Connecting the History and Future of the War on Poverty

I was in Austin, Texas, last week conducting a War on Poverty workshop. As I discovered with the successful History and Philosophy of the War on Poverty Workshop I conducted in St. Petersburg, Fla., in early May, there are many people interested in where Community Action has been and where it is headed.

It seems like lately each week I speak with someone who is either planning or nearing retirement within the Community Action network. As an entire generation leaves the scene, I often have wondered who will step forward to lead and how do we get them up to speed on our network's history?

The 71 “emerging leaders” who attended my last workshop renewed my faith in our future. They were hard workers who paid attention and worked with me literally day and night to make sure they had a good understanding of the topics presented.

I am interested in holding another two-day session with between 40 and 50 emerging leaders to take a hard look at where Community Action programs are at, the challenges we face and where we want to go. I would like it to be an open, off-the-record discussion about this critical juncture between our history and future. If you would be interested in attending a discussion like this and/or might be interested in providing input as I design this type of workshop, please comment below or contact me directly.

I think we can have an incredible next chapter in the War on Poverty that is not a repeat of previous chapters. We have some big issues, challenges and decisions ahead. I would like to include emerging leaders in the decision-making and implementation of the next steps.

Weatherization Reaching Major Milestones

I continue to hear really good numbers emerging on the Weatherization Assistance Program. The Community Action network is very closely nearing President Obama’s “unofficial goal” of weatherizing 30,000 homes a month.

On June 6, I will participating in a ceremony to commemorate the 10,000th home that will be weatherized in Ohio through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Very soon, the Department of Energy will be announcing that 125,000 homes have been weatherized so far using ARRA funding.

As we begin to reach significant milestones, it perhaps is even more fulfilling knowing the barriers that local weatherizers have scaled in order to achieve these impressive goals.

Aim High, Achieve Higher

I have been doing a great deal of speaking to state Community Action Associations around the country, and my message has been pretty much the same: aim high and achieve higher.

All eyes are on Community Action Agencies as they implement the Community Services Block Grant and Weatherization Assistance Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Never before in our history have we needed to show accountability, transparency and effectiveness as we need to now.

It is not enough to perform well – which we are! We also need to prove every opportunity we get that the congressional investment in these programs was worthwhile -- which it is!

Weighing Costs, Benefits of CSBG Recovery Act Extension

I have been raising the question of whether or not the Community Action network requires an extension of the Sept. 30, 2010, Recovery Act spending deadline for the Community Services Block Grant.

A few states have said this is a necessity. A vast number of the states have said they don’t require it.

This is something that the National Community Action Foundation Board of Directors is wrestling with. It is weighing the political cost in congressional capital of seeking an extension versus the benefit for the few states who have voiced the need.

I will continue to gather information from the network and from congressional offices and will share more here as I know it.

GAO Report On LIHEAP in the Works

I have been hearing about a Government Accountability Office report on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that is in the works. It evidently raises some concerns about LIHEAP eligibility and accountability.

National Community Action Foundation will be spending time in the next couple weeks trying to understand exactly what it is that GAO is investigating. As we enter the appropriations season, this certainly may have an impact.

Tea Party a Big Blip on Political Radar

This morning I had a breakfast with two House Democrats who I would classify as mid-level seniority members who are heavily involved in Community Action issues. One is on the House Appropriations Committee and the other serves on the Committee on Education and Labor. One, in particular, is anticipating a close race in 2010.

Each are from different parts of the country, yet they have very similar interpretations of the Tea Party movement. Both reported big turn-outs for Tea Party events, with health care as a central issue. Both also were concerned that race was playing a major factor in the Tea Party. Kentucky’s Senate nominee Rand Paul’s comments about the Civil Rights Act seem to be influencing some of this thinking.

Neither has seen dissipation in the Tea Party’s anger or energy in their respective districts. Both told me that they have been spending considerable time reaching out to Tea Partiers as individuals and in small groups.

These stories are very similar to conversations I have had with about 50 other members of Congress so far this year.

Political Season in Full Swing

I know the political season is in full bloom when I begin getting between 60 and 70 calls each week from Congressional members or wanna-bes about their races.

While I feel obligated to take each call, I hate to because I know I will ultimately refuse most requests for campaign contributions. In the end, I must say "no" to Republicans and Democrats alike. It is not my favourite task, but it is part of the political process.

By law, the National Community Action Foundation may not directly make political contributions, nor may individual Community Action Associations or CAA state and regional associations.  That's why we have CAP-PAC.

CAP-PAC was established to give employees, volunteers and leadership of CAAs the legal means through which to participate in their political future by making contributions to those running for elected office.  CAP-PAC is a powerful tool for professional advocacy efforts, and it is in demand now, more than ever.

