LESLYE COLVIN

Requested full and robust appropriations for critical grant programs that fund vital victim services and system responses

Expressed our support of strengthening Fair Housing Accountability when Congress added a duty to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH) in the FHA that requires all recipients of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding to proactively address residential segregation and other fair housing barriers. Supported the Fair Housing Improvement Act prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income, military status, and veteran status. By expanding protections to renters nationwide, the bill will make it easier for households receiving federal housing assistance to live in communities of their choice. Urged FHFA to take bold action to implement these protections for all households living in properties with federally backed mortgages. These protections are necessary - along with to large-scale, sustained investments and anti-racist reforms - to ensure that the lowest-income and most marginalized renters have an affordable place to call home. The letter addresses: Source of Income Protection, Just Cause Eviction Standards Anti-Rent Gouging protections; and Safe, Decent, accessible and Healthy Housing

Urged a new approach to the budget debate: raise taxes on the rich and corporations; do not cut funding on programs and services benefiting working people. Urged representatives and senators to co-sponsor and actively support the Tax on Wall Street Speculation Act of 2023. By enact-ing a very small tax on the sales of Wall Street trades, the U.S. could begin to address income inequality and ensure Wall Street and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. Supported the IRS setting up a pilot for a free file system whereby the IRS uses their data and could automatically send checks to low-income families. One of the biggest challenges to helping people receive government benefits distributed through the Treasury Department - like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit - is that people are required to file taxes. Many very low-income people are not required to file because they make too little. No filing = no benefits. Request to members of Congress to co-sponsor the Wall Street Tax Act of 2023 Reinstating a Wall Street tax, also called a financial transaction tax (FTT), in the U.S. is an important step toward having Wall Street pay its fair share of taxes. We strongly oppose this tax package (H.R. 3937, the Small Business Jobs Act, and H.R.3938, the Build It in America Act) expands corporate and business tax breaks that would cost more than a trillion dollars over the next decade, reduces tax programs that fight climate change, and fails to expand the Child Tax Credit that would lift millions of children out of poverty and shrink the racial wealth gap.

Responded to the NPRM on omitting food from the in-kind support and maintenance calculations for the SSI program. This sign on letter focuses on how the rule would promote food security for SSI recipients. Supported USDA's recently published proposed new improved nutrition standards for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs that will strengthen school meals while improving childrens health and learning by reducing hunger and enhancing child development and school readiness. Urged support for policies in the Farm Bill that will safeguard Creation and mitigate climate change; address the impacts of climate change on farmers, farm workers, and our neighbors; and fulfill our moral obligation to leave a habitable world for future generations. Urged the chairs of committees to extend the KKFAs childcare and school meal reimbursement temporary increases for an additional year to help schools and childcare providers feed children over the summer and during the 2023-2024 school year. Childcare and Head Start providers will struggle to serve nutritious meals without the bolstered CACFP compensation through KKFA.

The letter highlights the ongoing social, political, and environmental challenges in Nicaragua and the critical need for extending and redesignating protections for Nicaraguans here in the U.S. (Note: So as to not cause harm to persons living in Nicaragua, this letter is not public and goes only to the White House. The names of sign on organizations will not be made known elsewhere.) This letter to President Biden addressed the root causes of migration by focusing on the administration's investment strategy in northern Central America and the related human rights, corruption, and economic development concerns. Urged President Biden to halt deportations of Russian conscientious objectors and war resisters seeking asylum in the US. Asked appropriators to: 1. Rescind all remaining funding for border wall and reject any proposals for new funding; 2. Include language transferring at least $225 M from the Department of Homeland Security to the land management agencies for mitigation from damage by wall construction as requested by the president; and 3. Ensure development of a robust remediation plan. Sent a letter to Congressman Garcia asking him toVOTE NO on H.R. 2 Secure the Border Act of 2023. Public charge was used by the Trump administration to make immigrants afraid of going to the doctor or getting food aid. NAC opposed the Trump rule and is again opposing this attempt to overturn President Bidens rule. Asked Congress to eliminate eligibility restrictions and barriers to safety net access based on immigration status. As an important first step, we call on Congress to repeal the so- called 5-year bar by quickly enacting the Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration (LIFT the BAR) Act and reject any efforts to impose new restrictions on immigrant access to benefits. Expressed opposition to H.R. 2 Secure the Border Act of 2023. Supported the Administrations proposed rule to make DACA recipients eligible for public health insurance programs.

