Hunger and Poverty Once Again Missing in Trump-Clinton Debate
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World lamented the absence of any discussion of hunger or poverty during the second Trump-Clinton presidential debate.
The following statement can be attributed to Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World:
“One in 5 children struggles with hunger, 43 million Americans live below the poverty line, and 631,000 American voters have petitioned Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the moderators to discuss hunger and poverty in the debates. Yet hunger and poverty have hardly been mentioned in the first two presidential debates.
“There are many actions the federal government could take to move us toward the end of hunger and poverty. But the only new action proposed last night was Donald Trump’s proposal to block-grant Medicaid. Block-granting programs is a way of cutting them – in this case, allowing states to cut back on health care for people in poverty. Currently 70 million people are protected by the lifesaving federal program.
“The last presidential debate takes place on October 19 in Nevada, where 1 in 7 households struggles to put food on the table. We hope to God that debate moderator Chris Wallace and the candidates will talk about how to provide help and opportunity to people who struggle with hunger and poverty. These problems affect tens of millions of people in our country, and Americans deserve to hear directly from the presidential candidates how they would address them.”
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues
Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.
For Faith
The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
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Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
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In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.