Policy Update: Spending, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Voting, and More
Nonprofit Connect works to keep Members updated on policy changes that affect nonprofits through Policy Updates. These messages provide brief information on what is going on in federal government and policy that may be of interest to the nonprofit community.
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Congress Areas of Focus
Federal spending authorization expires on September 30th; Congress has until then to pass a budget. As of now, none of the twelve appropriations bills have been enacted, so it is likely Congress will pass another continuing resolution to maintain current spending and give themselves more time to debate the budget. Meanwhile, the House will continue its investigation of the January 6th attack and the Senate will consider many judicial nominees.
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Upcoming Changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives the remainder of federal student loans for individuals who work at a nonprofit organization or a government entity for ten years and make timely payments throughout that period. Last year, the Biden Administration created a limited waiver for that program, which allows borrowers to receive credit for previous repayments that would otherwise not qualify for forgiveness, such as partial, late, and lump sum payments. This waiver is ending on October 31, 2022; if you might be eligible, apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program here.
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Supreme Court Returns Next Month
The next Supreme Court term begins in October. The court looks slightly different, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson replacing retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Issues on the table include state election authority, affirmative action, redistricting, and more.
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National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day is September 20th. If your organization is thinking about hosting a drive or helping with one-on-one registrations, review this state-by-state guide to voter registration laws to ensure you are in compliance. Checking with your local elections office and/or Secretary of State’s Office can provide more information.
AND – there’s a webinar TODAY at 1pm offered by Nonprofit VOTE on how to engage in effective, nonpartisan voter engagement! Register now.
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Midterm Elections
The general election is November 8th, 2022. All Representatives in Congress are up for election, as well as one third of the Senate. There are statewide races in Missouri and Kansas, as well as ballot measures on issues such as marijuana legalization in Missouri and legislative override of agency regulations in Kansas. The results of these races will impact who represents you and your organization, and what bills are considered. Review who and what is on your ballot, or help your constituents look up their ballots, here.
And, review the dos and don’ts for your 501c organization around political campaigns and elections here.
Stay tuned for more updates as the fall progresses.
This post was written by Kristen Wood, Nonprofit Connect's Advocacy Contributor.
Kristen is an avid participant in Kansas City’s nonprofit community and a self-proclaimed ‘lifetime learner’. In addition to working for Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas, she enjoys following nonprofit policy issues.
If you have any questions on Policy Updates, please reach out to Nonprofit Connect’s Marketing Manager, Colin Bennett, at cbennett@npconnect.org.
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