Last week, Congress voted to pass the fiscal year 2022 omnibus budget bill after months of delays. This bipartisan bill represents significant investments in many priority areas for the Social Current network, including advancing trauma-informed care, investing in early childhood education, developing whole-child approaches through partnerships with K-12 education, increasing funds for rental assistance and public housing to address the housing crisis, bolstering maternal health equity through new interventions, supporting the behavioral health workforce crisis with new investments, and more. The package also includes supplemental funding of over $13 billion for Ukraine relief.

In addition, this legislative package included the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. This legislation takes steps to strengthen services, invest in prevention efforts, and expand access to survivors in rural areas and those requiring culturally specific services. Download our full summary for human and social service organizations.

Social Current Comments on Impact of the Economy

Last week, The Chronicle of Philanthropy quoted Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson in an article about how the economy continues to impact our sector. You can read the full article, “Economic Data Shocks Charity Officials Just as they were Hoping for a Post-Pandemic Boom,” online.

Universal Charitable Deduction Hearing in the Senate

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), hosted a hearing on the Universal Charitable Deduction (UCD), featuring speakers from the nonprofits, academic institutions, and think tanks. The first-ever UCD was implemented in the CARES Act in 2020, but it expired at the end of last year. It allowed all taxpayers, whether they took the standard deduction or not, to claim a deduction of up to $300 for charitable contributions. During his remarks, Dan Cardinali, CEO of Independent Sector, emphasized the importance of the charitable sector as the third largest employer in the country. He asked members of the committee to not only extend the UCD, but also raise the cap of the deduction. Susannah Morgan of the Oregon Food Bank shared her on-the-ground experiences running a food bank during the height of the pandemic, and stressed that government programs, such as SNAP and the expanded Child Tax Credit, are also central to helping families in need. Another highlight was Dr. Una Osili from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, who noted that over the last two decades, giving has increasingly become dominated by higher income households and argued that the UCD would make giving more accessible to the rest of the population. The Universal Charitable Deduction remains a major advocacy priority for Social Current.

Public Charge Updates

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new rule that would change how some immigrants are considered for citizenship and green cards. Under the Trump administration, a rule was passed that expanded the ability of the department to consider whether an applicant who wished to change their status would become a “public charge,” meaning likely to depend on the government for assistance. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, public housing, and other government benefits programs were added to the list of programs that could be used to assess applicants. Under the proposed rule from DHS, these programs would be explicitly removed from consideration when making a public charge determination. The rule would also forbid relatives’ participation in government programs from being considered when determining likelihood of an applicant becoming a public charge. The rule will now go through a public comment period until April 25.

House Hearing on Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV)

Last week the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Worker and Family Supports led a hearing on improving family outcomes through home visiting program. The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program helps at risk-women and families by connecting them with supports through home visiting. Chairman Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) co-led the hearing. Witnesses included Steven Pascal, director of home visiting at the Children’s Trust in Boston; Myia Smith, Healthy Families America family support specialist at Henry Booth House in Chicago; Erica Beck, Healthy Families American program participant at Henry Booth House in Chicago; Angella Dancer, senior director of home visitation services at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Debie Coble, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Michiana in South Bend, Indiana. These witnesses, several of whom shared their lived experience, made a strong case for the importance and effectiveness of MIECHV. Since its enactment in 2009, MIECHV has played a vital role in strengthening local and state efforts. Seven home visiting models met the gold standard of evidence that the law required at that time, and today 12 more research-tested models appear on that list. The committee is looking to reauthorize the program. Some of the goals of Reps. Davis and Walorski include expanding access to home visiting to more families, helping to retain the home visiting workforce, continuing to tailor home visiting to the needs of specific communities, and maintaining a high standard of evidence.

In early March 2022, Congress voted to pass the fiscal year 2022 omnibus budget bill after months of delays. This bipartisan bill represents significant investments in many priority areas for the Social Current network including advancing trauma-informed care, investing in early childhood education, developing whole-child approaches through partnerships with K-12 education, increasing funds for rental assistance and public housing to address the housing crisis, bolstering maternal health equity through new interventions, supporting the behavioral health workforce crisis with new investments, and more. The package also including supplemental funding of over $13 billion for Ukraine relief.

In addition, this legislative package included the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. This legislation takes steps to strengthen services, invest in prevention efforts, and expand access to survivors in rural areas and those requiring cultural-specific services.

