Today is Day 18. Some 800,000 federal employees are affected by the Trump Government Shutdown. These include approximately 420,000 workers deemed essential and working without pay, and about 380,000 workers who have been furloughed without pay. These numbers do not include workers employed by contractors hired by the government, who…
Archives: Voices
Paul Ryan and “complex problems”
Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan Wednesday marked an end to his tenure in office much the way he began it – with smooth-sounding words on poverty and entitlement programs that, at best, sounded like simplistic platitudes and, at worst, sent up a smoke signal that conservatives won’t let go of…
The Trump Shutdown: approaching Dec. 21, here’s what matters
President Trump has threatened to veto the year-end spending bill if it does not include $5 billion for his border wall. Today, his press secretary has tried to step back from the brink by saying Trump could sign a bill that allows him to find $5 billion for the wall…
Immigrant children and the underpinning of cruelty
By now you’ve probably heard about the 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in U.S. Border Patrol custody last week. The death of Jakelin Caal was announced last Thursday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after inquiries by the Washington Post. More than eight hours after Jakelin, her father, and a large…
Why fight for human needs?
Editor’s note: The following piece was written by Makenna Whitworth, CHN’s Fall 2018 intern. Makenna is a senior majoring in political science at Brigham Young University. By Makenna Whitworth Why fight for human needs? Thousands of organizations across the country are devoted to social justice, women and men everywhere dedicate their…
CHN welcomes diverse array of new Board members
CHN welcomed seven new members to its Board of Directors this week as well as one new Board officer. The new members represent a variety of issues reflected in the human needs community, ranging from anti-poverty efforts to labor, affordable housing, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and domestic violence. All CHN Board…
CHN: With Farm Bill, most in Congress are poised to reject punitive rules that would lead to hunger and hardship
Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the bipartisan agreement on the Farm Bill and strong passage in the Senate: “The agreement of House and Senate conferees on the Farm Bill, followed by the overwhelming 87-13 vote…
The Human Needs Report: stopgap spending measure passes, more than 189,000 comments submitted on Public Charge, Farm Bill nears passage, and more
CHN just released another edition of the Human Needs Report. Read on for the latest on the stopgap spending bill, the proposed Public Charge rule, farm bill negotiations, TANF, criminal justice reform, and the new Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director. Click here for a PDF version. Stopgap Spending Bill Pushes Potential FY19 Partial…
Deadlines.
There’s a lot going on right now, and a lot at stake. Here’s a short guide to a number of important deadlines that are rapidly approaching. Monday, Dec. 10 is the deadline for submitting comments regarding the Trump Administration’s dangerous public charge proposal. The Trump Administration’s change to the public…
Unjustice.
Editor’s note: The following piece was written by Makenna Whitworth, CHN’s Fall 2018 intern. Makenna is a senior majoring in political science at Brigham Young University. Orange jumpsuit, shower shoes, and an armband Guilt by appearance and judged by my race Guilty until innocent in the words of a D.A. Lost…
Resources from around the Coalition: 2018 Election Analysis and Public Charge
Editor’s note: The following piece was written by Makenna Whitworth, CHN’s Fall 2018 intern. Makenna is a senior majoring in political science at Brigham Young University. By Makenna Whitworth The 2018 election results are in and human needs advocates achieved progress on a number of issue fronts through ballot questions. We…
Tear-Gassed Children: More Shameful Acts by the Trump Administration
You have probably seen the pictures. U.S. border agents lobbed at least two dozen canisters of tear gas at a small subset of migrants trying to cross the border to San Ysidro, California. About 5,000 people who wish to enter the United States who have come to Tijuana are in…