NCC Meets with House Democratic Faith Working Groupto Discuss Gun Violence and Voting Rights
On Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune, NCC Chief Operating Officer, and Rev. Adwoa Rey, NCC Advocacy Consultant, participated in a convening of members of Congress and faith leaders, hosted by House Assistant Democratic Leader Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina.
During the session, faith leaders and members of the House Democratic Faith Working Group discussed gun violence and voting rights from a faith perspective, as well as the moral responsibility of Congress to act on these critical issues. The NCC will continue to participate in meetings of the Democratic Faith Working Group and share insights that can be useful to members of Congress as they represent their constituencies and create laws that benefit the whole of society.
NCC Advocates for National Monument to Commemorate Springfield Race Riots of 1908
On Thursday, NCC Advocacy Consultant Adwoa Rey joined a group of civic, community, environment, and faith leaders at a White House meeting to advocate for national commemoration of the Springfield, Illinois Race Riots of 1908, a tragic instance of mass racial violence that led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
The effort, led by Springfield NAACP President Teresa Haley, will designate the race riot site as a National Monument in the National Park System. Recently, the National Park Service conducted a special resource study that evaluated the archaeological site of the Springfield Race Riots and determined that it met the four criteria required for inclusion in the National Park System.
NCC recognizes the importance of truth-telling and uplifting stories that reflect the full historical experience of Black people in the United States. We strongly support the efforts of the Springfield NAACP to commemorate the Springfield Race Riots of 1908 and call on President Biden and Congress to take executive action or enact legislation to designate the historical site as a national monument.
NCC Continues to Urge Congress to Make the Child Tax Credit Permanent
During the 118th Congress, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) re-introduced the American Family Act to permanently expand and improve the child tax credit provision. The tax bill will remove a rule that limits the refundable portion of the credit to $1,400 and the earning requirement, continue the increased $300 per month Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) for children younger than age 6, expand the maximum Child Tax Credit to $250 per month for children under 17 years old, and extend the Child Tax Credit to the United States Territories.
This week, the three representatives added a provision to the bill that increases the credit families receive in the month a baby is born to $2,000. Research shows the expanded and improved child tax credit included in the American Rescue Plan that expired in 2021 raised more than 61 million children out of poverty. The American Family Act will build on this legacy and provide financial security to more families.
NCC continues to urge Congress to pass this critical legislation to make the Child Tax Credit permanent.