JPIC Office Blog May 13, 2008 BY ANN PIASECKI Jubilee Act awaits Senate approval WHEATON—With bipartisan help and advocacy in Congress, the Jubilee Act (HR 2634) passed the U.S. House of Representatives April 16 by a vote of 285-132. At present, it awaits approval by the U.S. Senate. Referred to as S.2166, it was discussed April 24 in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Sen. Robert Casey, Jr. is the bill’s sponsor. It also has support from both Illinois senators, Richard Durbin and Barack Obama. Credited with helping to move the bill out of the House, where it had languished for four years, is Willowbrook’s Rep. Judy Biggert. After having carefully analyzed the issue and measured its ethical validity, she came to the table in a big way during the final hours. Biggert co-sponsored the legislation to cancel the debt for highly impoverished nations around the globe. Also, representatives Peter Roskam, Wheaton, and Bill Foster, Geneva, voted in favor of the bill. To read Rep. Biggert’s comments in the House, click here. Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, leader of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office of the Wheaton Franciscans, together with the members of the DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network (DGAAN) commented on how “proud” they were of their representatives, “especially Judy Biggert,” for acting on a bill that helps lift the burden of “unjust debt” off the shoulders of people in highly impoverished nations. “We’ve been working on this for four years, and we found (Biggert) open and receptive. She was willing to come to the table and work to make this happen,” added Sr. Sheila. For more information, visit Jubilee USA at http://www.jubileeusa.org/ Affordable housing gains attention at federal and state levels WHEATON—In Washington, D.C., as well Illinois’ capital, the idea of establishing a housing trust fund to help grapple with the downward trend in the housing market nationwide was put forth. On the federal front, S. 2523 seeks the establishment of a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund under the auspices of the U.S. Treasury to provide for the construction, rehabilitation and preservation of decent, safe and affordable housing for low-income families. So far, the proposal, which has found bi-partisan support, remains in the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Twice, it has been reviewed by the committee. Meanwhile, Illinois’ affordable housing trust fund proposal is based on a plan to secure $100 million in annual allocations in the capital budget for the creation and preservation of affordable housing. It cleared the Illinois House, where it was largely moved by representatives from DuPage County. Presently, it awaits approval of the Senate. The members of the General Assembly have received a briefing book on the issue. The book points out that the boost in the rate of foreclosures throughout Illinois has placed families at undue risk of losing their homes; it asks for funding access to make fordable housing a reality in the immediate future. The book’s authors encourage the General Assembly and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to identify “a revenue source that does not harm the state’s long-term fiscal situation and does not unduly burden low-income households,” according to Bob Palmer of Housing Action of Illinois. For more information concerning pending legislation in Illinois, visit the Web site of the DuPage Housing Action Coalition (DHAC) at http://www.dhac1.org/Legislative/legislative.successes.html.A variety of housing matters that impact the low-income population have been put to the forefront by housing advocates statewide. Members of the DHAC have been visiting representatives and senators in and around the Chicago area, promoting resolutions and proposed bills that prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable. The Condominium Renters Protection Act, HB 5189, is still being negotiated. Its aim is to guarantee, in spite of the potential for policy changes within the condominium association, that owners of condominiums who rent out the units would be allowed to continue the practice, at least until the renters voluntarily relocate. The proposed bill is intended to assist organizations such as the Community Housing Association of DuPage (CHAD), which has purchased numerous condominiums across the county for the purpose of renting them to financially-pressed families. Recently CHAD has been faced with policy changes made by various condominium associations that ban them from renting out the units they own. Essentially, said DHAC’s Kathy Kregor in an April meeting of the legislative advocacy committee for the Diocese of Joliet, the Condominium Renters Protection Act seeks authorization to “grandfather in” units that are currently rented until the individual or families move out. At that time, the units can be sold to parties interested in owner-occupied condominiums. The Relocation Assistance Act, HB 5170, would allow municipalities to require landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants forced from their homes in the event that there is a court order. The court order to vacate the property comes into play when a building is declared a health or safety hazard because it has been neglect by the property owner. The bill has thus far passed the House. In a federal matter designed to halt
eviction of foreclosed properties without providing relief for
renters. HR 5894 seeks to add a clause to enhance the existing
Emergency Housing Assistance Act. It urges Congress to provide
funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. The plan is to cover deposits and pay
moving and utility hook ups for evicted renters. The resource would
be restricted to families proving a financial inability to do
so. For information on HR 5894, visit Thomas.gov, the federal
