Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to talk about a tax increase and deficit reduction bill. Manchin argued that deficit reduction could help mitigate rising inflation. He pushed for the corporate tax rate to increase from 21% to 25% and for certain loopholes to be eliminated. He also is open to allowing Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs, which would also help reduce the deficit.

Though he had shown openness to including child care provisions in previous proposals, Manchin said he no longer supports any social spending moving forward. In theory, the bill would be able to pass with only 50 votes, as opposed to the usual 60, through the budget reconciliation process, which is reserved purely for tax and spending bills. However, it is unclear whether the critical 50th vote, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), will sign on, as she has publicly opposed corporate tax increases in the past. Though Social Current is disappointed in recent congressional deadlock, we will continue to advocate for the nonprofit sector and the families and communities we serve.

Centrist Democrats Introduce Slew of Health Care Bills

A sleight of centrist House Democrats, called the New Democrat Coalition, have endorsed 22 health care bills, urging leadership to put them up for a vote. The bills cover numerous topics, including mental health for children in schools and opioid addiction prevention and recovery. Each bill has at least one Republican cosponsor and 13 have companion bills in the Senate. The New Democrat Coalition is proposing to pass as many of these bills in a bipartisan manner as possible before the midterm elections in November. Lawmakers are discussing whether to pass each bill separately, or as a combined package. Furthermore, it is unclear which of these bills can pass in the Senate, which requires 60 votes for a measure to pass. Leaders of the New Democrats hope to have the bills marked up in May and introduced onto the floor of the House during the summer. Here is a list of the endorsed bills:

Administration Releases Resources for Mental Health Parity Compliance

The Biden administration has released three resources that will help certify that insurers comply with existing mental health parity requirements. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires that insurers do not apply more restrictive financial requirements and treatment limits to mental health or substance abuse disorder benefits than to medical or surgical benefits. The Biden administrations says insurers and health plans aren’t complying with the law. The White House has pushed Congress to update the law, but, in the meantime, it has released three tools to improve enforcement:

With these resources, families will learn their consumer rights and lawmakers will be able to advocate more effectively for the health and well-being of their constituents.

Nonprofit Sector Strength and Partnership Act Introduced

On April 26, Reps. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and Fred Upton (D-Mich.) introduced the bipartisan Nonprofit Sector Strength and Partnership Act of 2022, which will improve collaboration between the social sector and the federal government. The bill would create a White House Office on Nonprofit Sector Partnership, housed in the Executive Office of the President. A nonprofit advisor, serving as an assistant to the president, would influence policy relating to the nonprofit sector. That position would establish an online portal that would allow charities to register for fundraising opportunities across multiple states simultaneously. The bill would also create two entities that would weigh in with recommendations on how to strengthen the nonprofit sector:

Finally, the bill would also require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to compile and release quarterly economic data about nonprofit organizations, allowing regular updates on the health of the nonprofit sector, the third largest sector in the economy.

The important work in our communities cannot be achieved without the support of diverse community-based partnerships. Global Service Month provides a great opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate partners that donate time, resources, and expertise to make a difference in our communities.

Social Current is grateful for three of its corporate partnerships, helping our network drive impact through the engagement of corporate volunteers and generous donations of resources.

Aramark

Rooted in service and united by purpose, Aramark strives to do great things for its employees, partners, communities, and planet. Their global volunteer program, Aramark Building Community, launched in 2008 and engages the talents and passions of employees to develop solutions that address challenges caused by lack of access to healthy food and proper nutrition, financial insecurity, and inequitable environments. The program drives stronger communities, creates employee volunteer opportunities, and encourages employees to give back to their local communities.

Throughout the year, and during the annual Aramark Building Community Day, thousands of Aramark employee volunteers work to build vibrant, sustainable communities for all. They also offer complimentary resources to nonprofit organizations that equip families and individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to discover, choose, and prepare healthy food. This is often in conjunction with volunteer activities like food drives, cooking demos, and meal prep workshops. Last year alone, nearly 200 community-based organizations were provided regrants by Social Current, while dozens more strengthened community health and well-being through Healthy for Life® resources, thanks to Aramark’s tremendous support.

Aramark Partner Spotlight: The Aramark Chicago Star Team, lead by Angila Faison, works in partnership with Social Current client UCAN. UCAN Director of Corporate and Foundation Grants Lauren Birchlove shared, “Many of our program participants have young children for whom they struggle to provide healthy food, school supplies, and holiday gifts. Our participants were grateful to receive funds through the Aramark Building Community holiday grant program, in partnership with Angila, to purchase healthy food, gift cards, and toys, creating a special holiday for their children.” Lauren went on to praise, “Aramark volunteers are top notch. They are serious about completing projects, which means that they do high quality and efficient work. We can’t wait to welcome Aramark volunteers back in-person soon.”