Download our full summary for human and social service organizations. It includes highlights from:

Download Summary

At the beginning of March, President Joe Biden offered his first official State of the Union address, in the midst of the violent crisis in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and other challenges. While the speech began with a focus on foreign policy and the war in Ukraine, it quickly moved to domestic policy. While President Biden’s Build Back Better plan seems doomed after it failed to get the votes necessary to pass in the Senate, he attempted to revive a new version of his agenda called “Building a Better America.” Since the speech, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said he is concerned about inflation and has hinted about raising taxes on the rich and corporations to bring down deficits. Biden talked about individual elements of Build Back Better as cost-saving measures for families worried about rising prices, which represented a change in messaging.

While it is unclear what will happen with the Build Back Better agenda, Biden announced a new framework, his “Unity Agenda,” which is focused on four areas of potential bipartisan compromise and support:

Of interest to the social sector, his proposal for a new mental health bill includes a focus on strengthening system capacity, improving access, addressing parity, improving youth mental health, strengthening children’s privacy and banning targeted advertising for children, and instituting stronger online protections for young people. His proposal is clearly laid out in a new fact sheet. Many of his ideas align with the priorities and expertise of community based organizations, including investing in programs that bring more providers into behavioral health, promoting the mental well-being of the front-line workforce, expanding evidence-based community mental health services, expanding telehealth for mental health care, expanding access to supports in schools, co-locating mental health and substance use providers in community-based settings, and increasing behavioral health navigation resources.

As reported by Social Current last month, the Senate is beginning work on a bipartisan mental health bill, and Social Current will continue to identify opportunities for advocacy in this process.

Federal Budget Negotiations Gaining Steam Before Deadline

Lawmakers are rushing to pass the budget for FY 2022 before a self-imposed deadline of March 11. The 12-bill omnibus package, which must be passed every year to fund the entire federal government, is finally in the last stages of negotiations after months of delays. Appropriators would also like to add two supplemental packages on Ukraine aid and COVID-19 relief. However, the Ukraine aid, which could amount to up to $10 billion, seems to be a sticking point. On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that Democrats were trying to fit in the Ukraine aid by shrinking the defense budget in the omnibus bill, something Republicans oppose. However, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) insisted that the Ukraine aid would be on top of the already negotiated defense bill. In the House of Representatives, Chair of the Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said that everyone is “negotiating in good faith” and that she hopes to reach an agreement in the next few days. If Congress does not reach a deal before March 11, they are likely to pass another short term extension for a week or two, to buy more time to complete negotiations.

Source: Bloomberg Government

ACF Releases Anticipated Guidance on Advancing Equity

From the National Child Abuse Coalition:

On Feb. 2, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released a new Information Memorandum (IM) focused on advancing race equity. Titled “Equity in Action: Prioritizing and Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities,” the IM calls for ACF grantees to assess and address how its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers for children and families of color. It also includes three attachments which include key equity definitions, references from the IM, and selected resources for supporting race equity.

Among other things, it details the history of racism in America and its impact on children and families, and it calls out racism as a social determinant of health, calls for comprehensive action to address structural racism in policy, and highlights promising practices that jurisdictions have implemented to address racial equity. It concludes with four key recommendations for the field in advancing equity for children and families:

  1. Review policies and commit to revising them in partnership with a diverse group of people the policies are meant to serve.
  2. Create and promote a statewide policy to meet the needs of children and families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
  3. Identify contract and procurement opportunities that are barriers to full equitable participation. At a minimum, ensure these opportunities are promoted and communicated to providers of goods and services owned or operated by members of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
  4. Establish a diverse and culturally competent workforce that acknowledges the importance of culture, has the capacity for cultural self-assessment, recognizes the dynamics resulting from cultural differences, strives for expansion of cultural knowledge, and adapts services to meet culturally unique needs.

This IM is the latest action by the Biden Administration to advance racial equity within ACF. Last year, the agency launched an internal equity advisory group and an agency-wide council on diversity. They have also solicited program-specific equity action plans, in response to the Biden Administration’s Jan. 20, 2021 Executive Order calling for all federal agencies to review their policies and procedures and make recommendations for how to advance equity. And they have taken steps to diversify their workforce, implement staff trainings, and create employee resource groups focused on equity. The Children’s Bureau also recently released a resource for child welfare agencies titled Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through the CFSRs.

New Report on Poverty Reduction Due to American Rescue Plan

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a new report that details the impact of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) on poverty in 2021. The ARP, which passed in March last year, included large investments in state and local governments, stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits and the newly expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). It aimed to give aid to those most impacted by the economic effects of the pandemic, particularly the unemployed and children.

