LEGISLATION

 Spring 2012:  Nutrition assistance still on the chopping block in Congress

Federal Budget Debate 2012

Proposed Cuts to Nutrition Assistance for Elderly, Disabled, Children and the Working Poor, May 11, 2012 (PDF - 1 page)

Comments to send to Congress by May 18, 2012, to support nutrition legislation in the Farm Bill that provides food for distribution and nutrition outreach by regional food banks like Tarrant Area Food Bank.

To contact your U.S. Representative and Senators, visit Contact Elected Officials.

The Hill, House votes to replace Pentagon cuts mandated by debt deal
May 10, 2012
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/226703-house-votes-to-replace-pentagon-cuts-mandated-by-debt-deal

The House voted Thursday (May 10) to override steep cuts to the Pentagon’s budget mandated by last summer's debt deal and replace them with spending reductions to food stamps and other mandatory social programs.

Both parties are looking to avoid $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to Pentagon and domestic discretionary spending that are mandated to begin in 2013 because of the failure of the deficit supercommittee to agree to a deficit-reduction plan. The entire process was set up by the 2011 deal between Congress and the White House to raise the debt ceiling.

The House bill would leave pending mandatory cuts in place, including cuts to Medicare. It would turn off $72 billion in cuts to both the Pentagon and non-defense spending mandated by sequestration, but add $315 billion in new cuts, none of which are imposed on the Pentagon.

The SNAP Issue

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly Food Stamps, provides more food assistance to our most vulnerable citizens than any other program in the nation, including the national network of regional food banks. When federal funding for SNAP is reduced, regional food banks and their partner food pantries can be overwhelmed with requests for food assistance, especially during down economic times such as many families continue to face today.

Thus, it is of particular concern that the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to drastically cut funding for SNAP AND convert that funding into a block-grant for States to use as they choose.

How to Help

Your phone call, email or letter to your elected U.S. Representative voicing your concerns about this proposed legislation could make the difference in the coming weeks of debate on the federal budget.

To contact your Representative, visit Contact Elected Officials.

Individuals and groups are invited to communicate with their families, friends, neighbors, colleagues, state and congressional legislators about legislation and policies that help fight hunger in Texas.

On the state level, Tarrant Area Food Bank supports outreach to State Legislators and other elected officials by the Texas Food Bank Network. This network consists of the 18 regional food banks and one food rescue organization that are members of Feeding America, the national network of regional food banks and food rescue operations. 

More Food for Thought

Spring 2011 Budget Debate

Punishing the Poor

By Vicki B. Escarra, President and Chief Executive Officer, Feeding America

Posted 06/04/11

"Staggering. Irresponsible, Indefensible.  Those are just some of the words that describe the cuts to safety-net programs that the House Appropriations Committee approved ... when they marked up the House version of the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill," wrote Ms. Escarra on "Huffpost Impact" at the HuffingtonPost.com.

. . . . "These cuts will reduce the capacity of food banks, pantries, shelters and soup kitchens to respond to hunger in their communities at the same time that they will see the need increase as participants lose their benefits and turn to local charities to make ends meet.

"As if this isn't bad enough, Congress is considering capping the charitable giving deduction, which would have a significant impact on the ability of nonprofit organizations that rely on the charitable deduction to raise much needed funds and on Feeding America's ability to fulfill its mission of providing emergency food assistance."   Read the entire post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vicki-b-escarra/punishing-the-poor_1_b_869895.html?

If you agree with Ms. Escarra that the poor must not be punished, please contact members of Congress.

To contact your Representative, visit Contact Elected Officials.