Category: Policy Updates

Poverty Politics: Sequestration Scenarios

March 5, 2013

-- Mark Schmeissing, Senior Policy Analyst, NASCSP, and Brad Penney, General Counsel, NASCSP -- Last week at the NASCSP Annual Conference, much of the conversation was about the future of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). One of the major issues facing our Network is the impact of sequestration. Sequestration and CSBG: Sequestration

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Poverty Politics: Go Ahead – Change the Game

February 13, 2013

-- By Steve Payne, NASCSP Board President -- In last night’s State of the Union address, the President unveiled the big initiatives of his second term. The pundits say this could be his last big speech. Second terms have notoriously small windows of opportunity before all attention turns to the next presidential race. As the President seizes his last chance to effect change, we are also at a

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CSBG Spotlight: Collaborative Access to Healthy Food Choices

February 11, 2013

-- Edited by Rae Tamblyn, Research Assistant, CSBG -- It’s the start of a new year and we are newly resolved to make lifestyle changes. For many of us, this is a resolution to eat healthy. We all know how hard resolutions are to keep. It’s even more difficult to eat healthy when there is limited access to healthy food choices. New Jersey’s Hoboken Organization Against Poverty and Economic

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Poverty Politics: Senator Harkin to Retire in 2014

January 29, 2013

On Saturday, Senator Tom Harkin (IA) announced his decision to not seek re-election for his U.S. Senate seat in 2014. Senator Harkin received the NASCSP Appreciation Award in 2011 for his life-long dedication and support of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). He has served in Congress for more than 38 years and is currently the Chair of the

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NASCSP’s Response to the Administration

January 17, 2013

--Timothy R. Warfield, Executive Director, NASCSP-- Earlier this week, I outlined the Administration’s expectations for a 21st Century anti-poverty program and noted that they’re asking for substantial changes to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) as it stands. The good news is that we have an opportunity to shape just what these changes will be. If we effectively address the

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