The report found that the ARP kept 20.1 million people out of poverty, including 7.8 million children. Accounting for the aggregate impact of all the provisions in the ARP, the poverty rate decreased by 45% in 2021 from pre-pandemic levels. The child poverty rate was 8.3% in 2021, a decrease of 42% compared to 2019, due to the advanced payments of the CTC and federal and state stimulus efforts. For Black, Latino and American Indian/Alaska native people, the impacts were greater compared to the entire population. Even without accounting for the CTC, the annual poverty rate fell by 6.2 percentage points among American Indian/Alaska Native people, 5.3 percentage points among Black people, and 5.0 percentage points among Hispanic people.

The Senate Finance Committee is beginning work on a mental health bill to address current challenges. A few weeks ago, it held several hearings focused on youth mental health challenges, one featuring U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has selected four core focus areas:

The committee has identified a bipartisan pair of co-chairs from among its members to lead the work on each focus area. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) will work on the workforce issues. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) are working on integration and access to care. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) are working on parity issues. Finally, Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) are working on telehealth.

Their goal is to produce bipartisan legislation this summer that brings together these various pieces of work. Parity seems to be a big issue heading into this discussion, as health insurance companies often violate laws and refuse to pay for mental health or substance abuse services. Insurance companies are already bracing to fight policy ideas around enforcements and fines. Social Current will be involved in advocacy efforts around this legislation and will continue to track this closely.

In other news, Congress voted to pass another short-term continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through March 11. Senate and House Appropriations Committee leads have agreed on a bipartisan funding framework for the 2022 fiscal year budget and are now working out the details. They are hoping to pass an omnibus budget bill before March 11 but may need another short-term extension to buy time if negotiations are not complete by then.

Equity Commission at USDA Formed

On Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the creation of the new Equity Commission, an initiative authorized and funded by the American Rescue Plan, which passed last March. The commission also includes a subcommittee on agriculture, and an additional subcommittee on rural community and economic development is forthcoming. The 15-member commission and its subcommittee will provide ideas and recommendations to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on ways the department can give all farmers and ranchers an equal chance at success and prosperity and close the racial wealth gap and other inequities in agriculture. Members will focus on tackling racial equity issues inside the department as well as in its programs. The commission launched after the one-year anniversary of the Biden administration’s executive order requiring federal agencies to reevaluate all internal and external programs and policies with a specific focus on advancing racial equity.

USDA Delivers $1.4 Billion for Rural Economic Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $1.4 billion investment in rural business and cooperative services that is estimated to create or save over 50,000 jobs. These funds will be distributed across 49 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and will help businesses and regional cooperatives hire and retain staff, create new opportunities for historically disadvantaged communities, and expand to new customer bases. For example, one grant for the Pella Cooperative Association will shore up its loan fund, which will help build a new women’s housing and health care building. Another grant will support rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises in 12 Nebraska counties, including Native American business owners. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says that these investments will make rural economies whole and equitable.

New Brief on Transition-Age Youth

First Focus on Children recently released the policy brief, How Tax Credits Could Provide Transition-Age Youth Greater Financial Stability, which outlines challenges that youth aging out of foster care have faced in recent years and opportunities to alleviate hardship moving forward. There are approximately 700,000 youth (ages 16-24) with experience in foster care. Among findings in the brief:

At the start of the pandemic in Spring 2020, the unemployment rate for this population rose from 8.4% to 24.4%. However, changes to the tax code in 2021 disproportionately helped youth with foster care experience. For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit was expanded to include eligibility for former foster youth and homeless youth ages 18-25, benefiting an estimated 380,000-500,000 youth. Youth with children became eligible for monthly payments and expanded care support through the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. The brief calls on Congress to make these changes and others permanent, so that youth with foster care experience continue to receive support.

The current federal budget is set to expire on Feb. 18. The House of Representatives has passed nine out of 12 appropriations bills. However, none of those bills have passed in the Senate, which has an even split of Democrats and Republicans. Appropriations Committee chairs in the House and Senate are currently discussing a budget for the remainder of the 2022 fiscal year, but they have not reached a resolution yet. Remaining issues include the division of funding between defense and non-defense items and policy riders. Last week, Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who serves as the top Republican on the Senate Committee, said he thought another short-term continuing resolution would be necessary to avoid a government shutdown. Negotiations will continue over the coming weeks, and we will see if Congress can come to an agreement.

Make Your Voice Heard in Our Policy Agenda!

Social Current is currently leading a highly inclusive and collaborative process to engage its network in developing its federal policy agenda for 2022-2024. The agenda-setting process will determine the federal policies and issues of focus for our network’s collective policy and advocacy work.

This series of focus groups, held in February and March, will capture critical feedback from the Social Current network on policy issue areas. All Social Current network organizations, including those that have purchased engagement packages or are pursuing or have achieved COA Accreditation, are strongly encouraged to participate relevant focus groups. We welcome the input of leaders at all levels. Don’t forget to sign up for at least one!