Click here for more information about how you can help ensure the political voice of the Community Action network is recognized and respected by joining CAP-PAC's Club 199.

Sorting Out the Congressional Agenda

For me, this week is about getting a handle on the rest of the congressional schedule. You can talk to five different congressional members and hear five different congressional agendas.

First, I will be trying to finalize whether or not we will be able to get an extension of the Sept. 30, 2010, Recovery Act spending deadline for the Community Services Block Grant. Although we are finally getting the facts that we need to make the case, we are running out of time.

Second, I hope to find out more about what to expect for the 2011 budget and appropriations. I am still expecting a static budget comparable to last year’s.

Finally, I am hearing some pretty ambitious legislative expectations that include big issues like financial regulation, immigration, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and an energy bill. I don’t know right now what’s real and what’s not.

Hopefully, in the next week and a half we will be able to sort out a realistic legislative agenda. I am still operating under the assumption that, after Memorial Day, everything will revolve around the political agenda.

Political Uncertainty Accelerates

Recent announcements have added to the political uncertainty.

First, Rep. David Obey’s retirement annoucement is disappointing, but not unexpected. Having been around him quite a bit lately, I could tell he was weary. He has been beaten up by some in his district, has lost some dear friends and has grown more frustrated.

I have known Congressman Obey since 1981. He is absolutely one of the finest members to have served in the House in the last century, and I am happy that I have had the opportunity to work with him for close to 30 years.

We wouldn’t have had economic recovery if Rep. Obey hadn’t steered the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the House. We wouldn’t have health care reform, if he hadn’t provided his leadership. We wouldn’t have the Community Services Block Grant if David Obey hadn’t stood up for it for years and years. We probably wouldn’t have issues surrounding the Davis-Bacon Act worked out if Congressman Obey hadn’t stepped in.

There is more economic opportunity for millions of Americans at the lower end of the spectrum thanks to David Obey’s congressional career.

Another recent disappointment is the defeat of Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, during his state’s Republican convention over the weekend. Although I haven’t dealt as much with him, I have found Bob Bennett to be a good senator.

These are two members that believe in the institution of Congress, have fought to do what they believe is right for the country and have been willing to reach across party lines in the process. The fact that these two members will not be here in 2011 saddens me.

Political Season May Prolong Budget Cycle

Over the weekend, Minority Leader John Boehner announced that at least 100 congressional seats may be up for grabs for Republicans in November, and I agree.

With so many seats in play and so many issues out there, including deficit and spending, it will be a difficult budget and appropriations cycle. It could stretch on for months.

I think it is almost guaranteed that Congress will come back after the election for a lame duck session. This may provide some additional opportunities for discussions on the Community Services Block Grant.

Stay tuned.

Help Us Make the Case for CSBG Recovery Spending Extension

National Community Action Foundation is still seeking input from Community Action Agencies about the need for an extension of the Sept. 30, 2010, Recovery Act spending deadline for the Community Services Block Grant.

Some in the network are still understandably frustrated with the sluggish expenditures. Despite all of those frustrations – the vast majority of which are not created locally – the responsibility and importance of being part of the country’s stimulus plan far outweighs all frustrations. We want to show our congressional leaders that Community Action has played a valuable role in America’s recovery by helping those at risk of falling into poverty.

Is your Community Action Agency one that would like to see the deadline extended for spending CSBG ARRA funding? If so, please let us know why as soon as possible.

Great Progress in Weatherization Recovery Efforts

The Community Action Agencies and our local partners who are implementing the Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program are making unprecedented strides in job creation.

The latest Recovery.gov report shows the Weatherization Program ranks tenth in job creation among all Recovery Act programs, and fourth when compared to other federal grant programs receiving additional monies from ARRA. Despite significant barriers, states are reporting substantial numbers of homes that are being weatherized each month -- in excess of 22,000 homes in March.

This confirms that CAAs and their partners that carry out the Weatherization Assistance Program are overcoming the many challenges, putting American builders back to work and are providing energy- and cost-saving upgrades to the homes of low- and moderate-income Americans. Now that the building season has arrived, we expect even more jobs to be created, more homes to be weatherized, more energy to be conserved and more money to be saved by low-income families in the months to come.

That said, we are still deluged with competitors wanting to take over the weatherization field. As well, we are spending more time than ever responding to media inquiries. I feel we are making progress in these areas as well.

There seems to be a shift in the mainstream press. Instead of looking for blame locally about a slower-than-expected weatherization rollout, the press collectively seems to be gaining greater appreciation of the obstacles weatherizers have faced and a greater understanding of the effectiveness of weatherizers at the local level.

I think Community Action and others in the weatherization network should take a lot of pride, and a lot of credit, for really delivering on America’s weatherization recovery efforts.