When we speak with one voice, we represent hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people who often have no voice. – Susan Eason, Executive Director, The Arc of the Capital Area
About the One Voice Public Policy Committee
2014 Public Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Ann Howard, ECHO and Elizabeth Hartman, American Gateways
Public Policy Committee Goal: To identify and address public policy issues that impact One Voice Central Texas members and the clients that they serve.
Purpose of the Public Policy Committee: The Public Policy Committee takes a proactive approach to initiating, assessing and responding to policy issues in a manner that benefits One Voice members and their clients. It also serves as the vehicle for membership advocacy initiatives.
Criteria for One Voice Public Policy Statements:
Before One Voice creates a policy statement, it ensures that the policy meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Supports the continuum of care for health and human services
- Brings a maximum benefit to clients, with a special emphasis on increasing access to services
- Strengthens the nonprofit sector
Strategies that One Voice Uses to Implement Public Policy Recommendations:
- Raises awareness of the impact of proposed policies on clients and organizations
- Develops position papers as appropriate
- Serves as a resource for funding entities
- Partners with credible organizations, e.g., One Voice Texas, Center for Public Policy Priorities, United Ways of Texas, TANO, and CAN to move state and national public policy issues forward
Key Public Policy Accomplishments Over the Past Year:
- Played a critical role in Austin Energy’s decision-making on the utilities rate increase and the Customer Assistance Program (CAP), resulting in the establishment of the Discount Steering Committee and a $10 million budget for the CAP program (65% increase).
- Supported and participated in the establishment of the Basic Transportation Needs Fund, which has used funding from Capital Metro to distribute over 74,000 bus passes to nonprofits to date, as well as fund a demonstration project that expands transit services in underserved areas.
- Provided state legislators with a resource list of nonprofit experts on health and human services.
- Summarized the fiscal and regulatory impact of the state legislative session and federal sequestration on health and human services and shared the information with community leaders and the Austin American-Statesman for an article.
- Per the City’s request, identified local families that work minimum wage jobs and have children to participate in a round table discussion with Obama’s senior administration.
- Created a Task Force to work with the City of Austin Health and Human Services Department leadership to provide input and resources for their upcoming Request for Proposals process.
- Successfully advocated for City Council to place $65 million housing bonds on the November 2013 ballot.
Download a one-pager about One Voice’s Public Policy work.
Public Policy Resources and Information
Statewide Issues & The Texas Legislature
One Voice Public Policy Statements
Process for Requesting One Voice Public Policy Support