The series of policy agenda-setting focus groups includes:

Build Back Better in Limbo

Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), when asked about the status of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act, replied that the package was “dead” and that any new negotiations must start from square one. At the end of December, Manchin had announced, to the surprise of the White House and other Democrats, that he couldn’t support the Build Back Better package, which included investments in child care, pre-K, health care, elder care and climate solutions, among other initiatives. An extension of the Child Tax Credit past December, a major priority of the administration, seemed to be a sticking point in the negotiations. In a press conference earlier this month, President Biden said he was hoping Manchin would accept “chunks” of the bill passing, if and when negotiations start back up.

In response to Manchin’s comments on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated that there are many areas of potential agreement, such as drug costs, climate change, and tax code reform. It is becoming increasingly difficult to see how the Senate could fit Build Back Better into its hectic schedule over the next few months, as the chamber deals with competing priorities, such as a Supreme Court nomination, legislation boosting competitiveness with China, consideration of the Electoral Count Act, and a Russian offensive in Ukraine.

Source: Bloomberg Government

Heating and Cooling Relief Act Introduced in Congress

On Jan. 20, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) introduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, which would bolster the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and provide more funds for weatherization. According to Markey’s office, only 16% of eligible households are enrolled in LIHEAP. The bill would boost uptake by increasing funding to $40 billion and ensuring that no household pays more than 3% of its annual income on energy costs. The bill would also increase funds to support community outreach and technological upgrades and ensure LIHEAP coordinators are paid a living wage. Finally, the bill would create a new Just Transition Grant for states and localities, which would help eligible households weatherize and adopt renewable energy sources.

FCC Finalizes Rules for Affordable Connectivity Program

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the details of the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new $14.2 billion initiative that provides discounts to eligible households for internet services and technology, such as computers and tablets. The program will contribute $30 per month ($75 per month for households on Tribal lands) for broadband services and a one-time discount of $100 for technology. Any household that earns income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines is eligible. Moreover, eligibility extends to any family that participates in certain public benefit programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, federal housing assistance, WIC, SSI, and free and reduced-price lunch or breakfast programs. Under the new FCC rules, consumers will be protected from credit checks during enrollment, upselling and downselling practices, and measures that lead to bill shock.

New Ratings in Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse

The Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse recently announced new ratings. First, the Intensive Care Coordination Using High Fidelity Wraparound program was rated as a promising practice under mental health programs and services. The Intercept program, which went through a re-review process, was rated as well-supported under the in-home parent and skill-based programs and services category. The Lilliput Families Kinship Support Services program was deemed not eligible for review by the Clearinghouse.

Social Current is currently leading a highly inclusive and collaborative process to engage its network in developing its federal policy agenda for 2022-2024. The agenda-setting process will determine the federal policies and issues of focus for our network’s collective policy and advocacy work.

This series of focus groups, held in February and March, will capture critical feedback from the Social Current network on policy issue areas. All Social Current network organizations, including those that have purchased engagement packages or are pursuing or have achieved COA Accreditation, are strongly encouraged to participate in relevant focus groups. We welcome the input of leaders at all levels. Don’t forget to sign up for at least one!

The series of policy agenda-setting focus groups includes:

Update on State Funds from the American Rescue Plan

In the American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March 2021, states were allocated $195 billion to help fill budget gaps caused by the pandemic and to invest in the recovery. So far, states have spent about half of these dollars, with the rest expected to be released in states by May. States have used these funds for a variety of issues, including balancing their budgets; providing health care services; strengthening food, housing, and other social services; investing in economic development; and beefing up education systems. About $90 billion is left to be spent, and negotiations are ongoing. The governor of Kentucky, for example, has proposed $400 million in bonuses for front-line workers who stayed on the job throughout the pandemic.

On Jan 6, the Treasury Department issued its Final Rule on these state funds, as well as funds for localities. The rule, which builds upon the department’s interim rule published last year, greatly clarifies questions around accessibility for nonprofit organizations. The rule states that nonprofits can be eligible for financial assistance based on criteria such as decreased revenue, financial instability, and increased expenses. It also clearly states that nonprofits can receive funds as providers of services to the community, not just as recipients of assistance. Premium pay for essential workers is also encouraged.

Supreme Court Vaccination Ruling

Last week, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration’s “shot or test rule,” which would have required employers with at least 100 workers to mandate vaccination or weekly testing, affecting an estimated 80 million employees. The Supreme Court effectively stopped the rule on Jan. 13. States continue to have a patchwork of different laws and executive actions that either restrict, ban, or mandate vaccines within private businesses. For example, Montana and Tennessee have bans on employers requiring vaccines. Alabama, Alaska, Missouri, and Wyoming all have state laws or executive orders prohibiting enforcement of a federal mandate. Additionally, 26 states have their own workplace safety agencies, and have been waiting on the Supreme Court ruling before moving forward on their own standards. The remaining states are subject to OSHA’s standards.

