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 Policy Update, December 19, 2014
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Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways usually provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).
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  IaUW Policy Priorities released
The policy priorities are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.
- Education
- Income/Financial Stability
- Health
- Strong Communities
Local United Ways and their community partners provide direction. Our Public Policy Committee recommends a final list of priorities to the IaUW Board.
Thanks to many experts, partners and volunteers who helped shape our Priorities.
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 Bookmark these pages to stay informed about your Indiana General Assembly
As the Indiana General Assembly prepares for a January 6 session, we want to help make it easy for you to stay informed and participate in democracy. General Assembly pages
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How United Way priorities fared in the "Cromnibus"?  Earlier this week, President Obama signed into law the $1.1 trillion spending bill passed by Congress. The "Cromnibus"--combining "continuing resolution" (CR) and "omnibus" spending bill--funds most government agencies through September 2015. The Department of Homeland Security will be treated differently, getting a funding extension only through Feb. 27.
See below for a few highlights of funding levels for education, income and health programs, as prepared for us by United Way Worldwide. For more detail, read the Senate Omnibus summary and NCSL overview.
 EDUCATION * A $75 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), totaling to $2.4 billion
* Funding for Head Start and Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Grants remained constant, at $8.6 billion
* Funding for the Preschool Development Grants remained constant, at $250 million
* Funding for the School Improvement Grant program remained constant, at $506 million
* Modest increases to student aid and workforce training programs, while unfortunately cutting overall Pell Grant funding by $303 million
 INCOME * An increase of $36 million for Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) state grants for adult, dislocated workers and youth training and employment services
* Extended authority and funding for the TANF block grant through September 30, 2015
* Flat funding for Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), home energy assistance for low income households, at $3.39 billion
* Flat funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), at $674 million
* Funding for the Section 8 Rental Assistance at $19.3 billion, an increase of $127 million
 HEALTH * Funding for Community Health Centers at $5.092 billion, an increase of $1.452 billion
* Funding for the Women, Children and Infants (WIC) program, at $6.623 billion, which is $93 million less than fiscal year 2014, but fully funds participation
* $81.8 billion in required mandatory spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is $332 million below last year's level
* No new funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation
* Flat funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
* Places additional restrictions on the Prevention and Public Health Fund
* $2.7 billion in emergency funding for activities related to Ebola Emergency Preparedness and Response, including potential expedited approval of human drugs and vaccines
Your advocacy makes a difference! Thank you for your work in 2014.
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 Make your New Year's Resolution to Give, Advocate and Volunteer The end of the year provides an opportunity to look both back and ahead.
Please consider the many ways you can make a difference in your community and state. What is your passion?
- Give - Your financial contributions to United Ways, community and faith-based organizations help keep your community strong. Consider a year-end gift, as well as a giving plan for 2015.
- Advocate - Share your passion, information and expertise in big and small ways. It may be testifying at a hearing or visiting with your legislator. Or it might be a simple, informative conversation about important issues with family and friends.
- Volunteer - Volunteering results in stronger nonprofit organizations and a stronger community. The benefits of volunteering for the individual are well-documented. See health benefit research brief.
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 IRA Charitable Rollovers extended for 2014
Earlier this week, by a vote of 76-16, the U.S. Senate passed a 1-year retroactive extension of a large package of tax extensions, which includes the IRA Rollover. This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives last week. As soon as the President signs the bill, the IRA Rollover will be in effect for 2014.
The nonprofit sector was mobilized on these issues. United Way Worldwide worked in close partnership with Feeding America, the Land Trust Alliance, Jewish Federations of North America, Independent Sector, the Council on Foundations, and the National Council of Nonprofits. We will be back at it in 2015!
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 New Volunteer Report released
Volunteering and Civic Life in America shows 1 in 4 Americans volunteer. This annual report compares areas of volunteer and civic engagement in all 50 states. Here are the highlights for Indiana (based on 2013 data):
- 28.2% of Hoosiers volunteer, ranking us 23rd among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
- 1.37 million volunteers
- 131.1 million hours of service
- $2.9 billion of service contributed
- 30.8 volunteer hours per capita
- 66.9% of residents engage in "informal volunteering" (for example, doing favors for neighbors)
- 30.4% frequently discuss politics with family or friends
- 85.7% frequently eat dinner with other members of the household
- 36.8% frequently talk with neighbors
Editor comment: It is interesting that 30% of Hoosiers report discussing politics with family and friends and yet Indiana ranked at the very bottom for voter turnout in 2014.
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  IN211 and United Ways call for funding in Indiana's state budget
A lobbying effort led by United Way of Central Indiana will be launched January 7 to call for state funding of Indiana's 2-1-1 service. Indiana's United Ways and philanthropic funders have supported the implementation and expansion of 2-1-1 services. Unlike 911 and other services, there is no dedicated public funding for 2-1-1.
Watch this space in the coming months for how to show your support.
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IaUW Public Policy
IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:
- children prepare for and succeed in school;
- individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
- individuals access quality healthcare; and
- communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.
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Frequently Requested Links / Documents
iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.
IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.
Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.
IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.
NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region. IN211.org - S earch for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.
NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.
Indiana General Assembly
- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.
Library of Congress
- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.
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Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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