321ACTION: August 12, 2024
When Congress reconvenes in September, they will have just three weeks to prevent a government shutdown.
Congress must pass a spending bill or continuing resolution by Oct. 1 in order to keep the government running. It's likely to become a major fight between the House Freedom Caucus, whose members seek to punt major funding decisions to 2025 (when they hope Trump will be back in office), and members who seek to preserve the Biden Administration's programs and spending priorities.
House Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to handle this fight will likely determine whether or not he keeps his job in the new year.
We'll be closely watching these developments, particularly how they are likely to affect funding for crime victims and survivors of domestic violence, among other critical programs.
Ready to make a difference?
Here are three ways to get started:
3. Fight back against domestic violence
Domestic violence, which effects far too many families, is a public health crisis: Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence at the hands of their intimate partner in their lifetime — and a woman is five times more likely to be murdered when her abuser has access to a gun.
Join the Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable on Sept. 4 at 7:30 ET for a conversation about the role of firearms in domestic violence, legal remedies, and what you can do to help change the law: Register here
2. Learn to spot relationship red flags
The new release of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us provides an excellent opportunity to discuss relationship violence with family and friends, particularly teens and young adults.
Learn more about talking to teens about dating violence here, and read this new op-ed from our colleagues: Love should feel safe: What ‘It Ends with Us’ teaches us about relationship red flags. Read the op-ed here
1. Get SMART about gun storage
Guns are the leading cause of death of children and youth in the United States. Safely storing firearms can help keep children and communities safe from gun violence and deaths due to suicide, homicide, and accidental discharge — and so can educating the community about safe storage.
In late August, we will be joining many organizations in the first annual SMART week, raising awareness about this issue.
To learn more about safe storage in the interim, you can watch our Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable webinar, Children and Guns: What Every Parent Should Know
+ In case you missed it...
Antisemitism in the United States has increased dramatically since the terror attacks of Oct. 7.On Aug. 20, join the Forward for a conversation with the authors of Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, who proposes a progressive, intersectional approach to combating Jew hatred. Learn more and register here.