CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The final round of the federal government’s Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments ends today, unless Congress votes to extend them before the year is up. Holly Bradley, a farmer in Pocahontas County, said the extra money she has received this year through the CTC has helped keep her family afloat, and losing it would be a setback. “I feel like that’s going to leave a lot of folks having to choose between what bills they pay,” Bradley asserted. “And what food they’re able to put on the table, and if they can make rent or not.”
Archives: Voices
Hidden Pain: 167,000 have lost parents or caregivers to COVID-19. What are we going to do about it?
More than 167,000 children – roughly one out of every 450 in the U.S. — have lost a parent or other primary caregiver to COVID-19, according to a new, bipartisan report released last week by COVID Collaborative and Social Policy Analytics. The report, Hidden Pain: Children Who Lost a Parent or Caregiver to COVID-19 and What the Nation Can Do to Help Them, offers a roadmap to support and provide for these children, roughly half of whom are in elementary or junior high school.
How Build Back Better supports caregiving and why it urgently matters
The care economy – including child care, home and community-based care, and paid family and medical leave – is intricately linked to the economic well-being of not just families in the U.S. but the country overall. And the provisions in President Biden’s Build Back Better plan that support care infrastructure are critically needed, right now and in years to come. Those are some of the conclusions offered by a trio of experts who testified before the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth last week in support of both the Build Back Better plan and a stronger domestic work force.
CHN’s COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship December 3, 2021
The “variant of interest” edition. Omicron has arrived. But we don’t yet know how infectious it is, how deadly, or how well current vaccines protect us against it. We don’t even know how it will fare on a COVID-19 playing field that has been thoroughly dominated by the delta variant for roughly the past five months. What we do know is this: until all parts of the world are largely vaccinated, variants will continue to emerge, some harmless, others deadly.
How can Build Back Better soothe Americans’ inflation woes?
For proponents of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, a challenging obstacle recently has emerged. That obstacle is not Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), although McConnell certainly is challenging. It’s not even Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), although Manchin definitely represents an obstacle. No; the most recent and perhaps the greatest impediment to Build Back Better’s passage in the Senate is the fear of inflation – and fears stoked by opponents that more government investment will simply make things worse.
CHN’s latest Human Needs Report: Build Back Better passes House, infrastructure bill signed into law, and more
CHN just released another edition of the Human Needs Report. Read on for the latest on the Build Back Better Act, the infrastructure bill, FY22 spending bills, a blocked effort to protect voting rights, and more.
CHN’s COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship November 19, 2021
Giving Thanks Edition. Thanksgiving is coming. So instead of our usual statfest, we’ve listed out ten things/people we’re thankful for. Really, our thankfulness for the House vote to pass Build Back Better is overflowing. We are grateful for President Biden’s and Speaker Pelosi’s vision and leadership. And we are unendingly grateful to all the advocates whose tireless work has gotten us this far – and grateful for what we’ll all being doing together next. Some items didn’t make the big 10 – but we remain grateful for caffeine and chocolate. We hope you can enjoy what and who you’re most grateful for this holiday – Happy Thanksgiving!
The House Passage of Build Back Better Launches a Time of Thanksgiving
Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, released the following statement on Friday, November 19th: “The House of Representatives made history this morning, and every Representative who voted YES on the Build Back Better Act can be proud of his or her action. “The House Members…
Advocates Call Build Back Better Essential For Environmental Justice
Editor’s note: The following story was published by Florida Public News Service on Monday, Nov. 15. Cross-posted with permission. Advocates Call Build Back Better Essential For Environmental Justice ORLANDO, Fla. – Advocates are calling on Florida’s leaders to keep the momentum going after the U.N. Climate Change Summit by thinking…
Build Back Better Would Help Buoy HI Families, Advocates Say
Editor’s note: The following story was published by Soundbite Services on Wednesday, Nov. 17. Cross-posted with permission. Build Back Better Would Help Buoy HI Families, Advocates Say HONOLULU – The U.S. House could take up a vote on the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan as early as this week. In…
What ‘Build Back Better’ Could Mean for N.J. Families
Editor’s note: The following story was published by Soundbite Services on Monday, Nov. 15. Cross-posted with permission. What ‘Build Back Better’ Could Mean for N.J. Families TRENTON, N.J. – The U.S. House of Representatives intends to vote on the “Build Back Better” plan this week, says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The…
CHN’s Podcast Episode 7: Demystifying Lobbying: How You Can Lobby for Social and Economic Justice
Big Money and corporate lobbyists shouldn’t be the only ones influencing elected officials. Grassroots advocates can leverage their power as constituents to lend their voice, lobby elected officials, and fight to Build Back Better! Anyone can, and should, lobby for social and economic justice. We invite you to join us!