Economy, Poverty & Hunger
In today's troubled economic climate, more than 36 million Americans are struggling with hunger each day. 40 percent of those seeking food assistance are employed. Forty-one percent of households served by food banks last year reported having to choose between buying food and paying for utilities or heat. More than one-third reported having to choose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage. New policies from our legislators are necessary to ensure that America's working poor don't have to face the impossible decision of choosing between electricity, rent and food. New policies to help America's working poor must increase food stamp benefits and support for food bank.
Let your representative know that you want a comprehensive strategy to fight hunger
Urge your representative to support full funding of the FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 3081) and oppose any amendments that would cut funding for programs that reduce poverty.
a. WHY IS THIS APPROPRIATIONS BILL IMPORTANT NOW? Recently, the House of Representatives voted on legislation that provided funding for poverty-focused international assistance programs that confront poverty and save lives. The $48.8 billion FY 2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill is already $1.2 billion below last year's level and $3.2 billion below the President's request. Any more cuts to this budget could affect efforts to help people living in poverty worldwide. We need to ensure Congress knows how important these programs are to poor and vulnerable people around the world and that they are supported by American Catholics.
b. WHAT DOES THIS APPROPRIATIONS BILL HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH? Our Catholic faith requires that we uphold the life and dignity of the human person by alleviating human suffering and promoting justice and solidarity worldwide. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, speaks of this in his new encyclical letter, Charity in Truth:
“In the search for solutions to the current economic crisis, development aid for poor countries must be considered a valid means of creating wealth for all. What aid programme is there that can hold out such significant growth prospects — even from the point of view of the world economy — as the support of populations that are still in the initial or early phases of economic development? From this perspective, more economically developed nations should do all they can to allocate larger portions of their gross domestic product to development aid, thus respecting the obligations that the international community has undertaken in this regard.” For more information contact: Stephen Hilbert, Policy Advisor, USCCB Office of International Justice and Peace, shilbert@usccb.org; (202) 541-3149 Tina Rodousakis, Manager, Grassroots Advocacy, CRS, trodousa@crs.org; (410) 951-7462 (Source: Catholic Relief Services)
Summary of CSR Advocacy Items: