There is a federal policy that is making poverty disappear. But not in the way you think.
https://youtu.be/FpdZAH3koMw A Must Read: Baltimore Sun Op-Ed New rule threatens to undercount families in poverty The federal government uses many factors to calculate the official federal poverty level. Until June 21st, 2019, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is…
Federal Budget Updates
3/1/2018 Congress is working on the omnibus appropriations bill that needs to be passed by March 23 to avoid another government shutdown. If that bill is passed, it will fund the federal government through September 30, 2018. Several programs are…
Support the veto override of the Earned Sick and Safe Leave Act.
3/6/18 There are six bills being heard in the House Economic Matters Committee that would delay or amend the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. We oppose HB 98, HB 779, HB 1262, HB 1314, HB 1417, and HB 1421 as these bills would impact Maryland's low-wage workers across the…
Advocate for higher funding for Maryland Meals for Achievement, alternative breakfast programs and meals for after school programming.
3/7/18 The Senate Budget and Tax Committee will hear SB 740, the Maryland Cares for Kids Act, as well as SB 818, Maryland Meals for Achievement. At current funding levels, MMFA currently benefits over 230,000 students in 462 schools. But…
Promote increased State funding to strengthen Maryland Meals for Achievement and After School programming
There are 390,000 of public school children are enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program. Children who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores as well as improve their speed and memory in cognitive tests, and perform better on standardized…
Strengthen family economic sufficiency by promoting the passage of the Paid Sick and Safe Leave
More than 700,000 workers in Maryland do not have the right to earned paid sick leave. Parents without paid sick days are more than twice as likely than parents with paid sick days to send a sick child to school or day…
Strengthen family economic sufficiency by promoting the passage of the Earned Paid Sick and Safe Leave
More than 700,000 workers in Maryland do not have the right to earned paid sick leave. Parents without paid sick days are more than twice as likely than parents with paid sick days to send a sick child to school or day…
Promote increased State funding to strengthen Maryland Meals for Achievement and After School programming
There are 390,000 of public school children are enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program. Children who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores as well as improve their speed and memory in cognitive tests, and perform better on standardized…
Achieve full funding for school breakfast and increase snack and support benefits for after school programs
We know that academic and health outcomes for children eating breakfast at school are demonstrable and significant. Therefore, we have collaborated with organizations such as Share Our Strength to support legislative and programmatic efforts which give children the breakfast that…
Collaborate with Working Matters for the passage Earned Sick and Safe Leave
Economically sufficiency is a goal for many Maryland families. Earned Sick and Safe Leave is one avenue to help families get there. Many low-income wage earners cannot afford to be sick as it means lost wages. Lost wages mean an…
Collaborate with the Healthy Families Coalition to strengthen family leave benefits
There has been one meeting with this Coalition and we will continue to participate in efforts to strengthen family leave benefits.