Category: Immigrant Justice

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 Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty

AIQ for July 7, 2021

With the CA budget passed, these bills we’ve been working on (SB 464 Food4All, SB 107 CalFresh Simple for Seniors, SB 108 State Healthy Food Access) are now being reviewed by the , Assembly Appropriations Committee. Please contact your Assembly Person if they are on this committee and urge full funding for these bills.

ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

80 Chair Lorena Gonzales, Dem, San Diego

05 Vice Chair Frank Bigelow, GOP, Sutter Creek, Placerville, Madera

54 Isaac Bryan, Dem, Culver City

57 Lisa Calderon, Dem, Whittier, South El Monte, La Puente, Norwalk, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, City of Industry

51 Wendy Carillo, Dem, Los Angeles

49 Ed Chau, Dem, Monterey Park San Gabriel Valley

01 Megan Dahle, GOP, Redding, Nevada City

73 Laurie Davies, GOP, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point

34 Vince Fong, GOP, Kern County, Bakersfield

45 Jesse Gabriel, Dem, Woodland Hills, west San Fernando Valley

56 Eduardo Garcia, Dem, Coachella, Imperial Valley

10 Mark Levine, Dem, San Rafael, Petaluma, Santa Rosa

20 Bill Quirk, Dem, Hayward, southeast Bay Area

30 Robert Rivas, Dem, Salinas, Morgan Hill, Soledad, Hollister

79 Akilah Weber, Dem, San Diego

Categories
Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice

AIQ Action for May 26th

Food4All Call to Action

Call/Email Key Decision Makers
Call or send your own email

Direct calls and emails make a difference! Contact these key decision makers to let them know you want to ensure Food4All is included in the state budget. You can also find your Representative here and share the same message below.

  1. Governor Gavin Newsom
    (916) 445-2841
  2. Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins
    (916) 651-4039
  3. Speaker of the Assembly, Anthony Rendon
    (916) 319-2063
  4. Senator Nancy Skinner, Chair, Senate Budget Committee
    (916) 651-4009
  5. Assemblymember Phil Ting, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee (916) 319-2019

Sample Script
Hello, My name is _____ from _____ (either location or organization) and I am CALLING/WRITING to urge _____ (Member Name) to support Food4All in the final state budget package. Food4All would expand eligibility in the California Food Assistance Program to all those who need critical food assistance, regardless of their immigration status. 

[OPTIONAL: SHARE YOUR STORY in one or two sentences.]

California needs to end the unjust exclusion of immigrants from CalFresh, our most effective anti-hunger program.

Here is the link for the source of this alert:

Food4All Action Alert: Key Leaders Need to Hear from You

Also encourage your representatives to support full funding and further expansion of CalEITC to $0 workers.

Categories
AiQ Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice State

California Roars Back: Governor Newsom Announces Largest State Tax Rebate in American History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Contact: Governor’s Press Office
Monday, May 10, 2021(916) 445-4571

Two-thirds of Californians set to benefit from Golden State Stimulus checks amounting to nearly $12 billion in total – the largest state tax rebate in American history

Billions in funding for rental relief and water and utility assistance

Part of the Governor’s $100 billion California Comeback Plan, a comprehensive recovery plan to tackle five of California’s most persistent challenges

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today previewed his $100 billion California Comeback Plan – the biggest economic recovery package in California’s history – including unprecedented investments to address the state’s most persistent challenges, starting with nearly $12 billion in direct cash payments to Californians hit hardest by the pandemic.

Chief among the new proposals is a major expansion of the Golden State Stimulus, providing additional direct payments to middle-class families that make up to $75,000. Under the plan, two-thirds of Californians will benefit from $600 direct payments. Qualified families with dependents, including undocumented families, will also now be eligible for an additional $500. The plan triples California’s previous investment, reaching more people and giving bigger benefits.

“California’s recovery is well underway, but we can’t be satisfied with simply going back to the way things were,” said Governor Newsom. “We are tripling the Golden State Stimulus to get money in the hands of more middle-class Californians who have been hit hard by this pandemic. Two in three Californians will receive a check from the state and more than $5 billion in aid will be made available to those who need help paying their rent or utility bills.” 

