of you who expressed your disappointment with the White House on this issue. Contacting your Representative will go a long way to shoring up support for this important legislation.  Click here for more information on our positions on SCHIP.

Improving public policies that promote the health of our nation's children is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA's Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.  This month, be take part in the Campaign by calling on our nation's leaders to protect children's health!  Take Action Today

Hunger Alert: Ask Your Representative to Help Hungry Americans

House Moves Forward on Farm Bill, Food Stamp Reauthorization

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture will be considering the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) the week of July 16th. The Farm Bill has many purposes, one of them being the reauthorization of the federal Food Stamp Program. Thirty-five million people struggle with hunger in America. While more than 26 million people a month currently benefit from the Food Stamp Program, approximately 40 percent of those eligible for food stamps are not receiving them. The reauthorization of the 2007 Farm Bill is an opportunity to strengthen the domestic nutrition programs so these crucial programs reach all hungry people who need them.

ACTION NEEDED: Click on "Take Action" and enter your zip code to send a message to your Representative in the U.S. House TODAY!

Children's Health Alert: Help Raise Awareness in Your Community

When Congress returns from its week-long July 4th recess, committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate will begin debating legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

SCHIP provides high quality, vital health coverage to 6 million children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford insurance, but more than 9 million children in America go without health insurance. It's time that all our nation's children got the health coverage they need. We need your help to raise awareness in your community about this critical program and the need to ensure that all eligible children receive health coverage by sending letters to the editors of your local newspapers.

We need your help to spread the word!

	Take Action!

ACTION NEEDED: Click on "Take Action" and enter your zip code to find contact information for your local media outlets and a sample letter to the editor to get you started. We strongly encourage you to personalize this letter to paint a picture of issues in your community and what you may be doing to help.

Click here for more information on Catholic Charities USA's positions on SCHIP.

Children's Health Still Matters!

Since the creation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Catholic Charities agencies across the country and Catholic Charities USA have worked aggressively to ensure that children would benefit from the program. During the Children’s Health Matters initiative, we assisted nearly 600,000 families in applying for Medicaid and SCHIP, held 8,500 community education events about the availability of insurance, and worked with state Medicaid agencies to simplify enrollment.

Our commitment to children’s health care remains strong today— we must press on towards the goal It’s time that all our nation’s children got the health coverage they need. Let your Senator know children’s health still matters

ACTION NEEDED the Senate Finance Committee is currently drafting legislation to change SCHIP. Ask your Senator to craft SCHIP policy that:

• Ensures the full $50 billon provided by the Budget Resolution will be available for program improvements
• Simplifies the SCHIP enrollment and application process for families
• Continues allowing states to insure children in families above 200 percent of poverty;
• Allows states to serve vulnerable populations, including immigrant children and pregnant women and youth aging out of foster care; and
• Fixes the citizenship documentation requirement

To see a list of Senators on the Finance Committee, click

BACKGROUND: SCHIP provides high quality, vital health coverage to 6 million children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford insurance.

For more information, please contact Desmond Brown, dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org, or Karen Wong, kwong@catholiccharitiesusa.org,

Father's Day is coming soon- Write your Local Editors Today

This June, support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America by sending letters to the editors of your local newspapers about fatherhood and the importance of strengthening family connections.

Legislation may soon be introduced in Congress that would strengthen low-income families by eliminating government barriers to healthy relationships and strong family connections. This legislation would focus on improving economic stability and cooperative parenting skills among low-income parents. It will also provide incentives to non-custodial parents to fulfill financial and emotional support responsibilities, and increase opportunities for incarcerated parents to be reintegrated with their children and families

We need your help to spread the word!

ACTION NEEDED: Click on Take Action and enter your zip code to find contact information for your local media outlets and a sample letter to the editor to get you started. We strongly encourage you to personalize this letter to paint a picture of issues in your community and what you may be doing to help.

BACKGROUND: Improving public policies that strengthen the economic security families is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.

For more tips on writing letters to the editor and working with the media, check out our advocacy manual, Taking Action, Catholic Charities USA’s Guide to Effective Advocacy.

Thank you - you efforts make a difference

Health Care: A Basic Human Right

Get involved in the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America by focusing on the well-being of our children.

Access to health care is a basic human right, essential to maintaining the dignity of human life. Yet nine million children in our country do not have insurance and face barriers to accessing doctors, dentists, and preventive care. 

This summer, Congress is expected to move full speed ahead in reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), presenting a major opportunity to protect the health of millions of our children.

As Catholic Charities USA works with your Members of Congress to develop additional policies that nuture, protect, and care for our children, we need your voice.

Submit a comment to this post and tell us why you believe all families and children have a right to adequate health care.

Or, share your personal experiences by visiting these blog posts:

• Do you have children who have been under or uninsured?
• Do you work with under or uninsured children?

Your stories and thoughts will be collected and utilized by Catholic Charities USA as we work with your Members of Congress.  Stories can be as short as a few sentences or as long as a few paragraphs. You do not need to provide your name but please identify the state where you live.

For more information, contact Karen Wong, Legislative Policy and Research Analyst or Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy.

Tell Congress to Enact Just and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WHAT: Congress is once again taking up the issue of immigration. New proposals from the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House have recently been introduced, and in the Senate, legislation may be introduced and debated within the next two weeks.

The House and Bush Administration proposals take different approaches to addressing immigration reform, and potential compromises could impact family-based immigration categories. We are very concerned that families will continue to be separated and that policies may be put in place that fail to address family backlogs and that threaten family structures.

