Take Action!

Urge Your Senators and Representative to Support Policies that Help Poor and Hungry People at Home and Abroad
Update on the Current Situation:
Fiscal Year 2013 Federal Budget and Appropriations - Reducing unsustainable deficits is important, but budget decisions are political and moral choices with human consequences. A central moral measure of any proposal is how it affects the least of these (Matthew 25). The needs of those who are hungry, homeless, those who cant find work or who live in poverty, should come first. As Congress continues to debate these choices, our message must be consistent and constant. Protect programs that assist people living in poverty at home and abroad. Some spending proposals actually disproportionately cut programs that help poor persons rather than protect them. 2012 Farm Bill - Following the passage of the Senate Farm Bill, the House Committee on Agriculture advanced its own proposal, but it remains uncertain if House Leadership will allow it to come to the floor for a vote. The House Committee version calls for deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by over $16 billion and reduces conservation funding by approximately $6 billion over ten years. On the international side, the Senate provided $2.5 billion for the Food for Peace international food aid program. The House Committee proposal preserves $400 million within Food for Peace for non-emergency programs that address the root causes of chronic hunger and build more resilient communities. With the majority of the provisions of the current Farm Bill expiring on September 30, 2012 it is likely that upon returning from the summer recess, Congress will begin work on extending the current provisions of the Farm Bill through a continuing resolution.

Your Action is Needed Now! Most members of Congress will be home during the summer recess between
August 4 and September 10. Take this opportunity to visit, email, and call your Senators and Representative and tell them: In regards to the fiscal year 2013 Federal Budget and Appropriations, spending decisions must protect human life and dignity. The needs of those who are hungry, homeless, without work or in poverty should come first. Form a circle of protection around essential programs that serve people living in poverty at home and abroad. This includes domestic safety net programs and poverty-focused international assistance. o A just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons; it requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs in a just manner that protects the most poor and vulnerable people. For the 2012 Farm Bill, a fair Farm Bill must feed hungry people at home and abroad, promote stewardship of creation and help rural communities thrive. Fully fund essential domestic and international hunger and nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) and the Food for Peace programs. Urge them to resist cuts and changes to programs that will harm hungry and vulnerable people. o Reduce agriculture subsidies overall and target crop insurance to small and medium-sized farms which truly need assistance. Use savings from reductions in subsidies to support domestic and international hunger, nutrition and development programs.

How does this connect to my faith and Church teaching?

Last October, in his Address on the Occasion of World Food Day 2011, Pope Benedict XVI stated that Liberation from the yoke of hunger is the first concrete expression of the right to life. The U.S. bishops join the Holy Father in asserting that food is a fundamental human right. To learn more about this, read a recent letter on the Farm Bill by the USCCB and its Catholic partners. The USCCB also urges Congress to form a circle of protection around programs that serve hungry, poor and vulnerable people. In their letter earlier this spring, the U.S. bishops wrote that they stand ready to work with leaders of both parties for a budget that reduces future deficits, protects poor and vulnerable people, advances the common good, and promotes human life and dignity.

Your Voice Can Make a Difference!

Your voice is needed today to make sure that our nations budget and agriculture polices serve hungry people, help struggling workers and their families and protect those living in poverty at home and abroad. You can easily find out who your elected officials are and reach out to your CRS regional office for assistance setting up an appointment to meet with your Senators and Representative during the August recess.

Letter to Congress Dear Senator/Representative: 2002 I urge you to support and strengthen programs in the FY 2013 Federal Budget and appropriations, and the 2012 Farm Bill that protect poor and vulnerable people in the United States and around the world, advance the common good, and promote human life and dignity. (You may offer your own personal story here) Poor and hungry people have a priority claim on scarce federal resources. Cuts to essential safety net programs will harm the most vulnerable children, seniors, people with disabilities and the unemployed. We are also called to help those in need overseas who constantly struggle with crushing poverty, disease and hunger. I urge you to consider the following priorities as you address the FY 2013 Federal Budget and the 2012 Farm Bill: FY 2013 Federal Budget and Appropriations Spending decisions must protect human life and dignity. The needs of those who are hungry, homeless, without work or in poverty should come first. Form a circle of protection around essential programs that serve hungry, poor and vulnerable people; oppose cuts to programs that will harm the most vulnerable children, seniors, the unemployed and people with disabilities; including international poverty-focused relief and development accounts in the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs bill. A just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons; it requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs in a just manner that protects the vulnerable. Farm Bill A fair Farm Bill must feed hungry people at home and abroad, promote stewardship of creation and help rural communities thrive. Fully fund essential domestic hunger and nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps), which is under threat from cuts and structural changes that will harm hungry and vulnerable people. Support the Food for Peace international food assistance program by funding the program at the Senate Farm Bill level of $2.5 billion. It is also equally important to support the "non-emergency" programs within Food for Peace to address the root causes of chronic hunger overseas. The House Committee on Agriculture proposal funds non-emergency programs at $400 million, which will help achieve this important goal. Reduce agriculture subsidies overall and target crop insurance to small and medium-sized farms which truly need assistance and comply with sustainable and environmentally sound agriculture practices. Use savings from reductions in subsidies to support domestic and international hunger, nutrition and development programs. The moral measure of our nation's budget and agriculture policies are how they serve "the least of these." Thank you for your consideration of these policies and programs that save lives, feed hungry people, help the unemployed and homeless and promote human life and dignity. Sincerely, [Your Name]