UWP to Participate in Hill Day in Washington, D.C. Next Week
Next week, United Way of Pennsylvania staff will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2024 Advocacy Forum & Capitol Hill Day, along with over 150 colleagues from across the United States. The event, hosted by United Way Worldwide, will bring together passionate individuals to learn together and advocate for our 2024 federal priorities.
While there, staff will meet with our elected officials from Pennsylvania to ask them to support legislation to increase access to basic needs resources, ensure food security in our communities, provide access to affordable broadband, and deliver tax relief for hardworking ALICE families.
YOU are invited to join us in advocating for these important initiatives. Please read more about each of these important opportunities and email your elected officials today!
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 211 TO INCREASE ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS RESOURCES (HELP ACT):
The 211 network responds to approximately 50,000 requests every day across America and connects millions of individuals and families to critical social and human services each year. This important bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) along with Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY-26) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) in May 2023. The HELP Act is critical to ensuring that we can shore up the funding for 211 to help people receive the social service supports and mental health resources they need.
ENSURE FOOD SECURITY BY PRESERVING & STRENGTHENING SNAP (FARM BILL):
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is our nation’s most significant anti-hunger program and promotes economic security, health, and well-being. SNAP responds effectively and efficiently to changes in need, whether due to economic downturns, natural disasters, or other disruptions. More recently, it has proven to be a crucial tool for mitigating food hardship and supporting local economies during the pandemic.
PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO HARDWORDKING ALICE FAMILIES THROUGH CHILD TAX CREDIT & EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (TAX RELIEF FOR AMERICAN WORKERS & FAMILIES ACT):
This bipartisan legislation is the best chance for this Congress to significantly reduce child poverty and help millions of struggling families. By expanding the CTC, the legislation would lift as many as 400,000 children above the poverty line and make life better for an additional three million children below the poverty line this year. Overall, 16 million low-income children in families with low earnings will receive a larger CTC, which will help local businesses.
Congress should seize this opportunity to pass as soon as possible a bipartisan Child Tax Credit proposal that meaningfully boosts the incomes of millions of families and significantly lowers child poverty.