| Urge Representative Hastert To Oppose Cuts to Food Stamps
Bread for the World Quickline
Subject: Budget Conference Report
Date: December 5, 2005
Please call Representative Dennis Hastert by 5pm Thursday, December 8, at 1-800-826-3688. Urge him to oppose any budget that cuts food stamps. Our nation's budget should help, not harm, hardworking people struggling to feed their families.
[Note: This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your member's office in order to leave your message. If you are unable to get through on the toll-free numer, please call Mr. Hastert's office direct by dialing 202-225-2976, for a modest charge.
Background:
Your representative will play a key role in determining whether or not food stamps and other social safety-net programs for low-income and vulnerable people are cut in this year's budget process.
The House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill that would push more than 220,000 mostly low-income working families with children off of food stamps. The Senate passed its version of the budget reconciliation bill, which contains no cuts to food stamps. Now, members of the Senate and House will conference and negotiate the differences between these two bills. If this conferenced bill is passed in both chambers and approved by the president, it will become law. Therefore, it is important that members of Congress hear from you now that the final budget reconciliation bill should include no cuts to food stamps.
Hunger and food insecurity are on the rise. The government recently released information that the number of people in the United States living in households struggling to put food on the table increased by nearly 2 million people (from 36.3 million individuals in 2003 to 38.2 million in 2004). This is the fifth straight year that there has been an increase, and this year's increase in hunger and food insecurity is sharper than in previous years. Since the most recent data is from 2004 - these numbers do not reflect the increases we expect to see as a result of this year's devastating hurricanes. Congress must address the hunger problem in our country - not take food away from hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who struggle daily to feed their families.
While leadership continues to urge Members of Congress to accept the deep cuts to food stamps and other safety net programs included in the House budget bill, they are simultaneously pushing for $70 billion in tax cuts, which are expected to primarily benefit the wealthy and further add to the deficit.
The Senate has demonstrated that it is possible to make budget cuts without pushing people off of food stamps. The compromise bill also should not cut food stamps. Therefore, your timely call in the next few days is urgently needed and can make a real difference for hungry and poor people in the United States.
Key points:
* Hunger, poverty, and food insecurity have been on the rise for five years in our nation, and this year's increases are sharper than in previous years. It would be a moral failure to make push any one off of the Food Stamp Program. The Senate has demonstrated that it is possible to make budget cuts without cutting food stamps.
* Cuts to food stamps were proposed at the same time the government released information that the number of people living in households struggling to put food on the table had increased by nearly 2 million people, for a total of 38.2 million, including over 13 million children. Congress must address the hunger problem in our country - not take food away from hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who struggle daily to feed their families.
* Hurricane Katrina has revealed the face and existence of extreme poverty in America and how vulnerable poor and hungry people are. It also highlighted the essential role of safety net programs in responding to those in need.
Optimum Date to Complete Quickline: Thursday, December 8
Thanks and blessings,
Mariah
The Rev. Mariah Priggen
Regional Organizer for Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri Bread for the World
205 West Monroe
Chicago, IL 60606
312-629-9529
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