Urged the Biden Administration NOT to endorse the expansion of global Liquefied Fossil Gas (LNG) supplies at the G7 meetings, and to lead the way for fossil free diplomacy.

Expressed support of Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act would create 250,000 vouchers for low-income, high-need families with young children under the age of 6. These households would also be provided mobility-related services, including counseling and case management, to help them move to neighborhoods with access to good-performing schools, childcare, or early education programs. Supported the critically important Medicaid program and to express our united opposition to any proposals to cut Medicaid funding as part of upcoming negotiations over the federal budget, debt limit, or any other legislative priorities. Urged members of Congress to support investments in our people and a responsible approach to the federal budget, including a clean increase in or suspension of the debt ceiling. The letter has a simple message: No cuts to domestic programs. It calls for a range of support from affordable housing to job training to childcare to WIC to meals for older people to mental health/substance use disorder treatment to education to protections for workers and for people with disabilities and against discrimination to public health to medical research, etc. Urged Congress to increase funding for federal programs that address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Called for the protection critical anti-poverty programs.

Letter in support of our call for peace and justice in the Philippines, and to urge President Biden to end U.S. military aid to the Philippines by passing the Philippine Human Rights Act. Requested reauthorization of PRESIDENTS EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR) as it does an enormous amount of good from providing capacity strengthening to local health systems, increasing access to lifesaving medications, and supporting adults and children living with HIV in other countries.

Expressed support for the Rule to Ban the Use of Prior Salary History in Federal Hiring by the Office of Personnel Management. Finalizing this rule is one of the top priorities of the Equal Pay Today campaign and many other partner organizations, since we know reliance on prior salary history is one of the drivers of ongoing gender and race-based pay gaps.

Called for co-sponsors of Black Maternal Health (Momnibus) Legislation. Supported the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act that would address chronic underfunding of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health infrastructure through a dedicated investment in foundational public health capabilities and workforce.

Encouraged the U.S. Trade Representative about centering labor rights and the environment in a new, huge trade deal called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Now is the time for profound change in global trade rules that prioritize the planet, human rights, and dignity over profit.

The letter urges HHS to make the strongest possible use of the legal authority recently granted by Congress to prevent state Medicaid programs from needlessly terminating health care for millions of eligible people.

Supported the Job Protection Act that would improve and strengthen the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which was signed into law years ago in 1993, and provides eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to bond with a new child; care for a seriously ill or injured spouse, parent, or child; address their own health condition; or up to 26 weeks to care for a servicemember or address needs related to a family members deployment.

Urged Members of the House of Representatives to vote no on the Border Safety and Security Act and on the full slate of anti-immigrant bills to be introduced in coming months. Expressed to President Biden tremendous alarm and condemnation of his administrations recent announcement of his plan to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to resurrect Trump-era asylum bans. Expressed grave concerns over reports that the Biden administration is considering reviving the practice of family detention. Encouraged the administration to double down on efforts to pass a reconciliation bill with immigration provisions, designate all countries eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), increase current programs that respond to regional development and humanitarian challenges, introduce new safe pathways to the United States, restore asylum access at the border, and more aggressively shift the immigration system toward a model that prioritizes safe and humane migration. Requested a 60-day response period after the Biden administration published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that recycles prior Trump-era bans on asylum and offered only 30 days.

