Advocate

United Way of Southern Nevada advocates at the federal level following United Way Worldwide’s Policy Agenda. We advocate for issues that increase access to key resources in our community. We advocated for:

• Expanding the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
• Creating a Universal Charitable Deduction
• Expanding the Child Tax Credit
• Expanding Earned Income Tax Credits
• Education and Implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program
• Introducing the Human-Services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act

Additionally, we have worked to collaborate with our federal delegation to invest federal dollars into Southern Nevada. We are proud to worked with:

• Congresswoman Dina Titus to secure $1 million for language access to ensure Limited English Proficient Nevadans have equitable access to social services and are on a path to self-sufficiency. Learn more about our ongoing language access work here.
• Congresswoman Susie Lee to sure $850,000 for structural improvements and building rehabilitation for nonprofits providing VITA programs. These funds will go toward securing access to no-cost tax preparation services to working-class Nevadans. Learn more about our ongoing partnership with the VITA Program here.

United Way of Southern Nevada works with state lawmakers both during the biennial convening of the Legislature and interim periods. During the 2023 Legislative Session, we were proud to support the following legislation. You can read more about our work here.

• AB 400 – Revises provisions relating to education; substantially increased funding and expansion opportunities for UWSN’s Nevada Ready! Pre-K program.
• AB 525 and 526 – Appropriated federal COVID-19 relief dollars to nonprofit and social service providers
• AB 256 – Revises provisions governing students’ abilities to assume internship and other workforce development-related programs
• AB 246 – Revises provisions relating to elections; requires the Secretary of State to direct certain jurisdictions to expand the number of languages elections-related materials are translated in and establish a toll-free statewide hotline to house translation services for voting.
• AB 266 – Revises provisions relating to local governments; requires certain local and county governments to translate public notices and develop a Language Access Plan.

As we work during the interim to prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session, our priorities are:

• Expand Pre-K to align with the state government’s Read-by-Three priority and ensure Pre-K is centered in conversation around the K-12 pipeline and new Pupil-Centered Funding formula.
• Increase the capacities of the nonprofit sector by reforming the reimbursement model for state and local grants.
• Continue scaling projects and legislation relating to Language Access – including ensuring government and social services sectors have the tools and funding they need to fully support Limited-English Proficient Nevadans.

United Way of Southern Nevada advocates at the local level with our local municipalities, boards, and commissions. We advocate for:

• Removing barriers to access for all communities through data driven policies
• Increasing Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Capacity Support
• Supporting Language Access Initiatives