Action Needed
Congress is currently considering yearly funding for federal programs through the annual appropriations process.
This year, appropriations advocacy is especially critical, as schools and community-based organizations continue to struggle to meet the needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness that existed prior to the pandemic, and that has only worsened in its wake.
One important opportunity for appropriations advocacy is a “Dear Colleague Letter.” “Dear Colleague Letters” are requests from some members of Congress to other members of Congress, asking them to show support for certain federal programs. The number of Members who sign the letter indicates how much support the programs have, and can persuade leaders of the Appropriations Committees to increase funding.
Two bipartisan “Dear Colleague letters” are being circulated in support of FY2022 funding for the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA program).
1. A letter in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives John Yarmuth (D-KY), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Don Bacon (R-NE), and
2. A letter in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Take Action NOW
Please contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators now and urge them to sign on to these letters. The deadline for the House letter is April 26, 2021; the deadline for the Senate letter is April 30, 2021.
Step #1: Use this action form to urge your U.S. Representative to sign-on to the Yarmuth/Bacon/Davis Dear Colleague Letter.
Step #2: Use this action form to urge your U.S. Senators to sign-on to the Feinstein/Collins Dear Colleague Letter.
For more information, or for assistance contacting your U.S. Representative or Senators, please contact Alleanne Anderson.