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Summary of RESULTS U.S. Campaigns for 2013

RESULTS works to find the "trimtab" campaigns that will make a substantial difference in breaking the cycle of poverty in the United States while simultaneously ensuring that our small but very engaged grassroots network makes a strategic impact. In 2013, RESULTS U.S.-poverty focused groups and activists are focused on these primary campaigns:

Campaign

Goal

Key Ask for Policymakers

Status/Time Frame

Protect Key Nutrition and Health Programs in Deficit Reduction

Ensure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), Medicaid, and child health and nutrition programs are protected from cuts or restructuring in deficit reduction.

Oppose any cuts to the SNAP, Medicaid, and other nutrition and health programs in deficit reduction and/or the final Farm Bill. Support a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes revenues and protects critical investments in fighting hunger.

Download our 2013 Nutrition Request Sheet.

The House passed a budget proposal 220-207 that includes $135 billion in cuts to SNAP over ten years; the Senate budget (passed 50-49) does not include cuts to SNAP or Medicaid. Congress and President Obama may reach an agreement on an overall deficit reduction framework (which could include cuts to SNAP and Medicaid) later this Spring or early Summer. 

The current extension of the Farm Bill expires in September 2013, which could also/in addition include cuts to SNAP.

For more details, see our Recent Developments in Nutrition and Health Policies page.

Using Tax Policy to Create Opportunities to Move from Poverty to Prosperity

Ensure that low-income Americans continue to have access to vital income supports such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and working to enact asset building strategies, including the Family Financial Security Credit (FFSC).

Protect the EITC and CTC from cuts or changes in deficit reduction efforts and work to make recent improvements to the tax credits permanent.

Imbed asset building policies such as the FFSC in tax reform legislation.

Support a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes revenues. Download our 2013 Tax Policy Request Sheet.

The House budget proposal threatens EITC and CTC, while the Senate budget makes the recent EITC and CTC improvements permanent. Congress and the President may reach an agreement on an overall deficit reduction framework later this Spring/Summer.  If tax reform is part of any deficit reduction plan, tax reform could be negotiated during the remainder of 2013.

For more details and updates, see our Recent Developments in Economic Opportunity page.

Early Childhood Development: Smart Investments in the Early Years

Ensure that low-income families continue to have access to quality early childhood services, in particular Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care assistance.

Note: RESULTS’ early childhood work will be on a targeted, as-needed basis in 2013.

2013 funding goals:

  • $825 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant for FY 2013.
  • $325 million increase for Head Start and Early Head Start in FY 2013. 

For FY2014, no specific funding goals but we'd hope that early childhood programs are a priority and at least maintain existing service levels.

Support a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes revenues and protects critical investments in early childhood.

Download our 2013 Early Childhood Request Sheet.

Sequestration (automatic five percent cuts) began March 1. Congress passed a FY 2013 Continuing Resolution in March (Senate: 73-26; House: 318-109) that includes an additional $50 million for child care and a $33.5 million increase for Head Start.

Early learning funding for FY 2014 will not be addressed until late spring or summer of 2013 at the earliest.

For more details, see our Recent Developments in Early Childhood Development Policies page.

Empowering Grassroots Activists: Grassroots Health and Expansion

Work to expand our grassroots reach and impact by adding new RESULTS groups and volunteers around the country. Specifically, our goal is 31 active RESULTS U.S. Poverty groups and 190 active volunteers in 30 states by the end of 2013.

Key action for RESULTS volunteers/allies: urge contacts to sign up for our Action Network and attend an upcoming RESULTS Introductory Call.

We currently have 168 active U.S. Poverty volunteers in 27 groups that cover 25 states.

Our work to expand RESULTS’ reach and impact in the grassroots is an ongoing and yearlong process.

 

 

This page was last updated March 26, 2013. You can read thorough summaries of our 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 U.S. poverty campaigns on our website, as well as other RESULTS successes over the previous decades.