Under Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan, the state would also offer the largest renter assistance package of any state in America, with billions of dollars to help low-income Californians pay back 100 percent of their back-rent, their rent for the months to come and overdue water and utility bills.

Throughout the week, Governor Newsom will highlight other major investments and key initiatives of the California Comeback Plan. 

Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan seizes this once-in-a-lifetime moment to address long-standing challenges by taking on threats to our state’s future and ensuring every California family – regardless of their race or zip code – can thrive.

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

Categories
AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice

Take Action on Food and Farming Bills LOPP-CA is Endorsing.

SB 464- Contact Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Anthony Portantino and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins during this critical moment in the process and tell them why they need to pass SB 464 now. Call: Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair at (916) 651-4025 and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins at (916) 651-4039
Click here to email Senators Portantino and Atkins about taking action for #Food4All. 
Sample Script:
Hello, my name is _______, and I am emailing to urge Senate President pro Tem Atkins or Senator Anthony Portantino  to support SB 464 (Hurtado)—Food4All, a bill that will create a more equitable food assistance system that no longer excludes many immigrant Californians. SB 464 will modernize the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide vital nutrition benefits to households with low-income that are excluded from CalFresh solely due to their immigration status. SB 464 is an overdue solution to this long-standing issue that has only gotten worse during the pandemic. Please support SB 464. Thank you. 
AB 221  –  Emergency food assistance for Undocumented Californians   (Santiago D)in appropriations; no hearing date yet but likely to pass to Assembly floor.
AB 941  –  Farmworker assistance: resource centers.   (Bennett D)Would provide provide farmworkers and their families with information and access to services related to, among other things, education, housing, payroll and wage rights, and health and human services.

Categories
Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice

Undocumented Californians Have Been Excluded from Supports

April 22, 2021
California Families, Federal Exclusions & How the State Can Step in Now: Did you know undocumented and mixed status California families have been excluded from thousands of dollars in federal aid during the pandemic, even though they are deeply integrated into our communities, workplaces, and schools? Undocumented Californians are also shut out of most other supports, including the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and unemployment benefits. This leaves families with fewer resources to pay for food, rent, or other expenses

State policymakers can step in now with support for undocumented Californians. California’s Golden State Stimulus replaced only a portion of the federal aid undocumented and mixed status families were denied. State leaders could provide much more support to these families using federal American Rescue Plan dollars designated for household economic relief, and help undocumented children, families, and communities.👋 Have a question about the labor market or EITC in California? Senior Policy Analyst Alissa Anderson tracks the California labor market, helps create policy to expand the California Earned Income Tax Credit, and focuses on policies that can eliminate poverty for children and undocumented Californians. Follow her and her work and reach out with questions.
Categories
AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Uncategorized

Action for March 31st from AIQ

Bills to support right now in Food and Farming: 
SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All – Would expand the CalFresh benefits available to undocumented immigrants in California (While these folks are not eligible for the federal SNAP program, California has funding through a parallel program to CalFresh that provides food assistance for people ineligible due to documentation status – this program needs further development, outreach, and funding to meet the needs of Californians. This bill is in committee process. (Long-term relief bill)

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance during COVID-19 to Undocumented Immigrants and their families. This bill was amended in the Assembly om March 30, 2021 (short term relief bill). 

Quick facts to share: – These bills affect food, labor, agriculture, and public health organizations alike, i.e. our neighbors. Approximately 57% of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States. Undocumented immigrant restaurant workers are 25 percent more likely to experience food insecurity. We know that farmers of color are undercounted and many undocumented. populations are currently ineligible for any food assistance beyond foodbanks.  Access to our state food assistance program (SB 464) and immediate food dollars (AB 221) is a public health benefit.

Categories
Immigrant Justice Racial Justice

New Kit for Welcoming Migrants Available!

Here is a link to a new Action Toolkit for Welcoming Migrants where you will find helpful links to additional information, organizations, and resources to engage in individual and group action, including:

  • National and local organizations that work with asylum seekers and unaccompanied children
  • Reflection and worship resources
  • Action alerts and advocacy opportunities
  • Background information on asylum and immigration policies
  • Asylum sponsorship information

Together, we can continue to build awareness, pray for justice, connect with and support organizations engaged in this important ministry, and urge our public officials to humanely welcome children and families seeking asylum.