Without the federal mandate, businesses and nonprofits are making their own vaccine policy choices. Many already require vaccines, but one in three had planned to do so only if the OSHA rule survived. The rise in Omicron variant cases may encourage mandates, as rising numbers of workers are out sick.

Separately, the Supreme Court upheld the federal vaccine mandate for health care workers in Medicare and Medicaid participating facilities, allowing it to go into effect. The third mandate, focused on federal contractors, remains in limbo after a district court blocked it.

Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse Updates

Recently, the Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse announced that 121 program and service recommendations were submitted during the most recent call, which closed Dec. 21, 2021. The clearinghouse has received 1,500 nominations to date. It will continue to convene public calls for recommendations on a regular basis. The clearinghouse shared that it will be prioritizing programs and services recommended by state or local government administrators in response to the 2018 Federal Register notice, programs rated by other clearinghouses, those recommended by federal partners, or those evaluated as part of grants supported by the U.S. Children’s Bureau.

Voting Rights Bills Die in the Senate

On Wednesday night, President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) failed to deliver the votes necessary to pass two voting and elections bills, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. In an initial vote, the Senate split 50-50 along party lines to end debate and advance the bills for a final vote, thereby failing to overcome the 60-vote threshold known as the filibuster. In a second vote, which would’ve suspended the super majority threshold for advancing voting rights bills, two Democrats, Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), voted in opposition, along with all Republicans, which denied Democrats the majority vote needed to change the filibuster rule and advance the bills. After a long, concerted effort by Schumer to win over moderates in his own party, this is a major blow to the prospect of voting reform.

President Biden and Chuck Schumer have vowed to continue the fight to protect voting rights and the integrity of elections. A small bipartisan group of moderates in both parties have begun discussions around reforming the Electoral Count Act, which could potentially clarify the role of Congress and the vice president in certifying presidential elections. However, such a bill would leave out voting rights provisions that would expand voting accessibility—a major priority for Democrats. It is unclear where the debate goes from here, but there’s no doubt that the filibuster rule emerged from this latest confrontation unscathed and will continue to force both parties to work together and compromise.

Source: Bloomberg Government

USDA and DHS Reiterate Change to “Public Charge” Rule

In a joint letter, the Departments of Agriculture and Homeland Security announced that the receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be used to determine eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship. Under the Trump administration, DHS updated the “public charge” rule, declaring that immigrants’ participation in SNAP, as well as other public benefit programs, could weigh negatively on applications for changes in status. To encourage the use of SNAP for families that need it, regardless of immigration status, the Biden administration vacated the “public charge” rule for SNAP beneficiaries on March 9, 2021. Despite this action, advocates cited continued reluctance among immigrant communities to participate in SNAP, so the latest announcement reiterates the rule change. USDA and DHS also included a template letter that local entities can send to community members, communicating the effects of the administration’s decision.

USDA Announces More Funding for School Meals

The Department of Agriculture announced an extra $750 million in funding for school meal programs to help school districts keep up with rising food prices. In a statement, USDA said that funding for these programs does not usually change in the middle of the school year; however, inflation requires more funds to ensure children get enough to eat. The reimbursement rate for the school year was already 15% higher than the standard rate for free lunch. With this new funding, the rate will be 22% higher than normal. This change is part of a proactive effort by the USDA to ensure that children are healthy and well-fed during the ongoing pandemic. Other investments include $1 billion for school meal programs and nationwide waivers that give schools added flexibility in distributing meals to students and families.

Social Current is currently leading a highly inclusive and collaborative process to engage its network in developing its federal policy agenda for 2022-2024. The agenda-setting process will determine the federal policies and issues of focus for our network’s collective policy and advocacy work. Our coordinated and connected efforts will provide the Social Current network with the support and influence needed to engage their boards, staff, and communities in achieving federal policy change.

“Social Current has tremendous ability to advocate for policies that equitably support our organizations and communities. By bringing together the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and Council on Accreditation, we have greatly increased our reach and our impact,” said Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson. “The development of our policy agenda is a critical step toward realizing our network’s collective power and influence.”

For an overview of our policy work, opportunities for network engagement, and the policy agenda-setting process, watch our on-demand webinar, Engaging in Policy Advocacy with Social Current.