ACTION NEEDED: Click on “Take Action” and enter your zip code to send a message to your Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate starting TODAY!

Ask them to pass just and comprehensive immigration reform legislation that preserves families; provides a path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship for the 11-12 million undocumented in our nation; and improves the economic prospects, health, labor protections, and stability of all U.S. residents, including newcomers.

Please ask your co-workers, families, and friends to contact their Congressional delegations on this issue.

BACKGROUND: On March 22, 2007, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduced the Security through Regularized Immigration and Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 (STRIVE Act). This bill is a good starting point and the appropriate framework for a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The White House announced its proposal for immigration on March 29th; the Administration’s proposal does not meet the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA’s principles for comprehensive immigration reform.

Please visit our website for more information on the STRIVE ACT and the Administration’s proposal.

For more information on comprehensive immigration reform, please visit the website of the Justice for Immigrants Campaign.

Who can I contact at Catholic Charities USA for more information? Please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Director of Immigration and Special Populations Policy or Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy. 

Advocacy Manual Available

For more tips on writing letters to the editor and working with the media, check out our new advocacy manual, Taking Action, Catholic Charities USA’s Guide to Effective Advocacy.

Tell Congress We Need a Hunger Free America

Join Our Virtual March on Washington

Congress will soon begin debating the Farm Bill, which includes rules regarding the Food Stamp Program. Food stamps are our nation’s first line of defense against hunger for children and families, working adults, and the elderly. The reauthorization of the 2007 Farm Bill is an opportunity for Congress to take proactive steps toward eliminating the prevalence of hunger in our nation.

WHY A VIRTUAL MARCH?
Catholic Charities Directors from communities across the country will be in Washington on April 26 to meet with legislators about hunger in our nation and what Congress can do about it. At the same time, Catholic Charities USA will be holding a briefing for Members of Congress and their staff on the issue of hunger.

You can join in! Lend your voice and amplify the message to Congress about hunger in America by taking action TODAY!

ACTION NEEDED:
Starting TODAY, click here and enter your zip code for a sample letter that you can customize to send your legislators to ask them to help reduce hunger in America.

BACKGROUND:
Addressing hunger in our nation is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America. Click here for more information on Catholic Charities USA’s positions on hunger.  In addition, Catholic Charities USA works closely with other Catholic organizations on the Farm Bill, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. To read the policy priorities developed by these groups for the 2007 Farm Bill, please visit: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/200702fbhn.pdf and http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/20070201farmbillbck.pdf.

Thank you – your efforts make a difference!

For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Director of Immigration and Special Populations Policy, at or Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy.

Letters to the Editor - Hunger in America

In the April Action Alert, the network was asked to support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America by sending letters to the editor of your local newspapers about hunger in your community and the importance of strengthening our nation’s nutrition safety net.

The following are some sample letters that have been published around the country:

• La Crosse (WI) Tribune, 4/9/2007, Letter to the Editor: Gas prices and the working poor
• The Daily Review (Hayward, CA), 4/5/2007, Letter to the Editor: Abolish hunger
• Bellingham (WA) Herald, 4/2007, Letter to the Editor: So many people locally need food
• Modesto (CA) Bee, 4/19/07, Letter to the Editor: Food stamps will alleviate hunger

Click here to learn more about how you can send you own letter to the editor.

Hunger Alert - Action Needed

This April, support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America by sending letters to the editor of your local newspapers about hunger in your community and the importance of strengthening our nation’s nutrition safety net.

We need YOUR help to spread the word!

Congress will soon begin debating the Farm Bill, which includes rules regarding the Food Stamp Program. Food stamps are our nation’s first line of defense against hunger for children and families, working adults, and the elderly. Raising awareness about hunger in your community will help bring the issue to your legislators’ attention.

ACTION NEEDED: Click on “Take Action” and enter your zip code to find contact information for your local media outlets and a sample letter to the editor to get you started. We strongly encourage you to personalize this letter to paint a picture of hunger and poverty in your community.

BACKGROUND: Addressing hunger in our nation is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America. Visit Catholic Charities USA's website for more information on our positions on hunger and the food stamp program.

Thank you - your efforts make a difference!

Join CCUSA On April 16 Call: Farm Bill and Nutrition Assistance Programs

The Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA will hold a conference call on Monday, April 16th at 1:30 pm (ET) to discuss the latest legislative developments in Washington.

This month, the call will focus on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and hunger in our nation. Lucreda Cobbs, Catholic Charities USA’s Director of Immigration and Special Populations Policy, will talk about what is happening with reauthorization of the Farm Bill, Catholic Charities positions on hunger, and the importance of strengthening the federal food assistance programs. The call will also address opportunities for action so you can help ensure our nation’s nutrition safety net. Hunger is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.

When is the call? Monday, April 16th, 1:30-2:30 pm (Eastern Time).

How do I call in? Dial 1-888-428-4479 and ask for the Catholic Charities Monthly Policy Call.

Do I need to register ahead of time? No, simply dial in on April 16th.

Will there be policy calls every month? Policy conference calls will be held monthly when Congress is in session. Click here for a schedule of upcoming calls.

Can I still find out what’s happening if I miss the call? Yes! Click here for more information on Catholic Charities USA’s position on the Farm Bill. Recordings of the calls will also be posted here several days after the call. Also, be on the lookout for reports in Washington Weekly and Action Alerts from Catholic Charities USA.

Who can I contact for more information on the call? For more information, please contact Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy, at cdriscoll@catholiccharitiesusa.org.