[StC-Advocacy] ST. CHARLES ADVOCACY TOPICS--SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
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St. Charles Social Justice
Sep 28, 2011, 7:17:07 PM9/28/11
to St. Charles Social Justice Advocacy
ST. CHARLES ADVOCACY TOPICS—September 28, 2011
I. LOCAL
--I. A. ARLINGTON LAUNCHES “100 HOMES” CAMPAIGN
II. STATE
--II. A. NEW VIDEO ON PARENTAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION
III. NATIONAL
--III. A. URGE SENATE SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM ACT
--III. B. TELL CONGRESS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER
30 TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED
--III. C. HELP PROTECT RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE
IV. INTERNATIONAL—No Input This Week
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I. LOCAL
--I. A. ARLINGTON LAUNCHES “100 HOMES” CAMPAIGN
Arlington County is looking for volunteers to join an extraordinary
effort this October to identify every homeless person sleeping on the
County’s streets to assess their health and housing needs. Data
collected during the 100 Homes Registry Week (October 16-21) will
result in a “Vulnerability Index” that will identify homeless persons
who are most medically vulnerable and give them priority for housing
and related services.
As part of a ten year plan to end homelessness in Arlington, the “100
Homes for 100 Homeless Arlingtonians” campaign makes Arlington County
one of 91 communities nationwide to adopt the “100,000 Homes for
100,000 Homeless Americans” initiative to house the homeless by 2013.
Volunteers are need to serve as surveyors and perform data entry
during the week of October 16-21. The surveying volunteers will work
in teams and interview homeless people beginning at 4 a.m. on the
mornings of October 17, 18 and 19.
For more information, please visit the “100 Homes” section of the
Arlington County website at:
http://100homesarlingtonva.org/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
II. STATE
--II. A. NEW VIDEO ON PARENTAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION
Parental choice in education is a fundamental right which the Catholic
Church has long recognized. The Virginia Catholic Conference has
consistently advocated on this issue, and it will continue to be a
hotly debated topic in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly
session.
Beginning in mid-January, the Conference will renew its advocacy for
the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit bill – a bill that
would provide tax credits to businesses that make donations toward
scholarships enabling economically disadvantaged children to attend
nonpublic K-12 schools. This legislation would provide critical
support for low-income students desiring a Catholic education and
allow for sustained enrollment in Catholic schools. For the last two
years it has fallen just two votes short. Grassroots support is
essential if the bill is to pass in 2012.
The Conference has unveiled a new video, “The Education Improvement
Scholarship Tax Credit: Taking Action for a Brighter Tomorrow” in an
effort to win passage of the bill. The video is designed to increase
understanding and involvement in legislative advocacy among parents,
Catholic school educators, parishioners and the public.
The Virginia Catholic Conference suggests that you watch the video and
send it on to your friends to help the Education Improvement
Scholarship Tax Credit become a reality.
The video is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=YtdhmW9EL1o&vq=medium
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR GOVERNOR, AND STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE –
INCREDIBLY EASY WAYS!
- To contact Governor McDonnell, use the following link:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact.cfm or
The phone number for Governor McDonnell is (804) 786-2211.
- Find your senator at http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/$$Viewtemplate+for+WMembershipHome?OpenForm
- Find your representative at http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView,
OR
Go to “Who's My Legislator” icon on the General Assembly website at
http://legis.state.va.us to find or confirm who your delegate or
senator is, and his or her contact information.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
III. NATIONAL
--III. A. URGE SENATE SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM ACT
On May 11, 2011 Senator Richard Durbin introduced the DREAM Act of
2011, S. 952, a bill to authorize the cancellation of removal and
adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term
United States residents and who entered the United States as
children. The DREAM Act is an important step toward reforming our
immigration system.
NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, asks us to persuade
our senators to co-sponsor this bill (or thank them if they have
already done so).
To take action now, go to:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=46785501
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--III. B. TELL CONGRESS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER
30 TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED
The FY 2011 budget expires on Friday and a Continuing Resolution (CR)
is the only route to keeping the government funded after midnight,
September 30. Urge your representatives to work together for the good
of the nation.