Complete the Survey

Provide your input through this brief survey by Friday, March 11. It should take about 20 minutes to complete and only needs to be submitted once per organization.

Participate in Focus Groups

A series of focus groups will be held in February and March to capture critical feedback from the Social Current network on policy issue areas. All Social Current network organizations, including those that have purchased engagement packages or are pursuing or have achieved COA Accreditation, are strongly encouraged to participate relevant focus groups. We welcome the input of leaders at all levels.

The series of policy agenda-setting focus groups includes:

Register now to participate in the focus groups.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced his goal to pass two voting rights bills called the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act before Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The bills would expand access to the ballot box, prevent interference with election administration, and modernize the federal voting system, and reinstitute voting rights protections gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013. With all Republicans in the Senate opposed, the bills have little chance of passing unless the Senate votes on a rule change that weakens the 60-vote threshold known as the filibuster, allowing a simple majority of 50 senators to pass a bill. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), two must-need votes for Democrats, continue to express skepticism of eliminating the filibuster, though the former has publicly stated he is in discussions with members on both sides of the aisle about rules changes.

In the background of these negotiations is the one-year anniversary of the Capitol insurrection attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Many Democrats argue that the Freedom to Vote Act would shore up elections and increase faith in the democratic process. As a compromise, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has floated the idea of reforming the Electoral Count Act. So far, Schumer has written off McConnell’s overture, arguing that changing the Electoral Count Act is insufficient to confront the many challenges the election system faces.

Meanwhile, Congress and the administration remain stalled in negotiations over the Build Back Better Act. These efforts halted in December when negotiations between Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and President Biden broke down. Manchin’s vote is needed to pass the legislation. Meanwhile, several tax provisions expired at the end of 2021, including the expanded Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit enhanced benefits, and the Universal Charitable Deduction for non-itemizers. It is unclear what the path forward will look like, but the recent omicron variant spike is reinvigorating some bipartisan conversations around targeted relief provisions.

Supreme Court to Hear Vaccination Requirement Cases

From the National Council of Nonprofits:

The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments last Friday concerning the legality of the Biden administration’s vaccination requirements in millions of organizations. At issue are the OSHA emergency temporary standard affecting employers with 100 or more employees and a rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services applicable to staff of employers receiving payments from the federal health care programs.

States and businesses have filed lawsuits in every federal circuit court challenging the authority of the federal government to mandate vaccinations or ongoing testing. Many courts acting on the cases have stayed enforcement of the requirements. However, on Dec. 15 a panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay in a consolidated case, setting the stage for consideration by the Supreme Court this week. Employers are hoping for a quick resolution by the court because OSHA enforcement is slated to begin as early as Monday, Jan. 10.

ACA Enrollment Soars Due to American Rescue Plan

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that 13.6 million people have enrolled in health insurance coverage for 2022 through Affordable Care Act exchanges, an all-time record for signups. The American Rescue Plan (ARP), passed in March 2021, made premiums more affordable by expanding subsidies for covered plans. As a result, 92% of signups will receive premium tax credits to help with monthly payments. The policy changes under the ARP allowed 400,000 people to enroll who would otherwise have not been able. Families still have time to enroll during the special enrollment period, which lasts until Jan. 15, 2022. Over 1,500 certified navigators are available throughout the country to walk consumers through the enrollment process.

No Surprises Act Takes Effect

On Jan. 1, 2022, consumers gained financial protection from surprise health care bills from emergency rooms visits, elective surgeries, and hospital births. Before, consumers in the private insurance marketplace were subject to surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers, facilities, and air ambulance providers. The No Surprises Act bans surprise bills for emergency care as well as for elective procedures performed by certain out-of-network providers in in-network hospitals. It requires providers to charge in-network rates for these types of visits and to provide patients with transparent information regarding their billing protections. For uninsured patients, providers are required to provide a “good faith estimate” of costs before providing non-emergency care.

Senate Hearing on Economic Development in Underserved Communities

On Jan. 5, 2022, the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development held the hearing, “Exploring How Community Development Financial Institutions Support Underserved Communities.” The hearing covered the topic of tackling economic disparities through expanded financial services and capital investment in communities of color, Tribal lands, and rural communities. In particular, the hearing addressed two bills, the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act and the Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act, cosponsored by Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). The first bill would allow Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) to access long-term, secure funding to invest in underserved areas. The second bill would help native communities increase home ownership with expanded access to mortgages.