Asked Congress and Pres. Biden for the suspension of U.S. security assistance to Peru until the violent repression against protesters ends and human rights violations are addressed. Urged the United States to lift sanctions on Syria and expedite humanitarian assistance to facilitate earthquake response. Called for the immediate and urgent attention to a life-threatening and growing problem: forced and child marriage, and sexual slavery, in Afghanistan. Asked President Biden to expand U.S. support for the MRNA initiative which provides financing for the vital work of enhancing global pandemic preparedness and response capabilities by providing a contribution of $100 million. In October of last year, NAC joined nearly 150 civil society organizations from around the world called on the International Monetary Fund to release a new issuance of at least $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights to provide cost-free, debt-free, condition-free crisis relief for developing nations. In advance of the coming Spring IMF meetings, and in the face of a potential global recession, were preparing to reiterate this demand with a clear focus on the benefits to the United States. Addressed root causes of migration and noted the administrations investment strategy in Central America and the related human rights, corruption and economic development concerns.

Letter of Support to the four members of Congress for their efforts to recognize Fred Korematsus legacy as a civil rights hero. Accordingly, signers offered endorsement of the following legislation, introduced: (1) Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act; (2) Recognizing the importance of establishing a national "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution"; (3) Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act. Korematsu stood against these unfounded and racist actions. The imprisonment of Americans of Japanese ancestry, and its legal sanction, is now recognized as a grave injustice and a violation of civil liberties

Urged Senators to support House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriation of $150 million toward Community Violence Intervention; and to earmark up to $20 million out of the $150 million for violence interrupters. Urged President Biden to present a budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2024 that diverts some of our super-sized Pentagon budget to better meet the needs of the American people. Urged members of Congress to dramatically cut militarized spending in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget - both to facilitate reinvestment in the wellbeing of our communities, and to curtail the harms of our militarized foreign policy. Urged Congress to pass a clean bill to raise the debt limit without hesitation, to protect American families and our economy from a catastrophe that is both wholly manufactured and devastatingly real in its consequences. Letter to lead appropriators in Congress seeking an adequate share of funding for Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations in FY 2024. Asked members of Congress to protect critical programs including food, healthcare and housing. The sign-on letter calls for $6.35 billion in WIC funding to cover WIC caseload, fund set-aside priorities for technology infrastructure and breastfeeding, sustain the fruit and vegetable bump through fiscal year 2024, and exclude riders that would disrupt implementation of the WIC food package rule. Asked the Appropriations Committees to provide at least $468 million for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiatives in your FY 2024 legislation, of which $200 million would fund the Department of Justices (DOJs) Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) and $268 million would fund the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDCs) Community and Youth Violence Prevention Program.

Asked President Biden and Congress to dramatically cut Pentagon spending in fiscal year 2024 and reinvest that money in our communities.

Urged President Biden to prioritize closing Guantanamo and ending indefinite detention. Guantanamo's harmful impacts go far beyond the traditional national security context in which Guantanamo is often discussed. Support for letter from survivor advocacy organizations to President Biden, the White House, and the Department of Education strongly urging them to finalize their proposed Title IX rules by May 2023. Called for transparency. On May 25th, Biden signed an Executive Order which mandates that, within 240 days of its signing, the Attorney General establishes a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database as "a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of law enforcement officer misconduct." It's now been 282 days, there is no public database, and the AG has not issued a statement about its status. Congresswoman Cori Bush will be introducing a new piece of federal legislation, the End Solitary Confinement Act. Drawing from the best policy components from across the country regarding youth facilities, mental health facilities, and adult corrections facilities, this bill would: a) end solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails, and detention other than for up to at most four hours for emergency de-escalation; b) require all people in custody, including in alternative units, to otherwise have access to at least 14 hours of daily meaningful group out-of-cell time, including access to at least 7 hours of daily group programming; c) enhance due process protections, such as access to representation and use of neutral decision-makers; d) create oversight and enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory reporting, a private cause of action, oversight by an ombudsperson and community body, and greater media access; and e) incentivize states and localities to adopt similar bans on solitary confinement.

Endorsed People Over Pentagon Act (H.R. 8040), led by U.S. House Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) that would cut $100 billion from the three-quarters-of-a-trillion-dollar Pentagon budget, reducing waste and encouraging lawmakers to spend this funding on the true needs of their constituents instead. oHiring one million elementary school teachers amid a worsening teacher shortage oFree tuition for 2 out of 3 public college students in the U.S. oSending every household in the U.S. a $700 check to help offset effects of inflation

Called on Congress to fully repeal the lifetime ban on individuals convicted of a drug felony from being eligible to receive SNAP and TANF assistance. Sent a strong message to Congress that describes the many positive impacts of SNAP while also delivering the simple message that SNAP must be protected and strengthened during Farm Bill deliberations.