government’s site in regard to legislation, at http://thomas.loc.gov/. Farm bill nears completion WHEATON—The reinstatement of a bill that in bygone days drew attention from a scant few has taken on proportions that have spilled out of farm fields and into school lunch rooms in big cities. For nearly a year, the farm bill has acquired a veritable garden of interested parties, from corporate mega farmers, family farmers, the healthcare community, social justice advocates, trendy shoppers, conservationists and nutritionists alike. Each group has vied to gain Congressional support of its perspective. After nearly a yearlong delay of policies that dictate farm bill’s funding distributions, Congress agreed on May 8 to a $300 billion farm bill. However, it faces a threatened veto by the Bush administration, which criticized the negotiated plan, calling it a gimmick, according to a May 9 story in the New York Times. Detractors of the bill renounced the bill’s continuation of supports for commodity crops and significant government subsidies intended to line the pockets of wealthy farmers—those whose joint incomes top out at $1.5 million or individuals whose income rises above the $750,000 mark. The battle this year centered around a plan to reform the 2002 version of the bill, focusing on wider food stamp distribution, sustainable communities, renewable energy programs and rural redevelopment. The National Catholic Rural Life Center (NCRLC) has been an outspoken proponent of reform, citing the morality of prioritizing the poor as featured in Catholic social teachings. In a May 12 statement released by the NCRLC, policy analyst Bob Gronski said that despite a lack of overall reform, the current version alleviates some hardships. “The final bill boosts spending by nearly $17 billion over a 10-year period, with nutrition programs getting $10.3 billion more, an additional $4 billion allocated to land stewardship programs, and $1.35 billion increase for fruits and vegetables.” Some reforms made their way into the bill, including expansion of subsidies for some crops and assistance for dairy farmers. It failed to expand food assistance for an international school lunch program that was approved last year in the House version, according to the New York Times. For more information, visit the NCRLC at http://www.ncrlc.com/. Joint Economic Committee comments on rising food prices WHEATON—The U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC) held a hearing May 1 in Washington, D.C., about the consequences of rising food prices. Panelists, including Joseph Glauber, chief economist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union, were convened in a hearing called May 1 by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. Skyrocketing food prices and their impact on the American pocketbook dominated the discussion. Particularly, the prices of dairy products, chicken, eggs, ground beef, fruits and vegetables have vexed Americans, especially those living on limited incomes, said Schumer. Commodities dealers blame the rising costs of oil and fuel—diesel, regular unleaded, the cost of natural gas and per gallon cost of oil—is to blame. Schumer added that corn and grain crops that generally go for food stuffs are being bought up for use in the bio-fuel industry. This is “squeezing domestic supplies of wheat, soy and many other crops…and driving up prices across the board.” While middle-class families are feeling the pinch, low-income families are confronted with a declining supply of food stuffs at food pantries and emergency food assistance programs. Panelists agreed that work on the farm bill needs to be completed; it is expected to offer significant relief to those that benefit from food stamps. Rep. Jim Saxton of New Jersey addressed the issue of a commodity price rise of global proportions. He expressed concern for food riots in Haiti and elsewhere. He attributed part of the problem to an increased demand from China and India, and export tariff policies. Representatives from Catholic Charities USA noted particular concern for social service organizations as they provide assistance to low-income individuals and families. Joseph Devine, policy analyst for Catholic Charities USA, added that increased food prices are a result of high energy prices, weather related production shortfalls, the week U.S. dollar and speculators in the commodity market. For more information, visit CNN online at http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/news/economy/congress_foodprice/, or the Joint Economic Committee report—the official reference for Catholic Charities USA—at http://www.house.gov/jec/news/2008/news2008index.html Climate Security Act awaits Congressional consideration WHEATON—The federally proposed Climate Security Act, S. 2191, which was introduced last October, is aimed at bringing federal regulations up to par as it concerns greenhouse emissions. In comparison to a more restrictive pattern enforced in California Utah and Montana and an accord for reduced emissions in the Midwest, federal regulatory practices lag behind. The bipartisan bill proposed by Sens. Joseph Lieberman, Conn., and John Warner, Va., calls “for a cap on carbon emissions at 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Additionally, it sets up a system for polluting industries to trade emissions credits to meet the goals,” according to a Nov. 15, 2007, New York Times story. The Lieberman-Warner proposal is not unlike the Midwest accord, which includes Illinois, in that it provides for a system of trading emissions credits. Firms that reduce their emissions are eligible for federal incentives. The bill primarily focuses on the decrease of emissions of greenhouse gases and seeks the establishment of a national registry that identifies the amount and type of pollutants. Little action is anticipated on the bill until the new administration comes in. For information, visit the tracking site for federal legislation at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.02191 or Climate 411 at http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/2008/01/25/why-a-bill-in-2008-same-politics-in-2009/?gclid=CP2Kx4q_oZMCFR4sIgodcSd6og.
As always thank you for reading our blog, for your prayerful support and for your part to make this world a better place.
Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
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