CSC ServiceWorks

CSC ServiceWorks is the leading provider of laundry solutions and air vending services throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Through their CSC CommunityWorks Signature Services initiative, they are helping to enhance lives by working with community centers to provide reliable access to clean laundry and basic supports. They believe access to clean laundry is essential to helping people be successful in school and work and maintain healthy lifestyles. CSC teams support work within the communities they operate by lending their expertise, providing washer/dryer and air/vacuum equipment to community organizations, ongoing service for these machines, as well as volunteer support. Through their donations of washers, dryers, and ongoing equipment maintenance, CSC helps strengthen the capacity of our partners who are providing these essential services. In 2021, CSC ServiceWorks donated hundreds of washers and dryers, at a value of approximately $125,000, as well as ongoing maintenance services to provide reliable laundering operations for nearly 30 Social Current network partners.

CSC ServiceWorks Partner Spotlight: Michigan-based CSC ServiceWorks employee Paul Martin worked with Social Current client Ruth Ellis Center to install a donated washer and dryer to support their Kofi House program serving low-income LBGTQ youth. Program Director Kathie Griffin-Futch shared “Clients are able to wash up to two loads of laundry every week. Because of this donation, clients don’t have to decide between clean clothes or food on the table. All CSC employees were very caring and professional. This was the most amazing experience and a beautiful gift to the community.”

Bank of America

Bank of America offers Better Money Habits, a free financial education platform, that builds know-how around topics like budgeting, saving, credit, homeownership, retirement, and more. Community-based organizations can leverage these resources in a variety of current programs by engaging staff in train-the-trainer or direct-to-community-member Better Money Habits sessions.

Bank of America Partner Spotlight: Social Current client Northwestern University Settlement House in Chicago worked with Mary Bovalis, Better Money Habits Champions Lead and Treasury Product Manager with Bank of America, to train its staff on these financial literacy education tools. “The Better Money Habits website and tools were really easy to access and use,” said Katie Taylor, director of development at Northwestern University Settlement. “Our program staff are able to easily pull what’s needed for our different populations and specific needs.”

Additionally, in honor of National Financial Capability Month, Bovalis hosted a 30-minute demonstration of the Better Money Habit’s platform for all Social Current community-based organization partners.

Social Current celebrates and thanks all of its corporate volunteers, working in partnership with our network of organizations and helping us implement equitable solutions to society’s toughest challenges. For questions about Social Current’s corporate partnerships, please contact Emily Merritt, network and corporate engagement manager.

On April 7, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, paving her way to become the first Black woman on the highest court in the nation, once Justice Stephen Breyer steps down at the end of the current term. In her speech from the South Lawn of the White House the next day, she proclaimed: “It has taken 132 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. But, we’ve made it. We’ve made it, all of us.” All 50 Democrats and three Republican senators supported Jackson’s historic confirmation.

In other news, on Thursday the Biden administration released the results mandated in his executive order from last year, which called for the elucidation of a whole of government approach to addressing equity and racial justice. More than 90 federal agencies released Equity Action Plans, which detail over 300 steps these agencies will take to overcome systemic barriers in federal policies and programs. For instance, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has committed to eliminating the racial gap in homeownership, and the Department of Health and Human Services will increase engagement with communities of color to facilitate enrollment in free and low-cost health care. Within the federal government, data collection efforts will be improved to include key demographic data and encourage cross-agency information sharing. The administration says that this project is a major step forward in “a generational commitment” to advancing equity and achieving justice for underserved communities.

House Education and Labor Committee Introduces Workforce Development Bill

Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Higher Education Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chairwoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This important training and career services program, which expired in 2020, supports state workforce development systems. The proposed legislation would pump $78 billion into the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) over six years, thereby training one million workers per year by 2028. It would also create a permanent program at the Department of Labor committed to assisting formerly incarcerated individuals find gainful employment and career pathways. Expanded summer and year-round jobs programs for youth and increased support for partnerships between employers and community colleges are also included in the reauthorization package. According to the committee’s press release, federal workforce development funding has decreased 45% since 2002, adjusting for inflation.

Extension of Child Nutrition Waivers in the Works

Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act, which would extend school meal flexibilities from June 30, 2022, to September 30, 2023. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Department of Agriculture began issuing child nutrition waivers that allowed schools to serve meals during closures and gave them flexibility to respond to operational and personnel challenges. The proposed bill would provide schools with space and time to return to normal operations while keeping children well-fed and healthy. Without the extension, schools will not have flexibility given the constraints from COVID-19 and supply chain issues, putting countless meals in jeopardy. 50 colleagues joined Sens. Stabenow and Murkowski in introducing the bill.

