Category: Children’s Issues

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AiQ Children's Issues Enviroment Gender Justice Homelessness & Housing

No AIQ on 3/27

Due to the Legislature having their spring recess this week, their are no major updates or weekly homework share, so we are cancelling AIQ for this week, Wednesday, March 27th.

The following bills will be heard in committees early next week and will need our support:

  • AB 2785 (Wilson)- strengthening tenant protections through rental app fee reform; hearing on Tues., April 2nd in Asm. Judiciary Committee
  • AB 3170 (Ortega)- preventing hospitals from implementing blanket drug testing on pregnant persons receiving care & reporting to CPS; hearing on Tues., April 2nd in Asm. Judiciary Committee
  • SB 1061 (Limón)- prohibiting credit card reporting agencies from placing medical debt on credit reports; hearing on Tues., April 2nd in Sen. Judiciary Committee
  • AB 1851 (Holden) – clean drinking water in schools pilot program; hearing on Wed., April 3rd in Asm. Education Committee

If your legislator is on any of these committees, call them early next week and ask them to support these respective bills in those committees!

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Enviroment Homelessness & Housing State

AIQ News: 3/13/24

Many bills have recently been added to our 2024 bill tracker. Check them out here: Bill Trackers

Our official LOPPCA budget letter has been completed and turned in to the legislature in response to the Governor’s 2024 proposed budget. You can read that letter and see what other bills and budget letters we’ve been signing onto so far this year on our Sign On Letters page. We express our concerns over funding delays and cuts to critical programs and services in Human Services, Housing & Homelessness, and Climate/Environment.

Committee hearings are ramping up! That means we’ll need your voice contacting your legislators about bills we’re tracking!

  • For next week: call your legislators telling them to support AB 1851 (Holden) – clean drinking water in schools. It is being heard in the Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee on Tuesday, March 19th! Your calls are especially important if your member is on that committee. You can see ES&TM members here.
Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty

AIQ News for 06/08/2022

Please contact Governor Newsom and ask him to sign the revised state budget! This budget includes funding for many of the bills we have been working on.

Categories
Children's Issues Enviroment Federal Legislation Gender Justice Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues

Register for Ecumenical Advocacy Days on April 25th-27th

Register now at https://advocacydays.org/2022-fierce-urgency/

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Poverty Racial Justice

LOPP-CA Legislative Priorities

Bill Priorities for LOPP-CA 2022 for the 2022 Legislative Session:

 SB 854 (Skinner), the HOPE for Children Act. This bill would establish California’s first baby bond program for children  who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 and eligible foster youth. The bill also lays the groundwork so one day California can expand the program             to all children living in low-income circumstances.

AB 2180 (Wicks), The Children of Incarcerated Parents and Caregivers Taskforce. This bill would establish the Taskforce for Children with incarcerated parents and caregivers as California lacks a statewide entity that focuses on identifying and addressing the needs of system-impacted children. Asm. Wicks will be including this bill in her working class families package of bills as an emphasis to the disproportionate impact mass incarceration has on working class families, especially women, and the destabilization that leads to.

AB 2589 (Santiago) This bill will would provide a 1-time payment of $2000 per child dependent to California residents who made less than $30,000 in 2021 and file their taxes.    Increase the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) minimum tax credit to about $255 per eligible tax filer. AB 2589 would benefit approximately 5 million Californians, including 2 million children.

AB 1615 (Ting) Foster Youth Housing: This bill would extend housing assistance for former foster youth to 36 months.

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Racial Justice State

AIQ for 02/23/2022 Introduced Bills related to Ending Childhood Poverty in California

These are 3 bills LOPP-CA may be supporting during this legislative session.

This bill would establish California’s first baby bond program for children who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 and eligible foster youth. The bill also lays the groundwork so one day California can expand the program to all children living in low-income circumstances. I’ve attached the support letter template for more details. 

  • AB 2180 (Wicks), The Children of Incarcerated Parents and Caregivers Taskforce 

This bill would establish the Taskforce for Children with incarcerated parents and caregivers as California lacks a statewide entity that focuses on identifying and addressing the needs of system-impacted children. Asm. Wicks will be including this bill in her working class families package of bills as an emphasis to the disproportionate impact mass incarceration has on working class families, especially women, and the destabilization that leads to. 

