Bread for the World Members Lobby Congress to End Hunger
Washington, D.C. – Nearly 300 Bread for the World members and activists will visit Capitol Hill today to personally ask their members of Congress to support a bipartisan farm bill that protects nutrition assistance in the United States and improves international food aid, and to cosponsor and pass the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act.
The members and activists are participating in Bread’s 2018 Advocacy Summit and Lobby Day. This year’s theme is "For Such a Time as This." The theme is the same as Bread’s 2018 Offering of Letters, which is focused on urging Congress to make funding decisions that will end hunger by 2030.
“Bread members from across the country are on Capitol Hill to urge our congressional leaders to pass two pieces of legislation that will directly impact millions of hungry people in the U.S. and around the world,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “We have an opportunity to put us on the path to end hunger.”
The farm bill is must-pass legislation that authorizes most U.S. agriculture and nutrition policies, as well as humanitarian relief programs. The current House of Representatives’ version of the bill would cut more than $17 billion in food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The Senate farm bill continues bipartisan support of U.S. international food assistance programs and rejects the broad, sweeping cuts to domestic nutrition assistance that would harm kids, families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The bill is expected to be marked up on Wednesday.
“We are thankful the Senate Agricultural Committee introduced a bipartisan farm bill that protects domestic nutrition programs, especially SNAP, and fully funds international food aid,” Beckmann said.
The Feed the Future programs authorized by the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) alleviate hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. These programs support smallholder farmers, strengthen agricultural businesses, and promote critical nutrition interventions for mothers and babies in the first 1,000 day window. The law will expire this year unless Congress acts.
“The U.S. government-funded Feed the Future programs, authorized by the GFSA, have achieved remarkable results against hunger and poverty. In Feed the Future focus countries, poverty rates have dropped by 19 percent, and 1.7 million more households are free from hunger. Congress must reauthorize this vital legislation,” Beckmann said.
This evening, Bread for the World will honor Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Reps. Will Hurd (R-Tex.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.) for their outstanding leadership toward ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
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.
Briefing Paper: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Nutrition. Assessing USAID's Progress.
Better nutrition is a necessary component of a country’s capacity to achieve development goals such as economic growth and improved public health.
The U.S. Contribution to Ending Global Malnutrition
Worldwide, maternal and child malnutrition causes millions of deaths each year. In some countries, it holds entire generations back from reaching their economic potential.
For Faith
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
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.
Sermon by David Beckmann at Duke University Chapel
Remarks delivered October 1, 2017 at Duke University Chapel in Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Thank you for inviting me to preach here at Duke University Chapel. And I especially want to thank the Bread for the World members who have come this morning.
Bruce Puckett urged...
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $250 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $250 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
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.
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.