Harsh Cuts Would Devastate Programs
Listen: HIV/AIDS in Uganda and St. Francis Health Care Services
Take Action on the House Budget
June 2012
To our great disappointment, the House FY2013 budget was approved in a 228-191 vote. The budget, originally proposed by Budget committee Chairman Paul Ryan, fails to form a circle of protection around programs for hungry and poor people, and actually dismantles protections previously in place. We are, however, extremely thankful for Bread members who made hundreds of phone calls to House members, spread our action alerts through their churches and friends, and used social media to get the word out that Christians care about hungry and poor people, both here and abroad.
According to figures from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the cuts in the House budget are so severe that, if enacted, most of the government—aside from health care, Social Security, and defense—would cease to exist by 2050. Such harsh spending cuts to reduce our deficits are unacceptable. The House budget enacts trillions in additional tax cuts and fails to take a balanced approach to deficit reduction.
Most disturbing, these cuts would have a devastating impact on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), the Special Supplemental Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit (CTC), poverty-focused foreign assistance, and international food aid. In fact, 62 percent of the cuts in this budget are to programs like these, which benefit low-income people.
The House budget may be severe, but the Senate has yet to act. Congress will likely wait to negotiate a compromise until after the November elections. Therefore, your calls, emails, and messages to your senators and representatives continue to be extremely important. We have to let Congress know there is a strong constituency among people of faith who will forcefully oppose cuts to programs serving hungry and poor individuals in the U.S. and around the world.
Take heart: We will continue to raise awareness on the importance of programs that help poor and hungry people. Email, call, or visit your members of Congress and ask them to stand up for hungry and poor people by protecting funding for programs that alleviate hunger and help lift people out of poverty.
Join us June 8-11 in Washington, D.C., for the National Gathering 
