UWCF Goes to Capitol Days

In preparation for the 2023 Legislative Session, United Way representatives from around the state convened in Tallahassee on February 21 & 22 to hear updates on Priority United Way Issues, learn from policymakers and experts about the upcoming session, and encourage our legislators to support the 2023 Florida United Ways Consensus Legislative Agenda.

President and CEO Christina Criser Jackson, Resource Development Manager Marcus Wright, Marketing Content Strategist Jordan Weiland, Board Member Mark Miller and United Way of Florida Board Member Suzette Jones traveled to Tallahassee to meet with other United Way colleagues and our local legislators. United Way of Florida had three initiatives that they asked us to speak about with our politicians.

We asked them to:

• Invest $1.2 million in state funding to match the $1.8 million that local United Ways bring to the table to enhance opportunities for free tax preparation and result in dollars flowing back into Florida’s economy.

• Increase overall funding for affordable housing programs, including SHIP and SAIL; and focus resources to incentivize affordable rental-unit construction.

• Expand access to health care by eliminating the fiscal cliff eligibility for Florida’s child health insurance programs. Adopt a tiered structure aligned with increasing household wages.

During our conference we heard from Representative Dana Trabulsy regarding Florida KidCare, Representative Fentrice Driskell and House Bill 49, and Acting Secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity Meredith Ivey about opening a small business and small business loans for minority business leaders. We also heard from Secretary of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Melanie Griffin about housing standards, and CEO of Volunteer Florida Josefina Tamayo about Volunteer Connect and the governor’s special initiatives. It was a full morning learning about the bills being pushed through the House and Senate and how we can get involved to share our own expertise to our legislators about the communities we serve.