Raised up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Ensure environmental justice and robust environmental protection. Urged Congress to pass the FOREST Act (S.2950/ H.R. 5508). This bill is a critical step in tackling global deforestation and forest degradation that contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss, while promoting good governance and leveling the playing field for responsible businesses at home and abroad.

Asked that Congress reinstate the expanded Child Tax Credit and relieve child poverty across the nation in the legislative package this year. Asked Congress to not provide any tax relief to corporations without extending the credits and that corporations should not be prioritized over children and families struggling to escape poverty. Raised up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. Called on Congressional leaders to take action to enhance the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and prioritize tax credits supporting our children, youth, and families over tax breaks for large corporations during the closing weeks of the 117th Congress.

Urged Congress to swiftly approve increases in domestic and international program funding (known as non-defense discretionary, or NDO). The request was to appropriate no less than the NDD amounts proposed by the House of Representatives for Fiscal Year 2023. Called for needed funding and policy changes to correct longstanding inequities and address the hunger crisis impacting the people of Puerto Rico. Raised up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Pass a full and robust FY23 federal budget. This cannot wait until a new Congress. 2. Address key needs globally. We ask you to ensure funding for the non-military components of President Bidens supplemental requirements. Three separate letters urging President Biden and Congressional leaders to retain critical funding for international climate finance in the FY23 appropriations negotiations. Specifically, to retain the $64.5 billion for U.S. foreign assistance programs in the House and Senate FY23 appropriations bills. Within that, we urge you to seek the highest possible amount for directly appropriated international climate finance to get as close to President Bidens $11.4 billion commitment this year as possible, as many of our organizations advocated earlier this year [footnote]. This includes delivering no less than the $3.76 billion included in S. 4662, the Senate FY23 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations legislation. Urged Congress to use any procedural means necessary to vote before the end of the 117th Congress to increase or suspend the debt limit.

Urged Majority Leader Senator Schumer to bring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to the Senate floor for a standalone vote. Expressed support for Congresswoman Leger Fernandez of New Mexico who will be introducing a resolution in recognition of Latina Equal Pay Day on Thursday, December 8th.

Asked Secretary Becerra to issue regulations that would make DACA recipients eligible for ACA, Medicaid and CHIP coverage Expressed our deep concern over the announcement that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding the use of Title 42 to expel Venezuelans seeking refuge at the U.S.-Mexico border (with an exception for approx. 24,000 Venezuelans who already have a sponsor in the United States). Urged DHS to immediately reverse this Title 42 expansion and end the program as promised by the Biden administration, and invest in expanding our nations capacity to welcome asylum seekers. The ongoing environmental and humanitarian situation, and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Pakistan warrant an immediate designation of TPS and SSR. Called on Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer to prioritize protections for immigrant youth and DACA recipients in any end-of-year package. Requested for the Biden administration to extend and redesignate TPS for Haiti, swiftly release the Federal Register Notice, and timely adjudicate TPS applications, among other requests. Urged DHS (CBP) to reclassify unaccompanied Afghan minors as unaccompanied children who were initially not classified as such -- and urges HHS's Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to ensure that regardless of classification, Afghan children are able to receive child welfare-centered post-placement services for unaccompanied children and full legal representation. Requested for the federal government to ensure robust funding to serve Afghan minors and unaccompanied children. Urged DHS to make the decision to re-designate/extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen by January 2, 2023, continuing protection from deportation and permission to work for over 1,300 Yemenis living in the United States and opening applications for those who have fled since the previous cut-off date. Raised up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Provide a long-delayed pathway to citizenship for immigrant communities. Ask the Biden administration to redesignate TPS for Nicaragua. Urged the prioritization of Permanent Legal Status for DACA recipients.

