Advocate

Public Policy Work in 2013

UWRI policy actions are designed to create collaborative relationships with its various community partners and stakeholders as well as with all levels of government. The intent of these relationships and partnerships is to develop and implement sound human services public policy, while educating and raising the awareness of the general public.

Our policy agenda is centered on our issue areas of: education, income and housing. We focus our attention on policies and legislative discussions that affect all aspects of Rhode Islanders’ lives. We will continue with this focus in the coming legislative session and keep you informed of the policies that will affect your life at the federal and state levels.

United Way of Rhode Island is currently tracking the Farm Bill in both the Senate and House. Both bills include cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP. Please read the following article from The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and consider signing the letter below to let your representatives know how important these benefits are for many children, families, and the elderly.

Help protect the Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

Congress has been contemplating comprehensive tax reform for several years. Recent actions of both the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee indicate that Congress is actually taking concrete steps towards a major restructuring of the tax code.

Please contact your Members of Congress to urge them to stand up for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit in tax reform.

http://www.capwiz.com/unitedway/issues/alert/?alertid=62563496&type=CO

Also please reference our testimony on the Rhode Island House bill H5640 which would redefine the refundable earned income credit to fifty percent (50%) of the amount by which the Rhode Island earned income tax credit exceeds the Rhode Island income tax.