  • AB 2589 (Santiago) This bill will would
  • Provide a 1-time payment of $2000 per child dependent to California residents who made less than $30,000 in 2021 and file their taxes. 
  • Increase the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) minimum tax credit to about $255 per eligible tax filer. 
  • Together, AB 2589 would benefit approximately 5 million Californians, including 2 million children.
Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty

AIQ Asks for Wednesday, July 28th

Budget Advocacy; Please write a “thank you“ one of the links below. Mention you are from Lutheran Office of Public Policy.

Immigration/ Migration https://abic.us/events/the-path-forward-briefing-with-sen-bob-menendez-on-immigration-via-budget-reconciliation/?emci=9ccd605d-afef-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=7eb4aa51-b1ef-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=5839587

Also encourage your pastor to sign on to the letter linked below,

“Garment Workers Sign On Letter” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pmbiSC0J8085TBp2VSS2qBtuyB1LshdDJD-ItgXcIto/edit?usp=sharing

Green Burial : Information on proposed legislation.

https://recompose.life/help-bring-recompose-to-california/

https://recompose.life

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Federal Legislation

ELCA Advocacy Opportunities As We Approach The August Recess

U.S. representatives regularly return to their home districts to stay engaged with their constituents. Traditionally, August Recess is one such time – and while everyone needs some rest and relaxation, lawmakers are likely busy during this period with Town Halls, arranged meetings and other contact points that give you a window to raise your experiences and policy concerns while they are local. Our ELCA advocacy staff reflected on some current events that intersect with federal policy and priorities this year that you can review today in the “August recess opportunity” blog post. The reflections are based upon the ELCA’s social teaching documents and the experiences of its congregations, ministries and partners to end world hunger and stand up for policies that create opportunities to overcome poverty, promote peace and dignity, preserve God’s creation and promote racial and gender justice.
On  It will take place on Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 1-1:30 p.m. EDT. you’re invited to the “ELCA Advocacy Network Conference Call: August Recess Possibilities” to hear directly from staff about the current federal policy landscape. Additional details and registration found here. As we enter into the month of August, consider attending one of your lawmaker’s Town Halls or arranging a direct meeting yourself. Resources on how to do each and more can be found at the ELCA Advocacy Resource Page. To find out more, visit the ELCA August Recess Blog, and share how you are planning to take action this summer using #ELCAadvocacy on social media.

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Poverty Racial Justice

Important Up Coming AAMPARO Meetings

AAMPARO

July 12th: 

Title: Stories from the Southern Border

Presenter: Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees, International Ministries, American Baptist Churches

Summary: Join us to hear stories of resilience from asylum seekers themselves as well as stories from Rev. Ray Schellinger, Global Consultant on Immigration and Refugees International Ministries of the American Baptist Church.  Ray will share about his work at the southern border and share some of the stories he has heard from people there. Participants will learn the types of challenges asylum seekers face and learn about ways they can be involved in providing support and welcome. 

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2496147996837632784

July 19th: 

Title: Ethical Storytelling – How to tell stories with human dignity

Presenter: Laura Curkendall, Director of Program Communications, CWS and Christopher Plummer, Director of Media, CWS

Summary: It’s natural to want to share the stories of our refugee neighbors with our own friends and family. But how can we ensure that we’re doing it in a way that we feel good about? Members of the CWS Communications team will share their advice to help you tell refugee stories in an ethical, dignified way.

Registration Link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8658618200429138448

July 26th: 

Title: What is Preferred Communities?  Intensive Case Management and the Community in Partnership

Presenter: Melissa Berger, Program Specialist, Vulnerable Populations

Summary: Many refugees, asylees, and other new arrivals with complex needs gain access to extended, intensive case management and group services through the Preferred Communities (PC) grant. Learn who is eligible, how the program works, and how PC staff work closely with local communities to ensure that refugees are able to access and navigate the resources they need. 

Registration Link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8898774629702595856

Categories
AiQ Children's Issues Health Care Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice

Bills That Need Attention This Week!

SB 364 (Skinner) – CA Universal School Meals: Sign-on to this budget request by tomorrow at 4pm. The crux of this legislation is its funding, so this is crucial.

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance: Is in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All: Is in  Senate Appropriations.

Health4All’s campaign to have health care for undocumented seniors in the upcoming budget.  They are having a tweetstorm to the governor and legislators among other actions that start today.  Here is a link to customize tweets from your organization: https://secure.everyaction.com/ATHfHv8PmUmtUbfOD8-Aqw2