Urged the Biden Administration to expand the scope and protections of the pardoning of federal convictions for simple marijuana possession offenses to all non-citizens, including immigrant trafficking survivors. Expressed support of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriation of $150 million toward Community Violence Intervention. Request to see up to $20 million out of the $150 million to be specifically dedicated to the violence interrupters in the committee's report language. Individual year-end advocacy around passage of legislation to combat human trafficking, working closely with Sen. Menendez and Rep. Chris Smiths office, as well as with staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While not all the pending legislation passed into law, two of the four did: S.3946 - Abolish Trafficking Reauthorization Act of 2022 and S.3949 - Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022. around passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act (with targeted members of the House and Senate). against Anti-Immigrant Amendments on Omnibus: Lee 6563 & Tester/Sinema Amendment (with targeted members of the Senate)

Urged President Biden to pursue diplomacy and dialogue to avoid nuclear war with Russia and to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

For 8 years, we along with other advocates have urged passage of the act. In March it passed in the House for the first time and is pending in the senate. We signed on to a second letter this year to request appropriations.

Endorsed the D.C. statehood bill this Congress. Congresswoman Norton will be introducing the same bill in the next Congress. We listed again as an endorsing the bill next Congress.

raise up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Address essential protections to voting rights and inclusionary democracy.

Requested to fully rescind 42 C.F.R. #433, 400 which was promulgated in the final days of the Trump administration as an Interim Final Rule (IFR). The IFR largely gutted the continuous coverage protections for Medicaid enrollees during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) passed under Section 6008 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Called on Congress to advance insulin legislation that 1) ensures people without insurance and with private insurance, who are most vulnerable to rationing, have access to the insulin they need and 2) stops insulin manufacturers from charging excessive price. Requested Congress to work to: promote continuous and expanded Medicaid coverage, increase Medicaid funding to the territories, address the Black maternal health crisis, and increase COVID-19 funding; and urged them to support a year-end funding package that advances these priorities. Second correspondence regarding the request for passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act. raise up several areas we see as essential for immediate action before the close of the 117th Congress. These are the critical priorities. 1.Fund essential health care priorities. Promote continuous and expanded Medicaid and CHIP coverage by providing 12 months of continuous eligibility for adults and children on Medicaid and CHIP and 12 months of postpartum coverage through Medicaid. Increase Medicaid funding to the U.S. territories by maintaining the CMS interpretation on Puerto Rico, increasing the block grant allotments for all territories, and maintaining or increasing the federal matching rates to align with the states. 2.Address the Black maternal health crisis by including the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (S.346/H.R.959) in end of the year legislation. And increase COVID-19 funding, partnering with federal, state, and local officials to confront the ongoing pandemic. Endorsed Senators Brown, Booker, and Padillas reintroduction of a Senate Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis. Shared NACs Mental Health One Pager: Developed with agencies to highlight to Congress the particular mental health needs from Good Shepherds perspective working with clients.

Urged Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) to quickly negotiate a bipartisan Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) bill that includes reimbursement for an additional meal or snack in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Urged House Majority leadership to take action and support the passage of the Keeping Girls in School Act, Safe from the Start Act, and Girls Lead Act in 117th Congress, and to demonstrate its support to advancing gender equality in foreign assistance. Asked for higher international climate finance numbers for FY24- and more money for foreign assistance overall. Encouraged Congress continued support for robust funding for global health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and biosafety and biosecurity programs within the International Affairs (150), the Health and Human Services (550), and the Department of Defense (CTR) global health-related budgets as they consider final Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations. Called on President Biden to show his support for the African continent by committing to (1) financing the loss and damage fund agreed to at COP27 and (2) supporting a new issuance of Special Drawing Rights for cost-free, debt-free crisis relief.

Called on Congress to invest in affordable housing and community development programs in fiscal year 2023! Urged the Biden administration to use the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request to call for robust funding for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs that help low-income households and communities thrive

Urged Congress to increase funding for the critical FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) in Fiscal Year 2023 in light of the unprecedented need for community reception services for migrants seeking safety in border and other communities across the U.S. EFSP provides humanitarian assistance funding to faith-based and other non-profit organizations, states, and municipalities that provide respite and food to immigrants released from ICE or CBP custody.