Social Current has collaborated with Prevent Child Abuse America on a new toolkit to help community-based organizations understand how to advocate for and access funds available through recent opioid settlements with pharmaceutical companies. The prevention and treatment services that community-based organizations provide are essential to addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

After a lengthy legal process to hold companies accountable for downplaying the addictiveness of opioids, 47 states have settled with opioid manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and pharmacies for $26 billion. Separate opioid settlements are in process or concluded in the remaining states as well as additional localities. Though the funds resulting from the major settlement are temporarily in limbo because of legal action taken by the family that owns Purdue Pharma, these resources will ultimately be used to address the opioid crisis, and it is critical that community-based organizations begin preparing now to ensure that these funds are used not just for treatment, but also for prevention.

The settlement funds, proposed to be disbursed over the next 18 years and frontloaded at the beginning, will go to states and localities for the purpose of addressing the opioid epidemic. As these funds flow to entities across the nation, community-based organizations must have a seat at the table to decide how these funds are spent locally. These will be significant investments in the kinds of services our sector provides. The deep impact of the opioid epidemic has made it clear that a major part of the solution will be strengthening communities with upstream resources and supports.

This guide offers tools and resources to help community-based organizations navigate the complex legal and legislative process. Organizations should reach out to relevant stakeholders immediately, as these decisions are being made now in many states.

Download the toolkit from the Policy Action Center.

Download Toolkit

After a last-minute burst of activity to pass the Build Back Better Act by year’s end, negotiations between President Joe Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), the last holdout in the Senate, broke down. Over the weekend, Senator Manchin announced he could not support the Build Back Better bill and would vote no. Manchin expressed concerns over inflation and the budgetary design of the legislation, arguing that the bill’s proposed revenue increases, which last for 10 years, would not cover the full cost of social programs if they were extended over the full 10-year period. In response, the administration penned a forceful public response, virtually accusing Manchin of betraying the president. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that consideration of the Build Back Better Act would continue in early 2022.

As of now, it is unclear whether Senator Manchin will support a dramatically paired down version of the Build Back Better Act or if he has truly given up on negotiations. Manchin recently focused his criticisms on the Child Tax Credit, which expires this month but would be extended until the end of 2022 under the Build Back Better Act. If extended beyond next year, he argued, the credit would increase the deficit over the 10-year window. The administration countered that any future extensions of programs would be paired with increases in revenues to ensure the programs are fully paid for. Because of the events over the weekend, the likelihood of families receiving a January installment of the credit is highly unlikely. The Child Tax Credit reached 61.6 million children and kept 3.6 million children out of poverty in October, according to a study from the Center on Poverty and Social Policy. Take action now by reaching out to your legislators and asking them to extend the Child Tax Credit!

Late last week, congressional leaders reached a deal to avoid defaulting on our federal debt by extending the debt limit through early 2023. This deal increased the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion, the amount intended to extend the government’s borrowing authority past next year’s midterm congressional elections. The bill had mostly Democratic support. Without action, the government would have had difficulty meeting its obligations after Dec. 15.

In other news, Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson, recently authored the op-ed, “Why the Social Sector is Essential to Achieving Health Justice Across the United States,” in Nonprofit Quarterly. In the piece, she articulates the value community-based organizations bring to addressing the complex issues that impact health outcomes by using place-based approaches, harnessing data on risk and protective factors, as well as listening to the voices of those with lived experience.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Moving Forward

After years of negotiations, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reached a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The proposed framework would improve rape prevention efforts and services for survivors, expand access to housing for survivors, and strengthen funding for legal services and trauma-informed law enforcement responses. The proposal would also expand programs in rural areas, bolster culturally specific services, and increase support for LBGTQ survivors and those who seek voluntary community-based restorative practice services. Finally, the agreement would bar individuals who are convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes against a dating partner from possessing or purchasing firearms or ammunition. The senators plan to introduce their modernized VAWA reauthorization next month.

CMS Announces Funding for Vaccine Counseling Visits for Children

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the federal government will match 100% of state Medicaid funds expended for COVID-19 vaccine counseling visits for children and youth. This funding will ensure that families of children covered by Medicaid can access individualized medical advice on vaccines from a trusted source, local providers. Consultations for children and youth under age 21 that fall under the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit will be covered under the new matching requirement. This guideline will last until a year after the COVID-19 public health emergency is declared over. Since Medicaid covers over 40% of children in the U.S., this new policy will help ensure that all families can access sound health information from community providers.

