LSA Washington – February 9, 2009

A regular publication from the LSA Public Policy Office

Senate to Vote on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Led by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a small bipartisan group of senators forged a compromise amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 late last week. The amendment would replace the original bill and would remove approximately $108 billion from the original Senate version of the bill. Of the cuts, $40 billion would be from the state fiscal stabilization fund, and $29 billion from health, human services and education programs, including a $1.05 billion reduction in proposed funding for Head Start programs. A vote on the amendment as a substitute is expected today, February 9, and a final vote on the compromise amendment is expected to take place on Tuesday, February 10.

Of the four key funding areas for which LSA has been advocating in the original Senate bill, the compromise amendment retains $400 million for the Social Services Block Grant, $16.4 billion for the food stamp program, and nearly $87 billion for an increase in the federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP). The compromise agreement would cut $3.5 billion from the original bill for affordable housing programs, including removing all funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program from the Senate bill.

The compromise amendment is expected to have the support of three moderate Republicans, Senator Collins, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), which would give the bill enough votes for passage. If passed, the House and Senate would then move into conference, where differences in the House and Senate bills would be worked out. The House and Senate are expected to vote on a conference agreement at the end of this week.

For updated information and the latest LSA action alert on this legislation, please visit LSA’s Take Action page. For continually updated information on FMAP in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit www.lsadnadvocacy.org.

--Lisa Hassenstab

President Obama Announces Faith-Based Office

On February 5 President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Joshua DuBois, a Pentecostal minister, was named executive director of the office. LSA staff first met with Mr. DuBois when then-Senator Obama was conducting research on faith-based organizations for his second book, The Audacity of Hope. Mr. DuBois has served on Senator Obama's staff and was Director of Religious Affairs and outreach on President Obama's campaign and transition team.

The new White House Office is part of the Domestic Policy Council, a change from the Bush Administration that signals integration of policy development and implementation with faith-based and neighborhood outreach. Eleven departments will also continue to have faith-based offices, focusing on public policy, program evaluation and research, and quidance on federal funding.

The Executive Order also creates a 25-member President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The Council will make recommendations in policies, programs and practices that affect the delivery of services by faith-based and neighborhood organizations and the needs of low-income and other underserved people in communities. Ten of the 25 members of the Council have been named with more expected by the end of this week. We understand that LSA was mentioned as a possible member, but no mainline protestant groups have yet to be named to the group.

--Lisa Carr

SCHIP Reauthorization Expanded and Signed into Law; Say Thanks!

The House passed the final version of the SCHIP Reauthorization bill, H.R. 2, and the President signed it into law on February 4. The new law is now P.L. 111-3. An additional 4.1 million previously uninsured children will now receive access to quality, affordable health insurance.

Also on February 4, President Obama issued a directive that immediately withdraws directives issued by the Bush Administration dated August 17, 2007 and May 7, 2009. The directive does not create a new benefit but allows the reauthorization and expansion to proceed without interference.

Please thank your Members of Congress and President Obama for their part in reauthorizing and expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Families USA has created an grassroots outreach group called Stand Up For Healthcare. Pull out your cell phone, digital camera or webcam and send in your own note and photo and invite friends to do the same. Thank you for advocating for this vital improvement in our health care system.

--Lisa Carr

LSA-DN's 2009 Public Policy Priorities

The Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) has established four main public policy priorities for 2009. LSA-DN’s public policy priorities include addressing the waiting lists for home and community-based services, housing needs, a temporary increase in the federal Medicaid matching rate and ineffectual regulations. To read further about LSA-DN’s priorities, please click here or visit our e-advocacy website, www.lsadnadvocacy.org. If you are not already a member of our site, please visit www.lsadnadvocacy.org and click “sign up” to register.

To address housing needs, LSA-DN will be advocating for passage of legislative reforms to the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. On February 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET, Ann O’Hara, Associate Director with the Technical Assistance Collaborative, will discuss the Section 811 program and the need for legislative reforms. To learn more about this program and the legislation, please register by noon on February 25. You may register at www.lsadnadvocacy.org or by e-mailing the LSA DC office and specifying “Section 811” in the subject line.

--Heather Ansley

Advocacy Resource of the Week

The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) has been a long-time resource for Lutheran Services in America. A wealth of information about non-profits and lobbying can be found on their website, where you can also sign up to receive their quarterly newsletter.

Sign up for LSA Public Policy Advocacy Action Alerts

Do you receive LSA Public Policy Advocacy action alerts? If not, please e-mail Lisa Hassenstab to get on the list so you can take action on issues of importance to your organization!

LSA Annual Conference Corner

Looking for great learning opportunities? The 2009 LSA Annual Conference has them! Taking place April 28-May 1 in Washington, DC, the conference offers 29 different breakout sessions on topics ranging from public policy advocacy to Lutheran identity to social entreprise to ePhilanthropy, and much, much more! Click here to see a complete list of the breakout sessions offered. You can register for the conference online by clicking here.

LSA Public Policy Conference Calls

Please join the LSA public policy team and featured speakers for a series of conference calls on LSA's priority issues. To RSVP for the calls, please e-mail the LSA DC office.