LSA's 2010 Priority Issues
Lutherans believe that all people are beloved children of God entrusted with gifts to share for the benefit of others. People must assume personal responsibility for contributing to their own well-being. They also have responsibility to care for others – to contribute to the good of the whole by using their unique gifts and skills. Lutheran Services in America, in examining public policy, asks, “What sorts of policies equip people for these dual roles of caring for self and caring for others?”
LSA members and the LSA Public Policy Advisory Committee have provide guidance on the LSA public policy advocacy priorities at the beginning of each new session of Congress. Priorities have included health care, affordable housing, child welfare and the federal budget. Additional issues have included home and community based services, Medicare, nonprofit reform and charitable giving.
In 2010, LSA's public policy priorities will focus on four issue areas: aging, child welfare, affordable housing, and nonprofit sector issues. LSA member organzations are currently being surveyed to determine areas of focus within these issues, and to learn more about our member organizations' policy and advocacy priorities.
Click here to see a report of the 2009 LSA Public Policy Advocacy Survey; results of the 2010 survey will be posted in early February.
LSA Public Policy Priorities for 2010:
LSA supports aging services that provide comprehensive, person-centered coverage and payment to meet the wide ranging service and support needs of older adults. Mutual responsibility of all people, employers, providers and government will be required to achieve success.
- LSA promotes policies that allow consumers to help determine what services and supports best meet their needs and who should provide those services.
- LSA supports funding for federal programs that allow people to remain in their communities or a place that they call home. Home and community based services should be available to those in need of these services, which include adult day care, home health care, hospice care, transportation services and a wide range of supportive services that allow older adults to live in the community.
All children are entitled to safe and loving homes in which to thrive. The responsibility for the protection of children's welfare is the shared responsibility of the federal government, state government, faith and community-based organizations, communities and families.
- LSA believes that if a parent or caregiver is abusive or neglectful towards a child or is at risk for being abusive or neglectful, it is the appropriate role of government, in partnership with the community, to intervene and protect the child. If an out-of-home placement is required, then the first option should be to place the child with a relative caregiver and to help resource the caregiver as necessary. If a relative caregiver is not available then another appropriate placement should be sought as quickly as possible.
- LSA supports granting children in out-of-home placements the same access to health care, educational opportunities and recreational activities as other children.
- LSA supports a responsible level of federal funding for SSBG which allows local communities to tailor services to meet their specific needs.
All people should live in safe, affordable, and decent housing. Investment in the development of affordable housing should be shared by government, nonprofit developers, and for-profit developers. It is important for affordable housing to be available in rural, suburban and urban communities. Different types of housing units should be available so that the diverse housing needs of people are appropriately met, including single-family housing, multi-family residences and in some cases, small group or community-living housing.
- LSA supports the preservation and production of affordable housing for people with low incomes, particularly older adults and people with disabilities. Capital funding and rent assistance should accurately reflect the real costs of housing production and the rental market.
- LSA believes that people who are without homes should be offered shelter and supportive services to help transition into permanent housing. Shelter and supportive services should be available to all populations including single adults and adults with children.
- LSA encourages policies that ensure that resources are available for people with low-incomes to have access to rental vouchers and other sources for subsidizing their rents as homeownership is not a viable option for all people.
Nonprofit organizations make up 14 percent of the nation's workforce, but issues unique to nonprofits are often overlooked in the development of legislation and regulations. With over 300 member organizations which are impacted by federal legislation and regulations on many levels, LSA believes it important to be a voice for Lutheran health and human services organizations on these issues. Areas of focus for 2010 include:
- Extension of the IRA charitable rollover
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan relief
- Volunteerism and national & community service