New Broadband Connectivity Program Seeks Public Comments

The Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which was recently signed into law, included the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a $14 billion, long-term funding stream that will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, which was created during the pandemic to help low-income households afford broadband. Under ACP, the maximum monthly benefit to help pay for broadband will fall to $30 per month, instead of $50 under the EBB. However, more households will have access to broadband assistance than before. Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children benefits will be eligible for the program, in addition to recipients of SNAP and Medicaid under the EBB. Furthermore, families that have income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) will be eligible for the benefit, as opposed to families below 135% of the FPG under the EBB. The new program will begin March 1, 2022. Current recipients of the EBB will continue to receive benefits until then and information on the transition will be available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on the enacted changes and proposed rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Online Forum with Elected Officials Highlights Nonprofit Workforce Challenges

In early December, three nonprofit state associations in the northeast hosted an online event that highlighted aspects of the nonprofit workforce crisis. During the event, 40 state legislators from Connecticut, Massachusetts, ad Rhode Island, the three associations’ states, joined the event and heard about challenges that nonprofits face, including budget uncertainty, spikes in service demand, and ambivalence from government leaders. Social sector leaders discussed how they can’t offer competitive salaries and wages and, as a result, are losing employees to the grocery and retail industries, as well as state government and hospitals. These leaders said that longstanding structural inequalities hamper the social sector’s ability to compete and weaken the sector. One of the main topics for further action was government grant and contract reform, which would create more permanency and stability within the sector. With American Rescue Plan funding flowing to the states, the nonprofits argued that now is an opportune time to invest in community-based organizations and set them up for success moving forward.

Major Cities Taking the Lead in Ending Contracting Challenges for Nonprofits

From our partner, the National Council of Nonprofits:

Newly elected officials in New York City announced recently that they are committed to stopping many of the longstanding and well-documented contracting abuses imposed on nonprofits providing services on behalf of the city. In an op-ed in the New York Daily News, Mayor-Elect Eric Adams and Comptroller-Elect Brad Lander wrote, “When nonprofits fall short—whether because the city fails to pay them on time, or because a small handful of rogues exploit the system—the most vulnerable New Yorkers are the ones who suffer most.” The incoming officials created a joint transition taskforce, “to identify the root causes of the dysfunction, establish a clear agenda to fix it and implement the changes.” Among other things, the taskforce will focus on significantly reducing payment delays to nonprofit contractors, increasing the predictability of payment schedules, increasing public transparency in the contract registration and payment process, and delivering on the City’s recent commitment to increase the “indirect cost rate” for nonprofit service providers. Representatives on the taskforce include Meg Barnette of New York Nonprofits and Doug Bauer of the Clark Foundation, a board member of the National Council of Nonprofits.

In San Francisco, nonprofit leaders are calling for systemic change in how governments hire and reimburse charitable nonprofits. A recent article in Mission Local quotes Jan Masaoka, CalNonprofits CEO, as saying, “Contracting should be fair,” and that “Smart governments know nonprofits will do the work and do it well.” She and others on a recent panel highlighted the many inequities in the government grants and contracting system.

New Legal Rulings Halt Vaccine Orders

All three of the federal vaccine mandates have been halted by the courts until further notice. First, the OSHA rule, which mandates either vaccination or testing for organizations with 100+ employees, remains in limbo because a federal circuit court has temporarily blocked it. Multiple lawsuits have been filed from various states, and they have been consolidated into one proceeding that currently sits before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Additional rulings are expected in the coming weeks. The second rule, which relates to health care facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid dollars, was blocked last week by a federal court in Louisiana. This rule requires all covered health care facilities to require vaccination for all employees, trainees, students, and volunteers. Covered facilities include clinics, community mental health centers, immediate care facilities for people with intellectual disabilities, programs for all-inclusive care for elderly organizations, hospitals, immediate care, long-term care facilities, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, home health agencies, and more. Excluded entities include certain community-based services, assisted living facilities, group homes, and home- and community-based services. Ultimately, the case could end up in the Supreme Court.

A third mandate, pertaining to federal contractors, was recently halted until further notice. This mandate requires all federal contractors (not grantees) to get vaccinated.

Social Current will continue to share information as we receive it. For more information, check out our vaccine mandate resource collection, and for a candid discussion with executives at community based organizations, watch the recording of last week’s webinar on vaccine mandates.

January Contreras Nominated for Assistant Secretary for ACF

On Dec. 7, the White House announced January Contreras as its nominee for Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF). She has served in a range of county, state, and federal roles supporting child and family well-being for more than 20 years.

Contreras is a former county prosecutor and assistant attorney general who went on to lead a legal aid center for children and young adults who have experienced abuse, neglect, family separation, homelessness, and human trafficking. She previously served in the Obama administration as Ombudsman for Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as a designee to the White House Council on Women and Girls. In this role, she led efforts to launch new federal training and guidance to ensure that immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes are treated with dignity and protection. At the state level, Contreras oversaw the Arizona Department of Health Services after serving as Assistant Director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency. She was a member of Gov. Janet Napolitano’s Children’s Cabinet and the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board.