Congress returns this week from a week-long
4th of July break to continue its work on the budget, immigration, and possibly the minimum wage. Unfortunately, some in the congressional leadership are talking about setting aside these important issues
and focusing instead on narrow “message” issues that they think will influence voters in the election. We need your help to remind them that voters aren’t so easily fooled and will be watching to see
what choices they make about funding for critical social services, about fair wages for workers, and about immigration reform.
FULL FUNDING FOR VAWA PROGRAMS
With the annual appropriations process
underway, Congress will be considering how to fund important VAWA programs. Although
a number of improvements were made to VAWA during the reauthorization, the President’s budget contained NO NEW FUNDING
for these improvements. Fortunately, the House of Representatives voted to add
$25 million to VAWA programs when it passed the Science/State/Justice/Commerce appropriations bill. However, this still falls short of full funding. There is
a chance to increase VAWA funding even more in the Senate this week when the Senate Appropriations Committee begins its work
on the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill that includes most VAWA funding. We need your help to urge Senators to
support full funding for all VAWA programs.
ACTION NEEDED
Write to your Senators and urge them
to support FULL FUNDING for all VAWA programs. A sample letter is available at
our action website for you to edit and send. If
you have information about the needs of your local community related to domestic violence or violence prevention, it is especially
important to include it in your letter.
For more information, please visit the
National Network to End Domestic Violence.
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH
CARE
With the State Children’s Health
Improvement Program scheduled for reauthorization in fiscal year 2007, children’s advocates are launching an important
campaign to urge Congress to ensure that ALL children have health insurance coverage. On
July 11th, FamiliesUSA and a number of other organizations are launching in the Campaign for Children’s Health
Care to “raise awareness about the 9 million children who do not have health insurance and the millions more who
are underinsured and to help make high-quality, comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage for all of America’s
children a top national priority.” The National Advocacy Center
has endorsed this campaign and you can participate also by visiting the campaign website and signing the petition in support
of health care for all children.
ACTION NEEDED
Visit the Campaign for Children’s
Health Care website to sign the petition and download additional resources that can help your community
or agency be involved in the campaign.
KEEP THE LETTERS COMING ON IMMIGRATION
AND MINIMUM WAGE
Members of Congress and Representatives
in particular still need to hear from you about comprehensive immigration reform and increasing the minimum wage. Many House committees are currently holding hearings on immigration, but the views of those in support of
comprehensive reform are not being heard. In addition, the House leadership continues to block a vote on increasing the minimum
wage. Good Shepherd voices are vital to helping achieve compassionate immigration
legislation and improving wages for hard working Americans. If you haven’t
had a chance yet, please visit our action website to send letters on these important issues.
