Category: Advocate

For more than 60 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been observed each May to celebrate the many contributions that older adults make in their communities, families and in the workforce. Led by the Administration for Community Living at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the theme for OAM 2024 is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and connectedness have on the health, well-being, and independence of older individuals.

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On Thursday, April 18, advocates from more than 40 local Goodwills around the country — including executives, board members, program participants, and others — met with over 200 Members of Congress and staff for our annual Goodwill on the Hill event. Advocates discussed four key topics including: protecting federal funding for job-training and workforce development programs; expanding the charitable giving deduction to all taxpayers; reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and the role Goodwill plays in textile recycling.

READ MORE from Goodwill® on the Hill Highlights

Today Goodwill advocates from around the country including organization Presidents and CEO, mission leaders, communication professionals, volunteer board members and more, will meet with hundreds of lawmakers and staff to discuss investments in America’s workers, changes to the workforce development system, the impact of tax policies on nonprofits, and Goodwills’ role in textile recycling.

READ MORE from Be an Advocate and Participate in Goodwill’s Virtual Advocacy Day!

On Thursday, April 18th, Goodwill leaders, employees, board members and program participants from across the country will travel to Capitol Hill to advocate for the issues that matter most to local Goodwill organizations and the people they serve. You can help amplify our advocacy.

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Many people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, particularly those reentering their communities after a period of incarceration, will face challenges securing safe housing, enrolling in education and training, accessing basic services, and getting a good job.

READ MORE from Second Chance Month 2024

After months of contentious negotiations and multiple short-term extensions, Congress has finally completed its work on Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) funding. The federal government had been operating under a series of stopgap continuing resolutions, the last of which was set to expire on March 22.

READ MORE from Congress Finalizes FY24 Funding

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue their work to finalize federal funding for the current fiscal year, the Biden Administration is pushing forward with its plans for FY25 funding with the release of the President’s annual budget request to Congress. The White House touted the $7.3 trillion budget plan as a continuation of the Administration’s efforts to lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and reduce the budget deficit by $3 trillion over the next ten years.

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President Biden recently delivered his State of the Union remarks before Congress. Among the special guests invited to attend the speech was Ariel Clarke who works as a Senate custodian through Goodwill of Greater Washington’s participation in the AbilityOne program. AbilityOne empowers nonprofit organizations, including many local Goodwill® organizations, to provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities to deliver a range of contract business services to government agencies. 

READ MORE from 2024 State of the Union Recap

It is a leap year which means we have an extra day on the calendar. Congress is grateful as it gives them another day to negotiate fiscal year deadlines and avoid a government shutdown.

READ MORE from Leap into Advocacy

For more than 12 million secondary and postsecondary students across the country, career and technical education (CTE) programs provide pathways to continued education and good jobs. Programs of study in CTE combine academic instruction with hands-on learning and occupational skills training for careers in in-demand fields like health care and information technology.

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More than half of the governors of states, territories and commonwealths have outlined their priorities for 2024 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses, as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected governors, with several more anticipated over the next few weeks. The nation’s governors are nearly evenly split between the two parties, with 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats holding office as of January 8, 2024. Eleven states will hold gubernatorial elections this year. Read more about the themes of interest to Goodwill and the people we serve.

READ MORE from 2024 State of the States Highlights

Congress averted a partial government shutdown again, and this time we have mother nature to thank in part. With a snowstorm in the DC area impacting lawmakers’ ability to return home, the Senate and House passed a stopgap funding measure on the same day, pushing the January 19 and February 2 shutdown deadlines to March 1 and 8.  

READ MORE from Congress Approves Federal Funding Extension