The House has passed an unacceptable CR which does not use the funding
provided for 2012 through the Budget Control Act (BCA). This funding
would go a long way in meeting needs of our most destitute neighbors.
Additionally, in including emergency funding for disaster relief (FEMA
is out of money), they added a “pay-for” provision. This has NEVER
been done in order to meet disaster needs. As Senator Warner said
over the weekend, we can put a war on the credit card with no “pay-
for,” but we can’t do the same to help those in this nation who have
lost everything. The Senate has voted this down, and will vote again
on a bill to provide disaster assistance without a “pay-for.”
The national Catholic social justice lobby, NETWORK, encourages you to
tell your Senators and Representatives that people who are suffering
the loss of homes and other possessions need assistance now.
You may contact the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or e-mail a
message via the following link:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=53907256
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--III. C. HELP PROTECT RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE
On August 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
issued an "interim final rule" that will require virtually all private
health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription
contraceptives, sterilization procedures and related "patient
education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity."
These are listed among "preventive services for women" that all health
plans will have to include without co-pays or other cost-sharing –
regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor,
or even the woman herself objects to such coverage.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages individuals to take
action by September 30.
Take Action #1:
Concerned Americans have until September 30 to send their comments to
HHS. Write to HHS opposing their recent preventive services mandate
by visiting the following link:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=299
Take Action #2:
Write to Congress supporting the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
(HR-1179) by visiting the following link:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO CONTACT THE PRESIDENT AND YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE –
INCREDIBLY EASY WAYS!
To contact your senators and representative, go to
http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ac_homepage or
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/home/ and enter your zip code.
(Both sites have links to additional information about issues.)
You can also reach your senators and representative by calling the
Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or (202) 225-3121.
To contact the President, go to http://capwiz.com/networklobby/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IV. INTERNATIONAL—No Input This Week
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[NOTE: We encourage you to forward this e-mail to others you think
would be interested. Persons wishing to subscribe may go to the St.
Charles Web site, Social Justice page, by using this link:
http://www.stcharleschurch.org/maillist.htm and following the
instructions found there under Social Justice.]
I. LOCAL
--I. A. ARLINGTON LAUNCHES “100 HOMES” CAMPAIGN
II. STATE
--II. A. NEW VIDEO ON PARENTAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION
III. NATIONAL
--III. A. URGE SENATE SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM ACT
--III. B. TELL CONGRESS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER
30 TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED
--III. C. HELP PROTECT RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE
IV. INTERNATIONAL—No Input This Week
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I. LOCAL
--I. A. ARLINGTON LAUNCHES “100 HOMES” CAMPAIGN
Arlington County is looking for volunteers to join an extraordinary
effort this October to identify every homeless person sleeping on the
County’s streets to assess their health and housing needs. Data
collected during the 100 Homes Registry Week (October 16-21) will
result in a “Vulnerability Index” that will identify homeless persons
who are most medically vulnerable and give them priority for housing
and related services.
As part of a ten year plan to end homelessness in Arlington, the “100
Homes for 100 Homeless Arlingtonians” campaign makes Arlington County
one of 91 communities nationwide to adopt the “100,000 Homes for
100,000 Homeless Americans” initiative to house the homeless by 2013.
Volunteers are need to serve as surveyors and perform data entry
during the week of October 16-21. The surveying volunteers will work
in teams and interview homeless people beginning at 4 a.m. on the
mornings of October 17, 18 and 19.
For more information, please visit the “100 Homes” section of the
Arlington County website at:
http://100homesarlingtonva.org/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
II. STATE
--II. A. NEW VIDEO ON PARENTAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION
Parental choice in education is a fundamental right which the Catholic
Church has long recognized. The Virginia Catholic Conference has
consistently advocated on this issue, and it will continue to be a
hotly debated topic in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly
session.
