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.
Category: Children’s Issues
Register now at https://advocacydays.org/2022-fierce-urgency/
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.
These are 3 bills LOPP-CA may be supporting during this 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. 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.
Budget Advocacy; Please write a “thank you“ one of the links below. Mention you are from Lutheran Office of Public Policy.
- https://nourishca.org/publications/actionalert/take-a-few-minutes-to-say-thanks-for-funding-food4all-and-more-needs-to-be-done/
- https://nourishca.org/publications/actionalert/damos-las-gracias-por-financiar-food4all-y-necesitamos-compromisos-a-largo-plazo/
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.
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.
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
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
Consider signing up for Chase Tibb’s podcast Faith and Capital at: https://faithandcapital.buzzsprout.com/
Write a letter to your state senator and/or assemblyperson stating that as Christians we affirm the Right to Food for all people – access, nutrition, food security, and dignity. In 2021 Californians will be speaking up about the Right to Food. Please personalize your letter and use your own words when possible. Be sure to include the bill numbers and names. Urge them to support the following hunger related bills:
• SB 107 CalFresh: Simple for Seniors, which makes it easier for seniors to access healthy public food assistance
• SB 364 End Child Hunger, which establishes universal school meals for all kids in public schools and creates a stopgap nutrition program for school breaks and when campuses are closed
• AB 221 Emergency Food for All, which grants food assistance access to immigrants, regardless of status.
Categories
End Child Poverty Advocacy Day
KCRA Coverage of the End Child Poverty rally with legislators present. For Spanish coverage, click here.
LOPP-CA joins other coalitions and advocacy groups for just under 20 lobby days a year to support justice in the public sphere. On Wednesday, January 22, 2020, we joined the End Child Poverty Campaign and many others to advocate for CalEITC expansion, the child tax credit, increased childcare slots for eligible children, and fair compensation for early childhood educators and workers.