New Bipartisan Bill Embraces Two-Generation Approach

Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act, which would address the health and well-being of parents and children by encouraging a holistic framework that links existing funding streams and systems. The bill would codify the Council on Economic Mobility at the Department of Health and Human Services, which would tackle multigenerational poverty by coordinating efforts across a wide array of federal agencies and departments. The bill would also foster innovative two-generation programs by granting transfer and waiver authority to participating agencies, which would break down silos and facilitate blending and braiding of federal programs. Finally, a pilot program would be established, allowing state, local and tribal governments to stand up their own two-generation programs.

Last Monday, President Biden released his administration’s $5.8 trillion budget request for fiscal year 2023. Though Congress traditionally takes the lead in crafting the federal budget and will inevitably alter many aspects of the president’s proposal, the request paints a picture of the administration’s priorities heading into the budgetary process. The president included budget details for his “Unity Agenda” announced at the State of the Union in February, which aims to tackle the opioid crisis, bolster the mental health system, and fund research for his Cancer Moonshot program. However, the administration declined to outline the costs of elements from the president’s signature Build Back Better bill, possibly to give leeway to Congress, especially holdouts like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), to negotiate details on provisions like universal pre-K, the Child Tax Credit, and climate funding.

Major highlights from the budget request include:

The administration included new pay fors, including a 20% minimum tax on unrealized capital gains for households worth more than $100 million, as well as a boost to the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and a new top income tax rate of 39.6% on high-income earners. These new tax increases would help fund $1 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years, a new priority that would help woo more moderate voters. Social Current will continue to advocate for our sector’s policy priorities and keep you up to date on developments as the budget for FY 2023 comes together.

Social Current in the News

Last week, the Chronicle of Philanthropy featured an article by Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson and Senior Director of Government Relations Ilana Levinson about staff shortages and workforce challenges facing the social sector. You can read the full article online.

Republican Senators Introduce Child Care Bill

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG ) until FY2025. CCDBG aims to fund child care subsidies for low-income families with children under the age of 13, though prior to the pandemic, only 20% of eligible children participated in the program. The proposed legislation would expand eligibility to families earning 150% of the State Median Income (SMI), from 85%. Moreover, families making less than 75% SMI would pay a $0 copay, and no eligible family would pay more than 7% of their income in copays. President Biden’s child care plan, which lost traction along with the Build Back Better bill at the end of last year, also requires no copays for families earning less than 75% SMI, but requires no more than 7% of income in copays for families up to 250% SMI.

New Report on Impact of the American Rescue Plan

The Treasury Department released a report on the impact of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) one year after passage. The $1.9 trillion bill invested in COVID-19 vaccines and testing, state and local governments, economic supports for children and families, and housing and small business assistance, among other things. The report states that the ARP made significant progress is addressing child poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment in low-income communities and doubled GDP growth. The expanded child tax credit, for example, benefitted 36 million families with more than 61 million children, and over $400 billion in Economic Impact Payments, or stimulus checks, were distributed. The state and local dollars provided 740,000 essential workers with premium pay and funded 1,460 projects to increase affordable housing, improve education, and address public health issues across the country. Finally, the Emergency Rental Assistance programs provided over 5 million rent, mortgage, and utility assistance payments as of January 2022.

New Ratings from the Prevention Services Clearinghouse

The IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse announced ratings for 15 new programs. Two were found to be “well-supported,” one was found to be “supported,” three were found to be “promising,” and the remainder “does not currently meet criteria.” See the ratings and links to each program below:

GenerationPMTO – Individual – Promising
GenerationPMTO – Group – Well-supported
Strengthening Families Program – Birth to Three – Does not currently meet criteria
Strengthening Families Program – 3-5 – Does not currently meet criteria
Strengthening Families Program – 6-11 – Does not currently meet criteria
Strengthening Families Program – 12-16 – Does not currently meet criteria
Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 – Supported
Familias Fuertes – Does not currently meet criteria
Families and Schools Together® – Early Childhood Education Level – Does not currently meet criteria
Families and Schools Together® – Elementary School Level – Promising
Families and Schools Together® – Middle School Level – Does not currently meet criteria
Families and Schools Together® – High School Level – Does not currently meet criteria
Community Reinforcement Approach + Vouchers – Promising
Mindfulness–Based Cognitive Therapy – Well-supported
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Anxious Children – Does not currently meet criteria

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.