Beginning in mid-January, the Conference will renew its advocacy for
the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit bill – a bill that
would provide tax credits to businesses that make donations toward
scholarships enabling economically disadvantaged children to attend
nonpublic K-12 schools. This legislation would provide critical
support for low-income students desiring a Catholic education and
allow for sustained enrollment in Catholic schools. For the last two
years it has fallen just two votes short. Grassroots support is
essential if the bill is to pass in 2012.
The Conference has unveiled a new video, “The Education Improvement
Scholarship Tax Credit: Taking Action for a Brighter Tomorrow” in an
effort to win passage of the bill. The video is designed to increase
understanding and involvement in legislative advocacy among parents,
Catholic school educators, parishioners and the public.
The Virginia Catholic Conference suggests that you watch the video and
send it on to your friends to help the Education Improvement
Scholarship Tax Credit become a reality.
The video is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=YtdhmW9EL1o&vq=medium
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR GOVERNOR, AND STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE –
INCREDIBLY EASY WAYS!
- To contact Governor McDonnell, use the following link:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact.cfm or
The phone number for Governor McDonnell is (804) 786-2211.
- Find your senator at http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/$$Viewtemplate+for+WMembershipHome?OpenForm
- Find your representative at http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView,
OR
Go to “Who's My Legislator” icon on the General Assembly website at
http://legis.state.va.us to find or confirm who your delegate or
senator is, and his or her contact information.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
III. NATIONAL
--III. A. URGE SENATE SUPPORT FOR THE DREAM ACT
On May 11, 2011 Senator Richard Durbin introduced the DREAM Act of
2011, S. 952, a bill to authorize the cancellation of removal and
adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term
United States residents and who entered the United States as
children. The DREAM Act is an important step toward reforming our
immigration system.
NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, asks us to persuade
our senators to co-sponsor this bill (or thank them if they have
already done so).
To take action now, go to:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=46785501
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--III. B. TELL CONGRESS TO PASS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER
30 TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED
The FY 2011 budget expires on Friday and a Continuing Resolution (CR)
is the only route to keeping the government funded after midnight,
September 30. Urge your representatives to work together for the good
of the nation.
The House has passed an unacceptable CR which does not use the funding
provided for 2012 through the Budget Control Act (BCA). This funding
would go a long way in meeting needs of our most destitute neighbors.
Additionally, in including emergency funding for disaster relief (FEMA
is out of money), they added a “pay-for” provision. This has NEVER
been done in order to meet disaster needs. As Senator Warner said
over the weekend, we can put a war on the credit card with no “pay-
for,” but we can’t do the same to help those in this nation who have
lost everything. The Senate has voted this down, and will vote again
on a bill to provide disaster assistance without a “pay-for.”
The national Catholic social justice lobby, NETWORK, encourages you to
tell your Senators and Representatives that people who are suffering
the loss of homes and other possessions need assistance now.
You may contact the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or e-mail a
message via the following link:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=53907256
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--III. C. HELP PROTECT RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE
On August 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
issued an "interim final rule" that will require virtually all private
health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription
contraceptives, sterilization procedures and related "patient
education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity."
These are listed among "preventive services for women" that all health
plans will have to include without co-pays or other cost-sharing –
regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor,
or even the woman herself objects to such coverage.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages individuals to take
action by September 30.
Take Action #1:
Concerned Americans have until September 30 to send their comments to
HHS. Write to HHS opposing their recent preventive services mandate
by visiting the following link:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=299
Take Action #2:
Write to Congress supporting the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
(HR-1179) by visiting the following link:
http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO CONTACT THE PRESIDENT AND YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE –
INCREDIBLY EASY WAYS!
To contact your senators and representative, go to
http://actioncenter.crs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ac_homepage or
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/home/ and enter your zip code.
(Both sites have links to additional information about issues.)
You can also reach your senators and representative by calling the
Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or (202) 225-3121.
To contact the President, go to http://capwiz.com/networklobby/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IV. INTERNATIONAL—No Input This Week
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[NOTE: We encourage you to forward this e-mail to others you think
would be interested. Persons wishing to subscribe may go to the St.
Charles Web site, Social Justice page, by using this link:
http://www.stcharleschurch.org/maillist.htm and following the
instructions found there under Social Justice.]
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