Bread for the World Statement on the FY 2018 Omnibus
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today released the following statement regarding the fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill, which was signed by President Trump. The statement can be attributed to Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World:
“With this bill, the threat of massive cuts to anti-poverty programs has been put on hold.
“The president and this Congress had both approved budgets that outlined cuts of more than $2 trillion from programs that help people in poverty. But thankfully, anti-poverty programs fared well in the negotiations of the last month. In fact, Congress has not finalized any significant cuts to anti-poverty programs since the Trump administration began.
“Bread for the World has taken up an 'offering' from churches across the country – not an offering of money, but of letters to Congress urging continued funding for programs that help to reduce hunger and poverty in our country and around the world. Churches organized hundreds of letter-writing events across the country, resulting in hundreds of thousands of hand-written letters and personalized emails to their lawmakers. Clearly, Congress heard our message.
“Our celebration is tempered by the dramatic increase in deficit spending -- $2 trillion over the last four months, mostly for tax cuts for high-income people. Only 3% of this deficit spending went to programs for low-income people. So, when Congress gets serious about deficit reduction again – as they should do – no one should propose fixing the problem by cutting programs for people in poverty.”
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.