Seek Racial Justice

A Call to Life, Racial Justice, Healing, and Transformation

Bread for the World denounces the recent killings of George Floyd and generations of Africans and their descendants in the U.S. and around the globe who have been devastated by structural racism and inequity.

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Washington Update: Week of October 30

October 31, 2017
Washington Update

Budget & Appropriations (2017 Offering of Letters)

  • Last week, the House narrowly passed the Senate’s budget resolution. The vote was 216-212. The 2018 budget now paves the way for tax reform that will negatively impact low-income households.
  • Both the House and the Senate are now working on the appropriations process. We will continue to monitor the spending bills as they become public.

Taxes

  • On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the House Ways and Means Committee will release its long-awaited tax-overhaul proposal. The House must guide the proposal through committee and the full House by Thanksgiving in order to deliver a tax reform bill to President Trump by the end of 2017.
  • The legislation is expected to cut the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent and provide across-the-board rate cuts for individuals -- except, perhaps, for those earners at the very top.
  • We are very concerned about the legislation including any efforts to require earned income tax credit (EITC) filers to submit mandatory income verification before receiving the credit. This would result in extremely long delays in issuing EITC refunds to low-income individuals and families. Any delay of the credit will result in increased poverty.
  • In addition, we have heard that the proposed legislation might require a Social Security Number for those tax filers claiming the child tax credit (CTC). Under existing law, immigrants who file their taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number are eligible to claim the CTC on behalf of qualifying children. Current proposals (in stand-alone legislation, the president's budget proposal, and the House-passed budget resolution) include an elimination of the CTC for mixed-status and immigrant families.
  • Any change in eligibility for child tax credits will harm children, specifically 5.1 million children with at least one undocumented parent in the home.

Act Now!

Bread for the World is partnering with the Interfaith Immigration Coalition for the #Faith4Dream week! #Faith4Dream, Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, is a dedicated week of faith-based advocacy to ensure Congress passes legislation that provides “Dreamers” with a pathway to citizenship.

Tell your representative and senators to support and pass the Dream Act of 2017 (S.1615/H.R. 3440). Advocating for the Dream Act of 2017 is putting the faithful call to love our neighbors into action.

Tools
from our Resource Library

For Education

  • Election Resources

    One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.

  • U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets

    These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C. 

  • Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues

    Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.

More Education Tools

For Faith

  • The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue

    “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.

    The Bible on...

  • Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty

    A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.

    Dear Members of Congress,

    As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...

  • In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement

    This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-Af­rican people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.

More Faith Tools

For Advocacy

More Advocacy Tools